(EMERYVILLE, CA, June 11, 2001) For the first time since its founding 25 years ago, Folkmanis, Inc. is introducing an entirely new and innovative category of puppets called BABY FOLKMANIS. Designed for interactive play between parent and child—beginning at birth—these unique puppets have colors, textures, shapes, and sounds to stimulate infant and toddler development while entertaining little ones with whimsical characters, fun manipulatives, and hidden surprises.

"Throughout the past 25 years, we’ve firmly established our leadership in the traditional puppet category with our award-winning innovation and creativity," says Judy Folkmanis, company co-founder, "Now, we’ve developed puppets for adults to use when they interact with children younger than three. We have carefully designed a line that reflects the inventiveness and play value for which Folkmanis is famous, and we expect they will become favorites in families with very young children."

Parents and retailers familiar with the award-winning Folkmanis brand have repeatedly asked for puppets for the very youngest "puppeteers." To meet this growing demand, the company is introducing nearly a dozen adorable items in its new BABY FOLKMANIS line. Created with an emphasis on discovery tools and active play, these puppets help stimulate children through special designs that feature bright colors, varied textures, different shapes, interesting sounds, and fun surprises.

Baby Folkmanis PEEK-A-BOO PLAY CUBES ($25 s.r.p.). Available in two versions, these six-inch cubes are sure to capture the attention of every growing infant. Designed with soft, brightly colored fabrics of different textures, the Peek-A-Boo Play Cube is filled with surprises that will bring smiles and giggles to kids of all ages. An older child or adult operates it by placing a hand in a nylon glove hidden inside the cube. Each of the glove’s fingers is tipped with a fun, colorful item that has a squeaker, rattle, crinkle or other intriguing noise-maker. The center finger operates one of two characters—a soft, white bunny or a playful monkey. The remaining fingers animate such items as leaves, a banana, or a carrot. When the toy’s puppeteer pushes a finger through one of five shape flaps, the child gets a fun peek-a-boo surprise. As the child’s perception develops, she can guess which hidden flap has which item or where bunny or monkey will appear next.

Baby Folkmanis BATH PUPPETS ($10 s.r.p.) These colorful, soft, terrycloth puppets are designed specifically for bathtime fun three ways: they are puppets, bath toys and wash mitts. Three sea creatures—stingray, shark, and starfish—are available and can be worn by either a child or adult. These entertaining toys are sure to make bath time super-fun time as little ones frolic with their new sea life friends (and get clean in the process!). Parents will love them because they make baths effortless. These bath friends have a unique design that causes them to float on the water’s surface when they’re not being worn on hand.

Baby Folkmanis MY FIRST PUPPETS SOFT BOOK ($35 s.r.p.) Children will delight in using the colorful finger puppet while their parent, older sibling or caregiver reads and plays along with their larger-sized hand puppet in this unique soft-covered book. My First Puppets soft book has four colorful spreads containing puppet flowers, octopi, frogs and wolves. Designed to introduce infants and toddlers to the wonderful world of reading and the joy of puppetry, this darling book is sure to become a treasured item in any nursery.

BABY FOLKMANIS puppets are appropriate for all ages, birth and up, and will be available for retail orders May 2001. Product expected to be on shelf beginning Summer 2001 at specialty toy and gift stores nationwide. You can also find Folkmanis^® Puppets near you by checking http://www.folkmanis.com/nearyou.htm . For more information, or customer service, please contact us at http://www.folkmanis.com/custquest.htm .