JAKKS Pacific Lets Kids Learn With Maisy Through TeleStory Interactive Books

JAKKS Pacific Lets Kids Learn With Maisy Through TeleStory Interactive Books

MALIBU, Calif., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) announced today a licensing agreement with RJM Licensing to market and distribute JAKKS Pacific's new TeleStory(TM) interactive books with content based on the popular preschool property, Maisy. The TeleStory system connects directly into a standard TV using Plug & Read(TM) technology and serves as a fun, introductory reading guide for preschool-aged children.

"The Maisy books and programming are great at engaging children and introducing them to early learning concepts such as colors, numbers, sorting, matching and even social themes," said Jennifer Richmond, senior vice president of licensing and media, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. "It's a perfect fit with TeleStory interactive books, which provide an affordable and simple to use, yet fun and stimulating way for children to begin to learn how to read."

The TeleStory(TM) product creates an engaging, interactive reading experience aimed at showing kids how much fun reading can be. TeleStory interactive books take what children love -- the TV -- and use it to introduce them to the world of reading. The TeleStory system is book-shaped and plugs directly into the A/V jacks of any standard TV. No DVD player is needed.

Individual "mini-book" cartridges based on popular children's books are inserted into the TeleStory system, so that children can build their TeleStory libraries and collect their favorite books as they grow and master reading. By pressing the large, colored buttons on each TeleStory unit, kids can interact with the story and make the characters come alive on their TV screen, while also giving them the option to read at their own pace, both with or without assistance.

JAKKS(TM) plans to launch the Maisy TeleStory product line for Spring 2006 at mass and specialty retailers nationwide. The suggested retail price for TeleStory units will be under $30, with each 2-pack of 'mini-book' cartridges retailing for under $15.

About Maisy

The Maisy book series is hugely popular with both children and parents. Written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins, the Maisy series combines reality with fantasy allowing for every day to be an adventure. The fifteen year publishing phenomenon boasts over 100 different Maisy titles in print, which have sold over 21 million copies. The books are also published in over 27 languages, including those as diverse as Chinese, Hebrew, Icelandic and Slovenian. Viewers can also see Maisy twice a day on the Noggin network.

About RJM Licensing

RJM Licensing, Inc. is an independent licensing agency specializing in the representation of classic children's book properties. Currently RJM represents Guess How Much I Love You, I Love My Little Storybook, Maisy, Spot, The Snowman, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, The Little House, the amazing baby book developmental book series, Ivory Cats, Too Cute for Words, and itty bittees. You can read about the above mentioned properties at www.RJMLicensing.com.

About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and consumer products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls and Pet Toys and Accessories. The products are sold under various brand names including JAKKS Pacific(R), Play Along(R), Flying Colors(R), Road Champs(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R), Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R), Color Workshop(R), JPI(TM) and Plug It In & Play TV Games(TM). JAKKS and THQ are the members of THQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC, which publishes and markets WWE wrestling video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS' business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of JAKKS' future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

CONTACTS:

Genna Rosenberg John Mills
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. Integrated Corporate Relations
(310) 455-6235 (310) 395-2215
gennar@jakks.netjmills@icrinc.com

Source: JAKKS Pacific, Inc.

CONTACT: Genna Rosenberg of JAKKS Pacific, Inc., +1-310-455-6235,
gennar@jakks.net; or John Mills of Integrated Corporate Relations,
+1-310-395-2215, jmills@icrinc.com, for JAKKS Pacific, Inc.

Web site: http://www.rjmlicensing.com/

Web site: http://www.jakkspacific.com/

-------
Profile: intent