This is another book in the American Girls series about Josefina Montoya, a ten-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. In this book, Josefina and her sisters prepare for Christmas, a grand celebration in New Mexico, made all the more special by the towns use of the Christmas altar cloth made by Josefina's late mother. However, when the altar cloth is brought it, they find out that the flood (Josefina Learns a Lesson) damaged the cloth. The girls rally round to fix the cloth...and perhaps fix themselves at the same time.

The final chapter of this wonderful book is a highly informative look at Christmas in New Mexico in 1824. Jean-Paul Tibbles' excellent illustrations complement the story nicely, and add a great deal to the joy of reading this book.

This is a wonderful story, with some excellent lessons. I liked the way the family pulled together, and worked hard towards something beyond themselves. Also, I like how the family's religion is worked into the book in a warm and inspiring way. This is another excellent American Girls book, one that my daughter and I recommend to you.

In this book Josefina gets to be Maria in the Christmas play. She has a happy Christmas.

Josefina Montoya is a nine-year-old girl growing up on her family's rancho near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1824. Mama died last year, and since then, life for Josefina, her father, and her older sisters, Ana, Clara, and Francisca. Even though things have been better since Mama's sister, Tia Dolores, came to help out, the Montoyas still grieve. Josefina feels that celebrating the Christmas traditions will make her miss Mama more - but they bring her peace and happiness. And one special night gives Josefina courage and hope for the future, and brings Josefina an unexpected gift. This book was very good and I learned a lot about the traditions of Mexican families living on the Southwest frontier in the 1820s.

In Changes for Kit, Kit outgrows her old red coat she got for a Christmas present and her friends and family make her a new one with old materials that came from their own clothe. Kit, Stirling, and Ruthie decide to donate Kit's old coat to the hobo jungle where there were a lot of children who were cold and hungry. However when they get to the jungle they learn from the few remaining hoboes that most of the families had gone to the soup kitchen for the winter months. So Kit, Stirling, and Ruthie continue their journey to the soup kitchen. The children are all alarmed when they see the poor condition the children at the soup kitchen are in. Kit sees many children who need coats and many who need shoes. She feels very helpless when all she can donate is ONE winter coat.

Meanwhile, back at home her parents get the news that Uncle Hendrick broke his wrist and ankle and is coming to live with them accompanied by his dog Inky. Kit couldn't be more annoyed that mean and crabby Uncle is coming again, and guess whose job it is to look after him? Kit's. She hates how her uncle make her write letters to the newpaper editors and complain about the president and his programs which Kit knows has helped her family get through the hard times. Such as her brother Charlie who worked in the CCC and earned money for the family. However Kit learns from Uncle Hendrick too! She could write a letter about all those kids who need clothing and shelter in the soup kitchen! So she, Ruthie, and Stirling go to the soup kitchen and took pictures of the poor condition the children were in. However Kit knows that since she isn't rich and doesn't have a reputation like Uncle Hendrick she probably won't get her article printed. Well, is her family and Uncle Hendrick in for a surprise when they recieve the paper one morning. Not only are they surprised but Kit's letter affects the whole city of Cinncinati!

The conclusion to Kit's story was another great one in the American Girl's Collection. I can't wait for the next girl's story to come out! They are really beautiful books with their pictures and the Peek into the Past. Lastly I have to say Hooray for Kit!!!

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Kit Kittredge, a ten-year-old girl living in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is 1934, and Kit and her family are struggling to make ends meet as the Great Depression deepens. Kit's life seems to suddenly get much worse, when her dour Uncle Hendrick is injured during a fall and moves in with the family. However, it's not her own plight that hurts Kit, it's that of the children she sees in the local soup kitchen. She wants to do something, but what? Perhaps she can steal an idea from her Uncle!

As with the other Kit books, this is a great story. It succeeds brilliantly in teaching history while also teaching a life lesson. The book is wonderfully put together, with great illustrations. The final chapter is a short history of the Great Depression, which makes the book even more informative. This is a great book, one my daughter and I highly recommend.

Since there is no description about this book, I'll explain everything I can. In Changes for Kit, Kit finally gets a "new" coat to replace the one she'd outgrown in Kit's Surprise. She, along with her friends Ruthie Smithens and Stirling Howard, decide to give her coat to a hobo at the hobo jungle they had discovered in Kit Saves the Day. But when they get there, they discover that the jungle is deserted, and the few hoboes in the cave tell them that during the winter, many of the hoboes go to the Soup kitchens to eat. So Kit and her friends go to the soup kitchen they visited in Kit Learns A Lesson, and give Kit's coat to a poor girl who is in nothing but rags. Kit and Ruthie also notice the fact that many of the kids at the soup kitchen are wearing poor coats and shoes, and Kit plans to find a way to help them, but can't figure out how.
Back at home, Mr. Smithens delivers the news that Kit's cranky Uncle Hendrick broke his arm and ankle when he fell down the stairs, and now insists on moving in with the Kittredges. Since Kit's parents are busy and Uncle Hendrick can't write, when he has a complaint about the local newspaper, he demands that Kit dictate it for him. Kit doesn't agree with what Uncle Hendrick says at all, and comes up with her own letter to congratulate the newspaper editor.
Then Ruthie decides to donate some of her clothes to the Soup Kitchen, and that's when Kit gets her idea to photograph the kids in the kitchen. She does so, and on her way to the newspaper office, she drops her letter and the roll of film off with Uncle Hendrick's dictated letter. Kit fears that because she's not as wealthy or important as her Uncle that her letter will never get published. But everyone in Cincinnati, as well as in Kit's home is in for a surprise. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read the rest of the Kit books, as it does a good job of finishing off her series.

With the possible acception of Molly's Suppries, this was my favorit book in the Molly Micantier sieries. Molly and her friends don't realy understand the true gravity of the war. Oh, they know that Fathers and husbands are away on distant battle feilds, that mothers are working in Home-Front Red Cross orgonizations and that certin foods are rationed. They feel the war, but they don't understand the true eviles of the fighting- the innocent European familys starving, and rushing under bomb shelters in there living rooms at the sound of a warning sigren, the soldgers storming a far away beach on D-Day. THese are the things they see on News Reels and in Life Magizien. They even make a game out of it all, by bulding a pretend bomb shelter in Molly's basment! When Emily, a British girl comes to stay with the Micintiers, she shows Molly what the war is realy like. She tells here about distruction left buy bombs in England, about being traped for days in subway cars, and about Bomb shelters that, arn't just a game. Emily brings with her plenty of forgien British terms and ideas- some of wich step on Molly's toes. In the end, thogh, the girls learn to put aside there difrances and dissageements, and enjoy there birthdays as inter-national friends. I thought this book was wonderful. If you are interested in WW2, or if you just enjoy a good read, I recomend this book.

I thought the book was so cool. How an eglish girl was there for Mollys birthday.I wish they could come out of more books with Emily in them.And I'm happy that they got there dogs that they wished for.

An English girl is going to stay with the McItires! She's going to be there on Molly's birthday! One night while Molly and Emily get into a fight and Molly sayas that Emily can't come to her party. What'll she do?

In this book Molly McIntire's Dad is in the war so she thinks he won't send presents for Christmas. Of coarse the famly sent him presents but Molly isn't sure her dad will. Then she and her sister Jill find a package from their dad saying not to tell any one about until Christmas. To find out more read the book.

I got this book for Christmas and it is very good.Molly is my favorite character. In this book she almost gave up all hope on her christmas gift from her dad but still had a little flame of hope that kept that gift from getting lost or stollen. But all through still she kept the Christmas spirit which is very important. I would recomend this book to any one. Thank you.

Molly's upset because Christmas cannot be the same because of the war. She tries to salvage whatever part of Christmas she can and when she and her sister Jill find a package from her father they hide it so they can be the ones to surprise their family. My favorite of all the American girl novels.

Well written book about my favorite American Girl, Felicity Merriman. This story shows Felicity's character as it was developed in the main series. She is so full of life and is a joy to read about. Her relationships with her sister and parents comes through in this short book. The characters are so vividly described.

I bought this for my 8 year old daughter, but definitely enjoyed it as much myself! She has read it three times and loved it.

My little girl LOVES this book! it is a great taste of history for you girls..and they really get into it without even knowing they are learning!

This is another one of the American Girls Short Stories series about Josefina Montoya, a nine-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. In this book, when Josefina and her father journey up to the mountains to visit one of the rancho's shepherds and his grandson, they discover a recent illness has left him blind. In spite of Josefina's pleading, her father decides to retire the shepherd. But, on their way home, Josefina and her father are caught in a sudden storm, and he is injured. Can Josefina save the day?

The final chapter of this book looks at shepherding in 1824, and gives directions for making a mini rug (it looks quite fun and easy, and my daughter and I are going to make one). As always, Jean-Paul Tibbles has produced some excellent illustrations that add a great deal to this already excellent book. My daughter and I both highly enjoyed this book, and we recommend it to you.

"Josefina's Song" is the third Josefina short story that was published, but it is set just before the book "Josefina Saves the Day". In "Josefina's Song", Josefina is allowed to join her Papa on a trip to the local mountains. They are going to visit the shepherd and his son who spend most of the year with the herd of sheep on the more abundant grazing land found in the mountains. When they arrive at their camp, they realize that the shepherd has become blind from a fever, and his nine year old son watches the sheep. Even though the shepherd proves himself capable around the camp, Papa is still worried for his safety. Papa offers to house them comfortably in town, but Josefina boldly speaks up for them, jeopardizing her own trip to Santa Fe that same summer. On their way home, a summer storm hits and Papa is injured when his frightened horse rears at lightning and bolts. Brave Josefina leads her Papa on her own horse back to the shepards camp, until men from home discover the runaway horse and rescue them in the morning. During the night, Josefina sings in her beautiful voice to the shepherd's flute playing. When she runs out of songs she knows, she sings her feelings about her journey, her outspokenness, the storm, Papa's accident and about the care the shepherd gives them. The next day, the abilities of the shepherd and his son are re-evaluated.

Josefina's Theater Kit contains the ingredients to create a short play about Josefina. The play is titled "Josefina's Gift". Each of the five acts in the play are based on the book "Happy Birthday, Josefina!" Josefina believes that she may want to be a healer like her Tia Magdalena until she accidently breaks one of Tia Magdalena's priceless jars while cleaning, and then runs home. Tia Dolores helps Josefina take responsibility for her actions, and get a second chance to have Tia Magdalena teach her about being a healer. Her lesson on herbs with Tia Magdalena, and her confidence in herself give her the chance to save her friend, Marianna, from a snake bite.

The play is for six characters (five females, one male role for Papa). It comes with four script booklets, a directors guide, and a poster to announce your performance. The scripts contain stage directions: an excellent practice for reading materials written in different formats. The directors guide contains information about the directors job, stage directions, costuming, stage sets, and how to put on the play. All of the materials are detailed and user friendly. Motivated actors could make this into a production worthy of inviting the neighborhood over, or even a talent show entry.

This is a fun-to-preform play, with scripts, tips, and more!

This delightful cookbook is part of the American Girls Pastimes series, and focuses on the sort of recipes that would have been used during the time of Kirsten Larson, 1854. The book begins with some historical notes on pioneer kitchens and eating, and includes a short prayer in Swedish (which my eleven-year-old daughter is trying to memorize). Then the book launches into the recipes. First comes breakfast with homemade sausage patties, hard-boiled eggs (and how to serve), Swedish rice porridge, round rye bread (all hand made), homemade butter, and ginger cookies. Next comes dinner with baked ham slice, Swedish potatoes (better than scalloped potatoes!), cabbage and apple salad, fruit soup, and Swedish almond rusks. Then comes favorite foods, which includes potato soup, Swedish meatballs, fresh applesause, Swedish pancakes, St. Lucia buns, and Pepparkakor cookies (ginger cookies, a traditional Christmas treat, but good anytime). The final chapter is on planning a pioneer party.

This is a very good recipe book. The recipes in here are all easily within the ability of a youngster who is guided by an adult with even moderate experience in the kitchen; no special tools are need. My daughter already made the Swedish pancakes (yum!), and is planning a Swedish meal (at which she'll recite the prayer). I can't wait.

This is a very nice book, an excellent recipe book, and an excellent addition to your Kirsten library.

The recipes are wonderful, and the history is easy to take in. I learned quite a bit from this book without any suffering. There are lots of pictures, including photos. This is my kind of cookbook! I intend to buy the other cookbooks in this series.

This boxed set is jsut as mediocre as the first, recycling more stories from American Girl magazine and re-editing them for a book format. The highlights of this set are Samantha Saves the Wedding and Molly and the Movie Star. Felicity has more quarrels with Annabelle Cole in the Felicity story, Josefina gets frustrated with the piano in the Josefina story, Kirsten gets jealous of a new girl in the Kirsten story, and Addy wishes that she were a boy because she feels that she is loosing her brother. These short stories, which for the most part I have stopped collecting (by the way I collect American Girls things as a hobby) are lacking when compared to several other items in the American Girls Collection series. These could have been better. I recommend getting them at a library--but you might hacve a time finding one that has the whole set, since several libraries have quit buying the American Girls Short Stories, at least where I am from.

My almost seven year old daughter has been enjoying AG books on tape and has had at least 20 read to her. Our favorites are the short stories though, because they can be read in one sitting and they have great project ideas geared to the age group. We bought the newest series on July 1 and have read four out of six of the short stories. These books will become favorites for sure, just as the first short story set books are still read over and over again. Thanks for the intro to history in an appropriate format for the early grades.

A bunch of little books for a bunch of little kids! a perfect christmas present for any young girl of any age! i know my little girl loves it!