The world's largest retailer plans to bring religion to the toy aisle. According to USA Today, 425 Wal-Mart stores nationwide will begin stocking faith-based toys from One2believe early next month.

It's the first time Wal-Mart has carried a full line of religious toys. "We're seeing interest from parents in faith-enriching toys," Melissa O'Brien, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman, told USA Today.

About one-sixth of Wal-Mart's 3,300 stores will carry the One2believe line, which will get 2 feet of toy aisle shelf space, O'Brien added. Stores that sell a lot of Bibles will carry the new line. "We view this as an opportunity to reach that audience," she told USA Today.

David Socha, CEO of Valencia, Calif.-based One2believe, told the newspaper: "Our goal is to give the faith-based community an alternative to Bratz dolls and Spider-Man." The company's "Tales of Glory" toys are based on biblical characters, including a 13-inch Samson action figure that sells for $24.99.

"This is a chance to let our voices be heard. By supporting this program (at Wal-Mart), we can send a message to other retailers and toy makers letting them know that we, as a Christian community, are truly concerned about the toys that our children play with," Socha said on One2believe's Web site.

One2believe was a first-time exhibitor during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Atlanta, last week. Almighty Heroes Media Group, another faith-based toys exhibitor at ICRS, had one of the busiest booths during the trade show. The company's "Almighty Heroes" exhibit-featuring Bible-based action figures depicting characters from the Old Testament-drew lots of children who played inside a 27-by-14 foot outdoor Noah's ark inflatable bounce.

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