The Wonders of Dolls: February 2023

In 1995 American Girl released the first mini-dolls. The first dolls were Felicity, Kirsten, Samantha, Molly & Addy. They came with dolls in meet outfits, pamphlets, and a book. They were like their counterparts they had soft bodies & jointed limbs. They had glass eyes and wigged hair. They were smaller, had fatty bodies, and their skin tone was different.

The left is glass and the right is a decal.

In 2005 they made changes to clothes, books & buttons. The eyes are now decals not glass and they are taller.

As the doll was released so were the mini-dolls. As the dolls changed so did the boxes change. The first dolls had Pleasant Co. tags and the latter had American Girl tags.

On the 25th Anniversary in 2011, American Girl made some changes. The dolls all have new Holiday clothes, and they released a display shelf. It comes with a nameplate for each Holiday doll. Dolls come with new holiday outfit & their book.

January: Samantha in Cranberry Party dress with Samantha's Surprise
February: Felicity in Christmas Gown & Stomacher with Felicity's Surprise
March: Kirsten in Winter Skirt & Blouse with Kirsten's Surprise
April: Addy in Tartan Plaid Dress with Addy's Surprise
May: Molly in Evergreen Velvet Dress with Molly's Surprise
June: Josefina in Christmas Dress & Mantilla with Josefina's Surprise
July: Kaya in an Adorned Deerskin dress with Kaya's Hero
August: Kit in Christmas outfit with Kit's Surprise
September: Julie in a Christmas outfit with Happy New Year, Julie!
October: Rebecca in Hanukkah Dress with Candlelight for Rebecca
November: Cecile in Cecile Special Dress with Meet Cecile
December: Marie-Grace in Party outfit with Meet Marie-Grace

Note I am not sharing the monthly correctly. Please let me know the correct order if I am wrong.

In 2014 doll got a new look. The bodies are now all vinyl bodies and the hair is now rooted.

On the 30th Anniversary in 2016 American Girl released a new line of mini dolls. This line comes from the Beforever line. Dolls are in new outfits, a new My Journey Book, and a stand.

Caroline & Melody are the exceptions as Caroline was archived & Melody had not yet formally debuted at the time of release. The book is an abridged copy of their My Journey Books.

Kaya: Adorned Deerskin Dress with The Roar of the Falls
Josefina: Feast Day Finery with Song of the Mockingbird
Addy: Sunday Best with A New Beginning
Samantha: Special Day Dress with The Lilac Tunnel
Rebecca: Holiday outfit with The Glow of the Spotlight
Kit: Reporter Dress with Full Speed Ahead
Maryellen: Birthday Dress with The Sky's the Limit
Julie: Mix-Print Maxi Dress with A Brighter Tomorrow

In 2019 American Girl introduced modern mini dolls. They were released as components to the Smart Girl's Guides kits. There were six dolls to choose from. Dolls come dressed in a miniature version of the Stay True to The Real You Tee, jean leggings, pink panties, and plastic blue bow flats. They were initially not available to purchase separately from the set. Later dolls and kites were sold separately online at a discount, and dolls were initially valued at $25.00 but sold for less.

These dolls are categorized as follows:

#1: Blond Hair, Blue Eyes, Light Skin (10) (Mini Classic Mold)
#2: Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, Light Skin (10) (Mini Classic Mold)
#3: Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, Medium Skin (20) (Mini Josefina Mold)
#4: Auburn Hair, Blue Eyes, Light Skin (10) (Mini Josefina Mold)
#5: Dark Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, Light Skin (10) (Mini Classic Mold)
#6: Dark Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, Dark Skin (30) (Mini Addy Mold)

All of them were retired with the retirement of the Smart Girl's Guides Kits

First doll pleasant co., Second doll Mattel, Third doll all-vinyl

Sample of the books

Girl of the Year and Contemporary Characters Mini Dolls

There was no mini doll of the year before Saige Copeland's release. Saige Copeland & Isabelle Palmer dolls had soft bodies. And Grace Thomas has an all-vinyl body.

Tenney Grant also received a mini-doll, but her companion Logan did not; neither did Z Yang. Gabriela's mini-doll was not available with her release; it was available by July 2017. No Girl of the Year characters after Luciana have received mini dolls.

In 2021 a miniature version of Just Like You 88 was included as part of the Day at the AG Cafe set.