More Articles By Karyn M. Peterson

• Product Showcase: Dragon Toys
  This week’s Product Showcase features dragon-themed toys from Manhattan Toy, Playmobil, Safari, Sigikid and WowWee. More
  
• Up Close: Scholastic's The 39 Clues
  Move over, Nancy Drew! Today’s young super sleuths are about to be drawn into an even more intriguing mystery series, one that combines chapter books, online gaming and card collecting into an expansive two-year treasure hunt with real-life rewards. More
  
• The Gift Of Story
  Though it's only been weeks since kids have gone back to school, no doubt your holiday preparations are already in full swing. Children's book publishers are also mindful of the season, and are introducing a number of attractive box sets in the coming weeks to fill this need. Toy retailers, take note of these perfectly packaged gifts starring kids' favorite characters. More
  
• Kids Get 'Clued' In
  MOVE OVER NANCY DREW! Today's young super sleuths are about to be drawn into an even more intriguing mystery series, one that combines chapter books, online gaming and card collecting into an expansive, two-year treasure hunt with real-life rewards. Scholastic's trailblazing new multi-platform venture, The 39 Clues—which kicked off last month with the publication of its first book and th... More
  
• 'Go' West, Mindtwister
  For thousands of years, casual gamers and intellectuals alike have been fascinated with Go, the complex strategy board game invented in ancient China, popularized in Korea as well as Japan (from where it gets its modern name), and now a staple here in the West. In this classic cerebral dominance challenge, two players alternate placing black and white stones down on a grid; the object is to con... More
  
• Paper Caché
  What really goes on below deck on a pirate ship? What does the inside of a fairy's house look like? Kids can explore the answers to these questions and more with the latest releases in the paper play category, which offer somewhat more sophisticated selections for kids that like to learn, imagine, build or design. More
  
• The ABCs Of A Good Show
  For toy manufacturers, this year's ABC Kids Expo (Sept. 7 to 11) was a mixed bag. Though largely a positive experience, foot traffic at the Las Vegas Convention Center's expansive halls again seemed a bit quiet, companies in attendance told Playthings. However, this was the largest show ever in ABC Kids' five-year history, marking a strong debut as the only industry event of its kind showcasing... More
  
• Monstrously Fun
  After the back-to-school rush, the familiar sights and sounds of Halloween are quick to follow, with little ghosts, goblins and other things that go bump in the night soon lurking around every corner. This year, add literary flair to your fall displays with quirky new picture books, most of which offer more than fleeting treats for life beyond the season. More
  
• Giving Babies A Smart Start
  IT’S NEVER TOO SOON to begin reading to your baby. That’s the guiding philosophy behind Begin Smart, a new developmental read-and-play book initiative from New York-based Sterling Publishing that recently debuted. According to publisher Harriet M. Ziefert, the structured program is designed “to encourage the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth of babies and to... More
  
• Earth Angels
  Day by day, the world is getting a little bit greener, thanks at least in part to Barbera Aimes, founder and president of the eco-friendly ImagiPlay toy company, based in Boulder, Colo. A green (and a fair trade) business by design since its debut 10 years ago, ImagiPlay is now set to reap the rewards for that dedication and insight through a partnership with Whole Foods Market, which began dis... More
  
• Fitness Made Fun
  According to the NPD Group, Port Washington, N.Y., the Nintendo Wii has become the best-selling video game system in the United States, with more than 10 million consoles sold since its launch during the 2006 holiday season. Now the Redmond, Wash.-based gaming and entertainment company has even more reason to celebrate: its innovative new Wii Fit game, which capitalizes on the popularity of ... More
  
• Killer Bunnies Blast Off
  THE GLEEFUL BUNNY has a lot to be happy about—and so does Dan Rowen. As president of Playroom Entertainment, he has 6 years of funny, furry and furious fandom for the Killer Bunnies brand to be proud of, and which he hopes will expand significantly in the coming months through some key retail partnerships, as well as a brand new game title. More
  
• Piece Of The Action
  Though arguably not the most exciting or headline-grabbing toy category, the jigsaw puzzle is a key brick in the foundation of the toy industry. It’s a time-tested classic that is perennially updated and refreshed with new content, continuously drawing in new fans of all ages, whether they prefer puzzling as a solo or a group playtime activity. More
  
• Product Showcase: Musical Toys
  This week’s Product Showcase features music toys from Fisher-Price, Hohner, International Playthings, Learning Resources and Woodstock Chimes. More
  
• Bestsellers For Baby
  Board books always make an appealing gift, whether they contain original stories or are simply collections of images and words that stimulate the senses; both excite toddlers about the world of reading that's in store for them. Another option, adapting an already popular picture book to the format, is also a great way to introduce books to babies. More
  
• Monster Mash
  For gamers and would-be Dr. Frankensteins alike, 2008 may be a banner holiday season—that is, if Jamie Ottilie gets his wish. The veteran game designer, president and COO of Abandon Interactive Entertainment has been laboring with his creative team for three years to bring to market Freaky Creatures, a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game with a distinctive collectible toy component th... More
  
• Holiday Showcase
  It may not be noticeable to the untrained eye, but behind the scenes at the nation's toy stores, it's already beginning to look a lot like Christmas—and this month we're giving our readers a preview of it. On the following pages you'll find some of the stand-out products we predict that at this moment are rapidly filling the stockrooms of toy stores—and that soon enough the nation's... More
  
• Building Capable Kids
  For independent toy stores, especially those that specialize in educational toys, life skills brands are a tiny yet important product category. Parents, grandparents and other caregivers looking for gifts often gravitate to those toys and other products that aim to teach and inspire as well as amuse the kids in their lives. More
  
• Power Of The Force
  After three decades and more than $15 billion in licensed product sales, Star Wars is poised to garner an entire legion of new fans this month, once Star Wars: The Clone Wars hits the big screen. This first-ever animated feature from Lucasfilm Ltd. relates the adventures of the heroic Jedi Knights—including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda—and their quest to restore ... More
  
• Showcase: Playtime Safari
  This week’s Product Showcase features new wild animal and jungle-themed toys from Alexander Doll Company, Inflatable Impressions, Mattel, Wild Republic and Zen Design Group’s See Toys brand. More