For Jewish fans of American Girl dolls, Chanukah came early this year.
American Girl, based in Middleton, is a division of Mattel. Last month, that Wisconsin division released a new set of holiday doll outfits and accessories to be “diverse and inclusive.”
Kids can now dress up their dolls in special outfits for Eid Al-Fitr, Diwali, the Lunar New Year, Kwanzaa and Chanukah. The new holiday outfits come with a booklet explaining the significance of each of the holidays.
The Hanukkah Celebration set includes a navy velvet dress with a silver satin ribbon and bow, and glitter sparkle on the hem, a silver Star of David necklace charm on a silver chain, a glittery navy headband with a silver satin bow, and a pair of silver glitter shoes. It’s recommended for kids 8 or older and priced at $36. The company also offers a Hanukkah gift set that includes a menorah, Star of David bracelet, dreidel and Hanukkah gelt.
“American Girl was built on a foundation of diverse and inclusive stories and products that have inspired and empowered an entire generation of girls,” according to company’s promotional materials. “The brand is committed to accelerating its progress in this important area to better reflect what it means to be an American girl today. The new Cultural Celebration Collection is just one example of how we are doing that.”
American Girl is known for its lifelike dolls with backstories — and a series of short novels and movies about them — spanning the globe and set throughout history. The company released its first Jewish doll named Rebecca Rubin, whose story was set on the Lower East Side in early 20th century, in 2009. While that doll was recently retired, her own Chanukah set is still available, along with a Shabbat set that includes a teapot, pastries and a braided challah.