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| Gabriela McBride, American Girl's 2017 Girl of the Year doll |
My Gabriela McBride, American Girl’s first African American Girl of the Year (GOTY) doll, arrived in February.
She remained in her shipping box until March 10, 2017. This is a first-look review of Gabriela with the doll
still attached to box lining.
Like all other 18-inch American Girl dolls, Gabriela is 18 inches tall with vinyl head, arms, legs, and cloth body. She has brown sleep eyes and uses the same head sculpt as
Sonali,
Cécile Ray, and
Melody. This head sculpt was also used for the 2016-retired
Just Like You #46.
Gabriela’s signature outfit includes a teal tank top over which is worn a long-sleeve purple crop top with “dream” written in silver metallic letters. Blue jeggings and purple and teal sneakers complete her dancer's attire.
I was pleased her undies are removable and not the new permanent ones newer AG dolls wear. Her pink double headband and extra clear rubber bands are inside a plastic bag, which is attached to the box lining. Gabriela’s 208-page book, Gabriela, written by Teresa E. Harris, is attached to the lower section of the box lining.
New American Girl Doll Box
American Girl has changed the boxes to add a full-view, front cellophane
panel. This gives owners the ability to see
the doll without removing from the box.
A turquoise card stock circle on the mid left front corner of the box
reads:
GIRL OF
THE YEAR
2017
This verbiage is also on both side panels of the box in white
lettering.
As illustrated in the first photo in this post, in the lower right front corner of the box is
an image of the front cover of
Gabriela’s book.
The back of the box shows a full-length image of Gabriela. Text in English and French to the right of the doll’s image reads:
I’m a dancer, an
artist,
and a poet out to
inspire real change.
Danseuse, artiste et
poete, je suis
une source
d'inspiration qui fait
bouger les choses.
The box indicates (again in English and French):
The 18” Gabriela doll
is available throughout 2017 and beyond.*
In English to the left, and French to the right, the
mid-bottom section of the box in English reads:
She has glossy brown
curls that can be styled, brown eyes that can open and close, a cloth body, and
a movable head and limbs made of smooth vinyl.
Includes a paperback book.
I am tempted to remove Gabriela from the box to style her hair,
but for now she will only be allowed to dream of being removed.
*(Extending sales beyond one full year for a GOTY doll is a first for this collection as all others have been released on January 1st and retired by December 31st of that same year.)
Gabriela's Story
Each American Girl GOTY doll is a modern girl who has a mission. Gabriela is a dancer, who writes poetry. She uses spoken word to overcome her issue with stuttering. Her goal is also to help save the local community center from demolition.
Gabriela and book retail for $115. During February, American Girl offered 25%
off purchases of $75 or more, which is when I made the purchase.
Of note, American Girl has partnered with Scholastic to create the custom curriculum,
Express Yourself, which teaches 3rd through 5th grade students to use poetry as a tool of self-expression.
References:
Prnewswire American GOTY article
American Girl Wiki
dbg
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