American Girl Introduces 2017 Girl of the Year

AmericanGirloftheYearAmerican Girl debuted Gabriela McBride, the company’s new 2017 Girl of the Year. Gabriela uses the power of poetry to help her break down barriers and overcome a personal challenge with stuttering.

The 18-inch Gabriela doll features dark-brown hair and brown eyes, an exclusive outfit that reflects her creative side, and a book chronicling her story. She also comes with several performance-inspired outfits and accessories, including a dance barre, rehearsal and dance outfits, plus pretend headphones and a microphone. Additional Gabriela products and books will be available starting in the spring, and—for the first time—the new Girl of the Year collection will be available for more than a full 12 months.

Gabriela’s story will be told in a series of three books published by Scholastic and written by Teresa E. Harris. To connect both boys and girls with Gabby’s inspiring message, American Girl is partnering with Scholastic to create and distribute Express Yourself, a custom curriculum program that teaches third through fifth grade students how to use poetry as a tool for self-expression. The free materials will be available on Scholastic’s website beginning March 1. In addition, to celebrate National Poetry Month, the program also features a poetry contest for students that will run in April.

Family Video Network worked with Mattel to surprise 7-year-old Gabby, the star of the YouTube channel Gabriella Damaris show, with an early copy of the doll sent to her over the holidays. Gabby didn’t know what she was opening in advance, so her honest reaction would be captured for the first time on film. She was thrilled to learn that the doll looked like her and shared her name. “I love her, which is like it feels like I am loving my own self,” Gabby said.

About the author

Maddie Michalik

Maddie Michalik

Maddie Michalik was the Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book from 2020-2022. She was also a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider.

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