American Girl Book Club: Meet Samantha

We loved this book. 

The girls climbed into bed with me the morning of book club and we read the whole thing together right there in my bed. Samantha is a wealthy girl being raised by her grandmary (and nannies) in a big beautiful home in the early 1900's. she befriends a girl her age working as a servant in the home next door. Reese and Quincy were appalled that a little girl would have to leave her family and go to work. It was a nice lesson to them to be grateful for our comfortable lifestyle. They cried when Samantha gave her beautiful new porcelain doll to Nelly at the end of the book, and then I cried when I saw them crying. I'm lucky to have such compassionate daughters, who are often coming up with ways to serve others and would have done the same as Samantha to help a friend. 

They dressed themselves in plaid dresses so they'd look like Samantha for their Victorian tea party at Madi's house. 

Michelle had the cutest activities set up for the girls. A tea party with shoetbread cookies, tiny shaped sandwiches, pasta salad and other goodies served on real china. Dessert was ice cream served in teacups that the girls got to bring home with them as a favor. They had a dress up relay race with fancy dresses and big hats, made folding paper fans (and tiny ones for their dolls). 

At the end of book club,each girl was given a heart shaped locket to wear...just like Samantha. My girls treasure these and and said its their second favorite thing about book club, this week. First favorite is always the same: being together with their friends over summer break! Thanks for hosting, Zebley girls!