Celebrating 40 Years of American Girl with "The Making of American Girl"

From American Girl Publishing, comes The Making of American Girl (On sale May 12, 2026), a behind-the-scenes look at one of America’s most beloved brands. Timed to American Girl’s 40th anniversary year in 2026, this lavish coffee table book gives readers never-before-seen access to the company’s archives, chronicling American Girl history through original sketches, letters, product designs, and more.

ABOUT THE MAKING OF AMERICAN GIRL

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. This unprecedented exploration of American Girl’s archives is arranged chronologically, starting with the first historical characters: Samantha, Kirsten, and Molly. Turn the pages to see the early days of the American Girl magazine, the development of characters Felicity, Addy, and Josefina, and the launch of the first American Girl Place in Chicago.

For the first time, readers will discover original hand-drawn logos, catalog pages, character concepts, historical references, illustration sketches, outfit designs for dolls and girls, and sample color palettes, fabrics, and trims.

American Girl founder, Pleasant Rowland, grew the seed of an idea into a simple but powerful truth: Girls are the heroes of their own stories. Packed with extraordinary photos, sketches, manuscript pages, and design details, this book is the perfect gift for American Girl fans.

ABOUT MATTEL

Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, Polly Pocket®, and Barney® as well as other popular properties

that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

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The Making of American Girl

Edited by Jodi Goldberg

American Girl Publishing / Mattel Press: May 12, 2026

Adult Nonfiction: $40.00: ISBN 9781683372561