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AGMag2019

The cover of the last issue of American Girl Magazine, Jan/Feb 2019.

American Girl Magazine is a magazine formerly published by American Girl. The magazine premiered in December 1992 and was discontinued in January 2019 after running for just over twenty-seven years. The magazine was released bimonthly, with six regular issues per year and select issue specials starting in 1998.

This magazine should not be confused with the older magazine American Girl (originally called The Rally and then changed to The American Girl before dropping the the) which was a Girl Scouts-run publication from 1917 to 1979.

History[]

Ag-premiere

The cover of the premiere issue of American Girl Magazine.

At release, the American Girl Magazine was more closely affiliated with promoting the products of the American Girl company, especially the Historical Characters. For example, the magazine published various Historical Character Short Stories first, many of which were later collected in single book form. The magazine eventually shifted its focus more towards articles and information featuring real-life contemporary girls and modern situations.

The magazine advertised itself both as an ad-free magazine (which was possible because of the corporation behind it) and a magazine for girls that did not focus on making them grow up too fast or mature too early (like other magazines aimed at tweens or an older teen audience, such as Seventeen, Tiger Beat, or YM). Beginning with the September/October 2009 issue, the magazine featured more advertisements for American Girl products. The contents page was shrunk to fit an advertisement for American Girl and the behind the scenes page was moved to fit another American Girl advertisement at the back of the magazine. However, there were still no outside product advertisements.

Some articles were republished as part of the Backpack Books series or as individual books as part of the American Girl Library.

In early 2019, the magazine was discontinued with the last issue being the January/Feb 2019 issue. Reasons likely include the social decline of magazine subscriptions and lowered purchases in the United States.

Subscription Cost and Promotions/Offers[]

Initial one-year subscription cost was $19.95. The price was later raised to $22.95 through American Girl while a two-year subscription was $39.95. Individual cover issue purchase was $3.95.

Starting in 2000, the magazine also had a section on the American Girl website; issues were also displayed prominently at American Girl Place, along with a photo studio in the larger flagship stores where visitors could pose along with dolls for a picture that would then be edited to resemble a magazine cover about their visit. A six month subscription--three regular issues plus any released specials--was available as an initial benefit to purchasing a Create Your Own doll.

Special Issues[]

AGM-Holiday-2018

The cover of the 2018 Holiday Special magazine.

In 1998, an issue was released titled "A Special Issue of All Time Favorites," which was a issue containing selected articles from the past issues; the cover was from the March/April 1994 edition; and a paper doll was also included (with Jacqueline Moorehead).

Another special issue was released in 2001, and 2011-2018 all having regular special editions; 2019, being the last year of publication and terminating with the January/February issue, did not have any specials. Unlike the regular issue magazines, these generally focused on one specific topic through the whole issue, such as back-to-school tips, holidays tips, creativity, and mid-summer breaks. They were included in the full subscriptions and arrived at no extra additional cost to the subscriber.

The following were special issues:

  • 1998: A Special Issue of All Time Favorites
  • 2001: Summer Fun, Friends
  • 2002: Summer Fun '02
  • 2003: Summer Fun '03
  • 2009: Back To School
  • 2011: Holiday
  • 2012: Holiday
  • 2013: Best of AG
  • 2014: Holiday
  • 2015: Everyday Fun (Summer); Holiday
  • 2016: Everyday Fun
  • 2017: Everyday Fun, Holiday
  • 2018: Create, Holiday

Notable Magazine Contents[]

Historical Character Plays[]

See: American Girl Magazine Plays

Four play scripts starring the Historical Characters were printed with a cast of six to eight characters. They are printed on pages that can be torn out. Much like the Theater Kits, the scripts have tips on stage setting, characters, and setting up a successful show. The plays have not been republished outside of the magazine.

Real Girl Paper Dolls[]

See: American Girl Magazine Paper Dolls

The magazine initially offered paper dolls of real-life girls who had researched their family history and sent in pictures of themselves and their ancestors to the magazine. The doll differed in each issue and their outfits were based on what their ancestors wore. The paper dolls ended with #49 in July/August 2000.

American Girl Short Stories[]

See: Short Stories

Several short stories were published in the magazine before they were published as unique volumes. These were phased out around 1996. Two, Kirsten and the Thief and Kirsten's New Teacher, were not published outside of the magazine.

Novel or Story Excerpts[]

Abridged excerpts from various young adult novels and short stories were printed, often with citations of the full book. This also included excerpts from the Central Series when newer Historical Characters were released, or sections from Amelia's Notebook.

The Buzzword[]

"The Buzzword" is a vocabulary word. The word's pronunciation and definition are given, along with a sentence using the word in context. For a time, the word might have been used in a story or article in the magazine as well. Several were later gathered in the first Backpack Book, ''The Little Book of Buzzwords.

HELP![]

HELP! asked readers to write to American Girl seeking advice. These answers are published in the back with pictures illustrating select questions. Several published answers later became part of the book Help!: An Absolutely Indispensable Guide to Life for Girls.

Trivia[]

  • In both Nicki: My Journal and Isabel: My Journal several illustrations of the covers of older issues of American Girl Magazine are shown as part of a photograph. Isabel also uses clips from the magazine in her journal, and cites in her Ten Girl Power Moments of the 1990s essay the launch of the magazine with a photograph of the first edition cover.

See Also[]

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