Learning History With Julie Albright and Ivy Ling

"Meet Julie" cover

       Julie Albright is a young girl growing up in San Francisco, California in 1974–75. Her six book series, written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Robert Hunt, focuses on various changes and societal upheavals in American society during that time period: divorce, feminism, gender equality in school sports, environmentalism, and the disability rights movement. The America's Bicentennial celebration is also emphasized later in the series. Julie was released September 10, 2007 and is the first character portrayed from a divorced family by American Girl.  A short independent film about Julie was uploaded on American Girl's YouTube account, starring Jolie Ledford in the title role.

• "And the Tiara Goes To" A Julie Albright Movie
• The Teacher's Guide to The Big Break (PDF)
• Look up the meaning of the name, Julie
• See my pinboard for the Julie Albright doll 

      Ivy Ling, Julie's best friend, is a Chinese American girl living in San Francisco. Good Luck, Ivy by Lisa Yee focuses on Ivy's conflict with her love of gymnastics and family traditions and responsibilities, and its "Looking Back" section discusses Chinese-American history. The Ivy doll debuted with Julie and was the first Best Friend doll to be released at the same time as the main character. 

• Meet Author Megan McDonald who wrote Julie's Books
• Read her kid review here
• Meet Author Lisa Yee who wrote Ivy Ling's Books

"Good Luck, Ivy" cover.

Living In The City By The Bay, Yesterday and Today:

• Foundsf - community history links, photographs, stories
• Earthquake history of the Bay Area
• Welcome to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf
• A Rare Look at the Tunnels Under San Francisco
• Golden Gate Park
• 10 Secrets of the Golden Gate Bridge
• A mapped introduction to San Francisco's many varieties of Victorians
• Cable Car Rides: here and here and here
• Places for parents and kids to visit in the Bay Area
• Josh shares 24 things to do in San Francisco
• 7-Hour San Francisco Food Crawl by Fung Bros.
• Tony Bennett "I left my heart in San Francisco..." - This makes me weep, people. I lived in this beautiful city for several years. My second child was born there.

Our Crafty Artifacts for the Julie and Ivy American Girl Dolls:

• Sew Groovy Textile Art for A Doll House
• Chinese New Year's Dresses for 18inch Dolls
• Vinyl Clip Art Records for Doll Crafts
• Craft Mid-Century Modern Sofa Tables
• DIY Doll Sized Jiffy Pop
• Make Polaroid Photos for Your Doll's Camera
• Make Doll School Cafeteria Lunch Trays
• Sew Bohemian Bags for Your Dolls
• Craft a vintage tape recorder for those 1960s and 70s dolls - uses tape cassette stickers

Themes found in Ivy Ling and Julie Albright American Girl Books:
Helping Children of Divorced Parents:

• Remember Me: Children's Voices After Separation
• What Parents Need to Know from Kids About Divorce (Cope)
• How Could Divorce Affect My Kids?

True American Beauty:

• Developing confidence and social skills through pageants
• Student wins Miss Black USA, redefines beauty
• Contrasting Crowns: Redefining Beauty and Disability
• Beauty Redefined: How Self-Objectification Hurts Girls and Women

Learning About Chinese America: Civil Rights, Culture, Everyday Life

• Growing Up Chinese American by ilikeweylie
• Asian Americans for Equality and The Building of Confucius Plaza Protests
• 1970s footage of China Town, San Francisco and here and here 
• Old Chinatown, San Francisco Early 1900's
• San Francisco's Chinatown in 2013 by World Travels and Adventures
• The beloved traditions of Lunar New Year by CNN and Chinese New Year becomes more popular in the United States
• Americans Celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year in Washington, D.C.
• Asian Americans Try To Speak Their Native Language
• 'Art by Day, Magic by Night' at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis (photos by sherhardap) and Description here

The Endangered Species of California:

• Six California Animals Among Top 10 Endangered Species Act Success Stories
• Endangered Species Act (ESA) Milestones in the 1970s
• Endangered species in California
• Facts About the Endangered Species Act of 1973

America's 200th Birthday:

• ABC news coverage of the Bicentennial Center - Harry Reasoner
• Bicentennial , 1976 the 200th Birthday of USA
• The Fourth of July, Bicentennial Parade
• Gettysburg PA Bicentennial Parade 1976

Equal Rights for Young Girls in American Schools, 1970s:

• Who was Edith Green? and the Education Amendments of 1972
• Learn about gender equity for girls in school & community sports, (Title 9)
• Iowa Girls 6-on-6 basketball: title 9 Brings Change to Girls High School Sports

"Feel Good'' Disco, Folk, Country and Rock Music etc.. from The 1970s: Listen and guess which genre is which! These songs played on the radio when I was small daily.

• 'Hooked On A Feeling' by Blue Swede
• 'Love Train' by The O'Jays
• Cat Stevens sings his 'Peace Train'
• 'Come and Get Your Love' by Redbone
• 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by John Denver
• 'You're So Vain' by Carly Simon (sings in a 2000 something concert an old favorite from the 70s)
• Bob Marley and the Wailers sing 'Three Little Birds'
• 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown' by Jim Croce
• 'September' by Earth, Wind and Fire
• 'It Never Rains in Southern California' by Albert Hammond
• The Temptations sing 'Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
• 'Rock The Boat' by The Hues Corporation 
• Charlie Rich sings 'The Most Beautiful Girl' and 'Behind Closed Doors'
• 'Kung Fu Fighting' by Carl Douglas
• 'Dancing Queen' by Abba 
• Edison Lighthouse 'Love Grows'
• Johnny Nash sings 'I Can See Clearly Now'
• The Spinners sing 'Rubberband Man' 
• 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree' by Tony Orlando and Dawn
• 'The Night Chicago Died' by Paper Lace
• Mac Davis sings "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me'
• Carole Kings sings 'You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman'
• Boston sings 'More Than A Feeling'
• Electric Light Orchestra sings 'Livin' Thing'
• 'Rhinestone Cowboy' by Glen Campbell
• KC and the Sunshine Band sing 'That's The Way'
• Al Green sings 'Let's Stay Together'
• Theme from 'Shaft' by Isaac Hayes
• 'Rock Your Baby' by George McCrae 
• 'What's Goin' On' sung by Marvin Gaye
• Chicago sings 'Saturday in the Park'
• Van McCoy & Pan's People 'Do the Hustle'

Ivy Ling's book:

• Good Luck Ivy

Julie Albright's books:

• Meet Julie
• Julie Tells Her Story
• Happy New Year, Julie!
• Julie and the Eagles
• Julie's Journey
• Changes for Julie
• The Tangled Web
• The Puzzle of the Paper Daughter
• The Silver Guitar
• Lost in The City
• Message in a Bottle

Fan Pics for Julie Albright and Ivy Ling Dolls from YouTube:

• Opening American Girl Doll Ivy Ling
• American Girl Julie's Groovy Bathroom Playset Review
• Julie Albright Doll Review by American Girl Spirit