American Girl Dolls: A Good Thing and They Know It

By Jonathan Berohn

If you have a daughter and you haven't yet heard the plaintive "I neeeeeed an American Girl Doll!" cry, don't worry. You will. Over and over again. I was sure I'd escape--my daughter doesn't even like Barbie. American Girl, however, is quite another story. I have to admit that unlike Barbie, American Girl Dolls actually have some educational benefit to them as well. All in all, there are far worse presents your daughter could--and no doubt will--ask for.

The Concept

I have to admit that the idea behind American Girl Dolls is pretty clever. Each doll in the series (they have nine different ones right now) represents a different era of American history. They also represent all the various ethnicities that make American culture so rich. In addition to being a period doll, however, each American Girl doll is also the heroine of a series of books that teach girls about the particular historical period that the doll hails from. So in addition to being good marketing, this also helps kindle an interest in history and inspires girls to read--both of which are admirable impacts.

The Catch

The catch is that you can't just run down to the local toy store and pick up an American Girl doll. If you happen to live in Chicago or Illinois, you can visit one of two American Girl retail showrooms. The rest of us have to buy direct from American Girl via the Internet or catalog. While this may not seem such a hardship, it does ensure that you won't find any American Girl dolls on sale at the local store. Everything is MSRP (with the exception of a few minor package discounts).

The Cost

This lack of discounts becomes an issue when you get the shock of the sticker price. American Girl dolls cost $90 each. That's right, $90 for a doll and a hardback book. But hey, if you opt for the paperback, you can get out for a paltry $84. Nonetheless, while it's hard for me to say that any doll is worth that kind of money, they are well made, and they do inspire girls to read and learn about history. I suppose that helps make the investment worthwhile. You can also try your luck on eBay and keep your fingers crossed for a bargain. Take my advice: start today.