A. Kit

B. Julie

C. Kaya

D. Molly

E. Samantha

F. Addy

G. Mia

H. Felicity

I. Josefina

J. Kirsten

Addy

Each of the American Girl dolls is themed to a distinctive period in American history. Can you match the dolls at right with their description below? The answers are on page D2.

A. Resourceful girl from the Great Depression, 1934

B. Creative ’70s girl, 1974

C. Daring Nez Perce girl, 1764

D. Patriotic girl during World War II, 1944

E. Compassionate girl of the Victorian era, 1904

F. Courageous girl from the Civil War, 1864

G. Girl of the year, 2008

H. Spirited colonial girl, 1774

I. Hopeful New Mexican girl, 1824

J. Brave pioneer girl, 1854

Source: www.americangirl.com

Which came first –– the American Girl dolls, or the books about their characters?

They were actually launched together, explains Julie Parks, a spokeswoman for American Girl. “You can’t get a doll without getting a book. The stories are really the core of what we do.”

Pleasant T. Rowland, a doll maker, introduced the first three American Girl dolls –– Kirsten, Molly and Samantha –– in 1986, according to the company’s Web site, www.americangirl.com. They each represented a specific period in American history –– Kirsten was a brave pioneer girl from 1854; Molly was a patriotic girl from the World War II era in 1944; and Samantha was from the Victorian era, in 1904. Each came with books describing what their lives would have been like back then.

In fact, Parks said, “We really start with our story first, the story we want to tell, where want to tell it, the character we want to develop. Then we work with product development to come up with the dolls, accessories, clothing etc.”

The company now has nine historical characters –– Kaya, Felicity, Josefina, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, Kit, Molly and Julie –– as well as a host of other dolls, including a new line of “girl of the year” dolls featuring a new character for each new year, Parks said.

“Our goal is to introduce a new girl every year, so they’re always current, always contemporary,” Parks explained.

The dolls and accessories were sold primarily by catalog at first, but later through the company’s Web site and American Girl doll stores that since have opened in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, with smaller stores now open in Atlanta and Dallas as well. The company also has an American Girl magazine, aimed at young readers.

American Girl has produced three TV movies, starting in 2004, and is soon to release its first full-length feature film in theaters, Parks said. They also offer live theater presentations at the stores in Chicago and New York, though these are scheduled to be phased out by the end of the year, she said.

This is all part of an overall entertainment experience, Parks explained, “to engage girls and deepen their affinity for the brand.”

The American Girl experience is like no other, Parks said, in that it invites girls to totally immerse themselves in the doll’s character with the books and accessories available. “The goal is really to allow girls to compare and contrast their lives with girls from the past, so they can see how some things have changed throughout history and others, like the importance of family and friends, haven’t changed at all.”

— Laura Meade Kirk