Fort Bliss Military Families Receive Thousands of New Toys from Toy Industry Foundation

April 23, 2013 By

FortBliss1Nearly 3,000 children living with their families on military base Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas were treated to a special toy giveaway on April 17 hosted by the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and national partner Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Military Services.

Families stationed at Fort Bliss, as well as resident members of the Air Force, Marines, National Reserves, and others, enjoyed a “Day of Play” that included bouncy houses and games, music and entertainment, and a pizza party.  Children of all ages received brand new toys, games, and stuffed animals donated by generous toy manufacturers. Gifts distributed at this event were generously donated by Alex, DuneCraft, Ganz, Gibout Toys, Hasbro, Lee Magic Pen, Lego, Look Out World, Mattel, MindWare, RBI Toys, Reeves International, Safari Ltd., and TMI Toy Marketing International.

The event was held as part of the joint TIF /BGCA Play Comforts program – the first-ever national toy distribution initiative to serve every branch of the U.S. military.  Through Play Comforts, toys and games donated by caring toy companies are delivered on an annual basis to families on dozens of U.S. military installations at home and abroad. Now in its fourth year of operation, the program has provided more than $3.5 million in toys for children of military families.


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COMMENTARY: Musical Toys

April 22, 2013 By

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of watching a live jazz band play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The musicians seemed to thoroughly enjoy the set, and everyone in the audience was having a blast. Remembering my own days in the school band and piano recitals, I thought about how kids can be influenced early on by musical toys and instruments. Here are some of my favorites:

The Recorder

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Stripe Recorder, from Sassafras

A classic. I can almost hear “Hot Cross Buns” just by looking at one. Recorders, while often a symbol of fourth-grade music class, can actually be a gateway into other instruments for kids. While the standard plastic, beige soprano recorder reigns supreme among young players, there are alternatives, such as Melissa and Doug’s Makin’ Music wooden recorder, Sassafras’ Stripe Recorder, or colorful recorders from 1stNote. Alfred Music Publishing offers songbooks featuring tunes from The Wizard of Oz, Looney Tunes, and others.

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30 Key Fancy Baby Grand, from Schoenhut

The Piano

FirstAct offers a Dora the Explorer electronic keyboard for kids to explore music and try out different sound effects. Kids that want a more classical experience can enjoy Schoenhut’s 30 Key Fancy Baby Grand toy piano. For the youngest pianists, Hasbro offers the Sesame Street Let’s Rock Cookie Monster keyboard, featuring one octave of wide, easy-to-press keys.

The Drums

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Learn To Play Electronic Keyboard, from Discovery Kids

Kids that are more rhythmically inclined will enjoy Discovery Kids’ Learn To Play Electronic Drumpad. The battery-operated drumpad features drum sticks and adjustable tempo. Kids can follow the light patterns to play any of eight different rhythms. Union’s Toy Drum set features a bass drum, crash cymbal, and snare drum for little drummers to rock and roll. For a more laid-back beat, Remo’s Kids Bongo lets kids bang it out in colorful style, and are pitched high and low.

What are your kids’ favorite instruments? Let us know in the comment section!

For more commentary from Christine, check back often. 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!

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Hasbro Invites Fans to Help Create New Bot

April 19, 2013 By

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.

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Hasbro to Present Global Consumer Insights at PlayCon

April 12, 2013 By

The Toy Industry Association has announced that Katy Giffault, vice president of global consumer insights at Hasbro, will share the company’s case study on entering and achieving success in the Chinese market during this year’s PlayCon.

Attendees will hear firsthand the demographic and socio-economic data used, as well as the consumer insight work done internally to determine Hasbro’s strategic entry into the emerging global market.

PlayCon will be held from May 6 through 8 at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Galney Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz. For up-to-the-minute Show information, visit www.playcon2013.org.

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COMMENTARY: Bronies, Rejoice!

April 10, 2013 By

My Little Pony is everywhere lately, which might be cause for Bronies—adult male fans of the magical, flowing mane ponies—to rejoice. These unlikely fans of the mainly children’s, mainly girl’s property find themselves addicted to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic on The Hub TV Network and fawning over toys and plush tucked away in pink aisles of Toys “R” Us.

I, myself, am not a member of this ilk. But I very well could be. As a kid in the 80s, I begged my mom to buy me a Care Bear—Grumpy Bear, to be exact—even though my dad disapproved. I coveted my sister’s Strawberry Shortcake bed set and would watch—and pretend to dislike—Rainbow Bright. If I don’t have Brony potential, I don’t know who does.

So, in the spirit of embracing the Brony in all of us, I’ve pulled together some cool new My Little Pony toys and plush that we have to look forward to.

My Little Pony Plush, from Aurora

aurora_2Aurora, in partnership with Hasbro, will initially release 18 My Little Pony styles, including 12 small, 6-inch ponies each with a personalized carrying bag, and six soft plush ponies about 10 inches in size. My Little Pony plush will be available for purchase in both the U.S. and Canada in Aurora’s retail channel of more than 25,000 specialty stores and gift shops as well as online at shop.auroragift.com.

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, from Build-A-Bear Workshop

buildabear_5In Build-A-Bear Workshop retail stores and online this month, fans of My Little Pony can customize their own Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash plush. Customers can dress their pony in their favorite My Little Pony fashions. Pinkie Pie has signature pink locks, and Rainbow Dash has a multi-colored mane that can be brushed, combed, and braided. Customers can dress Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash in their signature capes or a variety of other fashions.

My Little Pony Walkin’ Talkin’ Pinkie Pie, from Hasbro

7209FB2550569047F50D477617E8C75BHasbro introduces the Walkin’ Talkin’ Pinkie Pie, which walks forward, speaks silly pony phrases, and sings songs as she trots. Gently press the balloons on her cutie mark and watch her go. The figure wears an adorable headband with two yellow stars that bobble as she walks. This version of Pinkie Pie is available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

If your inner Brony is jonsing for a quick pony fix, Hasbro.com has a number of online games, including the My Little Pony Crystal Match game. You’re welcome.

For more commentary from Loren, check back each Wednesday 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!

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COMMENTARY: Get Your Party on with the Newest Member of the Furby Family

April 5, 2013 By

Looking back, I remember being terrified of Furby when I was younger. Whenever a Furby commercial came on, I either ran into another room or attacked the TV with pillows. To my dismay, neither of these methods saved me from the Furby Fever that everyone around me seemed to be succumbing to.

fussby-front-largeWhen these fuzzy little creatures were relaunched last year, I was cautious and, truth be told, still a bit frightened. That’s not the case for the new Furby Party Rocker, a smaller, less expensive Furby that I tested out for the spring edition of The Toy Insider. Used in conjunction with a free app, this little rocker performs for you, speaks in Furbish—which, according to a fellow editor hailing from Honolulu, oddly resembles Hawaiian—and is sure to delight you with her sassy behavior. While the Party Rocker is entertaining on its own, the app takes it to another level and appeals to today’s digi-obsessed kids.

I’m not hopping aboard the classic Furby Ferry just yet, but I am ready to get my party on with the new Furby Party Rocker.

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ThinkGeek Extrudes the Play-Doh 3D Printer to the World

April 3, 2013 By

Update

Oh no! We sure hope you weren’t as excited for this as we were, since it has turned out to be an April Fool’s Day hoax! ThinkGeek: 1, The Toy Book: 0.

ThinkGeek has announced an innovative new toy to fulfill every wee maker’s dream: the Play-Doh 3D Printer!

GEEKNET, INC. PLAY-DOH 3D PRINTERExpensive “at-home” versions of 3-D printers have been on the market for years, and for decades children have grown up with Play-Doh‘s extruder toys to shape colorful clay. The technology to blend those two realities has only recently become available and ThinkGeek is the exclusive retailer for this fantasy turned real.

Users of the Play-Doh 3-D Printer need only insert three cans of their favorite color, load up the free app on their tablet of choice, and get creative. Once a 3-D model is rendered in the app, users manipulate the device’s dials to create the solid piece. [Read more...]

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COMMENTARY: Nineties Nostalgia

April 2, 2013 By

Ah, to be a kid again. In some ways, being an editor at The Toy Book lets me get close. Last week, we spent several days reviewing and testing product submissions for our spring edition of The Toy Insider. Over the weekend, a friend compared this to “Big,” a movie in which a boy magically gets the body of a grown man and becomes wildly successful in the toy industry. His young mind provided valuable insight that can fade as we become adults. This thought prompted me to reminisce about some of my favorite toys growing up.

Skip-It: I think the commercial may have had a lot to do with how much fun I perceived this toy to be; nonetheless, I loved my Skip-It. I had it in pink, and my sister had it in yellow. The idea was to skip over it as you swung it around your ankle, while the ball at the end kept count of the skips. The counter was far from accurate, but it still made for some fierce competition.

Christine.April2_5Barbie Beauty Bath: Of the countless Barbie play sets, dolls, and accessories I accumulated as a child, the Barbie Beauty Bath goes down as one of my favorites. The set featured a tub, showerhead, and tile-like back wall, and the shower actually functioned by pumping water through the showerhead.

Creepy Crawlers: Although I can’t recall the commercial for this one, I do remember it being the driving force behind this request. Kids would pour the liquid into the bug-shaped molds, and then, after they set, they became squishy, gummy-like bug figures. This was great, until a family friend ruined his suit after accidentally placing his arm into the wet mold. Oops.

Christine.April2_4Cherry Merry Muffin: Cherry Merry Muffin and her friends were named for their respective scents. Each doll came with several accessories that girls could collect and use on the dolls or themselves.

Puppy Surprise: This was an exciting plush toy because it came in several colors, and the number of puppies in the dog’s belly was a mystery until the toy came out of the box. It came with up to five individual plush puppies inside, and the tummy pocket was a great place to store the puppies or other small objects. (Or Halloween candy for forbidden bedtime consumption…not that I did that…okay, I did that.)

What were some of your favorite toys? If you have kids, do they like any of the same things? Let us know in the comment section!

For more commentary from Christine, check back each Tuesday 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!

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Hasbro Named Among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies for Second Consecutive Year

March 14, 2013 By

Hasbro, Inc. has been recognized as one of The Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies (WME) for the second year in a row. Ethisphere received a record number of nominations for the 2013 WME list.

Hasbro’s commitment to responsible business practices can be seen through the company’s ongoing efforts in sustainable packaging innovation. Last year, Hasbro announced plans to reduce materials used in product packaging for many of its highly popular global brands and, beginning this year, Hasbro will phase out PVC in new toy and game product packaging. Over the next two years, retailers and consumers will begin to see an even broader range of packaging efficiencies put in place across Hasbro’s brand portfolio, including redesigned disposable boxes and blister packs that use less material.

Read about the methodology and view the complete list of this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies at http://ethisphere.com/wme/.

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COMMENTARY: Manufacturers Are Shifting Gender Roles in the Toy Space

March 12, 2013 By

The blurring of gender roles is a trend that I’ve been noticing more and more, and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I think it’s silly to try and reinvent the wheel—let’s be honest, toys that are pink, sparkly, or doll-related attract girls, while Super Heroes, cars, and trucks attract boys (this is, of course, generally speaking)—and what’s wrong with that? On the other hand, there are some toys that are shifting to neutral territory that I think are not only appropriate, but smart on the part of the manufacturers.

neutral easy bake ovenHasbro’s Easy Bake Oven is a great example of this. Introduced in the 1960s, the Easy Bake Oven has always been seen as a girls’ toy. Recently, a young girl contacted the company and asked for a gender-neutral version of the toy. Her younger brother had an interest in cooking, but Easy Bake Ovens were only available in “girly” colors, such as purple and pink. Hasbro agreed and has created a black and silver oven that looks more realistic and appeals to all young chefs. Male chefs are certainly not a revolutionary concept, especially with the range of current TV shows featuring men in the kitchen—think Top Chef, Chopped, Cake Boss, America’s Test Kitchen. I expect that this new look will attract a lot of boys when it becomes available this fall. [Read more...]

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