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Meet American Girl Gabriela McBride – 2017 Girl of the Year

by Katie Wallace | Updated: January 30, 2017

American Girlโ€™s 2017 Doll of the Year has curly brown hair, warm brown eyes and a creative personality. Her story is about tackling challenges with creative problem solving. The American Girl books introduce girls to memorable stories and character lessons. Gabriela McBride is no exception; she also works hard to help her community. We received the Gabriela McBride doll for review and unboxing. Gabriela quickly became a beloved part of our American Girl collection.

Meet American Girl Gabriela McBride doll review

Gabriela McBride Unboxing Video

My daughter and I had a lot of fun unboxing Gabriela and seeing each of her beautiful details.
Everything from the American Girl collection is always great quality.

American Girl 2017 Doll of the Year

American Girl Gabriela McBride is the 2017 Girl of the Year. Sheโ€™s a talented character who gets
creative for a cause. In her first book, Gabriela loves spending time at her motherโ€™s performing arts
center. She especially enjoys dance, art and poetry. In that safe place, she conquers her stutter, joins a poetry group and helps with the annual showcase. When Gabriela and her friends make a big mistake, she creatively helps save the center from being shut down.

Gabriela McBride American Girl doll has curly brown hair, warm brown eyes and light brown skin

The 18โ€ณ Gabriela McBride American Girl doll has curly brown hair, warm brown eyes and light brown
skin. Like the other dolls, this 2017 African-American character has a huggable cloth body, a movable
head and smooth vinyl limbs.

Gabriela McBrideโ€™s curly hair is one of my favorite features about this 2017 American Girl character.
Girls can style her hair in a variety of ways. Also, my daughter uses a wire brush to brush out each
individual curl and keep her hair pretty and tangle-free. Styled up or down, Gabrielaโ€™s hair frames her
face with ringlet curls.

American Girl Gabriela McBride purple and turquoise shoes

Additionally, she comes wearing a soft turquoise tank top and a cropped purple sweater with a silver
โ€œdreamโ€ graphic. Her stretchy dark blue jeggings pair perfectly with her purple and turquoise shoes.
Gabrielaโ€™s pink ribbon headband completes her comfy outfit.

American Girl Gabriela McBride is the 2017 doll of the year and book

Dolls That Are More Than Toys

We love the American Girl collection for several reasons. First, each American Girl character is memorable and unique. Likewise, the historical dolls introduce girls to eras of history in memorable ways. Felicity Merriman, Kirsten Larson and Samantha Parkington each have their own struggles and successes. These dollsโ€™ historical outfits and accessories are beautifully detailed and
especially fun to collect.

American Girl Gabriela McBride

Also, the American Girl collection encourages girls to enjoy simple dress-up. The modern American
Girl dolls are colorful and stylish. In a world of fashion and makeup, American Girl dolls are dressed
appropriately for little girls. My girls love dressing up their American Girl dolls and mixing and
matching outfits. Weโ€™ve even made some custom doll clothes.

Finally, the American Girl books are perfect for young readers. The book chapters are fairly short and
easy for kids to read on their own or with mom or dad. Many of the stories are about friendship,
perseverance, overcoming obstacles and being creative. Overall, these simple books are a great way
for girls to develop their love for reading

Gabriela McBride doll review and unboxing

My girls have so much fun playing with their American Girl dolls. They also love adding new outfits and accessories to their collection! Gabriela McBride fits right in with my daughterโ€™s other AG pals. The American Girl brand is a great place to start for collecting high quality toys that inspire girls to enjoy childhood.

Katie Wallace
Katie Wallace

Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 4 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist, and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!

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Ariana Gomez
Ariana Gomez
8 years ago

Amazing stuff to help with raising kids. thanks

Reply
June S.
June S.
8 years ago

This American Girl doll is very nice. I know a person who goes to the big sales when they have them in the springtime.

Reply
John
John
8 years ago

My niece would love this! She is obsessed with AG Dolls.

Reply
Jiselle
Jiselle
8 years ago

I love these dolls we got one for my niece some time ago and she loved it!

Neha K.
Neha K.
8 years ago

Love the pics. Both are too cutee

Reply
Sabrina
Sabrina
8 years ago

My daughter would have loved such a doll when she was smaller!

Reply
Melynda S
Melynda S
8 years ago

This is so cute!

Reply

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Hi, I'm Katie and we are the Wallace family! We homeschool, go on adventures, and travel internationally with our four kids. I hope you enjoy our creative ideas on Create. Play. Travel.

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Travel with kids tips & inspo ๐ŸŒ๐ŸŒบ Creative family ideas ๐ŸŒŸ Saved by grace โžก๏ธ Follow our adventures!

๐Ÿ’ก Essential tips for traveling with our 4 kids! ๐Ÿ’ก Essential tips for traveling with our 4 kids!

๐Ÿงณ Pack light with items that do more

We bring clothes that mix and match, quick-dry layers, fold-flat totes, and activities that encourage creativity. Think art supplies and travel board games. The less we carry, the more we can explore.

๐Ÿฅช Eat often and try new flavors
We use snack stops and meals to experience local culture. Bakeries, fruit stands, and small cafรฉs become our favorite spots. 

๐Ÿž๏ธ Choose simple adventures over packed days
We go on kid-friendly hikes, stop at playgrounds, and tour cultural centers. We visit great houses, historic workhouses, and local museums.

๐Ÿ“ฑ Use screens sparingly
Ideally our kids only use screens on travel days, and with a time limit. Shows and multi-player games can help turn dull afternoons into family fun!

๐Ÿ”ฆ Encourage curiosity
We explore as much as we can with our four kids, shopping at markets, using public transportation, and visiting immersive attractions. We find many free activities, and budget for must-see destinations. 

โžก๏ธ Which of these travel tips would help your family the most?

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Europe, worldschooling
For us, itโ€™s snacksโ€ฆ lots of them. ๐Ÿ˜„ Snacks For us, itโ€™s snacksโ€ฆ lots of them. ๐Ÿ˜„ Snacks save the day on long travel days, unexpected detours, and those regular afternoons when everyone needs a boost. โœจ

Come join our adventure-loving crew! Follow @createplaytravel for family travel tips, kid-friendly ideas, and creative inspo for exploring the world with your crew. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’›

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, worldschooling
Giveaway! Enter to win a one-year HomeExchange mem Giveaway! Enter to win a one-year HomeExchange membership for 2026!ย ย โœจย ย Weโ€™ve stayed in some incredible homes through HomeExchange, each one giving our family an authentic travel experience! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ 

โœจย Giveaway Rules
1. Follow @createplaytravel and @homeexchangecom
2. Comment + tag a friend
#HomeExchangeForTheHolidays

This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram. One winner will be chosen to receive a one-year HomeExchange membership after the giveaway ends on Dec. 21, 2025

HomeExchange allowed us to stay in cozy homes and explore France like a local. We canโ€™t wait to share the experience with one of you!ย ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’›

In Paris, we stayed in a comfy urban apartment just steps away from our favorite boulangeries and the Eiffel Tower.ย ๐Ÿฅ๐ŸŒ‡

In Lyon our cozy home had beautiful living spaces and a swimming pool that our kids absolutely loved.ย ๐Ÿ’ฆโ˜€๏ธ

In Les Herbiers, we stayed close to Puy du Fou and its immersive historical theme park attractions.

And in Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Home Exchange helped us soak up the charm of a quiet riverside town that felt like stepping back in time.ย ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿก

โžก๏ธ Giveaway! Enter to win one HomeExchange membership for 2026!

๐ŸŒŸย Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventuresย ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

followย along! @createplaytravel

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, explore France, Europe with kids
Where would you go? ๐Ÿ‘€ Come join our adventure-l Where would you go? ๐Ÿ‘€ Come join our adventure-loving crew! โœจ

We explore, homeschool, and live a creative family life with our four kids. ๐Ÿฉต 

Follow @createplaytravel for family-friendly destinations, travel tips, and creative ways to travel with kids!

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, worldschooling
Our kids are our biggest fans ๐Ÿ™Œ๐ŸŽฌ Making YouT Our kids are our biggest fans ๐Ÿ™Œ๐ŸŽฌ
Making YouTube videos of our family adventures has been such a great way to share and save our family memories. We watch our vids all the time, which take us right back to the special moments. Our audience is growing slowly, but itโ€™s really not about that at all!

Because we travel with our kids, our children are brave and adventurous โ€” willing to try new things and eager to problem solve. Adventurous kids are resourceful kids! 

โžก๏ธ Have you seen the benefits of traveling with your kids?

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Europe
We visited the Trevi Fountain in Rome during Easte We visited the Trevi Fountain in Rome during Easter weekend. โ›ฒ๏ธโœจ Even though the streets of Rome were packed, this site had crowd control security, who only let a few people down in front of the fountain at a time.

We stood in line for 10 minutes, and were given unrushed time to take photos and video clips in front of this iconic landmark. ๐Ÿ“ธ We have no idea whether this is normal, but it was such a special highlight in Rome! 

Have you been to the Trevi Fountain? What was your experience with the crowds? 

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

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๐ŸŒ‰ Destination Highlight: Tower Bridge, London! ๐ŸŒ‰ Destination Highlight: Tower Bridge, London! ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง

Tower Bridge ended up being such a memorable stop! The walkways offer amazing views of the River Thames and the city skyline.

โœจ Fun facts:

Tower Bridge opened in 1894 after eight years of construction.

Itโ€™s a bascule bridge, meaning the roadway lifts up for tall ships to pass through.

The glass floor walkways were added in 2014, giving visitors a thrilling (and slightly scary!) perspective from 138 feet above the Thames.

Our kids loved learning how the bridge lifts up using giant counterweights, and we all left with a new appreciation for Londonโ€™s engineering and history. ๐Ÿ’™

Would you be brave enough to walk across the glass floor? ๐Ÿ˜„

Hi! Weโ€™re the Wallace family ๐Ÿ‘‹๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel
A day exploring London with four kids! โ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง

Here are a few of our favorite family-friendly spots ๐Ÿ‘‡

โœจ Big Ben & the London Eye โ€“ Iconic landmarks and amazing views around Westminster.

๐ŸŒ‰ Tower Bridge โ€“ An interactive, educational stop that our kids absolutely loved!

๐Ÿ›๏ธ British Museum โ€“ We explored Egyptian and Assyrian exhibits and even saw the Rosetta Stone! ๐Ÿคฏ

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Liberty London โ€“ A fun and colorful stop for unique souvenirs and creative inspiration.

Every corner of London had something special; so much history, beauty, and adventure for families! ๐Ÿ’‚โ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ’™

โžก๏ธ Have you explored London with your kids yet? What was your favorite part?

๐ŸŒŸ Hi, Weโ€™re the Wallaces! Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel
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