Molly's Route 66 Adventure

American Girl: Molly

by Dottie Raymer, Will Capellaro (Illustrator), Jane S. Varda (Illustrator)

Girls can hop into the backseat with Molly for a trip down Route 66. This journal-style book features historical photographs, a secret decoder, and eight pullout souvenirs for girls to keep, including a Wanted poster

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Travel, Historical, Fiction, American History, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*deep breath in* OH MY GOSH. IT'S STUNNING.

Okay, for those of you who haven't been absolutely steeped in the American Girl lore like I have: the company used to release all of these amazing historical companion books along with their dolls.

They were intricately made, beautifully illustrated, and overall amazingly put together.

Molly's Route 66 Adventure is a "scrapbook" made by Molly McIntire about her family's summer road trip.

Her trip begins in Illinois where Molly gives us a bit of background about the vacation and she tapes in a family photograph of the Merry McIntires in front of the family car. The photo shows Molly, her mom, dad, and brothers (Ricky and Brad) (note: Jill, Molly's older sister, is staying behind).

Molly talks about what she wants to do and v explains that she's also solving a puzzle using a decoder (which is included in this book). She'll get a clue in every state and might get a signed photo of Judy Garland as a prize.

And when I say that this is a scrapbook, it really is. Molly pastes in pictures, postcards, and plenty of foldout maps or additional scraps she decides to keep from her trip.

In Illinois they visit Lincoln's home and rode fair rides. Then in Missouri, she talks about the Meramec Caverns (complete with foldout postcards of the rock formations) and we see the tent that the family is camping in.

In Kansas, Molly talks about the Wizard of Oz and tornados. Then she's off to Oklahoma where she learns about teepees, rodeos and drive-ins.

Texas was a particularly fun place for her, though she was a little worried about traveling through the desert. And from there she got to visit New Mexico and see a fiesta and the pueblos.

Arizona was a huge hit cause of the Meteor Crater and the Grand Canyon. Then they sped through Nevada to see the Boulder Dam and finally into California they go, where she gets to see the ocean and ride a carousal.

The book ends with a bit of information about Hollywood and she shows off the wonderful prize that she won.

Overall Thoughts

I've said this so many times about these books but I am continually amazed by how much the American Girl Company invested into these books. There were so many flaps, pullouts, and removable pieces - heck, it came with a decoder so you can decode right alongside Molly!

I really wish they would've kept up all the companion books with the later dolls, they are truly so much fun.
I had so much fun learning about the various roadside attractions, activities, and adventures that Molly and her family go on.

More reviews in the Molly-verse

Main Series:
Meet Molly - ★★★☆☆
Molly Learns a Lesson - ★★★☆☆
Molly's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Molly - ★★☆☆☆
Molly Saves the Day - ★★★★☆
Changes for Molly - ★★★★☆
Molly's Boxed Set - ★★★☆☆

Best Friend Book
Brave Emily - ★★★★★

Short Stories:
Molly's A+ Partner - ★★★★☆
Molly Takes Flight - ★★★★☆
Molly and the Movie Star - ★★★★☆
Molly's Puppy Tale - ★★★★★
Molly Marches On - ★★★★☆
Molly's Short Story Collection - ★★★★☆

Additional History Books
American Girls Cookbook - ★★★★★
American Girl Sweet & Savory Treats Cookbook - ★☆☆☆☆
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From American Girl - ★★★☆☆
Molly's Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Molly's Cooking Studio - ★★★★★
Molly's Craft Book - ★★★★☆
Molly's Route 66 Adventure - ★★★★★
Molly's Theater Kit - ★★★★★
Welcome to Molly's World - ★★★★★

Mystery Books
Clues in the Shadows - ★★★★☆
The Light in the Cellar - ★★★★☆
A Spy on the Home Front - ★★★☆☆

Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2018)
A Winning Spirit: A Molly Classic Vol 1 - ★★★☆☆
Stars and Stripes: A Molly Classic Vol 2 - ★★★☆☆

Abridged Version (Re-Release of Main Series in 2022):
Molly: A Winning Spirit - ★★★★☆
(NOTE: They have not re-released the second book yet)

Beginner Reader & Picture Books
Molly's Christmas Surprise (Step Into Reading) - ★★★☆☆
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆

[Qt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun "scrapbook" of a Route 66 trip in the 1940s, complete with vintage photos and reproductions of menus, signs, etc. you would have seen along the way. Also lots of fun for Molly (the Pleasant Company doll) fans! Or, at least, for me :-)

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot even describe how surreal and wonderful it was to discover a new Molly book in 2020. I bought a used copy of this online, and was delighted to find that it still contained all of the original souvenirs and extras. I enjoyed reading the scrapbook entries and looking at the different unique features, and even though this is very light on story, it is fun, educational, and gives a happy glimpse into postwar life from after Molly's father came home.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the Adventure books! Maybe it's because I have lived within 2 miles of Rt. 66 all my life. But this is a good book with lots of detail and I love that it features real places. Like the Little Piney River! I know exactly where that is! The only thing I don't like is that the ending feels like it cuts short.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the idea of traveling Route 66 to see what I could see. This was a fun adventure with Molly. It took me back to one Spring Break trip to Arizona, a Nevada trip and the times my BFF visited me California.
Reading Molly's Route 66 Adventure makes me want to take a road trip and get my kicks on Route 66.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read. Lots of photos and postcards and other memorabilia collected by Molly on her trip across the US.

[Little Seal]

This made me kind of want to drive on Route 66. I also find it hilarious that Molly found Hollywood beautiful! I mean, maybe it was THEN but it certainly isn't NOW.

[RaspberryRoses]

a charming little book - made me nostalgic for my own road trips down route 66.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little scrapbook style supplemental book. The reproduced images and documents are really fun, and there's a code to crack to make it even more interactive. Unfortunately, the decoder was damaged in the library copy I read, so I couldn't exactly play along with that, but most of the other removable items were still in the book and in decent shape.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting facts about Route 66.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really neat little book about Molly and her family's trip along Route 66. Rather than being printed in a novel-type of fashion, this book consists of photographs, typed and handwritten entries, and various fold-out things that you can open and read.

It's the last item that really makes this book stand out and be fun to read in more ways than one. Definitely a good addition to the group of books about Molly.

[Amanda Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, these scrapbooks were my favorite AG books outside the central series. I've always loved Molly's, as I live not far from the start of Rt. 66. Such a nice travel journal, and I always loved the pullouts.

[Sandybear76]

Great book about a American Girl girl on a family trip on Route 66.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! One day, I'll go and see all of the sights that Molly saw.