THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100350
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
If Addy Walker were real and miraculously lived to be 141 years old - she would've enjoyed her birthday party Tuesday.
Dressed in calico dresses and knickers, lower school Norfolk Academy students ate strawberry tarts and vanilla ice cream in honor of the former slave girl they've read about over the past few weeks.
Addy Walker is one of five sweet-faced subjects of the American Girls Collection, a series of historical, wildly popular, children's books and dolls.
More than 15 million copies of the books and 1 million dolls have been sold during the past 10 years, inspiring young people throughout the country as they learn about life during different time periods in American history.
The girls and boys at Norfolk Academy feasted on cookies, pound cake and fresh berries like the Walker family ate for little Addy's fictitious birthday on April 9, 1865.
``We have letter cookies because in the Addy book, she used stuff in the kitchen and cooked cookies to help her mom learn how to read,'' said 8-year-old Mary Tyler.
``One of the words she spelled was `LOVE.' ''
About 200 girls dressed in calico dresses, and boys managed knickers - pants stuffed into long socks - along with their Nikes as they danced to such black spirituals as ``All God's Children Got Shoes'' during an all-day program.
The Virginia Beach author of the Addy Walker series, Connie Porter, joined in the festivities while signing autographs and answering questions about the slave girl who escaped to freedom and captured the imaginations of many.
``I had no idea the dolls would become this popular,'' Porter said. ``To come here and see someone dressed up as someone from the 1880s, it's amazing.''
Librarian Barbara Burns introduced an American Collections study program eight years ago, using the books to teach history to second-grade girls. In the past, the girls would read the books and have a tea party reminiscent of a Victorian member of the collection, Samantha.
``But when we realized we could get the author here on Addy's birthday, we decided to do more. We could include the boys in this,'' Burns said.
``Addy's stories are so compelling - the family's in slavery, some of the members are sold off, and then the family is later reunited. The kids love the book and were so excited about the idea of the program.''
The collection began a decade ago and includes Felicity, ``a spunky, spritely, Colonial girl,'' Kirsten, ``a pioneer of strength and spirit,'' Samantha, ``a bright Victorian beauty,'' and Molly, ``who schemes and dreams on the homefront during World War II,'' as the dolls are described by Pleasant Company, the firm that produces the books and dolls.
The company's mission is ``to provide girls with beautiful dolls, books and pastimes that celebrate the experience of growing up.''
Addy was added two years ago, the first African-American addition to the series. While the books can be found in local bookstores, the pricey dolls and accessories - Addy's complete collection of books, furniture, hair-and-skin-kit run about $895 - can only be ordered through a catalog.
Some parents feel the investment is worth it.
``It has piqued my daughter's interest in our history,'' said Olymphia Rainey of Virginia Beach.
``She's checked out more books about African Americans, about women, about the slavery issue. . . . She knew it was a part of her history, but I think she thought it was something to be ashamed of.
``I think she thought all blacks stayed in slavery but she found out through the books that there were freed slaves, people who escaped and made it.'' MEMO: FASHION SHOW
The Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters will present The
American Girls Fashion Show to benefit the Children's Hospital of The
King's Daughters at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Maury High
School. To obtain tickets for the fashion show and tea, call 668-7098. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by BETH BERGMAN, The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk Academy second-grader Meredith Whitt's hair blows in the
breeze Tuesday as she celebrates with classmates the birthday of
Addy Walker, a fictional slave girl in a series of historical
children's books.
Connie Porter, center, the Virginia Beach author of the Addy Walker
series, talks to students during the festivities. The students
dressed in calico dresses and knickers - trousers stuffed into
socks.
by CNB