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'I Cherish Planet Earth' Combo Voted Best Green Toy
Press Release
Sept. 9, 2009
Dr. Toy taps memory game
and children’s book by FocusBloom for top honors in this year’s eco-friendly toy
awards.
ASHLAND, Ma. – (Sept.
4, 2009) Little minds are fertile ground, and FocusBloom has been given industry kudos
for creating a toy that seeks to grow something vibrant and green in the
psyche of children.
The “I Cherish Planet Earth”
memory game and book set have been given Dr. Toy’s “Best Green Toy of 2009”
award, a distinction that sets it apart from the mass of other playthings manufactured
around the globe each year. The annual award gives recognition to novel green toys
produced and marketed in an eco-friendly way with safe and natural materials.
The awards showcase high-quality options available to green-minded consumers, encouraging
sustainable living practices.
“These 40 green products
constitute a small number among all the choices of play products available, but
we need to start somewhere,” says Stevanne Auerbach, the nationally recognized child
play expert known as ‘Dr. Toy.’ “As awareness grows, more families are thinking
and considering new directions that are safer, more balanced and healthier.”
The authors of “I Cherish
Planet Earth” – Margot Losa and Emily Kea – consider their picture book a “love
letter to Mother Earth.” In it they have paired beautiful artwork with text
that imparts green-living concepts to encourage children (ages 4-10) to be good
stewards of their environment and to appreciate the earth’s inhabitants.
These eco-friendly principles
are echoed in a matching game that comes with the book. Artful memory tiles feature
inspiring visuals and green affirmations such as “I love the forest,” “I recycle
and dispose with care,” “I celebrate peace” and “I pass things on.” To preview
illustrations from “I Cherish Planet Earth,” watch and listen to the YouTube music video clip by
children’s singer Charlie Hope.
“How our children see the
world in which they live is of ultimate importance. It’s vital to their growth
and future,” said Rob Wilson, vice president of Challenge & Fun Inc, a
natural toy wholesaler that distributes the award-winning eco-toy set. “That’s
why ‘I Cherish Planet Earth’ is so much more than your run-of-the-mill memory
exercise. The game reinforces the ideas introduced in the companion book, which
helps kids assimilate a love for nature, our planet and one another. Learning
and fun…it can’t get much better than that!”
Half a dozen activity
suggestions have been included with the book-game set to expand its educational
value. These application exercises allow children to respond to core ideas, helping
them retain the concepts long term.
This is the third year
DrToy.com has honored eco-minded companies and children’s products made from
sustainable materials and sold with minimized packaging. Products like “I
Cherish Planet Earth” are evaluated on toy safety, the messages they teach
children about Planet Earth, their use of natural resources, and other green
principles. The 48-piece matching game and book set is printed on recycled
paper, uses vegetable oil-based inks, and comes with a cotton drawstring pouch
– all made in the USA.
I Cherish Planet Earth is available online at:
Amazon
Three Sisters
MyToysMart.com
Tree Hollow Toys
My Little Green Room
About FocusBloom
FocusBloom,
the producer of “I Cherish Planet Earth,” is a privately owned small business
based in Rainier, WA, dedicated to creating products with meaningful
content, detailed artwork and affordable pricing. The company strives to
manufacture its products locally, using recycled materials, vegetable inks and
minimal packaging. FocusBloom is part of a “1% for the Planet,” a global group of
companies that donate a percent of their sales to a network of more than 1,500
environmental organizations worldwide.
About Challenge & Fun Inc.
Challenge
& Fun, Inc. was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Ashland, MA. This wholesaler
of natural children’s products markets safe eco-friendly toys and other beautiful
merchandise often not readily available in the United States. Although “I Cherish
Planet Earth” is a USA-made item, many of Challenge & Fun’s products are
made in Europe of natural, organic, Fair
Trade-certified materials. Most of the company’s soft toys are either certified by
Oko-Tex or by GOTS. Challenge & Fun is a member of the Toy Industry Association , ASTRA and the Organic Trade Association.
About Dr. Toy
Dr. Auerbach, who has a PhD
in child development, is one of the nation's leading experts on children's
play, toys and products. She has more than 30 years of professional experience
in this arena. To see a full list of Dr. Toy’s top green products for 2009, go
to: http://www.drtoy.com/awards/2009-green-products-list.php
Contact:
Do you have questions about the
“I Cherish Planet Earth” book and game set, or wish to set up an interview with
book author Margot Losa or illustrator Emily Kea? Go to http://www.focusbloom.com/contact.asp
and leave a message, or call Rob Wilson at the Challenge & Fun Inc. office
at 1-888-384-6200 or 1-508-881-7500.
Challenge & Fun Inc.
Rob Wilson, vice president
PO Box 222
Ashland, MA 01721
Email: info (AT) Challengeandfun.com
Toll Free: 888-384-6200
FocusBloom
P.O. Box 1220
Rainier, WA 98576
www.focusbloom.com
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