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Short Stories

From American Girl Dolls Wiki

Short Stories are little vignettes of the Historical Characters. Most of these stories occur simultaneously during the events of the Central Series, though some happen before or after. Julie and Rebecca were released after the short stories were written and so have none.

Contents

[edit] In American Girl Magazine

Short stories were originally published in American Girl Magazine during its early days. Only a few pages long, each was accompanied with full-color illustrations, vignettes, and Looking Back sections. Quite often, there was an additional article after the story with related activities or a small article relating the story and its Looking Back section to contemporary experiences. The short stories were discontinued sometime around 1998 when the magazine shifted towards being independent from the dolls and their stories.

[edit] In Individual Books

Sometime after Kit's introduction, the short stories were released in individual, hardback book form. They were about five inches tall and four inches wide. Each included the same illustrations, vignettes, and Looking Back sections that had accompanied the stories in the magazine. Activities were also included--both for stories that had been in the magazine and new ones. Kit's (and later Kaya's) stories were brand new since she had not been around when the stories were published in the magazine.

[edit] Hallmark Versions

a Hallmark copy of the short story "Molly Marches On"
The ex libris page of a Hallmark edition short story book.

Hallmark released versions of the short stories as well. Each copy had a small, attached ribbon bookmark emblazoned with the Hallmark logo and an ex libris page in the front. Otherwise, they were nearly identical with the official Pleasant Company editions.

[edit] Short Story Sets

There were four box sets sold, combining stories from different girls into full sets.. Each box set had six (or with the addition of Kit and later Kaya, seven) books. These were discontinued in 2005.

[edit] Box Set #1 - 1999

[edit] Box Set #2 - 2000

[edit] Box Set #3 - 2001

[edit] Box Set #4 - 2002

[edit] Box Set #5 - 2003

Box sets were also sold in groups of three for Felicity, Josefina, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, and Molly, containing the books solid in the combination sets from 1999 to 2001. These were phased out in late 2005, leaving Kaya with one story and Kit with two.

[edit] Stories and Outfits

In 1999 and again in 2003, individual short stories were packaged with an outfit and hanging garment bag. Felicity did not receive a set in 2003 as she had been somewhat discontinued at the time. The sets were:

[edit] 1999 Sets

[edit] 2003 Sets

[edit] Short Story Collections

In 2006, the short stories for each character were bound into a single book of the five short stories with a ribbon bookmark and a raised picture on the cover from one of the stories. While the Looking Back sections were kept and added for new stories, all the activities and the individual "Meet The Author" flashbacks were removed; only one overarching "Meet the Author" section was left.

In order for every character to have an even five stories, new stories were added to Felicity's, Kit's and Kaya's collections. Felicity was given one new short story, Felicity's Valentine. Kit was given three - Kit's Winning Ways, Kit Uses Her Head, and Kit and Millie Ride Again. Kaya, having only had one in the collection prior to the Collections, was given four new stories: Kaya and the Beavers, Kaya and the Flood, Kaya and the Grandmothers, and Kaya and the Injured Dog.

These were phased out in 2007 but still remain available new through some venues.

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