NEW YORK, February 1, 2005 -- Best-Lock Construction Toys is relying on their low-tech building blocks to stand out from the crowd as they showcase their latest pirate ship sets at the American International Toy Fair.

Experts say building blocks such as Best-Lock's are good toys for child development since they involve motor skills as well as encourage creativity, imagination and sharing. Joan Almon, a longtime kindergarten teacher and U.S. Coordinator of the Alliance for Children, says a good toy requires effort on the part of the child. "The more the toy determines the play, the less the child can do with it. That's why children tire of elaborate toys so quickly," says Almon. To find out more about Best-Lock toys go to http://www.best-lock.com.

Best-Lock's new ship designs allow a child's creativity and imagination to come to life. The pirate ships are similar in size and style with a few differentiating characteristics. One ship set features skeletons, and is complete with skeleton figurines, a large black ship and black sails with skeleton faces. The second set is more traditionally designed with rugged pirate figurines on a brown ship with white sails. Both sets are comprised of 500 building blocks and are over two feet long when fully assembled.

Best-Lock, a company that prides itself on making quality products for a moderate price, offers its sets at a cost significantly less than other comparable products (Pirate Ship sets are available for only $19.99).

"Parents wanting to make their shopping budgets go further can look to Best-Lock for the latest toys kids love," says Stephen Minsk, global vice-president of sales and marketing for the company.

Both pirate ship designs will be on display at the 2005 American International Toy Fair in New York City this February. Best-Lock products can be purchased at stores such as Toys "R" Us, Target, Wal-Mart and K7B Toys. A limited selection of Best-Lock toys is also available at AAFES (on U.S. military bases worldwide). Browse Best-Lock's online catalog at http://www.best-lock.com, or purchase any set at http://www.getthetoys.com.

About Best-Lock:

Now in its seventh year of U.S. sales, Best-Lock Construction Toys sells products in 36 countries. Best-Lock is a privately owned company founded in 1997, with projected 2004 U.S. revenues of $15 million. With offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia, the company's goal is to capture 10 percent market share of the $1 billion-plus construction toy market over the next three years. Best-Lock recently announced winning its case to market its construction building block sets in Germany as a Bundesgerichtshof (Supreme Court) ruling reverses a 40-year monopoly for LEGO stating it was out of step with modern European trade.