Question about the American Girl doll of the year 2012

[neatokimmo]

I agree. I think AG really lacks in a variety of dolls that represent real American Girls. I would love to see more variety in the like me dolls that have a medium skin with nice hair. I wish AG would take a look at real American Girls and properly represent and carry a doll for girls of every skin and hair color. If it wasn't for the gymnastic theme of the new doll we probably wouldn't be getting her.

Ya, the gymnastics theme would be the only reason for me to buy another doll. Those suckers are expensive and DD is still really too little for a big doll. But Kanani's hair made me go ooooooo so I bought her. Kim = poor impulse control.

 

[mistydoodles]

Thanks for the info.

My niece is taking gymnastics for the past 2 years.
She is 9 yrs old.

Is this a good age to start American Girls?

My daughter is 11 and her and her friends still play with American girls. They love them.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

The first pictures have been leaked...

http://dolldiaries.com/picture-of-the-american-girl-of-the-year-2012-doll-mckenna-brooks/

 

[neatokimmo]

Oh I def will not be getting that doll. After Kanani being so pretty, this one is very meh. I will just sew a leotard and slap it on the Kanani doll she is getting for Christmas.

 

[dizneechic]

The first pictures have been leaked...

http://dolldiaries.com/picture-of-the-american-girl-of-the-year-2012-doll-mckenna-brooks/

Gosh darn it! I wouldn't have even thought about getting another for my dd (has a Just like me, getting Kanani, and have Samantha aside for her) but this one looks SO much like her that she will flip once she sees it. OY.

 

[Erin1700]

Why another athlete? Chrissa (sp?) was a swimmer. I think it was too quick to put out another sports related doll. And my DD is a swimmer and has Chrissa and she likes gymnastics. So it isnt that we arent into sports. I just think there are so many other activities they could focus on for a change. How about an artist?

 

[Kimberly Hill]

ick. Saved some money not having to buy AG again in 2012.

 

[QVCshopper]

Why another athlete? Chrissa (sp?) was a swimmer. I think it was too quick to put out another sports related doll. And my DD is a swimmer and has Chrissa and she likes gymnastics. So it isnt that we arent into sports. I just think there are so many other activities they could focus on for a change. How about an artist?

I think all companies are pushing sports/get up and go type things due to the rising obesity in our country. Just watch the Disney Channel for five minutes. They have the healthy eating, the sport shorts, Shake it Up, etc. So, that's probably where they are going with this. An artist would be nice--or a writer!

 

[robinb]

I agree with the comments on the link that AG should have a more racially diverse GOTY. I think they are going in the right direction with Cécile who is an equal with Marie Grace instead of a side-kick like Ivy or Sonali (who I think she's the prettiest AG doll). Maybe AG will watch and see how Cécile sells. They got one sale from us ... she was the doll that my DD asked for and will be her second African American doll. I was very lucky that I have a friend who works for American Girl in Middleton and she was able to purchase the doll as a gift when she was 25% off *plus* she had her employee discount. She got both dolls and their accessories for $129!

 

[thebeesknees]

I would love t see more racial diversity in the line. How about a biracial doll? Looking at my kids' school, there are more than a few kids that fall into that category (mine included, so I know I am biased). DD has been frustrated that she hasn't been able to find one that looks like her. I know you can't cater to every single person out there, but I look around a see a lot of little girls who don't fall into the Caucasian mold.

 

[Jey12]

Thank you for posting that link! Even though the doll looks nothing like DD, she does have the same hairstyle at least. I am glad they decided to do another athlete for their GOTY or at least a gymnast. If she wasn't a gymnast we'd be buying Kaya for DD's birthday. DD has her first gym meet the weekend before her birthday so McKenna and one of her gym accessories will be a nice gift for her. I see the bar in the picture and I know DD will love that! I too would like to see more art and science type of dolls as well. I do understand why AG went with another sports theme, especially gymnastics, this year. With the Olympics this summer gymnastics is going to be a popular theme and topic and this doll will fit right in. What would have bee nice is if AG had release an entire gym team of about 4-5 dolls, all of different ethnic backgrounds and each doll having her own story. Then they could all come together in the last book. Far fetched I'm sure and probably not feasible for a GOTY collection. The magazine ad does say McKenna has a doll collection so maybe she will have a friend or two? Sadly it seems they'd just be a sidekick. Hopefully one day soon AG will see there's a huge market for more racially diverse dolls.

 

[malice]

I would love t see more racial diversity in the line. How about a biracial doll? Looking at my kids' school, there are more than a few kids that fall into that category (mine included, so I know I am biased). DD has been frustrated that she hasn't been able to find one that looks like her. I know you can't cater to every single person out there, but I look around a see a lot of little girls who don't fall into the Caucasian mold.

The Kanani, Sonali, and Jess characters are all biracial. In Kanani's book it states she is hapa. Sonali is Indian-American yet her last name is Matthews. Jess the GOTY 2006 is of Japanese and Irish/Scottish descent.

American Girl makes 8 different head molds, 6 of which were available at some point in the look-alike doll line.

 

[kkandaj]

"Biracial" consists of so much! My children are biracial (white/african-american) and they look just like the african-american bitty twins (which we have). I am impressed with AG for how far they have come with african-american dolls in the past couple of years. It used to just be Addy--a slave.

I do think there is a lack of other races--definitely Asian.

We are so excited about Cecile! DD will be getting her for Christmas from my mother. I can't wait to see how beautiful she is. She looks so gorgeous in the books!

OP--I completely agree about the store in KC needing a bistro or something. I guess I shouldn't complain though, since people drive hours to come to our "little" store.

 

[thebeesknees]

"Biracial" consists of so much!

This is what I meant - there is just such a wide range, I wish we could pick our own face mold, coloring, hairstyle, eye color, etc. to truly customize the doll. It's frustrating to my DD that most of her Caucasian friends have JLY dolls that really do look like them, and yet she and her biracial friends have not been able to do the same. That is what I was trying to convey, and I should have been more explicit. I am glad to see more variety than when they first started. I just have a feeling that by the time AG comes around to making dolls truly customizable, DD will be too old for them.

 

[Jey12]

OP--I completely agree about the store in KC needing a bistro or something. I guess I shouldn't complain though, since people drive hours to come to our "little" store.

I have to admit I cringed when the store first opened. Thought no way we're getting involved with $100 dolls! Then DD asked for one and said I know they are expensive so I probably won't get one. That's all I needed, mainly because she's the kind of kid that rarely asks for something. After seeing how much she's played with Josefina and how much she loves her, plus I really enjoyed reading the books with her, and now we're sold. A bistro would be nice, and maybe they'll add one in the future? Until then I'm just happy we have a store here and Noodles and Co. will do just fine to eat at.

DD is hispanic/caucasian. Josefina is the only doll that comes close but her hair is a hot mess! In the JLY selection there's only one hair style available for the dolls with medium skin, brown eyes and dark brown to black hair that's not textured or curly. That hair style of course includes bangs and DD does not have those, and she doesn't want them. So Josefina it was. For little girls with hispanic or asian heritage there is very little to choose from as far as JLY dolls.

 

[MickeyP]

Barnes & Noble had McKenna books on Black Friday. Yes, she's a gymnast, and yes, she's entering 4th grade. People must be preoccupied at this time of year, because I haven't heard much about her, yet there it all was, at B&N.

 

[pinktink83]

There are two dark skin face molds, 2 medium skin face molds, 1 face mold w/ almond eyes, 3 textured hair colors & styles, and many dark hair styles (curly, wavy, straight, bangs, long, short, etc).

I think they do a pretty good job covering different races. They don't even have a red haired doll yet...only strawberry blonde.

 

[LostWillow]

Here is the actress playing McKenna in the new movie. Maybe this gives us some clue what she looks like...


We are also waiting for the GOTY 2012, DD loves Kanani's accessories, but not Kanani! If she doesn't want McKenna then she will just get a non-historical doll (she already has Kit). Still kicking myself we didn't get Lanie since DD has blonde curly hair.

What about JLY #56? She has Blonde curley hair, but shorter than Lanie's

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

What about JLY #56? She has Blonde curley hair, but shorter than Lanie's

We went on the day that Mckenna came out and she ended up picking out JLY 27 (blonde long layers)... She already has Kit and wanted a sister for her with long hair. The staff at the AG store said Kanani's hair was a nightmare, I am kind of happy she picked a doll with straight hair. Ironically we walked over the salon and there were several girls waiting with Kanani and boy did they need a salon visit!