Target settles CPSC allegations of selling toys with lead paint in $600,000 fine

Target Corp. has agreed to pay a $600,000 fine for allegedly violating the federal lead paint ban for toys, the Consumer Products Safety Commission said.

The civil penalty is a part of a settlement between the Commission and the Minneapolis, Minn., retailer that stems from accusations by the agency that Target knowingly imported and sold multiple toys with paint or other coatings containing illegal amounts of lead from May 2006 to August 2007.

The agency also accused Target of failing to prevent toys or other children’s products with lead in them from being imported or sold in its stores, which created a risk of lead poisoning and children's health problems.

As a part of the settlement, Target has denied Commission allegations that it broke any laws.

Target voluntarily recalled the toys in question, including Anima Bamboo Collection Games, Happy Giddy Gardening Tools, Kool Toyz and Sunny Patch Chairs, the agency said.

Lead has been banned from toy paint since 1978.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

Photos: Recalled Kool Toyz products (top) and Anima Bamboo Collection Games (bottom). Credit: Consumer Product Safety Commission

LeapFrog plush toy recalled for choking risk

The LeapFrog Enterprises and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are recalling a plush toy made by the Emeryville company because it poses a choking hazard to children.

About 3,700 My Pal Scout electronic plush toy dogs need to be returned to LeapFrog. The decals on the toy’s paws can be removed and swallowed by a child, which could cause the child to to choke, the commission said in the media release.

My Pal Scout toys were sold at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide, and on the Web at www.toysrus.com, www.leapfrog.com and other retail websites from May 2009 through June 2009. It cost about $20.

The plush dog measures about 9 inches high by 9 inches wide. “LeapFrog Ent. Item No. 19142” is printed on the toy’s packaging and the white tag attached to the dog.

My Pal Scout dogs with embroidered paws are not included in the recall.

The commission instructs consumers to take the toy away from young children and contact LeapFrog for a replacement. For additional information, contact the company at (800) 701-5327 between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. PST,  Monday through Thursday, or between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. PST. on Friday, or visit the company’s website.

-- W.J. Hennigan

Toys R Us acquires FAO Schwarz

Toys R Us Inc. announced today that it has acquired classic toy retailer FAO Schwarz for an undisclosed amount.

Under terms of the deal, Toys R Us said it would take over FAO Schwarz’s remaining retail stores, in New York City and Las Vegas, and its e-commerce and catalog operations. Each of those businesses will continue to operate under the FAO Schwarz name.

Founded in 1862, FAO Schwarz of New York has lost some of its luster in recent years, shuttering locations around the country. But Jerry Storch, chief executive of Toys R Us, said the brand still holds a “special place...in the hearts of children everywhere.”

“We will work tirelessly to preserve the distinctiveness and integrity of the FAO Schwarz stores and brand as we grow the business and, indeed, take the brand to even greater heights,” he said in a statement.

Merchandising, management, distribution and marketing operations will immediately begin to transition to Toys R Us, which maintains its headquarters in New Jersey and operates more than 1,500 stores in 33 countries.

A Toys R Us spokeswoman said FAO Schwarz products sold in Macy’s stores nationwide would be phased out by the end of the year.

-- Andrea Chang

Barbie sales up, Mattel shares up, but Q1 revenue is down

Barbie recently had a 50th birthday, and she's been going out a lot lately -- out of the toy store and into the homes of children and collectors.

Although Barbie's recent milestone of five decades as a top toy is good news for Mattel Inc., declining revenue is crashing the party. So far investors don't seem to mind.

For the first quarter, Mattel posted a $51-million loss, or 14 cents a share, but shares rose more than 12% in early trading today to $14.63.

Today's continued interest in Mattel stock can be attributed, at least in part, to good old Barbie; sales rose 18% in the U.S. during the January-to-March period.

In last year's first quarter, the El Segundo toy maker reported a loss of $46.6 million, or 13 cents a share. Revenue in this year's first quarter dropped 15% from the year-earlier quarter, to $786 million from $919 million.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

Photo: Barbie at 50. Credit: Associated Press

Kentucky Derby Barbie makes her debut -- huge hat and all

She already has a dream house, a hunky boyfriend and a wardrobe filled with clothes. Now Barbie is getting dolled up for the Kentucky Derby.

Toy maker Mattel Inc. and Churchill Downs, the racetrack that hosts the legendary horse race, said today that they had launched Kentucky Derby Barbie. In true Derby fashion, the doll is dressed in a floral sundress, faux pearl necklace, sandals -- and a huge white hat with flower accents.

And there's more: Collectors have a chance to buy a life-size replica of the hat that Kentucky Derby Barbie wears. For more information, go here.

"Barbie and the Kentucky Derby have come together to celebrate a legendary American sporting and fashion event," said Stephanie Cota, a senior vice president at Mattel. "As a fashion icon, this gorgeous collector doll and replica hat pays tribute to Derby fashion and is sure to excite Barbie collectors, Kentucky Derby fans and fashionistas alike."

-- Andrea Chang

Photo: Barbie goes preppy chic for the Kentucky Derby. Credit: www.thederbystore.com

Disney introduces first black princess doll

Princess Tiana, Disney's first-ever black princess character and star of the upcoming animated film "The Princess and the Frog," became the face of a new toy line this month. 

Tony Award-winning actress and singer Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Princess Tiana, helped unveil the line, which includes dolls, playsets and dresses, at a sneak preview event at the American International Toy Fair in New York.

In addition to toys, there will also be an extensive line of "The Princess and the Frog"-inspired apparel, accessories, home décor, consumer electronics, school supplies and personal care products arriving to retailers nationwide this fall, Disney said. In malls across North America and Canada, more than 220 Disney Stores will also celebrate the debut of Princess Tiana and "The Princess and the Frog" with window displays and merchandising.

Tiana is Disney's first new princess in more than 10 years. The company said she would join fellow princesses Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas and Snow White.

"The Princess and the Frog" is a fairy tale set in New Orleans that is scheduled to be released during the holidays. Voice talent includes Oprah Winfrey and John Goodman.

-- Andrea Chang

Photo: Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Disney's Princess Tiana, helped unveil the new line of Princess Tiana toys. Credit: Associated Press

Worst toy of the year: Dallas Cowboys Barbie

A toy SUV: better than Barbie? Credit:Vox Efx via Flickr

You probably don't want your kids playing with guns, knives or feral cats, but how about dolls that actually poop, miniature Cadillac Escalade SUVs or tricycles hooked up to the TV screen? Those topped the list of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's TOADY Awards, which stands for Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children.

The winner of the award, beating out a field of impressive candidates, was the Barbie Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Doll, for children ages 6 and up. It comes with stiletto boots and a halter top. Rah! Rah!

"When you combine two classic symbols of gendered stereotypes -- the Dallas Cowboy cheerleader and Barbie -- you get one terrible toy," CCFC Steering Committee member Joe Kelly said in a news release.

The CCFC says 6,000 people voted on the awards, and doesn't mince words when describing the toys. Here's an excerpt from its diatribe on the Escalade toy:

Who needs to pedal?  Now your 3-year-old can drive their own icon of excess at speeds up to five miles per hour! With its $349.99 price tag, you can prove to your neighbors that you aren't affected by the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. And who cares about the environment, either? Teach your children to love their gas guzzlers; a real life Escalade gets all of 14 miles per gallon!

The campaign released the awards in advance of this weekend's TOTY awards, in which the Toy Industry Assn. decides on the year's best toys. If you want to learn about some other bizarre toys, check out the TIA website. Nominees include a talking pink doll house (no, it's not haunted), the Bakugan Battle Brawlers Battle Pack (for teaching your child about elocution) and the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker (no boys allowed).

Presumably  your daughter could feed said cupcakes to her TOADY-nominated Caucasian pooping doll and find out how digestion really works.

-- Alana Semuels

Action figure Obama keeps the peace with karaoke and lightsabers

When President Barack Obama isn't leading the free world, he unwinds with a touch of karaoke, a bit of samurai sword practice and the occasional lightsaber duel with Darth Vader.

Or at least that's what his action figure doppelganger enjoys, in addition to packing machine guns and other weaponry to fight terrorists and the like. Apparently the plastic president is a little more aggressive than the flesh- and-blood version.

The foot-tall commander-in-chief doll has interchangeable heads and hands and can be switched to different poses. The figure also comes with an American flag and flag pin, as well as red and blue ties. No basketball in sight, however.

Toy-bama has been attributed in the blogosphere to Hong Kong manufacturer DiD Corp. and Japanese company Gamu-Toys, and is selling for about $80 on eBay.

The president has inspired a small legion of mini-mes. Jailbreak Toys has four versions of its 6-inch-tall Obama doll, including a limited edition inaugural figure wearing a gold suit.

But Obama can't claim a monopoly on the idea of a play-worthy POTUS. ToyPresidents Inc. makes models of Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, while TalkingPresidents.com outfits its George W. Bush doll in a flight suit, Top Gun style.

--Tiffany Hsu

Photo: Jailbreak Toys
Photo, above: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog

Barbie hits 50

At age 50, Barbie is no longer what you’d call a spring chicken. But she’s still trying her hardest to stay hip.

To celebrate the five-decade mark, Mattel announced today that it is launching a massive logistical operation to stuff the next year with parties, partnerships and products talking up the iconic doll.

“There’s never been a brand like Barbie,” said Richard Dickson, senior vice president of the brand. “This anniversary gave us a moment in time to unite all our preexisting relationships and more with an epic marketing platform that truly will be unprecedented for us and the toy world. The 50^th will be the trophy year.”

Among the kickoff events, El Segundo-based Mattel is compiling a list of more than 50 top designers, including Diane von Furstenberg, Anna Sui and Vera Wang, who will present the first Barbie runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York on Valentine’s Day.

On March 9, event planner Colin Cowie is throwing Barbie a pink-splashed Malibu Dream House party at an actual beachfront residence decorated by interior designer Jonathan Adler. DJ AM is set to spin music for a roster flush with famous friends like supermodel Heidi Klum.

The 11.5 inch doll for years held an almost freakish grip on the imaginations and aspirations of young girls across the country and provided endless fodder for feminist sociologists and Burning Man artists.

The brainchild of Ruth Handler, mother of Barbara and Kenneth and wife of Mattel co-founder Elliot, Barbie made her debut at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. Since then, the doll has evolved through thousands of incarnations and 110 careers. On average, three Barbies are sold each second.

Read on for more events ...

Malia and Sasha Obama in doll form?

The First Daughters: Are they dolls or what?

The Web has been buzzing today about dolls called “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia,” the same names as the Obama girls.

Ty Inc., the company behind the Beanie Babies toys, released the 12-inch plush dolls in 2007 as part of the company’s “TyGirlz Collection.” The Malia doll has a side ponytail and a long-sleeved shirt and Capri pants, while the Sasha doll sports pigtails, a white and pink dress and leggings.

They appear to be the only African American dolls among the dozens in the collection.

But the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company chose the dolls' names because "they are beautiful names," not because of any resemblance to President Obama's daughters, spokeswoman Tania Lundeen told the Associated Press.

"There's nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls," Lundeen said. "It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls. They are not."

A limited supply has been shipped to retailers, according to the Associated Press. The dolls retail for $9.99.

—Tiffany Hsu

Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press