The JPII Company has introduced these eight play pals, contemporary cloth toys with diverse American cultures. They are handcrafted, 24 inches tall, and designed for both girls and boys, ages three and up.

Each pal wears removable and washable play clothes and comes with a biography about their heritage along with a “Pal Agreement.” Their faces are embroidered with special features that bring life-like personality to their character. They will be any child’s companion in imaginative play while encouraging an awareness and celebration of different cultures. Any child can read to their pal, take their pal shopping, sleep with their pal and share their pal with friends.

JPII Company seeks to participate in giving a portion of its proceeds to benefit children’s organizations that support educational programs.

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Meet creator Joan E. Phillips
Joan Phillips, the creator, originally introduced “Sassy and Sam” in 1975 as playmates for her son and daughter. These “special toys” soon captured the interest of friends, family and even passer-bys.

This curiosity turned into an award-winning venture. Inspired by her own Brooklyn childhood, Joan decided to create JPII Company and market her toys to local boutiques and craft shows. She added new characters to the Sassy and Sam duo that reflected the diversity of her surroundings and America. She used skin-tone fabrics and facial features that honored members of multiple ethnic cultures.

These ethnic toys also caught the attention of Childcraft Education Corporation, a distributor of learning systems and educational toys for children. Childcraft contracted Joan to produce these toys for them to be sold to schools and educational institutions throughout the country.
In February 1976, Joan was presented with a PACT award by the Public Action Coalition on Toys, a consumer watchdog group that seeks to make playthings more responsible to the needs of children. It was given to her for her “conscious effort to humanize the children’s play experience with a life-enhancing toy whose packaging invites the involvement of children of both sexes and all races.”

Never letting go of her dream to educate young children about other cultures while encouraging them to use their imaginations, Joan has reintroduced the “Sassy and Sam” collection as “Play Pals.” With redesigned faces and a fresh new batch of characters, these “play pals” are lovable and huggable. They each come with their own biography and “Pal Agreement.”