Cranium Creates Twice the Hullabaloo'R' at Toy Fair

NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(CCNMatthews - Feb. 14, 2006) -

Attention: Lifestyle, Family and Assignment Editors

Timeless Magic of Cranium^® Hullabaloo Celebrated with Company's Fourth Game of the Year Win

What's all the Hullabaloo^® about at American International Toy Fair? Cranium^® Hullabaloo^®, that's what! Cranium, Inc., the only company to win the Toy Industry Association's (TIA) Game of the Year (GOTY) three years in a row, last night was recognized again by the TIA. Cranium Hullabaloo, the 2003 TIA GOTY award winner, received the prestigious award a second time. Driven by Hullabaloo, Cranium's preschool games grew nearly 30 per cent last year, while, according to The NPD Group, the preschool game category experienced an 8 per cent decline.

"Since we launched Hullabaloo, more than a million children have wiggled, giggled and done the Funky Monkey Dance," said Cranium cofounder and Grand Pooh Bah Richard Tait. "The success of Cranium Hullabaloo belongs as much to them as it does to us. It's their passion that fuels our brand, and their stories of laughter and togetherness that inspire us to continue on our mission to give everybody the chance to shine."

Cranium recently expanded the Hullabaloo product line with the introduction of Cranium Hullabaloo^TM DVD Game: Amazing Animal Adventure (for ages 4 and up), launching in Canada this Fall. The all-new DVD version of the 2003 and 2005 TIA Game of the Year winner takes kids on an exciting animal adventure with fascinating footage from National Geographic. Already a winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Best Toy Award, Hullabaloo is in consideration for the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award, as well.

"Parents are looking for options that allow kids to incorporate physical activity into their play - even at younger ages. Cranium first defined what that active experience should be for pre-schoolers with its Cranium Hullabaloo game," said toy and children's lifestyle expert Chris Byrne, aka Toy Guy. "With the Hullabaloo DVD Game, Cranium expands the activity by providing an immersive animal environment that will keep kids engaged and playing even longer."

This fall, kids in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Scandinavia and The Netherlands will be doing the Funky Monkey Dance when the twisty-turvy fun of Hullabaloo further spans the globe. Hullabaloo is already getting kids yelling "oogety boogety boogety boo!" in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australasia.

About Cranium, Inc.

Cranium, Inc. reinvented the board game category in 1998 with the launch of Cranium^® and a pledge to give everybody the chance to shine. Today, Cranium leads the industry in innovation, creating award-winning games and changing the rules in toys and publishing. The only company to win the Toy Industry Association's Game of the Year three years in a row, Cranium celebrates accomplishments including more than 15 million sold, more than 85 awards and a following of over 300,000 Craniacs in nearly 30 countries and more than 10 languages. Cranium, Inc. creates Cranium games, Giggle Gear^TM and WonderWorks toys plus books in partnership with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. These games, toys and books celebrate the full range of everyone's natural abilities as they create, perform, discover and connect. With Cranium, Everyone Shines!^TM For more information, visit cranium.com.