Borders® Enhances the Kids Toy and Game Experience In-Store and Online with Eco-Friendly GREENZYS

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders®  today announced it is teaming with GREENZYS, a premiere literacy-based, eco-friendly children's brand, to enhance its already expansive educational toy and game offerings in-store and online with the eco-friendly Greenzys book and several plush toys depicting characters from the book.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110405/DE77657 )

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060208/BORDERSLOGO )

Today select Borders superstores as well as Borders.com are featuring the book "The Greenzys," a heartwarming tale that teaches kids about the concept of environmental conservation, as well as toys Willow the Elephant, Yew Yew the Panda, Peat the Penguin and Violet the Giraffe. (All Borders superstores will feature the product by April 11.) GREENZYS, which has received rave reviews for its reinforcement of the importance of green living practices among kids, perfectly complements the Borders brand, which promotes discovery through reading and entertainment.

Borders will celebrate the new product line with a Greenzys book signing and question and answer session by acclaimed children's author Danielle Mentzer at the Borders Torrance, Calif. store on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m.

"We are incredibly pleased to team with GREENZYS, which has a great reputation for educating and inspiring kids to adopt green living practices," said Michele Cloutier, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer for Borders. "The inclusion of GREENZYS in our retail mix further advances our commitment to expand Borders' offerings beyond just books with unique products that complement our brand and delight our customers."

Each GREENZYS toy purchased at Borders will support the Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org) by the planting of a tree in a U.S. forest. Kids and their parents are encouraged to visit the Greenzys Web site at www.greenzys.com to receive a personalized digital certificate acknowledging their planted tree contribution from their plush purchase.

Greenzys is a joint venture between Rethink Entertainment & Media and MoonReef Designs.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. is a specialty retailer of books as well as other educational and entertainment items. Online shopping is offered through borders.com. Find author interviews and vibrant discussions of the products we and our customers are passionate about online at facebook.com/borders, twitter.com/borders and youtube.com/bordersmedia. For more information about the company, visit borders.com/media.

About Rethink Entertainment & Media and MoonReef Designs

Rethink Entertainment & Media (www.rethinkent.com) is a multi-faceted, award winning studio known for creating intellectual properties and collaborating with top talent on projects spanning all forms of media.  Based in Los Angeles, Rethink Entertainment & Media is known for bringing innovative creative ideas and proven entertaining concepts to content for all ages for all genres, formats, and mediums.  MoonReef Designs (www.moonreef.com), is a design studio that creates hand painted works of art, digital designs and illustrations for various consumer products including tile, toys, stationery, textiles, giftware, and prints.

Kids Preferred, LLC is an award-winning division of Kids Preferred, Inc., which was founded in 1983 and is one of the largest plush toy manufacturers in the U.S.  Known for its superior quality and unique designs, Kids Preferred, LLC serves the specialty, juvenile, gift, and better department store trade by distributing soft toys and gifts under its own brand, private label and licensed brands including amazing baby™, asthma & allergy friendly™, Between the Lions™, Disney's Winnie the Pooh®, Classic Winnie the Pooh®, Disney Princess, Elmer, The World of Eric Carle™,  Guess How Much I Love You™, Harley-Davidson®, Madeline™, Martha Speaks™, Pat the Bunny®,  Spot™ and The Snowman™.  The company is headquartered in East Windsor, NJ and has offices in New York City, Hong Kong and Shanghai.  For more information, contact Kids Preferred at 1-866-SOFT TOY (763-8869) or visit their website at www.kidspreferred.com.

SOURCE Borders