An Five Best New Product Awards Presented at NYIGF's Baby & Child

Five companies were presented with Baby & Child "Best New Product Awards" today, with Box Play for Kids® receiving the "Blogger's Best" distinction for Box Play for Kids Stickers. Baby & Child, one of 10 divisions in the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), runs through Wednesday, August 22, at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. 

In addition to the semi-annual "Blogger's Best" award, Baby & Child "Best New Product Award" winners are recognized for excellence in four categories: toy, décor, gear and apparel. A panel of eight editors from trade media, kid-centric blogs and websites selected products which exemplified innovation, design and style. 

The summer 2012 winners and finalists, selected from 116 products, are: 

BLOGGER'S BEST:
Box Play for Kids® (Phoenix, AZ) for Box Play for Kids Stickers, eco friendly stickers made of 100 percent recycled paper that turn old boxes into new toys. 

TOY:
Winner: PlanToys, Inc. (Mountain View, CA) for Play House, a three-story rubberwood and PlanWood doll house with a handle to carry and a rooftop that becomes a garden.
Finalist: Fat Brain Toy Co. (Elkhorn, NE) for Tobbles Neo stacking toy.
Finalist: Juratoys US Corp (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) for Magnetibook Crazy Face. 

DÉCOR:
Winner: HABA® USA (Skaneateles, NY) for Teepee Play Tent, a portable personal space for little explorers to take exciting and creative adventures.
Finalist: Magicforest, LTD (Portsmouth, NH) for Fly With Me Hot Air Balloon Music Box.
Finalist: Milk Moon Kids (Cincinnati, OH) for Growth Charts. 

GEAR:
Winner: aden + anais® (Brooklyn, NY) for Serenity Star, a 5-in-1 electronic sleep and feeding system for mom and baby.
Finalist: MadPax (Phoenix, AZ) for BUBBLE nibbler. Finalist: Love Mae (Stokers Siding, Australia) for Tableware – Melamine Dinnerware. 

APPAREL:
Winner: Pipopipo™ (Los Angeles, CA) for Pipopipo friends socks, which come in a reusable bamboo package with three pairs of socks designed either for boys or girls.
Finalist: Cutey Booty (Mount Pleasant, SC) for Girl & Boy Outfit.
Finalist: Keepsake Threads (Fort Wayne, IN) for Upcycled T-Shirt Baby Bibs.

Sweet Baby Feet Ring in the Holidays

Make your baby girl's sweet little feet sparkle and shine this Holiday Season with Toe Blooms (toeblooms.com). She'll be the cutest gift around. Adorable new styles include, "Jingle Bells," "Buttercup," and "Fancy" in both black and red velvet.

Toe Blooms wrap around baby's feet and can be worn with or without socks or tights. They are the absolute perfect addition to all holiday outfits. Also the ideal gift for all new Moms and Moms-to-be during the holiday shopping spree season.

Moms love these as an alternative to stiff baby shoes so baby's sweet feet can grow, be comfortable, and still look beyond cute. What more, Toe Blooms stay on baby's feet so there's no more wondering where all the shoes have gone. Just another reason why Moms love them so much!

Swordpen Launches Children's Publishing Company with Seven Original Titles

SwordPen Publishing is pleased to announce the official launch of their children's publishing company, with an impressive seven original book titles in print. The company is founded on the goal of creating educational and entertaining literature for children. Novels are geared toward kids from three to twelve years old, but people of all ages are sure to enjoy the intriguing stories. SwordPen is focused on making a difference in the lives of young readers. They believe in the power of the word to uplift, educate, entertain, and transform.

Many of the stories are written by SwordPen CEO and author Zev Lewinson, and are complemented by colorful, vivid illustrations from artists such as Debi Coules, Lisa Griffin, and Robert Nailon. Each book is carefully crafted and flawlessly edited, with the focus on allowing young readers the pleasure of inferring the story as it unfolds. This, in turn, teaches children to be creative readers rather than passive learners. Lewinson feels a deep, personal connection to each individual tale he publishes. "Before I sign off on a book, I have to be able to answer the following question: 'Have I put my heart and soul into inspiring the children who will read this?' If the answer is 'yes,' then I know I've done a great job." 

Currently, seven literary works are complete and available: When You Gotta Go!, Of Course I Love You!, The Golden Butterfly, Don't Get Stuck on Being a Duck!, My Dog Ate It!, The Hippo That Flew!, and How Mice Became Small. Six more titles are in production with plans for publication dates in 2013. Twenty-eight more acquisitions (i.e., SwordPen masterpieces) are presently in the pipeline. 

SwordPen is a small publishing company that places great emphasis on sound investments. Every one of their books is truly priceless! New York businessman and Extell Development Company CEO Gary Barnett became a personal investor in SwordPen by merely chancing upon several SwordPen stories that he found on his mother's dining room table. Gary (famous for his ability to spot a gem), immediately contacted Lewinson to ask if he could use an investor, and the rest is history. 

All of SwordPen's titles are classic works of art. Librarians swoon over each release, as do parents – and their kids! SwordPen's passion for conveying inspiration, knowledge, and humor into homes and libraries all over the country can easily be seen on each and every page of their elegant stories. "I want children of all ages – and their parents – to experience the contrast between a run-of-the-mill children's book and a SwordPen book," Lewinson says. "The difference is not just striking … it's downright astonishing." Prices for individual books range from $9.95 to $12.95. All available narratives can be purchased at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and on the company's personal website: swordpen.com. 

For more information, please visit SwordPen's website at swordpen.com or swordpenbublishers.com.

Playtime New York will spotlight 90 creative brands at its fifth edition

Playtime's signature sophisticated yet whimsical ambiance will set the tone. Playtime New York offers a comprehensive international selection of today's best collections in the children's market. The show encompasses infant and children's clothing, shoes and accessories, baby gear, toys, deco/design products. 

The stunning venue, 82 Mercer, reflects both a creative and commercial style, in one of New York's trendiest neighborhoods. The show provides an easy-to- navigate layout and an open booth design, which affords exhibitors the opportunity to customize their area.

As a special convenience for professional visitors, the show will also operate a complimentary shuttle service between 82 Mercer and The Show Piers. 

Exhibiting this season for the first time, many brands are looking forward to expand business at the American market: Pazitos, HBB, Grow studios, Hazel Village Toys, Bouton, Mirasa design (USA), The Brand (Sweden), Chat mechant (Belgium)… and many others join Playtime New York! 

In addition, many important brands are returning to the show this season, between them: Lucky Wang, Mini & Maximus, Noch, Neve/Hawk, Atsuyo et Akiko (USA), 10is, Pom d'api, Le vestiaire de Jeanne (France), Bobo Choses, Yporqué (Spain), Noé & Zoë, Tannhaüser (Germany)… 

For this next edition in August, Playtime New York is about to grow with more brands exhibiting, always with the same demand and desire to enable its visitors to experience a quality offer in an exceptional environment. Since its creation in 2007, every year Playtime selects a new artist to illustrate its trade fairs in Paris, New York and Tokyo. This year we are pleased to be working with talented American illustrator Patrick Hruby, who will take us on a journey through his colorful, geometric universe!

CHA Craft Fusion Show is a Big Success

The 2012 Craft & Hobby Association Show was help July 16—19 at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL and Baby & Kids was on hand to experience the sights and multiple demonstrations of the show.

In booth 523, Ranger was featuring a demonstration by Tim Holtz. Holtz was demonstrating how to use the signature Ranger supplies to a large group of craft enthusiasts and buyers. Additionally, there were demonstrations at Martha Stewart Crafts, 3M, Modge Podge and many others!

The show was busy with orders and crafters trying out new products and sharing insights into how to get the best use, and sales out of the crafting supplies. The smell of hot glue and fun was in the air!

Atlanta's America's Mart Summer Gift Show

The Atlanta America's Mart lifted the summer buying season with a lot of energy and enthusiasm in the juvenile category, especially. The show was well attended from all over the country and internationally and attendance numbers are projected to have held up to those of a year ago, boding a good market. The quality and variety of the offerings — from clothing to baby products to juvenile toys — provided a wonderful selection of unique goods to offer customers and separate the savvy baby retailer from the big box crowd.

Baby & Kids' June Digital Issue is Now Available for Viewing

Please click the image above to start reading our June issue of Baby & Kids Magazine