Sunday, June 16, 2019

Learn About Environmental Activism With Kailey Hopkins

American Girl Doll, Kailey Hopkins,
came with only one book, simply titled
"Kailey" by Amy Goldman Koss.
       Kailey Hopkins lives near tide pools in California and is an avid swimmer and surfer. When development threatens to destroy the tide pools she loves and surfs in, she and her best friend engineer a protest to make a difference. Kailey's collection included various beach outfits and accessories. She was the second girl of the year, released in 2003, retired in 2004.
Our Artifacts for the Kailey Hopkins Doll:
Themes Associated With Kailey's Story:
Saving Our Shorelines:
Learn About Tide Pools:
Research How Women Can Make A Difference Through Environmental Activism:
  1. Learn About Dana Miller director of Grow Local Colorado.
  2. Sylvia Earle pioneered a movement called Mission Blue for ocean exploration.
  3. Winona LaDuke is the Executive Director of Honor the Earth and White Earth Land Recovery Project at the White Earth Reservation, Minnesota. A Fight for the People's Land.
  4. Climate activist Anna Jane Joyner working with the Western North Carolina Alliance and co-founder of creation care alliance and videos from The YEARS Project.
  5. Dr. Bhatt works with many women through the Navdanya Project ("nine seeds") in order to save seeds for biodiversity conservation. This foundation from Dehradun, India.
  6. Read about One Plastic Bag, a recycling movement that began with Isatou Ceesay.
  7. Theo Colborn, was the Founder and President of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), in Eckert, Colorado. "Our mission is to reduce the production and use of chemicals that interfere with healthy hormone function." TEDX website.
  8. Professor Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement (GBM) in Nyeri, Kenya. 
  9. May Boeve helped start a website called 350.org.
  10. Katherine Hayhoe, a climate scientist has an interesting website for her research here.
  11. Joelle Novey (interviewed) is the executive director of Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light.
  12. Maggie Fox is the President and CEO, Climate Protection Action Fund or ACE. Their mission, "We educate young people on the science of climate change and empower them to take action."
  13. Majora Carter is an American urban revitalization strategist and public radio host from the South Bronx area of New York City. Carter founded and led the non-profit environmental justice solutions corporation Sustainable South Bronx from 2001 onward, before entering the private sector in 2008.  Visit the Majora Carter Group.
  14. Read Jessica Posner's Story and visit Shining Hope for Communities, Kenya  
  15. See film by Bata Bhurji and visit Barefoot College in Rajasthan, India
Crafts for Kailey Hopkins Doll:
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    Thursday, June 13, 2019

    Learn About New Orleans With Cécile and Marie-Grace Dolls

    American Girl Books by Denise Lewis Patrick
           Cécile Rey is from a rich African American family that originated from New Orleans, Louisiana. She loves listening to her grandfather's tales about the sea. She meets Marie-Grace during one of her singing lessons. At first, she is not fond of her because she is white, but eventually warms up to her and becomes her best friend. When Yellow Fever strikes her brother, she decides to use her gifts to help him and others. Themes include the loss of family and caring for others in need, and volunteering. Cecile speaks French and her French words are described in the glossary in the back of her book. Though Cécile Rey and Marie-Grace are best friends, they shared the same level of importance and a few items in their collection as well as a book, unlike other Best Friend characters. Cecile was also the second African American character made by American Girl. The first being Addy and the third being Melody. Cecile was archived with Marie-Grace, Ivy, and Ruthie in 2014 to make room for BeForever and the return of Samantha.
           Marie-Grace Gardner is a girl from New Orleans. Similar to Josefina, her mother died before the events of the series. She makes a friend with Cécile Rey in her first days in New Orleans, although the latter was not interested at first. However, changes are in the air. Soon, Marie-Grace's singing teacher is found sick with yellow fever. Her father, who is a doctor, saves not only the teacher, but others in his aid. She also rescues a baby and forms a close bond with other children. 
    New Orleans in 1853:
      Yellow Fever Epidemic:
      Orphans In America, 1853:
      Mardi Gras for Kids:
      Fan Videos for Cécile Rey and Marie-Grace Gardner:
      • Meet Marie Grace
      • Meet Cecile
      • Marie-Grace and the Orphans
      • Troubles for Cecile
      • Mare-Grace Makes a Difference
      • The Hidden Gold
      • The Cameo Necklace
      • The Haunted Opera
      Advanced Reading: Historical Fiction
      • Look to the Hills: The Diary of Lozette Moreau, a French slave Girl by Patricia C. McKissack 
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      Tuesday, June 4, 2019

      Learning Native Culture, Lifestyle, and History With Kaya

      Some of Beforever books about Kaya.
             "Kaya is a young girl from the Nimiipuu or Nez Perce tribe living in the pre-contact Northwest. Themes in her core series focus on leadership, compassion, courage, and attachment. Chronologically, Kaya's adventures are the earliest of the historical characters. Kaya is depicted as brave and outgoing, but careless and thoughtless, and wants to be a leader of her people. Her role model is a female warrior named Swan Circling. Created in collaboration with a consultation team that included representatives from the Nez Perce tribe, Kaya is the only Native American doll made by American Girl to date. Kaya is the only doll in the series not to show teeth, per tribal custom. Kaya is also the first doll in the series to not follow the book naming customs established by previously-released characters – the second book in the series is titled Kaya's Escape instead of Kaya Learns a Lesson." Wikipedia
      Online Research for Themes Found in Kaya's Books:
      Our Artifacts for Kaya's Stories and Native Culture, History, Arts:
      More Links to Kaya Related Learning and Lapbooks:
      Poetry About Native Americans: Culture, Legends, Language and Folklore
      Native American Girls Share Online:
      National Parks, Libraries & Museums Lessons In Native Crafts:
      Video & Articles for Kaya Doll Related Fan Culture:
      Advanced Reading: Historical Fiction About The Indigenous People/Native American Women of North America:
      • The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow: The Diary of Sarah Nita, a Navajo Girl, New Mexico, 1864 by Ann Turner 
      • My Heart Is on the Ground: The Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl, Carlisle Indian School, Pennsylvania, 1880 by Ann Rinaldi
      • The Birchbark House: by Louise Erdrich - "Omakayas, a seven-year-old Native American girl of the Ojibwa tribe, lives through the joys of summer and the perils of winter on an island in Lake Superior in 1847."
      Kaya's facial details reflect Nez Perce Reviews.

      More Native American Doll Characters with Books:
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      Learn About Hawaii with Kanani Akina and Nanea Mitchell

      Meet Nanea Michell and the author of her books!

              Kanani is the ninth Girl of the Year character; she and her collection were released in 2011. Kanani is the second multiracial character, following Jess McConnell. Her father is of Japanese and Hawaiian descent, and her mother is French and German. Hailing from Kaua'i, she helps her family run a shave ice shop and is passionate about helping people by sharing the aloha spirit and protecting Hawaiian wildlife.
             The Kanani doll has medium skin, hazel eyes, and long thigh-length light brown hair. She comes with a kukui nut necklace, a pink flower in her hair, and a light-blue floral print dress.
             Nanea Mitchell is the sixteenth historical character and the 3rd BeForever exclusive. She is from Honolulu growing up in the early 1940's representing the bombings at Pearl Harbor that ushered the U.S. out of The Great Depression and into World War II. She may be the youngest in her Ohana (family), but she still wants to be useful and help. But before she can prove that she is ready for more responsibility, Japan attacks the military base in Pearl Harbor where her father works.  
      Our Artifacts for Hawaii Themed Projects, Lapbooks, and Journals:
       Online Research Into Hawaiian Culture:
       Hawaiian Native Tongue:
       Hawaiian Island Environmental Resources:
       Polynesia Culture:
       The Attack at Pearl Harbor:
        Kanani Akina doll Fan Videos and Collections:
       Books About American Girl, Kanani Akina:
      1. Aloham Kanani
      2. Good Job Kanani 
      Nanea Mitchell doll Fan Videos, Articles and Collections:
       Books About American Girl, Nanea Michell:
      • Growing Up with Aloha
      • Hula for the Home Front
      • The Legend of the Shark Goddess
      • Prints in the Sand: My Journey with Nanea
      • Real Stories From My Time: Pearl Harbor
      More Reading: Historical Fiction
      • Early Sunday Morning: the Pearl Harbor of Amber Billows by Barry Denenberg - diary about the Pearl Harbor Attack in 1941 from the perspective of a 12 year-old girl
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      Monday, May 27, 2019

      Learning History With Melody

      "No Ordinary Sound" cover.
             "Melody Ellison is a nine-year-old girl living with her family in Detroit, Michigan, during the civil rights movement in the early 1960s. Her parents are Will, who works in an auto assembly line, and Frances. Frances' parents (Melody's grandparents) are Frank Porter, a florist; and "Big Momma" Porter, who teaches piano and voice. Melody's older brother, Dwayne, wants to be a Motown singer; her oldest sister, Yvonne, is a student at Tuskegee University; her sister, Lila, is in middle school and lives at home.
             In her character's first book, No Ordinary Sound, Melody's cousins move to Detroit from Alabama; this is when Melody learns more of racial prejudice. When the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing occurs, Melody becomes fearful of going into her church, because the four little girls were in their church when they died. In time, Melody overcomes her fear.
             The first book was released in January 2016, although the doll wasn't released until summer 2016; a preview of the Melody doll was aired in CBS News in February 2016. The book's advisory board included: JoAnn Watson, NAACP executive committee member; Gloria House, professor of African American Studies at the University of Michigan, Dearborn; Thomas Sugrue, professor of history at New York University; and the late Julian Bond, former NAACP chairman.
             A live-action web special based on her stories entitled Melody, 1963: Love Has to Win, an American Girl Story was released by Amazon Studios, starring Marsai Martin as the title character. Melody is the third African American character made by American Girl, the first being Addy and the second being Cecile." Wikipedia
      Themes or Topics Covered in American Girl Melody's Books:
      The Music That Inspired Melody Ellison:
      Motown Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was originally founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, and was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for Detroit, where the label was originally headquartered. Read more...
      Motown Hits from The 1960s: The Ladies
      Motown Hits from The 1960s: The Gents:
      American Girl, Melody Ellison's Fan Videos:
      List of Melody's Books:
      1. No Ordinary Sound
      2. Never Stop Singing
      3. The Lady's Slipper
      4. Music in My Heart: My Journey With Melody
      5. Real Stories From My Time: March On Washington
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      Learning History With Molly

      An American Girl on the
      Home Front film.
             "Molly McIntire is a young girl living in a fictional city named Jefferson, Illinois during the later years of World War II. Her father is stationed in England as a doctor caring for wounded soldiers, and her mother works at the Red Cross. She, her 15-year-old sister, Jill, her 13-year-old brother, Ricky and her 6-year-old brother, Brad, are all cared for by their housekeeper, Mrs. Gilford, and she must cope with the many changes that the war has brought. Molly also realizes that she, too, has a part of helping soldiers. Despite those changes, Molly has some leisure activities as well, such as skating, tap-dancing, movies and summer camp. Molly's series focuses on patriotism and the changes that come with wartime. 
             Molly was one of the original three dolls offered by Pleasant Company and is the only doll to be sold with eyeglasses. In early July 2013, American Girl announced plans to archive Molly and Emily. Both were archived on December 31, 2013, though Molly's mini doll and books were re-released in February 2018 as part of the BeForever line."  Wikipedia
             Emily Bennett is a British girl who is sent to America by her family to protect her from the intensity of the English battlefront during World War II. Originally a minor character temporarily residing with the McIntires in the book Happy Birthday, Molly!, Emily's character was expanded in a book by Valerie Tripp called Brave Emily for her debut as the third doll in the Best Friends collection on September 5, 2006. Emily's debut coincided with the premiere of the Molly made-for-TV movie. Since Emily is a minor character and not Molly's best friend, she was marketed instead as "Molly's English friend". As Emily is a part of Molly's collection, she was archived along with Molly.
      Original Molly doll
      by Pleasant Company
      and costume.

      Our Artifacts for American Girl, Molly McIntire and WWII:
      Online Learning About English Children During WWII, and for Emily Bennett:
      More Craft Projects for Molly McIntire Fans:
      Online Learning About Themes in Molly's Books:
       WWII Movies, Documentaries, Tributes:
      Popular Music in Molly's World:
      American Girl Doll, Molly McIntire's Fan Videos:
      Advanced Reading: Historical Fiction about young women during WWII:
      • My Secret War: The World War II Diary of Madeline Beck, Long Island, New York, 1941 by Mary Pope Osborne 
      • Early Sunday Morning: The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows, Hawaii, 1941 by Barry Denenberg 
      • The Diary of a Young Girl, also known as The Diary of Anne Frank, is a book of the writings from the Dutch language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The family was apprehended in 1944, and Anne Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945. The diary was retrieved by Miep Gies, who gave it to Anne's father, Otto Frank, the family's only known survivor, just after the war was over. The diary has since been published in more than 60 languages.
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