Chronicle Books has acquired the KidQuest brand, with plans to release a deck this fall. KidQuest is a card game where players, mainly kids, learn more about the adults in their life through a series of questions.
Kids will learn about their favorite adult’s childhood during the game. | Source: Chronicle Books
In the upcoming KidQuest deck, there are 100 cards and eight different categories, including home, school, personality, inner life, big life, humor, and friends. Some questions are deep and thoughtful, while others are fun and silly. Designed for kids ages 5 and up, the cards feature questions that kids are excited to know.
KidQuest will result in conversations about how to make friends, how to save money, and what life was like when the adults were kids. Families can also easily travel with the card game.
The game will be available on Oct. 19 for $12.95. It’s currently available to preorder at chroniclebooks.com.
There are two Pixel Petz kids can play with: the Corgi and the Dalmatian. These digital pets have a screen for a face, controllers for ears, a button nose for making selections, and a touch sensitive sensor for a head. Kids must take care of Pixel Petz when they communicate their needs, including hunger and needing to take a bath or go outside.
Pixel Petz have 11 different personalities to develop. | Source: MGA Entertainment
Pixel Petz have 11 different personalities to develop. | Source: MGA Entertainment
There are 11 personalities kids can unlock and more than 100 emotions to experience. Pixel Petz even interact with kids by mimicking their tone when kids speak to them by pressing the button on their nose. Pixel Petz can also interact with each other, even getting jealous when another Pixel Petz toy is getting more attention. Like any good digital pet, Pixel Petz are easy to take on the go, featuring a clip for backpacks or other bags.
CandyRific is known for its original and licensed candy and novelty offerings. The company has partnered with a variety of popular franchises, including Disney, Marvel, PAW Patrol, and more. Now, it’s getting ready for Christmas with the reveal of the upcoming Christmas Collection, featuring both returning and new products.
The Elf on the Shelf Message Board | Source: CandyRific
Haribo Candy Fans | Source: CandyRific
Included in the collection are three products featuring the well-known Christmas tradition of The Elf on the Shelf: The Elf on the Shelf Message Board, The Elf on the Shelf Mini Backpacks, and The Elf on the Shelf Candy Cases.
The company also has two fresh novelty fans. The Haribo Candy Fans come in two versions, one featuring the Haribo bear wearing a Santa hat and the other featuring a Goldbear design in red and green. The Light Up Santa Fan is a returning product that releases a puff of cool air with just the press of a button. The Polar Bear Christmas Tree Light & Sound Wand is also returning. Kids can press the wand’s button to activate lights and music.
The Light Up Santa Fan, Haribo Candy Fans, and Polar Bear Christmas Tree Light & Sound Wand will be available for a retail price of $5.99. The three new The Elf on the Shelf products will retail for an affordable $3.99.
The LEGO Group will open a new hub in Denmark in 2027.
The new hub will be located in a building called The Stamp in the business complex Postbyen, near Copenhagen Central Station. The Stamp will accommodate 1,500 employees, and as a part of the complex, will give LEGO colleagues access to new offices, housing, restaurants, retail stores, and health and wellness facilities.
A rendering of The Stamp. | LEGO Group
This marks the company’s latest investment in strengthening its Nordic presence. Since its foundation in 1932, LEGO’s headquarters has remained and grown in Billund, Denmark.
“It is important for the LEGO Group to have inspiring workplaces in the best locations to continue to attract the right talent. In Denmark, we are investing in both our Billund headquarters with two new state-of-the-art campuses and the new Copenhagen Hub,” says LEGO Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen. “With great access to the Capital and Øresund regions, the new Copenhagen Hub enables us to attract world-class talent to two fantastic locations in Denmark.”
Read the full breakdown of the LEGO Group’s Denmark-based developments on the company website.
The brand Poppy Playtime has seen monster growth in merchandise sales and user engagement, reports Mob Entertainment, the company behind the IP.
Poppy Playtime is a survival horror video game that debuted in 2021. Its newest characters, Smiling Critters, have wracked up over 4 billion views on YouTube, while PoppyPlaytime.com merchandise sales have risen 350% compared to the same time last year. Poppy Playtime Chapter 3, which came out in late January, has also become the highest-selling game in the franchise.
Poppy Playtime has now hit Roblox, executed large merchandising programs, and more. | Source: Mob Entertainment
“Our team has seen tremendous growth this year alone but none of it would be possible without their hard work and dedication behind the scenes,” says Seth Belanger, Co-Founder and CCO of Mob Entertainment. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge our players and fans globally. We are inspired by their enthusiasm and are committed to continuing to deliver engaging content that resonates.”
A number of high-profile deals have opened up other expansions; Legendary Entertainment acquired the rights to adapt the Poppy Playtime brand to the screen, while Scholastic recently produced the first Poppy Playtime book.
Goliath has a new line of baking sets for kids who want to cook in miniature!
Following a U.S. debut at this year’s VidCon, Goliath is readying to release its new Tasty Tinies Bake Shop line of miniature baking kits. Tackling the food-related and mini-toy trends with tiny food you can actually eat, Goliath’s new kits give kids everything they need to bake tiny cakes in 25 seconds.
We are re-defining the miniature trend with real food that tastes as incredible as it looks. While many miniatures reference food themes, none have allowed kids and kids-at-heart to cook, design, and best of all eat real miniature food.
Brian Weiss, President of Goliath North America, Global Head of Toys
Each Tasty Tinies Bake Shop set includes everything needed to bake and decorate two mini cakes. Kids can mix and make in miniature with tiny tools such as a bowl, a measuring cup, a spatula, a piping bag, and a tip. Once they’ve got their cake mix together, all it needs is a splash of water and 25 seconds in the microwave. Kids can decorate their finished cakes with buttercream frosting in different flavors, as well as three varieties of sprinkles: Rainbow Pop, Pink Pop, and Unicorn Tracks.
There are currently three flavors of cake to choose from: strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate. The sets also have different cake molds, so kids can make circle-shaped, bundt-shaped, or heart-shaped cakes. All included components are made in the U.S. and are dietary-safe.
Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure is now in theaters, and its accompanying soundtrack has hit streaming services.
Grammy-winning group Pentatonix provides the crux of the album with its “Thunder” cover. | Source: Republic Records: Kids & Family
The film is the first wide-release motion picture from a YouTube content creator. As such, the film’s album is full of music from digital-first artists who command more than 180 million subscribers across their respective YouTube accounts.
“Go Find the Hero in You” serves as the movie’s tagline as well as a highlight of the album. | Source: Republic Records: Kids & Family
Music on the album includes the single (that doubles as the movie’s tagline) “Go Find the Hero in You” by the Ryan’s World cast, and “You Can Be a Hero” by 8-year-old music prodigy Miles Music Kid. Other artists include Qai Qai, MusicClubKids!, and Toys and Colors.
The soundtrack, which was produced by Republic Records: Kids & Family and pocket.watch, also features the a capella supergroup Pentatonix. A cover of the Imagine Dragons song “Thunder” is Pentatonix’s contribution to the soundtrack.
The Ethical Supply Chain Program, a system to encourage integrity and sustainability among manufacturers, suppliers, licensors, and retailers, is joining forces with Open Supply Hub to publish supply chain data on Open Supply Hub’s open data platform. Companies that are a part of the Ethical Supply Chain Program now have the option of publishing their information on Open Supply Hub as part of the Ethical Supply Chain Program dataset.
“Right across the supply chain, we’re seeing the need for greater transparency,” says Carmel Giblin, CEO and President of the Ethical Supply Chain Program. “Brands and retailers are under pressure to share information about where their products are coming from. This pressure is coming from both consumers and through regulation, such as the European Council’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Transparency and collaboration are at the core of what both the Ethical Supply Chain Program and Open Supply Hub are all about. By working together, we’re not only benefiting suppliers, who are working hard to show they are doing business in the right way, but also buyers, who are looking for quicker ways to identify new, responsible suppliers.”
Too often, suppliers aren’t centered on the supply chain platforms that they contribute data to. Leveraging a collaborative, open dataset, our aim is to help more suppliers see the value and business case for transparency and give them a free, public avenue to show that they are serious about making their supply chains safe and sustainable.
Natalie Grillon, CEO and Executive Director at Open Supply Hub
Around 700 ethically certified factories that are a part of the Ethical Supply Chain Program have provided data to the Open Supply Hub. The Ethical Supply Chain Program’s dataset on Open Supply Hub will be updated on a bimonthly basis. The Ethical Supply Chain Program was initially founded by the International Council of Toy Industries, but now covers integrity and sustainability across multiple sectors.
Toyetic properties are everywhere, with new content rolling out across TV and movies, video games, music, and more. This installment of The Toy Book’s Media Mashup includes updates from Transformers One, Monster High, Hot Wheels, Ms. Rachel, Sesame Street, The Wiggles, Blippi, Monster Jam, Miraculous, and more.
Movies:
Source: Paramount
Transformers One – Cast Featurette
Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. In the first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie, Transformers One features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi with Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm.
For more on Transformers One, check out The Toy Book‘s LA Fall Toy Preview Issue, available Sept. 9!
TV/Streaming:
Source: Mattel Television/Netflix
Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Season 2
In season 2, Coop, Spark, Mac, Brights, Axle, and Sidecar are back and ready to race. The season also introduces the mysterious new racer, Cruise, who drives the Street Shrieker. All the young drivers will need to be at their best this season as they move on from the Camp Champ Grand Prix of season 1 and into the Ultimate Garage. Whoever wins the challenge this season also wins control of the Ultimate Garage and everything in it!
The new season will also have plenty of music. Patrick Stump, lead vocalist for Fall Out Boy, composed, recorded, and produced the show’s theme song as well as the score, underscore, and music cues for all its episodes. Learn more at The Toy Insider.
Retailers can look for new toys from Mattel to back the series.
Source: The Pokémon Company International
Pokémon Horizons: The Series Part 4
When Dot and Quaxly enter the town to get a new microphone, they run into a new friend, Tinkatink! Part 4 of the action-packed Pokémon Horizons: The Series will premiere Nov. 22, 2024, exclusively on Netflix in the U.S.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem is crashing onto PS4, PS5, Xbox X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Oct. 18. Kids can smash, crash, and perform mind-blowing tricks across fantastical arenas in this adrenaline-fueled arcade adventure. Learn more at The Toy Insider.
Source: Miraculous Corp.
Miraculous: Paris Under Siege
Miraculous: Paris Under Siege is coming to Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox X|S, and PC in October. Kids can embark on a thrilling adventure where heroism, acrobatic combat and parkour agility collide as Shadow Moth unleashes a wave of villains across the city.
Source: Feld Entertainment
Monster Jam Showdown
Monster Jam Showdown brings the action of Monster Jam to PS4, PS5, Xbox X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Aug. 19. Families can pilot a host of iconic trucks as they hit the throttle and kick off their careers.
Source: Outright Games
Monster High: Skulltimate Secrets
Mattel and Outright Games unleashed a teaser of Monster High: Skulltimate Secrets, coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC available on Steam and the Microsoft Store in October. This clawsome new trailer offers a first-look at this spooktacular adventure, showcasing the ghoulest features coming to Monster High: Skulltimate Secrets.
Other Kids’ Music & Entertainment:
Source: Disney Music
New Found Glory Drops Little Mermaid Cover
New Found Glory, the multi-platinum pop-punk veterans, take the plunge into the sea with their electrifying rendition of “Part of Your World,” originally from Disney’s The Little Mermaid (1989). This energetic cover injects a fresh dose of punk rock spirit into Ariel’s classic yearning for adventure. The track comes from the upcoming album, A While New Sound, out Sept. 6.
Tracklisting:
“Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid by New Found Glory
“Remember Me” from Coco by Mayday Parade
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King by Simple Plan
“I2I” from A Goofy Movie by Magnolia Park
“A Whole New World” from Aladdin by Yellowcard
“Go the Distance” from Hercules by We The Kings
“Surface Pressure” from Encanto by Plain White T’s
“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story by Meet Me @ The Altar
“You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan by Boys Like Girls
“Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas by Tokio Hotel
“Let It Go” from Frozen by LØLØ
“Friend Like Me” from Aladdin by Bowling For Soup
Source: Republic Records: Kids & Family
Republic Records: Kids & Family Unleashes Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure Soundtrack
The centerpiece of the soundtrack for Ryan’s World The Movie: Titan Universe Adventure is a cover of Imagine Dragons’ “Thunder,” executed by the Grammy-winning vocal group Pentatonix. The film, in theaters now, marks the first-ever wide theatrical release of a digital creator-driven film.
Hasbro launched Marvel-themed Play-Doh sets earlier this summer. Now, the two brands are teaming up again to launch a Play-Doh and Marvel YouTube series!
The Heroes in the Making! series will feature CGI-simulated, stop-motion shorts featuring some of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Black Panther, and the Hulk. Learn more at The Toy Insider.
Source: Sesame Workshop
Ms. Rachel Knows How to Get to Sesame Street
Songwriter Ms. Rachel is taking a trip to Sesame Street to visit everyone’s favorite little red monster. Three new songs featuring Ms. Rachel and Sesame Street characters are coming, with one already here for kids who love a little music in their lives. Learn more at The Toy Insider.
Spin Master is releasing its first Ms. Rachel toys this fall while Just Play continues to offer great products inspired by Sesame Street. For the “kidult” crowd, Super7 and NECA offer a new range of collectible Sesame Street action figures.
Source: Moongbug
Blippi and The Wiggles Team Up!
Two beloved children’s entertainment brands are joining forces for the first time to celebrate both Blippi’s 10th anniversary and the release of The Wiggles’ 100th album. The collaboration has produced new songs as well as mash-ups of old favorites. Learn more at The Toy Insider.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises has released details for its new brand, Dr. Seuss Babies, which features baby versions of well-known Dr. Seuss characters. The company has established a merchandising program that includes baby and infant products, as well as a line of board books.
The Dr. Seuss Babies merchandising program has resulted in licensing partnerships with companies like Posh Peanut, Hello Bello, and Playtex Baby. Retailers can expect products like feeding solutions, diapers, and onesies featuring Dr. Seuss Babies. Dr. Seuss Enterprises is also negotiating with several potential licensees for next year.
Babies and toddlers love to discover the world around them. Dr. Seuss Babies will help them explore, learn, and laugh. Our hope is that this brand inspires and delights a new generation."
— Susan Brandt, President and CEO, Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Dr. Seuss characters — as babies! | Source: Dr. Seuss Enterprises
The first Dr. Seuss Babies book will be available in January. | Source: Dr. Seuss Enterprises
The upcoming line of Dr. Seuss Babies board books will debut in January. From Penguin Random House Children’s Books (RHCB), the new stories will include rhyming text, bright colors, and adorable babies. The debut story, Happy First Birthday! , is currently available for preorder. Readers will follow baby versions of the Cat in the Hat, Thing One, and Thing Two as they celebrate a milestone birthday. The 22-page, lift-the-flap board book also features a mirror.
Families can expect two additional Dr. Seuss Babies books next year: Mr. Brown on the Farm will be released in May, and Merry Grinchmas, Baby! will be available next September. Plus, three Dr. Seuss Babies books will join the collection in 2026.
“We are so excited to bring this adorable new line of books to the youngest of Dr. Seuss fans,” Alice Jonaitis, Executive Editor, Dr. Seuss Publishing at RHCB, says. “With the eye-catching new art style, the beloved characters have become even more baby-friendly and will help nurture a love of reading at the earliest age.”
The first video in the series is now available. | Source: Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Families can also watch the Dr. Seuss Babies in a collection of shows called Learn to Read. Available on Dr. Seuss’ YouTube channel, the series will help viewers develop phonic reading skills through letters and sounds. The first episode, “Learn to Read with Fox in Socks,” is available now. It is a 6-minute episode in which Dr. Seuss Babies teach kids how to spell.
