Cracking the Cover did a nice interview series on American Girl Authors Sarah Masters Buckey and Denise Lewis Patrick recently. Actually they did three interviews:

• Q&A with Sarah Masters Buckey
• Q&A with Denise Lewis Patrick
• Authors Become Friends While Creating American Girl Characters

From the third link:

In the summer of 2008, a few weeks after Denise signed on, the authors met and discovered quickly that their “creating minds” were alike when it came to the series, Denise said. In just two short days, the authors covered the basics: two girls, two races, one city and one epidemic. They decided what the girls would look like and where in New Orleans they would live. They also tightly plotted the first four books.

Knowing that the Cecile and Marie-Grace characters have been in the works for more than 2 years prior to their release makes you wonder what they are working on now!!

American Girl InnerStarU author Alison Hart at the National Book Festival

One of our readers, Madelon, was at the National Book Festival in September on the National Mall and took a few photos of author Allison Hart. Here is what she had to say:

“In the Pavilion of States tent at the Virginia table was American Girl author, Alison Hart. Ms. Hart is the author of “Dive Right in (Innerstar University)“, an Innerstar U book published in August, “Taking the Reins” and “A Spy on the Home Front: A Molly Mystery (American Girl Mysteries)“. Although, Ms. Hart was promoting a book she had written about horses, I was reminded that the author came to the Gaithersburg Book Festival in May and discussed writing American Girl books.

Ms. Hart brought a chart filled with colored stickies to show how a writer can organize her ideas and that the Innerstar Interactive book presented many possibilities. She also displayed a galley copy of her book (with corrections) which was to be published in a few months.

She encouraged the attendees to follow their inspiration and write.”

Thanks again, Madelon, for sharing this with us!

Sorry for the relative quiet from me the last few days. I intentionally did not post Spotlight Sites this past Sunday because it was the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. It just didn’t feel right for me to post that day, so I didn’t. Look for new Spotlight Sites this weekend though!

The other reason things have been a little quiet is that my Dad was in the hospital this week having his hip replaced. He is doing great and gets to come home from the hospital today, which leads me to today’s post. Yesterday I knew that my daughter (you all know her as Alex17 here) was going to have to go to the hospital last night to visit her Grandad (that’s my Dad) for a few hours. I was worried she might get bored so I stopped at the store and picked up the newest American Girl Just For Fun book for Cecile and Marie-Grace to give her something fun to do. Little did I know that she was going to be so into finishing the Rebecca Story Collectionthat she wasn’t initially interested in the new activity. However, we got to talking about Rebecca’s story and realized that Rebecca was born about the same time as my Grandmother (my Dad’s Mom) and my daughter found that to be pretty cool. She and her Grandad did talk a bit about that and then she got started in on the Just For Fun book.

What are the Just for Fun books? They are spiral bound books of puzzles, quizzes, recipes, crafts, bookmarks and other activities that are directly related to the historical doll they are about. For example, in the Cecile and Marie-Grace Just for Fun book there are recipes for mini Pecan Pies, how to make a paper chandelier, lots of puzzles and other fun activities. See the Table of Contents below for a better idea of what is in the books.

The Just for Fun books definitely have plenty of creative ways to help girls learn about the life and times of the individual historical characters. Additionally, the activities are very relevant and even Moms (and maybe Grandads too) will have fun doing the activities and playing the games together.

Right now all of the American Girl characters have a Just For Fun book EXCEPT Addy and Kaya. For some reason those two have not got their activity books yet. Below are the rest of the books – you can find them at Amazon, most bookstores and even some grocery stores (which is where I found ours)! They are great as gifts, rainy day activities, car rides or to have on hand when you know you will be waiting for any length of time.

Samantha: Just for Fun: The Make-it, Play-it, Solve-it Book of Fun! (American Girl) Josefina Just for Fun: The Make-It, Play-It, Solve-It Book of Fun! (American Girl) Molly Just for Fun: The Make-It, Play-It, Solve-It Book of Fun! (American Girl) Felicity Just for Fun: The Make-It, Play-It, Solve-It Book of Fun! (American Girl) Julie Just for Fun: The Make-It, Play-It, Solve-It Book of Fun! (American Girl) Rebecca Just for Fun: The Make-It, Play-It, Solve-It Book of Fun! (American Girl) Kit Just for Fun: the Make-It, Play-It, Solve-It Book of Fun! (American Girl Library) Cecile & Marie-Grace Just for Fun: The Make-it, Play-it, Solve-it Book of Fun! (American Girl)

Do you have any of the American Girl Just for Fun books for the historical characters? If so, which ones and what activities do you like best?

Okay Doll Diaries readers, I need your input! My daughter is starting to read chapter books and really loves reading. She just finished one of the Tiara Club books (and loved it) and Junie B. Jones is just too easy for her. I suggested we start reading some of the American Girl stories and she is all for it.

What I want to know from you, is which American Girl stories do like best? Which ones are the easiest to start with? Are there any other chapter book series that you enjoyed when you were younger (or if you are a Mom like me, which ones do your kids prefer)?

We have a good assortment of the books already, I just would love some recommendations on your favorites.

I was looking for some new doll resources and could not believe how many magazines there are for doll collectors and fans. Here are some of my favorites:

• Doll Reader
• Dolls Magazine
• Art Doll Quarterly
• Contemporary Doll Collector
• Dolls House Magazine
• Dolls Bears & Collectables
• Teddy Bear Review
• Teddy Bear & Friends

One of things my daughter looks forward to is getting a new issue of the American Girl magazine every other month. Each issue has plenty of age appropriate articles, advice,  games, puzzles, and craft ideas. The focus of the magazine is not the American Girl dolls – it is focused on girls ages 8-12 and the things that make them tick.

Right now Amazon has subscriptions to American Girl magazine at 15% off.

A very sleuthy member at the AG Playthings discussion forum has uncovered some scoop on the American Girl doll of the year for 2009. Mary Casanova, author of the LE 2006 Jess  book and others, will be the author for two books revolving around the new character.

Some of Ms. Casanova’s other books are definitely worth adding to your reading list, like:

• Cecile: Gates of Gold (Girls of Many Lands)
• When Eagles Fall
• The Klipfish Code
• Some Dog!

For Christmas my daughter got the Doll Tees: Sparkling Shirts to Make Your Doll Shine! (American Girl Library) book (you could also call it a kit). The kit comes with three t-shirts, decorations, and a book of ideas that you can use for inspiration. Suprisingly, it did not come with the fabric glue needed to glue the decorations onto the shirts.

My daughter, who is 9, had no problem reading the instructions and quickly getting to work on a design. She was able to create three shirts for her dolls with plenty of supplies left over. The shirts did turn out very cute. Here is one of her dolls, Nicole, modeling her own design.

We have had a lot of fun with the American Girl Library doll craft kits. Other ones we have include:

• Doll Hair: Styling Tips And Tricks for Your Dolls (American Girl Library)
• Paper Doll Fashion Fun: Designer Sketchbook (American Girl Library)
• Sparkle Card Kit (American Girl Library )
• Sticker Art (American Girl Library)

With summer right around the corner, I am always looking for chapter book series for my kids to start (or finish) over the school break. We have an hour a day of quiet time each afternoon and that is when my kids do a lot of their reading.

I was recently introduced to a series of books that I thought you might like!! It is called The Fairy Chronicles, by J. H. Sweet. The illustrations are just divine!

My5 year old is really enjoying the story being read to her and she loves all the fairy adventures (including asparagus crowns). My 8 year old can read them herself and loves the nature aspect and the fact that the fairies are really girls – just like her – who have been given powers by Mother Nature.

Others in the series are:

Marigold and the Feather of Hope, The Journey Begins (The Fairy Chronicles, Book 1)

Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams (The Fairy Chronicles, Book 2)

Thistle and the Shell of Laughter (The Fairy Chronicles, Book 3)

Spiderwort and the Princess of Haiku (The Fairy Chronicles, Book 5)

I was at the Amazon site today when I noticed that Thanks to Nicki is available for pre-order now and will be available for purchase on June 1.

The story line is one I know my daughter will love! Nicki spends her summer caring for and training her service dog, Sprocket, and helping out her Mother who is expecting twins.

Her best friend is away all summer and she becomes good friends with a new girl named Kris. Nicki wonders how it will all work out when Becca returns and the three of them start 5th grade.

She also wonders how long she will get to continue working with Sprocket until he has to move on for advanced training.

The Nicki series is wonderful – especially for animal lovers like my daughter.