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"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" is the first theatrically released movie based on the doll of the same name from the American Girl collection. Kit Kittredge is also the first doll to become part of my daughter's collection. So, when I told her they were making a "Kit" movie, she was ecstatic. So was I, by association.

The story takes place in 1934 in Cincinnati and follows Kit (Abigail Breslin) and her family as they live through the hardships of the Great Depression. At first, things aren't too bad, but when Kit's father (Chris O'Donnell) loses his job, the family is forced to make some sacrifices to make things work. First, her father leaves for Chicago to find work. Soon, Kit and her mother (Julia Ormond) begin taking in borders. They include Mrs. Howard and her son Sterling (Glenne Headly and Zach Mills), Miss Dooley the dance instructor (Jane Krakowski), Miss Bond the mobile librarian (Joan Cusack) and a magician named Jefferson J. Berk (Stanley Tucci). There's also a couple of young hobo kids named Will and Countee (Max Thieriot and Willow Smith). So, Kit wants nothing more than to be a reporter for The Cincinnati Register. She tries time and again to get her stories published only to be rejected by the newspaper's editor, Mr. Gibson (Wallace Shawn), until Kit stumbles across a mystery when items begin disappearing around the house. At first, everyone suspects the hobos but, using her skills as an investigative journalist, Kit uncovers the real story.

Special features on this DVD include trailers for the various made-for-TV movies based on the American Girl dolls including Felicity, Molly and Samantha. (I've seen each of these movies and would also recommend them for the kids.) There's also a fourth preview for a movie to be aired in early 2009 based on the new American Girl doll of the year.

Users who are able to access the DVD-ROM content will find a featurette focusing on casting a few of the minor roles in the movie, an HBO First Look featurette and some additional scenes.

The question this movie begs is -- why can't there be more movies like this for kids. I may be a little biased, but I loved this movie. It was fresh. It had fun characters. It had an interesting story that taught the kids a thing or two about history. It was a little rough around the edges, but overall this movie stands head and shoulders above most movies that are released for kids these days. And Abigail Breslin was perfectly suited for this character. Combined with her role earlier this year in "Nim's Island", that's 2 movies she's starred in this year that I'd easily recommend to any parent looking for wholesome entertainment for their young kids.