WHAT’S NEW Jade Stars, from MINI MAGELLAN, is a collection of colorful characters based on the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Each animal is available in boy and girl versions that feature a modern look, feel, and contemporary art style. Based on these characters, The Great Race: How the Chinese Zodiac Came to Be puts a modern spin on an age-old Asian tale. Written by parents, this book is educational and entertaining for kids. Companion Jade Stars plush toys will be available later this year for fans to collect and find the character that matches their birth year. The Year of the Horse was the first of 12 limited-edition plush animals to release, followed by Year of the Snake, Ram, Rabbit, and Dragon, which are now available on the Mini Magellan website for a limited time. FLIP2BFIT is a fitness board game that lets kids and their families twist, jump, and stretch their way to a healthier lifestyle. The game introduces players to the basic concepts of yoga, cardio, stretching, and strength activities using aspects of play. Kids can make informed choices while developing motor skills, coordination, and muscle memory through carefully chosen mental and physical challenges. The game lasts about 30 minutes, and players learn about nutrition, make healthy choices, and perform various exercises featured on different playing cards. Flip2BFit has partnered with Fitness for Africa, a New York-based non-profit that battles obesity in the U.S. and malnutrition in Africa, to introduce the game to Ugandan school children. The kids have demonstrated improved grades, better sleep, stronger muscles, a growth in self-esteem, and greater focus.
ANN WILLIAMS introduces the Loopdeloom and Craft-Tastic line for shipment to begin this fall. The Loopdeloom is a weaving loom kit designed to speed up and simplify the weaving process. Kids can make a range of items from basic to complex, such as purses, cell phone cases, scarves, baskets, and more. Weave one loom up to 7-inches wide or connect two or more looms together to weave wider items with no seams. The Craft-tastic line employs simple crafting techniques that foster creativity by encouraging kids to experiment with stylish colors, modern patterns, and quality yarns. The full line includes the String Art Kit, Pom Pom Kit, Finger Crochet Kit, and Paper Bowl Kit. KIDS PREFERRED will launch a new line of toys based on the Splat the Cat books written by Rob Scotton. The line will include the Splat the Cat Beanbag, which allows little ones to take their favorite cat with them everywhere they go; Splat the Cat, a fuzzy plush; Seymour the Mouse Beanbag, Splat’s tiny but mighty favorite friend who has a big nose, curious ears, and a fun-to-touch tummy; and the Splat the Cat hardcover book, with which readers can join Splat the Cat and Seymour in their story about the first day of school. The line will be sold at specialty toy and book retailers this fall.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
S6
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014