Activity Hour

Wednesday, November 28th, from 10 to 11 a.m., at our Rockland store, 318 Main St. We'll be reading "Owl Babies" by Martin Wadell, and then making our own owl babies. Free to join! Stop by, or call 596-5976 to sign up.

Sunrise Sale!

Sunrise Sale! Friday, November 23rd from 7 to 10 am.

Breyer Fun Day!

Hey horse fans, on Saturday, December 8th from 10 a.m. to noon, Planet Toys Rockland will be hosting Breyer Fun Day! Come paint your very own model horse. Not only will be we be painting horses, we will also be playing games and giving out prizes. Plus, there will be special "Fun Day" collectible model horses available for purchase only through this event. So bring a friend and join the fun! This is no cost to participate, however signing up is highly recommended. You can do this either at the Camden or Rockland store locations, or by calling 207-596-5976. See you there!

Story & Activity Hour

On Wednesday, November 28th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. we'll be reading "Owl Babies" by Martin Waddell. Followed by an activity of making our own owl babies. There is no cost to join the fun, however signing up is recommended. You can do this by either stopping at our store located at 318 Main St., Rockland, or calling us at 207-596-5976.

Story & Activity Hour

On Wednesday, November 14th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., we'll be reading "If You Give A Moose A Muffin", by Laura Numeroff. Then we'll be making our own muffins! So, come join the fun! There is no cost to participate, however signing up is recommended. You can do this by either stopping by the store located at 318 Main St. in Rockland, or calling us at 207-596-5976. Hope to see you there!

This Is Not A Pumpkin

For our Toddler Reading & Activity Hour on Wednesday, October 31st, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. we will be reading from "This Is Not A Pumpkin" by Bob Staake. Afterwards we will be creating our own pumpkins. There is no cost to join the fun, sign up is recommended. So, come join the fun.

Planet Toys Book Club!

Planet Reads!
The Very First Planet Toys Book Club!
Ages 9-14
From Philip Pullman’s award winning His Dark Material Trilogy "The Golden Compass".

Sign Up Now—Limited to the First 15!
Plus, there will be a special field trip to go see the movie in December!

Free to join!
15% discount on books for members and immediate family!
40 Minute Meetings at Planet Toys Rockland, at 4:oo p.m.
Fall Session begins October 30th, other meeting dates are November 27th, and December 14th

Vote Often, Vote Ugly, Vote #51!

Hey you, yeah you! Have you voted yet? Voted for your favorite scarecrow? Well if not, then come on down to the best town in Maine's midcoast and vote for your favorite scarecrow. By the way were #51. So vote often, vote ugly, vote #51!

Planet Toys Book Club!

Wow! It's been a while since our last posting! We have some great events happening this fall. First off, we are starting our first book club. This event will start off on October 30th at 4 p.m., at our Rockland store. It's free to join, however space is limited to the first 15 that sign up.
Next up, the whole town of Rockland is going to the crows! Scarecrows that is! It's our first Scarecrow festival. So come to town and vote for your favorite scarecrow, and this time voting pays off. Everyone that votes gets their names put into a drawing for three great prizes!

Planeteer Raises Awareness for Boreal Birds

Boreal Hero: Susan Beebe
Bird conservation needs heroes – as many as we can find – and fortunately we are finding more and more!

I wanted to start highlighting here in my blog some of the Boreal bird conservation heroes that we have been in touch with recently.

Susan Beebe is an artist from mid-coast Maine who is amazingly committed to the cause of the conservation of North America’s Boreal forest and its birds. I first met Susan at one of my “Ivory-billed and the Boreal” presentations more than a year ago. Soon after that Susan began a remarkable project to depict, through her art, all the birds of the Boreal – a project that she is continuing today.

But Susan didn’t stop at that. An opportunity came along a few months ago to develop an artistic store window display for a nationwide contest and Susan had the vision to see a way to use it for helping Boreal birds. She spent a week putting together this beautiful display for Planet Toys, one of Maine’s largest and most unique independent toy stores, located on the busy main street of picturesque Camden, Maine.



Recently we learned that the display was one of the top five winners in the Gel Gems contest! Just as importantly, the display helped increase awareness of Boreal conservation issues.

Thanks Susan and Planet Toys!

Stay tuned for more Boreal Heroes…

The Greatest Celebration on Earth!

Thomas Recall

Hello Fellow Planeteers,

The following is a list of toys befing recalled from RC2 Corporation, makers of the Thomas & Friends wooden railway toy line. If you have any questions please call them at 1(866) 725-4407, or you can visit their website www.recalls.rc2.com .
-Red James Engine & Red James' #5 Coal Tender
-Red Lights & Sounds James Engine & Red James' #5 Lights & Sounds Coal Tender
-James with Team Colors Engine & James with Team Colors #5 Coal Tender
-Red Skarloey Engine
-Brown & Yellow Old Slow Coach
-Red Hook & Ladder Truck & Red Water Tanker Truck
-Red Musical Caboose
-Red Sodor Line Caboose
-Red Coal Car labeled "2006 Day Out With Thomas" on the side
-Red Baggae Car
-Red Holiday Caboose
-Red Fire Brigade Truck
-Deluxe Sodor Fire Station
-Red Coal Car
-Yellow Box Car
-Red Stop Sign
-Yellow Railroad Crossing Sign
-Yellow "Sodor Cargo Company" Cargo Piece
-Smelting Yard
-Ice Cream Factory

Once again, if you have any questions please contact RC2 Corp. directely at 1(866) 725-4407, or at www.recalls.rc2.com

Thank you

American Girl Visits Henry Knox!

Check out the newest event going on this Saturday, June 30th at 1.30. Want more info? Check out the events page!

Gel Gems!

Some of you may remember last year when we entered the Gel Gems window decorating contest. Well, we're at it again, featuring a design by Susan Beebe in our Camden store! Read the press release below to learn more!

Gel Gems are awesome little sun catchers that stick to your window in designs YOU come up with! For more information about Gel Gems, check out the website: Right here!

PRESS RELEASE: Artist Susan Beebe creates colorful window supporting Boreal Songbird Initiative for Planet Toys, Camden, as this year's entry in the Second Annual Gel Gems Retail
Store Window Contest.

Artist Susan Beebe creates colorful window supporting Boreal Songbird Initiative for Planet Toys, Camden, as this year's entry in the Second Annual Gel Gems Retail Store Window Contest.

A colorful pageant of birds flocks across the large glass window of Planet Toys Camden store on Main Street. Planet Toys' window was created by artist Susan Beebe as this year's entry in the Second Annual Gel Gems Retail Store Window Contest. Last year, Planet's Gel Gem scene of Camden Harbor was in the top five winners nationwide.

This year, contestants were to depict a scene relating to their favorite nonprofit cause. In July, Gel Gems / Design Ideas Company will award a $500. donation to the Grand Prize winner's cause. "I chose to design a window in support of the Boreal Songbird Initiative," says Beebe, "because I am passionate about birds and because birds are graphically exciting."

The Boreal Songbird Initiative was started by a Maine scientist, Dr. Jeff Wells, to educate the public about the vital importance of the Canadian and Alaskan Boreal Forest as "The Bird Nursery of the North." Three billion birds, including many of our most familiar songbirds and shorebirds, fly north to the Boreal Forest each spring to build nests and lay eggs.

The Boreal Forest is still one of the largest unspoiled forests left on Earth, but it is increasingly threatened by the U.S.'s voracious demand for paper and energy. Virgin timber is being cut down to make catalogs, junk mail and toilet paper. Many conservation groups are working together to save the Boreal Forest, and 1500 scientists have recently called on the Canadian government to protect it.

More information about boreal birds can be found at www.borealbirds.org. Planet Toys' Camden store is located at 10 Main Street. For more information, call 236.4410.

Ninjas

Greetings Planet Fans!

So much has happened since our last update, but we have been busy battling ninjas, so we have not had a chance to let you know what is up in the world of Planet!

We got some great new toys in! If you're a fan of the Ugly Dolls, then look out, because we just got a ton of them in. (Literally, a ton. We got out the scale.) Our newest Ugly friends include Uglyworm, Moxy, and Big Toe. Want to know more about them? Heck yeah you do!

Uglyworm

Uglyworms want power. The power to do great and wonderful things. They want your power. You know that thing you do? Uglyworms want to do that. And you know those things you think you can't do? Uglyworms know you CAN do those things. They think you're bluffing. Oh what power!

Some Uglyworms are sneaky. Some are crafty. All are hungry… For knowledge… Like where do you keep the carrot cake? How long before Ice-Cream goes bad? Knowledge is power.

Moxy

Moxy's got a lot of moxy. She's a real get up and go Ugly, with far more energy than her older brother OX. Moxy's favorite activity seems to be bouncing off the walls and jumping in and out of mischief. Her giant antennas are always on the look out for a good time, and she can hear a party from miles away. She could hear you coming from all the way back over there! Are you a party animal? No? Would you like to take care of one? No? Well that's Ok because Moxy is here to take care of you. She can take care of pretty much any problem you may have… it's a gift of hers. For example, see how messy your room is? No problem! See? Moxy is on your side.

If you love Webkinz (and we know you do) then you should check out the newest thing from TY! TY Girlz! The TY Girlz are just like the Webkinz, except instead of animals they are super cool Girlz who loved to go online. Would you like to go online with them? Obviously you would. Check it out.

Be sure to check out our events page, as well as our new book review page! In the meantime, stay awesome!!

Webkinz Have Arrived!

So if you haven't heard about Webkinz, then maybe you are toothpaste. Webkinz have been flying, running, charging and prancing of our shelves in limited quantities for the last couple monthes. Then a couple days ago, the Webkinz fairy came to Planet and gifted us with a HUGE shipment. Chaos ensued. Little girl screams and hyperbreathing filled the store from open to close for a couple days. So to all you Webkinz fans, who are prolly on your computer right now, thank you and may your rooms be beautiful and your animals athletic. We'll see you soon.

Are you Ugly?

Let us re-phrase that...hmm...Do you like Ugly Dolls? Yes? So do we. Do you like taking pictures? Yes? So do we..but, we like seeing yours more.

After the super success of the Webkinz contest, we are challenging you to another. The contest is called: The "We Think You're Ugly" Contest. All the rules and stuff will be posted on Tuesday in the contest section. The winners will get an Ugly Doll in the mail to photoshoot....sound weird..just wait....

We Want You, Pikachu!

We are currently hiring energetic Planeteers for the summer. If you were considering auditioning for a job at Planet Toys, please download an application here, and fill it out. Drop it off at any Planet location, and we'll set up your audition.

And for you regular Blog Checkers, we got in a pile of Webkinz Thursday April 19th, 2007. They will be here while supplies last.......

What a Hoot!

So, first off this week we would like to thank the Samoset for hosting us and and our bugs for The BEST OF THE BEST GALA. We had alot of fun, and we hope you did too.

As a result of featuring our little blog at the event, we were flooded with entries for our Webkins contest. So really quick, if you have any more silly names in you, today is the last day to enter your silly name. Go to the contest page for more info on this crazy contest.
So much to cover, and so little time. We just got tons of stuff in. And not just silly stuff like kazoos and rubber band balls. Cranium arrived in a big way, bringing with it one of the coolest games at Toy Fair this year. It's called Zooreeka, and we're just a little excited about it.....







GAME OF THE WEEK





Zooreka: (pron Zooooo reeeeee kaaaa) n: wicked fun game (aka Game of the Year 07)
Here at Planet Toys we have never played a Cranium game that we don't like, scratch that, love. Notorious for there sense of humor and making games that are rediculously simple to learn (one page instructions, with pictures)

The basis of the game zooreka is to be the first to build your own zoo. If you want a zoo full of naked mole rats and octapi, be our guest. Players get animals for there zoo by getting food, habitats, and animal cards through inventive gameplay. Sometimes to get more cards you have to work together with your teamates, in a gamble that is advantageous for both players. This game is just dandy, we would say, but don't take our word for it. Come on in and check it out yourself. We'll so take you on...

New contest starts in ONE DAY. Check the contest section tomorrow to see a new chance to get free toys. Oh boy.

We are kinda a big deal.

So we don't mean to brag. But, yeah, we're kinda a big deal. Humbled by very little, and still kinda, in some ways, still in grade school, we at Planet Toys, are proud to be the BEST OF THE BEST in Knox county. We snagged Best Toystore for the third year in a row, or is it forth? We take pride in opening our doors everyday, putting the batteries in our remotes, and playing every day...and then getting an award for it. Not a bad job...

Though we play down our job just a bit, we are really busy right now. We haven't played a good boardgame all the way through in weeks! We have some huge events coming up, tons of new toys coming in by the truck load, and some really cool things on the Blog coming up. He're a preview of what's coming up this month:
Planet Plays: A little frustrated with reading all those game instructions, well, we're gonna give you a short cut. Skip reading, and start watching. Each month, we'll take you through a couple games that are kinda intimidating. We plan to tackle Settlers of Catan and Risk as the first two games. Mostly, cause these games are awesome, and we think that everyone and there little brother should play them. If you have suggestions or want to see us walk you through a specific game, contact us via the contact page and your game could be the next game we take on.

Wow what a Awesome Toy!: Featuring some of the coolest toys out there. This summer, we will be welcoming our friends from UNKL with open arms. They represent just a small portion of toys, that you may have never seen, or don't know we have. So look forward to seeing toys that make you smile or maybe hyperventilate.

Pogos, Planes and Tomatoes….oh my!

A big sign on the door clearly states, “This is a trade show: Absolutely No Children Allowed”. Lucky for us (and you), children cleverly disguised as adults were allowed free reign of the most exciting toy showcase of the year. With a camera in one hand, and a bag full of candy in my pocket, I walked through the International Toy Fair in New York City for three days like…well…a kid in a candy store.

As one can expect, Toy Fair is no trip to the mall. A mix of people who have made there toy dreams a reality, and those who have REALLY made there toy dreams a reality, fill two floors of the Javitts Center, hoping to find the perfect marriage of product and retailer.

So, what was the big deal this year? A mixture of urban toys, fantastical board games, hot tomatoes, “hands off” interactivity, dolls of ugly cuteness, and pogosticks that launch up to 8ft heights, were just a couple of the tricks up this show’s sleeve.

Needless to say, its gonna be a very exciting year for toys. Here’s a sneak peek of inside the show, and a little teaser of just what is in store for the future…..



Planet Toy's International Toy Fair 2007 Scrapbook




Book Pick of the Week:

So when I’m not glued to watching Lost at night, my bed stand is stacked high with the most contemporary literature on the market. This week, I voraciously read the most hyped book at Toy Fair (a book that I begged for an advanced copy of and was rewarded for my persistence). “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” is not only a gorgeously illustrated book, but fills the magical quota of books equal in size (511 pages) with an inventive dialog and an eccentric cast of characters. With 284 of those pages being illustrated, if you start it after dinner, you just might be able to finish it by bedtime.

The story is a spellbinding tale of a young boy, Hugo Cabret, who finds himself without parents in a little abandoned attic in a train station in Paris. His only possession is an automata, an little man holding a pen, who is constructed from a gears and switches. The automata is broken, but Hugo, son of a watchmaker, is determined, that, with a little work, he just might be able to fix the machine. And if he can, he’ll discover the automata’s secrets….a series of pen strokes that will change his life forever….

This book is a great read and hugely magical. It's was inspired by the 1902 movie,Le Voyage Dans La Lune, an incredibly innovative and magical film by Georges Méliès.

Come on in and pick up a signed copy today while they are still in stock. Then pick up some hot cocoa at the grocery store, and a kiddo at home, and snuggle up to the mystery of The Invention of Hugo Cabret……

Mi Blog es su Blog...

So it started kinda slow...

A tourist every once in a while,coming in asking us, "So, how am i ever gonna find you guys again? I live in Greenland in a hut that has internet access. I love your store..." Then, it was once a week, sometimes from huts in Greenland, sometimes from folks right down the street. We were skeptical to get online because we wanted our presence in hyperspace to emulate the experience of walking into Planet Toys in Camden or Rockland, Maine. However, after much deliberation on how to approach such a historic direction, we decided upon the very page you, the viewer, have stumbled upon today. We look at it as kind of a Planet Testing Ground. A place where the only thing to expect is the unexpected....

So, welcome to the Planet Toys Blog! We hope that everything you discover here will help you realize just why we love our jobs so much. We have alot of fun...so you can have alot of fun.

So with no further ado, enjoy!

Sincerely,
The Entire Staff of Planet Toys
(and the icebats)