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Mamas & Papas Debuts in the U.S. at Babies “R” Us

Babies “R” Us has premiered a special assortment of Mamas & Papas products at select stores nationwide. The assortment marks the line’s debut in the U.S. An expanded selection of Mamas & Papas products will also be available at Toys “R” Us Times Square, Babies “R” Us Union Square, and FAO Schwarz Fifth Avenue in New York City, as well as at Babiesrus.com/MamasandPapas.

Mamas & Papas was founded by working mother Luisa Scacchetti in 1981, and the exclusive Babies “R” Us collection includes strollers, lightweight strollers, highchairs, bouncers, and travel toys.

Bradford Licensing Signs On For Katz Fun

Bright Ideas Design Co., Ltd., a creative production team, has picked Bradford Licensing, LLC, as its licensing partner to bring Katz Fun merchandise to the U.S. Katz Fun is an animated children’s series about friendship, teamwork, and confidence. In the series, the group of six characters, Katz Fun, unite together to protect the tiger Katz from the evil Dark Messenger whose goal is to “undermine the good intentions of Katz and disturb the tranquility of the Bent Boo Village.”

Potential licensing categories for the series include digital games, home entertainment and DVDs, toys, apparel, accessories, and publishing. Katz Fun’s target audience is children ages 6 to 9, and the show aims to give children a multicultural experience, as well as encourage creativity and education.

Babies “R” Us Premieres New Home Safety Microsite

Babies “R” Us has launched a new microsite dedicated to informing parents on home safety as a part of the company’s expanded partnership with the Home Safety Council, a national nonprofit organization that raises awareness about accidental infant and child injury and is dedicated to preventing home-related injuries.

The new microsite, Babiesrus.com/HomeSafety, offers tips on how to keep kids safe, and includes a new parent home safety quiz, an interactive nursery safety game, room-by-room baby-proofing tips, and an outline of seven safety product categories (such as baby gates, corner guards, and outlet covers) that parents should consider when they prepare for a baby’s arrival. After browsing the sections, parents can add safety items to their Babiesrus.com shopping cart or print out safety product information as a checklist when shopping in-store.

Mr. Potato Head Is All Shook Up

Hasbro announces the release of the limited edition Mr. Potato Head Elvis Presley figure from licensee PPW Toys. The figure is arriving at U.S. specialty retail stores to celebrate the year-long Elvis 75th anniversary.

The seven inch tall figure comes with a variety of components to mix and match: a jumpsuit, shoes, hair, two arms, a guitar, and a face with the classic Elvis Presley ‘snarl.’ All the pieces are removable and compatible with future versions of Elvis Mr. Potato Head toys.

“I’m all shook up, uh-huh!”

Bandai America Sponsors Second Power Rangers Convention

From August 27-29, the Pasadena Convention Center will morph into Ranger Central for the second annual Power Rangers convention, “Power Morphicon.” More than 1,000 visitors and 20 specialty vendors are expected to attend the convention. The event will also feature panels, guest appearances, autograph signings, a silent auction, a costume contest, and the Power Quest Trivia Game.

Bandai America Incorporated, Power Rangers’ master toy licensee, is serving as the premier sponsor and will host a booth in the Dealers Room, allowing fans to meet and take photos with two of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers characters on Saturday. Bandai’s booth will also display a collection of Power Rangers toys and will offer limited giveaways. Other vendors will include CS Toys International, RedStarRobot, and AnimeBooks.com, among others.

Iron Man Duo to Write Script for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (Iron Man, Punisher: War Zone) have signed on to write the script for the new feature film for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The film is being produced by Platinum Dunes for Paramount. The studio hopes to pick a director and be in production next year, writes THR.

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.

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.