STREETSBORO, Ohio, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday shopping season is just a few weeks away, and already The Step2 50's Diner play kitchen has rocked its way to the top of several of the country's most notable hot toy lists. Recent accolades include topping Toys"R"Us "Fabulous 15" holiday toy list for 2008, ranking among FamilyFun magazine's top 10 toys of the year, and receiving an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, their top honor.
These highly anticipated shopping cheat-sheets help families identify which products are the best-of-the-best and will not only be safe, durable and a good value, but also fun, educational and provide hours of entertainment. Products to receive these awards are carefully selected after a comprehensive review process and exceed the performances of all other toys put to the test.
"We appreciate this recognition from such important industry and retail leaders," said Step2 CEO Scott Levin. "We pride ourselves on creating toys that are safe, fun and provide hours of imaginative play for kids. The Step2 50's Diner is a stand-out because it's a fresh take on our fun play kitchens and play houses, but it harkens back to a time when parents and grandparents were kids."
The new retro-style 50's Diner from Step2 lets toddlers step back to yesteryear with a classically styled play kitchen that features everything needed to prepare an imaginary meal and serve customers -- just like a real diner. The 50's Diner comes packed with fun activities and accessories including an oven, grill, dishware, spatula, ice cream scoop, sundae dishes, deep fryer, ketchup and mustard bottles, and a sink to clean the dishes. To help kids turn up the heat, a griddle pan and coffee pot activate electronic sizzling and bubbling sounds when placed on the stove's front burner. A tabletop seating area for pretend customers includes a working jukebox that lets kids rock around the clock with three 50's-style tunes. The 50's Diner is appropriate for children ages two years and up and retails for $149.99.
The 50's Diner is part of the Step2 lineup of high-quality, imaginative toys for kids, including its signature play kitchens, sand and water toys; ride on vehicles, swing sets and wagons. For more information visit http://www.step2.com/ .
About Step2
The Step2(R) Company is a family company with brands including Step2(R), Infantino(R), and Thinkativity(R) that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world's largest rotational molder of children's and home products, including children's play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, outdoor furniture and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn. Visit http://www.step2.com/ , http://www.infantino.com/ and http://www.thinkativity.com/ to learn more about The Step2 Company brands.
About Toys"R"Us, Inc.
Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer. Currently it sells merchandise through more than 1,500 stores, including 585 Toys"R"Us stores and 262 Babies"R"Us stores in the U.S., more than 693 international stores in 33 countries, which includes licensed and franchise stores, and through its Internet site at http://www.toysrus.com/ .
About Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
Founded in 1989 by mother and daughter team, Joanne and Stephanie Oppenheim, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio does not accept entry fees for reviewing products or take ads from companies. The Oppenheims are independent child development experts and contributors to NBC's TODAY Show. http://www.toyportfolio.com/
About FamilyFun:
Published by Disney Publishing Worldwide, FamilyFun, which targets families with children ages 3 to 12, has a rate base of 2 million (Source: ABC Dec. 2007) and a total audience of 5.5 million (Source: 2008 Spring MRI). A trusted source for families, FamilyFun delivers real ideas for -- and from -- real families. FamilyFun's lively and informative content focuses on making the most of family time together through travel, entertainment, cooking, crafts, learning at home, and other family activities. FamilyFun's portfolio of brands includes FamilyFun.com and FamilyFun books, including the Cooking with Kids cookbook.
CONTACT:
Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440
Margaux Vega, Current Lifestyle Marketing
mvega@currentlm.com; 415-449-0126
Links
http://www.step2.com/http://www.step2.com/category.cfm?subcategory_id=1026http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1561
Copyright 2008 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved