Books about AMERICAN GIRL DOLLS – The Legend in the Making
Thus far, this blog has been largely about books, usually a single book reviewed each time. Now it’s time to expand our coverage. Did you know that www.InHisHonor.org carries American Girl doll books? Yep, it’s true…you can now read about Molly, Kirsten, Samantha, Addy and Felicity, which were the first five dolls produced by the Pleasant Company. In fact, every American Girl doll book is available and you can buy their books, singly or the entire series on www.InHisHonor.org.
How did American Girl dolls come to be? When was the company founded and what was the idea behind it? In 1986, the most popular dolls you could buy were the Cabbage Patch dolls and Barbie. A lady named Pleasant Rowland, a teacher by trade, accompanied her husband on a business trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. She had been thinking for some time of a suitable doll for her nieces and was not impressed with the choices available. Many of you will remember the Cabbage Patch dolls as quite ugly, if lovable. Barbie was not a good choice unless you wanted to raise an anemic daughter who always entertained playboys. While in Williamsburg she noticed the emphasis on American history and thought to herself, “why not a doll that combines history with all American appeal”… and the Pleasant Company was born.
The three original dolls were Kirsten Larsen, a pioneer girl from 1854: Samantha Parkington, a girl of the pre- World War I era and Molly McIntire, a girl living in 1944 whose daddy was off to war. They were followed five years later by Felicity Merriman, a colonial girl of 1774 and then two years after that by Addy Walker, a black Civil War era girl. Each of these dolls modeled a fictional nine year old who practiced appropriate behavior for that period. The goal of Pleasant Rowland, the company’s founder was to teach as well as to enjoy. Appropriate furniture and furnishings were made to go with each doll and a series of books were written to detail their adventures. Those books may be found today on www.InHisHonor.org.
Next week, the 13th American Girl Doll store will be unveiled in Tysons Corner, Virginia. The official grand opening is on June 18th and 19th. You and your doll may attend. When you get tired of shopping, you can go to lunch or dinner, with your American Girl doll, of course. A party room is available for birthday celebrations. You may also visit a doll T-shirt making studio and a hair salon. What would you do in the hair salon? Why, pick a ‘do from the 22 styles available, of course! Future events are planned.
Are you looking for a good starting point to enter the American Girl doll market? Why not start when your daughter, niece, granddaughter or other young female of your acquaintance begins to read? The dolls themselves and their furniture and accessories can be quite costly. Introduce them early to the American Girl doll books, which tell the story of each of the historical dolls and at a much more reasonable price. As previously mentioned you’ll meet Kirsten, a pioneer girl of 1854. How many character building situations do you think Kirsten found herself in? What parallels do you suppose a girl who lives today, whose Daddy (or Mommy) is off to war in Iraq or Afghanistan might find in Molly, whose father was involved in WW II? And what better opportunity to teach about the civil injustice and the resolution of racial issues during the Civil War than a book about Addy, a runaway slave girl?
Start your girls early and let them begin to learn the lessons and history embedded in the American Girl doll collection. Start today. Purchase books about each of the historical dolls at www.InHisHonor.org. Then at the appropriate age, when they acquire the doll of their choice they will prize her and value her that much higher. Use the books to teach history, to teach character and to open prized “teachable moments” with your child when they ask life-altering questions. Each book is well researched and well written, presented in an attractive binding. Each book will be treasured by the recipient and will be the foundation for future learning. Each book will contain character building events, the kind that nine year olds face every day. Use attractive history to teach, to build and to involve your girls.
Did I mention that a handmade school desk, constructed with real wood and screwed together is also available? Not even available from the American Girl doll store, this desk comes complete with a tiny stack of wooden books, especially crafted for your American Girl doll. Set your American Girl doll in this school desk and imagine teaching her the ABC’s or instructing her in the rudiments of reading, writing and ‘rithmetic. Your young lady will treasure this desk and the books that you made available to her through the auspices of www.InHisHonor.org. Visit us today!
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