News/Updates 

Roddy Piper
April 17, 1954 - July 30, 2015

If she builds it, she will play—and add an important "A" for art to the vital fields of a STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math). That's the mission behind Build & Imagine, an empowering toy line for youngsters ages 4 and up that starts them on a road to innovation. Three magnetic construction sets such as Malia's Beach House ($59.99) are packed with foundational STEAM learning yet are enchanting for endless hours of imaginative play.

Since launching during Holiday 2014, there has been an enthusiastic response by youngsters (and parents). "It's the pictures!" that makes these building sets so special.

Each Build & Imagine StoryWalls play-set is made of colorfully illustrated magnetic panels that a child joins together any way she likes. The result is a scene that she brings to life with the enclosed dress-up dolls and more than 40 magnetic costumes and props. The illustrated details act as story starters, sparking imaginative play. Toy industry experts have taken notice including Dr. Toy, Parents' Choice, The National Parenting Center, Mr. Dad and many others.

This type of imaginative play "prepares little engineers for later reading and writing," wrote Play On Words.com as they awarded their 2015 PAL Top 10 Language Learning Toys gold seal. That's great news for a toy line geared to girls with its combination of construction and storytelling.

"Historically, building toys have catered to boys," explains Laurie Peterson, an award-winning toy designer and founder of Build & Imagine. "These innovative sets bridge left and right brain play. Girls construct magnetic panels using spatial reasoning and problem solving then make up storylines that heighten their language skills. It's like building a storybook setting in 3D then jumping in to play!"

Build & Imagine toys put the child in the role of architect and storyteller, and offers adventurous leading female characters. The color blue is sublimely sprinkled throughout the illustrated scenery. Mom blogger CoolMomPicks noted in her 2015 Toy Fair synopsis that Build & Imagine is a "smart toy for girls that defy the pink aisle. In other words, no princesses, ballerinas or fashionistas, whatever career that is."

Forbes describes how Build & Imagine engages both girls and boys by mashing up several beloved play patters, in their description of Marine Rescue Center ($49.99). "This toy combines the magic of magnetic tiles, the flexibility of traditional paper dolls, and most importantly, the fluid scene changes that speak to the magic of a storytelling theatre." The article was entitled 10 Non-LEGO Toys That Make Better Builders.

Perhaps for the first time, young girls get to brace walls at angles, test the front door and work together with siblings to secure the roof. Since all sets are interchangeable, children collect additional sets to build bigger towers or design a town. With each new set come endless storytelling possibilities.



Malia's Beach House · $59.99 · Ages 4+
Dr. Toy's 2015 Best Classic Toys
PAL Top 10 Language Learning Toys
Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner
The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Dr. Toy awarded this house her "2015 Best Classic Toys" distinction for re-imagining the dollhouse as a building toy. Girls develop early engineering skills by designing a beach house for dolls Malia and Skyler. Decorate the 16 dual-sided StoryWall building panels and the dolls with more than 40 magnetic accessories. Features a swimming pool, functional door, living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and bathrooms, garden, floor and roof shapes, outfits, accessories, pets and more!



Marine Rescue Center · $49.99 · Ages 4+
Creative Child Building Toy of the Year
The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval
Parent's Choice Gold Award

Dolphins, seals and turtles, oh my! Kids assist Thea on her mission to save endangered sea animals by patrolling the coast for wounded wildlife and caring for the animals at the rescue center. This imaginative set includes 15 dual-sided building panels, more than 30 magnetic accessories and a Thea doll. Features a dolphin pool, sea lion pool, operating room, laboratory, fish kitchen, ship control center, underwater
observatory, otter rehab tank, rescue gear, jet ski, outfits, feeding supplies and lots of marine animals!



Day At The Beach · $49.99 · Ages 4+
Mr. Dad Seal of Approval
Parent's Choice Gold Award
The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Surfs up and folks need yummy snacks and maybe a rescue from the waves. Dolls Emily and Lucas get to work at the surfside café and shop. There's a lifeguard stand, a kitchen prep area, a walk-up cafe window, a surfboard workshop, beach gear, rescue gear, outfits and tools! When work is finished and the kitchen is cleaned, the dolls can catch a wave before heading home. This enticing set includes10 illustrated building panels plus more than 40 action packed magnetic accessories including Iggy the surfing dog.

Coming Soon! Look for these two new building activity sets in October online and in stores:

Fairytale Theatre · $34.99 · Ages 4+
Kids can countdown to show time at this adorable theatre. Act out fairy tales or make up your own with this magnetic storytelling set. Choose from 8 stage backdrops and more than 50 magnetic props and costumes for endless imaginative play. The theatre is compatible with other Build & Imagine building and storytelling play-sets.

Pet Portrait Studio · $49.99
Woof and meow! Raise money for the local animal shelter by creating portraits of the animals up for adoption. Build a studio using the illustrated magnetic panels, then dress the pets in crazy outfits and arrange wacky scenes for the dolls to capture with their camera or paintbrush. Kids develop foundational STEAM skills through play with this kit that appeals to animal lovers, artists and budding entrepreneurs.

Look for Build & Imagine StoryWalls play sets online and in stores. Find Build & Imagine at e-tailers such as amazon, The Grommet, Kohl's, Fat Brain Toys and Zulily. Build & Imagine will be featured in upcoming catalogs such as Hammacher Schlemmer, Mindware and Museum Tour Toys. You might even tune in to QVC and catch their products in play. Browse inside Pottery Barn Kids or over 150 neighborhood toy shops. The magnetic building sets can also be conveniently purchased at Build & Imagine's website: www.buildandimagine.com.

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The Man with the Golden Gun occupies a weird place in the James Bond universe. It had one of the best Bond villains (Christopher Lee as Scaramanga), and one of the worst Bond comic reliefs (Clifton James as Sheriff J.W. Pepper). It centered around a serious and realistic threat (the 1970s energy crisis), but had a final showdown in a carnival funhouse (Scaramanga's island). The big chase scene perfectly encapsulates the successes and the failures with this mash-up of a movie:

His fellow agent kidnapped and his transportation disabled, Bond must resort to stealing an unmodified car to give chase. He has none of his usual gadgets to help him, but must instead rely on his wits and his reflexes to prevent the villain from making good on his escape. Bond is close on Scaramanga's tail, until he is forced into taking a turn that puts him on the wrong side of a river with the only crossings miles away in either direction. With no options left, he sees a partially demolished bridge and tries a desperate move. Thanks to his steady hand and impeccable control, he makes the landing and continues the pursuit...

That actually makes for a pretty good Bond scene. But then they made his fellow agent a nitwit who got locked in a trunk, stuck a buffoon on vacation in the passenger's seat, and then added in a stupid slide whistle sound effect during the jump.

George Coe
May 10, 1929 - July 18, 2015

I had been hunting down a suitable 1/24 TARDIS for years, a little surprised that nothing was available despite the amount of merchandise. Patience paid off, though, and Biff Bang Pow! released a bobble head that - although in need of some massaging - would work great.

After two Fast & Furious cars, Lola, and the Mirthmobile, I was ready for something with a little more patina. So I pulled together three ideas for famous beaters, put up a poll, and soon enough was starting work on the '69 Charger Daytona from David Spade's 2001 Joe Dirt. It was a fun experiment, not only as a way to try out some new weathering techniques but also the idea of a "viewers' choice" build: