Family & friends

Family & friends

Margaret Kittredge


Stan and Kay Larkin

Maryellen’s supportive parents who encourage her creativity and curiosity. Her dad is an architect and shares her love of the beach, while her mom takes care of all six kids.

Jack Kittredge


Joan and Jerry Larkin

Maryellen’s sister and her boyfriend. With a little help from Maryellen, Joan and Jerry get engaged, and their backyard wedding is a dream come true.

Charles Kittredge


Carolyn and Beverly Larkin

Maryellen’s two sisters. Carolyn, fourteen, loves music, and her social life gives Maryellen a peek into her own teenage years. Six-year-old Beverly pretends to be a queen.

Charles Kittredge


Tom and Mikey Larkin

Maryellen refers to her younger brothers as “bothers” because they keep her on her toes! Four-year-old Tom dreams of being a firefighter, while two-year-old Mikey is known for his messy antics.

Roger Bentley


Davy Fenstermacher
and Wayne Philpott

Maryellen’s best friend, “Good Old Davy,” always lends a hand, even repainting her fire-engine-red front door. Class clown “Wayne the Pain” gets on her nerves but joins her flying machine team.

Will Shepherd


Karen King, Karen Stohlman, and Angela

The “Karens” are Maryellen’s best friends until they disapprove of her friendship with Angela, a new girl from Italy. But after winning a Geography Bee together, they reconcile.

Charles Kittredge


Carolyn and Beverly Larkin

Maryellen’s two sisters. Carolyn, fourteen, loves music, and her social life gives Maryellen a peek into her own teenage years. Six-year-old Beverly pretends to be a queen.

Charles Kittredge


Tom and Mikey Larkin

Maryellen refers to her younger brothers as “bothers” because they keep her on her toes! Four-year-old Tom dreams of being a firefighter, while two-year-old Mikey is known for his messy antics.

Will Shepherd


Karen King, Karen Stohlman, and Angela

The “Karens” are Maryellen’s best friends until they disapprove of her friendship with Angela, a new girl from Italy. But after winning a Geography Bee together, they reconcile.

 

8 years+

Maryellen’s™ Pretty Pink Dress

Maryellen feels so grown up when she tries on her sister Joan’s prom dress with decorative fabric flowers, a beautifully embroidered tulle over-layer.

Shop Maryellen’s™ Pretty Pink Dress

Maryellen’s™ Pretty Pink Dress

Maryellen feels so grown up when she tries on her sister Joan’s prom dress with decorative fabric flowers, a beautifully embroidered tulle over-layer.

Shop Maryellen’s™ Pretty Pink Dress

8 years+

Maryellen’s™ Dog, Scooter

Scooter is Maryellen’s lovable dachshund. He’s short and stout with soft tan fur and sweet brown eyes—and he’s always looking for a comfortable place to rest.


Shop Maryellen’s™ Dog, Scooter

Maryellen’s™ Dog, Scooter

Scooter is Maryellen’s lovable dachshund. He’s short and stout with soft tan fur and sweet brown eyes—and he’s always looking for a comfortable place to rest.


Shop Maryellen’s™ Dog, Scooter

8 years+

Maryellen’s™ Bakery Case

This bakery is a blast from the past. In addition to many tasty treats, it features a metal cash register with working buttons and two metal pie tins. There’s also a metal donation can so customers can donate to the Polio cause.

Shop Maryellen’s™ Bakery Case

Maryellen’s™ Bakery Case

This bakery is a blast from the past. In addition to many tasty treats, it features a metal cash register with working buttons and two metal pie tins. There’s also a metal donation can so customers can donate to the Polio cause.

Shop Maryellen’s™ Bakery Case

8 years+

Maryellen’s™ 2-in-1 Outfit

This outfit is as sweet as a glass of lemonade! An authentic 1950s-style outfit, it features a pink romper with allover lemon print. Maryellen can also wear it two ways: a skirt for school and a romper for after class.

Shop Maryellen’s™ 2-in-1 Outfit

Maryellen’s™ 2-in-1 Outfit

This outfit is as sweet as a glass of lemonade! An authentic 1950s-style outfit, it features a pink romper with allover lemon print. Maryellen can also wear it two ways: a skirt for school and a romper for after class.

Shop Maryellen’s™ 2-in-1 Outfit

8 years+

Maryellen’s™ Vintage Stove

Maryellen loves helping her family cook their favorite meals, and this oven has the cutest vintage vibes. It includes a built-in timer clock that really dings and many 1950s features, such as a cherry-patterned hot pad, checkered dish towel, and aqua pot and pan.

Shop Maryellen’s™ Vintage Stove

Maryellen’s™ Vintage Stove

Maryellen loves helping her family cook their favorite meals, and this oven has the cutest vintage vibes. It includes a built-in timer clock that really dings and many 1950s features, such as a cherry-patterned hot pad, checkered dish towel, and aqua pot and pan.

Shop Maryellen’s™ Vintage Stove

8 years+

Maryellen’s™ Seaside Diner

Maryellen’s favorite place to hang out with friends and family is the Seaside Diner. The authentic ambiance includes wooden, padded-top booths and real metal base and post. It also features metal malt cups and condiment caddy, and ceramic plates.

Shop Maryellen’s™ Seaside Diner

Maryellen’s™ Seaside Diner

Maryellen’s favorite place to hang out with friends and family is the Seaside Diner. The authentic ambiance includes wooden, padded-top booths and real metal base and post. It also features metal malt cups and condiment caddy, and ceramic plates.

Shop Maryellen’s™ Seaside Diner

Maryellen: My Diary

Maryellen lives in Daytona Beach, Florida and believes she's a movie star (at least in her head!). She has five siblings, which makes it hard for her to stand out. She's full of big ideas, although they don't always work the way she expects...like the time she painted the front door red! Read Maryellen's story from her perspective, in a diary format.


Shop Maryellen: My Diary


Maryellen: My Diary

Maryellen lives in Daytona Beach, Florida and believes she's a movie star (at least in her head!). She has five siblings, which makes it hard for her to stand out. She's full of big ideas, although they don't always work the way she expects...like the time she painted the front door red! Read Maryellen's story from her perspective, in a diary format.


Shop Maryellen: My Diary



The One and Only: Maryellen Book 1

Maryellen Larkin wants to stand out but, with five brothers and sisters, it’s not so easy. Giving herself a haircut doesn’t go quite the way she expects—and when she draws a cartoon of her teacher on the first day of fourth grade, she draws more attention than she wants! At least her drawing skills help her make an interesting new friend. Together, they might be able to win the Geography Bee—but only if Maryellen can find a way to help her old friends get past their prejudice. Read an excerpt


Learning materials for schools and book clubs can be found here


Shop The One and Only: Maryellen Book 1


The One and Only: Maryellen Book 1

Maryellen Larkin wants to stand out but, with five brothers and sisters, it’s not so easy. Giving herself a haircut doesn’t go quite the way she expects—and when she draws a cartoon of her teacher on the first day of fourth grade, she draws more attention than she wants! At least her drawing skills help her make an interesting new friend. Together, they might be able to win the Geography Bee—but only if Maryellen can find a way to help her old friends get past their prejudice. Read an excerpt


Learning materials for schools and book clubs can be found here


Shop The One and Only: Maryellen Book 1



Taking Off: Maryellen Book 2

Maryellen is in charge of planning her tenth birthday, designing a flying machine, and—most important of all—taking care of the family dog, Scooter, on a camping trip. One night, while she’s holding down the fort, Scooter disappears. Maryellen is desperate to find him before the others return, so she and her bossy big sister, Joan, set off to search the woods. Suddenly, Joan disappears. Now Maryellen’s really in charge, whether she wants to be or not! Can she find Scooter, rescue her sister, and figure out how to make something fly—all in one night? Read an excerpt



Shop Taking Off: Maryellen Book 2


Taking Off: Maryellen Book 2

Maryellen is in charge of planning her tenth birthday, designing a flying machine, and—most important of all—taking care of the family dog, Scooter, on a camping trip. One night, while she’s holding down the fort, Scooter disappears. Maryellen is desperate to find him before the others return, so she and her bossy big sister, Joan, set off to search the woods. Suddenly, Joan disappears. Now Maryellen’s really in charge, whether she wants to be or not! Can she find Scooter, rescue her sister, and figure out how to make something fly—all in one night? Read an excerpt


Shop Taking Off: Maryellen Book 2



 

American Girl author, Valerie Tripp


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. 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.

American Girl author, Valerie Tripp


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. 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.

 

Fun facts

Fun facts

Maryellen’s nickname is Ellie. Her sister Joan playfully calls her “Ellie-deli,” “Ellie-welly,” and “Ellie-nelly.”
The Larkin family’s Christmas traditions include singing carols around a big bonfire on the beach.
Maryellen’s vivid imagination is fueled by her favorite TV shows, especially Westerns like The Lone Ranger and Davy Crockett.
Maryellen and her friend Angela create their own Italian-English dictionary to help each other learn new words.
Because she’s left-handed, Maryellen struggles with cursive handwriting—until Mrs. Humphrey tells her that her “loopy style” is as unique as she is.
Inspired by fireworks, Maryellen suggests using booster rockets for her Science Club team’s entry in the flying machine contest.

Maryellen's era

Maryellen's era

Daytona’s Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAACS) trained over 22,000 women as weather forecasters, radio operators, bombsite specialists, aerial photographers, and more!
J. Fred Muggs, a mischievous chimp, became a Today Show star in 1953, charming audiences and boosting the show’s popularity with his antics.
This decade saw a lot of conformity or being and acting like others. Maryellen struggled with this idea, which is why she painted her front door (and dog!) red.
Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine in 1955, saving thousands of children from the devastating effects of polio.
The original poodle skirt was designed by Juli Lynne Charlot. Needing a last-minute Christmas outfit, she cut a simple circle skirt from felt. The design quickly became a nationwide fashion trend.
Families in the 1950s were often big like Maryellen’s. The post-war era saw a surge in births, leading to larger families and a focus on having children soon after marriage.

Daytona’s Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAACS) trained over 22,000 women as weather forecasters, radio operators, bombsite specialists, aerial photographers, and more!

J. Fred Muggs, a mischievous chimp, became a Today Show star in 1953, charming audiences and boosting the show’s popularity with his antics.

This decade saw a lot of conformity or being and acting like others. Maryellen struggled with this idea, which is why she painted her front door (and dog!) red.

Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine in 1955, saving thousands of children from the devastating effects of polio.

The original poodle skirt was designed by Juli Lynne Charlot. Needing a last-minute Christmas outfit, she cut a simple circle skirt from felt. The design quickly became a nationwide fashion trend.

Families in the 1950s were often big like Maryellen’s. The post-war era saw a surge in births, leading to larger families and a focus on having children soon after marriage.

Shop Maryellen's™ world

Shop Maryellen's™ world

Maryellen Larkin collection

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Maryellen Larkin collection

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