Maryellen Larkin

Maryellen (nicknamed Ellie) is an enthusiastic, optimistic, ambitious, and imaginative girl. She longs to stand out but often feels lost in the shuffle of her big, busy family. (She is often annoyed by the fact that when people meet her for the first time, they ask which sister she is in order, instead of treating her uniquely.) Her favorite TV shows include Davy Crockett and The Lone Ranger, and she dreams up episodes where she gets to be the hero.^[5] Maryellen is seen as cheerful and curious by people meeting her for the first time.^[6]

Maryellen had polio when she was seven years old during the Polio Epidemic of 1952. This resulted in one of her legs being weaker than the other, and she also has cold-sensitive lungs. Despite her disability, she is a fast runner and excellent swimmer, and also enjoys roller skating. She is very skinny for her age^[7] and has a nose like her sisters.^[8]

Maryellen is a great artist--her friends compare her to Grandma Moses--and loves to draw and make gifts for her family. She's also highly interested in science, especially rocket science and medicine due to her history of having polio. Maryellen is open-minded and doesn't judge people by appearances or align with popular sentiment. Examples include continuing to be best friends with a boy even after being told that girls "don't do that" by Joan, and while many of her friends looked down on Italians (due to Italy being aligned with Germany and Japan during WWII) Maryellen befriends an Italian girl.

Her favorite subject is geography; she's interested in foreign lands, history, and languages. Her least favorite subject is handwriting because she is left-handed and so doesn't write as well, and created her own "cursive" style to suit her. Maryellen also loves to do mental math. She had been a Brownie Girl Scout prior to the series start, and has recently graduated to Girl Scouts when she entered into fourth grade.^[9] However, she has a hand me down from her sisters (like most of her clothes) and so it is the "older" version with long sleeves.

Like many kids in the 1950s, Maryellen loves to pretend she's a hero in a Wild West adventure. She imagines herself riding a horse to deliver medicine or save the town from bandits, just like in the shows she watches on 

TV. Her costume includes: A long-sleeved red-and-white gingham check shirt with white fringe and horse embroidery on the denim yoke. A short flared denim skirt, A red cowgirl hat with white trim, A pair of red cowgirl boots with a white star cutout

Poodle skirts were very popular in the 1950s, and Maryellen is thrilled when her mother buys this one for her to wear to her first day of fourth grade! This outfit includes:

• A black quilted skirt featuring a pink poodle with a stitched leash
• A pink blouse with a cute Peter Pan collar and contrast polka dots on the sleeves. A polka-dot kerchief that can be worn in her hair or around her neck. White bobby socks. Black-and-white saddle shoes

Maryellen's Back to school outfit.

White sleeveless dress with white Peter Pan-style collar. Printed pattern of alternating red and blue bows. Blue bow graphics have blue and white stripes, and red bows have white polka dots. Blue ribbon at waist. Closes in back with velcro.

Blue short-sleeve knit cardigan. White stitched X designs along center. Blue button closure. The white stitching was advertised as hand-stitched.

White ankle socks. Red vinyl Mary Jane-style shoes. Toe cutouts. Red bow with white polka dots above cutout. Red ankle straps that attach with velcro.

Red satin bow attached to matching red ponytail holder.

Maryellen's pretty Pink Dress:

Maryellen feels so grown up when she tries on her sister Joan’s pretty pink prom dress! The outfit includes:   An authentic ’50s-style prom dress with decorative fabric flowers, a beautifully embroidered tulle over-layer, and a delicate ombre taffeta underskirt with a tulle petticoat. A pair of dainty lace gloves with pretty pink satin bows at each wrist. A pearlized pink bow barrette for her hair A pair of pearlized white Mary Jane shoes with cutout details to complete her look.

Maryellen is one of my favorites. I absolutely love her books and they remind me of classic juvenile fiction by greats like Beverly Cleary and Lois Lowry. She's a fun, intelligent girl always getting into shenanigans. I enjoyed reading them so much and will read them again.  She also has a fabulous collection I love every single piece in her wardrobe and it is exactly my taste. It also actually suits her character and what she would like to wear, which isn't always the case for the historicals.  And the doll is absolutely beautiful. She's not blonde. She's a redhead. 

                               Maryellen's two-in-one outfit:

Maryellen is as sweet as a glass of pink lemonade in this outfit that features two ways to wear: a skirt for school and a romper for after class. Pair this 5-piece 18-inch doll outfit with the 1950s historical character doll, Maryellen™

• An authentic 1950s-style outfit: a pink sleeveless button-front romper with allover lemon print, a full gathered matching overskirt, and a pink belt with a silvery buckle
• A pink ribbon hairbow
• A pair of pink canvas lace-up shoes with white contrast detail

Love, Sissy Princess Annie