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In a total game changer for the worlds of toys and technology (Hasbro and Zynga have teamed up to make toys and board games based on Zynga’s popular online video games. Starting with Words With Friends, the partnership will also see FarmVille,... Read the rest of this post

Disney Comics are going digital (with an app giving readers access to more than 50 titles, as well as short stories and graphic novels. It makes sense Disney finally developed this app considering it has more than one billion comic readers and... Read the rest of this post

Hasbro, Discovery prepare to launch The Hub (The new kids' cable channel will debut on October 10 targeting 6 to 12 year-olds with a mix of popular syndicated series and originals like a live-action adaptation of "Clue") (Los Angeles Times) - BTS... Read the rest of this post

MTV beats out Vevo (as the web's most-visited music destination — thanks to metrics that now combine MTV site traffic with Warner Music Group a la their recent ad-sales deal. Meanwhile, on Vevo's parent site YouTube four of the five... Read the rest of this post

The Hub launches 10-10-10 (with a special Sneak Preview Sunday showcasing the new network's original series, including "Family Game Night," "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, and "Pound Puppies") (Washington Business Journal) - Children want to... Read the rest of this post

'Kids are not going to want to see 30-minute infomercials' (says an exec behind The Hub by way of curbing revived concerns around the commercialization of shows built around Hasbro products. CEO Margaret Loesch adds that those will comprise less... Read the rest of this post

Find the cow! Pictureka! You'd think growing up in America's Dairyland we'd be able to spot a cow within seconds. But that little, crazy cow in the Hasbro board game Pictureka! had us searching and searching. For whatever reason, it took my daughter and I about five minutes before we finally spotted the cow. We had a lot more success finding the other objects.

In Pictureka! the goal of the game is to locate objects fast. Those that have a quick eye and a good memory will love playing. It's kind of like an I-Spy cross Memory game with loopy, whimsical pictures. The first person to collect 6 mission cards wins. Recommended for ages 6+.

The board consists of 9 double-sided tiles with numerous, sometimes crazy illustrations (like a horse passing gas and a stinky sock.) You arrange the tiles in a 3x3 square. Throughout the game the tiles get switched, flipped, and rotated to make locating objects difficult.

Adults and kids will enjoy playing this one! You can even vary the game depending on age. For young kids and preschoolers that aren't able to read, the game can be played using only the picture (blue) cards. That's how I played it with my daughter. She really got into the game, at one point saying, "Come on brain! Let's do it!" I quickly realized that preschoolers are pretty observant. My daughter didn't want to put the game away. Those that are interested in bilingual products will like Pictureka! All the mission cards are written in both English and Spanish.




Want to try it out? Have some fun and try playing the Demo Pictureka! Game.

We're planning to play Pictureka again this evening. If you hadn't heard, tonight is National Family Game Night. Turn off that TV, gather the family together, exercise those brains and play a few board games! After all, it is TV Turn-off Week!

Which games do you like to play with your family? I'm looking for suggestions for preschool games in particular!

(Hasbro provided Pictureka! free of charge for my family to review. View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)

It's time to name a few of my favorite toys from the 80's: Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears, Barbie and the Rockers and ... My Little Pony. Over my childhood years I collected several of the colorful, chunky ponies and even a few baby ponies. My mom kept them tucked safely away and now my daughter enjoys playing make believe with my original ponies and a few of her own newer models. First introduced in 1983, the My Little Pony line has stood the test of time.

Yesterday, Oct. 13th, Twinkle Wish Adventure, a new winter-themed My Little Pony DVD released in stores and online. In this adventure, the Ponyville ponies are making preparations for the upcoming Winter Wishes Festival. The pony friends participate in an ornament making contest. The winner of the contest gets the honor of placing Twinkle Wish, a wishing star, on top of the ever forevergreen tree. But due to a jealous act, the wishing star ends up in the hands of a dragon named Whimsy that lives on Willy Nilly Mountain. The seven ponies -- Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Toola-Roola, Cheerilee, Sweetie Belle and Starsong -- work together to recover the star in time for the festival and end up learning an important lesson about friendship.

I don't recall watching any of the My Little Pony animated shows as a kid, but apparently several have been produced. Even though it is a new production, the movie has that same enduring/a little bit cheesy 1980's classic animated feel. This is definitely a girly movie. My preschool daughter intently watched the adventure unfold and especially liked all the cute, catchy songs. The DVD sparked her imagination and she now takes her own ponies on their own adventures. I imagine Santa will put at least one of the pony characters from the show in her Christmas stocking this year. She remarked after watching the movie that "all the ponies have lovely hair." My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure received the Dove "Family-Approved" seal for all ages and includes messages about friendship, making the right choices and sibling rivalry.

The bonus features include:
• Six Sing-along songs
• "Waiting For The Winter Wishes Festival" - A Prequel
• "Elefun and Friends" - A New Animated Short
• Downloadable Activities: Coloring Sheet, Pony Note to Santa, How to Make a Snowman and Cut-out Pony Ornaments

I also just learned that from October 23rd through November 12th McDonalds will feature My Little Pony characters in Happy Meals.


Related links:
Wikipedia - My Little Pony
Hasbro My Little Pony: Meet the ponies
Coupon for $5 off $20 My Little Pony Purchase Expires 12/31/09



Shout! Factory has sent me an extra My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure DVD to give away to a Brimful Curiosities reader.

To enter, leave a comment relevant to this post.

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• Contest ends on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
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The first time my grandma saw my son as a baby, she exclaimed, "His eyes are full of fun and mischief!" She got that one right. My little guy can be so darn sweet but there's always a hint of tease and silliness behind his adorable smile.

Seems every time I get the camera out the kids put on their goofiest faces, trying to capture my attention. This summer my daughter wanted me to take a picture of her holding her favorite ball. Not to be outdone, my son stepped right into the photo with this "Gomer Pyle" grin (click to enlarge). I chuckle every time I see the photo...compare it to a photo of Jim Nabors, the real Gomer Pyle for an even bigger chuckle! (Dead-on, am I right?)



5 Minutes for Mom is hosting a Silly Kids Photo Contest sponsored by Hasbro. The prize: $1,000 to use towards classes and/or education material for your child. (Second place gets $300.00). Tomorrow is the last day to enter (10/19 at 3pm Eastern). This picture of "A Little Gomer Pyle" is my entry.

Today we bring you another installment of Youth Media Movers and Shakers. We've culled through industry publications looking for the recent executive placements we think you should know about. If you have executive news that you want us to highlight... Read the rest of this post

Today we bring you another installment of Youth Media Movers and Shakers. We've culled through industry publications looking for the recent executive placements we think you should know about. If you have executive news that you want us to highlight... Read the rest of this post

Today we bring you another installment of Youth Media Movers and Shakers. We've culled through industry publications looking for the recent executive placements we think you should know about. If you have executive news that you want us to... Read the rest of this post

Comic-Con 2010 (Debates over digital comics and the future of the industry heat up the convention floor. Also Stan Lee unveils three new superheroes [pictured here], 'Scott Pilgrim' premieres, more backlash against 3D and a new fleet of toys for... Read the rest of this post

Jersey Shore comes to iPhone, Facebook (MTV promotes season two with a Snooki-themed app and an FB game where players can battle in "head-to-head pickle and tanning lotion throwing competitions." Also buzz builds around the 'Shore' inspired "K-Town"... Read the rest of this post

Seasons Readings (NPR explores how holiday classics — and reading aloud in general– bring families together) (Kid Lit) - A back-to-school lesson from Mead (the school supplier uses gaming and virtual worlds to get the kids' attention)... Read the rest of this post

Disney's 'Princess and the Frog' (How Disney's first black princess finally made it to the big screen. Also Ad Age takes a look at Hasbro's strategy behind toy-inspired blockbusters like "Transformers" and "GI Joe") (Denver Post) ( Ad Age, reg.... Read the rest of this post

It didn't take long after the announcement of Hasbro and Discovery's new kids' channel for advocacy groups to come out to voice their concerns against the joint venture. From a statement released by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free... Read the rest of this post

Today we bring you another installment of Youth Media Movers and Shakers. We've culled through industry publications looking for the recent executive placements we think you should know about. If you have executive news that you want us to highlight... Read the rest of this post