Author: bdazzle

NEW ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING MARVEL HINDU TEMPLE LANDMARK IN HAWAII IS THEME FOR NEWEST SCRAMBLE SQUARES® PUZZLE

REDONDO BEACH, CA…June 21, 2011… b. dazzle, inc. of Redondo Beach, California, has announced that its newest Scramble Squares® 9-piece educational brain teaser puzzles for all ages celebrates The San Marga (“The Good Path”) Iraivan Temple being constructed at the foot of an extinct volcano on Kauai, the northernmost island of the Hawaiian Islands.  It is being constructed at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, 5 miles from the town of Kapaa, 4 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.   The temple construction commenced in 1975 and is scheduled for completion in 2017.   There are Hindu temples in virtually every nation on earth, over 1,000 in the United States and nearly a million in India, but this temple was destined to be unique-a white-granite edifice being brought stone by stone from south central India after being hand-carved by 75 sculptors working for 27 years. Their monumental efforts reflect the ultimate in artisan craftsmanship and design, surrounded by as beautiful a setting as the paradise island of Kauai could provide.  It will contain the world’s largest six-sided crystal, carved pillars, a stone bell, golden doors, to name a few of its unique and beautiful artifacts.  All aspects of the construction are being engineered to scriptural specifications to last 1,000 years, with all 3.2 million pounds of white granite hand carved by artisans, using India’s ancient methods that have evolved during 10,000 years of cultural and artistic expertise.  Each stone is being shaped with simple bamboo-handled mallets and tens of thousands of mild steel chisels.

If one man were to hand carve and assemble this masterpiece by hand, it would take him about 1,500 years.   No electric tools have been allowed.

It should take most people less time than that to solve a Scramble Squares® puzzle, but although each Scramble Squares® puzzle has only nine 4″ x 4″ square pieces, exquisite Scramble Squares® puzzles are Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzle®!  The object of the Scramble Squares® puzzle game is to arrange the nine colorfully illustrated 4” x 4” square pieces into a 12” square so that the realistic graphics on the pieces’ edges match perfectly to form completed pictures in every direction.  They make inexpensive, but highly valued gifts for all ages.

Adults and seniors love made in America Scramble Squares® puzzles as much as do children, teenagers and college students. At under $10.00 each suggested retail, Scramble Squares® puzzles make inexpensive, but highly valued gifts for both men and women alike.  Over 135 exquisite styles of colorful original art are available on nature, sports, history, culture, geography, science, technology, gourmet, occupations, fantasy, hobbies and activities, and more new styles are added throughout each year.  Scramble Squares® puzzles teach critical thinking skills, fine motor skills, patience, perseverance, and they help maintain mental agility in older persons, while providing stimulating entertainment as either a solitaire game or as a cooperative activity.  Each puzzle package includes a panel of fascinating facts on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question
and hidden answer, all packaged in a unique and handy reseal able heavy duty 10-1/2” long x 5-3/4” wide  x 3/8” deep vinyl travel pouch, which can be collected
and stored easily in a standard 3-ring binder. 

Scramble Squares® puzzles are among the most honored products in the gift, games and educational products industries:  The Dragonflies Scramble Squares® puzzle was honored as among the 10 Best Educational Products of 2010 by Dr Toy’s Guide.  The United States Armed Services Scramble Squares® was selected among  Dr. Toy’s Best Picks for Children’s Products – 2010.  The Turtles Scramble Squares® puzzle was the recipient of Dr. Toy’s Best GREEN Product Award for 2010, and the Cows Scramble Squares® puzzle received that same honor for 2011.  The Kites Scramble Squares® puzzle was a winner of the 2010 Learning magazine Teachers’ Choice for the Family and was featured in Learning magazine’s Spring, 2010 issue.  Four Scramble Squares® puzzles, “Butterflies,” “Serengeti,” “Soccer” and “Tropical Fish” have been honored by Dr. Toy’s Guide as among only forty (40) products selected worldwide as “Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011,” and four Scramble Squares® puzzles, “Baseball,” “Dolphins,” “Puppies” and “Frogs,” were honored as “Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2009.” The Scramble Squares® line of puzzles received the “TOP TOY 2008 AWARD” from TDmonthly, an online trade publication for the toy, hobby, gift and game industries, rated in May, 2008 by Google as the No. 1 site in the world for wholesale trade directories.

The National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA), a program sponsored by Dominion Parenting Media and promoted in association with parenting publishers across the United States, named six Scramble Squares® puzzles as 2007 NAPPA HONOR AWARD winners: Noah’s Ark, Pirates, Planets, Puffins, Swimming Champions and Teachers. The GREAT AMERICAN TOY TEST, for its 25th Anniversary Awards, named 5 Scramble Squares® puzzles as among the Best Products for 2004 in its “Games &  Puzzles” category, more awards than received by any other company.  Scramble Squares® puzzles were awarded the “Chicago’s Choice Awards for 2004,” presented during the January Chicago Gift & Home Market to acknowledge distinctive gift products exhibited at the January Chicago Gift & Home Market.  GAMES magazine’s “100 BEST GAMES RATED”  buyers guide issue has rated Scramble Squares® puzzles as among the TOP 100 GAMES for all ages.  Learning Magazine has selected Scramble Squares® puzzles as a Product Pick for Math in the Games category.

 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.  b. dazzle’s Kathie Gavin says, “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.”

FOUR SCRAMBLE SQUARES® PUZZLES HONORED AS DR. TOY’S BEST CLASSIC TOYS FOR 2011

REDONDO BEACH, CA…March 7, 2009… b. dazzle, inc. of Redondo Beach, California, has announced that four of its Scramble Squares® 9-piece educational brain teaser puzzles for all ages introduced in 1997 have beenhonored by The Institute for Childhood Resources in San Francisco as among only forty (40) products selected worldwide as “Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011.”  The four honored Scramble Square® puzzles are “Butterflies,” “Serengeti,” “Soccer” and “Tropical Fish.”

Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., Director of the Institute and known as Dr. Toy, has been tracking trends in the toy business for more than 42 years.  In her just released Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Products for 2011, she has searched across the entire toy industry for the great classic toys that fit the criteria for fun and high play value.  Dr. Toy says, “Classic toys are enduring and have many important benefits. They encourage the child’s interaction, involvement and are truly child-powered. You can count on classic toys. These are the long lasting toys that ‘keep on playing’ long after the batteries and latest fads are gone,” she stresses.“Where do you turn for a selection that provides a timeless, fun experience that will hold your child’s interest,” Dr. Toy asks? “It’s time to turn back the clock!  Look for toys that have remained valued playthings since they were first introduced ten or more years ago,” she advises. “These are the lasting favorites of all children who have played with them.  The toys that with the passing of time have become true classics are often overlooked in the rush to get the “hot” new toys. Often great playthings may not reach youngsters who can benefit from playing with them,” she adds.Dr. Toy explains that parents need to “balance their children’s play experiences.” “They need to be reminded that classic, highly beneficial toys are still around,” she says. “Quickly parents and grandparents will recall the fun they had with these same classic toys.”

A wide variety of selections are included among this year’s winners. The list reflects toys that Dr. Toy says “are perfect for all ages and interests from baby to older children, teens and adults, from low to high tech, and from nature to nurture.”  Many parents want to introduce their child to that special favorite, a yo-yo, or Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, or Tinker Toys, or an Etch-A-Sketch, or a first teddy bear, Raggedy Ann doll, or Lionel electric train. Classics are ‘basics’ that never go out of style.”

Dr. Toy carefully surveys the toy marketplace year round to select a wide-range of great classic toys. While Dr. Toy keeps abreast of new products, she keeps her eye on the enduring and endearing qualities of the toys of yesteryear. The classic toys she has selected as winners have been available for ten, fifty, or a hundred years or more. The winners of the annual classic toy search are included in Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011, available now on the free, popular, accessible web-site that presents her award selections for parents and teachers to benefit children.Dr. Toy’s Guide, www.drtoy.com, provides all pertinent information and includes photos, complete product descriptions, links to company sites, and consumer information.If you are at a loss for an appropriate toy for the child in your life, the suggestions found in the Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys Program for 2011 will help you more easily locate valuable products to introduce to your child. These toys have truly met the ‘test of time.’  They have endured, entertained, and satisfied children for many years, and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Dr. Auerbach’s book, Toys for a Lifetime: Enhancing Childhood Through Play (Rizzoli), provides a close up of over 60 classic toys that you enjoyed.  She is also the author of The Toy Chest (limited copies available upon request) and Dr. Toy’s Smart Play/Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q. (St Martins Press, 1999, Educational Insights, 2004, and ICR, 2010). This book has also been published in China, Croatia, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Korea, Russia, Spain and Thailand with more to come. You can explore Dr. Toy’s web site, www.drtoy.com, to find out what all the excitement is about.  Then make some of your own by selecting those products that most appeal to your child (or yourself).  Perhaps you will easily share the fun of a special classic toy with your child. You may recall the fun of that toy when you were little. If that’s the case, you can enjoy carrying on a family tradition that spans several generations. Consider finding your favorite classic toy to enjoy. Many adults collect toys as a fun hobby. Besides, adults need more time to play for emotional and physical benefits. “More playtime for all!” is the best Dr. Toy’s Rx for playtime for children and adults.

Dr. Auerbach, Director of the Institute for Childhood Resources, founded in San Francisco in 1975, is the only Ph.D with extensive training, background and over 41 years of experience evaluating, writing and speaking about toys and children’s products.  Dr. Auerbach is trained in education, child psychology, child development, and special education.  She is a educator, consultant, parent and grandparent.  Dr. Toy reports that in the years that the innovative on-line magazine Dr.Toy’s Guide has been available, “thousands of visitors from around the world have accessed information daily.”  The site was the first on-line resource to evaluate toys and children’s products.

The object of the Scramble Squares® puzzle game is to arrange the nine colorfully illustrated 4” x 4”  square pieces into a 12” square so that the realistic graphics on the pieces’ edges match perfectly to form completed pictures in every direction.  They make inexpensive, but highly valued gifts for all ages.”

Adults and seniors love made in America Scramble Squares® puzzles as much as do children, teenagers and college students. Although each Scramble Squares® puzzlehas only nine 4″ x 4″ square pieces, exquisite Scramble Squares® puzzles are Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzle®!  At under $10.00 each suggested retail, Scramble Squares® puzzles make inexpensive, but highly valued gifts for both men and women alike.  Over 140 exquisite styles of colorful original art are available on nature, sports, history, culture, geography, science, technology, gourmet, occupations, fantasy, hobbies and activities, and more new styles are added throughout each year.  Scramble Squares® puzzles teach critical thinking skills, fine motor skills, patience, perseverance,  and they help maintain mental agility in older persons, while providing stimulating entertainment as either a solitaire game or as a cooperative activity. Each puzzle package includes a panel of fascinating facts on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer, all packaged in a unique and handy resealable heavy duty 101/2” long x 53/4” wide  x 3/8” deep vinyl travel pouch which can be collected and stored easily in a standard 3-ring binder.

Founded in 1993, b. dazzle, inc. is a progressive market-driven company which manufactures and distributes wholesale in the gift, souvenir, toy and educational products industries a wide range of beautiful, wholesome, entertaining and informative made-in-America gifts of high quality and low cost for all ages of  adults and children that can be selected by topic to appeal to the personal interests of the recipient and can be enjoyed as cross-generational family activities. 

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 material success, there is the tendency in human nature to pursue success by any means, whether fairly or unfairly, honestly or dishonestly,” says Kathie Gavin.  “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.’”

b. dazzle, inc.’s TURTLES SCRAMBLE SQUARES® PUZZLE IS ONE OF 38 PRODUCTS WORLDWIDE TO RECIEVE DR. TOY’S BEST GREEN TOY AWARD FOR 2010

REDONDO BEACH, CA…August 2, 2010… b. dazzle, inc. of Redondo Beach, California, has announced that its Turtles Scramble Squares® 9-piece puzzle is among only 38 toys worldwide to receive the 2010 “Dr. Toy’s Best Green Toy Award.“

This is the fourth year that Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D/Dr. Toy has recognized Best Green Toys and Children’s products.  She describes her focus for Dr. Toy’s Best Green Toy Award as being for “the kinds of innovative products and companies that are working towards making a difference in playthings and reducing the impact of production.  The award winning Green products are made by companies striving to inspire children to appreciate the environment and help them learn to take better care of our natural resources,” Dr. Auerbach explains in her awards announcement.  “These companies are making products to teach children more about our planet or producing playthings that are based on Green principles. These are excellent examples of playthings that are made safely, are healthy to use and have plenty of other special values.  We have identified products that help children learn more about their world and have found products made from organic materials or are produced in ways that are healthier.  Consumers are encouraged to consider these products for home or school or as gifts.  These green products constitute a small number among all the choices of play products available,” Dr. Auerbach explains, “but we need to start somewhere.  As awareness grows, more families are thinking and considering new directions that are safer, more balanced and healthier.  The astute companies making these products are each making a difference in their own way and making important contributions.  Each step helps.  Each step moves us towards a healthier home and community.”

Stevanne Auerbach, PhD./Dr. Toy, a childhood development specialist for over 40 years and author of Dr. Toy’s SmartPlay/Smart Toys (published in the USA and in many other countries), which provides tools to enhance the child’s “PQ” (Play Quotient) from baby to age 12, 15 books, and hundreds of articles on toys and play, is the only Ph.D. in Child Development evaluating the best developmentally appropriate toys and children’s products, which appear on Dr. Toy’s Guide with links to many related sites and resources for parents, teachers, children, and toy enthusiasts.

The following is Dr. Toy’s evaluation of the honored Scramble Squares 9-Piece Puzzles: This puzzle helps to remember a very special reptile.  b. dazzle’s very popular “Turtles” Scramble Squares® 9-piece brainteaser puzzle beautifully depicts the world’s oldest species of reptiles, at 200 million years old, and the most popular type of reptile, even kept as pets by many persons.  Turtle’s live on land (tortoises), sea and in fresh water.  The object of the Scramble Squares® puzzle game is to arrange the nine colorfully illustrated 4” x 4” square pieces into a 3 x 3 pattern to form a 12” square so that the realistic graphics of the turtle’s brightly colored protective shells match perfectly where the pieces’ edges touch so that correctly completed turtles are formed in every direction.  Adults and seniors love made-in-America Scramble Squares® puzzles as much as do children, teenagers and college students.  Although each Scramble Squares® puzzle has only nine 4” x 4” square pieces, exquisite Scramble Squares® puzzles are Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzle®!  At under $10.00 each suggested retail, the “Turtles” Scramble Squares® puzzle makes an inexpensive, but highly valued cross-generational gift for all occasions for all ages of both men and women alike. The puzzle comes with a panel of fascinating facts on and a trivia quiz and answer about turtles in convenient 3-hole punched resealable heavy duty 10-1/2” long x 5-3/4” wide x 3/8” deep vinyl travel pouch for easy storage, travel and mailing.  Scramble Squares® puzzles are highly rated by the Ableplay.org web site of the Lekotek National Center in Chicago, which ranks products that are beneficial to the learning disabled. Scramble Squares® puzzles are Easy To Play, But Hard To Solve®!  Over 140 exquisite styles of colorful original art are available on nature, sports, history, culture, geography, science, technology, gourmet, occupations, fantasy, hobbies and activities, and more new styles are added throughout each year. 

“We are extremely proud to be recognized by Dr. Toy for our efforts in environmental awareness and protection by being named as among the Best Green Toys for 2010,” says b. dazzle founder, puzzle designer, president & CEO, Kathie Gavin.

Founded in 1993, b. dazzle, inc. is a progressive market-driven company which manufactures and distributes wholesale in the gift, souvenir, toy and educational products industries a wide range of beautiful, wholesome, entertaining and informative made-in-America gifts of high quality and low cost for all ages of  adults and children that can be selected by topic to appeal to the personal interests of the recipient and can be enjoyed as cross-generational family activities.

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,” says Kathie Gavin.  “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.

FOUR b. dazzle, inc. PRODUCTS NAMED AMONG 116 WORLD WIDE AS BEST CHILDREN’S VACATION PRODUCTS FOR SUMMER 2010

REDONDO BEACH, CA…JUNE 1, 2009… b. dazzle, inc. of Redondo Beach, California, has announced that four of its mind stimulating products have been honored by The Institute for Childhood Resources in San Francisco as among only one hundred sixteen (116) products world wide selected as “Dr. Toy’s Best Children’s Vacation Products for summer 2010.”  The four honored products include three (3) Scramble Squares® 9-Piece Puzzles:  “Cows,” “Guitars” and “Fall Festival” and one of its two poster sets of Color ‘n Seek® Hidden Pictures Coloring Activities: “Ponies and Music.”

“As a childhood specialist for 40 years,” says Dr. Toy, “I have seen the continuous, essential need for more year-round resources for consumers to identify and choose the most appropriate products for all children.”  Dr. Toy reports that in the years the innovative on-line magazine, Dr. Toy’s Guide, has been available, “thousands of visitors daily from around the world have accessed its information.”  It was the first web site to evaluate toys and children’s products.  The report is being released, according to Dr. Toy, to “encourage parents and teachers to focus on the value of play during the summer as essential to the overall learning process.”  She adds, “The Best Vacation Products a balanced selection  from large and small, new and established, companies across the U.S.A., Canada, and overseas will provide children with exciting new learning tools that will help them not only do better in school, but also will provide more constructive activities while traveling or at vacation destinations.”  The award winning products include innovative toys, books, CDs, crafts, DVDs, games, puzzles, and many other play products for children of all ages and interests.  Dr. Toy believes “parents need more help to get a head start locating new, diversified products that children will enjoy as they increase learning skills and expand creativity.”  The products range from low to high tech for “hours of constructive, educational, and stimulating fun.” “Children learn best through play,” says Dr. Auerbach, “and these Best Products encourage children to maximize their potential and make the most of Smart Play. By making a renewed focus on summertime as a special time for choosing new products for children, parents improve their children’s development. This is a perfect time for parents to ‘take stock’ and do an inventory of what their children are playing with, what is not used, and what they need next in their development.”

The following is Dr. Toy’s evaluation of the honored Scramble Squares 9-Piece Puzzles:

Although each Scramble Squares® puzzle has only nine 4″ x 4″ square pieces, Scramble Squares® puzzles are Perhaps The World’s Most Challenging Puzzle®!  The object of the Scramble Squares® puzzle game is to arrange the nine colorfully illustrated 4” x 4” square pieces into a 12” square so that the realistic graphics on the pieces’ edges match perfectly to form completed pictures in every direction. Priced at a suggested retail price under $10 each, makes Scramble Squares® puzzles inexpensive, but highly valued as a gift, souvenir, and cross-generational play activity. Scramble Squares® puzzles teach patience, perseverance, fine motor skills, critical thinking skills, and help maintain mental agility in older persons, while providing stimulating entertainment as either a solitary game or a cooperative activity. Each puzzle package includes an interpretive panel of fascinating facts on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer, all packaged in a unique and handy resealable heavy duty 10-1/2” long x 5-3/4” wide  x 3/8” deep vinyl travel pouch, which can be stored easily in a standard 3-ring binder.  Scramble Squares® puzzles are highly rated by the Ableplay.org web site of the Lekotek National Center in Chicago, which ranks products that are beneficial to the learning disabled. Scramble Squares® puzzles are Easy To Play, But Hard To Solve®!  Over 140 exquisite styles of colorful original art are available on nature, sports, history, culture, geography, science, technology, gourmet cooking, occupations, fantasy, hobbies, and more new styles are added throughout each year.

The following is Dr. Toy’s evaluation of the honored Color ‘n Seek® Hidden Pictures Coloring Activities:

Color ’n Seek® hidden pictures coloring activities are the only poster art available with hidden pictures and educational word association. The words describing all of the objects hidden in the posters are printed on the margins of the posters in open font to be colored as each object is found in the poster. Two “Artist Smooth” paper stock posters and ten markers are included in the flat-pack. Color ’n Seek® hidden picture art activities were winners of the Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children’s’ products of 2008, awarded by The Institute for Childhood Resources in San Francisco. Color ‘n Seek® posters are available in a wide variety of topics appealing to a broad range of interests and are offered in 18 assortments of two-poster sets, including Alphabet (A-M & N-Z); Beasties (forest animals) & Mythical Animals; Getting Wet & In The Swim (water nature & water play); Once Upon A Pony and Music Makers; Days of Yore & Sports; Home On The Farm & Bright Lights (country life & city life); Out of the West & Roughing It; In The Garden & Amazon Jungle.

Dr. Toy’s Best Children’s Vacation Products are carefully chosen, using extensive criteria she has developed over many years, from among hundreds she has reviewed at toy fairs, in catalogs, and through many other sources.  The criteria she uses includes: safety, age-appropriateness, design, durability, lasting play value, cultural and ethnic diversity, good transition from home to school, educational value, learning skills, creativity, improvement in the understanding of the community and the world, good value for price, and, naturally, fun.

Dr. Auerbach, a long-time resident of San Francisco, originally from New York City, lived in Washington, DC, while working for the Department of Education, where she approved the first proposal for “Sesame Street” and established the first day care center for children of federal employees.  In San Francisco, she established the San Francisco International Toy Museum, the world’s first “hands-on” toy museum visited by over 50,000 children.  She is the author of 15 books and hundreds of articles on toys and play, and is the only Ph.D. in Child Development evaluating toys and children’s products with extensive training, background, and over 37 years of experience evaluating, writing and speaking about toys and children’s products.  Dr. Auerbach is trained in child development, education, child psychology and special education.  She is an educator, consultant, parent, and playful grandparent.  Her book, Dr. Toy’s Smart Play/Smart Toys: How To Raise a Child with a High P. Q. (Play Quotient), may be obtained through www.barnesandnoble.com and at many toy and book stores.          

“We are extremely honored that over the 16 years that we have produced our Scramble Squares® puzzles and our Color ‘n Seek® Hidden Picures Coloring Activities our products have maintained the very high standards that Dr. Toy upholds as her criteria for “Dr. Toy’s Best Children’s Vacation Products for 2010,” says b. dazzle founder, puzzle designer, president & CEO, Kathie Gavin.

Founded in 1993, b. dazzle, inc. is a progressive market-driven company which manufactures and distributes wholesale in the gift, souvenir, toy and educational products industries a wide range of beautiful, wholesome, entertaining and informative made-in-America gifts of high quality and low cost for all ages of  adults and children that can be selected by topic to appeal to the personal interests of the recipient and can be enjoyed as cross-generational family activities. 

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 material success, there is the tendency in human nature to pursue success by any means, whether fairly or unfairly, honestly or dishonestly,” says Kathie Gavin.  “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.’”

KITES SCRAMBLE SQUARES® PUZZLE WINS LEARNING MAGAZINE 2010 TEACHERS’ CHOICE AWARD FOR THE FAMIL

REDONDO BEACH, CA…December 14, 2009… b. dazzle, inc. of Redondo Beach, California, has announced that its Kites Scramble Squares® 9-Piece Puzzle is a winner of the 2010 Learning Magazine Teachers’ ChoiceSM Award for the Family. Learning Magazine introduced the first Teachers’ Choice Awards program in 1994.  Over the years, the program has grown to become one of the most recognized and prestigious awards in the educational market.  Learning Magazine launched the Family program to meet the needs of companies whose educational products work in the home environment.  Teachers evaluate the products on educational value, originality and creativity, ease of use, safety and durability and high-interest level and motivation for children.  Each product is evaluated on its own merit.  Once the scoring is complete, the scores for each product are averaged.  The top 20% of all entries receive an award.  Only those products that meet our teachers’ stringent standards are chosen.  Teachers’ Choice for the Family is the only awards program that requires evaluators to be both a teacher and a parent.

Adults and seniors love made in America Scramble Squares® puzzles as much as do children, teenagers and college students. Although each Scramble Squares® puzzle has only nine 4″ x 4″ square pieces, exquisite Scramble Squares® puzzles are Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzle®!  At under $10.00 each suggested retail, Scramble Squares® puzzles make inexpensive, but highly valued gifts for both men and women alike.  Over 140 exquisite styles of colorful original art are available on nature, sports, history, culture, geography, science, technology, gourmet, occupations, fantasy, hobbies and activities, and more new styles are added throughout each year.  Scramble Squares® puzzles teach critical thinking skills, fine motor skills, patience, perseverance, and they help maintain mental agility in older persons, while providing stimulating entertainment as either a solitaire game or as a cooperative activity. Each puzzle package includes a panel of fascinating facts on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer, all packaged in a unique and handy resealable heavy duty 10-1/2” long x 5-3/4” wide x 3/8” deep vinyl travel pouch which can be collected and stored easily in a standard 3-ring binder.

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.  b. dazzle, inc. strongly believes that with its success comes a duty  to contribute to society and wishes to do so by advancing the principles of good character and ethical behavior, not only by operating its business in accordance with ethical standards, but also by advancing and promoting the importance of ethical business practices and ethical behavior throughout industry and society at large.”