VOA标准英语2011--American Girl Doll Store Sells Innocence and Mothers Are Buying

American Girl Doll Store Sells Innocence¹ and Mothers Are Buying

This week Americans charge into one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year, picking up final Christmas gifts as the December 25 holiday fast approaches. Reports about retail² sales have been mixed this holiday season, but American Girl, which sells dolls, books and accessories, does not seem to be feeling the pinch of a tight economy. Our reporter visited the company’s store in suburban³ Washington.

Meet Kaeli… and her doll that looks just like her … also named Kaeli.

“We got matching outfits⁴ and I love to match with my doll," said Kaeli. "It makes me feel kind of cool because I have a friend just like me.”

We caught up with Kaeli Chang and her mother Liane Whalen-Chang at the American Girl store in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Kaeli is choosing final Christmas gifts she hopes to receive.

After browsing⁵ a bit, she decides to take her doll to the store’s doll hair salon⁶.

Kaeli got her first American Girl doll just after she was born, and her collection has grown steadily⁷ ever since.

“I have nine American Girl dolls all together because my mom is an awesome⁸ shopper," she said.

“What I like about it … it kind of brings back the innocence of the kids," said Kaeli's mother. "They grow up too fast. So American Girl allows her to just be a little girl a little bit longer."

American Girl, the store, sells dolls representing periods in American history, alongside books that tell each doll’s story. This doll, Kit⁹ Kittredge, grew up in the 1930s during the Great Depression.

Also for sale: dolls that look just like your daughter, with accessories matching her interests. But it costs. The doll itself is $100. Add accessories to that and the bill can quickly add up.

Shoppers here are not complaining.

This granddaughter, grandmother and mother shop together.

"I like the historical aspects and the quality of the products," said shopper Michelle Saville.

“We wanted to speak to girls who were 8, 9, 10 years old and say whatever your passion is whatever you are interested in right now hang onto that," said shopper Valerie Tripp.

Valerie Tripp has authored more than 30 American Girl books. She loves writing for 8-year-olds, she says, because most are reading independently for the first time.

“The ability to walk into someone else’s shoes is a wonderful life skill," she said. "If you can read about someone who lived in a different time and kind of walk into her world. Isn’t that a wonderful way of learning.”

Kaeli Chang loves the books. But she doesn't think she'll buy the dolls for her daughters.

“I don’t think I am going to have daughters," she said. "I want to be single and a doctor.”

So the company may lose Kaeli, but there are many other pint-sized customers right behind her.

1 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

2 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

3 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

4 outfits   

n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits. 他把承包工程分包给许多小单位。 来自辞典例句
• Some cyclists carry repair outfits because they may have a puncture. 有些骑自行车的人带修理工具，因为他们车胎可能小孔。 来自辞典例句

5 browsing   

v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息

参考例句：

• He sits browsing over[through] a book. 他坐着翻阅书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Cattle is browsing in the field. 牛正在田里吃草。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 salon   

n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室

参考例句：

• Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗？
• You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。

7 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

8 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

9 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。