Adventure Media & Events Promotes James Zahn to Editor-in-Chief of 'The Toy Book'

Adventure Media & Events LLC, publisher of the Toy Book, the Toy Insider, and the Pop Insider, named James Zahn as editor-in-chief of the Toy Book effective immediately. The announcement was made by Laurie Schacht, CEO. Zahn previously served as deputy editor of the Toy Book, a position he held since March 2021.  Read more…

Inspired by a Tweet, the American Girl Historical Collection Welcomes Claudie Wells



Claudie Wells celebrates the Harlem Renaissance with a backstory rooted in New York City circa 1922. The 18-inch doll features an all-new face mold and has shoulder-length hair styled in bouncy ringlets and a hairbow. Read more…

Fire Destroys WowWee’s Experiential Playhouse LA Project



Months of work went up in flames as fire destroyed WowWee‘s Playhouse LA. The hands-on play experience in West Hollywood, California was near completion when the accident occurred. WowWee plans to regroup and rebuild. Read more…

LEGO Unveils Fan-Inspired Motorized Lighthouse Set



The LEGO Group just pulled back the curtain on the LEGO Ideas Motorized Lighthouse. The inspiration for the set comes from Sandro Quattrini, a 20-year-old LEGO fan from Canada. Quattrini submitted the original concept on the LEGO Ideas platform. Read more…

Disney Kicks off World Princess Week with Toys and Costumes Fit for Royalty



World Princess Week had its inaugural run last year as part of the Ultimate Princess Celebration. Now it’s back in full force with new toys and products meant to inspire fans to show their best Disney Princess qualities in their daily lives. Read more…

Mattel, Save the Children, and Target Forge Partnership to Support Educational Programs in Rural America



For the first time, Mattel’s Play It Forward initiative will have a branded presence at physical retail. From Aug. 28 to Oct. 1, a portion of sales from select Barbie, Matchbox, and Fisher-Price Little People toys sold at Target will be donated to Save the Children’s U.S. rural education programs. Read more…

PlayMonster Releases New Edition of Jeff Foxworthy’s Relative Insanity Party Game



Relative Insanity 2nd Generation features new setup and punchline cards to spruce up game night while following the same rules as the original. The game is headed to retailers this fall. Read more…

Things Are Getting More Magical at Wizards of the Coast



Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast hosted a series of Wizard Presentsl live streams this month in which the popular fantasy storytelling brand revealed a massive lineup of upcoming product launches. Read more…

Miniland Launches ‘Together We Play’ Inclusivity Campaign



Following the news that its dolls have been nominated for a 2022 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award, Miniland USA is launching Together We Play, an initiative focused on encouraging acceptance among kids. The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and retailer For Kids By Kids (FKBK) are some of the partners joining the initiative. Read more…

Devolver Digital Reveals International Licensing Partners for Fall Guys Brand



Moose Toys, Hasbro, Wow! Stuff, Bandai, Kotobukiya, Super Impulse, and ItemLab are among the licensees on board to produce toys, games, and collectibles inspired by the multiplayer game Fall Guys. Read more…

Karen Kilpatrick of Kaypin Media Talks Publishing on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’



In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Karen Kilpatrick of Kaypin Media and Genius Cat Books to the show. Kilpatrick helps brands and creatives navigate the publishing industry with a focus on creating kids’ books. Listen here…

The Toy Book Podcasts by Adventure Media & Events are available through all of your favorite streaming services, including Amazon Music, Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Introduces Pumpkin Spice Bear for Fall



Pumpkin Spice season is officially here, and this year, one of the leading specialty toy retailers is getting in on the action. Build-A-Bear Workshop is introducing a Pumpkin Spice Bear that can be customized for kids and kidults alike. Read more…

Pop Mart Global Expansion Continues with First Australian Store



Following the opening of its first U.S. location and a new flagship in South Korea this summer, Chinese retailer Pop Mart has planted its flag down under. The purveyor of original “art toys” opened its first full-line brick-and-mortar store in Australia this week. Read more…

In Memoriam: Amparo Serrano, Distroller Founder



Artist and designer Amparo Serrano — known to many fans as Amparín — was the creator and founder of Distroller, the international company behind the colorful Neonate Babies, Chamoy & Amiguis, and Virgencita Plis brands. Read more…

Paramount Consumer Products Brings Misan Harriman Aboard as Creative Advisor



In his new role, Harriman will bring his experience in the creation and collection of NFTs to advise on Paramount’s relationships in the Web3 space, as well as create his own collections for the company in the future. Read more…