From web-friendly pets to ailments in a Petri dish, Toy Fair '08 isn't short on plush friends that are fun for both play and display. Cute and cuddly converged with crazy and ultra-artistic in the aisles of New York's Javits Center, attracting TDmonthlyMagazine to the following finds:
These furry Folkmanis friends come with a secret code that unlocks a fun, online world with educational components. The company partnered with Globio, a non-profit children's education group, for the website design, which includes videos of real animals, games and stories. According to Griffin Walker of Globio, the site is based so closely on the animals' real-world habitats that one could accurately identify aspects of the online world using an African field guide. "Once we were shown the site, we were brought on board almost immediately," commented TDmonthly reporter and toy-store buyer Marie Raven. "It's all intended to be super-accurate (even the animated parts feature real species of animals and plants that would live in the habitat you've entered), the video and sound quality for the movie portions was great, and there were lots of fun activities (such as step-by-step instructions for drawing your animal)." Launch date: by April 2008. 2/20/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
This three-in-one plush animal is also a pillow and a blanket, transformed simply by undoing Velcro latches and then unzipping to unfold a blanket. It is one of eight animals in the Zoobies Zoo Collection. Launch date: February 2008. 2/20/2008 (Age: 3 and Up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
This miniature version of a Plaja Pet is one in a collection of 12. It measures 4" x 4" x 3" and has a magnetic head and tail that can be removed and is interchangeable with other Plaja Pets. Plaja Petites are sold in pair-packs. Launch date: November 2007. 2/20/2008 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
This 16" kitty is one of the bright, floral characters in Kim Parker's book "Counting in the Garden," published by Scholastic. It is made of soft velour and is part of a collection including other plush and puppets. Launch date: February 2008. 2/20/2008 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
This soft friend for babies has just as much crazy character as the large plush Deglingos. It measures 8.5" high and features a flattened design so it's easy for little ones to hug and tote around. Launch date: February 2008. 2/20/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Based on children's drawings, these scribbly characters are made with organic cotton farmed through eco-friendly processes. The line consists of Momey, Eflong, Dady, Dinasor, Liun and Duggy. Launch date: February 2008. 2/20/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
This smaller version of GIANTmicrobes comes three to a pack in see-through, Petri-dish packaging. "It has struck a chord with this community. I'm shocked -- I thought it was only going to be pharmacy driven," Dave Callahan, director of sales for Giant Microbes, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2008. Launch date: February 2008. 2/20/2008 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
This active character who is gifted with shooting lightning bolts out of his head is part of 12-piece collection inspired by artist Gus Fink. He is 7" tall and his arms, ears and tail are poseable. He is weighted at the bottom and designed to stand upright on his own. Blurb comes with a trading card and a Mystery Mini Comix and poster. Launch date: February 2008. 2/20/2008 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
She’s pretty, a fact it is best not to forget. Happily, she also believes that “pretty is as pretty does.” She has a lot of patience with the boys (which is particularly helpful when Waverly loses his focus). She is wise, sees both sides of an issue, is a natural mediator, and offers well-reasoned advice.
AREA OF EXPERTISE: Trees, plants and flowers INTERESTING FACT: An art lover who draws, collects pictures of shells, and loves bright colors
Lola is a huggable, soft, plush toy handcrafted in Egypt with 100% organic Egyptian cotton. No two are alike - just like children!
— The kit, packaged in a window box that breaks down for use as a game, comes with one Idbid, a book, a field guide to fill out and a cinch-sack backpack. Launch date: February 2008. 11/19/2007 (Price: $39.99; Age: 3 and Up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
These creatures hail from a small green planet called Daro that is similar to the state of Earth some two million years ago. "It's a complicated relationship," as the five friends eat one another, from the smallest to largest. Two series, Alpha and Beta, are available. Launch date: May 2008. 2/20/2008 (Price: $50.00; Age: 4 and Up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
