My girls recently received the May/Jun 2012 issue of American Girl Magazine. Being a huge fan of all American Girl creations, I was curious to see if it was going to actually have some true content, or if it was going to be a 50 page infomercial. I was happily surprised to find that it truly is a magazine for girls. It was filled with arts and crafts, stories about girls from across the country, stories and pictures submitted by their readers, how-to pieces, contests, recipes, games and even a fiction story! On a reading level, I’d say everything is appropriate for girls ages 7+, but the pictures are great (Hilarious Pet Pics was a hit at our house!), and, as a teacher, I think it’s really important for kids to understand that although their always told the importance of reading, magazine count too!
The “Meet an AG Reader” feature was super cute – I loved that her dream birthday party would be visiting the Eiffel Tower. What was equally fun was the fact that girls can send in pictures of their travels, so there was a note to turn the page and meet three girls who really did visit it.
The “Shining Star” highlights a girl who deserves a special shout-out. This month it was Gabby H. who, along with her younger brother, Garrett, decided to host a Charity Chess tournament, where they helped to raise over $2000.They donated the money to an organization that helps families cope with children who have long term hospital stays.
“The Longest Walk” was an autobiographical piece about a girl named Reed, from Oregon who, along with her father walked the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail. This first-person account helps to show girls how dedication, creativity and passion can truly take you anywhere you want to go. Her story was inspiring, and I love that this father-daughter adventure gave them a chance to bond in a way that make kids don’t have the opportunity to do. Seriously, over three months together, I don’t know if my father and I would have survived!
The magazine itself is bright, colorful, and filled with tons of activities that kids truly could do on their own. It’s also a NAPPA Gold Award Winner (National Parenting Publications) recongizing the approval of parents across the country. When you combine the positive, inspiring stories, mixed it with the fantastic recipes, like caramel-apple pizza (yes, please!) and the crafts, like the do-it-yourself bed pockets (Ellie opted to seal the seams with funky tape from a craft store), I’d have to say that they’ve definitely got a fan in the wholesome goodness found in American Girl Magazine.
– Erin
