JAKKS Pacific to Bring Children's Literature to Life with New Tell-A-Story Interactive Books; JAKKS Aligns with Simon & Schuster to Launch Tell-A-Story™ with Beloved Children's Books

Business Wire, Oct 20, 2005

MALIBU, Calif. -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq:JAKK) announced today a new product line the company is developing called Tell-A-Story(TM), interactive books that connect directly into a standard TV using Plug & Read(TM) technology and serve as a fun, introductory reading guide for preschool-aged children. JAKKS has signed a worldwide licensing agreement with book publisher Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing to bring popular children's literature to life using Tell-A-Story interactive books, including the Raggedy Ann & Andy series, the "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" books, and titles by renowned children's authors Tomie dePaola and Karen Katz.

The Tell-A-Story(TM) product creates an engaging, interactive reading experience and learning system that will help in the fundamental reading development of young children, while showing them how much fun reading can be. Tell-A-Story interactive books take what children love -- the TV -- and use it to introduce children to the world of reading. The Tell-A-Story system is book-shaped, plugs directly into the A/V jacks of any standard TV, and no DVD player is needed.

Individual "mini-book" cartridges based on popular children's books are inserted into the Tell-A-Story system so that children can build their own Tell-A-Story libraries and collect their favorite books as they grow and master reading. By pressing the large, colored buttons on each Tell-A-Story unit, kids can interact with the story and make the characters come alive on their TV screen, while also giving them the option to read at their own pace or with assistance.

Stephen Berman, president and COO, JAKKS Pacific, Inc., stated: "Tell-A-Story line is educational, fun, easy to use, portable and affordable. Children will enjoy reading with Tell-A-Story interactive books more than regular books because they can interact with their favorite stories and characters on the TV, while parents will love the Tell-A-Story product because it is educational. Now parents won't mind children spending time in front of the television -- as long as it is with a Tell-A-Story book!"

Berman continued: "JAKKS knows what consumers want. We incorporated the key elements that made our Plug It In & Play TV Games(TM) brand so successful into the Tell-A-Story(TM) line, innovative yet simple Plug & Read(TM) technology, ease of use, quality content and an affordable price point."

"We are pleased to top the list of the Tell-A-Story literary library with our top-selling children's books," said Rick Richter, president and publisher for Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. "With the Tell-A-Story system, we look forward to children enjoying our books as a new and more interactive reading experience."

JAKKS plans to launch the Tell-A-Story product line for Spring 2006 at mass and specialty retailers nationwide. The suggested retail price for the Tell-A-Story products will be under $30, with each 2-pack of "mini-book" cartridges retailing for under $10.

About Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster, part of the entertainment operation of Viacom Inc., is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic and multimedia formats. Its divisions include the Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Online, and international companies in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.simonsays.com.

About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and consumer products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls, and Pet Toys and Accessories. The products are sold under various brand names, including JAKKS Pacific(R), Play Along(R), Flying Colors(R), Road Champs(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R), Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R), Color Workshop(R), JPI(TM) and Plug It In & Play TV Games(TM). JAKKS and THQ are the members of THQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC, which publishes and markets WWE wrestling video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com or www.tvgames.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS' business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of JAKKS' future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.