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Adventure Media & Events, publisher of The Toy Book, The Toy Insider, and The Pop Insider, is seeking a junior-level sales and marketing assistant to join our growing team! For details on the position, visit our Job Board. Companies interested in posting a job opportunity can click here for details.

From the Editor: It’s Go Time! Toy Industry Earnings and the Holiday Rush



You can practically hear the sleigh bells on the horizon, and in just two months — right on schedule — Santa will be making his way down chimneys to deliver toys and games to kids around the world. At retail, holiday prep is in full swing, and if stores aren’t ready by now, they’re already running late. After all, despite the annual mid-August arrival of the usual claims of “Christmas Creep” by some consumers, the seasonality of the business is returning to its pre-pandemic form. Find out the details…

Exclusive: Holiday Hill Farm, Gund Ink Multiyear Plush Licensing Deal

Under the new pact, Spin Master's Gund will create and distribute premium plush in all sizes based on the Holiday Hill Farm characters, including Spookley the Square Pumpkin and his holiday friends Mistletoe and the Christmas Kittens, Lyla the Love Bug, and more. The full line is expected to hit retailers beginning next fall 2023. Read more...

Bratz Celebrates Its 21st Birthday with New Products Fit for Fashion Fans



After being launched in 2001, MGA Entertainment’s millennial property Bratz is celebrating its 21st birthday with all the passion for fashion the brand has maintained throughout the years. New product launches hit online retailers this month, including reproductions of fan-favorites from the line’s early years. See the styles…

Mattel Catches All the Pokémon in Renewed MEGA Licensing Pact



Mattel inked a renewed licensing deal with The Pokémon Co. International for products in the construction category. Under the renewed pact, Mattel will continue to develop and sell Pokémon toys and building sets under its MEGA brand. Learn more…

Lupita Nyong’o Releases ‘Super Sema’ Talking Doll with Just Play



In partnership with Just Play, Lupita Nyong’o touted the release of the first ever doll for the YouTube Originals animated series Super Sema. Available exclusively on Amazon for preorder, the deluxe talking doll is 12 inches tall and in the likeness of the animated Sema character. Read more…

BBC Studios Adds 12 New Partners to ‘Bluey’ North America Licensing Program



Bluey the Blue Heeler is furthering her mark in North America. BBC Studios, the distributor and licensor for Bluey, is adding to its growing list of licensing partners again with new products to meet strong consumer demand. Each company will be introducing different products based on the brand. Check out the new partners…

Good Banana Founder Steve Wampold Talks Toys and Novelties on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’



In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Steve Wampold to the show. Wampold founded Big Mouth Inc. and Good Banana. 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.

Wizards of the Coast Offers Limited-Edition Products in Support of Hospitals



Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast is continuing its nine-year-long relationship with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Extra Life campaign to bring medical equipment and innovations to children’s hospitals across the country, particularly Seattle Children’s Autism Center. Read more…

Funrise, Paramount Consumer Products Partner on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Toy Cars



Funrise is partnering with Paramount Consumer Products to release a line of classic and movie-inspired Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cars. The new collaboration will include an assortment of die-cast vehicles; rip-cord, pull-back, and gyro vehicles; playsets; and remote-control vehicles. Kids, collectors, and retailers rejoice. Learn more…

Mattel Reports Mixed Results in Q3 as Inflationary Concerns Rise



Mattel reported Q3 earnings that reflect net sales of $1.75 billion, flat compared to the same period last year. The company updated its guidance for this year but says it expects to have a strong holiday season driven by increased advertising and promotional efforts. Read more…

Fat Brain Toys Celebrates 20th Anniversary



Fat Brain Toys is gearing up to celebrate two decades of fun. Launched on Halloween in 2002, the company is now approaching its 20-year anniversary as one of the most renowned direct-to-consumer toy companies in America. Learn more…

Holiday Cheer Spreads as Christmas Squishmallows Hit Stores



It’s that time of year when holiday Squishmallows are starting to roll into stores from coast to coast. It may not be snowing where you live just yet, but Jazwares’ wintery Squishmallows are already starting to appear in their scarves, hats, and earmuffs. Peep all the offerings…

Visit Funko Hollywood to Celebrate the Premiere of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’



From Nov. 16-28, fans of the Black Panther franchise can immerse themselves in Funko Hollywood’s version of Wakanda, which is almost as cool as the real thing. Funko will deck out its storefront in Los Angeles with all kinds of merch and decorations inspired by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Learn more…

Toys ‘R’ Us Signs UK Sublicense Agreement with WH Smith



Toys “R” Us has been busy since its return to the marketplace. E-commerce direct-to-consumer retailer Toys “R” Us ANZ (Australia New Zealand) Limited signed an exclusive sublicense agreement with WH Smith High Street Limited to trial nine Toys “R” Us store-in-store locations in the UK. Read on…

Talkin’ Toys: A Fireside Chat with Rubik’s Cube Inventor Ernő Rubik



Spin Master’s Sam Susz spoke with Ernő Rubik about the moment in 1974 he created what would become the Rubik’s Cube and how it’s affected generations of players. Then, kids got to take the mic and ask the legendary toy inventor questions of their own — and The Toy Book also got some insight on burning questions of our own. Read more…

Business Predictions and Advice in Q4 and Beyond



Jefferies Managing Director Stephanie Wissink shares how these economic times have made for a wild ride. As this year has progressed, the indicators continue to signal that we are entering a new phase of the economy and business cycle. This phase is marked by de-risking, capital preservation, incrementality, and directionality. Learn more…

A New Focus on Youth Mental Health with ThinkFun’s Rachele Harmuth



ThinkFun, in collaboration with Dr. Deborah Gilboa, released the results of its analysis in the in the White Paper “Building Products with MESH in Mind,” which presents research culled from many sources on the youth mental health crisis. As head of ThinkFun at Ravensburger, Rachele Harmuth spoke with The Toy Book on what exactly MESH is and how the industry can begin to make this momentous shift. Read more…

Fred Rogers Productions Names Mallory Mbalia Director of Learning and Education



Fred Rogers Productions named Mallory Mbalia to the newly created position of director of learning and education. In her new role. Mbalia will work on expanding the company’s group of education partners and advisers, as well as collaborate with its production; marketing, communications, and engagement; fundraising; and licensing teams. Learn more…