London-based company Kano, creator of the first computer anyone can build and code, announced its retail expansion into the United States today through partnerships with the world’s leading dedicated toy retailer, Toys“R”Us, and the country’s largest retail bookseller, Barnes & Noble. Kano’s award-winning Computer Kit and Screen Kit for ages 6 and up is now available for purchase online at Toysrus.com and Barnesandnoble.com for $149.99 each. The kits will arrive in all Toys“R”Us stores and 640 Barnes & Noble locations nationwide this fall. This is the first brick-and-mortar presence for Kano in the United States.

“As screen time becomes all-the-time, still, only a fraction of us know what is happening below the surface of the devices we often take for granted. Our award-winning Computer Kit allows consumers to build their own computer, and teaches them to create art, music, apps, and games with code, demystifying a sealed world that is usually only for 'experts’,” said Alex Klein, CEO and cofounder of Kano. “The natural next step was for us to partner with retail leaders Toys“R”Us and Barnes & Noble who support our mission and have the ability to share Kano’s innovative products with children and adults alike nationwide.”

Kano’s kits and apps are currently used in more than 500 education programs and 200 clubs across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Armed with tools and support from Kano, educators around the world are able to combine the company’s suite of products with unique curriculums that set the stage for a new kind of computational learning in the classroom, one that encourages learning through making.

“We are incredibly excited to add Kano to the growing assortment of STEM-related offerings at Toys“R”Us , especially at a time where the next generation is more immersed in technology and parents are looking for ways to marry education, play and real life skills that can truly impact their children’s future,” said Richard Barry, Executive Vice President, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us. “This category is an important one on both a national and global scale and we look forward to introducing the world of coding to our U.S. customers who are looking for products that offer brain-boosting fun.”

This expansion with U.S. retailers alongside rapid growth into education systems and beyond is supported by the appointment of a new Chairman to Kano’s Board of Directors, John Makinson, also Chairman of Penguin Random House. The company has also hired a new VP of Marketing, Tim Grimsditch, previously Director of Global Product & Performance Marketing at Spotify.

“This is an incredible time for Kano, a time that not only speaks to the company’s rapid global expansion, but also to the new channels of opportunity that arise from partnering with leaders like Toys“R”Us and Barnes & Noble,” said John Makinson, Chairman of Kano. “Through unique storytelling and physical building, Kano cultivates environments for creativity, play and learning like no other company provides.”

“Kano is a natural extension of Barnes & Noble’s ‘learning through doing’ offering and we are thrilled it will be a featured item this fall at our 2nd Annual Mini Maker Faire,” said Kathleen Campisano, Vice President of Toys & Games at Barnes & Noble. “Products like this help to further our commitment to encouraging tech literacy across the country at a time when it’s more important than ever.”

Kano launched its record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, the first “computer anyone can make,” in November 2013, beating its original goal 15-fold and raising $1.5 million from more than 13,000 backers. To date, the company has shipped nearly 100,000 kits to people in 86 countries. Its playful design, universal products and social platform, Kano World, have inspired the creation of physical and digital artwork, games and music, all brought to life with code.

About Kano

Kano is a London-based company empowering people of all ages to create with computing with its series of kits and open coding platform. Its first “computer anyone can make” has shipped to 86 countries around the world to people, ages 6 to 81, who have used it to make PCs, screens, radios, artwork, music, games, Minecraft hacks and more. More than 15 million lines of code have been shared in its online community, Kano World, where anyone can try out Kano’s apps for free. Kano was founded by Alex Klein, Yonatan Raz-Fridman and Saul Klein and has raised $19 million in funding, from its initial record-breaking Kickstarter campaign to investors that include Jim Breyer, Marc Benioff, Martin Sorrell, Index Ventures, James Higa, Troy Carter and Shana Fisher, among others. To learn more, please visit: http://kano.me or follow @TeamKano on Twitter and Kano Computing on Facebook.

About Toys“R”Us, Inc.

Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 871 Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, and in more than 755 international stores and 250 licensed stores in 37 countries and jurisdictions. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com, the company provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Toys“R”Us, Inc. is headquartered in Wayne, NJ, and has an annual workforce of approximately 62,000 employees worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. For more information, visit Toysrusinc.com or follow @ToysRUsNews on Twitter. Follow Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus and Facebook.com/Babiesrus and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) is a Fortune 500 company, the nation’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The Company operates 640 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com), plus periodicals and comics, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps available for Android, iOS® and Windows®.

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company's corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

Barnes & Noble®, Barnes & Noble Booksellers®, Barnes & Noble.com® and Discover Great New Writers® are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its affiliates. NOOK® and the NOOK logos are trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.

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