She is still 9 years old and 18 inches long — just as she was when she was born a year ago.

        But since her launch last September as the seventh in a series of “American Girl” historic dolls, parents of real American girls have been moving her into their homes as if her name were Barbie.

        Many of those homes are in and around Cincinnati, where the fictional character lives.

        The Pleasant Co., the Middleton, Wis., firm that makes and markets Miss Kit, says it has sold 7 million of the seven dolls in the series and 74 million books that tell their stories. While a spokeswoman would not release results for each doll character, she did say that Kit was “outperforming” her predecessors in her first few months on the market.

        “She continues to do really well,” said Julie Parks, public relations manager. “We're excited about this fall and the Christmas season.”

        Kit, who is (still) growing up in a Clifton-like neighborhood with her parents and her 16-year-old brother during the Great Depression, was introduced along with three books that frequently mention the Queen City: Meet Kit, Kit Learns a Lesson and Kit's Surprise.

        Three new books — Happy Birthday, Kit; Kit Saves the Day; and Changes for Kit — are being released this month.

        Simultaneously, the company is introducing Lindsey Bergman, a doll in its contemporary series, with an accompanying book. She will be available for one year only.

        And an eighth doll will join the historic line next year, the company says. Her name and situation have not been revealed.

        As for Kit, “She's very popular in your (Cincinnati) area,” Ms. Parks says. “What fascinates me is the number of haircuts (on real children) that look like Kit.”

        To order Kit, Kit books, Kit clothes, Kit furniture or a Kit catalog, go to americangirl.com or call (800) 845-0005. Kit merchandise is also available at American Girl Place, Chicago Avenue at Michigan Avenue, Chicago.

        Dolls,marketed to girls 7-12, are about $90; books are about $6.

        To learn more about the history surrounding Kit and the other dolls in the series, reserve (by Sept. 15) a spot for a historic children's dance program and raffle at Cincinnati Museum Center, Union Terminal, 7 p.m. Oct. 5. Admission: ($25). Call (513) 287-7000 or (800) 733-2077.

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