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Margaret “Kit” Kittredge is growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, during the Great Depression. Clever and resourceful, she is happiest climbing trees, playing baseball, and writing news stories.
- Kit's story
- Story brought to life
- Fun facts
- Kit's era
- Behind the scenes
- Shop Kit's world
- Kit's story
- Story brought to life
- Fun facts
- Kit's era
- Behind the scenes
- Shop Kit's world
![]() | Kit's™ story![]() Kit is a clever girl with a nose for news. In her attic bedroom, Kit finds comfort in writing. She wants to be a reporter or journalist someday and spends her days investigating what’s going on around her neighborhood. Kit’s most prized possessions are her typewriter and camera, and with them, she creates a newspaper called The Hard Times News. While hard times have completely changed her home life, Kit doesn’t spend too much of her time or energy focusing on it. To Kit, these aren’t problems, just opportunities. When Kit’s dad loses his business during the Great Depression, Kit puts her creativity to work to make things better. She helps her mom grow a garden and they sell eggs from the family’s chickens. Through her stories, Kit discovers that, even in hard times, hope is worth holding on to. |
Family & friends
Family & friends
Margaret Kittredge Kit’s strong and determined mother. When the Kittredges begin hosting boarders, she turns her flowerbeds into vegetable gardens and the lawn into a chicken run! | Jack Kittredge Kit’s father, who loses his job in the Great Depression. He is generous and supportive. When his car business begins to struggle, he pays his employees out of his own savings for as long as he can. | Charles Kittredge Kit’s kind and supportive brother, who is 16. He goes by Charlie, and his college plans have to change when their dad loses his job. Instead, he takes work with the Civilian Conservation Corps. | Uncle Hendrick Mother’s uncle, who is wealthy and disapproving. Kit helps him out to earn some money but disagrees with his belief that people facing hard times don’t deserve help. |
Aunt Millie Dad’s thrifty aunt, who comes to stay with the Kittredges. She helps the Kittredge family make their money go further, and Kit turns her ideas into a book. | Ruthie Smithens Kit’s loyal, generous best friend, whose father runs a bank. Ruthie and Kit sometimes struggle to understand the differences between them as the Depression changes their friendship. | Stirling Howard Kit’s friend and a boarder in Kit’s house. At first, Kit is disappointed because he’s not an athletic, outdoorsy boy, but they grow closer through their adventures together. | Louise Howard Stirling’s mother, and a boarder in Kit’s house. Mrs. Howard is very protective of Stirling. She can’t afford to pay rent and wants to help around the house instead of being treated as a guest. |
Roger Bentley A know-it-all boy in Kit’s class. Roger is cruel to Kit about her family’s financial situation, but Kit, Ruthie, and Stirling stick up for the Kittredges. | Will Shepherd A young hobo from Texas, who is befriended by Kit and her family. Kit longs for Will’s life of adventure as he travels the country looking for work. |
Margaret Kittredge
Kit’s strong and determined mother. When the Kittredges begin hosting boarders, she turns her flowerbeds into vegetable gardens and the lawn into a chicken run!
Jack Kittredge
Kit’s father, who loses his job in the Great Depression. He is generous and supportive. When his car business begins to struggle, he pays his employees out of his own savings for as long as he can.
Charles Kittredge
Kit’s kind and supportive brother, who is 16. He goes by Charlie, and his college plans have to change when their dad loses his job. Instead, he takes work with the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Uncle Hendrick
Mother’s uncle, who is wealthy and disapproving. Kit helps him out to earn some money but disagrees with his belief that people facing hard times don’t deserve help.
Aunt Millie
Dad’s thrifty aunt, who comes to stay with the Kittredges. She helps the Kittredge family make their money go further, and Kit turns her ideas into a book.
Ruthie Smithens
Kit’s loyal, generous best friend, whose father runs a bank. Ruthie and Kit sometimes struggle to understand the differences between them as the Depression changes their friendship.
Stirling Howard
Kit’s friend and a boarder in Kit’s house. At first, Kit is disappointed because he’s not an athletic, outdoorsy boy, but they grow closer through their adventures together.
Louise Howard
Stirling’s mother, and a boarder in Kit’s house. Mrs. Howard is very protective of Stirling. She can’t afford to pay rent and wants to help around the house instead of being treated as a guest.
Roger Bentley
A know-it-all boy in Kit’s class. Roger is cruel to Kit about her family’s financial situation, but Kit, Ruthie, and Stirling stick up for the Kittredges.
Will Shepherd
A young hobo from Texas, who is befriended by Kit and her family. Kit longs for Will’s life of adventure as he travels the country looking for work.
Story brought to life
Story brought to life
Kit's™ Doll & Accessories
Along with a hat and compass necklace, Kit’s accessories include a faux silver Buffalo nickel like the one she receives from her Uncle Hendrick in her story.
Kit's™ Doll & Accessories
Along with a hat and compass necklace, Kit’s accessories include a faux silver Buffalo nickel like the one she receives from her Uncle Hendrick in her story.
Kit's™ Birthday Outfit
Kit’s Aunt Millie makes her a dress out of chicken-feed sacks—families really did this during the Great Depression.
Shop Kit's Birthday Outfit
Kit's™ Birthday Outfit
Kit’s Aunt Millie makes her a dress out of chicken-feed sacks—families really did this during the Great Depression.
Shop Kit's Birthday Outfit
Kit's™ Dog, Grace™
Kit finds a hungry basset hound abandoned by her owner. After taking her home, Kit gets to keep her and names her Grace.
Shop Kit's dog, Grace
Kit's™ Dog, Grace™
Kit finds a hungry basset hound abandoned by her owner. After taking her home, Kit gets to keep her and names her Grace.
Shop Kit's dog, Grace
Kit's™ Homemade Scooter
Upcycling was popular during the Great Depression, and Kit fashions this one-of-a-kind scooter from an old orange crate and discarded roller skates.
Shop Kit's Homemade Scooter
Kit's™ Homemade Scooter
Upcycling was popular during the Great Depression, and Kit fashions this one-of-a-kind scooter from an old orange crate and discarded roller skates.
Shop Kit's Homemade Scooter
Kit's™ Beach Pajamas
Beach pajamas were styled after the costumes of Hollywood stars. The three nautical flags on the pocket represent I, L, and U in code—to signal "I love you."
Shop Kit's Beach Pajamas
Kit's™ Beach Pajamas
Beach pajamas were styled after the costumes of Hollywood stars. The three nautical flags on the pocket represent I, L, and U in code—to signal "I love you."
Shop Kit's Beach Pajamas
Kit's™ School Lunch
Many families learned how to grow and preserve fruits and vegetables from their own gardens in the 1930s. Food could be served right away or canned for winter.
Kit's™ School Lunch
Many families learned how to grow and preserve fruits and vegetables from their own gardens in the 1930s. Food could be served right away or canned for winter.
![]() | Read All About it! Kit Kittredge is nine years old when her dad loses his car dealership because of the Great Depression. As Kit’s own family struggles, Mrs. Kittredge decides to take in boarders, or renters. This means big changes for the entire family, especially for Kit, who must move into the attic. The future is uncertain for the Kittredge family, but like many people affected by the Great Depression, they pull together and find happiness despite the economic difficulties. The first book in Kit’s stories is richly illustrated in full color and includes a “Looking Back” historical section about Kit’s world in 1934. Read an excerpt Shop Read All About It! |
Read All About it!
Kit Kittredge is nine years old when her dad loses his car dealership because of the Great Depression. As Kit’s own family struggles, Mrs. Kittredge decides to take in boarders, or renters. This means big changes for the entire family, especially for Kit, who must move into the attic. The future is uncertain for the Kittredge family, but like many people affected by the Great Depression, they pull together and find happiness despite the economic difficulties. The first book in Kit’s stories is richly illustrated in full color and includes a “Looking Back” historical section about Kit’s world in 1934. Read an excerpt
Shop Read All About It!
![]() | Turning Things Around For Kit, the Depression has brought big changes: a houseful of boarders, tons of chores, and no birthday party. Then Aunt Millie arrives, and it looks as if her great ideas might turn things around for the Kittredges. But when Kit’s taste for adventure gets her into trouble, she discovers that the Depression has hit a lot of people far worse than her own family. Can one girl make a difference for homeless kids—when even grownups have lost hope? The second book in Kit’s stories is richly illustrated in full color and includes a “Looking Back” historical section about Kit’s world in 1934. Read an excerpt Shop Turning Things Around Learning materials for schools and book clubs can be found here. |
Turning Things Around
For Kit, the Depression has brought big changes: a houseful of boarders, tons of chores, and no birthday party. Then Aunt Millie arrives, and it looks as if her great ideas might turn things around for the Kittredges. But when Kit’s taste for adventure gets her into trouble, she discovers that the Depression has hit a lot of people far worse than her own family. Can one girl make a difference for homeless kids—when even grownups have lost hope? The second book in Kit’s stories is richly illustrated in full color and includes a “Looking Back” historical section about Kit’s world in 1934. Read an excerpt
Shop Turning Things Around
Learning materials for schools and book clubs can be found here.
Author & illustrator
Author & illustrator
Author Valerie Tripp Valerie Tripp says that she became a writer because of the kind of person she is. She says she’s curious, and writing requires you to be interested in everything. Some of the details in Kit’s books are based on real things that happened to Ms. Tripp’s mother and grandparents during the Great Depression. Ms. Tripp says talking is her favorite sport, and writing is a way of talking on paper! She’s a daydreamer, which helps her come up with her ideas. And she loves words. She even loves the struggle to come up with just the right words as she writes and rewrites. Ms. Tripp lives in Maryland with her husband. | Illustrator Walter Rane Walter Rane wanted to be an artist ever since he was in kindergarten. At age ten he painted his first oil paintings, using the paints from a paint-by-number kit but ignoring the numbers and lines. He has worked as a book and magazine illustrator and painter for decades. Mr. Rane lives with his wife in New York City. |
Author Valerie Tripp
Valerie Tripp says that she became a writer because of the kind of person she is. She says she’s curious, and writing requires you to be interested in everything. Some of the details in Kit’s books are based on real things that happened to Ms. Tripp’s mother and grandparents during the Great Depression. Ms. Tripp says talking is her favorite sport, and writing is a way of talking on paper! She’s a daydreamer, which helps her come up with her ideas. And she loves words. She even loves the struggle to come up with just the right words as she writes and rewrites. Ms. Tripp lives in Maryland with her husband.
Illustrator Walter Rane
Walter Rane wanted to be an artist ever since he was in kindergarten. At age ten he painted his first oil paintings, using the paints from a paint-by-number kit but ignoring the numbers and lines. He has worked as a book and magazine illustrator and painter for decades. Mr. Rane lives with his wife in New York City.
Fun facts
Fun facts
Kit likes her nickname more than her real name, which is Margaret Mildred. Her nicknmae comes from a song her father likes that begins, "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, boys, smile!" | Kit creates her own newspaper. She calls it The Hard Times News. | ||
Kit's best friend is Ruthie Smithens–also known as "goofy Ruthie". Together, they throw a penny-pincher birthday party for Kit. | Kit's favorite baseball player is Ernie Lombardi, who plays for the Cincinnati Reds, her favorite team. | ||
Kit was born on May 19, 1923, which made 2023 the year of her hundredth birthday! | Pilot Amelia Earhart, who was the first woman to fly and solo across the Atlantic Ocean, is one of Kit's heroes. |
Kit likes her nickname more than her real name, which is Margaret Mildred. Her nickname comes from a song her father likes that begins, “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, boys, smile!”
Kit creates her own newspaper. She calls it The Hard Times News.
Kit’s best friend is Ruthie Smithens—also known as “goofy Ruthie.” Together, they throw a penny-pincher birthday party for Kit.
Kit’s favorite baseball player is Ernie Lombardi, who plays for the Cincinnati Reds, her favorite team.
Kit was born on May 19, 1923, which makes 2023 the year of her hundredth birthday!
Pilot Amelia Earhart, who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, is one of Kit’s heroes.
Kit's era
Kit's era
The Great Depression began with a stock market crash on October 29, 1929 and lasted for over a decade. | | In the 1930s, the number of women employed rose by 24 percent. | |
| The movie industry boomed in the 1930s with eighty million people going to the movies every week. | | The first night game ever played by a professional baseball team was played by the Cincinnati Reds in 1935, and President Roosevelt turned on the lights from the White House. |
Eleanor Roosevelt was a very active and involved First Lady, including representing the president when he couldn't go places due to his disability from having polio. | | Along with the Great Depression, there was also a long drought, or dry spell, which caused dust storms across the Midwest. | |
The Great Depression began with a stock market crash on October 29, 1929 and lasted for over a decade.
In the 1930s, the number of women employed rose by 24 percent.
The movie industry boomed in the 1930s with eighty million people going to the movies every week.
The first night game ever played by a professional baseball team was played by the Cincinnati Reds in 1935, and President Roosevelt turned on the lights from the White House.
Eleanor Roosevelt was a very active and involved First Lady, including representing the president when he couldn’t go places due to his disability from having polio.
Along with the Great Depression, there was also a long drought, or dry spell, which caused dust storms across the Midwest.
Behind the scenes
Behind the scenes
- Kit Kittredge is the seventh historical character that American Girl created.
- When she wrote the Kit books, author Valerie Tripp was inspired by her mother, who was Kit’s age in 1932.
- The movie Kit Kittredge: An American Girl was released in 2008 and starred Abigail Breslin as Kit—plus actors Chris O’Donnell, Julia Ormond, Joan Cusack, and Stanley Tucci.
- Illustrator Walter Rane used himself as a model for the grumpy grocery store owner in Kit’s stories.
- When Kit launched, American Girl held events called Kit’s Share and Care Party where girls were invited to donate canned goods for a food drive.
- Like Kit’s dad, author Valerie Tripp’s grandfather paid his staff out of his own pocket as long as he could, but eventually had to close his hotel during the Great Depression.
- Kit was the first American Girl character doll with freckles and the first with short hair.
- Development on Kit was started before Mattel purchased Pleasant Company (American Girl’s original company name) but she was launched after the purchase.
- After the launch of the Kit doll and books, Valerie Tripp received a letter from a woman named Kit Kittredge who had grown up in Cincinnati during the Depression and was very excited about the coincidence!
- American Girl’s Claudie Wells, whose stories are set in the 1920s, could have faced the challenges of the Great Depression in her teens and twenties.
- Kit Kittredge is the seventh historical character that American Girl created.
- When she wrote the Kit books, author Valerie Tripp was inspired by her mother, who was Kit’s age in 1932.
- The movie Kit Kittredge: An American Girl was released in 2008 and starred Abigail Breslin as Kit—plus actors Chris O’Donnell, Julia Ormond, Joan Cusack, and Stanley Tucci.
- Illustrator Walter Rane used himself as a model for the grumpy grocery store owner in Kit’s stories.
- When Kit launched, American Girl held events called Kit’s Share and Care Party where girls were invited to donate canned goods for a food drive.
- Like Kit’s dad, author Valerie Tripp’s grandfather paid his staff out of his own pocket as long as he could, but eventually had to close his hotel during the Great Depression.
- Kit was the first American Girl character doll with freckles and the first with short hair.
- Development on Kit was started before Mattel purchased Pleasant Company (American Girl’s original company name) but she was launched after the purchase.
- After the launch of the Kit doll and books, Valerie Tripp received a letter from a woman named Kit Kittredge who had grown up in Cincinnati during the Depression and was very excited about the coincidence!
- American Girl’s Claudie Wells, whose stories are set in the 1920s, could have faced the challenges of the Great Depression in her teens and twenties.
Shop Kit's™ world
Shop Kit's™ world
In every era, character counts
Learn more about other historical characters
In every era, charactercounts
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