Dear Not-so-Gentle Reader,Happy New Year! I am Sincerely Sorry it has taken me So Long to post again, but we still don't have regular access to the internet, and long, wordy posts are sometimes more than either Momma or I want to do on her iPhone.
Grandmomma and Grandpoppa are settled in the new apartment in an independent living facility, and Momma, my Big Sister and I are loving our New Apartment. We all have good and bad days, but the Good Days are outnumbering the Bad Days now.
Today, Momma, my Big Sister and I went to the American Girl - Scottsdale store for the unveiling of Gabriela McBride™. A friend of Momma's gave my Big Sister an AG gift certificate for Christmas so Gabby came home with us! (The in-store giveaway for kids was a tasty cookie and a small blank journal that looks like Gabriela's boombox.
I can't tell you how excited Momma and I are about the release this year of both Melody Ellison™ and Gabby - two Girls of Color in Six Months!
Momma and I did come away with mixed feelings about Gabby and her collection.
- Finally - an African American Girl of the Year!
- She is not a new doll - AG retired #46 earlier this year and she became Gabriele. AG is even offering Gabby's Meet outfit to some of the people who previously purchased #46.
- An African American Girl of the Year!
- A lot of her collection seemed to be reruns. A dancer? Marisol. Isabelle. Marisol had the trunk and cat. Isabelle the barre. The arts? Isabelle. Saige.
- An African American Girl of the Year!
- Theft must becoming more of a problem since Gabby's Meet box is different and a little more difficult to open and all the World pieces seemed to be sealed shut, unlike previous boxes that opened easily and had tissue inside.
- An African American Girl of the Year!
- The Crowds that people associate with new Girl of the Year releases were not there or at other stores. We got there a few minutes after the store opened and everyone was inside. Comfortably. However, there did seem to be more People of Color in the store.
- Did I mention AG finally made an African American Girl of the Year?!
We are delighted to welcome Gabby into our Vinyl American family since both Sonali and Cecile perished in The Fire. We just wish AG had put more effort into a creative doll launch. We're also wondering about the statement on the box:
The 18" Gabriela doll is available throughout 2017 and beyond.
So now they're not even limited editions? My prediction is poor Gabby is going to sell poorly since she has a smaller collection with lots of duplicates, and isn't limited.
Time shall tell.
What do you think?
What I think having been in the nearly empty Vancouver store today is that the dolls are priced so high at $160 CND what we paid for a very beautiful doll, makes this doll unattainable for many. Finally though I am thrilled AG has come out with an African American Doll as their girl of the year. I do agree she may not sell as well, but their dancer doll lines do very well. I hate the new box it was wrecked before we came home, but we love Gabby so much.
ReplyDeleteShort version (because I keep trying not to rant): I am so sad at this offering. I have wanted a new brown doll from AG for so long and Gabriela seems like such a presentation of leftovers. That is not what I want for children to feel when they are offered a toy. I also feel because of this, the change in packaging and obvious cost cutting measures that this doll has been set up not to sell well and that makes me most sad.
ReplyDeleteOur fire was January 5, 2016 and I am still coming to terms with so much of it. We just got back in our house in time for Christmas. I am pleased to hear that you are all resettling as well. May 2017 bring many more Good Things (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjUKGfBW74o) for us all.
(((HUGS)))
I think her story is very original (despite the dance part). Her performance kit with the drums reminds me a lot of Sheila E. It would be fun if she could kick some butt on the drums!
ReplyDelete~Xyra