Josefina is part of The American Girls Collection. This paper doll set makes a wonderful addition to the books. In addition to the doll and her 10 outfits and pet goat Sombrita, there is also a storybook to assemble. There is a sheet of instructions for using the stand and making the book and accessory envelope. There is also a card to send away for an American Girls Catalog. The cardboard envelope she comes in can be used to store everything. Josefina, Sombrita and their stands come on heavy card stock. Her outfits, accessories, and book pages come on glossy paper. They are beautifully colored. Josefina lived in 1824 New Mexico when it was still part of Mexico. The odd book pages tell a story about Josefina; the even pages give historical information about New Mexico and the life there. The backs of the outfits and accessories give their names. The large items give details about how they were made, when worn, where the material came from and how to cut them out and use the accessories. In addition to the clothing there are jars and pots, food and decorations, books, toys and even a piano. The outfits range from work clothes to party clothes for summer and winter. You get a real feel for what life was like back then. This is a wonderful paper doll. While it's great for readers of The American Girls books, it's also appropriate for anyone interested in Hispanic culture.

Kit's stories center around America during the Great Depression. Kit Kittredge is a nine-year-old with a nose for news, but she has a hard time finding interesting stories--everything in the papers during her time is about the hard times of the Depression.
Kit starts out as a proud, somewhat selfish character who doesn't realize what she has until it's gone. But the changes begin in the first book, when Kit has to stand up to the fact that her father has lost his job and that the Kittredges now face an uncertain future.
The subsequent books, Kit Learns A Lesson, Kit's Surprise, Happy Birthday, Kit!, Kit Saves the Day and Changes for Kit show Kit as she slowly grows up and deals with the Depression. In Kit's stories readers will see the effects of the Great Depression on a nine-year-old girl who refuses to lose hope, even when the bank threatens to take her family's home.
Kit's stories also feature "Peek into the Past" selections detailing different aspects of the Great Depression. The sections also explain what caused the great Depression.

Kit's stories are great. I higly recommend the boxed set.

It was the first American Girl book that I read and that is what got me into American Girl Books. I love the Molly doll and I loved the Molly books so you should call me a Molly lover.

Like plays? Acting? Directing? History? American Girls? Molly? If you said yes to one of these, then this fantstic play kit is for you! Have fun preforming a great play about Molly with your friends!

I have always been fascinated with American History. It was my favorite subject in junior high/high school. Growing up my mom would tell me stories of when she was a little girl growing up during World War II. I was fascinated with her stories/antics of what she,her siblings,family and friends did during this time. Valerie Tripp has done a beautiful job of capturing the essence of growing up on the homefront in her series about Molly. The storyline is very much like the stories my mom used to entertain me with as a little girl. The historical viewpoint is accurate while the storyline is so well written you feel like you are watching a movie. I highly recommend this series to parents everywhere.

It doesn't matter whether you are rich or poor, friendship is what counts. This is a great book about overcoming the difference between classes and points out that everybody can find something to share.

I'd write this review in Spanish, but my computer won't use the accents and such. So here it is, in English. I liked this book in Spanish--it was very well written. It follows a similar plot to the English version, where Josefina and her sisters are not sure about what to do this Christmas because their mama died not long ago. They are just getting into the holiday spirit when Josefina and her sisters discover that the altar cloth that their mama made has been destroyed because of the flood. Josefina is determined to find Nina, the doll her mother made to be passed down from sister to sister. Josefina and her sisters end up enjoying Christmas--I'll not give away the ending. The book was even better to read in Spanish, where the traditions and songs seem to make more sense than they do in the English version. Jose Moreno doesn't lose any of the story that was written by Valerie Tripp, the book is a good, recommended read in both languages!

I like the American Girl Collection. It's my favorite series of books (except Captain Underpants). Since I live in 2001 right now, Josefina isn't new. Right now the newest American Girl is Kit. I don't have an American Girl doll yet. I will soon. I'm going to get Josefina. Josefina Montoya has a big (and I mean big) problem. Her Mamá has died. Only her Papá is left. But there is a goat being very mean to Josefina. Can Josefina overcome her fear of goats? Or will she be doomed? The book is way better than "Meet Felicity". The book is better than "Meet Felicity" because "Meet Josefina" has a slightly better story plot.

Is an American Girl book. It tells the story of how they lived back in 1824.I liked it so much that I'll give it 5 stars. Josefina's mom had died and tia Dolores changes Josefinas life. Josefina learns that even though someone or something is not with you or dies you should move on and meet new people and try new things. The book was exciting when Josefina faces her fear of a maen goat named Florecita. I thought it was well written. Other kids will enjoy it because it is a book that goes baack in timeto 1824 and what they did back then and how they lived.

Josefina is the newest American Girl! Another great character to a wonderful series. Josefina is a 9 year old Hispanic girl from 1824 New Mexico. Her Tia Delores comes (Tia means aunt in Spanish) and brings the most wonderful thing to the Montoya rancho. A piano! But the girls just suffered an awful loss, their mothers death. Can Tia Delores bring happiness to the house? Josefina must also overcome her fear of the mean, old goat who destroys one of her most favorite things.

The Felicity books portray very nicely the life of a colonial girl. The stories are unique, sweet, and fun with a twist of adventure in them. I liked all the Felicity books, except the first one, Meet Felicity. It was good, but it wasn't very believable. There's a man who's beating a horse Felicity loves, and she sneaks out every morning for 5 weeks while it's still dark to visit the horse-- and her parents don't even notice she's acting weird. But, if you want to read the series, the books explain things really well. You can start with the 2nd book (Felicity learns a lesson) and pick right up on the story.

It seems like most people who review these books are either in the age range which the books are written for or are parents who read them with children. I'm sixteen and I read these when I was nine, but I picked them up again recently and they're just as good as I remembered. People say they're a good introduction to history, which is true in certain ways. But if you want books that simply make you happy, get ahold of these, no matter how old you are.

Regarding Felicity specifically, she's a lot of fun, although the other characters in the series are more realistic. In the first book, Felicity is able to ride an abused horse after spending only a little more than a month with the horse. I don't think a frightened horse would trust a person that quickly, no matter how kind the person is. Even so, this is a wonderful story for nine-year-old girls since so many see horses as fantasy creatures. When you read this--especially if you're an experienced horse person--remember to look at it in the context of who it's written for.

If you look at all of these books as a young child would, it's easier to see them for what they are: stories with wonderful characters who we can relate to and be envious of at the same time. In a nutshell, the entire American Girls series is an excellent interpretation of how life is and how it should be.

My 8yr. old daughter and I read these books together and found them to be a classic to treasure for childhood. The discriptive language was easy to understand and appreciate, it's a good example for beginning creative writing. We truly enjoyed the adventures and the historical facts mixed in with a young girl that my daughter could relate with and look forward to with each chapter.!