Books and Toys

Fish Flops


Already snagging national headlines at the tender age of 15, this creative dynamo is 061813_FishFlops_01following her passion all the way to the bank.

You may have seen recent news stories declaring, “Fifteen-year-old Sells Over $1 Million Worth of Flip Flops to Nordstrom.” And you may wonder how it all came to happen. Well, here’s the scoop:

Back when she was just eight years old, Maddie Robinson has an idea. She thinks up a product that combines her love of swimming, fishing and drawing –a fun and unique combo, I’d say.

I’ve always been a flip-flop-kind of kid, so I created a brand of flip flops called FishFlops®. I shared my idea with many of my friends and family, and they all smiled and thought I had something special.”

061813_FishFlops_02Maddie’s FishFlops® footwear are made to mix and match with one or more of her t-shirts and caps, designed in coordinating colors and aquatic characters. The footwear lights up when a child walks, and they’re fun to share with friends, too – “make a friend smile!” Maddie says.

061813_FishFlops_03The Big Ask. All it takes for Maddie’s big break is a letter to Nordstrom about her brand –and a response from the retailer’s buying team to offer Fish Flops in 60 Nordstrom stores. The rest, as they say, is the big headline.

Maddie’s colorful Fish Flops illustrations are also characters the children’s books she writes, ocean adventures Swimming with Spinner, and  FishFlops® – Living Together at Sea by Orkicky. Kids are introduced to the Maddie’s characters as each book unfolds. Maddie is also planning a Fish Flops Virtual World.

Fish Flops sold at Nordstrom online and in stores. Email info@fishflops.com for more information about apparel and book sales.

  • 061813_FishFlops_06Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Paper Hat Press


These publishers are creating beautiful stories about the most unique characters of all – your own kids.

051613_PaperHatPress_lifestyleI remember receiving a fun holiday ornament from my niece that she hand-crafted especially for me. It’s a little replica of my personality –a sassy cowgirl, with boots and hat and scarf –and my nickname printed on her blouse. That little treasure made from play dough is definitely one of my favorite keepsakes.

051613_PaperHatPress_BookThe people behind Paper Hat Press are an award-winning team of children’s book authors, editors, illustrators and designers who are publishing personalized books destined to become keepsakes for kids. They’re also mothers and fathers and book lovers, too –who know how to make high-quality, custom-made books that feature your own children as main characters in engaging stories, illustrated with gorgeous artwork.

Our one-of-a-kind, personalized books and keepsakes are sure to surprise and delight.

051613_PaperHatPress_SketchbooksEach hardcover book is made to order and features a window in the cover that features your “little character,” aka your child. Each book is specially wrapped in kraft paper “that can be folded into a paper hat,” and arrives in as fast as five days. Notebooks, sketchbooks and sticks can also be personalized.

We make books that parents and kids can hold together, read over and over, and keep forever.

051613_PaperHatPress_Stickers“Each story can be customized with a child’s favorite things –a toy, pet, food, playground- as well as with the child’s family,” they say. “In addition, each story celebrates a child’s super qualities and the giver’s wishes.” Each character can also be customized to include to resemble your child.

Brilliant Sky Toys & Books


Featuring more than 10,000 high-quality specialty products, Brilliant Sky Toys & Books is truly the place where everyone can find their way to play.

050913_BrilliantSky_01Walk into any Brilliant Sky Toys & Books specialty store, and you’ll be … enchanted. The entire mission is to delight the shopper.

Michigan-based Brilliant Sky Toys & Books provides the highest quality products in an atmosphere that is both active and interactive. Brent Taylor left the corporate world in 2002 to open his with his wife Sonia, a registered nurse, and their three children.

Together, the family created a unique retail experience that has been embraced by communities nationwide and has grown from a single location to one of the fastest growing toy retailing concepts in the country in just seven years.

Back in 2002 my singular goal was to create the finest upscale specialty toy store in America. Now we have 15 and we’re still growing!

050913_BrilliantSky_02Who needs toys? Everyone! At Brilliant Sky, personal Play Consultants help you make the most informed and successful buying decisions while you peruse several thousands of dolls, games, puzzles, crafts, books, dress-up, kites, plush, musical instruments and more. The end result is always the same: walking away with a toy that a child will cherish.

050913_BrilliantSky_03“We believe that the right playthings can teach, inform, enlighten, reinforce and enrich,” Brent says. “We believe in how they can foster self-esteem, non-violence, patience, sensitivity, diversity, and tenacity. We live it and breathe it and experience it every day, and we love nothing more than to share it with others.”

To applaud the very best toy makers, Brilliant Sky initiated the coveted Brilliance Award, an annual tip-of-the-hat to “toys that represent the very ideals that Brilliant Sky Toys & Books was founded upon — the importance of quality, the value of open-ended play and the simple beauty of a child’s fascination and delight.”

050913_BrilliantSky_logoShop online, click here to find a store near you or see more.

Choose Friendship Company


Choose Friendship is not only the name of a family-owned company from Michigan, but a way of life and daily affirmation that is spreading like wildfire.

Specializing in crafting kits, Choose Friendship Company is taking traditional crafting to the next level, making it easier, all-inclusive and travel-ready … the kind of  “no-muss-no-fuss” that crafters of all ages appreciate.

The company that David Crorey started while babysitting his granddaughters -trying to perfect the old-fashioned method of creating friendship bracelets he introduced the patented innovation My Friendship Bracelet Maker®- goes above and beyond to provide a helping hand worldwide.

050213_ChooseFriendship_02The team started with initiatives that encouraged crafters to create bracelets for those touched by cancer (Pink and White, Kids Join the Fight), diabetes awareness (Embracing You With a Circle of Blue), and military families (Red, White and Blue, Kids Serve Too).

Last year Choose Friendship Co. partnered with Mad Habit Media, a local teen artist, and over 100 Michigan kids to create a flash mob style music video, featuring the song “Inside Out” that inspires others to choose friendship rather than empower bullies. The profit raised from iTunes downloads and t-shirt sales were donated to Defeat The Label, a local anti-bullying organization.

Touched by stories of those devastated by Hurricane Sandy, Choose Friendship Co. donated products to independent toy stores on the coast and the Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.). Other recent contributions include Maiden Nation’s cause of helping survivors from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti to build a new life.

Plans are underway to work with Wish Upon a Teen to help teenagers with developmental or medical conditions.

050213_ChooseFriendship_01Today, the Choose Friendship family business has gone global, continually expanding its product line to an ever-widening audience with exciting innovation to both traditional and new crafting techniques. Their mission is to engage kids in creative self expression, while continuing to promote the message of friendship.

With 18 awards and counting, Choose Friendship Company products consistently win ratings for entertainment, originality and educational value from parent and industry experts. As compact, travel-ready imagination starters, all of their products come with everything kid crafters need to unplug from digital distractions and explore their connections to each other.

YooHoo & Friends™ Limited Edition Design Contest Winner


This April, the winning design will be released, along with five new dinosaurs for the best-selling YooHoo & Friends line.

032713_YooHooContestWinner_resizedJanessa Chong from Malaysia and her colorful rainbow-inspired Marshmallow beat out hundreds of other designs from around the world, in Aurora World‘s first-ever Design a YooHoo & Friends Contest.

“We were floored by Janessa’s design. It’s an honor to award her the winning dinosaur, together with Janessa, we hope Marshmallow brings smiles, joy and happiness to the hearts of children and collectors everywhere,” says Michael Kessler, SVP of sales and marketing. “Dinosaur toys continue to be big with kids because they are fascinated with the creatures, and they stir up the imagination.”

032713_YooHooContestWinner_02_resizedJoining Marshmallow (Triceratops) in the YooHoo & Friends dinosaur line is Rexee (Tyrannosaurus Rex), Stegee (Stegosaurus), Woolee (Wooly Mammoth), Toothee (Saber Tooth Tiger) and an endangered Sloth named Speedee. This year alone, Michael tells me that this popular plush animal line expects an epic expansion to include over 30 new styles in all.

Based on animals from around the world -many that are rare and endangered- each YooHoo & Friends animal makes a fun sound when squeezed, plus each character is described in detail on new hangtags.

Available in more than 25,000 specialty stores and gift shops worldwide and online at http://shop.auroragift.com.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

The Magical Mrs. Iptweet and Me


Mayfield Media launches an Etsy Shop of original fine art and kids lit by Barbara Mayfield.

022313_MayfieldMedia_BarbaraMayfieldBarbara Mayfield is a child’s treasure. A gifted artist, painter, performer and children’s author/illustrator who not only does improv, “the biggest surprise in a life full of surprises has been becoming a professional puppeteer,” she says. Through her company Mayfield Media, Barbara’s work “engages, inspires, encourages and educates audiences through humor, hilarity and riveting stories not to be forgotten” – not the least of which is her award-winning children’s story, The Magical Mrs. Iptweet and Me.

Reading Mrs. Iptweet gave me the same feeling as having the sweetest, most imaginative grandmother in the world.

-Jillian Brasch, fan

022313_MayfieldMedia_TheMagicalMrsIptweetAndMe_CoverThe first in a series of pre-teen fiction, The Magical Mrs. Iptweet and Me tells the story of Prudence Fish Hornby, a nine-and-a-half-year-old with a curious name and a broken heart. All of life looks dull and sad and hopeless to Prudy, until a certain artist-gardener-Parade Specialist moves into 406 Durham Street –that would be Mrs. Iptweet. The enchanting, whimsical, funny story is Barbara’s first, which she also illustrated, published by Santa Fe, NM-based Azro Press, and winner of  several industry awards, including the 2009 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Barbara lives in Santa Fe and studied writing with esteemed children’s author and teacher Jennifer Owings Dewey. She’s working on several more Iptweet stories, planning e-books. “Mrs. Iptweet, in Book 2, will be very interested in star-gazing and astronomy,” she tells her Facebook fans.

022013_MayfieldMedia_art_02A graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Barbara recently opened a shop on Etsy.com, where fans can buy her original artwork and her children’s literature.

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Jammy Jams


Giving the standard lullaby a modern day makeover, for the little rocker in all of us.

021213_JammyJams_JeffBradfordOnce upon a time in another life, Jeff Bradford played drums for rock bands, touring throughout the US – most recently with Baltimore, MD-based Hollowboy. His music love began at the age of five, when he picked out a drum set for his birthday, making music in the suburbs of Washington, DC -where he was born and raised- rockin’ out whenever he could.

Yet fatherhood can change a lad, and in Jeff’s case, re-imagine what one loves the most. Three years ago, inspired by his new baby son, Rollins, Jeff came up with a way to keep the music playing.

021213_JammyJams_02Feedings of Inspiration. All those late nights tending to little Rollins gave Jeff the idea to take his musical career in a different direction, developing lullabies that could not only soothe and calm baby, but entertain sleep-deprived parents. “I called my Hollowboy band mate, Tim Phillips and asked him to be a part of a new project,” Jeff says. Over the next six months, the two arranged and recorded fun, modern lullaby versions of songs originally performed by bands and artists ranging from Dr. Dre and Run DMC to Lady Gaga and the Fray. In October 2011, they released three albums under the Jammy Jams brand, which has grown to include nine albums, with more on the way. Jammy Jams is recognized worldwide, garnering press in countries like Germany and available in the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan,  Denmark, Norway and Australia.

021213_JammyJams_01Lullabies That Rock Your Baby To Sleep. Jammy Jams tunes feature the soothing sounds of vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, piano, blocks and more that are performed and arranged by Jeff and Tim. Each album also has its own original character who’s a big fan of each music genre: the original DJ The Bear loves hip-hop and prefers the classic style; Lady Ducky is quite the little diva, and loves dance and pop music; Les The Lamb is a very spiritual loves rock music; among others.

021213_JammyJams_03Available as CDs and MP3 downloads, the Jammy Jams’ latest, Lullabylooza, is described as ’90s Alternative Goes Lullaby, featuring lullaby versions of songs originally by Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Edwyn Collins, Oasis, Spacehog, The Cure, Faith No More, Nirvana, Toadies and Pixies.

Rock on!

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Creative Mom Toys


From trend to craze to legitimate movement, buying local is catching on and fast becoming a preferred way to shop.

Search the words, “shop local” “buy local” and you’ll find quite the populated list of results on your computer screen. The movement has inspired a cottage industry of resources to help you find what you’re shopping for locally, too –from the aol.com partner Patch.com to local campaigns from RelyLocal.com, ShopLocal.com and more. And moms have led the cause.

020513_CreativeMomToys_logoIn the spirit of buying local, this week I’m focusing on a few children’s specialty retailers in my own locality.

Creative Mom Toys. Owner Cheri Saburi opened Creative Mom Toys in Renton, WA’s The Landing on Black Friday 2010. Located south of Seattle, the store is a treasure trove of educational and developmental toys for children of all ages, including their parents.

This store is for parents who want to give their kids ‘toys with a purpose.’ Everything has been carefully selected for both its entertainment and fun value. Great toys and online store!

-Thomas K, Renton

020513_CreativeMomToys_interiorEngaging Creativity. Cheri says the mission of Creative Mom Toys is to encourage children to play without the need for modern technology. “We know how hard it is to find rich and engaging products that stimulate, educate and enrich the minds of our children,” she says. Shoppers can find wooden toys, entertaining books and more from top notch companies such as Haba, Melissa and Doug, Automoblox, Manhattan Toy, P’Kolino, Plan Toys, Back Alley Traders, Workman Publishing, Kathe Kruse, Vilac, Seedling, Green Toys, Uncle Goose, Eeboo, Mudpuppy and others. She’s always excited to learn about new products, too -especially from her customers. “Send us an email explaining what you’d be interested in and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.”

020513_CreativeMomToys_redtricycleawardIn 2005, Cheri started her store online while living in Japan –and with its success, opened her first brick-and-mortar storefront based in the U.S. Since then, Creative Mom Toys has received the Parent Best Toy Store Award of 2011 as well as being honored as a finalist in Red Tricycle’s 2012 Totally Awesome Awards for Best Toy Store.

020513_CreativeMomToys_learningCheri’s career specialty is education, having spent time working in several local school districts before taking time to raise her own children. Kids and parents can also enjoy custom birthday parties and other special activities and events held in Creative Mom Toy’s fun and colorful space. Shop for bags and children’s accessories, too.

Creative Mom Toys at The Landing in Renton, 840 N. 10th Pl. Suite A, Renton WA 98057, 206-388-3940

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Beautiful Girl


Celebrated women’s health and wellness expert Dr. Christiane Northrup writes a children’s book.

011613_BeautifulGirl_ChristianeNorthrupChristiane Northrup, M.D. understands what she calls the unity of body, mind and spirit. This visionary pioneer in women’s health and wellness helps empower women to tune in to their innate wisdom and transform their health. Author of several best-selling books including Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause and Mother-Daughter Wisdom, Dr. Northrup is poised to influence the youngest of girls with her first children’s book, Beautiful Girl: Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body.

To be born a girl is a very special thing and carries with it magical gifts that must be recognized and nurtured.

011613_BeautifulGirl_CoverWritten with writer mom Kristina Tracy, Beautiful Girl uses empowering words and illustrations created by Aurlie Blanz to teach little girls how their bodies are perfect just the way they are. According to publisher Hay House, Dr. Northrup believes that reading and discussing this book with your girls can help them to appreciate the importance of treating themselves with gentle care, and how life changes are just a part of growing up –and that these realizations can have positive benefits that can last throughout their lives.

Special Offer – Special Event! To celebrate the release of Beautiful Girl, pre-order or purchase the book and you’ll automatically be enrolled in Dr. Northrup’s  upcoming two-hour live online event, Feeling Beautiful, premiering January 24, 2013. Watch Dr. Northrup’s special message below:

Now, this is a special opportunity!

  • Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

blabla Kids of Virginia Highlands


010913_BlaBlaKids_04The very best in knit dolls, clothing and décor – made by hand, created with love.

Florence Wetterwald designs with simple poetry and vibrant style, and her popular children’s line of soft, bright, knitted playthings and clothing for kids is called blabla. The soft blabla things are handmade by artisans in Peru; with childlike wonder, the mobiles and “dream rings” –as well as rattles, paper goods such as sweet birthday cards and backpacks- support Florence’s belief that children are driven by their senses and imagination. blabla has been bringing happiness to children all over the world since 2001.

Our soft little creations are crafted with skill and thoughtful details, which make each one precious and unique …with the ancestral knowledge of our knitters, we have given life to a collection of well-loved characters who look contemporary, yet feel like old friends.

010913_BlaBlaKids_StorefrontLocated in Atlanta’s trendy Virginia Highlands neighborhood, blabla’s flagship store also houses a design studio where Florence and friends are committed to fair trade and sustainability. “Our mission,” they say, “is to continue to inspire joy and laughter.”

Wholesale and online shopping also available.

  • 010913_BlaBlaKids_03Another Rachel Florio PR client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!