For years, fans of Mattel’s AMERICAN GIRL line have been requesting something that surprisingly hasn’t been produced until now – a BeForever doll with a story rooted in one of America’s most iconic decades: The Fifties. Today that changes, with the introduction of Maryellen Larkin, “an energetic and optimistic girl who follows her heart instead of the crowd.” This new doll and all of her accessories have become available today, exclusively at American Girl in the U.S.*, with special launch events planned across the country. Personally, I think it’s pretty cool to now have a doll from the decade that gave birth to Rock ‘N Roll – complete with records and a jukebox. Check out a preview, and all the details below…
From the Official Announcement:
The Maryellen collection includes an 18-inch doll with strawberry-blonde hair and hazel eyes, plus several historically-authentic 1950s doll outfits, like an iconic poodle skirt and saddle shoes. Numerous accessories round out the play experience, including a 30-piece diner set, a TV console that works with a girl’s iPad, and a jukebox that plays ’50s-style songs and connects to electronic music players.
Written by award-winning American Girl author Valerie Tripp, the Maryellen stories introduce readers ages 8 and up to a key cultural theme of the 1950s: conformity versus individuality. While Maryellen feels the pressure to conform to social standards, she also strives to stand out and be true to herself, even when that means going against expectations. Through Maryellen, Tripp shows how trends of the 1950s—such as the burgeoning of suburbia, “the baby boom,” geographic and economic mobility, new technology (like TV and rockets), rock ‘n’ roll, and lingering postwar prejudice—shape the life of one girl.
To celebrate Maryellen’s debut, American Girl retail stores will be bustling with Maryellen excitement with free and paid events, including giveaways, crafts, and in-store activities. And at americangirl.com/scrapbook, girls can explore the era with Maryellen’s Nifty ’50s Scrapbook. The online digital scrapbook—told from Maryellen’s point of view—will include photos, illustrations, video clips, games, and activities. For parents and teachers, a free downloadable Maryellen Learning Guide, available at americangirl.com, explores themes and issues from the 1950s.
*Maryellen Larkin will also be available at American Girl specialty boutiques at select Indigo™ and Chapters™ locations in Canada; and at El Palacio de Hierro in Mexico City.
