Isabel and Nicki Hoffman, American Girls Historical Dolls 2023

(American Girls $ 115 for each doll and book)

It’s December 31,1999—the last day of the 20th Century when Isabel begins her journal and her twin sister Nicki adds her own comments to the day-by-day events of their busy lives. For any American Girl fan, what could be better than one American Girl doll? Two of course. (Let’s hope they don’t do triplets next.) That said, for the many twin sisters out there, this pair may reflect their lives in many ways, even in 2023 or 2024. The Hoffman twins are not identical, not in any way. They are fraternal twins with very different coloring, different talents and decidedly different tastes. Their differences do not distract from their devotion to each other. As always, each doll has her own book and these, written like journals are especially playful and may even be a model for girls who are starting to journal themselves. Naturally there are elaborate as well as small accessory collections to be ooo-ed and ahhh-ed over and fondly wished for on the American Girl site or in their catalog.

Ages: Early School

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2023