Astra Announces Executive Leadership Transition; Kathy Trivisonno Named Interim Executive Director   CHICAGO, IL – July 24, 2026 – The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (Astra), the premier professional home for the specialty toy industry, today announced that Sue Warfield is stepping down as Executive Director. The Board of Directors has appointed Kathy Trivisonno as Interim Executive Director, effective Friday, July 24, 2026, to ensure continuity of operations and member services while the board conducts a national search for Astra’s next Executive Director. “On behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Sue for her years of dedication and service to Astra and to the specialty toy community,” said Sandra Malott, Board Chair. “Astra has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years, and Sue has been an important part of that story. In collaboration with Sue, the board has been working towards a succession plan and is committed to a thoughtful, well-managed transition. We look forward to celebrating Sue’s immense contribution to our organization and industry at Marketplace & Academy in Pittsburgh in 2027. We are grateful to Kathy for stepping in to lead the team during this period.” “It’s been an honor and my pleasure to serve Astra and its community,” said Sue Warfield. “Since taking on the Executive Director role in 2020, it’s been my goal to ensure that whenever it was time for new leadership that Astra was in a financially sound and positive position. Kathy will do an amazing job to keep that momentum going for our industry and members.” Ms. Trivisonno, Director of Operations, will oversee day-to-day operations, member programs, and planning for Astra's flagship Marketplace & Academy event during the transition. The Board of Directors has begun a formal search process, guided by association-governance best practices, to identify Astra’s next Executive Director. Members will be kept informed at each stage, including the launch of the search, the announcement of the new Executive Director, and an introduction at an upcoming member event. Members with questions may contact the Board of Directors at board@astratoy.org. About Astra  Founded in 1992, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is a member-driven, nonprofit trade association serving more than 3,600 specialty toy industry professionals, including manufacturers, independent retailers, sales representatives, affiliates, and inventors. United by the belief that play matters, Astra builds a collaborative community dedicated to strengthening businesses and enriching children's lives through meaningful, high-quality play. Astra helps members succeed through year-round networking, advocacy, education, business resources, and exclusive member savings. Its Astra Academy provides on-demand professional development, while Marketplace & Academy—Astra's annual trade show and education conference—brings the specialty toy community together to discover new products, exchange ideas, and help shape the trends that define the industry. More than three decades after its founding, Astra continues to champion quality, connection, and the power of play to make a lasting impact on children, families, and communities.   # # # Media Contact: Litzky PR Astra@LitzkyPR.com    

  Toniebox Lite delivers tonies' core listening experience in a smaller, lighter format at a more accessible price point: $79.99 USD and $99.99 CAD Complementing flagship device Toniebox 2, Toniebox Lite expands tonies' portfolio to create a versatile multi-device audio ecosystem that brings the benefits of listening to more families at more places Pre-orders in North America start today, first in-store availability in August – market introduction in the UK, Australia and New Zealand in fall 2026 PALO ALTO, Calif., July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- tonies SE ("tonies"), the globally leading interactive audio platform for children, today announces the launch of the Toniebox Lite – a compact and lightweight device that brings tonies' core listening experience at an accessible price point, and available for pre-order in North America today, July 27, on tonies.com and walmart.com in the US and tonies.ca and walmart.ca in Canada. Certified for children aged 1+ and compatible with every Tonie, it gives families immediate access to tonies' platform of curated audio-first content. Introducing the next device with Toniebox Lite is the first proof point of tonies' strategy to build an ecosystem consisting of multiple devices, a rich above-the-box portfolio and accessories that enable experiences across the full breadth of family life. Toniebox Lite complements tonies' flagship Toniebox 2, which combines the company's full content portfolio with screen-free gaming through Tonieplay and a suite of enhanced features that support daily family routines. Launched just a year after Toniebox 2, Toniebox Lite further reflects tonies' commitment to accelerating its innovation cadence and extending its platform to best meet diverse family needs. Tobias Wann, CEO of tonies, says: "As parents increasingly seek mindful alternatives to passive screen time, we see a tremendous opportunity to champion the power of listening, spark imagination, foster independence and curiosity. To bring the benefits of audio to even more families, we are building a growing ecosystem that for the first time includes multiple devices - each of them designed for different family needs, while being connected by the same trusted world of stories, songs, characters, and play experiences. With Toniebox Lite, we open the door to that world for more families than ever." Ginny McCormick, CXO of tonies, says: "Childhood rarely stands still. It unfolds across family vacations, visits with grandparents, and everyday adventures in between. Toniebox Lite's simple, portable design allows families to bring the tonies experience wherever childhood happens. For existing families, it expands how and where they can enjoy our platform. For new families, it offers an introduction to the benefits of playing, learning, growing up ears-first. And for tonies, it is another step in our mission to shape the future of childhood through listening." Toniebox Lite: the core tonies listening experience, made accessible Toniebox Lite delivers the signature tonies experience: screen-free, child-operated, and instantly intuitive, designed in a smaller and lighter form. Toniebox Lite is compatible with all Tonies ever released: the content library of more than 1,500 Tonies and more than 3,500 digital titles spans beloved global licensing partners alongside tonies Originals productions. As with Toniebox 2, Toniebox Lite offers parents the opportunity to co-pilot their children's experience through the tonies app, where they can control playback, set volume limits and access digital content easily. The evolution into an ecosystem around multiple devices With Toniebox Lite and Toniebox 2, tonies evolves into a true multi-experience ecosystem: a range of devices, each with a distinct profile, all running on one unified platform and one vast portfolio of curated content. Toniebox 2 remains the flagship, offering the full tonies experience including interactive Tonieplay gaming, the dynamic light ring as well as unique bedtime features such as the sleep timer, sunrise alarm and bedtime mode. Toniebox Lite complements it by delivering the core listening experience in a smaller and more portable form. Innovation alongside the growing needs of families The launch of Toniebox Lite represents the next step in tonies' mission to bring the benefits of listening to more children and families around the world. Alongside its expanding device portfolio, tonies continues to invest in new content experiences, from My First Tonies and interactive Tonieplay games to landmark partnerships with beloved brands including Bluey and Pokémon. Toniebox Lite launches first in the United States and Canada. Pre-orders begin today, with first deliveries through tonies.com, walmart.com, as well as in-store at Walmart starting on August 22. Further North American channels will follow through September and October. Available at launch, kids across all markets will also be able to personalize their Toniebox Lite with a range of colorful covers that also add an additional layer of cushioning for everyday adventures.  Pre-order is live now at tonies.com and walmart.com in the US and tonies.ca and walmart.ca in Canada. About tonies tonies® is the globally leading interactive audio platform for children redefining how children starting as early as 1 play, learn, and grow independently without screens. Since its founding in Germany in 2014, around 12.2 million Tonieboxes and over 165 million Tonies have been sold worldwide. On average, children engage with tonies for ~280 minutes per week, making it a trusted everyday companion that brings the joy and magic of interactive audio entertainment and education into family life worldwide. The intuitive and award-winning ecosystem – centered around Toniebox 2 and Toniebox Lite – offers a portfolio of around 1,500 Tonies, about 20 Tonieplay games and more than 3,500 digital titles via mytonies (library and app) – ranging from tonies® Originals to licensed content from around 350 partners including Disney, Warner Bros., NBC Universal, Mattel, Marvel, Paramount, Hasbro, Universal, Sony Music. tonies is rapidly expanding its platform globally. Besides DACH, central growth regions include tonies' largest market, North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland, France, Australia and New Zealand, with Tonieboxes now active in over 100 countries. tonies employs more than 630 people, achieved EUR 630 million in group revenue in FY 2025 (+31% yoy), and is listed in the SDAX segment of Frankfurt Stock Exchange (tonies SE). tonies guides for FY 2026 group revenue above EUR 760m (+20% in constant currency) and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 9 to 11%. SOURCE tonies® CONTACT: U.S. Press Inquiries tonies: Liz Neale, BPCM, Phone: (516) 972-4863, E-mail: lwienerneale@bpcm.com, press@tonies.com  Canada Press Inquiries: Chantal Grainger, Swerve Strategic, on behalf of tonies, CGrainger@swervestrategic.com, 905.580.9843 Click to unsubscribe This information is being sent to you by:PR Newswire, A Cision Company200 Vesey St., 19th Floor, New York, NY, 10281www.prnewswire.com  

If Words Could Kill   Gameplay Calling all word game lovers! If Words Could Kill is a fast-paced card game all about creating high-scoring words. Think high-stakes Scrabble: a time limit, special effects, and a dark academia vibe. Players duel by creating words worth the most amount of points possible, challenging one another until a higher scoring word simply isn’t possible.   Unpack your box to get started. You’ll find 100 Spell cards, each with a letter worth a certain number of points. 15 1-Crow Shield cards, 10 2-Crow Shield cards, 5 Murder cards, and 1 Wild card make up the rest of the cards. There’s also a Score Tracker and a 45-second hourglass timer.   To set up, deal one of each of the Shield cards and the Murder cards face down in front of each player. Then deal 5 Spell cards to each player—this makes up your hand. The Score Tracker, Wild Card, and Timer should all be within reach of every player, as well as the remaining Spell cards and an area for the discard pile.   Gameplay is simple. The first player starts the timer and has 45 seconds to create a word using the Spell cards in their hand. They can also use the Wild card to serve as any letter. The only rules? Your word must be at least three letters long and can’t be a proper noun, acronym, or abbreviation. Once the first player has created their word or time runs out, score it by adding up the points shown on the Spell cards and update the Score Tracker. Then, they can discard any unwanted cards remaining in their hand and top up with fresh cards from the deck.   Next, they’ll attack another player by flipping the timer over in front of another player. That player then has 45 seconds to create a word worth more points than the number displayed on the Score Tracker. This player can use any Spell cards in their hand, the Spell cards from their attacker’s word, and the Wild card, which does not need to remain the same letter it was used for previously.   If this player successfully creates a word worth more points before time is up, they will update the Score Tracker, discard any unwanted cards and top up their hand before challenging another player. The game continues like this until a player cannot forma. Word that scores higher than the number on the Score Tracker.   The losing player must flip over their 1-Crow Shield card. These cards, like Spell cards, have letters on them, but are worth more points. On their next turn, the player can use their 1-Crow Shield card in addition to the cards in their hand, but must keep in mind that once used, other players can then use it too.   If this player loses again, they must flip over their 2-Crow Shield card. These cards have effects like: “Reset your hand. Gain time.” With this effect, the player can discard any unwanted cards and top up with new cards from the deck, then flip over the timer to gain an extra 45 seconds. The player can resolve their Shield card’s effect at any time during their turn, but after it’s used once, it must be returned to the box.   A third loss means the player must flip over their Murder card, discard any Spell cards and Shield cards that were played or that are remaining in their hand, then reassemble the word used to attack them to attack another player. They can attack any player except the player that attacked them. Once this player has attacked another player with their word, they are eliminated from the game. The last player with their Murder card face down wins!     History Tee Turtle was founded by Ramy Badie in 2022. What started out as a t-shirt company based in Baltimore has since grown to include plushies (the Moody Reversible Octopus!), games, and accessories.   In 2017, Unstable Unicorns launched via Kickstarter to great success, which paved the way for Unstable Games, which is Tee Turtle’s dedicated game studio. They’ve designed games like Here to Slay, Happy Little Dinosaurs, and Twisted Cryptids in addition to If Words Could Kill which was released in 2026.

It’s always toward the table. The following article is adapted from the keynote address delivered by Julien Sharp, General Manager, asmodee North America, at the Association of Games & Puzzles International (AGPI) Annual Convention in Minneapolis on July 11, 2026. It has been adapted from remarks as delivered for print publication. I run asmodee's U.S. operations, which means I sit at the intersection of publishers, retailers, and the people who actually play games. After nearly two decades in the toy and game industry, I've had the opportunity to watch tabletop gaming evolve from a niche hobby into mainstream culture—which means I've seen enough cycles to have opinions, and enough humility to know I've been wrong before. Rather than looking backward at the industry's recent success, I'd like to look forward. Here are four predictions I believe will shape the next decade of tabletop gaming. If you disagree, good—that's the point. The best outcome is that this leaves you with something to debate. Growth Will Come from Broadening Participation Three games illustrate why I believe this....