There's a new American Girl, Kaya. Kaya's story takes place in 1764. She's a member of the Nez Perce tribe in the Pacific Northwest. Her tribe has yet to encounter European Americans. In Meet Kaya, Kaya chooses to take part in a dangerous bareback horse race rather than look after her twin brothers. When her brothers wander off, Kaya is in big trouble. The Kaya series looks at life among the Nez Perce and includes photos and information about the tribe in the Looking Back section of each book.

The American Girls series offers a great framework for working your way through American history.

• Kaya - Nez Perce in 1764
• Felicity Merriman - Williamsburg, Virginia in 1774
• Josefina Montoya Santa Fe in 1824
• Kirsten Larson - Minnesota in 1854
• Addy Walker - Escaping from North Carolina and slavery in 1864
• Samantha Parkington - New York City in 1904
• Kit Kittredge - Cinncinnati in 1834
• Molly McIntire - the Midwest in 1944

Each of the American Girl characters has a set of six books with engaging tales that offer a look into the life of particular period and way of life in American history. The six book sets can be purchased through EHO's Homeschool Resource Center for less than $25.

Pleasant Company has published a number of additional books that complement the series. Each of the characters has or will have a series of short story books that are easy to read in one sitting and include project ideas that go along with the book. A craft book that takes "A Look at Crafts from the Past With Projects You Can Make Today" and a theater kit which includes script booklets and a director's guide to produce a play about one of the American Girl characters. Pastimes books, cook books, stationery sets, and paperdolls have all been published. Some are still available others must be purchased used. You'll find a complete selection of currently available American Girl items in our Homeschool Resource Center.

A Teacher's Guide is available for each of the American Girls except Kaya and Kit. Each containsan overview of the six book set and historical background information that helps place the books into context. Teacher's notes, plot summaries, themes and vocabulary helps are included for each of the six books covered by the guide. Reproducible worksheets covering comprehension questions are also included in each guide, as well as a list of project ideas.

For those that fall in love with a particular character, the dolls and their many accessories are available through the Pleasant Company website. Each doll currently sells for $84 with the first book in paperback or $106 with her complete book set. They also offer a starter set for each doll that includes the first book, the doll and a number of accessories. For example the new Kaya doll's starter set includes the Kaya doll dressed in her deerskin dress and moccasins; Kaya's accessories: beaded necklace, beltpouch, bag; Meet Kaya in paperback; and the Tatlo (Kaya's dog) and travois accessory set for $130.

Additional Online American Girl Resources

You can start with a look at the history links in the Eclectic Weblinks Index United States History section.

	American Girl Web Pages for Each Character Kaya Felicity Josefina Kirsten Addy Samantha Kit Molly
	American Girl Magazine Activities available online include Web Paper Dolls (Note that the Addie 2002 dress is for a homeschooled girl.)
	American Girl Games
	All American Girl
	American History Through Fiction 1774: Felicity Merriman
	Katie's Trunk and Changes for Felicity
	American History Through Fiction 1824: Josefina Montoya
	American History Through Fiction 1854: Kirsten Larson
	Meet Molly, An American Girl - Economics lesson plan