Motown has a new legend to add to its legion of superstars, but this time it’s in doll form. Friends, meet Melody, the newest American Girl historical BeForever character.
Isn’t she adorable in her Motown recording studio? I’m obsessed!
This past Saturday, guests gathered at the Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit to debut Melody Ellison, a positive, optimistic girl growing up in Detroit during the 1960s. The evening was an opportunity for American Girl to introduce Melody to Detroit and also thank its advisory board who reviewed and provided input on all aspects of Melody’s development—from the doll, books, outfits, accessories, issues, and story setting.
What an honor it is for Detroit to call Melody theirs. My parents grew-up in Detroit in the 1960’s, and I can’t wait to read the stories myself! I grew-up reading American Girl books and look forward to introducing them to my own children in the years ahead. They are such a fantastic way to make history relatable to young women. {I had a Molly doll and have been obsessed with WWII ever since!}
What really touched me is that American Girl announced a partnership with the Detroit Public Library System, with the brand providing a donation valued at $175,000 to support the children’s sections at the Detroit Public Library’s 22 branches, including a $50,000 monetary donation and a product donation of Melody dolls and books {$125K retail value}.
Through the book donation, the Detroit Public Library will be able to provide a free Melody book to any area child who wants one through the end of 2016. How amazing is that?
The Melody doll and her first full-length novel, No Ordinary Sound, are available for purchase together for $115 on the American Girl website. Additional accessories are $24 and the book completion pack—which includes the second volume in the series Never Stop Singing and Music in My Heart: My Journey with Melody, a multiple-ending story—is $20.
Learn more about Melody on the website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.
Local friends, make sure to remember there is a AG store at Twelve Oaks now so you can see Melody in person!
*All images provided by American Girl.
Welcome to Detroit, Melody! We’re so glad you’re here to inspire local girls and teach us more about the history of our beloved city.
GIVEWAY
I am thrilled to offer the opportunity for one person to win their own Melody! I hope she make someone so very happy 🙂 Must be 18+ to enter. Giveaway ends on September 9, 2016 at midnight.
I would give this to my little girl who will be 5 this October and is in love with Music. I can totally see her loving Melody. And with a background from Michigan and a lack of Motown music here I always have to bring in Michigan culture
Not gonna lie if I win Melody I am keeping her for myself. 31 & not too proud to admit that.
I would love to give this to my daughter. To inspire her in so many ways!
Love the American Girl dolls, especially a new, local girl. Very cool.
I would love my daughter’s first AG doll to be Melody!!
Oh that precious doll would eventually go to my daughter. When she was 4 months she went to The American Doll Store in Chicago and got the Bitty Baby. This mom is hooked! Fingers crossed?
This American Girl doll Melody would be for my niece. I like to get her an American Girl doll for her birthday every year.
Molly loves American Girl and would love having an official doll!
My daughter:)
My niece! She got Grace last year and we are looking forward to visiting the new store.
I would give this to my niece.
I 5 children in which 2 of them are girls and I would love to add Melody to our home for my girls to love and learn about. Our family loves history!
I would give her to my daughter.
I would give to my daughter
If I won Melody I’d keep her! I picked up the first book at my local library (the wait list was long!) and I can’t wait to read it. My mom was born in the 1960’s and she also wants to read Melody’s books!
Kailey saw this and said she would love to have it! 😉
I’d give her to my goddaughter.
I would give this doll to my daughter.
I would love to win this for my granddaughter ??
Melody is adorable! My daughter would love to bring her home. 😉
Oh my gosh, she is adorable!! I would make the girls share her–haha, that would be fun!
My little lady is 7 and really wants Melody, so I would give the doll to her. We are going to Melody’s Summer Block Party tomorrow. Can’t wait to see her collection.
Loved this entry, as I’m currently obsessed with Melody, too. We share the same name, and like her, I grew up during the Civil Rights era.
Were I to win this doll (lucky me!), I’d probably donate it to an elementary school library in Louisiana that’s been affected by the recent flooding. To that end, I wanted also to say that I’ve completed all 10 contest entries, even if my final tabulation doesn’t show that I have. Glitch in the system?
Wow,it Would be great for my daughter to get her first american girl doll.She looks exactly like melody from her bangs to her feet. It would means the world to my little harmony to get melody.
I would love to give this to my daughter.
I would love to give this to my daughter.
my grandaughter would love her
I would give it to my 6 year old daughter.
I would give it to my daughter. 🙂
I would love to give this to my daughter!
This would be for my granddaughter. She loves all her friends American Girl dolls and really wants one of her own.
I must admit I would keep this doll!
I am so happy to see the this American Doll. There should be dolls of all races and nationalities so all little girls can have a doll that they can relate to. Thank you so much for this special doll and for this generous giveaway!!!!
I would give Melody to my neice to start her American Girl doll collection. As Michigan born and raised I can’t wait to share this link to history with her.
I would give her to my daughter Alyse, who is gonna be 5 October 30th. We are from Michigan, and I always love to share with my daughter the culture of our little state.
I would give to my granddaughter.
My daughter would love her. She looks just like her.
I would give Melody to my daughter 🙂
Thank you for the giveaway!! I would give Melody to my daughter!
I would gladly give it to my niece.
My oldest granddaughter just discovered American Girl, she would enjoy it if I gave it to her.
I would give Melody to my niece, thank you so much for the chance to win!!
I would happily give Melody to our grand daughter.
Big on her wish list!
thank you
Honestly, I would keep her and display her on my dresser. I’m proud to have grown up in Detroit and was never lucky enough to have an American Girl doll no matter how much I wanted one, so I would love her to my first one!
My niece would love this doll, but in all honesty, I enter sweeps and donate to Toys for Tots every single year. I dont know who it would ‘go to’ except to a young girl who would grin ear yo ear.
I grew up in the 60s, and I’ve always loved the music of Motown. Melody is beautiful, and her style brings back lots of childhood memories. I’d love to win her! 🙂
If I won Melody would be for my oldest daughter. She would be SO excited!
I will give it to my granddaughter.
I would give Melody to my sister. Thanks for the giveaway.
Marion
I would give her to my niece.
I would you give Melody to my daughter if I won.
I would share it to my little sister
I would give the doll to my granddaughters.
I would give Melody to my daughter. 🙂
I would give Melody to my daughter!
I would give Melody to my niece, she looks a lot like her. I think she would absolutely love her.
I would give this doll to my little sister for a birthday gift. She is just begging to understand the meaning and importance of diversity. She loved this doll from the moment she saw her and even made me make her hair “puffy and pretty” like Melody.
*Beginning
I would give her to my daughter to play with.
I would give her to my daughter, Sarah, who is an American Girl nut!
I would give it to my nieces.
I would give her to my niece. Melody is so very inspiring.
I would love to give this doll to my goddaughter who is a huge fan of American Girl. Thank you!
I’d share her with my great niece Gracea.
My Niece!
Thanks for the chance to win! I would give it to my daughter if i won!
Oh I would give her to our little Kayla! She has wanted one for awhile, she would be so excited to have one to play with and love!
I would give her to my daughter.
I’d give her to my Granddaughter Caleah!
I would love to give this to my daughter Emily she’s really special and unfortunately doesn’t get too much but she really wants an American Girl doll
I WOULD GIVE TO MY GRAND DAUGHTER . SEE WOULD LOVE IT
I would give this to my granddaughter. She loves American Girl Dolls! Thanks!
I would give it to my 3-year old granddaughter.
I would give her to my granddaughter Lexi for Christmas.
My granddaughter Brooklyn
My daughter has been asking for an American Girl Doll for as long as I can remember. I would love to surprise her with one. Thank You!
I would give to my daughter who just turned 9.
If I won Melody, I would keep her. There is no one left to give her to. My mother and my sister loved dolls, but sadly they are both gone now, and I never had children. I have followed in their footsteps in a love of dolls. Melody is so sweet and positive that she would be a reminder of the beauty of life. Her time is the time period when I was a little girl, and she brings back pleasant childhood memories. And thusly, she would remind me of my loved ones.
Entered✅???Ty in advance
I would give her to my twin nieces they’d love her. They love the American Girl Dolls.
I would love to give her to my youngest daughter! She loves ALL things American Girl, and Melody is already on her wish list!
I would be giving this to my daughter!
To my lovely daughter who means the world to me 🙂
I have a friend who’s daugher would really love this! I would gift it to them. Thanks!
I would gift this to my 4-year old niece (along with purchasing a book for her) for Christmas this year! 🙂
My seven year-old daughter would appreciate her!
My granddaughter would love this
My grandchildren would love this doll
My niece would love this
I would give her to my Goddaughter for Christmas
I would give Melody to my daughter. She is so in love with her!
I would give it to my daughter.. She would love it…
I would give her to my daughter! 🙂
I would give her to my daughter and she would be over the moon !
so adorable my niece would adore it!
I would give it to my youngest niece for her birthday in October. Her sister already has an American Girl Doll so I think it’s only fair she get one too!
I would give Melody to my youngest granddaughter to love.
Winning this doll would be amazeing for my granddaughter such a amazeing doll thanks so much for this awesome giveaway
i would give Melody to my 6 year old daughter Kelsey
Mrs. Weber! I love your blog! My husband and I started a Michigan based company that manufactures some pretty fun and Awesome, Massive Bean/foam filled Xorbee’s! We have recently been licensed for Michigan and Michigan State logoed products and would love to see if you and your kids would want to try one out? I’m sure you get a million requests, but I am fairly positive this might be your husband and kids favorite!!
That sounds awesome, Ivanna! Send me more info to my email: laurenmarieweber@gmail.com and I will see what I can do 🙂