New Parents Magazine `Toy of the Year' Award-Winners Talk to Each Other and Sing in Rounds

CLEVELAND, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A flock of sheep, a gaggle of geese, a chorus of Care Bears? Yes, Virginia, this holiday season there is a new generation of Care Bears that can hold a conversation, sing songs together and even harmonize in rounds. As Laugh-A-Lot Bear says: "We rock!"

American Greetings brought back Cheer Bear, Wish Bear, Love-a-Lot Bear and the rest of the childhood classics from the '80s after a 20-year hiatus. Licensee Play Along, Inc., sold more than four million of their new plush Care Bears toys between July and December, making them one of the top-selling holiday toys in 2002.

This season, Play Along introduces the Care Bears Sing-Along Friends, the same cuddly childhood classics, but with a technological twist that'll have the kids giggling and singing along. Wish Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear, Laugh-a-Lot Bear and Share Bear now rock to the beat while they magically perform classic children's sing-along tunes together: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," "The Wheels on the Bus" and "If You're Happy and You Know It."

"Infrared technology enables each bear to magically 'recognize' the others and greet them by name," explained Jay Foreman, president of Play Along, Inc. "Individual bears talk and sing, and if several are grouped together, they interact, and even harmonize and sing in rounds. We're thrilled Parents Magazine has selected the Care Bears Sing-Along Friends as one of their 'Best Toys of the Year' for 2003. A test panel of children between the ages of 5 and 7 sponsored by Family Fun magazine also picked the Care Bears Sing-Along
Friends as one of this year's 'Top 10 Toys.'"

When introduced by American Greetings in 1982, the Care Bears were truly ahead of their time. Care Bears was the first licensed property to teach children virtues like caring for others and sharing feelings. The unique concept of each bear representing a feeling or social value through a symbol on its tummy proved to be incredibly popular.

"Last year, when we reintroduced the Care Bears, they quickly became a licensing dynamo," said Mike Brown, vice president of Licensing for American Greetings. All things Care Bear, from licensed toys to apparel to bedding to American Greetings' own cards, party ware and wrapping paper, flew off the shelves.

"Holiday sales of Care Bears merchandise in 2002 topped $85 million," Brown added. "Since then, they've shown they have true staying power. Sales of the products remain high this year, and many new licensees have come on board. The Care Bears are evolving into a true, classic juvenile property because their fundamental values of sharing and caring for others really resonate with parents."

"Teaching children basic social values like caring for others, sharing and expressing their feelings is even more relevant today than it was 20 years ago," agreed Wendy Masi, PHD, a developmental psychologist and Dean of the Mailman Segal Institute's Family Center at Nova Southeastern University.

"In today's fast-paced and often impersonal world, it's more critical than ever to teach toddlers and preschoolers how to reach out, communicate and interact appropriately with parents, teachers and friends."

Care Bears Sing-Along Friends are available at Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and other major mass retail stores. Participating American Greetings and Carlton Cards card and gift shops also carry the toys, along with a wide variety of other Care Bears merchandise, including wrapping paper, gift bags, ornaments, bobble heads, snow globes, Christmas stockings and more. Each of the Care
Bears Sign-Along Friends has a suggested retail price of $24.95.

About American Greetings Corporation

American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of social expression products. Along with greeting cards, its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, reading glasses, candles, stationery, calendars, educational products, ornaments and electronic greetings. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $2 billion. For more information on the Corporation, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com/ .

About Play Along, Inc.

Play Along, an award-winning toy company and one of the fastest growing in the toy industry, made its debut in 1999 with the Britney Spears doll line that went on the break all records for sales of an individual personality doll. Since then, the company has produced a string of popular toy lines including one of the hottest in the world today, the Care Bears. Play Along's diversified brand portfolio also includes THE DOG, Curly Qs, Teletubbies, The Lord of the Rings and Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, based on the Universal
Studios feature film due out in November. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.playalongtoys.com/ .