MONTREAL, Dec. 4, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - MEGA® Brands Inc., a
member of the Mattel® family of companies (NASDAQ: MAT), continues
to expand its product portfolio with award-winning toys and world
renowned franchises, offering something special for every family
member this Holiday season.
Mega Bloks® partnered with two of the world's leading family
franchises this year, inviting kids to build their favorite
characters, vehicles and locations from some of the most
talked-about worlds in the entertainment
industry. Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants® and NBC
Universal's Despicable Me™ recently joined the toymaker's exciting
kids construction lineup and have already gained the attention of
children and parents alike. Fans of the franchises are excited over
the fun Bikini Bottom-themed building sets from Mega Bloks'
SpongeBob line and others have joined the Minion mania by rushing
to collect and create their very own buildable Minions.
Additional Fall releases have earned much acclaim from industry
experts. Mega Bloks' First Builders™ preschool line and kids'
Barbie™ sets have won numerous awards, along with RoseArt®
activities, for their educational, innovative and creative
elements.
Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag
This iconic
bag has been a parent-favorite for preschooler's hands and minds
for 30 years. The chunky colorful blocks have earned two
awards:
- 2014 Academics' Choice 'Brain Toy Award':
Evaluated by its educational benefits such as higher-order thinking
skills, character building, creative play, durability and
originality, the Big Building Bag was recognized as an
exceptional brain-boosting toy by leading thinkers and graduates
from Princeton, Harvard, and George Washington
University.
- Dr. Toy's 'Best Classic Toys': Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., known as Dr. Toy, and
Jennie Ito, Ph.D., have been
tracking toy trends in the industry for over 30 years and have
selected the Big Building Bag to be amongst the top classic
toys that fit the criteria for fun and high play value.
Mega Bloks First Builders 1-2-3 Learning Train
Part of
the learning-based construction toys line for toddlers and
preschoolers, this fun and educational toy has earned the attention
of two notable, industry-leading names:
- Scholastic Parent & Child® 'Gold Star Toy' Award:
Driven by today's leading parenting magazine and studied by a
panel of family testers, the 1-2-3 Learning Train was
awarded for its innovation and excellent value, as well as for its
engaging, mind-expanding, and educational elements.
- 2014 Parents' Choice Awards® Approved Honor:
Evaluated on its developmentally appropriate content and
challenges, product design and function, educational value,
long-term play value, and benefits to a child's social and
emotional growth and well being, the earned this prestigious
recognition by the Parents' Choice Foundation, America's oldest
nonprofit program and consumer guide to quality children's
media.
Mega Bloks First Builders Fast Tracks™ Raceway
This
fun new addition to the Preschool line of building sets allows
little ones to build a racetrack and mix-and-match their very own
cars for endless raceway excitement.
- 2014 National Parenting Publications Awards
(NAPPA) Silver Winner: Recognized by one of the
longest running and highly respected awards programs in
North America, the First
Builders Fast Tracks Raceway was chosen to be amongst the
leading entertaining, appealing, safe, educational, and enduring
preschoolers' toys in the industry.
Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'n Play Fab Mansion
This dream
house with snappy modular rooms for easy building can be decorated
in tons of fabulous ways and offers lots of accessorizing fun for
girls aged four and up.
- 2014 National Parenting Publications Awards
(NAPPA) Silver Winner: Also honored by this
notable awards program, the Barbie Build 'N Play Fab Mansion
was recognized as one of this year's leading toys for kids.
Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'n Play Fairy Treehouse
The
new fantasy-themed line of Barbie building sets offers kids the
chance to create a world of magic and wonder by building and
decorating an enchanted treehouse where the all-new fairy mini
fashion figurines can fly with the help of a working spinning
platform.
- Dr. Toy's 2014 '10 Best Building': Recognized by
noted play and child development authority, Stevanne Auerback, PhD, as being a safe,
affordable, educationally oriented, stimulating new toy and play
product for children, the Barbie Fairy Treehouse has been
chosen to complement Dr. Toy's selection of the "100 Best"
children's products.
RoseArt® Graphic Skinz Design Studio™
Kids can create
custom, one of a kind designs and gifts with items found in the kit
and from around the home by using the super suction, motorized
vacuum chamber that applies full-color graphics to pretty much any
object that fits inside the chamber.
- Dr. Toy's 'Best Picks' Award: Carefully chosen as
worthy of attention from among thousands that the Dr. Toy Team has
reviewed at toy fairs, in catalogs, and through many other sources,
Graphic Skinz has been recognized as being a highly
creative, safe, age-appropriate, and durable toy with lasting play
value.
For more information on the toys, please visit megabloks.com and
roseart.com
About MEGA Brands
A member of the Mattel family of
companies, MEGA Brands Inc. is a trusted collection of leading
global brands in construction toys, games & puzzles and arts
& crafts. They offer engaging creative experiences for children
and families through innovative, well-designed, affordable and
high-quality products. MEGA® Brands includes MEGA BLOKS®, RoseArt®,
MEGA Puzzles®, MEGA Games® and Board Dudes®.
Visit http://www.megabrands.com for more information.
The MEGA logo, Mega Bloks, Rose
Art, MEGA Puzzles, MEGA Games and Board Dudes are trademarks
of MEGA Brands Inc. or its affiliates.
For more information, please visit www.megabrands.com and
www.megabloks.com
About Mattel
The Mattel family of companies (Nasdaq:
MAT) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and
marketing of toys and family products. Mattel's portfolio of
best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll
ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas
& Friends® and Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People®
and Power Wheels®, MEGA® Brands, including MEGA BLOKS® and
RoseArt®, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy
lines. In 2013, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical
Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on
Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens"
list. With worldwide headquarters in El
Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ nearly 30,000
people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more
than 150 nations. At Mattel, we are Creating the Future of Play.
Visit us at www.mattel.com, www.facebook.com/mattel or
www.twitter.com/mattel.
SOURCE MEGA Brands Inc.