Just in time for the holiday season, famed children’s author Janice Kenyatta has launched the Abena doll as a companion product to her successful book Just As It Is! The adorable Abena Doll tells her story in Just As It Is! as a little African American girl whose parents inspired her in early life to love and appreciate her natural features, including her hair, just as it is. The new Abena Doll is available online at www.janicekenyatta.com and the book is also available on Amazon. 

Rainbow High, the leading fashion doll brand from one of the largest and fastest growing privately held toy and entertainment companies in the world, MGA Entertainment,  announced its partnership with actor and director Haylie Duff. Best known for her roles in various film and television projects, Haylie Duff is also the founder of a children’s fashion line and a devoted mom who values quality time with her daughters, sharing special moments with her community of parents across her social channels. Her endorsement of the all-new Rainbow High Dream & Design Studio Playset, as well other key Fall launches from the brand, like Fantastic Fashions and Color & Create dolls, speaks to the influence of the popular Rainbow High brand across homes worldwide. It also points to brand’s continued commitment to offering unique touchpoints for moms and guardians everywhere to connect with their kids through entertainment and creativity.

Ravensburger, the acclaimed publisher of award-winning board games and high-quality toys and puzzles, announced that the Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game (TCG) will be available in 10 new countries in 2024. Illumineers in Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Mexico will be able to answer the call starting with the release of the third set in early 2024. These territories effectively double the global availability of Disney Lorcana TCG, which originally launched in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg earlier this year.

Global independent animation ZAG has signed with Kuwait based family-owned clothing and accessory company RIVA Fashion for an exciting line of girls’ fashions for the globally successful brand Miraculous. The announcement was conveyed by Carlotta Caracciolo, ZAG’s Vice President of Licensing & Retail for the Middle East, Turkey, Greece, Africa & India. Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is now in its fifth season, scoring top ratings in more than 120 countries around the globe and Miraculous: Ladybug and Cat Noir, The Movie, launched theatrically in Europe this summer topping the box office in France and Germany; and launched on Netflix on July 28. Retail sales for the brand are over $US1 billion with 300 million products sold.

Spin Master Corporation, a leading children’s entertainment company, today announced it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire U.S.-based Melissa & Doug, a well-recognized and trusted brand in early childhood play, for $950 million in cash. The acquisition will bolster Spin Master’s position as a leader in the children’s entertainment industry and will bring complementary capabilities in early childhood toys by adding Melissa & Doug’s high-quality offerings of open-ended, creative, and developmental wooden toys. With a mission to ignite imagination and a sense of wonder in children, Melissa & Doug has developed into a beloved brand of high-quality, sustainable, and learning-enriched play that is sought after and trusted by parents and children alike. The addition of Melissa & Doug will strengthen Spin Master’s offering by adding complementary early childhood products and further diversify its portfolio across new channels and formats.