Child inventor to speak

A Coeur d'Alene toy store is bringing an award-winning, internationally successful child inventor to the Lake City Aug. 9 and 10.

Figpickels Toy Emporium will welcome Lexi Glenn, 14, to help promote and support the Invent Idaho program, a statewide student invention program developed 25 years ago by a pair of teachers in Kootenai County.

Lexi, of South Carolina, invented The Pumponator - a pump that fills water balloons - when she was in fourth grade.

Brett Sommer, who owns Figpickels with his wife, Susan, said the decision to support Invent Idaho and bring Lexi to town to share her story was an easy one.

"That's Figpickels' mission in this community - to promote education for our children," Sommer said.

In 2010, the Pumponator won ASTRA's Best Toy Award and was the 2010 "Toy of the Year" in Australia. Lexi won Nickelodeon's "Kids' Choice Award" for the "hottest" toy in 2011 and was nominated in 2012 for the prestigious Taggie Award for inventor of the year. The Pumponator was featured in 2011 and 2012 as "a summer must-have" on NBC's Today Show, and this year it was chosen as the summer "must-have" toy by The Chicago Tribune.

Now, Lexi has written a book about her journey, and will be donating 100 copies to the event. She will give a presentation, answer questions and sign books at Figpickels, in The Resort Plaza Shops from 2-4 p.m., Aug. 9.

Then, on Aug. 10, Figpickels will sponsor two family fun competitions: one to see who can blow up the most water balloons in three minutes, and another to see which team can toss a water balloon the greatest distance without breaking it.

Prizes will be awarded to the winners and "goodie boxes" will be given to all entrants. Proceeds from the purchase of Pumponators at Figpickels and donations collected at the store will be donated to the Invent Idaho program.

To learn more visit www.facebook.com/Figpickels, or call (208) 651-8602.