American Girl of the Year doll for 2016 announced

Lea Clark, has been announced as American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year.

Lea, a talented photographer with a love for animals, discovers a wide world of possibilities when she embarks on a faraway adventure to Brazil. Available for only one year, Lea's collection includes an 18-inch Lea doll featuring long, wavy hair and hazel eyes, plus several tropical-inspired outfits, accessories, and toys that reflect her Brazilian travels, including Lea's Rainforest House with over 30 pieces.

An action-adventure film will debut on DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in summer 2016 about Lea, too.

Written by award-winning author Lisa Yee, the 2016 Girl of the Year books "Lea Dives In," "Lea Leads the Way," and "Lea and Camila," introduce girls to a curious 10-year-old girl with an adventurous spirit. On a family trip to Brazil to visit her older brother, Zac, who is studying the Amazon rainforest, Lea is excited to capture everything she sees with her camera. Soon Lea makes some incredible discoveries, but she also faces unexpected challenges, including a fear of the ocean, tension with Zac, and finding a baby sloth that has been gravely injured. With the help of her family, her new Brazilian friend, Camila, and her late grandmother's guiding inspiration, Lea finds the inner strength and confidence to live her new adventures to the fullest.

American Girl has also created Wild at Art, a year-long fundraising campaign in support of World Wildlife Fund. American Girl is encouraging girls to use their artistic abilities to host an art sale and donate the proceeds to WWF. To launch the campaign, American Girl has made a $50,000 donation to WWF and also invites customers to contribute at American Girl retail stores and americangirl.com.

Parents can visit americangirl.com/wildatart to learn more and register for Wild at Art, plus get animal-themed craft ideas, and be entered into a sweepstakes for the chance to win one of 17 Lea prize packages.

For every purchase of one of the three plush animals in Lea's collection in 2016 - the margay, sea turtle, or sloth - American Girl will donate $1 (up to a maximum of $100,000) to WWF.

American Girl, owned by Mattel, is headquartered in Middleton, Wis.