WOODBRIDGE, ON—Webkinz toys, the charming plush pets from Ganz with their own interactive website, is a celebrated winner of an iParenting Media Award. This program honors products for outstanding achievements in the children’s/juvenile marketplace.

Toy reviews were conducted by a parent, an expert in the field, and a licensed childcare facility and/or school.

“Our members are the most important part of Webkinz World. Our vision is to create an online world that challenges and intrigues a wide range of kids ages 4 to 14. Their feedback is critical, and it keeps us constantly innovating,” observed Ganz president, Howard Ganz.

Webkinz World combines the timeless fun of plush pets with the interactivity of the Internet, to give kids a virtual world where they can play, build, nurture, collect and even safely ‘chat’ using constructed messaging.

Each Webkinz pet carries a secret code that can only be revealed after purchase. After logging into Webkinz World (www.webkinz.com), kids enter the code, adopt and name their pet, and are welcomed into a virtual world. There, kids feed and care for their new pal, dress it, take it to the vet, play games, make movies, enter tournaments and do trivia quizzes to earn the Kinzcash that will allow them to feed, buy treats, and furnish homes for their pets.

With the code as their key, kids can join Webkinz World without giving out any personal information such as their e-mail, last name or phone number.

Fun, challenging, educational and always changing, Webkinz World is highly interactive, safe and secure. Kids learn to care for a pet, simple money management, and most importantly, to use their imaginations!

Ganz is proud to announce that their popular Webkinz toys have received a 2007 Toy Of The Year Award from the Toy Industry Association (TIA), in the Specialty Toy category.

“We’re very pleased to receive such an important accolade from within our industry”, observed Ganz president, Howard Ganz. “They recognize that Webkinz World is a successful integration of many aspects of children’s play.”

“Our vision is an online world that continually challenges and intrigues a wide range of kids. But one of the most appealing parts of Webkinz lies in the soft, huggable plush pets that kids can play with, care for and just simply love”, he continued. “Nothing changes about the love a child feels for their favorite pet.”

Webkinz combine the timeless fun of plush pets with the interactivity of the Internet, to give kids a virtual world where they can play, build, nurture, collect and even safely ‘chat’ using constructed messaging.

Each Webkinz pet carries a secret code. After logging onto www.webkinz.com, kids enter the code, adopt and name their pet, and are welcomed into a virtual world. There, kids feed and care for their new pal, dress it, take it to the vet, play games, make movies, enter tournaments and do trivia quizzes.

With the code as their key, kids can join Webkinz World without giving out any personal information such as their e-mail, last name or phone number.

In 2006, Webkinz pets were awarded an iParenting Media Award and a Canadian Toy Testing Council Children’s Choice Award.

Fun, challenging and always changing, Webkinz World is highly interactive, safe and secure.

The Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC), the leading authority on toys in Canada, has honoured Webkinz toys from Ganz with a prestigious Children’s Choice Award.

The non-profit Council, established in 1952, explains, “This award is given to new toys on the market that have proven to be fun, innovative and the absolute best in their area of play. It is a very celebrated honour for a toy manufacturer to receive a Children’s Choice Award, as only a few are given out each year.” Children and their families test toys, and the same testers made the presentations in Ottawa on Thursday November 2. “We are very proud to receive this award, especially as it is determined by children themselves”, states Ganz president, Howard Ganz. “Webkinz pets allow kids to combine creativity, imagination and technology in a fun-filled, safe environment that is always changing, and always welcoming.

Webkinz combine the timeless fun of plush pets with the interactivity of the Internet, to give kids a virtual world where they can play, build, nurture, collect and even safely ‘chat’ using constructed messaging. Each Webkinz pet carries a secret code that can only be revealed after purchase. After logging into Webkinz World (www.webkinz.com), kids enter the code, adopt and name their pet, and are welcomed into a virtual world. There, kids feed and care for their new pal, dress it, take it to the vet, play games, make movies, enter tournaments and do trivia quizzes to earn the Kinzcash that will allow them to feed, buy treats, and furnish homes for their pets. With the code as their key, kids can join Webkinz World without giving out any personal information such as their e-mail, last name or phone number.

Webkinz pets are available through independent gift retailers across the country.

Visit www.webkinz.com and use the Store Locator feature to find the nearest retailer.