The American Girl Beforever Makeover: And all the Great Books that Came Before

 I found out a couple months ago that American Girl, my favorite childhood book series that brings history to life, was getting a complete makeover, which happened August 28, #Beforever style.  I put a hashtag there, because it sounds hashtagish.

I read someone that beforever stands for become forever, and the idea is that girls are forever, no matter the era they are born.  And with this change the 6 books have become two, all illustrations and looking back sections removed.

They removed my favorite parts of American girl!  I remember checking the Samantha (1904) and Molly (1944) books out of the Westfield Elementary library.  I loved looking at the pictures and reading the history sections at the end.  American Girl books helped me find a love of reading, history, and a realization that the past is alive.

Why did American Girl change an amazing concept?  These books have become cheapened.

 So I went to Barnes & Noble, and sure enough no illustrations nor history sections, just as I read online.

 I love the original book collections.

 The beautiful covers.

 And all the beautiful pictures.  All gone.

 One fun aspect, the only good aspect in my opinion, is the "choose your style" books that each historical girl received.  The idea is you've gone back in time and experience everything that is happening, choosing your path, getting different outcomes.

 So thanks to the change I went Amazon Marketplace crazy, and bought many of the past books at good prices before prices start rising.

I got all 12 book series.  (Yes, there's been that many!  Felicity, Kristen, Molly, and Marie Grace/Cecile dolls have been archived, and they didn't receive a Beforever update.  Samantha got brought back for the Beforever release.)

And if you want to get some of the past books, search "American Girl [characters name] Story collection."  "Molly Story Collection" works too, if you want her.  You lose some of the historical sections, only getting one at the end of the bound volume, but at least you get the illustrations, and the prices are still pretty good.)

 There were short story collections for many of the original girls: I bought Kit, Kristen, Samantha, Felicity, Josefina, and Molly.  Addy is still in the mail.  There are short stories for Kaya, but I haven't purchased the book.

(Out of print, only available used)

 Each short story has beautiful illustrations and a looking back section.

Then there were three traveling like scrapbooks published, one for Samantha, Molly, and Kit.

 Each book has fun tidbits, and things you can pull out.  I've received Samantha, and can't wait for Kit and Molly.

(Out of print, only available used)

 Then there's the Welcome to [Samantha] World books, which are essentially glorified "looking back" sections with a lot of great information and pictures.  There's one for Addy and Kaya as well.  Addy is still in the mail, and I hope to one day get Kaya.

(Out of print, only available used)

 There are the American Girl mystery books.  I have several of them, and they are quite fun.  The books are novel like with no illustrations . . .

 . . . but each book has a "looking back" section!

These books are still available for purchase.

 Best friend books!  I have Emily, Ruthie, and Ivy, but I don't have Nellie or Elizabeth.  Apparently the companion books for Felicity and Samantha go OOC (out of character), so I haven't bothered quite yet, though I should consider buying them.

 And once again the best friend books have beautiful illustrations and interesting looking back sections.

American girl has announced that they will no longer be publishing or making best friend dolls.

(Out of print, only available used)

Then there are the Girl of the Year books!  Each year there is a modern girl featured, who receives a doll, books, movie, the works.  They're fun, but my heart is with the historical characters.

So I'm a little disheartened with Beforever.  It feels as if American Girl has lost their charm, which is a shame, and if they release a new historical girl under this new format, I will feel cheated not having beautiful illustrations and looking back sections.