Hasbro Invites Fans to Help Create New Bot

final_AUTOBOT[1]For the first time, the Hasbro, Inc. Transformers brand is inviting fans of all ages worldwide to help create a new Transformers character that will be forever added to the Transformers world. In anticipation of the brand’s 30th anniversary next year, the “Fan Built Bot” Poll kicks off today, and will run through May 5 on Transformers.com/vote. Hasbro invites fans to vote daily to shape this new Transformers character. The new character will be made into an action figure featured in the “Thrilling 30” line of toys to celebrate the anniversary.

Votes will determine everything from being an Autobot or Decepticon to its vehicle or other mode, color, and personality.  Also, to keep with the theme of the fans being the ones who really shape and create this new Transformers character, Hasbro will also give fans a say in the naming of the new character. More details on the naming will be announced soon.

The results of the poll will be announced by Hasbro at this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, as part of the official kick-off to Hasbro’s Transformers “Thrilling 30” anniversary celebration. Kids and fans will be able to purchase the “Fan Built Bot” character as a toy and will see the new character appear in official Transformers comic books.

For further information visit the official polling page at Transformers.com/vote as well as the Transformers Facebook page at Facebook.com/Transformers.

Kettler USA Introduces New Kids’ Ride-On Toys

Kettler USA has introduced 20 new licensed ride-on toys and pedal tractors for kids. Tractors, loaders, excavators, diggers, and backhoes with insignias from Case IH, Massey Ferguson , New Holland, Valtra, and Fendt join the existing line-up of CAT farm and excavating play equipment.

The ride-on toys are designed for kids ages 1 to 10, depending on the model. These foot-to-floor and pedal-powered vehicles have large tires, functional steering wheels, and moving parts that operate with levers. Some come with accessories. The construction, agricultural, and farming toys are available in bright colors to match the real-life equipment.

They are now available in limited quantities on the Kettler USA website and through select retailers of Kettler USA products. They will be fully stocked in late May.

COMMENTARY: Taking the Stress out of Travel

Seemingly endless construction and bumper-to-bumper traffic. Dead batteries in the PS Vita or Nintendo 3DS. No wi-fi connection and nothing good on the radio. Uncomfortable seatbelts and restless little bodies. Though road tripping is a great option for a large family looking for an affordable summer getaway, sometimes a long journey in a crowded car can make a vacation more stressful than it’s worth. Portable gaming systems can be great (especially when coupled with headphones), but sometimes battery-free options are a safer bet for long journeys. For parents just looking to relax, there are a few great products on the market sure to keep little ones occupied in the car for extended time periods.

Brain Box Animals, from University Games, is great for on-the-go fun. Players ages 8 and up choose a card from the box and study the picture on one side until the timer runs out. Then the players flip the card over to the question side and try to answer as many questions about the picture side as they can. The player who can answer the most questions correctly wins. Brain Box Animals helps kids stay entertained while practicing memorization and recognition and learning new information.

SeatPetsUncomfortable seatbelts are always a complaint with younger kids, but with SeatPets, from Jay at Play International, kids’ seatbelts stay in place. SeatPets are soft, cuddly animals that attach to the shoulder restraint portion of a seatbelt. Perfect for long carrides, SeatPets provide a soft cushion between the neck and the belt and a cozy pillow for naps. Each colorful, furry SeatPet has three pockets and two zippered compartments designed to store all of the things that kids want and need when they’re in the car including, MP3 players, hand-held games, toys, snacks, and an eight-ounce water bottle.

Stuffies.PrancineStuffies, from martFive LLC, are super-sized plush animals with seven top-secret pockets that are fun to discover and store all kinds of keepsakes. For parents who don’t want their car to turn into a second toy box during travel, Stuffies allows kids to bring a few of their favorites and keep them all safe in one place. In addition, every Stuffies toy comes with a surprise roll of collectible stickers and a free storybook from the Stuffies Adventures collection. Each book shares important lessons in fully illustrated, rhyming stories on topics including controlling tempers, using imaginations, volunteering, teamwork, and embracing chores.

TraykitTrayKit, from Kids Preferred, is a carry-on backpack that kids can pack themselves and carry on a trip using the handle or shoulder straps. TrayKit can be hung from the back of a seat or strapped to a tray table. When the kit is opened, kids have a play surface with raised sides so nothing falls to the floor. There are colors and patterns for boys and girls ages 3 and up, and the play surface can be cleaned easily. TrayKit accessories include passport holders, luggage tags, travel journal kits complete with pencils and erasers, and TravelBugs, which are small clip-on plush bugs in four styles.

Each of these products are noise-free, don’t require any batteries, and will provide easy entertainment for kids during long trips. There’s enough play value in these items to keep kids happy, while mom and dad stay stress-free (as long as the GPS doesn’t malfunction).

For more commentary from Marissa, check back each Monday afternoon. Views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Toy Book as a whole. We hope that you will share your comments and feedback below. Until next time!

COMMENTARY: Turning a Complaining Kid into a Knitting-Whiz

This winter has been a brutal one for New Yorkers (and I’m not even sure it’s over yet). I for one was more than willing to load up on the cold weather gear, donning a new bubble coat, an oversized infinity scarf, and fingerless gloves with mitten covers in a concerned effort to keep out the cold and stave off the flu. Long johns were even necessary on a few of the more brutal days this year. Though most adults are eager to be as warm as possible during the winter months, it can be difficult to get kids to bundle up willingly. My niece and nephew whine and whine about putting on their winter’s finest: “The zipper pinches my chin!,” “I can’t breathe!,” “I can’t see with this hat on,” etc., etc. A good way to combat the incessant complaining and layering reluctance is to let kids make their own cold weather accessories. [Read more...]

COMMENTARY: Everyone Has One, But I Want Mine to be Unique

Last Friday marked my niece Courtney’s eighth birthday, and what was she hoping for most? An iPod. Now, in my opinion, an 8-year-old doesn’t have much business with an iPod, but kids today are getting into electronics at a much younger age. Though part of Courtney’s argument for “needing” an iPod was, “everyone has one except for me,” the first thing she did when she got it was personalize it. Before even putting a song on it, she slapped a peace-sign sticker right on the back of it—10 minutes out of the box (hence why 8-year-olds probably shouldn’t have iPods). But, this was her way of making it her own.

For parents buying their children expensive devices such as smartphones, iPods, or even portable gaming devices like the Nintendo 3DS or the PS Vita, there are some awesome products on the market that will allow kids to dazzle and personalize their devices without placing a never-gonna-come-off, gooey-backed sticker on said device.

Plugy

Plugy, from Hashy, is a universal 3.5mm plug that fits snuggly into all standard headphone jacks. Plugys come in more than 40 different styles, including zoo animals, robots, and glow-in-the-dark options. Plugy has something for everyone, including a rainbow, Eiffel Tower, and an apple stem, and allows kids to  take their smart device to a more personal level in a not-so-permanent way. Plugys are made of rubber and will not break when inserted into the headphone jack. They even protect the device from rain, dust, and sand when earphones are not plugged in. Plugys are available on amazon.com and from Hanging Mobile Gallery. For more information on Plugys, email plugyUSA@gmail.com. [Read more...]

COMMENTARY: MindWare Games Test Brain Power Without Words, Numbers, or Trivia

There are so many games on the market that get the gears moving in your brain, including Scrabble, Bananagrams, Trivial Pursuit, and Boggle. But what about those of us who didn’t major in English in college or don’t have a plethora of interesting facts stored away for a rainy day? MindWare has the answer… or well, answers.

Cirplexed! is a 360-degree game of strategy that doesn’t include numbers, facts, or words. Each tile features quarter circles of different colors. Each player creates his or her own game board by drawing and placing tiles, in an attempt to create the most single-color circles. It sounds simple, but even at 23 years old, I could only match about eight circles total. Though the game is designed for two to six players, it can be played solo, as well, to put your brain to work when friends and family members aren’t around.

Cirplexed

[Read more...]

Moose Toys Introduces Glitzi Globes

 

Paul Solomon, Co-CEO, Moose Toys

Paul Solomon, Co-CEO, Moose Toys

Moose Toys, Australian toy company and creators of arts & crafts lines Gelarti and Blingles, introduces Glitzi Globes, a new DIY line that comes with all of the materials girls need to create their own miniature, collectible snow globes. Glitzi Globes will be available at select toy retailers nationwide starting this fall.

Glitzi Globes took home top honors at the Australian Toy Association’s (ATA) Toy Hobby & Nursery Fair earlier this week. Moose won Toy of the Year, as well as Craft & Activity Toy of the Year for Glitzi Globes. [Read more...]

Oots to Release New Products in Time for New York International Gift Fair

Oots will introduce a new range of products at the upcoming New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), to be held from January 26 to 30 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

First introduced last year, Woodmobiel now comes in four new models: a vanity table, a dollhouse, a helicopter, and a moped. Woodmobiel is a do-it-yourself kit of wooden parts and real tools that get kids active, stimulates creativity, and will help them understand construction.

[Read more...]

Need Help Shopping for a Child with Special Needs? Check This Infographic

Toy Guide infographic brought to you by Child Birth Injuries.

Share VeggieTales Silliness, Songs, Fun with Select Episode Clips, Greetings on Facebook

Big Idea Entertainment, a leading studio and producer of children’s and family programming, characters, and brands, and GorillaSpot Media launch video clips from select VeggieTales episodes and greetings for special occasions through GorillaSpot Media’s ReelCards application on Facebook. The VeggieTales clips and greetings can be shared with Facebook users and their friends via social networks and over email. [Read more...]