In the News
COVID – The past few years have proven to be a challenge across the globe. For many it has brought change to their lives in many ways. The following articles and resources examine how the pandemic has changed how we live our everyday lives.
Diversity Through Creative Play – The Truly You! Character Creator™ set celebrates diversity and inclusion through play.
The Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest – The CharmWeddings.com competition has returned and is seeking the best Toilet Paper Wedding Dress in the country.
Spam & Scam – 68.4 million Americans have fallen victim to a phone scam in the past 12 months; a large jump from 59.4 million in 2021 and 56 million in 2020.
DJ Beat Boxer™ – Available this fall, the adorable DJ Beat Boxer™ lets kids move and groove with beatboxing, mixing music and nurturing play.
Nintendo Indie Showcase – 20 Indie Games Featured in New Presentation, Including ElecHead, Another Crab’s Treasure, Gunbrella, Wildfrost and Ooblets.
Marble Rush™ – VTech® has announced the expansion of its popular Marble Rush™ line with the addition of the Marble Rush Corkscrew Rush Set™ and Marble Rush Raceway Set.
EA SPORTS FC – EA SPORTS FC will be the platform for EA to innovate, create, and grow new experiences. It will bring more areas of the sport to life, and harness the collective strength of more than 150 million players across EA SPORTS’ global football games – and reach hundreds of millions of new fans in the years to come.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 PRO – Jackery, a global top-selling outdoor solar generator brand, has teamed up with actor and outdoors enthusiast Chris Pratt to power outdoor experiences further with the launch of its most advanced green energy product yet, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro.
Goodnight Moon – For the first time ever, the beloved classic will be read aloud by astronauts from space—closer to the moon than ever before, during a Facebook Live hosted by Crayola Education.
Keen Speed Hound – Calling all foot breakers and toy breakers – Keen launches the first kids shoe designed for bikers, skateboarders, and scooters.
Dole Looks to the Stars for Inspiration – Dole Food Company has released a dozen original salad recipes linked to the specific astrological personalities of the 12 Zodiac signs. The recipes are part of “Healthier by Dole,” a monthly recipe series that provides healthier, easier and tastier menu alternatives for big and small holidays and eating occasions.
Space Tourism – Participants will lift off before dawn to watch the sunrise over Earth, once at the apogee of 100,000 feet, Explorers will witness the darkness of space, see the stars above, and view the curvature of the Earth.
Pep Talks: Soulful Guidance from Women Around the World – Each 5- 8 minute pep talk is curated from women around the world and aimed at normalizing the realities of motherhood and changing the social expectations from what mothers need to DO to “be a good mom” to how they want to BE in motherhood (and life).
Hippo Ballerina at Pershing Square Plaza West – The monumental bronze sculpture will be joined by Hippo Ballerina, pirouette and Rhino Harlequin, pirouette created by Danish artist Bjørn Okholm Skaarup through December 2022.
Multitasking Moms Are Taking Over Mobile Gaming – Mother’s Day Survey of 33,000 Moms by Mobile Social Competition Gaming Creator AviaGames Reveals Impact of Gaming on Entertainment, Family Connection and Stress Relief.
The Metaverse: A Look from the Inside – “Metaverse: a View from Inside” surveyed 1,000 gamers across the US to explore their attitudes and behaviors in this new 3D world.
Barbie in Space – In collaboration with the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab on Mission DreamStar, Mattel sent two Barbie dolls up to space to encourage girls to consider a career in aerospace, engineering and STEM.
OUOZZZ dolls make inclusive skin-toned children feel more represented – Inspired by the beauty and power of African-American fashion styles, OUOZZZ is now having its new characters on archetypes of inclusive skin-toned girls who have “Afro” hairstyles.
VTech® Expands Its Offers New Interactive Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Toys – VTech® announced engaging new additions to its expansive infant, toddler, and preschool lines with fun pretend-play toys, including the Level Up Gaming Chair™, Smart Chart Medical Kit™, and the Pop & Spin Mower™.
Introducing Ameer – Ameera, an 8-year-old girl, will premiere on the new season of Ahlan Simsim and star in groundbreaking content aimed at crises-affected communities.
Making Music Together – Global superstars and cultural icons, J Balvin and Ed Sheeran, have teamed up to combine their unparalleled talent and musical prowess to deliver an unprecedented musical collaboration with a 2-song EP, featuring titles “SIGUE” and “FOREVER MY LOVE”.
Kids Want A Say About Family Vacations – RVshare’s family-focused survey provides a comprehensive analysis of kids’ preferences while traveling with their families on vacation. According to the findings, nearly 2 in 3 kids (64%) want a say in where their family goes next on vacation, and more than half of kids aged 5-8 (57%) want to hit the road on their next family vacation as soon as possible. Additionally, 82% of kids surveyed reported that going on new adventures is their favorite part of family travel.
Pet Poison Pantry – In honor of National Poison Prevention Week, the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline reviewed their case data and developed a list of the top 10 potential pet poisons commonly found in your pantry.
The Ed Sullivan Show Is Alive With the Sound of Music – With music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, the classic film won five Oscars® at the 38th Academy Awards®, including Best Director, Best Music and Best Picture.
Moose Toys 2022 – Leading toy innovator to deliver expansive toy line that builds on success of holiday phenom Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron, positions Moose as player in games category, flexes preschool properties prowess.
GRID™ Legends – An all-action, edge-of-your-seat driving experience that gives players cross-platform multiplayer gameplay, story mode, deep career, and a faster route to connect with friends.
Sonic the Hedgehog Movie 2 toys and collectibles by JAKKS Pacific and Disguide, Inc. – The new line of merchandise from JAKKS is set to include action figures, playsets, vehicles, plush toys, and other collectibles just in time for the film’s international release. Disguise, the costume division of JAKKS Pacific, will also be designing and manufacturing costumes and accessories inspired by characters from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which will be available to fans this Fall.
Shaolin Kung Fu Online Games – The closing and award ceremony for the “Shaolin Kung Fu Online Games” was held on Feb.15 at the Shaolin Temple in China’s Henan Province. Broadcast live online, the closing ceremony brings together all Shaolin disciples and kung fu enthusiasts across the world to enjoy the atmosphere.
LEGO and Universal Add New Jurassic World Sets – Continuing to build out the portfolio for Jurassic World fans globally, the newest sets, featuring the largest assortment of dinosaurs than ever before in LEGO® brick form, also include fan favorite characters like Owen, Claire, Ian Malcolm, Dr. Ellie Sattler and more.
LEGO and Universal Add New Jurassic World Sets – Continuing to build out the portfolio for Jurassic World fans globally, the newest sets, featuring the largest assortment of dinosaurs than ever before in LEGO® brick form, also include fan favorite characters like Owen, Claire, Ian Malcolm, Dr. Ellie Sattler and more.
2022 Top Toy Trends – The Toys Association unveiled the top toy trends that are expected to drive consumer spending on toys in 2022.
TOTY 2022 – The Toy Foundation announces the 2022 Toy of the Year Awards.
2022 Hasbro – Hasbro is unveiling all-new entertainment and product innovations across key franchise categories including action brands, such as Power Rangers and Transformers; sports action brands leading the way with NERF; arts & crafts brands with Play-Doh; gaming brands, including Clue, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and Monopoly; fashion brands, like Baby Alive and My Little Pony and preschool brands, such as Peppa Pig and PJ Masks.
Spin Master 2022 – Spin Master Forecasts Fun For 2022 with Toys and Activities that Inspire Creators, Fuel Fandoms, and Promote Inclusive Play
Topo Gigio – Created by Maria Perego (1923-2019) in the 1950s, the beloved Italian mouse became a worldwide phenomenon on The Ed Sullivan Show from his very first segment in 1962 to the end of the show’s run in 1971, making a total of 50 appearances to become the second most frequent guest.
The Police Greatest Hits – is being reissued on vinyl via UMe/Polydor in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the original release.
U2 “A Celebration” – 40th-anniversary vinyl release of “A Celebration,” a limited edition 12” vinyl EP to celebrate Record Store Day on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
2022 Young Scientist Challenge – 3M invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”
The Lost Art of Dating & Your Soulmate Awaits – Do you dread another Friday night alone? Are you afraid you’ll never find The One? Do you think all the good ones are taken?
2022 Gotham Book Prize – Annual Gotham Book Prize is awarded to the best book set in or about New York City each year.
Share Your Outdoor Story – The second annual contest seeks stories that touched hearts, inspired laughter, and created memorable experiences in the great outdoors for the chance to win high-valued prizes.
How to Get Skeptical Patients Comfortable With Virtual Medicine – Even as virtual medicine services become more readily available within medical clinics, there will always be those patients who are unsure about whether or not they should explore such a treatment option.
Nina Kraviz Announces VR Shows in Sensorium Galaxy – Nina Kraviz, the world-renowned electronic music artist, has announced she is set to debut with exclusive VR-sets in the Sensorium Galaxy metaverse.
Baby Shark’s Big Show – Introducing WowWee’s new plush, playset, figures and bath toys based on the preschool series, Baby Shark’s Big Show!
‘Give A Little Bit’ – “There has never been a more important time to increase attention and support our senior neighbors. For so many, the isolation and loneliness we all experienced through the pandemic is their everyday way of life. “Give a Little Bit” shows us that it only takes a small act to make a huge difference,” said Kristine Templin, Meals on Wheels America Chief Development Officer.
Elementor Pays Tribute to Web Creators – Elementor, the leading open source website builder platform behind more than 9 million websites, launched a creative campaign to shine the spotlight on the unsung heroes, who build the web and design the digital world we all live in, now more than ever.
U2 Achtung Baby 30th Anniversary – Thirty years ago, Bono described Achtung Baby as “the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree” while Jon Pareles of the New York Times wrote that “stripped-down and defying its old formulas, U2 has given itself a fighting chance for the 1990’s“. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance and became one of the most significant records of the nineties and of U2’s career.
Singles Share Their Favorite Online Dating Trends – Dating.com executives reveal that Audio and the Metaverse are the latest channels singles can use to make connections around the world in 2022.
2022 Dating Trends – To identify the new trends, Plenty of Fish polled nearly 7,000 U.S. members and found that singles are simultaneously experiencing clarity and uncertainty as it relates to relationships, reinforcing just how acutely the pandemic has, and will continue to, influence dating.
Happy Salmon – Exploding Kittens, the hit tabletop game creator, announced the relaunch of popular, fast-paced card game, Happy Salmon, recently acquired from North Star Games.
Legends of Hockey – Carrying on the proud tradition of Network’s original award-winning landmark series Legends of Hockey launched in 1996, the upcoming series – Legends of Hockey: Greatness Calling 2000-20 will showcase, in an epic and heartfelt style, the personal stories of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s inductees from 2000 to 2020.
LEGO Education Minifigures Launch Into Space – Available now, the Build to Launch Series, designed in collaboration with NASA, offers free, hands-on, interactive lessons that allow students to explore different STEAM concepts and careers inspired by the Artemis missions.
Dance to the Beat of 40 Hot New Tracks – Just Dance® 2022, the newest installment of the #1 Music Video Game Franchise of All Time,* is now available on the Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S consoles and Stadia.
Mattel Canada Reveals Most Wanted Toys for 2021 – Gift givers can expect to see new and exciting toys from their favourite brands such as Hot Wheels®, Barbie® and Fisher-Price® as well as a large assortment of items that are sure to spark nostalgia.
Walthers Build-A-World Railroad Subscription – Walthers’ Build-A-World Modeling Kit reimagines how model railroading is introduced to hobbyists bringing creativity, learning and fun straight to their door.
Alexa for Senior Communities – Designed specifically for the needs of senior living communities and healthcare facilities, Alexa Smart Properties simplifies deploying and managing Alexa-enabled devices at scale, helping properties offer customized Alexa experiences for residents and patients, and increase care team productivity and operational efficiency.
Spin Master Makes A Splash – The children’s entertainment company, makes a splash with the debut of Mermaid High™, a collection of fashion dolls with animated digital content and a vlog-style series.
PonyCycle: The Most Coveted Gift on the Market for Young Children – The PonyCycle makes the perfect Christmas or holiday gift for children ages 4 to 9. Currently, the PonyCycle is available in three different sizes, so a young child of any size can enjoy one. The PonyCycle is also available in a variety of different colors for parents and children to choose from.
L.O.L. Surprise!™ Toy Series, Movie Magic™ – Kids will get a chance to play filmmakers themselves with the ultimate gift item, L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.™ Movie Magic Studio™. The set includes 12 exclusive dolls to play the cast & crew, and a package that folds out into a 360-degree playset, a green screen, and a movie theater.
Pinterest Announces 2nd Annual Creators Festival – Creators and special guests will be headlining the Festival themed “Make it here,” sharing the inspiration brand’s newest products and experiences for the next generation of creators.
Social Media Stars Collaborate with Spin Master On Stylish Plush – Spin Master unveils designer P.Lushes Pets™ plush collection in collaboration with six social media stars who have staked claim on their own P.Lushes Pets character.
Nurofen Works With Experts to Create Music Tracks Shown to Reduce Pain Intensity – Scientific testing found reduction in levels of pain intensity and unpleasantness to be statistically and clinically significant.
David Bowie Estate & Warner Music Partnership – Warner Music Group (WMG) and the estate of David Bowie have signed a global, career-spanning partnership for Bowie’s timeless recorded music catalog.
Rock Icons KISS Celebrate Multi-Platinum Destroyer Album – Celebrating its 45 anniversary, Destroyer was originally released in 1976 and is considered to be one of the quintessential KISS albums. It is the band’s first album to sell one million copies in its first year and holds the title of being their all-time best selling studio album.
Cuemath Announces Its Award-Winning Online Math Curriculum – Visual learning approach aims to shrink math learning equity and access gaps in the U.S..
Read All About It - Books in the News
When the Nest Never Empties – When The Nest Never Empties is a practical, concise handbook for parents when their adult children return home or when their elderly parents can no longer live alone.
Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendars 2021 – Igloo Books to publish Disney, Disney Princess and Marvel editions of the number one bestselling advent calendars for 2021.
The Henry Bagwell Story – The Henry Bagwell Story is the first biography of an early English settler on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, who survived shipwreck in Bermuda on his way to the Jamestown Colony in 1609. An English author, writing her first book, compiled his story from historical archives in Virginia and Devon, England.
Piki Goes to College – Joan M. Hellquist warms hearts with this tender story of a lovable shelter dog Piki and her journey to become a service dog.
A Class Divided: A Book About Racism – Children’s picture book shows that it is never to early to learn that racism is wrong.
