Raving Toy Maniac

Pizza Hut® BOOK IT!® Reading Program Extends Partnership With Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

DALLAS, May 14, 2013 -- The Pizza Hut® BOOK IT!® Program announced that it is again joining forces with best-selling author Jeff Kinney and his book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid for the 2013-14 school year. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, one of the most successful children's book series ever published, will be integrated into all BOOK IT! classroom materials, teacher printables and web creative at http://www.pizzahut.com/bookit. With this exciting partnership comes a new twist this year: one lucky BOOK IT! classroom will win a visit from Jeff Kinney!

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

TUESDAY, MAY 14: YOUNG READERS

Profile America — Tuesday, May 14th. This week is the 94th annual Children's Book Week - encouraging the joy of reading for young people. The idea began in 1913 with a drive by the librarian of the Boy Scouts, Franklin Matthiews, to promote higher standards in children's books. He got two other key people to join him –- the editor of Publisher's Weekly and the head of children's works at the New York Public Library. Children's Book Week began in 1919, and over the years, its efforts have helped to find and promote high quality children's books. In today's world, there are many alternatives vying for children's attention - computers, electronic books, DVDs and video games. But sales of printed books for youngsters still top $2.5 billion worth each year. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: http://www.bookweekonline.com

May 14, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

Hi- We've just listed a big batch of new DC Collectibles preorders this morning as well as a variety of other items:

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/list.aspx?list=12767

Batman Arkham City Action 6" Figure Two Pack - Batman & Bane
The New 52 Heroes Vs. Super Villains 7-Pack
Batman Arkham City Action 6" Figure Two Pack - Mr. Hammer & Harley Quinn
Batman Arkham City Action 6" Figure Two Pack - Sickle & Penguin
Injustice: Doomsday & Catwoman 3.75" Two-Pack
The Joker Patina Mini Statue
Blue Lantern Power Battery & Ring 1:1 Scale Prop Replica
The New 52: Super Villains - Black Adam
Ame-Comi Heroine Series: Steampunk Batgirl PVC Figure
The New 52: Pandora
Batman Arkham City The Riddler Statue
Cover Girls of the DC Universe: Batwoman Statue
DC Comics Bombshells - Harley Quinn
Infinite Crisis Nightmare Batman Statue

TOYNAMI LAUNCHES THE MUCH ANTICIPATED STREET FIGHTER X SANRIO SERIES 1 PRODUCTS

(Van Nuys, California – MAY 2013) - Toynami is pleased to announce the May launch and availability of the new STREET FIGHTER X SANRIO® SERIES 1 Plushes! In conjunction with the historic marketing partnership between Sanrio and Capcom, Toynami presents the first of a full line of STREET FIGHTER X SANRIO® crossover products!

With STREET FIGHTER X SANRIO®, Toynami celebrates an epic genre and culture combination. This first release of collectible plushes presents Hello Kitty as Chun-Li, Ryu, and M. Bison in 3 different sizes. A 4-inch clip-on coin purse allows fans to take their favorite characters everywhere. The 6-inch mini plush is just the right size for your desk or car, and the 10-inch large plush is perfect for the most dedicated fans. This SERIES 1 set is not to be missed!

UGLYDOLL Teams up with DC Comics

Super Heroes to Launch Toys and Accessories this Fall!

NEW YORK, May 13, 2013 -- Green Brook, NJ -- Pretty Ugly, LLC. and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, announced today that they have entered into a co-branded collaboration with DC Comics Super Heroes and UGLYDOLL characters. GUND, a division of Enesco, will produce a diverse range of colorful and collectible Super Hero plush based on the DC Comics and UGLYDOLL character universes. The initial release this fall will be a trio that includes two versions of Ice-Bat™ as Batman™ and Babo™ as Superman™.

May 2013 - DC Collectibles has announced a big batch of new items this month, but our email newsletter only sends out links to the ten newest blog/news posts, so this summary is for the newsletter folks to make sure they don't miss any of the new DC stuff!

And if you aren't a newsletter subscriber, now is a good time to sign up! It's free. Yay for free!

• 1:1 Scale Blue Lantern Power Battery and Ring Prop Replica
• Infinite Crisis: Nightmare Batman Statue
• Infinite Crisis: Atomic Wonder Woman Statue
• Batman: Arkham Origins Series 1 Action Figures (Batman, Black Mask)
• DC Comics-The New 52 Pandora Action Figure
• Super-Villains Black Adam Action Figure

May 2013 - DC Collectibles - DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 SUPER HEROES VS. SUPER-VILLAINS ACTION FIGURE 7-PACK

The battle between good and evil rages on with this special 7-pack action figure set that includes Aquaman, The Flash, Batman, Catwoman, The Joker, Captain Cold, and Black Manta!

FEATURES:
All-New Aquaman Head Sculpt and Sceptre
The Flash Metallic Redeco
Batman Metallic Redeco
All-New Catwoman Action Figure
The Joker and Captain Cold Redeco

Action Figures
$99.95 US
On Sale November 2013
Allocations May Occur

May 2013 - DC Collectibles - BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM BANE VS. BATMAN ACTION FIGURE 2-PACK

Reenact the epic battle between the Bat and Bane in your very own home with this special 2-pack collection of the Dark Knight and the venom-fueled villain based on their appearance in the critically acclaimed video game Batman: Arkham City.

Action Figures
$59.95 US
On Sale November 2013
Allocations May Occur

May 2013 - DC Collectibles - BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY SICKLE AND PENGUIN ACTION FIGURE 2-PACK

The other half of the The Abramovici Twins, Sickle, joins forces with Oswald Cobblepot while in Arkham City to take down the Batman.

Action Figures
$39.95 US
On Sale November 2013
Allocations May Occur

May 2013 - DC Collectibles - BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY MR. HAMMER AND HARLEY QUINN ACTION FIGURE 2-PACK

One half of the The Abramovici Twins, Mr. Hammer, is Harley Quinn's right-hand man as they take on the Bat in the hit game Batman: Arkham City!

Action Figures
$39.95 US
On Sale November 2013
Allocations May Occur