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The Making of American Girl
Explore the early days of the iconic American Girl brand, from developing key characters to opening the first store!
Go behind-the-scenes of the creation of one of America's most iconic brands, American Girl. From founder Pleasant Rowland's original business plan scribbled on a yellow legal pad to the culmination of her dream to add a store and a magazine, readers will discover never before seen art, letters, product designs, and so much more.
Includes material from the archives of American Girl - some of which have never before been seen by the public!
Packaged in a beautiful, sprawling coffee table book, get ready to immerse yourself in the history of Pleasant Company and American Girl.
Go behind-the-scenes of the creation of one of America's most iconic brands, American Girl. From founder Pleasant Rowland's original business plan scribbled on a yellow legal pad to the culmination of her dream to add a store and a magazine, readers will discover never before seen art, letters, product designs, and so much more.
Includes material from the archives of American Girl - some of which have never before been seen by the public!
Packaged in a beautiful, sprawling coffee table book, get ready to immerse yourself in the history of Pleasant Company and American Girl.
282 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
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April 11, 2026Oh my goodness! I love the look of this one.
I've been on an American Girl binge for the last 4 or 5 months and am super curious about the behind the scenes details now.
I've been on an American Girl binge for the last 4 or 5 months and am super curious about the behind the scenes details now.
May 14, 2026
Wow. This exceeded any and all expectations I had. I was so excited for this book and KNEW it would be so special to me, but I’m blown away by how well researched and well written this is. The book is sectioned into 9 chapters, starting with learning about Pleasant Rowland and the foundations of American Girl and its overall purpose. The purpose being compared by Rowland to "chocolate cake with vitamins". Exciting and enjoyable play, intermixed with history/education and important lessons that any girl in the world can relate to and learn from to carry through generations.
There are also 6 chapters dedicated individually to each of the original first 6 American Girl dolls. These chapters go through the planning and decision making process for the creation of each of these girls dolls and their stories. It was so fun to see original sketch ups and drafts. (Kirsten was originally named Rebecca and was from Norway instead of Sweden! Samanthas Grandmary was also supposed to die in the original drafts of the books!!)
I understand why they chose the original 6 to focus on, but I do wish Kaya had been included. I know a lot went into the creation of her doll and I would have loved to read more about how the company worked with the Nez Perce tribe and the acknowledgement of necessary changes to implement (such as the face mold) to accurately depict Kaya.
If you ever owned an American girl doll or read any of the books- I highly recommend you to read this. I've always been so in love with this company, specifically for their dedication to balance education and play, all wrapped up in a bow of female empowerment. Anyone a fan of AG will love this.
I also want to add that it’s just a gorgeous book in general and makes a perfect “coffee table” book. I did not expect the size and quality to be so exceptional.
There are also 6 chapters dedicated individually to each of the original first 6 American Girl dolls. These chapters go through the planning and decision making process for the creation of each of these girls dolls and their stories. It was so fun to see original sketch ups and drafts. (Kirsten was originally named Rebecca and was from Norway instead of Sweden! Samanthas Grandmary was also supposed to die in the original drafts of the books!!)
I understand why they chose the original 6 to focus on, but I do wish Kaya had been included. I know a lot went into the creation of her doll and I would have loved to read more about how the company worked with the Nez Perce tribe and the acknowledgement of necessary changes to implement (such as the face mold) to accurately depict Kaya.
If you ever owned an American girl doll or read any of the books- I highly recommend you to read this. I've always been so in love with this company, specifically for their dedication to balance education and play, all wrapped up in a bow of female empowerment. Anyone a fan of AG will love this.
I also want to add that it’s just a gorgeous book in general and makes a perfect “coffee table” book. I did not expect the size and quality to be so exceptional.
June 22, 2026
So here I am, crying my eyeballs out over a book about dolls,
June 14, 2026
I own well over 600 books and this is the most beautiful book I have ever owned. I wanted to cry as I was finishing it because it's so beautiful and I didn't want it to end
May 13, 2026
A really beautiful book telling the story of the creation of Pleasant Company and American Girl up through the sale to Mattel in 1998. It makes sense to stop there with the first six historical characters, but I was a little sad my doll Kit wasn't included (the first release after the sale to Mattel).
Reading the book evokes the feeling of being a kid and poring over the American Girl catalogue when it arrived. I was more into the books so I only ever had the one doll, and I never had any additional accessories for the doll, but it was still such a wonderful experience looking at all the beautiful dolls and accessories in the pictures of the catalogue. Reading this book made me wish I had saved one of those catalogues. (honestly, there's a lot I wish I'd saved relating to American Girl)
I was really interested in some of the background they had around writing the Addy and Josefina books. They sought guidance from a whole panel of experts to tell those stories, including some eminent historians. The book discusses how there was a huge conversation around whether it was a good idea to have the first black doll character originally a slave (but escape to freedom in the first book), and they came to the conclusion that it "crucial to understand the history of slavery" as context and background for later black Americans' experiences. Given that one of the advisors was Lonnie Bunch, the former director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, among many others eminent in their field, maybe we can finally put to bed the rage bait I see occasionally posted online around how "racist Addy is" as a "slave doll." That's such a bad faith reading of the character.
In contrast, I kind of wish they had had more advisory boards for the prior characters. This book touches on the fact that Felicity's family (Felicity is the Revolutionary War era character that was created before Addy) had slaves and is more sensitive to that than the actual books are. Similarly, I've read that the company has made some updates to the portrayal of Singing Bird in the Kirsten books based on feedback from Native folks, so at least they seem to genuinely want to learn and do better than the original 90s iterations.
All this to say, this book was released in the perfect year for me. I've discussed before that I'm re-reading all the American Girl books I originally had in conjunction with listening to the Dolls of Our Lives podcast (currently wrapping up Kirsten materials, starting Addy soon). It's been such a joyful experience to return to something I loved so much as a kid. I'm also incredibly excited for the first adult American Girl novel to be released later in the year.
One final warning: this book is physically HUGE. I was kind of expecting a normal 8x11 coffee table book, but they made it big enough to show pictures of the dolls in their actual dimensions as a spread, so be forewarned the book will be bigger than you expect.
Reading the book evokes the feeling of being a kid and poring over the American Girl catalogue when it arrived. I was more into the books so I only ever had the one doll, and I never had any additional accessories for the doll, but it was still such a wonderful experience looking at all the beautiful dolls and accessories in the pictures of the catalogue. Reading this book made me wish I had saved one of those catalogues. (honestly, there's a lot I wish I'd saved relating to American Girl)
I was really interested in some of the background they had around writing the Addy and Josefina books. They sought guidance from a whole panel of experts to tell those stories, including some eminent historians. The book discusses how there was a huge conversation around whether it was a good idea to have the first black doll character originally a slave (but escape to freedom in the first book), and they came to the conclusion that it "crucial to understand the history of slavery" as context and background for later black Americans' experiences. Given that one of the advisors was Lonnie Bunch, the former director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, among many others eminent in their field, maybe we can finally put to bed the rage bait I see occasionally posted online around how "racist Addy is" as a "slave doll." That's such a bad faith reading of the character.
In contrast, I kind of wish they had had more advisory boards for the prior characters. This book touches on the fact that Felicity's family (Felicity is the Revolutionary War era character that was created before Addy) had slaves and is more sensitive to that than the actual books are. Similarly, I've read that the company has made some updates to the portrayal of Singing Bird in the Kirsten books based on feedback from Native folks, so at least they seem to genuinely want to learn and do better than the original 90s iterations.
All this to say, this book was released in the perfect year for me. I've discussed before that I'm re-reading all the American Girl books I originally had in conjunction with listening to the Dolls of Our Lives podcast (currently wrapping up Kirsten materials, starting Addy soon). It's been such a joyful experience to return to something I loved so much as a kid. I'm also incredibly excited for the first adult American Girl novel to be released later in the year.
One final warning: this book is physically HUGE. I was kind of expecting a normal 8x11 coffee table book, but they made it big enough to show pictures of the dolls in their actual dimensions as a spread, so be forewarned the book will be bigger than you expect.
July 4, 2026
The Making of American Girl was an absolutely delightful romp down memory lane. I have just finished and have an overwhelming desire to pore over an old direct mail catalog alongside my Felicity doll.
Heads up, in case you (like me) don't bother to look at physical dimensions before requesting books from the library: this one is physically a TOME. It's huge. And every page is full color glossy. I'm not mad. I loved studying every single page. But I couldn't read it at bedtime because I don't think I could hold it up for any length of time. lol
As mentioned, every single page is full color and glossy. There is a glorious abundance of photos and sketches and illustration reprints on every single page. And just like in the catalog, every doll is featured in a life size photo near the start of their section. I LOVE IT.
The book is organized chronologically to the business, meaning that the formation of Pleasant Company is first, followed by Kirsten. Even though Felicity is by far the first real world chronologically, she's only featured about midway through the book, when she was introduced after Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly. The founding of American Girl magazine and American Girl Place also get their own chapters.
I appreciated all of the background information to the business and the development of the stories and books. Pleasant Rowland was really an executive genius with her level of organization and careful thought to all developments.
And finally, this is maybe just me, but I really appreciated how the prose sections were all confined to single pages. Like, no paragraph crossed the spine or turned a page. You could read the full information and pause to take in the illustrations/photos/sketches before moving to the next page. There was no need ever to flip back and forth to finish a sentence before returning to the prior page to take in the accompanying visuals. In illustrated nonfiction books, I definitely take note of this layout thoughtfulness and am grateful when it's taken into account.
Very highly recommend this one to anyone who loved their historic American Girl as a kid!
Heads up, in case you (like me) don't bother to look at physical dimensions before requesting books from the library: this one is physically a TOME. It's huge. And every page is full color glossy. I'm not mad. I loved studying every single page. But I couldn't read it at bedtime because I don't think I could hold it up for any length of time. lol
As mentioned, every single page is full color and glossy. There is a glorious abundance of photos and sketches and illustration reprints on every single page. And just like in the catalog, every doll is featured in a life size photo near the start of their section. I LOVE IT.
The book is organized chronologically to the business, meaning that the formation of Pleasant Company is first, followed by Kirsten. Even though Felicity is by far the first real world chronologically, she's only featured about midway through the book, when she was introduced after Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly. The founding of American Girl magazine and American Girl Place also get their own chapters.
I appreciated all of the background information to the business and the development of the stories and books. Pleasant Rowland was really an executive genius with her level of organization and careful thought to all developments.
And finally, this is maybe just me, but I really appreciated how the prose sections were all confined to single pages. Like, no paragraph crossed the spine or turned a page. You could read the full information and pause to take in the illustrations/photos/sketches before moving to the next page. There was no need ever to flip back and forth to finish a sentence before returning to the prior page to take in the accompanying visuals. In illustrated nonfiction books, I definitely take note of this layout thoughtfulness and am grateful when it's taken into account.
Very highly recommend this one to anyone who loved their historic American Girl as a kid!
May 18, 2026
This is a behemoth. Literally, its over 5 lbs. But inside is all anyone would want to know on the origins on the iconic American Girl doll line. This dives deep into the lore of Pleasant's dreams for the company and includes TONS of primary source material (postcards, sketches, faxes, letters). There are early product pictures, interview sidebars with the various authors/illustrators featured in the books (lots with Valerie Tripp, one with the girl of the year 2027 author (mayhaps why she was announced this past week?) and curiously exactly ONE illustrator/author who has zero material published with AG. Maybe she's got an unannounced upcoming work?)
There is A LOT of book synopsis for the OG 6 (so stopping with Josefina). Hearing from Connie Porter on the creation of Addy was the best in that regard. There was also a section on the AG magazine, and it wrapped up with the opening of the 1st AG store on Chicago's Michigan Ave. (The company sold to Mattel shortly thereafter).
It doesn't include any Historicals from 2000 on, (so no Kit Kittredge, no Kaya, No Beforever era, defintely no Claudie or 90's twins), the American Girl of Today/Truly Me Line, Bitty Baby, Girl of the year line,CYO line, store expansions, the beloved innerstar U website days, or any of movies.
It is a very tidy focus on Pleasant's core initial vision for the brand. Which was huge! And just so impressive that she was able to pull off. She clearly put thought into every decision made, down to the fonts in the catalog (and even official responses for readers perpetually sad about Marta's death in Meet Kirsten). She really was a mastermind (complimentary).
....But... that is to say, I wouldn't be surprised if a Volume II follows in 10 years for the 50th.
For the Pleasant Company purists however, there should be more than enough here to sate curiousity.
There is A LOT of book synopsis for the OG 6 (so stopping with Josefina). Hearing from Connie Porter on the creation of Addy was the best in that regard. There was also a section on the AG magazine, and it wrapped up with the opening of the 1st AG store on Chicago's Michigan Ave. (The company sold to Mattel shortly thereafter).
It doesn't include any Historicals from 2000 on, (so no Kit Kittredge, no Kaya, No Beforever era, defintely no Claudie or 90's twins), the American Girl of Today/Truly Me Line, Bitty Baby, Girl of the year line,CYO line, store expansions, the beloved innerstar U website days, or any of movies.
It is a very tidy focus on Pleasant's core initial vision for the brand. Which was huge! And just so impressive that she was able to pull off. She clearly put thought into every decision made, down to the fonts in the catalog (and even official responses for readers perpetually sad about Marta's death in Meet Kirsten). She really was a mastermind (complimentary).
....But... that is to say, I wouldn't be surprised if a Volume II follows in 10 years for the 50th.
For the Pleasant Company purists however, there should be more than enough here to sate curiousity.
May 16, 2026
Absolutely gorgeous photography. This book is filled with so many tiny details-even as an AG super fan, I learned a few things I didn’t know! I am sure I will read this cover to cover multiple times.
May 30, 2026
Must read book for any fans of AG. I don’t think I realized how much work went into making sure the books, the dolls and all their accessories were historically accurate. I have a new appreciation for all they did and how they ushered in a new era of publishing for girls.
June 19, 2026
I'm ugly crying. I ugly cried many, many times reading this book. I'm the same age as American Girl, and have researched the company for over three decades. Yup, my research started at age ten when my Granma would hand me magazine articles and newspaper clippings about the books I cherished. As a lifelong fan, I wasn't sure I would find new information here, but oh was I hopeful. I pre-ordered it on Amazon as soon as I saw it, and dropped everything else to read it.
First, let's discuss the size of this tome. It's a coffee table book, and will likely not fit nicely on any shelf in my library. Since I don't own a coffee table and tend to read books curled up in a comfy chair, the book suffered some wear just from me reading it. Still, every inch of that space is elegantly utilized with quotes, photos, and original illustration concepts to complete the detailed text. It clocks in at just under 300 pages, and is perfect for a first volume (Mattel, you have some 'splaning to do with your takeover. I want a volume 2 discussing that timeline, please and thank you).
Now for the text. As I said, I was shocked to discover there truly was more for me to learn about AG. The book is broken down into nine chapters which are organized chronologically from the beginning idea to the opening of American Girl Place, Chicago. Let's break down each chapter.
Chapter 1: A Girl Company
There's a lot here about Pleasant's walk through Colonial Williamsburg, and how that shaped the beginning of her world. She and Valerie (Tripp, for the uninitiated) were friends and had worked together on previous projects, so she brought her on board to author the stories. It was fascinating to watch how the stories developed and changed into the six book series we all cherish (Mattel, here's a chance to give your historical characters a six-book makeover. We'd buy them all). Also, the reminder that the company was for girls, to celebrate girlhood. We need strong companies to support and celebrate the uniqueness of boys and girls.
Chapter 2: Samantha Parkingon
I stole Samantha's name for her grandma, (one of mine became Grandmary after my love of these books), but I was never a Samantha. I was sharp enough to understand I could never have her wealth. Nellie's budget was more in line with mine. Still, I enjoyed Samantha's stories. Hers felt close, but just far enough away to be history. I love finding elements from them in museums to this day. Readers will find how characters developed and changed, how costumes were selected, and even how Grandmary's life was saved by a diligent husband!
Chapter 3: Kirsten Larsen
Everyone expected me to love Kirsten, as she looked just like me, and I may have, if her stories had been set closer to the Little House set I cherished. There's so much to see here; how Kirsten's stories reflected the author's childhood, how Singing Bird was adapted in a special edition released exclusively with the dresses last year (umm..... why was that not in the product description?! Now I'll never have a copy, because collectors are going to cling to that...). This chapter was beautiful.
Chapter 4: Molly McIntire
My Grandmary was born in 1932, making her a few years older than Molly (probably Icky Ricky's age). This chapter explains the significance of every character in Molly's world, and how they changed through the writing process. There was no explanation of switching Emily to Molly's 'best friend' for that release, but there is a picture of the Emily doll in Happy Birthday, Molly! Molly's growth (and all the historical characters) was emphasized as each book was summarized.
Chapter 5: Felicity Merriman
She's the one that inspired the collection, but took six extra years to debut. I understood her theft of Penny on a deeper level after reading this chapter. My family and I go back and forth on the ethics of including horse theft in a book directed at nine-year-olds. I never thought about it as a kid, but I see their point. The parallels between her story and the changes in the world around her are outlined in a way I've not seen before.
Chapter 6: American Girl Magazine
Can we have an American Mom Magazine? Complete with Grin Pins, Buzzwords, and Polls? Asking for a friend. This magazine entered my home from February 1994 to August 2002. My Granma Myra ordered it every year, and I was forever grateful. I remember joyously finding a subscription postcard on several Christmas trees. Also, girls today will never know the fun of paper dolls or mini mags.
Chapter 7: Addy Walker
Here she is. My girl. I'm an Addy. She's probably the one I looked the least like, but our names carry the same meaning, and I deeply identified with her struggles as a child. My family felt split and fractured as my dad traveled for work, and I had a plethora of relatives coming and going, similar to the tenants of the boarding house Addy's family moves into. There's deep descriptions of her development, and again, parallels between her story and the overarching struggle for freedom during the Civil War. There's also an explanation from experts why slavery was chosen as the starting point for initiating a black story (please forgive me if I'm using the wrong terms), and honestly, it's beautiful. There's also a snippet of how Addy inspired Claudie, which is charming.
Chapter 8: Josefina Montoya
Josefina is my second favorite. My Poppa spent many years traveling back and forth to Mexico, and he always brought me beautiful dresses and toys. I remember every detail of her release even more vividly than Addy's because she was hyped in the American Girls Newsletter. I visited El Rancho de Las Golondrinas with my husband last year, fulfilling a childhood dream. There were fun facts about Jean-Paul Tibbles, the illustrator, and deep information about the team that brought her world to ours.
Chapter 9: American Girl Place
This opened a few miles from my aunt's house a few days after my birthday. I remember watching the announcement on Oprah, and immediately begging my Granma Myra to take me. This chapter brought more ugly tears (Addy's and Josefina's started it). I remember the thrill of going for the first time, the joy of watching the Revue, the sights, sounds and smells. We didn't think to bring my Addy or Girl of Today with us, a mistake I never allowed my daughter to repeat. I wish there was one close enough for me to take my youngest daughter, but I know the store, like the company, has changed.
And that's it. The book basically outlines Pleasant's company, and closes with her departure. There was no mention of the American Girls Historical Club, or any of the Pasttimes. As I said before, I'd pay for a Vol. 2 giving this much insight into Mattel's world. I have a love/hate relationship with the Mattel takeover, but honestly, if they hadn't bought it, would we still be buying our girls American Girl dolls four decades later? Girlhood Journeys, Magic Attic Club, heck, even The Baby-Sitters Club dolls didn't have that staying power. I would love to see Mattel's justification for every change and retiree.
What's Missing:
The American Girls Historical Club
Pasttimes
Calendars & other merch
Our New Baby/Bitty Baby (both are slightly referenced, but no decent spread)
If you're a lifelong fan and have space, invest in this book. If you don't have space, talk to your library about purchasing a copy for them if you get to be the first to check it out (many libraries will say yes!).
First, let's discuss the size of this tome. It's a coffee table book, and will likely not fit nicely on any shelf in my library. Since I don't own a coffee table and tend to read books curled up in a comfy chair, the book suffered some wear just from me reading it. Still, every inch of that space is elegantly utilized with quotes, photos, and original illustration concepts to complete the detailed text. It clocks in at just under 300 pages, and is perfect for a first volume (Mattel, you have some 'splaning to do with your takeover. I want a volume 2 discussing that timeline, please and thank you).
Now for the text. As I said, I was shocked to discover there truly was more for me to learn about AG. The book is broken down into nine chapters which are organized chronologically from the beginning idea to the opening of American Girl Place, Chicago. Let's break down each chapter.
Chapter 1: A Girl Company
There's a lot here about Pleasant's walk through Colonial Williamsburg, and how that shaped the beginning of her world. She and Valerie (Tripp, for the uninitiated) were friends and had worked together on previous projects, so she brought her on board to author the stories. It was fascinating to watch how the stories developed and changed into the six book series we all cherish (Mattel, here's a chance to give your historical characters a six-book makeover. We'd buy them all). Also, the reminder that the company was for girls, to celebrate girlhood. We need strong companies to support and celebrate the uniqueness of boys and girls.
Chapter 2: Samantha Parkingon
I stole Samantha's name for her grandma, (one of mine became Grandmary after my love of these books), but I was never a Samantha. I was sharp enough to understand I could never have her wealth. Nellie's budget was more in line with mine. Still, I enjoyed Samantha's stories. Hers felt close, but just far enough away to be history. I love finding elements from them in museums to this day. Readers will find how characters developed and changed, how costumes were selected, and even how Grandmary's life was saved by a diligent husband!
Chapter 3: Kirsten Larsen
Everyone expected me to love Kirsten, as she looked just like me, and I may have, if her stories had been set closer to the Little House set I cherished. There's so much to see here; how Kirsten's stories reflected the author's childhood, how Singing Bird was adapted in a special edition released exclusively with the dresses last year (umm..... why was that not in the product description?! Now I'll never have a copy, because collectors are going to cling to that...). This chapter was beautiful.
Chapter 4: Molly McIntire
My Grandmary was born in 1932, making her a few years older than Molly (probably Icky Ricky's age). This chapter explains the significance of every character in Molly's world, and how they changed through the writing process. There was no explanation of switching Emily to Molly's 'best friend' for that release, but there is a picture of the Emily doll in Happy Birthday, Molly! Molly's growth (and all the historical characters) was emphasized as each book was summarized.
Chapter 5: Felicity Merriman
She's the one that inspired the collection, but took six extra years to debut. I understood her theft of Penny on a deeper level after reading this chapter. My family and I go back and forth on the ethics of including horse theft in a book directed at nine-year-olds. I never thought about it as a kid, but I see their point. The parallels between her story and the changes in the world around her are outlined in a way I've not seen before.
Chapter 6: American Girl Magazine
Can we have an American Mom Magazine? Complete with Grin Pins, Buzzwords, and Polls? Asking for a friend. This magazine entered my home from February 1994 to August 2002. My Granma Myra ordered it every year, and I was forever grateful. I remember joyously finding a subscription postcard on several Christmas trees. Also, girls today will never know the fun of paper dolls or mini mags.
Chapter 7: Addy Walker
Here she is. My girl. I'm an Addy. She's probably the one I looked the least like, but our names carry the same meaning, and I deeply identified with her struggles as a child. My family felt split and fractured as my dad traveled for work, and I had a plethora of relatives coming and going, similar to the tenants of the boarding house Addy's family moves into. There's deep descriptions of her development, and again, parallels between her story and the overarching struggle for freedom during the Civil War. There's also an explanation from experts why slavery was chosen as the starting point for initiating a black story (please forgive me if I'm using the wrong terms), and honestly, it's beautiful. There's also a snippet of how Addy inspired Claudie, which is charming.
Chapter 8: Josefina Montoya
Josefina is my second favorite. My Poppa spent many years traveling back and forth to Mexico, and he always brought me beautiful dresses and toys. I remember every detail of her release even more vividly than Addy's because she was hyped in the American Girls Newsletter. I visited El Rancho de Las Golondrinas with my husband last year, fulfilling a childhood dream. There were fun facts about Jean-Paul Tibbles, the illustrator, and deep information about the team that brought her world to ours.
Chapter 9: American Girl Place
This opened a few miles from my aunt's house a few days after my birthday. I remember watching the announcement on Oprah, and immediately begging my Granma Myra to take me. This chapter brought more ugly tears (Addy's and Josefina's started it). I remember the thrill of going for the first time, the joy of watching the Revue, the sights, sounds and smells. We didn't think to bring my Addy or Girl of Today with us, a mistake I never allowed my daughter to repeat. I wish there was one close enough for me to take my youngest daughter, but I know the store, like the company, has changed.
And that's it. The book basically outlines Pleasant's company, and closes with her departure. There was no mention of the American Girls Historical Club, or any of the Pasttimes. As I said before, I'd pay for a Vol. 2 giving this much insight into Mattel's world. I have a love/hate relationship with the Mattel takeover, but honestly, if they hadn't bought it, would we still be buying our girls American Girl dolls four decades later? Girlhood Journeys, Magic Attic Club, heck, even The Baby-Sitters Club dolls didn't have that staying power. I would love to see Mattel's justification for every change and retiree.
What's Missing:
The American Girls Historical Club
Pasttimes
Calendars & other merch
Our New Baby/Bitty Baby (both are slightly referenced, but no decent spread)
If you're a lifelong fan and have space, invest in this book. If you don't have space, talk to your library about purchasing a copy for them if you get to be the first to check it out (many libraries will say yes!).
May 17, 2026
Copy provided by the publisher
The first chapter of this book, detailing how Pleasant Rowland was inspired to create her iconic dolls and chapter books, could be made into a middle grade nonfiction book on its own, but when you add the rest of the information about each of the original six American Girl dolls, as well as chapters about the American Girl magazine and American Girl Place, this book is absolutely everything anyone could possibly want to know about this influential franchise.
I have to applaud Ms. Rowland not only for coming up with the idea of early chapter books featuring stories about girls from different time periods who have adventures and the dolls that go with the books, but for documenting her process and saving all of her papers. It is absolutely fascinating to see letters between her and writer Valerie Tripp, sketches of the dolls and original illustrations, and even fabric swatches for the outfits. There are even reproductions of the covers of vintage magazines like Harper's Bazaar and Good Housekeeping that inspired some of the outfits. There are vintage prints, and pictures of toys and household accessories as well. One of my favorite things was a mock up of the catalog that Ms. Rowland did. How cool was it that the catalogs showed the doll as the actual 18" size?!
The chapters of the different dolls cover so much information! Whether you were a fan of Samantha, Kristen, Molly, Felicity, Addy, or Josefina, you will find everything you can ever want to know about the character. There are illustrations from the original books that portray all of the characters, inspirations for the names and outfits, details about the research that was done, and a two page spread of each doll. I'm a fabric geek, so I adored all of the sketches with swatches, and there are even prototypes of shoes and knitwear. There is information about the storylines, as well as authors and illustrators who were involved in the projects. There are even some fans depicted, some of whom later became involved in the company. There are even some knitting patterns, like the chart for Kristen's sweater!
The chapter about the magazine was also interesting; my daughters had a subscription for several years. There are a few letters and pieces of artwork from fans shown, and some discussion of the stories about the American Girl dolls characters that were included. I somehow missed the paper dolls, but those were VERY cool. There's a little bit of information about the books like The Care and Keeping of You, but I would have been glad to know a little bit more about that aspect of the company.
I didn't know that there was more than one American Girl Store, so the chapter on the brick and mortar retail aspect of the company was fascinating. I did have one friend who took her daughter to the American Girl Place in Chicago, and it seemed like a VERY fancy weekend.
This was an absolutely gorgeous book, but it is 10.5 x 1.2 x 13 inches and almost five and a half pounds! Perfect for a coffee table, but a little much for a middle school student to carry in a back pack. If you are a fan of the American Girl dolls, or know someone who is, this would be a fantastic gift. Now, if Mattel would do a similar book about the creation and evolution of Barbie, that would be great!
The first chapter of this book, detailing how Pleasant Rowland was inspired to create her iconic dolls and chapter books, could be made into a middle grade nonfiction book on its own, but when you add the rest of the information about each of the original six American Girl dolls, as well as chapters about the American Girl magazine and American Girl Place, this book is absolutely everything anyone could possibly want to know about this influential franchise.
I have to applaud Ms. Rowland not only for coming up with the idea of early chapter books featuring stories about girls from different time periods who have adventures and the dolls that go with the books, but for documenting her process and saving all of her papers. It is absolutely fascinating to see letters between her and writer Valerie Tripp, sketches of the dolls and original illustrations, and even fabric swatches for the outfits. There are even reproductions of the covers of vintage magazines like Harper's Bazaar and Good Housekeeping that inspired some of the outfits. There are vintage prints, and pictures of toys and household accessories as well. One of my favorite things was a mock up of the catalog that Ms. Rowland did. How cool was it that the catalogs showed the doll as the actual 18" size?!
The chapters of the different dolls cover so much information! Whether you were a fan of Samantha, Kristen, Molly, Felicity, Addy, or Josefina, you will find everything you can ever want to know about the character. There are illustrations from the original books that portray all of the characters, inspirations for the names and outfits, details about the research that was done, and a two page spread of each doll. I'm a fabric geek, so I adored all of the sketches with swatches, and there are even prototypes of shoes and knitwear. There is information about the storylines, as well as authors and illustrators who were involved in the projects. There are even some fans depicted, some of whom later became involved in the company. There are even some knitting patterns, like the chart for Kristen's sweater!
The chapter about the magazine was also interesting; my daughters had a subscription for several years. There are a few letters and pieces of artwork from fans shown, and some discussion of the stories about the American Girl dolls characters that were included. I somehow missed the paper dolls, but those were VERY cool. There's a little bit of information about the books like The Care and Keeping of You, but I would have been glad to know a little bit more about that aspect of the company.
I didn't know that there was more than one American Girl Store, so the chapter on the brick and mortar retail aspect of the company was fascinating. I did have one friend who took her daughter to the American Girl Place in Chicago, and it seemed like a VERY fancy weekend.
This was an absolutely gorgeous book, but it is 10.5 x 1.2 x 13 inches and almost five and a half pounds! Perfect for a coffee table, but a little much for a middle school student to carry in a back pack. If you are a fan of the American Girl dolls, or know someone who is, this would be a fantastic gift. Now, if Mattel would do a similar book about the creation and evolution of Barbie, that would be great!
May 26, 2026
This book was an absolute joy to read! A gorgeous coffee table book and so much more... every page is packed full of behind the scenes research, summaries of the five main girls' stories, lovely photographs, and true passion from Pleasant Rowland and her incredible vision.
As a child, American Girl was so formative for my love of reading, history, and imagination. It felt like such a privilege to have the access to be educated on complex topics like the Great Depression, slavery, suffrage, and historical/cultural family dynamics through the American Girls' amazing stories. This book only reignited the joy that I have always held for these girls and their worlds that are so much more than just a company, but a portal into America's past through girlhood. They even covered the history of the AG Magazine and American Girl Place, both visions of community and wonder for me as a kid. I went back and listened to both American Girl musicals, fond memories for me when I went to AG Place in Chicago and New York when I was young.
I couldn't beleive how much research went into each doll/girl's design and story. Pleasant worked with historians from the Smithsonian for Addy's story, nationally renowned artists for the textile's of Josefina's outfits, and archived journals from a Colonial teacher to find historically accurate mannerisms for girls for Felicity -- all to make vocabulary, accounts of girlhood, and even draw the layouts of the houses and neighborhoods true to historical accuracy. The interviews with authors Valerie Tripp and Connie Porter showed hidden historical metaphors that I didn't pick up on as a child. Connie Porter was telling her family's history with slavery and emmancipation just as much as she was telling Addy's. I learned that the authors have revised the books multiple times to update newly found historical facts and cultural/language changes that were misrepresented. This book made me so emotional because I learned how the process of representing these historical stories was so intentional -- Pleasant wanted each girl to represent the present day girls who would read the stories just as much as she wanted the history to be frank and representative.
I could read the second, third, and infinite volumes beyond of this book. I would love to read about the development of Bitty Baby, Kaya and Kit; the history of chosing the girls of the year; the books for girls on advice and life; and every little endeavor that tried to take hold (AG Club, Girls From Many Lands, etc.). The Matel purchase probably is the reason why they had to stop at Josefina for this book.
Obviously I could go on and on. I love American Girl so much!
As a child, American Girl was so formative for my love of reading, history, and imagination. It felt like such a privilege to have the access to be educated on complex topics like the Great Depression, slavery, suffrage, and historical/cultural family dynamics through the American Girls' amazing stories. This book only reignited the joy that I have always held for these girls and their worlds that are so much more than just a company, but a portal into America's past through girlhood. They even covered the history of the AG Magazine and American Girl Place, both visions of community and wonder for me as a kid. I went back and listened to both American Girl musicals, fond memories for me when I went to AG Place in Chicago and New York when I was young.
I couldn't beleive how much research went into each doll/girl's design and story. Pleasant worked with historians from the Smithsonian for Addy's story, nationally renowned artists for the textile's of Josefina's outfits, and archived journals from a Colonial teacher to find historically accurate mannerisms for girls for Felicity -- all to make vocabulary, accounts of girlhood, and even draw the layouts of the houses and neighborhoods true to historical accuracy. The interviews with authors Valerie Tripp and Connie Porter showed hidden historical metaphors that I didn't pick up on as a child. Connie Porter was telling her family's history with slavery and emmancipation just as much as she was telling Addy's. I learned that the authors have revised the books multiple times to update newly found historical facts and cultural/language changes that were misrepresented. This book made me so emotional because I learned how the process of representing these historical stories was so intentional -- Pleasant wanted each girl to represent the present day girls who would read the stories just as much as she wanted the history to be frank and representative.
I could read the second, third, and infinite volumes beyond of this book. I would love to read about the development of Bitty Baby, Kaya and Kit; the history of chosing the girls of the year; the books for girls on advice and life; and every little endeavor that tried to take hold (AG Club, Girls From Many Lands, etc.). The Matel purchase probably is the reason why they had to stop at Josefina for this book.
Obviously I could go on and on. I love American Girl so much!
Read
July 3, 2026A gorgeous book crammed full of nostalgia. The behind-the-scenes sketches and stories are interesting, but it's a very corporate and celebratory book, with hardly a breath of anything negative. The scope is almost exclusively Pleasant Rowland's ownership, so fans of Kit, Kaya, and other later dolls might be disappointed by their omission. (My mom was!) It ends rather abruptly with Pleasant Rowland's lucrative sale of the brand to Mattel.
My favorite surprise (besides the photos of each doll--if you're a fan of the old catalogs, you'll understand when you see them) was the fact that they summarize each of the girls' book series, which serves as a great refresher if you read the books and enough to understand them if you didn't. The design art and behind-the-scenes information always met and often exceeded my expectations.
Worth reading if you're at all nostalgic about the American Girl dolls. I borrowed it from the library, but if you still have warm feelings toward the American Girl brand, $40 to spare, and a lot of shelf space (it's a BIG book!), I don't think you'd be disappointed in buying it, either.
My favorite surprise (besides the photos of each doll--if you're a fan of the old catalogs, you'll understand when you see them) was the fact that they summarize each of the girls' book series, which serves as a great refresher if you read the books and enough to understand them if you didn't. The design art and behind-the-scenes information always met and often exceeded my expectations.
Worth reading if you're at all nostalgic about the American Girl dolls. I borrowed it from the library, but if you still have warm feelings toward the American Girl brand, $40 to spare, and a lot of shelf space (it's a BIG book!), I don't think you'd be disappointed in buying it, either.
June 20, 2026
This book is so big and heavy that I found it most comfortable to read sitting at the kitchen table, which is not something I would do with an ordinary book. It is full of beautiful color pictures and lots of behind-the-scenes information about the making of Pleasant Company, which later became American Girl. There are also some interesting tidbits about the character’s stories that i hadn’t realized, such as a couple of events that happen in the books that are symbolic of historical events of the time. This is a must-have for any collector or lover of American Girl.
June 3, 2026
It's a beautiful homage to the dolls that defined my childhood. Learning about all of the research and care that went into the designs makes me sad they are owned by Mattell now.
American Girl is a major reason I love history to this day. It humanized history for me and made it relatable. I loved learning how Pleasant Rowland created it.
American Girl is a major reason I love history to this day. It humanized history for me and made it relatable. I loved learning how Pleasant Rowland created it.
June 20, 2026
I almost cried at the end of this book, this a great piece of history, this brand has so much heart , I truly believe that Pleasant wanted to create something meaningful for the girls of the past, present and future, every page showed the love and care that was put into the brand, I'm grateful for that I was able to witness it.
May 24, 2026
the sweetest book ever! 100% worth the money and i LOVED reading it! learning about all of the history behind the company, facts and research they did, i loved learning about it all! i now need to visit the store in chicago! i cannot recommend this book enough! 🥹🩷
May 26, 2026
What a treasure this book is! It was like going back in time to my childhood. I was honestly shocked reading through this at how much these dolls and their stories shaped me. How lucky are we millennial women for getting to have a girlhood shaped by American Girl. 😭
May 24, 2026
I loved the behind the scenes of the brand. Its first 5 dolls and the magazine and place and more.
May 27, 2026
Fascinating, especially the chapters about Addy and Josefina. But sadly nothing about the catalogue or the clothing that were such a feature for girls of my generation.
June 3, 2026
cute book for a culture i am knew too,, but sometimes these books are a little too expensive for the mass marketing they provide...
June 19, 2026
Perfect for any American Girl fan.
June 24, 2026
Somehow I am 12 again; this beautiful collection was a gift to all the original little girls that fell in love with The American Girl.
June 24, 2026
This book was perfect! Core childhood memories were definitely unlocked with this. The pictures were beautiful and the back story was so fascinating!
June 26, 2026
Just a delightful trip through the essence of my childhood.
July 2, 2026
This book was fascinating! I loved learning more about American Girl!
June 29, 2026
A great and accessible history of the American Girl brand. It is definitely more focused on the original 6 historical characters, their stories, and the research/work that went into making them accurate. Which I have always been more a fan of the books and stories so this was perfect for me.
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