New induction in Toy Hall of Fame

The National Toy Hall of Fame in New York State announced this year’s inductees — classic doll Baby Nancy, sidewalk chalk and the game Jenga.

The Strong National Museum of Play said this year’s inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame were chosen from a field of 12 finalists that included bingo, Breyer Horses, Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony, Risk, Sorry!, Tamagotchi and Yahtzee. Baby Nancy, created in 1968, soon became a bestselling black doll and also made history by being the first doll with an Afro hairstyle.

Sidewalk chalk was chosen in part due to being one of the earliest known examples of an artistic toy, the museum said. While Jenga, a block-stacking game invented by Englishwoman Leslie Scott, calls on players to build the tower higher without knocking it down.

What’s new in Lego Star Wars Holiday Special

Rey goes on a cross-timeline adventure that brings her to iconic moments from throughout the Star Wars series in the new trailer for Lego Star Wars: Holiday Special.

Rey, after traveling to a mysterious Jedi temple with BB-8, finds herself teleported to Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Starfigher right before he blows up the first Death Star, as seen in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.

The young Jedi also gets to witness Luke train with Yoda, gets into a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader and takes part in the Clone Wars. Finn, Poe Dameron, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, C-3PO, Rose Tico and the rest of Rey’s friends meanwhile, are celebrating Life Day together and are exchanging holiday gifts. The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is coming to Disney+ on November 17.

Man unearths 4.49-carat gem at Crater of Diamonds

An Arkansas man visited the state’s Crater of Diamonds State Park and discovered a 4.49-carat sparkling, canary yellow diamond — the third-largest diamond found in the park this year.

Steven McCool, of Fayetteville went there after recent rains made for optimal diamond-hunting conditions, and he was on his 11th sifting bucket of the day when he spotted something just 30 minutes before the park closed.

“Mr McCool’s find is a 4.49-carat sparkling, canary yellow diamond that is about the size of a jellybean and seems to have great clarity. It is a stunning diamond,” Crater of Diamonds State Park Assistant Superintendent Meghan Moore said.

McCool dubbed his discovery the BamMam Diamond, in honour of his children’s initials.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 14th, 2020