American Girl debuts new WellieWishers line of dolls

PHOENIX — Got a little girl between the ages of 5-7 in your home (or anywhere in your family?)

American Girl just made it easier for you to lighten your wallet in their stores.

The popular toy retailer unveiled a new line of dolls on Thursday.

Called the WellieWishers, the five new dolls are aimed squarely at little girls who may be looking for something more advanced than their American Girl Bitty Babies but whose parents may not feel that they are ready for full-sized American Girl dolls yet.

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(The company's Girl of the Year, historical characters and Truly Me dolls are recommended for ages 8 and up.)

According to a news release, the WellieWishers are a "line of five fun-loving characters ... who are out to make the world a kinder friendlier place."

The dolls feature five friends with distinct personalities, according to the American Girl website.

Here's their backstory:

-- Willa loves animals, has long hair and likes climbing trees.

-- Camille, a blond with shoulder-length hair, loves the ocean and is "as mellow as a mermaid," according to the website.

-- Kendall has curly brown hair that's worn in pigtails and dark skin. She's the creative inventor and loves to draw and paint.

-- Ashlyn has long brown hair and is described as a "princess in training" who loves to plan parties.

-- Emerson has black hair and is a performer. She loves the stage and showing off her dance routines.

Each doll comes with a full line of accessories and books, as well as matching outfits for girls who want to dress like their dolls.

American Girl plans to expand on its new WellieWishers line with its first-ever animated series. The 11-minute episodes are set to launch this fall.

The dolls are smaller than their older counterparts, standing 14.5 inches tall, and come at a lower price point, too — $60 for WellieWishers, versus $100 and up for the existing American Girls lines.

The dolls are available in store and online, starting Friday.