- July 10, 2020 / More Black Stories for Free by American Girl
- American Girl has recent;y released all of Gabriela McBride's books on their Commitment to Racial Equality Online Library, as well as two of the A Girl Named books. The following is now available:
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- Nethilia, The Admin
- July 1, 2020 / Black Stories for Free by American Girl
American Girl has launched the Commitment to Racial Equality Online Library. The following books and videos are now available for free download and watching:
- For Melody Ellison: (Civil Rights, 1964)
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- For Cécile Rey (with Marie-Grace Gardner): New Orleans, 1853
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- For Addy Walker: Civil War, 1864
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- For General:
- Perspective video with Denise Lewis Patrick
- The website states information that Gabriela McBride's first book, Gabriela will later be available.
The prior digital books are no longer linked directly from the website.
- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 29, 2020 / Reclosed Stores
- Due to a massive spike in cases in Harris County, American Girl Place Houston is closed again. Other stores may close.
- Nethilia, The Admin (wear a mask and show you care)
- June 24, 2020 / New Truly Me and Joss Release
- New items have released for all the modern lines.
- For Joss's Collection:
- For Truly Me there are three new dolls--Just Like You 83, Just Like You 84, and Just Like You 85--filling out the remaining numbering gaps. There are also new meet outfits, the Sparkle and Shine Outfit and the Casual and Cool Outfit, with matching accessories. Other items for the line:
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- For WellieWishers:
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- For Bitty Baby:
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- Books:
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- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 23, 2020 / American Girl's Statement of Commitment to Racial Equality
- American Girl has made an official statement of Commitment to Racial Equality on their Instagram account, Twitter accountand Facebook page. ETA: The commitment is now on the website at Our Commitment to Racial Equality.
The company has stated they will accelerate their progress in stories and characters that represent the black community and other communities of color and diversity. Some specifics include:
- The launch of What It Means to Be an American Girl Today, a series of virtual and in-person discussions about race and diversity. Initial discussion will be led by writers of the Black stories on the line (e.g. Connie Porter, Denise Lewis Patrick) and experts, and help the company listen to the voices of the community.
- Starting July 1st, all the stories about the Black characters will be added to the Online Library as free downloads. AG is also making a commitment to launch more fiction and non fiction books about topics of racial equality and justice.
- Bringing more black voices into their discussions and advice on creation including consultants, influencers, parents, and children.
- The planning and release of a new Black Contemporary character (likely a Girl of the Year) and other contemporary characters of color.
- The donation of a minimum of $50,000 worth of books to libraries focusing on the stories of Kaya, Addy, Josefina, Rebecca (who is a character of religious diversity but not of color), Nanea, and Melody.
- Nethilia, The Admin, who if you didn't know by now, is Black
- June 22, 2020 / Reopened Stores and Create Your Own Delays
- The following American Girl Place stores are currently open: Seattle, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Fransisco, and Washington D.C.
- Stores may have shorter hours, limited bistros, and limited doll salons. Stores with bistros have switched to disposable menus and have temporarily removed loaner dolls from our cafés and party rooms. Chicago offers curbside pickup (as does New York, though the store itself is not open). At several locations face coverings are required due to local guidelines, and all fitting rooms are closed at this time.
- Please check American Girl's FAQ for all regulations, and continue to practice safe social distancing.
- Also note that delivery time for Create Your Own dolls and outfits has been extended to approximately ten weeks from the order date due to the pandemic.
- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 19, 2020 / Buy Two Books, Get One Free
- Starting June 4th and through September 7th, select books are Buy Two Get One Free with code BOOK20 at American Girl stores and online (excluding the American Girl Outlet Store and Canadian retail outlets). Last Chance items and Smart Girl's Guides branded kits are excluded from this offer.
- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 14, 2020 / American Girl, the Mattel Play Fair Initiative and the Black Lives Matter Movement
- in the wake of the Black Lives Matter activity in 2020--a international human rights movement founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer and amplified in 2020 by the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and the following nation- and worldwide protests--Mattel and its subsidiaries have, like many companies and businesses, spoken out about the movement and recognized their shortcomings in representation and black support in the Mattel Play Fair Initiative. This has been specifically noted in relation to American Girl on their Instagram account and Facebook account, as well as on the corporate site. Specifics noted across the company:
- Increasing efforts to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community, focusing on the development and recruitment of Black talent.
- Investment in the next generation of the Black community with intention, by providing access and opportunities.
- Offering products, content and experiences built on the foundation of diversity, ensuring that the stories of the Black community are seen and heard.
- Mattel is donating $250,000 to NAACP youth programs and going forward will donate proceeds from future product sales and initiatives of at least $250,000 to fund educational programs focused on supporting Black girls.
- Specific to American Girl, representatives have stated that they will not be retiring the Addy doll nor her mold, both of which have been lessened in promotions and product in recent years.
- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 13, 2020 / This Week on the American Girl Library - Week Twelve
- This week's free books from the American Girl Online Library are Rebecca: The Sound of Applause, the accompanying teacher's guide, and A Smart Girl's Guide: Knowing What to Say.
- As American Girl has stated they would do twelve total weeks, it is unknown if more books will be available after this week.
- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 8, 2020 / Changes to the MCM Sale for 2020
- The Madison Children's Museum has released data via e-mail about the logistics of this year's MCM Sale, and the changes that are being made due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The sale will be online only, as was expected.
- Orders can be placed on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26. This is a change from the original July 11-12 dates, to give time to facilitate the online system.
- Access to shopping online will be in the same order and weekend day as ticketed entry times. Quantity limits will be in effect, just as at the physical sale, by ticket. A ticket allows one online purchase of a shopping cart of goods, honoring all quantity limits. A second ticket allows another online purchase, with refreshed quantity limits, and so on.
- As with previous sales, on Sunday there will be additional markdowns and limit changes.
- All orders will be shipped to the purchaser. Curbside pickup options will not be available. Shipping costs will be calculated during checkout and included in the purchase total at the time of checkout. While MCM is negotiating the best possible deals for shipping, buyers should expect shipping charges similar to standard shipping of items through the post office or UPS store.
- MCM has decided that no additional tickets will be offered for this year's benefit sale.
- Dolls and Friends Pajama Party kits will be available in limited quantities. Each kit will include a Bitty Baby doll, special craft project supplies, and an invitation to participate in an exclusive online video party in the fall; exact date(s) will be listed.
- Due to the multiple logistic changes, MCM for this year is changing the longstanding refund policy and will offer refunds to current ticket holders. Requests for refunds must be made by the 15th of June. Alternatively--since this is a benefit sale for charity--there will also be an option to donate any unneeded ticket(s) to the cause. People may also transfer their tickets to others.
- Full information can be read online at the official website.
- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 6, 2020 / This Week on the American Girl Library - Week Eleven
- The American Girl Online Library has extended two additional weeks. This week's free book is Luciana.
- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 3, 2020 / Two New Books in the Smart Girl's Series
- Two new books are to be released this fall in the Smart Girl's Guides series, as spotted on Amazon:
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- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 2, 2020 / Team USA Gear / Store Reopenings
- While the 2020 Olympics have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Team USA is still being promoted. The following is now available:
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- These can be purchased by AG Rewards members only until June 4th, when they will be available to everyone.
- American Girl Place Houston, Charlotte, and Orlando have reopened with limitations. Learn more at Frequently Asked Questions on the website.
- Nethilia, The Admin
- June 1, 2020 / This Week on the American Girl Library - Week Ten; The Thank You Heroes Scrubs and "Heroes With Heart" Contest
- This week's free books from the American Girl Online Library are Julie: The Big Break, the accompanying teacher's guide, and Stand Up for Yourself and Your Friends.
- Starting today, American Girl will be taking preorders for the Thank You Heroes Scrubs, which will be released in August; furthermore, for every outfit sold, American Girl will donate a doll craft activity book (totaling up to $135,000 in retail value), to the First Responders Children's Foundation, an organization which benefits the children of first responders and has expanded to include the children of those leading the fight against COVID-19.
- Starting June 8th, American Girl will launch the "Heroes With Heart" Contest, asking children with the help of their parents to nominate a hero who has made a difference during the pandemic (such as medical professionals, essential retail workers, delivery drivers, etc.) American Girl will select five Grand Prize winners; the nominator will receive a $200 American Girl gift card while the honoree will receive a custom doll and outfit in their likeness. More details will be released on the 8th.
- Nethilia, The Admin
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