American Girl Doll News

Kavi's Bollywood Dance Costume and Makena's Accessories are now sold out.

I have thirty-five minutes to kill before my next class today, so I felt like talking about something that makes me kind of mad, but it's been a trend I've been noticing in society for the last few years. In 2020, American Girl started doing collaborations with other brands. First, the Olympics, then, other fashion companies. Then, in 2022, other media franchises - making outfits and dolls based on established intellectual properties, like Harry Potter, Barbie, Disney, etc. We have a full blown Disney doll line now, and more dolls based off of other intellectual properties are coming, including Wednesday and Wicked. And it seems like every other release is American Girl not fleshing out it's own lore, but tacking onto something else. This parallels how things have been in the entertainment industry. They're remaking everything, giving everything prequels and sequels, spending so much money focusing on making things based on other properties, while not giving creatives time to flourish. Not investing in original ideas, not really giving things that aren't established the time of day. This trend started around the late 2010s in greater society. But in the 2020s, it has been the defining feature of how American Girl has changed as a company. I don't know - what are your thoughts?

With the release of Melody's journal, American Girl interviewed her author, Denise Lewis Patrick, about Melody! Why is Melody’s story important? One reason is that she shows how a young person can have really big feelings about what’s going on around her. Melody speaks out about what she feels when she sees something that’s unfair, or when she’s curious and has questions. Her story shows other children that it’s okay to express what you’re feeling inside, and that there are grownups who will listen and who will help and encourage you to look for answers to some of those big questions that you have. How are you like Melody? How are you different? I’m like Melody because I’m interested in my community. I am very curious about the world, and the things that are happening in it, and what I might do to make it better. Another way we’re alike is I grew up in a large extended family. I’m different than Melody because I’m not a “take charge” kind of person. I have a lot of ideas about things, but Melody is different. She’s not just sitting around thinking about what needs to change, or what to do about it. She believes in action. And I actually like that a lot about Melody. Oh, and one huge  difference between myself and Melody is that I cannot sing! I like singing, I love listening to music, but I really don’t sing very well at all. So I only sing at home—mostly when everyone else is out of the house! How was it different telling Melody’s story as a first-person illustrated diary versus a third-person novel? Writing in a first-person diary format was a neat challenge. I had to do more than imagine Melody’s actions and reactions to people and events. I couldn’t write the diary as just a writer describing a ten-year-old girl’s feelings. I had to think about every situation in a totally different way— I had to be Melody, describing her own feelings!

Today is Josefina's birthday! She was born this day in 1815, making her 210 today.

Today is Blaire's birthday. She was born this day in 2009, which makes her 16 today!

Here's Marisol's bio, since she is the Doll of the Month for March 2025! Where she lives: Chicago, Illinois Her hobbies: Dancing Pet: Cat, Rascal What changes her life: Having to move to a new neighborhood - without a dance studio What she discovers: You can still hold on to what you love, no matter where you are

Well, we're at about six months since Summer released, and this means we have roughly six more months until we meet our next Girl of the Year, Raquel Reyes. There are a few theories I have seen and thought of considering who our doll is - I'm not sure what one I'm 100% sold on yet, since we only know a bit about who she is - but I figured I'd list them all! This is the theory that makes the most sense to me - Raquel is from or goes to an exotic location. Every 5 years, this has happened with Girls of the Year. For example, in 2006, Jess went to Belize, in 2011, Kanani was from Hawaii, in 2016, Lea went to Brazil, in 2021, Kira went to Australia. I'm not sure exactly what location this is going to be, but there are 2 options. One is Mexico. The World Cup is going to be there (and America and Canada!) in 2026, and seeing as Raquel is Latina, it would make sense. However, this also might not happen, considering Maritza came out five years before, has the same author, and Maritza's interest was soccer. The other location I'm thinking of is Italy, where the Winter Olympics are going to be held, but that also might not happen because America is having the Summer Olympics in 2028 - and we all know AG LOVES their Summer Olympic tie ins no matter the location, but having it in America is even more special. Who knows - maybe Raquel won't be visiting a location, but will be from a location of interest. A Southwestern Truly Me outfit came out last fall, which could be a hint to where she's from - especially since several Truly Me items that came out in late 2023 and 2024 have been heavily playing into Summer's collection despite not actually being in her collection. Speaking of that, I've seen some comments on American Girl's posts of their new ballet outfit speculating we're getting another ballerina as Girl of the Year. We've had 3 dancers so far in the Girl of the Year line, but AG hasn't put a dancer as Girl of the Year since 2017, and not a ballet dancer since 2014. Considering how dancing is a popular play theme, and AG has been trying to hit more popular play themes with their GOTYs recently (like "animals", "cooking", and "gymnastics"), I wouldn't be surprised if Raquel is a dancer too. And who knows? Maybe Isabelle or Marisol can be her coach - most likely Marisol, since she was more popular, and the girls who were target age in 2005 are now having kids of their own. What do you all think?

Truly Me dolls 115 and 123 are sold out.

American Girl is having a St Patrick's Day Sale - 20% sitewide, including most dolls! In addition, these items are at a higher discount: NFL tees - 50% off Harry Potter - 38% off Jeni's Ice Cream - 50% off Juice Bar - 30% off Hit The Road Scooter - 30% off Summer's Treat Cart - 30% off Hollyhock Horse - 30% off

Is there anything missing from your collections from the Girls of the Year from two and three years ago? American Girl has everything that is still in stock from Corinne and Kavi's worlds on the Last Chance outlet!

For the rest of the month, American Girl is offering double points on books to AG Rewards members.

Marisol Luna is the Doll of the Month for March 2025! Marisol Luna is a lively 10-year-old girl who was born to dance. She's a fourth-grader who lives with her loving parents in a busy and largely Hispanic neighborhood in the heart of Chicago. Marisol goes to school (where she is a Two-Square champion) takes care of her cat, plays with the kids in her neighborhood, and takes dance lessons. Ballet folklrico (Mexican folkdance) is her favorite type of dance--and where she really shines--but she's been exposed to some jazz and a little tap. She's also taking ballet, but she's new to it and a little impatient with its rigors. Her attitude towards ballet changes only slightly when she meets a wonderful new neighbor. Miss Mendoza is a former Rockette who gently reminds Marisol that ballet is worth working hard at, because it's the basis for all serious dance. The upsetting news that her family is moving out to the suburbs is made worse when Marisol learns that the dance studio in her new neighborhood has closed. No tap, no ballet folklrico--not even ballet. She may have to take karate lessons! Instead, with the help of new friends, resourceful Marisol finds a way to keep dancing.