Nov 3, 2009

Kids Preferred Products Win 13 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Awards

East Windsor, N.J. – Triskaidekaphobes (those with a fear of the number 13) may not agree, but Kids Preferred thinks 13 is great! That’s because this year 13 products from six licensed product lines won Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Awards. Of those winners, an impressive eight won the highest Oppenheim honor, a Platinum Seal.

The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio is an independent organization that takes the guesswork out of finding the best products for kids. Each year, they give Gold Seal Awards to outstanding new products that enhance the lives of children. The seal is only awarded to children’s products that are “a very good, worth-the-money product.” The Platinum Award winners are then chosen from the Gold Seal Award winners, which means they’re the best of the best.

Here’s what the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio judges had to say about the winning Kids Preferred Products:

Award winners from Kids Preferred’s The World of Eric Carle® line of products-

Platinum
Eric Carle Apple Playset • $20
A cute red velour apple with a see though plastic side, a hole and yes, a Very Hungry Caterpillar inside. This is a fun fill and dump toy with lots of fabric fruits with rattles and squeakers to dump out and put back inside. The multi-colored dotted fabric that lines the apple adds to its visual appeal and recalls the colorful pages of the Eric Carle classic storybook that is now available in a cardboard version for little lap-sitters to enjoy.

Eric Carle Chime Toys (in Lion and Caterpillar style) • $10
A set of two little fabric chime toys to hang on the stroller or on the handle of an infant carrier. The chimes are tucked inside the little fabric toys so they are what you might call… safe and sound. They can also be added to the bars on a typical playmat for baby to bat at or kick. There’s a green caterpillar with a bright red head and an orange lion with a spotted body. Both make pleasing quiet sounds that may remind you of gentle wind chimes as they dangle in baby’s sight. Older infants will want to explore them and pass them from one hand to another. With the sounds safely sewn inside, these are a small treat for the senses.

Gold Seal
Eric Carle Ring Rattle • $8
A Very Hungry Caterpillar in green fabric with a red velour head sits atop a see-through ring rattle. The colorful beads in the ring make a pleasing sound and the ring is easy to grasp. A good take-along toy for on-the-go diversions.

Eric Carle Caterpillar Teether • $7
Just the right shape and size for older infants to handle on their own. The body of the caterpillar has interesting textures and crinkle sounds, the head has a good rattle and the back end has a round green bumpy textured teether that is sure to sooth tender gums.

Award winners from Kids Preferred’s The World of Beatrix Potter™ line of products-

Platinum Seal
Kids Preferred Peter Rabbit Waggies Musical • $25
Peter Rabbit is all done up in his blue jacket with textured velour and stitched brass buttons, his long ears sit above a face done with stitched features and he’s clutching a bright orange carrot. Wind him up and he plays Brahms Lullaby while his head moves slowly. Put him on his tummy for best balance and easier to see motion. Also available a Mama Rabbit sans music. She’s more of a collector’s item. Peter also comes as a hand puppet that is ideal for tracking games and for older sibs to use with baby.

Peter Rabbit Hand Puppet • $16
A silky plush Peter Rabbit with velour blue jacket with stitched gold buttons and safe stitched features. Soft enough to be a huggable, this has the added value of being a hand puppet that older sibs and parents can use for peek-a-boo games with baby or telling a story. From tracking to story telling, this is a great toy for interacting, language development and pretend play.

Gold Seal
Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck Rattles • $8 each
Perfect for tracking and for little hands to clutch later, these soft rattles have a quiet sound, a lovely feel, and a lovable look. Features are stitched for safety and they have interesting textures. The velour covering is has both a smooth and waffled textured and trims of cotton knit. Designed for infants, these will be a hit with older siblings who know the stories of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck.

Award winners from Kids Preferred’s amazing baby™ line of products-

Platinum Seal
Amazing Baby Pop-Up Activity Ball • $22
A fabric activity ball with many sensory features for baby to explore. Colorful patterns and different textures make this an interesting toy for all the senses. It is 6″ big and has a reflective mirror, a pullout bear, crinkle, ribbons, rings and peek-a-boo flaps.

Gold Seal
Amazing Baby Blanket Teether Bunny • $17
Hang this cute pink and white hare on the stroller for gazing or hand it off to baby. It’s a cute 12″ bunny with lots of textures and patterns to explore. The body has built in rattle, crinkle and squeaker sounds. It has chewy teether hands and rings on its feet for grabbing.

Other Kids Preferred Platinum Award winners:

Dressable Madeline™ • $30
Welcome back, Madeline! From time to time this storybook character exits for a season or two and then happily resurfaces. This season she is back in all her classic glory. This all-fabric doll with her red hair, her bright yellow hat and blue velour coat, plaid school girl dress and black shoes is ready to be dressed and undressed. Oh, yes, she has her requisite appendix scar. Bring her home with one or more of the books or the many videos with Christopher Plummer narrating.

Guess How Much I Love You™ Nutbrown Hare Hand Puppet • $16
The Nutbrown Hare Hand Puppet, the rabbit from Guess How Much I Love You, in silky plush. It is soft enough to be a huggable with the added value of being a hand puppet. Older sibs and parents can use this charming puppet for peek-a-boo games with baby or telling a story. From tracking to story telling, it makes a great prop for interacting with babies and toddlers. It is ideal for language development and pretend play.

Spot™ Large Plush • $30
An adorable armful of a 16″ yellow pup with brown spot on its side and on the tip of its tail. This looks like it jumped out of the ever popular Eric Hill Spot books. Big enough to satisfy toddlers who will love cuddling and lugging their very own Spot about. Also adorable, a handful of fun, a 6″ Velour Spot Bean Bag Toy ($9) that will fit into little hands.

About Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio was founded in 1989 as the only independent consumer review of children’s media. According to their website, www.toyportfolio.com, “we test and review products for children the year-round– only we get to do what most parents wish they could do before they buy. We open the toys, run the videos, read the books, play the music, and boot up the software. We send the best of these products on to our families of testers for further evaluation.” The mother-and-daughter Oppenheims, Joanne and Stephanie, are monthly contributors on NBC’s Today Show.

About Kids Preferred, LLC
Kids Preferred, LLC is dedicated to creating superior quality, innovative soft toys and gifts for children of all ages using unique, playful designs that help instill a love of learning and create everlasting childhood memories. They serve the specialty, juvenile, gift, and better department store trade. The Company’s distinctive soft and plush toys and gifts are marketed under the Company’s own Kids Preferred™ brand and through licensed brands including amazing baby™, asthma & allergy friendly™, The World of Beatrix Potter™, Madeline™, Charlie & Lola™, The World of Eric Carle™, Elmer, Naturally Better Peter Rabbit™, Emily Goes Wild, Guess How Much I Love You™, Harley-Davidson®, Martha Speaks™, Pat the Bunny™, The Snowman™, Between The Lions™ and Spot™. For more information, visit their website at www.kidspreferred.com.