I stumbled across more new Tomy plush in the TCG aisle at Target today, this time, Pichu, Mudkip, Torchic, Treecko and Pikachu! I caught Pichu and was quite tempted by Mudkip, which had the cutest sculpted open-mouth smile! Most retailers are resetting toy shelves for the upcoming season at the moment, so I expect more new items will show up soon! Toys 'R' Us had Tomy Mega Lucario and Mega Garchomp plush in stock last week, along with a larger Pikachu holding an apple plush! Pichu didn't have a selfie stick for his candid, so I did my best to capture him near the Pokémon Time Dragonair import plush I found recently at Central Ohio's Game Island kiosk (www.gogameisland.com).

 
 
Did you ever notice there is no koala Pokémon? If you don't mind, Pojo, I'd like to give a shout out to The Australian Koala Foundation (www.savethekoala.com) who are working hard to ensure that should there ever be a koala Pokémon, it won't be based on an extinct animal like some of the Fossil Pokémon. You can read more about these endangered iconic Australian marsupials on their website and lend a hand or voice to let people know these beautiful, unique animals need our help to survive. PIKA! I suppose I should also give a shout out to The House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org) while I have your Buneary ear, as rabbits are the entire reason I ever got into Pokémon in the first place. I fell in love with Pikachu (who looks more like a bunny than a mouse with those ears!) via the anime before diving into the Pokémon video game & TCG world. With school season starting soon, I imagine there is a good educational opportunity to teach children about the real life animals that inspired their favorite Pokémon characters and it's our responsibility to ensure their future.
 
Loretta