Add Some Mind Candy to the Easter Basket

OAKLAND, Calif. - April 1, 2015 - PRLog -- Along with marshmallow peeps, jelly beans and chocolate bunnies, this year the Easter Bunny has some brain candy options too.

A stuffed animal has always been a welcome addition to an Easter Basket, and new plush pals based on favorite children’s book characters are even more special.  The Easter Bunny loves reading, so why not add a doll that helps engage a child in Springtime reading adventures? Pair the dolls with special-edition children's books about Easter and stories featuring rabbits and ducks to create a perfect treat that’s just right for the Easter Bunny's visit.

Clair Frederick, President of MerryMakers, Inc., says, "Books are a lasting treasure.  Hunt for books along with Easter Eggs and give children sweet treats they can hold onto for more than a day.  And when a doll is added to the mix, the pleasure extends even further."

Specifically for Easter, the MerryMakers line includes:

·        Floppy Bunny from Salina Yoon's heartwarming books Found and Stormy Night.

·        Llama Llama based on Anna Dewdney's new board book Llama Llama Easter Egg (part of the Llama Llama Red Pajama series).

·        Duck and Goose plush from the series by Tad Hills. For Easter Duck and Goose, Here Comes the Easter Bunny is a perfect choice (2012 release).

·        Claire from Rosemary Wells’s bestseller Voyage to the Bunny Planet.

"Adding a plush doll based on the lead character from a children's book deepens the reader’s relationship with the character and the story.  We are delighted to be part of that process at any time of year,” adds Betsy Foster, VP Sales and Marketing.

Beyond the special Easter theme, any MerryMakers toy is a perfect Easter Basket gift if it's a child's favorite character. The MerryMakers catalog of plush and other gifts includes items based on James Dean's wildly popular Pete the Cat; Tom Lichtenheld and Sherri Duskey Rinker's bestselling Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site; Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser's Fancy Nancy; Kevin Henkes's famous mouse Lilly; Ian Falconer's Olivia; Nick Bruel's Bad Kitty; Judy Schachner's Skippyjon Jones; Tedd Arnold's Fly Guy; David Soman and Jacky Davis's Ladybug Girl and Melanie Watt's Scaredy Squirrel.

About the Company:

MerryMakers, an Oakland, CA-based toy and gift company, designs, manufactures and distributes dolls and toys based on bestselling and classic children’s books, museum collections, and historical figures. The company's products have earned multiple awards in children's entertainment, parenting and toy categories, including the Dr. Toy Classic Products (http://www.drtoy.com/product-view/?productid=2776) and Toy of the Year from Creative Child Magazine. The licensing division was founded in 2012 and represents PETE THE CAT, MISS BINDERGARTEN, DUCK AND GOOSE and Rosemary Wells Characters. For additional information, visit the company website (http://www.merrymakersinc.com/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/MerryMakers/143958893070?sk=timeline), Twitter (https://twitter.com/MerryMakersinc) and Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/merrymakerstoys/) pages.