Molly is Family
Written: Dec 30 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Hours of enjoyment and historical education, very much a quality product
Cons: purchase price might be a little steep, but we feel worth it
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| LeighS's Full Review: American Girl Collection |
My seven-year-old daughter had wanted an American Girl doll for about two years, but we were hesitant to buy it because she had other expensive dolls she had played with for about a day and then stuffed in her toy box.
Every time we would get an American Girl catalogue in the mail, she would flip through it eagerly, picking out things she wanted, but the uppermost thing was always one of the dolls. After discussing it with her for several months this past year, we agreed to her having one of the dolls for Christmas and we set about deciding on which one.
We felt that Molly, the 1940's World War II era doll, was the most appropriate for our daughter, and she agreed. This was because both of my grandfathers gave their lives for their country in World War II, when both of my parents were just toddlers. (My paternal grandfather, an Army sergeant, died in Germany during the crossing of the Rhine River, and my maternal grandfather was on a warship which was torpedoed in the English Channel. He went down with his ship, after saving many of his fellow shipmates.) Because of the familial history, I have always felt a kinship with World War II and the history pertaining to it, and I immediately fell in love with the Molly doll and her stories. Luckily, our daughter felt the same way about the adorable, bespectacled, pigtailed character.
My daughter read all of the Molly books this past fall, and so she was primed and ready for Christmas morning. The doll was beautiful and very well-made, and our daughter was thrilled with her. Her hair is so soft and shiny in its braids (and we have taken the braids down and brushed her hair with the brush from the AG Doll Hair Care Kit, and her hair is simply beautiful), and her gray eyes just sparkle behind the REAL glasses, which come in their own little flannel case, so the child can decide whether Molly should wear her glasses that day, or not. Her clothing is absolute quality, a very pretty navy, red and green argyle sweater, a cute dickie collar with navy rick-rack, and a real wool, navy skirt. Knit socks and black patent-leather Mary Janes complete Molly's ensemble, and she is as cute as a button.
The accessory set is extra, and it includes a navy beret, a locket with Molly's father's picture (in the story, Molly's dad is an Army doctor, serving in England during the war), a red plastic purse, and a handkerchief with "Molly" embroidered on it.
We also had family members purchase some of Molly's extra outfits, such as her school outfit and the pajamas, and these are also extraordinarily well-made for doll clothes. Our daughter has had so much fun changing Molly's clothes every day. We have not yet purchased any of the extra story accessories, but if our daughter continues to enjoy her doll as much as she has since Christmas morning, I'm sure these will be perfect gifts for future occasions.
In addition, any of the clothing for any of the American Girl dolls will fit ANY of the dolls--the dolls are all made to the same exact proportions. This is helpful in that a doll like Molly can be suddenly transformed into a "modern" girl, with her hair arranged in a different style and clothed in one of the outfits meant for the "American Girls of Today" line of dolls. My mother purchased one of those outfits for my daughter's Molly doll, and with Molly's hair in a ponytail and wearing the more stylish outfit, Molly looks exactly like the "American Girl of Today" doll that we would have chosen for our daughter, so really, our daughter has two dolls in one.
The historical significance of Molly to our family has been wonderful, as the doll has prompted an interest in our daughter in World War II and her great-grandparents' roles in it. She has been learning more about that time in our nation's history as a result of her Molly doll, and we couldn't be more pleased. The American Girl dolls are a terrific learning tool, and our daughter can't wait to read all the books in the AG series, about all of the AG dolls.
In conclusion, I want to say that we have been very happy with our daughter's Christmas gift, because the doll is such a quality product and our daughter has really enjoyed her. She has learned so much from the doll and her stories, and can appreciate her own heritage from World War II and, on her own seven-year-old level, the sacrifices her great-grandparents made, and especially her great-grandfathers, and be very proud. The Molly doll was well-worth the money, and she has, in the span of a few short days, become a part of our family.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: LeighS
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Member: Leigh
Location: Alabama
Reviews written: 130
Trusted by: 74 members
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