He is the latest push by Mattel, which acquired the Wisconsin-based doll maker for $700 million in 1998, to create more contemporary figures<br />and stories for American Girl, and to further diversify the line of the dolls in hopes of improving sales.<br />The unveiling of Logan on Tuesday comes after nearly a year of rumors that the American Girl franchise was working on a boy doll.<br />For the first time in its 31-year history, American Girl, a maker of pricey 18-inch dolls, is introducing a boy.<br />Late last year, American Girl named its first limited-edition African American Girl of the Year, Gabriela McBride.<br />A number of the historical dolls have been retired or archived in recent years as Mattel introduced more contemporary figures<br />like Isabelle Palmer, who is studying ballet at a performing arts school, or Grace Thomas, a baker with a jaunty pink beret.<br />As for Logan, the spokeswoman said customers had long been asking for a boy doll.<br />But Mattel has come under criticism in recent years for losing much of what made the original American Girl Dolls distinctive.
