From illustrator Christine Kornacki’s website:

LONG OVERDUE UPDATE
05/13/09 08:25 PM
Though my updates have been few and far between lately, don’t be alarmed. These lack of updates are not due to a lack of work. In fact, they are due to a surplus. For the past seven months, I have been working on a long term freelance job with the one and only American Girl Company. I am in the process of Illustrating not only my first book, but my first series of books! The details are very hush hush at the moment. But I can tell you, its going to be BIG. I still have another six months of painting before the project is finished, and the books are set to be released in June 2011. I’ll give you more info when I can. In the meantime, I’m sorry for the lack of new paintings being posted on here. Keep an eye out, though, new stuff is on the way.

And from a discussion board (less reliable):

My son and his girlfriend are “models” for adult characters in an upcoming American Girl book featuring a new doll in 2011. Their friend is the illustrator for a few of the upcoming books-a project she has been working on for over a year! From what they tell me(its super “hush=hush”) -its a Western theme book/Doll

So, what do you think? Is this Denise or Sarah? Or have you found out anything more in your research?

I’d like to remind everyone that none of this has been confirmed and there is no way of knowing whether the message board post is credible or related to the announcement from the illustrator.

For 2010 what we know so far, is that we are highly likely to get 2 new historical characters, Denise and Sarah. What we don’t know is if they are both historical dolls complete with the 6-book series and their own line OR if one of them is a friend doll who is going against the normal pattern and getting 6 stories instead of one. What do you think?

We don’t have much more info than that right now. We don’t know what era they are from or any book plots yet.

And in retirement news, if everything follows the pattern set to this point, Molly is the most logical choice for retirement this year. This has not been confirmed – it is just speculation.

As always, if you find any more details, let me know. Most of the info in this post has been gleaned from a variety of sources including reader comments, emails and information found readily on the internet.

Lanie Book Cover

Thanks to some amazing sleuthing and generous sharing from a Doll Diaries reader – here is the photo of the Lanie book cover. And UPDATED with the cover art for the second book, Lanie’s Real Adventures.

Lanie's Real Adventures

Now, to see how she looks in doll form!! Again, if you have any more scoop, email it to share@dolldiaries.com.

Here is what the cover of the book looks like:

As the release date for the American Girl of the Year – GOTY 2010 gets closer and closer, we are starting to get more clues as to who she is and what her stories will be all about. I think we can confirm that the name of the American Girl GOTY 2010 will be Lanie based on the screen capture of Chapters.ca website that was just sent to me by Hannah’s mom:

Thanks to the fabulous Doll Diaries readers who help find all the best doll scoop!!

UPDATE – we have more info on the book storylines:

The Twilight movie phenomenom is coming to the Barbie collection. Toys “R” Us will being selling exclusive Bella and Edward “Barbie and Ken” dolls in October 2009. The Canadian TRU already has the dolls available for pre-sale but they won’t ship until late November.

Characters Bella Swan and Edward Cullen are dressed in their trademark outfits and they have done a great job with making the Edward doll’s skin tone and facial features true to the movie character.

What do think of them? I think they are gorgeous and would be a must for true Twilight fan or movie doll collection.

UPDATE: Not only are there Barbie Bella and Edward dolls, Tonner and Neca have released their collections, too. You can see them all here.

Thank you Madison, a Doll Diaries reader, for sharing a scan of a mailer she received announcing the debut of Rebecca Rubin, the next historical doll from American Girl.

She definitely is pretty and while she has some similarities to Samantha, she is truly beautiful and unique. Her story sounds very exciting – she is a Russian Jewish immigrant living in a row house on the lower east side in New York City in the early 20th century. She dreams of being an actress but her family has other ideas. I may be reading the books before my girls do!

She will come with 6 books:

• Meet Rebecca (American Girls Collection)
• Changes for Rebecca (American Girls Collection)
• Candlelight for Rebecca (American Girls Collection)
• Rebecca to the Rescue (American Girls Collection)
• Rebecca and Ana (American Girls Collection)
• Rebecca and the Movies (American Girls Collection)

Check out more details on Rebecca debut activities at AGPNY

UPDATED!!! Madi sent me more photos of the book covers as well as the one-chapter preview booklet (chapter name A Sabbath Surprise).

It looks like American Girl will be releasing their new doll in the historical collection, Rebecca,  in late May or early June 2009. According to Amazon, the Rebecca titles are being written by Jacqueline Dembar Greene (author of Nathan’s Hanukkah Bargain and Out of Many Waters) and will include:

Meet Rebecca (American Girls Collection)

Changes for Rebecca (American Girls Collection)

Candlelight for Rebecca (American Girls Collection)

Rebecca to the Rescue (American Girls Collection)

Rebecca and Ana (American Girls Collection) (I wonder if this is her best friend and if she will be released as a doll)

Rebecca and the Movies (American Girls Collection)

As we get more details and photos of Rebecca, the new historical American Girl doll and her collection, we will be posting it here. If you have scoop on Rebecca, send it to share@dolldiaries.com. And thanks to our fabulous readers for finding the info on the book titles, too!

UPDATE: Amazon has the Rebecca Mini Doll page created. Of course there is no picture there yet, but it does let us know she will have a mini doll like the other historical dolls do.

Below are the scans that a member at AGFMB made and gave me permission to post here. Click on the thumbnails to see the entire scan.

UPDATE!!! Thanks to all my readers who quickly sent over the picture of Chrissa as published in USA Today! You all are FABULOUS!

American Girl is notorious for teasing us with countdowns to their girl of the year (GOTY) dolls and they are beginning to realize that most of their countdowns can be cracked. The lead up to Chrissa seems to be falling into the normal pattern. On the American Girl site their is a count down to Chrissa page and each day you can reveal another piece of her.

What we know so far: her dress is like the one the actress, Sammi Hanratty, is wearing in the movie promo; her hair is shoulder length, brown and relatively straight, and she has a similar face mold to the today doll #28.

The photo shown here is one that an AGFMB member was able to reveal and she has posted it in her Picasa album, too.

The Chrissa Stands Strong movie (American Girl: Girl of the Year 2009) will debut on HBO on January 5, 2009 and the DVD will be available for purchase on January 6, 2009. Her book, Chrissa Stands Strong (American Girl Today) ,is already available for pre-order.

Update – the book covers are now included with the pre-order information.

Below is the sneak peek from earlier. If you have any other pictures – especially once she is released, let us know (share@dolldiaries.com)

No word yet on a release date, author for her books or any other details. Again, this is just rumor (one that may have been substantiated though). Stay tuned for more. Or better yet, if you know anything, leave a comment.