You know what else I miss about the old catalogues? The girls were all presented in historical order! Now they start with whatever they feel like featuring and everything is all hodge-podged.
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You know what else I miss about the old catalogues? The girls were all presented in historical order! Now they start with whatever they feel like featuring and everything is all hodge-podged.
jerseycow, I really, really like this idea. Like little board books, sort of like Bitty's but, about the AGs at about age 4 or 5. If they did this, I'd want to see (don't laugh) Bitty sized toddlers that were supposed to be the historicals at younger ages. Complete with historical outits and accessories that a young child would wear.
I think they can be doing SO much more with the books, and tying them into dolls.
I'd also like to see them target the older crowd that they keep failing with (AG Minis, GOML, etc), with books about the girls at about 15. Write them for the 12 and up crowd, but, of course, being totally appropriate for anyone younger who might read them. And to go with these, they could have more detailed (and costly, like the LoF) outfits to go with the regular 18' historical dolls.
I don't get why they haven't tried to target more age groups with the historical girls. All of the sidelines have failed- Amelia, Angelina, AG Minis, HSH, etc. Obviously the historicals sell, why not make historical AG items aimed at the age groups they keep trying to hit?
*sigh* Yeah, I really miss the old catalogues. They were very organized, and everything was displayed in an organized fashion. I have NO idea who's creating the layouts for their current catalogues, but they stink! They jump around too much and they never have all the girls in them (historicals, I mean). I think I might actually go on Ebay and try to rustle up an old catalogue from someone just to have for posterity.
I also completely agree with everyone on the book issue. The main reason I wanted these dolls was because of their books! I was (and still am) a huge history buff, so when my librarian suggested I read the American Girl books, I was hooked from the get go. The books make the dolls come to life, and for me it helped connect me with the past more because these girls were MY age. This was a kid's POV of history, and I had always read adult perspectives on history up until that point, so it was so cool to learn how kids acted, dressed, went to school, etc., back then. If I had just wanted a cute doll to play with, I would have bought a life size Barbie or My Twinn doll. The stories make the dolls more interesting and to me, more collectable.
Also, I think it's so true that each of the accompanying accessories, outfits, etc., are far more entertaining than the random outfits that AG has issued in past years. Why do I want Molly's after school outfit? I mean, it's cute, but it has little relevance for me because it's not tied into a story, IMO. Anyway, I just hope AG reads this and realizes how critical reading is to kids. So many kids HATE to read because they think it's boring or dumb or whatever, and the American Girls Collection of stories helps kids learn while being entertained, and what do these dolls stand for without their books? Not much to me, except for a lesson on fashion trends throughout history. [img]confused.gif[/img]
Cami, I completely agree with what you said about Mattel disregarding the books, and the way the catalogs have been changed to de-emphasize the girls' stories. I used to spend hours reading the old catalogs. The book descriptions were so detailed and the descriptions of the accessories always emphasized their place in the particular book they went along with. The book, outfit, and accessories were all intertwined and you knew that to understand what the accessories were all about, you needed to read the book. That presentation has been lost in the newer catalogs. The books really are an afterthought now, which is so sad.
When I was young and getting into AG, I didn't know a single girl who got a doll without first reading at least one AG book. That was just the way it was - we all checked the books out of the school library and passed them around to each other, keeping track of who had read what book. I had long phone conversations with my friends about which doll we liked best and which books we thought were the best. It was unthinkable to have a doll and not read her books. I think it's so sad now that so many girls have dolls and haven't even read their stories. I do agree with whoever said the decline in the importance of the books has to do with younger and younger girls getting AG dolls. If a girl is too young to read the books herself and too young to even pay attention to someone else reading to her, it's no surprise that the books are losing importance. I may be in the minority here, but I really wish that parents would wait to buy their daughters historical AGs until they are old enough to read the books themselves and old enough to understand the different time periods the dolls represent. I think littler girls should stick to Bitty Baby and the Bitty Twins first, or if it's absolutely necessary an AGT doll, and when they are able to read the historical books, THEN they can choose a historical doll for themselves. A lot of the specialness of the historical collections are lost when the child doesn't know or care about the history behind it, and just wants another pretty doll to dress up.
Even now that I am an adult, my pattern of first reading the books before buying the doll has not changed. All of my adult historical doll purchases - Kit, Josefina, Addy, and Kaya - were added only after I read the majority of their books. I didn't even LIKE Josefina or Kaya until I read the books - it was the stories that made me fall in love with them and convinced me I had to have them. And perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I think that's the way it should be.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I know that.Quote:
They started the age recommendation long before mattel bought the company. There was in 1990, and probably before that.
"Accessory kits are historically accurate reproductions appropriate for children 8 and over" is on almost every page of the old PC catalogues. And the back of my Holiday 94, "They are quality pieces--not plastic playthings--and are made for children over eight years old to treasure."
I don't think there should have been an age recomendation then, either. I think it should have always said "As soon as a child is able to read the books on her own, she's ready for her first historical doll" or something alont those lines.
I don't think it was ever a matter of age, but understanding the differences between the time periods, and the items that go with each doll. Most kids really can't do that without reading the books, to show them the differences, and how important each of the accessory pieces was.
I always thought the age warning was for safety reasons. Many of the old AG items were perfectly safe, but some items could technically be hazards. I suppose someone could choke on Kirsten's spoon, or break her slate and hurt herself on it. Anything that could become small parts is considered a choking hazard, and I assume they don't want to open themselves up to liabilities.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Unfortunately, I think you're right and it's very short-sighted of AG. While finding ways to keep girls interested longer would be a step in the right direction, the fans that would be the easiest to keep are moms who still love AG even after their daughters out grow it. Those moms could be encouraged to become adult collectors by giving them products meant specifically for them and even by just calling to their attention that there are adult collectors of AG.Quote:
Originally posted by Kenshinchan:
... I'm guessing AG is much more interested in luring new fans, than keeping the old.)
Re: HSH, I know I'm not the only person who found those dolls really creepy-looking. Kit1934 said they're much better in person, but I know I wouldn't get them, and doubt I would've been interested even if I were a tiny child and read the books. At the least, I would've had to work to overcome my natural dislike of the face molds. Also, more cuddly dolls MIGHT be better for a younger age set...the HSH crew didn't look too huggable.
Jerseycow and Cami, I like your combined idea of the young historicals! But I'd like even more if AG spun off the younger siblings/relative of historicals. I know that's not always possible; Josefina is the youngest in her family, as is Kit. But they could make a doll of Nellie's littlest sister, and Kirsten's darling little cousin Anna (I would definitely buy one of those!). I can definitely see the appeal of making younger AGs (especially because it would be interesting to read about, say, Kirsten's childhood). But as an adult collector, I would rather see a doll I could use to play WITH Kirsten, instead of having a Young Kirsten and a grown-up Kirsten. Of course, with the girls that don't have younger siblings (presumably sisters) that could be used anywhere in the books, they'd have some trouble. [img]frown.gif[/img]
Adventures with the girls when they get older are a neat idea too! Of course, if we were just putting the outfits on the existing 18" dolls, I guess we could technically write those and make the clothes for them ourselves...we just wouldn't get to make any money off it. [img]tongue.gif[/img] I'm not 100% sure that would sell to older girls, though; they'd probably still think of the dolls as meant for kids, no matter what was done to them. (Of course, girls who loved the dolls as they were growing up may love to expand the collection and follow the historicals as they grow up. But I'm guessing AG is much more interested in luring new fans, than keeping the old.)
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">She wears it, or what I assume is supposed to be it (plaid shirt and pants) in 3 out of the 6 core books, and one of the SS books. Personally, if I were a Molly fan, I'd be interested in the outfit, since she wears it so often.Quote:
do I want Molly's after school outfit? I mean, it's cute, but it has little relevance for me because it's not tied into a story, IMO.
I think the "extra" 2 outfits they made during the PC days are neat, and most are seen in the books, making them, imo, more interesting and important than the current ones they're making that have no book attachment whatsoever. Most of the old ones, though, are of importance to the stories, some of them mean a lot to the girls. Lissie's Riding Outfit was important as it was a gift from Grandfather, Addy's Patriotic was important, Molly's Hula costume was important, Sam's Play dress, and Lissie's Work dress, etc.
Edit: Kenshin, we were posting at the same time [img]smile.gif[/img]
I agree that younger characters in the books would make awesome dolls, too. The only 2 problems with this are: 1, as you mentioned, not all the girls have a younger sibling/cousin/etc. They could make Bridget and Jenny for Sam/Nellie, Anna for Kirsten, Esther for Addy, Nan for Lissie, but there's really no one for Kaya, Josefina, Molly, or Kit. Unless they wen't for boys, in which case they could use Kaya's twin brothers, Josefina's cousins, and Brad for Molly. Still no one for Kit. The 2nd problem is that none of them are the same age, so there'd be size, and clothes sharing, issues.
I know when I was about 14, I put my AGs away. I know they would have had me for a few more years with books targeted toward my age group, and more of a collector feel to the dolls (with new clothes, not GOML type dolls). Of course, that doesn't mean it'd be true for everyone. But they keep trying to target this age group, so I don't see any harm in at least trying this out. The Historical Mysteries are "recommended" for age 12 and up, so they're already partly there. I just want more substantial stories, instead of those fun little ones. Of course, the fact that 13+ girls feel AG is dorky is probably the reason all of the older aged lines fail. Whether or not it's the American Girl dolls, AG minis are STILL AG, and I'm sure some girls would have been teased about even that.
I really just want to see them expand the historical line. They could easily take Nan, Anna, Esther, and Bridget and/or Jenny, and start up a new line. Making them size compatible with their older sisters/cousins (so 10-16 inches), but with smaller stories and accessories appropriate for smaller children. The dolls could be aimed at younger kids (age 4-7), but be perfectly appropriate for the older girls to get, too.
<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ May 05, 2006 12:43 AM: Message edited by: cami713 ]</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What about adding new brothers/sisters/cousins for the few that don't? I mean it wouldn't be THAT hard to write a book that adds a younger relative. Maybe Aunt whoever dies and sends a child to live with them or something. If they move the years around like they do with the friend books, it'd be really easy.Quote:
Originally posted by Kenshinchan:
Of course, with the girls that don't have younger siblings (presumably sisters) that could be used anywhere in the books, they'd have some trouble. [img]frown.gif[/img]
I've been saying for a while, AG would be STUPID to not make a line of 14-16 inch siblings in the same style as the larger AGs. They could wear AG and Bitty clothes and would appeal to so many people.
Even if they don't make them "siblings" per se, they could make a line of "American Girl Cousins" that are modern and cooridinate with the today dolls.