This “INSECTS” SCRAMBLE SQUARES® PUZZLE is a “Honors National Parenting Publications Award” winner, a program sponsored by United Parenting Publications, Inc. and promoted in association with parenting publishers across the United States. Scramble Squares® 9-piece brain teaser puzzles are Easy To Play, But Hard To Solve!® for children, teenagers, adults and senior citizens. Scramble Squares® teaches patience, perseverance and critical thinking skills and helps maintain mental sharpness while providing stimulating entertainment as a solitaire game or a cooperative activity.
b. dazzle, inc.’s “INSECTS” SCRAMBLE SQUARES® PUZZLE WINS PRESTIGIOUS HONOR AWARD IN THE NATION’S MOST DISTINGUISHED PARENTING AWARDS COMPETITION
REDONDO BEACH, CA…November 1, 2005…b. dazzle, inc. of Redondo Beach, California,has announced that its “INSECTS” Scramble Squares® 9-piece brainteaser puzzle was named a Honor Award winner in the 2005 National Parenting PublicationsAwards (NAPPA) competition announced today in select local parenting publications across the country and online at http://www.Parenthood.com. This distinction recognizes Scramble Squares® puzzles as among the best toys, books, DVDs,software, music and spoken-word recordings available for children today.
Now in its 15th year, NAPPA is a well known name in industries focused on children’s learning and entertainment. Time-starved parents and loving adults who want high-quality children’s toys and products that provide “smart fun,” good design and with children’s developmental needs can just reach for this newly released list of NAPPA winners for holiday and year-round children’s gift giving.
“NAPPA-winning products meet the most stringent criteria and are judged by nationally recognized industry experts, educators and advocates in their fields, ” says NAPPA spokesperson Barbara Smith Decker. “The NAPPA awards have set the industry standard of excellence for more than 15 years and are a sought-after honor by manufacturers, recording artists, publishers and product designers. Each product category is evaluated by a separate panel of judges, including play specialists from the National Lekotek Center, educators, widely published authors, psychologists and nationally known book, media and music reviewers.
When parents see the NAPPA Honor’s seal on packaging of winning products, they’re assured a safe, fun and educational experience for their children. NAPPA Toy Judge Ellen Metrick is a toy specialist with the National Lekotek Center, a leading nonprofit authority on children’s play and toys, and an expert in toy selection for children with special needs. In her award review of b. dazzle, inc.’s Scramble Squares® puzzles, Ms. Metrick wrote, “Match the pictures on the edges of nine individual squares in every direction to complete the puzzle. Themed puzzles include Insects, Serengeti, Bunnies, Butterflies, North American Birds, Lewis and Clark, Symphony, Diggin’ Dinos, Classic Cars, Boston, Frogs and Tropical Fish. (Each sold separately) All puzzles are equally beautiful, equally challenging and equally deserving of an Honor Award.”
The National Parenting Publications Awards were created in 1990 to review children’s media. It has since expanded into two divisions:
• Children’s Resources– including toys, music, books, spoken word/storytelling,DVDs and software
• Parenting Resources– including books, videos/DVDs, gadgets and products that make parenting easier.
NAPPA has been recognized for its service to parents, winning the Parenting Publications of America’s Gold Award for Editorial Excellence. NAPPA is a program of United Parenting Publications, Inc. and is featured in nearly 50 local and regional parenting magazines nationwide and on Parenthood.com.
Exquisite, award winning Scramble Squares® brain teaser puzzles for ages 4 to 104 are at least as popular with adults, seniors, teenagers and college students as they are with children. Although each Scramble Squares® puzzle has only nine 4” x 4” pieces, Scramble Squares® puzzles are Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzle®! At under $10.00 retail, Scramble Squares® puzzles make inexpensive, but highly entertaining and valued gifts for both men and women alike… for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, Halloween, birthdays, get well, graduation, travel and holidays. Scramble Squares® puzzles are Easy To Play, But Hard To Solve!® Over 120 exquisite styles of colorful original art are available on nature, sports, history, culture, geography, science, technology, occupations, gourmet, fantasy, hobbies and activities, and more new styles are added every six months. Store displays come complete with the unique Scramble Squares® “5-MINUTE CHALLENGE ®” in store free puzzle giveaway promotion for consumers who solve a Scramble Squares® demonstration puzzle within five minutes!
Each Scramble Squares® puzzle package includes a panel of fascinating factual information on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer, all packaged in a unique and handy heavy duty 101/2″ long x 53/4″ wide x 3/8″ deep resealable vinyl travel pouch, which may be collected and stored easily in a standard 3-ring binder. The vinyl pouch is crystal clear, enabling the consumer to see the extraordinary beauty of the puzzles’ realistic original art, while achieving a very high amount of retail value per square foot of store space for the merchant.
Each Scramble Squares® puzzle package includes a panel of fascinating factual information on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer, all packaged in a unique and handy heavy duty 10-1/2″ long x 5-3/4″ wide x 3/8″ deep resealable vinyl travel pouch, which may be collected and stored easily in a standard 3-ring binder. The vinyl pouch is crystal clear, enabling the consumer to see the extraordinary beauty of the puzzles’ realistic original art, while achieving a very high amount of retail value per square foot of store space for the merchant.
Scramble Squares® teaches:
o Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Skills
o Patience
o Perseverance
o Statistical Probabilities
o Cooperative and Solitary Productivity
Scramble Squares® also helps maintain mental agility, sharpness and memory in seniors and adults, while providing hours of quiet and stimulating entertainment.
b. dazzle provides a free 24″ x 36″ full color “WIN A FREE PUZZLE” promotional poster to any store offering its customers the Scramble Squares® “5–MINUTE CHALLENGE.®”
Retailers can give a free Scramble Squares® puzzle to any customer who accepts the challenge and successfully solves the nine piece Scramble Squares® demonstration puzzle within five minutes. b. dazzle promptly replaces the stores’ puzzles awarded to consumers at no cost to the merchants. b. dazzle’s permanent wood counter, floor and slat wall displays each feature a demonstration puzzle on an interactive playing surface with an electronic timer to time consumers in the 5–MINUTE CHALLENGE.® b. dazzle also offers a free, very compact, corrugated counter spinner display, including the timer and poster, with the purchase of any 72 Scramble Squares® puzzles in any quantity per style.
“We are proud and extremely gratified that our Scramble Squares® puzzles have achieved NAPPA’s very high standards for its annual “NAPPA HONOR AWARDS,” says b. dazzle founder, puzzle designer, president & CEO, Kathie Gavin. “We are especially humbled by NAPPA judge Merrick’s high compliments for our entire Scramble Squares® line of puzzles. All of us at b. dazzle, inc. work very hard to create high value, low cost, beautiful, entertaining and informative educational products that are made in America for the enjoyment of men and women of all ages,” Gavin adds.
b. dazzle, inc. is an Official Member of the “CHARACTER COUNTS!” COALITION of the Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles: http://www.charactercounts.org (800-711-2670; 310-846-4800). The purpose of the “CHARACTER COUNTS!” Coalition is to fortify the lives of America’s young people with consensus ethical values called the “Six Pillars of Character.” These six key character values, which transcend divisions of race, creed, politics, gender and wealth, are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Because our society places such a high value on material success, there is the tendency in human nature to pursue success by any means, whether fairly or unfairly, honestly or dishonestly. We strongly believe that with our success comes a duty for us to contribute to our society. We wish to do so by advancing the principles of good character and ethical behavior, not only by operating our business in accordance with ethical standards, but also by advancing and promoting the importance of ethical business practices and ethical behavior throughout our industry and our society at large. The “CHARACTER COUNTS!” Coalition has become the nation’s leading character education system, now reaching five million youngsters through a widespread partnership of schools and youth serving organizations. Two United States’ Presidents, the Congress, most states and countless municipalities have endorsed the Coalition’s approach and declared the third week in October “National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week.”