Part 3: June 2019 Release - Pets

Continuing on with photos and reviews of the 2019 Summer release at American Girl, this post is going to cover the new items in the Truly Me pets section. I've had my Mom and sister helping with these comments, so this comes from three different people . . . and we all liked some things and not others (but not usually the same).

HUSKY PUPPY
Nicer than the old Pepper (5 stars)
As nice as any of the current poseable pets. Really cute in the Rough and Ready pet set. Nice size – wasn’t too small. About the size of the Lab and Wheaton Terrier.

 Click on any photo to enlarge.

LEOPARD PET BED
Nice Colors & Design (4 Stars)
Very girlish and nicer quality than current “donut” pet bed. Not as nice as the older pet beds, but certainly a step in the right direction. Too expensive for cheap velour, but it's definitely the best option of the three available right now. A couple of pet-feeding bowls or toys might have helped with the price. I couldn't get a picture of the bottom of the bed, because the display department had covered it in post-its and codes . . . but it is covered in the same pale pink material.

LEOPARD LEASH SET
AG Should Not have Made This (1 Star)
Looks like a young child’s first attempt at crafting a leash and collar. Buy the bed, but pass on the leash. The current TM Flower Leash Set is still much nicer quality and a better value.



HEDGEHOG HOUSE
Nice Idea that Fell Flat in Production (2 Stars)

4 stars for originality in design, but it’s a poorly-executed good idea that only deserves 2 stars. Cheap quality. Poorer quality than a Calico Critters set but better quality than a Li’l Woodzeez. The hedgehogs are white-flocked bottoms with brown-plastic tops. It gives it a very cheap look, in my opinion. The one hedgehog is always asleep, the other always awake. The sleeping one can only lie in the hammock, because it looks dead on the ground. One of the displays (see photos) actually had the sleeping hedgehog out, and it was creepy! The poor little hedgehog looked like he had died. It was bothering a lot of the little kids that walked up to it, and I can see why.

                                                            Click on any photo to enlarge.

The plastic of the house and door is all one solid colour and looks like a department store toy. That solid lack of color makes it feel like it isn’t nice enough to be finished. It needed better coloring and detail (perhaps wood grain or “carpet look” on the steps.) They didn't have one of these out to touch, but just from looking, it doesn't give the appearance of durability. We were actually prepared to buy one before we went to the store and saw it in person, but it’s a no-go now. Too bad, because this is a really cute idea -- but at $30, I would expect nicer quality from AG. The Chameleon set still looks nicer.

Stay tuned for more photos coming shortly . . .

Meet Flossie (Nanea's Pet Chicken)

Trudy here. It seems like a lot of news is getting posted, but none of it ever mentions pets. So, we're adding a new column! Everyone on Islandshire loves animals. They all want a pet. Zaida and Bessie have an Adopt-a-Pet shop and rescue all sorts of animals --- from dogs and cats to skunks and pigs. In fact, everyone on the island is getting ready for the big Adopt-a-Pet event set to take place very soon.

The Islandshire market was open this weekend, and lots of crowds came by for the Grand Opening of Pete and Jerri's (a fantastic vegetable market). Even Nanea's pet chicken, Flossie, came out to sample the corn bread. Flossie is no ordinary chicken.

This brings us to our first "Spotlight on Pets" feature. Flossie is a very special chicken. No one has ever seen a chicken quite like her, in fact. Nanea says that it is because she comes from China (so the tag said) and is a special Chinese chicken. Flossie is covered in furry white feathers and has a black face and beak. She's very friendly and hardly ever makes noise! Every morning, she lays three eggs (quite an amazing chicken, like I told you) and clucks when they are ready.

Nanea loves Flossie. That chicken gets treated as well as we girls and boys do! She has her own little area in Benny and Nanea's house. It's a nice green box with her nest in it, and she shares a green food bowl with Benny's pet skunk (Flossie's food is the white half). Nanea has even planted some purslane in a pot and put that right next to Flossie's box. Purslane is very edible and a favorite snack for chickens.

Not only does this chicken have her own box and nest inside the house, but she also has quite a wardrobe! She has a little blue ruffled skirt and a fancy green pineapple skirt . . . and, she's leash-trained. Her little collar is all different colors and has a plastic flower tag hanging from it. This is no ordinary chicken.

Nanea giving some corn bread to Flossie.

 Flossie appeared at the Market on her leash. This proved to be quite an attraction to the other visitors --- particularly to George. He had never seen a chicken on a leash before! He and Eloy offered to babysit while Nanea shopped, and Flossie was treated to the best of care. She was given a temporary crate (which proved so comfortable that she laid an additional three eggs), a glass of water and some excellent chicken food. George became quite attached to her and has decided to offer chicken babysitting services on any Market Day.

George climbs up for a better view of a chicken on a leash.

 Another member of the household here has formed quite an attachment to Flossie --- though not as friendly a one. Henry the Kitten (now 1-1/2 years old and real terror to dolls . . . he would like to chew vinyl) has decided that Flossie is the more amazing cat toy in the world and considers her quite a prize. Just how he has managed to climb onto desks and shelves to find her is a bit of a mystery, but she has now been carried as a special prize four different times! She has to stay in the closet in her house when not being watched by Nanea, because Henry loves her. We even found her right in the middle of a bed pillow one day --- having been deposited as a special prize in a perfect sitting position!

Flossie has certainly found a nice home at Nanea and Benny's house. She gets along wonderfully with their pet parrot, Coucou. Even their turtle, Stanley, likes her. Benny's pet skunk will be arriving soon, but I'm sure they'll get along really well, too.

Nanea and Flossie inside the house.

Check back again soon for more pets at Islandshire!