Funnybone Toys – the Art of Card Games

This Colorado-based company is the brainchild of people who are passionate about how we connect through play and how good design plays into that connection.

Making a color splash in the world of game-making, Funnybone Toys™ launched three fun and thought-provoking card games in 2012. Visually stunning works of art, Array™, CUBU™ and Spectrix™ engage game players and store-owners alike with vibrant color and stunning graphics.

Our games use good design to stimulate creativity and give your brain a workout.

Funnybone card games are designed to be enjoyed by players ages eight to adult –and everyone seems to learn something by playing with them, regardless of age. Younger players can develop an appreciation of color and hue –and older players want to keep them in a place where they will be seen by everyone -because they are meant to be played!

Good Design. This winter, the company is introducing Disruptus™, a game described as “designed to open every mind.” Funnybone Toys can be found in specialty toy and game stores, museum stores, book stores, gift stores and resorts throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, with projected growth in Latin America this year.

Funnybone Toys is created as a true combination of form, function and beautiful, minimalist design, and the design team -headed by a renowned TED Conference presenter on type and design- wants people to actually see, enjoy and appreciate the art in their games.

President Julien Sharp is passionate about the success of U.S. small businesses and their collective power to provide jobs. Once a cruise director and entertainer, Julien intends to build close relationships with small businesses as extensions to the core members of the Funnybone Toys team. She is a recognized expert; her book How to Design and Launch an Online Networking Business was published in 2009.

In the future, Funnybone Toys may include a line of active/outdoor toys, medical- and human body-related toys and games, and games that focus on increasing cognitive functions and/or manual dexterity. I can’t wait!

Another KidStuff 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!

Coursing Around Shows Kids How Exercise Can Be Fun

Help your kids start the New Year living a healthy lifestyle through fun exercise courses.

Coursing Around is a company that develops the perfect physical workouts for kids, which use active, social, and fun activities to get them exercising.

Get Back to the Outside World. The Coursing Around Book provides a ton of activities that allow kids to use their imagination, be active and learn, with just a piece of chalk and their own backyard. It’s an easy way to entertain at birthday parties, social gatherings or just during weekends and afternoons.

Created by certified fitness specialist-aerobics instructor-personal trainer-post exercise chiropractic therapist Debbie Beam-Tougas (wow – that’s quite the list!), who’s dream is that children of all sizes, shapes, gender and ethnicity can use her easy-to-learn routines to learn that exercising can be fun and accomplished in many ways.

In 2002, Debbie was recruited to teach the fitness component of a government subsidized overweight program for children ranging in age from five to 15. “I still remember the first class I taught,” she says. “There was a six-year-old by the name of Ruben who was approximately 40 pounds overweight. After only walking part way around the building he had to stop because he was extremely out of breath, hunched over with his hands on his knees and needed a rest. This was a wake-up call for me and practically brought tears to my eyes.” Debbie was challenged to keep kids for at least 45 minutes with just a blacktop and hardly anything else. Her imagination –and a little sidewalk chalk- inspired her to create the Coursing Around” was born.

In today’s society, with all the hand held devices, video games, computers and both parents working, our kids have lost the art of ‘Outdoor Play.’

It is also a fun way for parents to become more involved and create a stronger bond with their children. The book comes with 15 exciting courses, two pieces of chalk, a ruler and some fun fitness facts.

Another ChicExecs 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!

Written With Love

A true love story. The 28-page children’s book With A Cherry On Top is a “little love story” brought to life by author Jane Asher and illustrated by Steve Burrows. “It is a true story about a conversation that I had with my son when he was six years old about who loves who more,” Jane says.

Released in 2006 and published by Amazon’s BookSurge Publishing arm, With A Cherry Top garners a five-star rating from fans and is adored by so many. It’s a thoughtful gift for the holidays, too.

This book is a sweet expression of love. It is a delight for all of us who have ever tried to express just how much we love someone only to have it ‘topped’ by their love for us! Read it and add your own topping … you’ll love it!

-Gaila, superfan

Jane Asher – who’s also a popular radio personality- lives in San Diego, CA, where she writes daily. Encinitas, CA-based artist Steve Burrows shows his love of surf, travel and adventures through his art, entertaining both the young and young at heart.

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!

GoldieBlox Makes Building Toys for Girls Popular

Did you know? Statistics show that girls begin to lose interest in math and science as early as age eight. That only 11 % of engineers in the United States are women?

What’s a little girl to do, especially if she shows an interest in building things or she loves math?

Goldie Can. San Francisco, CA-based GoldieBlox Inc. is toy company with a mission to inspire the next generation of female engineers. Founded by 29-year-old Stanford engineer Debbie Sterling, the company makes a series of interactive books + construction toys starring Goldie, a curious girl with a love of engineering. Goldie’s stories encourage girls to build, developing the spatial skills that are fundamental to engineering.

Growing up, I was always intimidated by the word, ‘engineering.’ I thought it was just for boys. I’m creating GoldieBlox so that girls, from a young age, can learn that engineering is for them, too.

Debbie and the GoldieBlox team raised over a quarter million dollars during a 30-day campaign on popular crowd sourcing platform Kickstarter and started production on the first book+toy –along with garnering some healthy publicity; both the company and the fundraiser received rave reviews from publications like The Atlantic and Forbes to blogs from Upworthy to Fast Company. Since then, the first interactive book+construction toy series was launched in September. GoldieBlox and the Spinning Machine combines storytelling and building in a novel approach to engage girls aged five through nine in play with construction toys. Not only this – it won Editor’s Choice at the World Maker Faire in New York almost immediately!

Using over a year’s worth of research, the GoldieBlox prototype was tested with over 100 children. As the creative force behind GoldieBlox, Debbie studied engineering and product design at Stanford. She writes and illustrates Goldie’s stories, taking inspiration from her grandmother, one of the first female cartoonists and creator of “Mr. Magoo” (I totally loved Mr. Magoo when I was young!). Debbie also gets the power of branding, having previously served as a brand strategy consultant for a wide variety of organizations including Microsoft, T-Mobile, Organic Valley and the New York Knicks.

The first book+toy in the series retails for $30, and will be available as e-book downloads for iPad and iPhone with narration and animation to enhance the building experience. The pre-order delivery for February, 2013 sold out in less than a month; the company is currently taking orders for the second delivery in April, 2013 through GoldieBlox.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!

Pink is just a color …

Long Island mom writes a funny, endearing book about gender stereotypes.

Niki Bhatia‘s own two sons are the inspiration for her children’s book, Pink is Just s Color, and So is Blue. Funny and reassuring, the story teaches children -and adults- about acceptance, tolerance, and having confidence in who you are.

We are all different and like different things. What matters is that we are happy and confident.

When Niki’s younger son was three, he loved the color pink. It was only when his older brother teased him for being “like a girl,” that she decides that this kind of teasing often leads to bulling later in life. So she wrote a book to help.

For Niki, a world defined by pink and blue is becoming out-dated, and her humorous story teaches young readers that they should be free to choose what they like without someone else dictating what that should be. With this book, Niki hopes to break some of the old gender stereotypes about children’s toys and gender specific colors.

Published in October, Pink is Just a Color and So Is Blue reminds adults about the joy of life’s possibilities, while teaching children about the importance of being themselves. To further enrich their reading experience, she includes discussion questions and activities for parents and teachers.

Niki lives in Long Island, NY and blogs at niketabhatia.blogspot.com. The book is available on Amazon.com, and makes a great gift for the holidays.

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!

Sad Sam & Honey®

Two popular doggies born on Long Island have one more family who’ll love ’em.

120412_Aurora_01 After launching in 1980, Sad Sam & Honey® rose to fame all over the world. Known in five continents, these two endearing basset hounds with sweet, innocent looks and sad eyes are from George Valentino, president and CEO of Long Island, NY-based Creative Endeavors, Ltd., the sole worldwide licensor for Sad Sam & Honey and the Sad Eyed Family of characters.

Recently, Aurora World Inc. nabbed the license for Sad Sam & Honey, and plans to produce a variety of styles for release this January.

We are so excited to welcome Sad Sam & Honey to the Aurora family. We’re planning a variety of huggable designs, stylish fabrics, classic body poses and seasonal styles. We look forward to bringing Sad Sam & Honey to a new generation of children and parents everywhere.

–Michael Kessler, Aurora’s SVP of sales and marketing

Aurora World, Inc., makers of high-end plus plush toys and gifts, is a Korean company with headquarters also in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong, founded in 1981. Aurora created the international plush toy phenomenon – YooHoo & Friends™ – and its corresponding free, interactive web site (www.yoohoofriends.com), appealing to young children and tweens. The company sells its products via a wide variety of retailers including major zoos, high-end toy stores such as Learning Express, top gift chains such as Hallmark and Claire’s as well as hospital gift shops, fine florists, candy stores and gift/stationery stores worldwide.

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!

A New Way to Send Holiday Greeting Cards with Storkie

Popular greeting card company introduces the future of stationary this holiday season.

Storkie Express harnesses the power of modern technology while still embracing the appeal of a traditional printed greeting. What looks like a normal holiday card houses a special message that can only be unlocked through the lens of a smart phone, tablet or webcam-enabled computer.

Free Add-on. The company’s patent-pending technology adds personalized 3D images projected right from the back of the card; no glasses required. Storkie Hidden Dimension (SHD) is a free add-on to beautifully custom-printed cards and invitations. Each card features a printed icon to scan, which allows the recipient to view a special slideshow created just for them. Gives a whole new reason for sending cards this holiday season, doesn’t it?

We LOVE stationery with style.

For over 20 years, Storkie Express has been dedicated to a new type of stationery experience, offering high quality, affordable custom printed invitations, announcements and cards. The business has grown from specializing in baby announcements to a complete life events stationery company known for excellent customer service.

Another ChicExecs 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!

I Love Mommy Because

Children’s photo board books give parents and children a chance to share memories and words of love.

Barb-A-Mel Books‘ vibrantly illustrated board books create a personalized story you and your children can read together. Simply insert your own 4×6 photos into the top of each page of I Love Mommy Because… or I Love Daddy Because… to create this one-of-a-kind book. They also make a perfect gift for Grandparents.

Barb-A-Mel Books are created by mompreneur Barb Lawson-Miller, initially to show her newborn daughter just how much her Daddy loves her when he couldn’t be there for bedtime storytelling. “When friends and family learned of my daughter’s favorite book, they said I should try to get it published,” Barb says. “I decided to ‘shoot for the stars’ and submitted it to over 20 publishers… and I was rejected by every single one. The publishers loved the concept, but it didn’t fit into their publishing criteria.”

In 2001, Barb formed her own publishing company. Now, her books sell in stores across Canada and online …

Who knew the children’s book business could take you to Hollywood?

And recently, she –and her books- were invited to show at several gifting suites before the Grammy and Academy Awards in America. “My husband and I have had a lot of fun meeting celebrities and giving them my books,” she says. And now, Barb’s books are available to all the parents in the USA, too!

As she heads into her eleventh year, Barb plans to expand her publishing repertoire to include “I Love My Brother Because…” and “I Love My Sister Because…” We’re looking forward to seeing them!

Another ChicExecs 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!

Lilikin&Friends

Meet three plush toy friends from Canada who’d like to get to know you, too.

Lilikin, The Melancholy Grey Kitten; Mollycoddle, The Ultra-Dainty Albino Bunny; and Eleven, The Small-for-his-Age Monkey are plush toy friends born from the mind of creative toy designer Kimberley Cleland. Together, they make up the Lilikin&Friends line of top quality plush toys made with cotton fabrics that are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). They’re stuffed with eco-conscious recycled polypropylene fibers, and have been tested and approved as safe for even the youngest of children.

Whether you’re happy, sad, or just plain confused, your new friends understand and will stay by your side. They can turn frowns upside down, and make smiles shine even brighter!

The company that makes Lilikin and his friends is about three years old, according to Kimberly, who says that not only are parents buying them for their school-age kids and as shower gifts, but adults are buying them for themselves or as gifts for their own friends.

No matter your age, you can get to know Lilikin, Mollycoddle and Eleven online or on Facebook –where all the top quality plush toys meet, of course. In fact –each one of them has their own Facebook page where fans can friend them personally (Lilikin also has a blog!).

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!

Geared for Imagination’s New Toy

A new toy from the land of LEGO has a simple shape with endless possibility for play.

Three-year-old toy company Geared for Imagination introduces Plus-Plus, a new construction toy that’s simple enough for a young children to make flat 2-D mosaics, yet able to grow with their imaginations, allowing them to create elaborate 3-D structures.

Designed and manufactured in Denmark –the country where the LEGO toy company was originally founded- Plus-Plus is also fun and addictive for adults, too. Playthings magazine recently selected Plus-Plus as a Toy of the Week! Sets are available in 100, 300, 600 and 1,200 pieces.

Through a network of retail outlets around the United States, including gift shops, toy stores, museum shops and many more types of retailers, we strive to deliver the kinds of products that we want our kids to play with.

Founded by two Ryan Hamilton and Bret Faber, Geared for Imagination creates and distributes top notch stuff for kids and what they call ‘”kidults.”

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!