The Band Craze Gets App, Published

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing has announced the release of The Band Book, a book dedicated to the rubber band craze that is popular with kids today. The Band Book features funny pictures, trivia, and an “Ultimate Collector’s Checklist” that includes a complete listing of all bands.

Additionally, Simon & Schuster is releasing The Band App for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The App allows users to blend bands together to create their own unique designs and then share their creations with friends.  The Band App can be bought on the Apple App Store for 99 cents, and both The Band App and The Band Book can be purchased at http://pages.simonandschuster.com/thebandapp.

PHOTOS: Jakks Hosts Pinkalicious Party, Premieres Toys

Last weekend, a select group of young girls attended an exclusive Pinkalicious party, hosted by Jakks Pacific, at Le Merigot Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif. The party was held in conjunction with the release of Jakks’ new Pinkalicious toy line, and guests included girls from Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, LA-based celebrities (such as Samantha Harris from Entertainment Tonight/Dancing with the Stars, Constance Marie from George Lopez, Sam Rubin from KTLA, and Rizwan Manji from NBC’s new fall series Outsourced) and their daughters, and other “VIP” Pinkalicious fans. The event benefited Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a free sleep away camp for kids with cancer and their families.

Photos after the jump.

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BYU Breaks Record for Largest Water Balloon Fight

On July 23, students from Brigham Young University (3,927 to be exact) hurled 120,021 Imperial Toy Water Splashers water balloons at one another to take the official title of largest water balloon fight from 2009 record holder University of Kentucky. The battle lasted six minutes. Student started filling the Water Splashers at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and worked until the event ended Friday.

Photo Credit: Brigham Young University

TRU Releases 2010 Guide for Differently-Abled Kids

Toys “R” Us, Inc. has released the 2010 edition of the Toys “R” Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, featuring actress Holly Robinson Peete, mother of a son with autism, and 6-year-old Tommy Austing on the cover. Released annually, the guide helps parents of children with special needs select toys that will help their child develop skills. This year’s guide is the largest edition ever in the publication’s nearly 20-year history, spanning 60 pages.

The toys featured in the guide are assessed by the National Lekotek Center. The association assesses the value of hundreds of toys and at least two skill-building traits are assigned to each toy that appears in the guide. The skills include auditory, creativity, fine motor, gross motor, language, self-esteem, social skills, tactile, thinking, and visual. Additionally, the guide includes “Top Ten Tips for Buying Toys” from the National Lekotek Center and “Safe Play Tips for Children with Special Needs.”

The guide, in English and Spanish, is available in Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled.

New WowWee Line Teams with Disney XD and More

Recently launched from WowWee, Paper Jamz has teamed with Disney XD this month to sponsor the network’s Next X series. The month-long sponsorship includes co-branded commercials, billboards, and, later this month, the two will partner for a new episode of XD’s I’m In The Band.

Additionally, Paper Jamz is sponsoring the American Idol Live Tour this year, in partnership with Clear Channel and the Creative Arts Agency (CAA), and will embark on a Simon mall tour, visiting 20 city malls across the country.

Paper Jamz allows kids to become an instant rockstar with the line of toy guitars, drums, and amplifiers. The instruments are made with “Active Graphics Technology,” which allows the paper strumming surface to be embedded with circuits, and there is no need to plug them into a computer or television. Each product includes three licensed songs and four modes of play. Series 2 of Paper Jamz and additional instruments will launch in 2011.

THQ Unveils Graphic Tablet for Nintendo Wii

THQ has revealed its latest peripheral, a graphic tablet for the Nintendo Wii. Dubbed uDraw, the tablet borrows heavily from the Wacom products often used by professional graphic artists. The tablet includes a painting game that offers various brushes and color palettes, as well as locals for inspiration, such as a study or mountaintop. These creations can then be saved to an SD memory card and shared on a computer.

During its 2010 holiday preview, THQ brought me behind closed doors to witness the tablet for the first time. They demonstrated the two announced games, Pictionary and Dood’s Big Adventure, and demonstrated a few levels of each. Pictionary is a re-imagining of the classic board game. In the game, one player draw images using the tablet while the others try to guess a keyword. Enhancements to the board game include the ability to select different brush and fill types, as well as use color. The countdown timer may also be adjusted. Read More…

K.I.D.S. Hopes to Raise $100 million Through SMS

Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), Inc., unveiled its plan to project a 15-second PSA on a jumbotron in Times Square. Beginning August 15 and continuing until October 15, mobile phone users who text “HAPPYKIDS 25” to 27138 will trigger a $25 donation to its cause.  According to K.I.D.S., each $25 donation will help distribute $250 worth of donated products to children and parents. The PSA will run in Times Square on the CBS Spectacular jumbotron facing the north side of 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.

As part of the organization’s 25th anniversary, K.I.D.S. also hopes to raise $100 million worth of products for distressed and underprivileged children, including basic necessities, toys, clothing, and other comforts.

For more information, visit K.I.D.S.’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Spin Master’s Liv Looks for Partners at Magic Marketplace

Spin Master, Ltd.’s Liv brand is exhibiting at Magic Marketplace this week as Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), the licensing and merchandising agent for the brand, helps the doll line make its first push into secondary categories. CNE will be meeting with partners and is actively seeking new licensees in the apparel and accessories categories for Liv. CNE is also seeing partners in other product categories, including footwear, sleepwear, publishing, and interactive. Liv was launched at retail last fall.

November 13th Named Neighborhood Toy Store Day

The American Specialty Retailers Association (ASTRA) has announced plans to make the second Saturday in November an annual and nationwide celebration of local toy stores. During this year’s Neighborhood Toy Store Day (NTSD), ASTRA will announce the winners of its 2010 Best Toys for Kids awards. ASTRA is also providing its member retailers with ready-to-go press releases and a step-by-step retailer guidebook filled with tips on how to use the event to attract new customers. For more information on NTSD, visit ASTRA’s website.

Fiesta Secures Skelaminals License for New Plush Toys

Fiesta Toy is partnering with Skelanimals, LLC to produce and distribute plush toys featuring the Skelanimals characters. The plush toys will be distributed to the U.S. amusement and games market. Fiesta’s 2011 Skelaminals plush selection features Marcy the monkey, Jack the rabbit, Dax the Dog, and Kit the cat.

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