American Girl characters past and present show girls today that they can do great things if they believe in themselves and each other. From a Native American girl living in the Northwest in 1764 to a contemporary girl who helps others by sharing the aloha spirit of Hawai'i, the characters in every story illustrate the power of determination, imagination, courage, and hope—the same spirit that inspires modern American girls.

Introduced in 1986, the historical characters give girls an engaging glimpse into important times in America's past. Each character's story is told in a series of compelling books, focusing on such themes as family, school, holiday, birthday, summer, and winter adventures. Gentle life lessons throughout the stories remind girls of such lasting values as the importance of family and friends, compassion, responsibility, and forgiveness. Each book concludes with a nonfiction picture essay, "A Peek into the Past," that further explores the character's historical period.