Think Wow Toys is premiering one sweet product this summer, the Entenmann’s Donut Maker for Kids. The donut maker, officially licensed by Entenmann’s, allows kids to make their own donuts safely in the microwave. Kids mix the donut dough with water in the mixing station, extrude the dough in the donut tray mold, and then microwave for 40 to 60 seconds. After the donuts are baked, kids can decorate with icing and add sprinkles.
On May 15, Beyblade: Metal Fusion, a spin-off of Beyblade, will premiere on Canada’s YTV. From Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana and Japan’s d-rights, the new series will kick off with a four-episode stunt event at 12 p.m. that day.
Beyblade: Metal Fusion features a new cast of characters as they follow Gingka and battle the rising dangerous group, The Dark Nebula. Following the stunt event, the series will air every Saturday on YTV at 12 p.m. ET/PT.
Anchor Bay Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Ludorum’s Chuggington preschool series. Anchor Bay will distribute Chuggington DVDs to both brick and mortar stores and online retailers starting early next year.
Chuggington airs six days a week on Playhouse Disney. The show follows the adventures of three young “trainees” as they learn about life in the train yard and in the world.
Chuggington is broadcast in 175 territories worldwide and premiered in the U.S. in January. Bill Clark and Julie Cartwright negotiated this deal for Anchor Bay Entertainment.
Learning Express has picked the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to be the recipient of donated toys from the Learning Express Annual Convention. Every year, many of the brand new toys featured in the vendor booths at the show are donated to a local cause at the end of the convention.
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee will deliver the toys to children at nonprofit early childhood education centers in the Nashville area. Those centers serve approximately 1,522 children, from infant to pre-teen, at 23 sites.
The Learning Express Annual Convention will be held June 27-30 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. Attendees will include the Learning Express corporate staff, the owners of more than 140 Learning Express toy stores, and more than 100 of the world’s top toy vendors. Vendors attend by invitation only.
As a kid I had a great POG collection. As a matter of fact I kept just one all these years, and it’s taped to my monitor at work. Other things I’ve collected over the years include slap bracelets, Troll dolls, and Garbage Pail Kid cards (still have those!).
So fess up. What did you collect?
Toys valued at nearly $30,000, donated by companies across the toy industry to the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF), will be distributed in partnership with Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) to children who survived the devastating Haiti earthquake on January 12. The contribution by TIF included 2,500 new toys that will provide comfort to children in refugee shelters and camps, schools, and orphanages throughout the country.
K.I.D.S. has worked in Haiti through various partners since 1995, providing apparel, shoes, toys, and books to children in need. K.I.D.S.’ main partner for this Haiti relief is Operation Compassion, which has helped Haiti’s poor for the last 10 years.
Photo Credit: KidsDonations.org
Schwinn, the American bicycle manufacturer, is inviting Americans to “go for a ride” as part of a major brand relaunch and integrated national advertising and marketing program.
The multi-million dollar campaign, which launches nationwide this week, will feature the Schwinn bicycle bell as a thematic centerpiece representing “a call to action to reconnect with what’s important in life.” Print and television ads, as well as a digital campaign, will feature messages such as “Never stop and smell the cubicles,” “The world needs a recess bell,” and “You can’t text message your inner child,” urging Americans to get outside and get riding.
Consumers will be directed to www.RideSchwinn.com, which will provide simple tips on finding the right bike and where to buy it. Additionally, a downloadable application for mobile phones will give riding and fitness tips along with local route information.
Stouffer’s has teamed up with author and illustrator Todd Parr for a new children’s book called Let’s Fix Dinner. Kids will be drawn to the colorful pages and easy-to-read text, while the book’s message of the many benefits of a family dinner may resonate with parents.
Additionally, for every book purchased, Stouffer’s will donate the net proceeds, $4 per book, to Habitat for Humanity, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $125,000, up to a maximum donation of $200,000. The donation program is slated to end December 31, 2011, or sooner as determined by the sponsor.
Major League Baseball Properties and Disney Consumer Products have unveiled a special line of Mickey Mouse collectible statuettes commemorating 2010 All-Star Week, held July 9-13 in Anaheim, Calif. The 36 different statuettes feature MLB-themed designs and are replicas of 7.5-foot-tall statues that will be placed at Southern California landmarks leading up to the big game on July 13.
Scholastic Media and HandsOn Network, the largest volunteer organization in the nation, are working together to celebrate National Volunteer Week, which runs from April 18 to April 24. Children and families can go to Scholastic’s Be Big Campaign website, www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig, or to www.handsonnetwork.org/bebig to find local volunteer opportunities at one of the HandsOn Network projects across the country. Large-scale service opportunities will be take place in Minneapolis, Atlanta, St. Louis, Toledo, and Washington, D.C.