Books and Toys

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Kid President


021115_CRTPost_KidPresident_SealIf you haven’t been introduced, please say hi to the Tiny President of the United States.

Kid President, aka über adorable Robby Novak and Brad Montague (the guy behind the scenes of his videos and new book), is a fabulous fixture on actor Rainn Wilson’s website, SoulPancake.

Wise beyond his years and wonderful to boot, his new book, Kid President’s Guide to Being Awesome is now available. Take a look:

The book launch also introduces an awesome challenge: The #BookItForward Campaign, which promotes literacy. Kid President spells it out for us:

021115_CRTPost_KidPresident_BookItForward

THE PROBLEM In low-income neighborhoods, there is only one book for every 300 children.

THE SOLUTION Access to books and other reading materials greatly increases a student’s chance of success in school. Create an anonymous and free “take one, leave one” book drop to donate reading materials to those who may need it most.

WHAT YOU GET Sign up for facts on literacy and tips on starting your own community book swap with Kid President … Plus, you’ll enter for the chance to win a seasonal $10,000 scholarship!

How will you #BookItForward? What story has inspired your life? Help Kid President get 10,000 people to gift someone a book they love. Let’s be AWESOME, people!

Share on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1DzbuwU  and Twitter: http://bit.ly/1w1ojKs

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Children’s Book Author Wins Nobel Prize in Literature


French author Patrick Modiano has won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature, “for the art of memory with which he has evoked the most ungraspable human destinies and uncovered the life-world of the occupation.”

Mr. Modiano writes in a variety of genres, including detective mysteries, short, 100-page novels and screenplays. His first novel, “La place de l’étoile,” about Jewish collaborator during WWI, was published in France in 1968.

101414_CRTPost_CatherineCertitude_CoverA Mom and Her Memories. This Nobel Prize winner also writes children’s books! Catherine Certitude, written with collaborator William Rodarmor and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempe, was published in 2001, and tells the story of a mom and her memories.

While Catherine watches her own daughter practice dance, she reminiscences about her own childhood. Living in the tenth arrondissement of Paris, Catherine and her father Georges share the simple pleasures of daily life: sitting in the church square, walking to school, going to her ballet class every Thursday afternoon. A happy time in the City of Light.

However, the charming walk down memory lane brings up a lot of mystery:

  • Why did Catherine’s change his name to Certitude?
  • What kind of trouble with the law did his business partner Casterade rescue him from?
  • Exactly what does Georges do, and what kind of deals is he always discussing with men in worn raincoats?
  • Why did Catherine’s mother, herself a ballerina, leave Georges to return to New York?

These are just some of the mysteries Catherine remembers … and hopes to resolve as the story unfolds.

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GoldieBlox Joins the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade


Happy news for turkey day!

Award-winning toy company GoldieBlox is bringing the magic of design and engineering to life at the 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® with “The Girl-Powered Spinning Machine,” a new GoldieBlox float that will make its way down the streets of New York.

“Our dream at GoldieBlox is to inspire every girl to reach her full potential, and we definitely like to dream big. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an iconic celebration and we’re thrilled to join the line-up this November with the first-ever float that is specifically designed to showcase the principles of engineering. Macy’s Parade floats are the ultimate engineering spectacle, and relatable to kids everywhere. We can’t wait!”

-GoldieBlox Founder & CEO Debbie Sterling

Designed and built by the engineers and craftspeople at Macy’s Parade Studio working closely with the GoldieBlox team, The Girl-Powered Spinning Machine will transform GoldieBlox toys into larger-than-life form, in an elaborate, creative and brightly colored machine. The float uses kid power to spin, pull and rotate giant pinwheels, parachutes, jogging wheels and more. Goldie herself is at the helm of the action, joined by Goldie’s dog Nacho, her cat Benjamin Cranklin and a host of her friends on three distinct stages.

“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has always been about sparking the imagination through creativity, magic and fun. The new GoldieBlox float is an aspiring engineer’s dream, perfectly combining Macy’s Parade’s signature creativity and artistry, with real-world engineering practices that will inspire girls and boys to learn more about engineering and technology.”

-Amy Kule, Executive Producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

GoldieBlox hopes to spread the message that while girls may love princesses, they can build their own castles too, or their own parade floats! Determined to level the playing field for girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), GoldieBlox is on a mission to disrupt pink toy aisles everywhere and get girls building.

Gearing up for the holiday season, GoldieBlox recently doubled their product offering, adding three new sets and expanding their piece library from six to more than 40, all available at GoldieBlox.com.

GoldieBlox’s Girl-Powered Spinning Machine float débuts in the 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which can be seen nationwide on NBC-TV, on Thursday, November 27, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in all time zones.

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The Day We Danced in Underpants


This picture of the book cover makes me smile. Happy October!

The Day We Danced in Underpants is the kind of book I keep on my own book shelf, along with children’s classics Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi and The Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts by Shinta Cho. And here’s a good reason why: “This lesson in kindness and grace changes an embarrassing situation into an adventure,” a very astute review from Tidewater Parent.

100214_CRTPost_DayWeDanced_IllustrationTalk About Joie de Vivre! Written by California-based writer Sarah Wilson, the story is inspired by her grandmother, who taught her an early appreciation for French culture. Indeed! Sarah’s silly descriptions of a cast of characters –including “three wild aunts” – who dance their way across the French countryside to a picnic with the King of France makes for a perfect read-aloud, not to mention a dance-a-thon of your own.

And to do it all in underpants?

Award-winning illustrator Catherine Stock‘s hilarious watercolors literally paint the picture of “a wild party that finds even the stuffiest nobles getting down in their unmentionables,” as the book’s synopsis tells us.

When one of my friends posted a picture of the book on Facebook, I couldn’t resist starting out a new month by telling you about it. As he says, “Oh, I do that all the time!”

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The Man with the Violin


Based on a true story of what happened when a world class violinist performed and almost no one listened.

From picture books to non-fiction, young adult fiction and historical fiction, horror and biography to series books, stories in anthologies and magazines, writer Kathy Stinson has authored a wide variety of material for readers.

“What you read influences what you write. And so does the day to day life that you live.”

-Kathy Stinson

The Ontario, Canada-based mother of two, two stepdaughters and grandmother to five has been inspired by all of the children in her life to write her books … and this one is inspired by children and the fabulous Joshua Bell, telling a real-life tale.

081914_CRTPost_ManWithViolin_JoshuaBell Man with the Violin. Seven years ago on a random January day, the real Joshua Bell takes  part in an experiment devised by The Washington Post, performing at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station in Washington, D.C. More than 1,000 commuters pass his playing and only seven stop to listen for more than a minute. Just seven adults … yet the children are mesmerized, even as they are pulled away by adults on a more important mission –or so it seems. After 43 minutes of  exceptional performance, Joshua Bell’s violin case holds $32.17 … as the world continues to pass him by.

Written by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Dušan Petričić, with a postscript by Joshua Bell, The Man with the Violin tells the story of Dylan, a little boy who notices everything, while his Mom speeds through life taking no notice at all. It is Dylan who realizes something extraordinary is happening that day in the subway station, yet he cannot convince his Mom to slow down and seize this incredible moment. Later that day, Dylan hears Joshua Bell playing on the radio and has the grace to point out to his Mom, “‘We should have stopped. We should have listened,'” to one of the finest musicians in the world, playing his magnificent Stradivarius in the middle of the day … just for them. A magical gift, unrecognizable to those who do not see. Hear Kathy and Dušan talk about their vision for The Man with the Violin, listen to the music played in the subway station that day …

To date, here’s a list of awards The Man with the Violin has garnered:

  • Winner of Digital Book of the Year Award in the Ebook Fixed Format/Enhanced category
  • Winner of the Eric Hoffer Award in the Children’s Book category
  • Winner of the 2013 Gold Award in the Children’s Book category of NAPPA
  • 2014 Storytelling World Award
  • Independent Publishers Award (tied for Gold in the Children’s Picture Book category)
  • Winner of Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Children’s Picture Book category (tied)
  • Honourable Mention for the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Picture Book Award
  • Honourable Mention for ForeWord Magazine’s IndieFab Award in the Children’s Book category
  • Shortlisted for the 2014 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award
  • Nominated for the Frances Howard-Gibbon Award
  • Nominated for a Shining Willow Award
  • A ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year finalist
  • An IRA Notable Book for a Global Society
  • Heather’s Pick (Chapters/Indigo)
  • A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013
  • Starred reviews in Kirkus and Quill & Quire
  • A Canadian Children’s Book Centre “Best Books for Kids & Teens” Selection
  • A “49th Shelf” Booksellers’ Pick for 2013
  • A 2013 OLA Best Bet for Children
  • A Toronto Public Library “First & Best 2013” title

Children’s Retail Today publishes new articles each week about innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children. Contact me today with your great idea!

Uglydoll Makes Headlines


Thirteen is a lucky number for Uglydoll and 2014 is a very good year!

As Comic-Con opens in San Diego, CA today – be sure to visit Uglydoll … because there’s a whole lot of exciting things going on in their world these days.

072314_CRTPost_Uglydoll_GraphicNovelAs David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim announced earlier this year that they were heading to their new Asia headquarters in South Korea, home of their flagship Uglydoll retail store in Seoul, the company has been making headlines for itself ever since. In addition to expanding its retail presence and licensing program throughout Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines and beyond, Pretty Ugly™, LLC, parent company of the award-winning Uglydoll® brand based in Green Brook, New Jersey, granted license to Howard Keys to produce keys, key chains and lanyards in North America, Canada and selected International Territories, announced a partnership with Fetch…for pets!, a leading manufacturer of pet products in North America, and débuted the latest original graphic novel release from San Francisco, CA-based VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint, Uglydoll: My Hero? The novel features 10 full-color stories by  veteran Uuglydoll writer and artists Travis Nichols, Ian McGinty and Phillip Jacobson, with help from Sun-Min Kim, Theo Ellsworth, renowned pop culture artist/writer Junko Mizuno, and two talented design teams from Japan -Mad Barbarians and Devilrobots.

And there’s more … as I say, Uglydoll’s 13th year is a very lucky one!

072314_CRTPost_Uglydoll_StarTrekIn June 2014 alone, David and Sun-Min’s company strikes these fabulous deals:

  • caseable is now licensee for the latest global line of fun and collectible soft and hard cases designed for tablets, smartphones and laptops, distributed through caseable channels and its partner Hewlett-Packard
  • A collaboration with CBS Consumer Products on the iconic Star Trek™ characters, set to launch in 2015. Products include Wage™ as Captain James T. Kirk, Ox™ as first officer Spock™, Ice-Bat™ as chief engineer Scotty, Babo™ as Doctor McCoy and Tray™ as communications officer Uhura
  • A new partnership with Chasing Fireflies to create an exclusive line of costumes for release in 2015
  • 072314_CRTPost_Uglydoll_WizardOfOzA co-branded collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to create plus based on The Wizard of Oz™ and fan-favorite Uglydoll characters, Moxy™, Wage™, Jeero™, Babo™ and OX™ to follow along the Yellow Brick Road.

Being different and unique is what Uglydoll™ is all about!

Just this month, Uglydoll announces a groundbreaking partnership with 3D Printing innovator MakerBot on collectibles featuring four of the most popular characters, Babo™, Wage™, Ice-Bat™ and Ox™, which can now be 3D printed on MakerBot® Replicator® Desktop 3D Printers. “Taking Uglydoll into the world of 3D printing seems like a natural extension for our Uglydoll characters,” David says. “Sun-Min and I have been fans of 3D printing for a while and we are excited to be working with MakerBot on bringing our characters to life in a whole different 3D world.”

072314_CRTPost_Uglydoll_3DPrintingThe first wave of characters are in T-pose format, designed to be 3D printed and fully poseable; the second wave are Uglydoll characters in a dynamic stance, posed to enjoy the real world of their owner. A third wave include a 3D printable Uglydoll bus that takes miniature Uglydoll characters on a fun-filled summer vacation; and a fourth wave are 3D printable environments for the 3D printed Uglydoll characters to live in. Jenny Lawton, president of MakerBot and a huge Uglydoll fan, says, “The story behind the creation of the Uglydoll characters by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim showcase how creativity can positively impact lives. We love the fun, light-hearted stories behind the Uglydoll characters and hope that they will help inspire a whole new generation of makers with their 3D printed adventures.”

How cool is that?

 

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Lil’ Waves


This new company makes Lil’ Waves Beachpool, an innovation that provides a fun & safe interactive aquatic play area!

A Pool Just for the Beach! Jersey City, NJ-based Lil’ Waves is a family owned and operated children’s beach toy company specializing in unique, high quality products. This start-up just introduced their premiere product that makes for fun, safe and relaxing days at the beach for both parents and children. This video says it all!

Introducing the Lil’ Waves Beachpool™, a children’s pool designed specifically to turn the wavy, cold ocean water into a warm, mini oasis for children to enjoy – right at your feet. The rim of the pool stays practically level with the sand, allowing a child to interact with the water and sand in a safe way, all while you keep close watch.

  • Provides a fun introduction for young children to the ocean
  • Patented design creates a shallow wading pool that warms up cold ocean water quickly
  • Encourages family time and fun interactive beach days, from set-up to clean-up
  • Recommended for ages 3 and up

061814_CRTPost_LilWaves_KitInventor Dennis Devino was born and raised in Monmouth County, NJ and loves the Jersey shore. As an licensed architect with his own firm, Dennis has extensive experience in constantly finding creative ways to meet his clients’ needs. This entrepreneurial approach to problem solving is what ultimately led him to create the Lil’ Waves Beachpool.

With the Lil’ Waves Beachpool, we hope you and your children of all ages are able to spend safe, quality time at the beach, just as we have. So sit back, unwind and enjoy the beach with peace of mind!

061814_CRTPost_LilWaves_beachpoolSold separately or in a kit that includes:
• Lil’ Waves Beachpool*
• Mesh carrying bag
• Circular template
• Repair patch
• Foot pump
• Instruction booklet

*Some assembly required (beach bucket recommended for set up, not included). Foot pump or electric pump also sold separately.

New Plush from Aurora World


The award-winning company introduces three engaging new lines the blend trendy with traditional cuddliness.

042314_CRTPost_Aurora_01Leading plush toy, gift and doll manufacturer Aurora World Inc. recently added three new original lines -from the eye-catching to the irresistible, Wuff & Friends is based on a proven Aurora best-selling character, while Taddle Toes and Wobbly Bobblees use oversized features to grab the attention and hearts of shoppers everywhere.

These stunning, new product lines provide our customers with a true impact at retail via excellent value, branded merchandising support and engaging consumer experiences.

042314_CRTPost_Aurora_02Wuff & Friends. “Shake the animal upside down for a fun feature that makes Wuff and his friends outrageously fluffy,” says Michael Kessler, Aurora’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. Shaggy, waggy and just plain cute, Wuff is Aurora’s best-selling sheepdog highlighting a line of eight dogs including Schnauzer, Chow, Pekinese, Poodle, Malamute, Pomeranian and Scottie. A high-pile, low-pile mix gives this plush line a whimsical, fun look that is soft to the touch.

Retailers:  Merchandise signage and product tags reinforce this messaging.

042314_CRTPost_Aurora_03Taddle Toes. “These characters encompass chunky soft bodies, endearing faces and detailed, oversized feet,” Michael says. At recent industry trade shows, Taddle Toes proved to be one of the hottest sellers as the oversized features delighted buyers who wanted a stand out plush product for their stores. The Taddle Toes line features a large variety of popular domestic, jungle and wildlife animals. “We anticipate Taddle Toes to be a long-term plush line with introductions for our ‘everyday’ and seasonal styles, as well as for baby, including adorable pink and baby blue bears and elephants.”

Retailers:Aurora’s branded display rack holds approximately 32 pieces.

042314_CRTPost_Aurora_04Wobbly Bobblees. “An innovative, impulse plush line with strong shelf appeal, Wobbly Bobblees feature darling, oversized heads that subtly wobble for an endearing head tilt at retail,” Michael says. “Plus they are extremely cute, and that equals strong sales.” Seventeen styles include a monkey, lion, elephant, white tiger, pig, cow, giraffe, cat and dogs; a spring-themed assortment with lamb, chick, bunny and frog complete the line.

Retailers: Aurora’s collateral merchandising support including a branded corrugated display and product hangtag, highlight the Wobbly Bobblees characters and product features.

Aurora showcases its products at over 50 industry trade shows each year including Atlanta International Gift Show July 8-15, 2014; showroom #784. Aurora products are available in more than 25,000 specialty stores and gift shops worldwide as well as online at http://shop.auroragift.com. For more information or to make an appointment at an upcoming trade show, visit http://auroragift.com, email info@auroragift.com or call 888-287-6722.

GirlzNDollz


040214_CRTPost_GirlznDollz_LogoThe New Jersey-based company launches two new doll collections.

As a first generation teen emigrating from the Caribbean, Jessie Saint-Hubert has worked for over 15 years in the U.S. developing plush for well-known companies. Now, her lifelong passion for dolls inspired the launch her own business, GirlzNDollz™ –with her daughter, who shares Jessie’s passion for dolls and playing dress up. Each of the dolls emulates the best characteristics of their friends and family; they are soft, cuddly, diverse and loveable! And together, the mother-and-daughter duo helped create all the outfits and accessories.

040214_CRTPost_GirlznDollz_03GirlzNDollz launches with the introduction of  Lil’Totz™ and Just2Girlz™, dolls with sweet bios that allow girls to discover who they are and unleash the potential of who they can become. These unique and adorable collections allow for each girl’s own imagination and compassion to open up their world and teach them to accept one another as they are.

040214_CRTPost_GirlznDollz_04The GirlzNDollz Collection

The soft and cuddly rag dolls are based on real-life characters that all girls can identify with. Lil’Totz is a collection for ages 3+ while Just2Girlz is perfect for children 5+.  The collection’s size grows with the girls as they mature from toddlers to tweens –they’ll want to collect them, play with them and love them! Each doll collection also has a beautiful dollhouse just their size. The entire line meets all current CPSIA regulations and ASTM-F963 toy safety standards.

040214_CRTPost_GirlznDollz_06You’ll Love What We Stand For!

GirlzNDollz celebrates everything there is about being a girl! Empowerment starts at an early age, and the GirlzNDollz brand grows with your child as they learn through play about life’s unlimited possibilities. The company’s mantra is, “I am me!” emphasizing quality, value and uniqueness.

Available at online doll store GirlzNDollz.com.

Uglydoll


010914_UglyDoll_03Celebrating who you are inside and out is the new beautiful.

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim founded their company, Pretty Ugly, LLC in 2001-and the rest is, well, pretty ugly!

The team started creating Uglydolls -Wage, Babo, OX, Ice-Bat and their Uglydoll pals- who express themselves through laughs, tears, love, adventure and also candy (they tell me).

010914_UglyDoll_02In the Uglydoll universe, “ugly” means unique and different. And that’s just what these dolls are – unique and different, garnering a ton of awards from the 2006 Toy of the Year, Oppenheim Best Toy, Fat Brain Toy Award, Learning Express Toy Award, Creative Child Toy Award to Parent’s Choice Best Toy.

010914_UglyDoll_01The New Jersey-based online store,  http://www.uglydolls.com sells a plethora of ugly merchandise, including comic books, UGLYDOLL PLUSH, Action Figures & FUNKO Vinyl, Apparel, Ceramics, Citizens of the Uglyverse™, HELLO KITTY & Limited Releases, Tin Toys, Uglybuddies, Uglypillow™, MIMOBOT®, UNIVERSAL MONSTERS, Watches and more.

All of it is so ugly, it’s adorable!