American Girl Celebrates Birthday Fun For Girls 3 To 12!

Entertaining New Books and Products and a Special Online Sweepstakes Coming in March

Middleton, WI – February 27, 2003 – Nothing is more special to a young girl than her birthday—the one day devoted just to her. And whether she’s just turning three or nearing her teen years, American Girl® has just the thing to make this birthday a day she’ll never forget—from fun new books, to fabulous party kits, to special birthday-inspired doll accessories. To celebrate the launch of the new birthday merchandise, American Girl is also running an online Birthday Party Sweepstakes through its e-store at americangirlstore.com. From March 3 through April 6, 2003, 35 lucky winners—one per day—will be chosen at random to receive a fabulous Coconut-themed birthday prize package worth more than $2,000. The party package includes special gifts for the birthday girl, fun party favors and prizes for the guests, and plenty of extras to create a truly perfect party for the birthday girl and nine of her friends.

For the littlest birthday girl, the new Bitty Baby® Strawberry Birthday Set is the perfect gift. The adorable set comes with a pink dress, matching shoes, and headband for Bitty Baby, along with a make-believe cake and scratch-and-sniff birthday board book. Fans of the 18-inch American Girl Today® dolls will love the new purple party dress (also available in girls’ sizes) and special birthday accessories like a doll-sized tiara and balloons. For the ultimate themed party, girls can’t go wrong with the Coconut Party Kit. The complete party package for ten includes place settings, invitations, thank-you cards, a party guide, decorations, a tablecloth, centerpieces, a Coconut™ game, and much more.

The birthday theme continues with three new books from American Girl Library®—American Girl’s line of bestselling advice and activity books. First, Party Secrets is a fun-filled guide packed with practical information every girl needs to be a savvy hostess. Tips on great games and must-dance music are blended with tips on breaking the ice and being a good guest, while pop-out party checklists and a party survival guide guarantee foolproof fun. To preserve cherished birthday

memories, Birthday! Pages and Pockets features pages for recording party plans and memories, flaps where friends can write birthday wishes or special messages, and envelopes for holding secrets, photos, and souvenirs. And for crafty girls who like to create their own birthday cards and other special greetings, Sparkle Card Kit contains everything it takes to turn plain paper into 20 glittery greeting cards—including a 64-page instruction book, cardstock, four pots of microfine glitter, stickers, and more.

American Girl’s birthday books and products are available through the American Girl catalogue, at americangirl.com, and at American Girl Place® in Chicago. To place an order or request a free American Girl catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005.

ABOUT PLEASANT COMPANY

For over 16 years, Pleasant Company—a direct marketer, retailer, and children’s publisher—has provided beautifully made products for each stage of a girl’s development, from her preschool days of fantasy play through her tween years of self-expression and individuality. The flagship product line, The American Girls Collection®, has brought history to life for millions of girls ages 7 to 12 through its charming books, dolls, and accessories. In addition to The American Girls Collection, Pleasant Company is nationally known for the following brands: American Girl Today, Bitty Baby, Angelina Ballerina™, and AG Mini*s®. The company also publishes bestselling books from American Girl Library, Amelia®, History Mysteries®, AG Fiction™, and Wild at Heart™, as well as the award-winning American Girl® magazine.

To date, more than 90 million American Girl books and 8 million dolls have been sold. Pleasant Company was founded in 1985 by Pleasant T. Rowland and was acquired by Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) in 1998. Deeply committed to its mission to educate and entertain, the American Girl brand has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators.