New Crafts for Children from Highlights

June 11, 2010

Today at the Licensing International Expo, children's publisher Highlights for Children announces a slate of four licensing agreements, among the first to bring Highlights' "Fun with a Purpose" brand to toy shelves across the U.S.  Highlights is partnering with Discovery Bay Games to create board games and card games. The company's new partner Horizon Group USA will create a collection of Highlights craft and activity toys. Trends International will introduce a line of Highlights activity calendars. Highlights has also signed an agreement with Ravensburger USA, Inc. to develop a brand-new, engaging and top-quality line of 2D puzzles and 3D puzzleball designs.

The history of Highlights as a children's publishing powerhouse is the foundation for this new licensing effort. Generations have grown up reading its flagship title, Highlights, currently the best-read children's magazine in North America. The special connection Highlights holds with parents and children is behind the success of its magazines and book club titles such as Puzzlemania, which reaches more than three million families each year. Translating acclaimed Highlights puzzles, imagery and children's activities into educational and fun toys and products is an exciting step in the company's 64-year history.

"We're proud to have partnered with companies whose focus is the same as ours - providing engaging high-quality, creative products for families," says Highlights VP of Licensing, Robin Sayetta. "Crafts, activities, games and puzzles have always been a part of our magazines. Now, with our first partners, we will bring these activities from the pages of our magazines to store shelves."

Horizon Group USA and Highlights have signed a multi-year agreement to create a collection of Highlights "make your own" craft and activity kits. Horizon will adapt existing and new Highlights puzzle, game and activity content to 3D formats that expand and enhance these time-tested experiences for children. A combination of tried-and-true components like stickers, markers and crayons, and new color and paper technologies, will add fun and creativity to the line. The collection will debut at specialty and mass retailers beginning in fall 2010.

Discovery Bay Games and Highlights share a commitment to families, education and fun. The game maker's mission is to bring friends of all ages and families together to play, interact and laugh together. The product line will launch in 2011 with three original games that will take inspiration from Highlights content as well as its philosophies about children and play.

Trends International, LLC, the leading publisher and manufacturer of licensed posters, calendars and creative fun, has signed on to create 2012 calendars that will leverage Highlights' diverse games and activities. The calendars are planned to debut in the summer of 2011.

Ravensburger USA, Inc, a division of the European-based leading, family-owned company for meticulously-made and beautifully designed puzzles, games and arts, and crafts products will produce a variety of puzzles featuring Highlights unique imagery and content. The new Highlights puzzles from Ravensburger will perfectly capture Highlights play activities and illustrations with products that encourage togetherness and inspire learning and creativity, including traditional flat puzzles and innovative 3D puzzleballs. The premiere collection will debut at Fall Toy Preview in October 2010.

Established as a craft company in 1912, Horizon Group USA has grown to become the leading creative kids craft resource in the US marketplace today. Their product lines are composed of craft activity kits, coloring products and stationery based play sets. With an emphasis on destination type programs, Horizon seeks to take advantage of Highlights' rich library of assets and revered content. By pairing that with their own creative team's abilities, Horizon seeks to create innovative and purposeful twists on traditional play-patterns.