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K'NEX -- PLAYTHINGS UNVEILS TOP 10 TOYS

Retailers-Not Editors-Pick Top Holiday Toys

NEW YORK, NY, - October 8, 2001 - It doesn't take a genius to pick Microsoft's Xbox as a hot toy this holiday season. Instead, the toy industry's leading magazine, Playthings, surveyed independent specialty toy retailers to predict the Top 10 Holiday Toys in the sometimes overlooked, but fastest growing segment, in the toy industry. The list appears in Playthings' October issue (just mailed).

The list includes:

• Screamin' Serpent Roller Coaster by K'nex, #10
  
• Bendos by Kid Galaxy, #8
  
• Bob the Builder by Brio, #6

For the remainder of the list, contact the editors below or pick up a copy of the October issue at PlayDate, a one-day media showcase (October 16, 2001) of the season's hottest toys and games, where Playthings will be the only trade magazine distributed.

Specialty retailers that participated in the survey are members of the Playthings Retailer Ready Response Team and were polled during the month of September. Based on this and ongoing research, Playthings will publish a list of top toys for a particular category every month.

Since 1903, Playthings has been the toy trade's oldest and most sought after source for industry news and trends. In addition to the monthly print run, which includes buyers at Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and specialty retailers across the country among its subscribers, playthings.com, the magazine's Web site, is updated daily and Playthings Extra, a free electronic newsletter, mails weekly.

Editor-in-Chief Maria Weiskott and Senior Editor Dave Gerardi are available for interviews. The New York Times, Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal regarding industry issues have quoted them.

Press Contacts:

PLAYTHINGS:
Maria Weiskott, Editor-in-Chief                      Dave Gerardi, Senior Editor
(212) 519-7348                                             (212) 519-7345
mweiskott@cahners.com                               dgerardi@cahners.com

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Contact:
Melissa Fogarty/Beth Mosher
LITZKY PUBLIC RELATIONS
(201) 222-9118
email: mfogarty@litzkypr.com

About K’NEX Brands

Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 200 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX is America’s building toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love, and encourages youngsters to “imagine, build and play.”  For more information, please visit www.knex.com.