At a Glance
- New book The Making of American Girl chronicles the 40-year history of the beloved doll company, from its 1986 founding to today
- Exclusive first look reveals original sketches, product designs, and letters from the brand’s archives
- Book edited by Jodi Goldberg hits shelves May 12, 2026 via Mattel Press and American Girl Publishing
American Girl turns 40 in 2026, and the story behind the iconic dolls is coming to the page. The Making of American Girl, edited by Jodi Goldberg, traces the origins of the brand-including the launch of the first American Girl Place in Chicago and the start of American Girl Magazine-as told through never-before-seen archival material like original sketches, product designs, and letters.
The book chronologically tracks the brand’s first line of dolls-Samantha, Kirsten, and Molly-and the addition of favorites like Felicity, Addy, and Josefina. It also features the story behind the launch of the first American Girl Place in Chicago and the start of American Girl Magazine.
Key moments include:
- Founding by Pleasant Rowland after a 1986 trip where she wanted to make history more accessible to kids
- Partnership with author Valerie Tripp to write books to accompany each doll
- Launch of the first American Girl Place in Chicago
- Start of American Girl Magazine
“Valerie was the first person I ever talked to about the American Girl idea,” Rowland says in an excerpt from the book. “She is a friend so trusted and true, so wise and principled, so quick and creative, that I turned to her frequently throughout the years for solace and inspiration, support and affirmation,” she continued.
Why it matters: For fans, the book offers an inside look at how American Girl became the cultural touchstone it is today. For newcomers, it provides the inside scoop on how the brand came to be.
The Making of American Girl will be published on May 12, 2026, and is available for preorder.
The Making of American Girl
American Girl was founded by Pleasant Rowland after a visit to Colonial Williamsburg in 1986. She left the trip thinking about how she could make history more accessible to kids and came up with the idea for a line of dolls growing up in different eras.
“Valerie was the first person I ever talked to about the American Girl idea,” Rowland says in an excerpt from the book. “She is a friend so trusted and true, so wise and principled, so quick and creative, that I turned to her frequently throughout the years for solace and inspiration, support and affirmation,” she continued.
The book chronologically tracks the origins of the brand’s first line of dolls-Samantha, Kirsten, and Molly-and the addition of favorites like Felicity, Addy, and Josefina. It also features the story behind the launch of the first American Girl Place in Chicago and the start of American Girl Magazine.
Key moments include:
- Founding by Pleasant Rowland after a 1986 trip where she wanted to make history more accessible to kids
- Partnership with author Valerie Tripp to write books to accompany each doll
- Launch of the first American Girl Place in Chicago
- Start of American Girl Magazine
“The Making of American Girl is essential reading for devoted fans and anyone who is curious to peek behind the scenes at how American Girl came to be,” the publishers say in a statement shared with News Of Los Angeles.
The Making of American Girl will be published on May 12, 2026, and is available for preorder wherever books are sold.
Key Takeaways
- Exclusive first look: News Of Los Angeles has an exclusive first look at The Making of American Girl, set to hit shelves this spring via Mattel Press and American Girl Publishing
- 40 years of history: The book chronicles the 40-year history of American Girl, from its 1986 founding to today
- Archival material: The book features never-before-seen archival material like original sketches, product designs, and letters
- Available for preorder: The Making of American Girl will be published on May 12, 2026, and is available for preorder wherever books are sold
At a Glance
- Title: The Making of American Girl
- Author: Marcus L. Bennett
- Publication: News Of Los Angeles
- Date: January 16, 2026
- Summary: New book The Making of American Girl reveals the 40-year history of the iconic doll company, from its 1986 founding to today
- Why it matters: The book offers an inside look at how American Girl came to be, including original sketches, product designs, and letters from the brand’s founding
The Making of American Girl will be published on May 12, 2026, and is available for preorder wherever books are sold.
