Toys 'R' Us Announces List of Cool Summer Toys, Games and Books For Kids of All Ages

Toys 'R' Us Announces List of Cool Summer Toys, Games and Books
For Kids of All Ages
Sizzling List Will Help Keep Kids Active and Minds Sharp 


WAYNE, N.J., May 31  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Toys "R" Us today announced a
list of summer toys, games and books that are sure to keep kids and parents
happy this summer. This "Best of Summer" list provides parents with new and
classic items that will help kids stay active and occupy young minds during the
fun-filled days of summer.  All items featured on this list are available
either at Toys "R" Us stores nationwide or online at http://www.toysrus.com/.

Toys "R" Us stores have a wide range of products on the "Best of Summer" list
that will provide endless hours of activity for kids of all ages. Keeping in
mind the busy and diverse lives of today's kids, the list includes a number of
books, games and toys for kids, whether they are traveling to a vacation
destination, frolicking in the backyard, curling up on the couch, lounging
poolside, or staying up past bedtime.

"Each summer parents look for new and exciting ways to keep their kids busy,
safe and happy, while incorporating some educational content into their
activities," said Jim Feldt, President, U.S. Merchandising, Toys "R" Us.  "The
Toys "R" Us "Best of Summer" list does just that by providing parents with a
great reading list and several fun and educational toys and games to fill the
endless summer days."

The Toys "R" Us "Best of Summer" items, listed alphabetically by category, are
as follows:  (asterisked items are not available on http://www.toysrus.com)/

   Educational Toys
   *Baby Einstein Baby Wordsworth(TM) First Words Around the House DVD from
     Buena Vista Home Entertainment
    InteracTV(TM) DVD from Fisher-Price
    Leapster(TM) Multimedia Learning System from LeapFrog
    V.Smile(TM) Pocket from VTech
    Word Whammer(TM) from LeapFrog

   Travel Toys
   *Crayola(R) Color Wonder(TM) Fingerpaints and Paper from Binney & Smith
   *Clip-On Doodle Pro(TM) from Fisher-Price
   *MP3 Player from Craig Electronics
    Nintendo(TM) DS from Nintendo
   *Assorted Travel Games from Hasbro

   Outdoor Toys
    Dora(TM) The Explorer Jeep(R) Wrangler(R) 4x4 from Fisher-Price
   *ESPN X Games Bike from Toys "R" Us
    Fly Wheels(TM) from Road Champs
    Fold 'N Store Picnic Table from Little Tikes
    Super Soaker(R) Star Wars(R) Wookiee Blaster(TM) from Hasbro
    Waterwheel Play Table(TM) from Step2

   Summer Reading
   Chapter Books
   *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
   *The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket
   *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
   *Runny Babbit:  A Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein
   *Summer of the Sea Serpent (Magic Tree House #31) by Mary Pope Osborne
   *A Treasure's Trove:  A Fairy Tale About Real Treasure for Parents and
    Children of All Ages by Michael Stadther

   Young Readers
   *Green Eggs and Ham (Beginner Books) by Dr. Seuss
   *If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
   *Storybook Treasury of Dick and Jane and Friends (Dick and Jane) by
    Unknown



Outlined below are the detailed product descriptions for items on the Toys "R"
Us Summer 2005 List.

  Educational Toys
  BABY EINSTEIN BABY WORDSWORTH(TM) FIRST WORDS AROUND THE HOUSE DVD from
   Buena Vista Home Entertainment


Baby Wordsworth First Words Around The House DVD is a playful introduction to
words and sign language -- room by room.  Hosted by classic Baby Einstein
puppets, the title includes a special guest appearance by Academy Award-
Winning actress, Marlee Matlin, who introduces little ones to the concept of
language, including verbal, written and sign.  Tapping into a baby's natural
curiosity about the everyday objects they see in their home, Baby Wordsworth
takes parents and children on an adventure through the kitchen, yard, living
room, playroom and bedroom.  No batteries required.  Ages 1 year and up. Note
that this product is not available until July 19.

INTERACTV(TM) DVD from Fisher-Price

This electronic learning system is comprised of an InteracTV DVD that you
insert into your home DVD player, a controller, and activity cards based on
popular children's television shows. Plug an activity card into the controller,
and games and activities featuring that show will appear on the TV screen. Nine
touch points let kids interact with the characters in lessons covering numbers,
colors, animals, and more. 3 AA batteries required.  Ages 3 years and up.

LEAPSTER(TM) MULTIMEDIA LEARNING SYSTEM from LeapFrog

Designed for children in preschool through second grade, the handheld Leapster
multimedia learning system offers educational games, reading exercises, art
tools, and interactive videos in one electronic device. Children can learn
letters, sounds, colors, shapes, numbers, and more using the touch-screen
stylus and multi-directional control pad. This unit comes with a bonus
cartridge of six learning games; other Leapster cartridges are sold separately.
 4 AA batteries required.  Ages 4 to 8 years.

V.SMILE(TM) POCKET from VTech

The V.Smile Pocket turns game time into brain time by combining a video game
platform and educational content in a portable learning system that goes
anywhere or connects directly to the television for gaming at home. The
battery-operated pocket console allows early school-age learners to play a
variety of exciting and imaginative games anywhere they go, guided by popular
characters. Many brain-building V.Smile "smartridges" are available, including
Care Bears, Spider-Man & Friends, Scooby Doo and Disney.   5 AA batteries
required.  Ages 4 to 8 years.

WORD WHAMMER(TM) from LeapFrog

What's a Word Whammer?  It's a machine that teaches kids letter names, letter
sounds, and how letter sounds blend together to make words.  With LeapFrog's
Word Whammer(TM) Fridge Phonics(TM), you can create over 325 three- letter
words with magnetic letters that sing and teach.  These interactive, magnetic
letters are based on the LeapFrog Talking Words(TM) Factory video. The letters
and magnetic letter reader attach securely to the refrigerator. Volume control
and 3AA batteries included.  Ages 3 years and up.

Travel Toys

CRAYOLA(R) COLOR WONDER(TM) from Binney & Smith Color Wonder(TM) Fingerpaints
offer more ways for kids to express their creativity anytime and anywhere. 
These fingerpaints color only on special Color Wonder Paper, and they're
spill-proof too so kids' hands, clothes, and work areas stay clean.  Kids just
rub the paint with their finger, paint it on the paper, and watch the various
colors gradually appear.  No batteries required. Ages 3 years and up.

CLIP-ON DOODLE PRO(TM) from Fisher-Price

Clip-On Doodle Pro(TM) is small and portable, and with its easy-to-use clip,
children can hang their artwork just about anywhere.  The toy features a
magnetic drawing surface with attached drawing pen and a magic eraser bar that
slides to erase the screen. The Clip-On Doodle Pro is available in four fun
colors (each sold separately). No batteries required. Ages 3 years and up.

MP3 (CMP 1339) from Craig Electronics

This new, compact MP3 player allows children of all ages the opportunity to
download their favorite music and take it anywhere.  With a 256 MB capacity,
users can store over 60 songs.  The player also has a voice recorder, FM radio,
blue backlight, earphones, USB 2.0 version, DRM and direct encoding.  1 AAA
battery required.  Ages 8 and up.

NINTENDO(TM) DS from Nintendo

This portable game console has two screens, touch-screen input, voice
recognition and a wireless communication set. The two screens offer two
perspectives on the action at once. The touch screen makes accessing items,
moving characters or navigating menus as easy as a tap or drag on the screen.
Voice recognition lets players simply tell the game what they want it to do.
Chat software will let users transmit text messages, handwriting and even
drawings to one another. And wireless functions link players in the same room
-- or across the country.  Rechargeable battery included.  Ages 3 years and up.

TRAVEL GAMES from Hasbro

Easy to carry and easy to pack, travel games from Hasbro will provide hours of
fun for those on the run, with titles including:  Connect Four(R), the vertical
checkers game; Hungry, Hungry Hippo(R), the marble munching game; and
Battleship(R), the naval strategy game.  No batteries needed for each game. 
Ages 4 years and up.

Outdoor Toys

DORA(TM) THE EXPLORER JEEP(R) WRANGLER(R) 4X4 from Fisher-Price Adventurous
children will hit the road with Dora(TM) the Explorer in her Jeep(R)
Wrangler(R) 4X4.  This vehicle, available exclusively at Toys "R" Us, drives on
hard surfaces and grass and features the Power Lock Brake System. Includes a
special Dora map and backpack for take-along fun. Map opens to guide adventures
and special treasures can be stored in the backpack. Vehicle drives at a
maximum of 3.5 mph forward and reverse. Requires super 6-volt battery (battery
and charger included). Ages 3 years and up.

ESPN X GAMES BIKE from Toys "R" Us

The 20" ESPN X Games Bike, available exclusively at Toys "R" Us, features
oversized frame tubing, unique mag wheels, center pull brakes, BMX tires and a
360-degree rotor.  In addition, the bike has authentic ESPN graphics, embossed
"X" logo saddle and deluxe padded BMX racing seat.  The bike comes with a
lifetime warranty on frame and one year on parts.  No batteries required. Ages
6 years and up.

FLY WHEELS(TM) from Road Champs

Fly Wheels(TM) are replica wheels and tires that look and perform just like the
wheels on real vehicles -- just on a smaller scale. With a pull of the ripcord,
Fly Wheels can race at over 300 scale miles per hour and jump over 25 feet in
the air. Fly Wheels come in a variety of size diameters and types just like
real wheels do, including racing, off-road, and tuner wheels. No batteries
required.  Ages 3 years and up.

FOLD 'N STORE PICNIC TABLE from Little Tikes

The ultimate kid's table, this unique 4-sided table is ideal for snacks, games,
crafts, picnics and more. Seats up to 8 kids. Assemble it once, then fold, move
or store it anywhere. Compact design and built-in hooks make it easy to hang on
the wall.  Batteries not required.  Ages 24 months to 8 years.

SUPER SOAKER(R) STAR WARS (R) WOOKIEE BLASTER(TM) from Hasbro

The Super Soaker(R) Star Wars(R) Wookiee Blaster(TM) is a high-performance toy
that is styled just like the Wookiee blasters from Star Wars: Episode III
Revenge of the Sith movie.  The Star Wars(R) Wookiee Blaster(TM) also has
trigger-activated authentic sound effects from the movie.  3 AA batteries
required (included). Ages 7 years and up.

WATERWHEEL PLAY TABLE(TM) from Step2

Children can pour water into wide funnel activating water wheel, which spills
into the inner and outer harbors. The falling water action encourages creative
exploration and cause & effect learning. The table's elevated design keeps
water at easy reach for toddlers. The table accommodates up to three children
and holds up to four gallons of water. The WaterWheel Play Table(TM) features a
built-in drain plug for easy water removal. Includes four-piece accessory set:
one cup, two sailboats and water wheel tower. No batteries required. Ages 1
year and up.

Summer Reading/Chapter Books

THE GRIM GROTTO (A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS) by Lemony Snicket The 11th in
a series, the book finds the siblings headed down Stricken Stream on a broken
toboggan when they are spotted by the submarine Queequeg and it passengers. The
adventures that follow are harrowing.  All ages.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by J.K. Rowling

The highly anticipated sixth book in the Harry Potter series will further
chronicle the exploits of Harry and his friends at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry.  As with the other five books in the series, the
closely guarded plot secrets of the new book will surely keep Harry Potter fans
on the edge of their seats, and wanting to read more.  Ages 9 years and up.
Note that this book is not available until July 16.

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis

This classic tale celebrates its 50th anniversary.  The action-packed story
follows the spellbinding adventures and travels of Peter, Edmund, Lucy and
Susan and their quest to rid the country of the evil witch and her followers. 
Ages 9 to 12 years.

RUNNY BABBIT:  A BILLY SOOK by Shel Silverstein

Completed prior to the poet's death in 1999, the book is populated by the likes
of Runny Babbit, Toe Jurtle, Ploppy Sig, Polly Dorkupine, and Pilly Belican,
all denizens of the green woods where letter-flipping runs rampant. Ages 9 to
12 years.

SUMMER OF THE SEA SERPENT by Mary Pope Osborne

Jack and Annie are off on another mythical mission at the request of Merlin the
magician. Luckily, they have a young sorcerer, Teddy, to help them. From
underwater caves to a Spider Queen and a magical sword, this is an adventure
kids won't want to miss.  Ages 9 to 12 years.

  A TREASURE'S TROVE:  A FAIRY TALE ABOUT REAL TREASURE FOR PARENTS AND
   CHILDREN OF ALL AGES by Michael Stadther


An illustrated fairy tale about twelve forest creatures whose mates have
disappeared after being crystallized by a dark dust that falls every evening.
Concealed in the pages of this story are the clues to twelve very real and very
valuable treasures that are hidden around the continental United States. All
ages.

Summer Reading/Young Readers

GREEN EGGS AND HAM (BEGINNER BOOKS) by Dr. Seuss Young fans of the unflappable
Sam-I-am will be pleased to discover the plethora of flaps to lift in this
10-page board book version of the Dr. Seuss classic. Sam-I-am does his very
best to convince a more finicky Seuss character to try this rather unusual
delicacy.  Ages 4 to 8 years.

IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE by Laura Joffe Numeroff

This tale of warped logic between boy and mouse is a surefire winner in the
giggle-generator category. But concerned parents can rest assured, there's even
a little education thrown in for good measure: underneath the folly rest
valuable lessons about cause and effect.  Ages 4 to 8 years.

STORYBOOK TREASURY OF DICK AND JANE AND FRIENDS (DICK AND JANE) by Unknown

These wonderful hardcover compilations of favorite stories include a mix of
beloved classics as well as recent hits sure to appeal to girls and boys alike.
 The storybook treasure includes: We Look and See, We Come and Go, and The New
We Work and Play.  Ages 4 to 8 years.

About Toys "R" Us

Toys "R" Us, Inc. is one of the leading specialty toy retailers in the world. 
It currently sells merchandise through more than 1,500 stores, including 680
toy stores in the U.S. and 608 international toy stores, including licensed and
franchise stores as well as through its Internet sites at
http://www.toysrus.com/, http://www.imaginarium.com/ and
http://www.sportsrus.com/.  Babies "R" Us, a division of Toys "R" Us, Inc., is
the largest baby product specialty store chain in the world and a leader in the
juvenile industry, and sells merchandise through 219 stores in the U.S. as well
as on the Internet at http://www.babiesrus.com/. 

DATASOURCE: Toys "R" Us



CONTACT: Kelly Cullen, [phone], , Kathleen

Waugh, [phone], , both of Toys "R" Us



Web site:  http://www.toysrus.com/

http://www.imaginarium.com/

http://www.sportsrus.com/

http://www.babiesrus.com/ 

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