February 2012 New Specialty Toys — All

eeBoo's Pom Poms are lovely to look at, incredibly soft, and as light as air. They come in packets of 36 fluffy bunches - 4 extra large, 4 large, 12 medium, and 12 small. Back label includes project ideas. "The perfect add-on or beginning to any arts and crafts project," Regina Gelin, sales & marketing manager at eeBoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

Three of eeBoo's favorite illustrators - Kevin Hawkes, Lizzy Rockwell, and Melissa Sweet - share their love of art in this new collection of "How to Draw" Art Books. They begin with the Rockwell's intro "Learn to Draw Simple Forms in the Home & Garden"; followed by Sweet's "Drawing Book" and its clever ways of teaching children about form, light, and perspective; and finishing off with Hawkes' "Learn to Draw Animals" with his funny approach to drawing animals without fear. "Kevin Hawkes, Lizzy Rockwell, and Melissa Sweet are well-known children's illustrators who bring their love of drawing and design to these easy-to-follow instruction books," Regina Gelin, sales & marketing rep at eeBoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2012.

The Kalista has a 4 position adjustable frame and a 4 position adjustable seat. The Kalista is a classic model that grows with a child. With the fixed front wheel the pedals will always rotate, which in turn will teach children the motion of pedaling, as well as build strong leg muscles. Launch date: March 2012.

Piperoid is a paper craft robot designed and produced in Japan. The robot is made out of just paper pipes with pre-drilled holes and marks to cut, fold, and connect the pipes without the need of glue or tape. All kids need is a pair of scissors, and with minimal assembly they can bring their own Piperoid to life. Launch date: April 2009.

Explore flights of fancy with five fantastical butterflies you build yourself. With this kit, kids get a close-up look at the fragile, fluttering creatures living in butterfly gardens. A one-of-a-kind tool allows kids to create oversized butterflies for their bedroom walls. "Wallscapes Butterflies includes a unique device that allows for 3D butterflies to be created easily by anyone. This interior decoration kit provides a social occasion to craft pretty, cheerful and fun projects that can be hung on a bedroom wall, placed inside a locker at school, or gifted to a friend," Nancy Storment, marketing & PR rep at SmartLab Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2012.

This adventure kit comes included with all the necessary tools to explore the amazing world of Bugs 3D. The kit contains a 3D book, 3D cards, magic costume card, software and Popar Reader. Kids will have an unforgettable experience as they grow wings and watch their favorite bugs leap from the pages or cards. "Popar® Toys use Augmented Reality (AR) technology to create an immersive reading experience that will allow the user to see incredible virtually “real” 3D objects and animations that will pop off the book or card," Scott Jochim, President of Popar Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2011.
Awards: 2012 Best of the Toy Fair - The View; 2012 National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval.

Watch the helicopter as it zooms around the tracks in this delightful interactive book. Pull back the helicopter, place it on the tracks and let it go. Launch date: January 2012.

Patented Limited Turn Radius reduces tipping. Patented Quik-Adjust frame to easily adjust the size to fit different aged children. Features Tubeless air tires on sealed ball bearings for a smooth and quiet ride. Attached the included Push-bar and take a stroll through the park. Launch date: March 2012.
— In a March 2012 survey, 2 out of 12 retailers said trikes from Kettler were their best selling ride-on toys.

Space Adventure series is an extension of Cube Figures where each of the three packages (episodes) include two Cube Figures along with over 90 blocks to create two space crafts for them to go in and fight the evil. In addition, the package contains a Manga (Japanese-style comic book) which outlines the background stories of the characters and links the three episodes. The instruction booklet included details the steps needed to build not only the two space crafts but also the mega robot which can be assembled by collecting all three packages. Launch date: October 2012.

Find your sea legs with this floating tug boat, with detachable life buoy. Perfect for any skipper’s bath time. Available in Green, Red or Blue. Launch date: January 2012.

Old-school and new-school technology collide in this plug n' play portable speaker dock kids build themselves. Rock the house or take the show on the road. Kids learn basic electronics by investigating how speakers and amplification work. Docking station works with iPod, iTouch, and other audio devices. Launch date: September 2012.

Featuring five squishy innards-including a tongue-this anatomically correct model of the king of dinosaurs will amaze and enlighten through a journey of building and fun.  The Squishy T. rex has detailed anatomy, inside and out, with removable squishy organs.  Kids learn all about the T. rex through the accompanying book, The Mighty T. rex by Dennis Schatz. Launch date: September 2012.

Containing 72 soft felt triangles in 9 colors, a flocked game board, and 50 illustrated cards, teach color, form, and design to kids without their knowing that they are learning the fundamentals of design. The instructions offer increasing challenges, from Elementary Figures to Negative Space to Perspective to Translucency and Representational Imagery. "Mosaics offers a highly sophisticated introduction to the basics of art and design for children," Regina Gelin, sales and marketing rep at eeBoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

Congratulate you graduates with GIANTmicrobes New Graduation Brain Cell Plush Sound Doll that plays Pomp & Circumstance. Like all GIANTmicrobes products, Graduation Brain Cell is inspired by a microscopic image of the microbe it represents (neuron). Comes packaged in a fun graduation scene. Launch date: March 2012.

Children can direct their own stories from one of four magnetic story backgrounds: Fairytales, Robot's Landing, Animal Cottage, and Forest Adventure. Theater directors-in-training can move their magnetic figures around the scene to help tell their own original story. Launch date: January 2012. 

Great Pretenders - Baby Bat Cape is a NEW fan favorite. This bat cape has been redesigned to fit Toddlers 18 Months to 3 Years. Our unique Soft velour is washable and a great addition to any wardrobe. Launch date: January 2012.
— Lisa Dallegos, manager of Out of the Blue, Ltd. in Albuquerque, N.M., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that the Bat Cape costume from Great Pretenders/Creative Education of Canada is one of their best-selling Halloween toys

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride with The Magic School Bus GROW AMAZING POLYMERS group pack. This kit provides enough materials for 30 students and is great for the classroom, after-school programs, science enrichment, boys and girls scouts, camps, and a Magic School Bus birthday Party. Young Scientists grow super balls, snow, rainbow beads, crystal gels, and polymer flowers while learning about the importance and science of super-absorbent polymers. This kit comes with 30 colorful manuals that are based on the popular Magic School Bus tv and book series. "This is the first Magic School Bus themed group pack on the market, and has enough materials and manuals for 30 children," Esther Novis, president of The Young Scientists Club, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride with The Magic School Bus as they explore slime and polymers. Young Scientists take polymers out of milk, make slime, create goop, produce a snow eruption, melt snow, grow super-absorbent flowers, germinate seeds in polymers, perform a polymer trick, dehydrate polymers, and more. This gooey bus-shaped kit comes packed with science components, 20 colorful experiment cards, a data notebook to record observations, and 10 containers of polymers including super balls, rainbow beads, snow, and gel crystals. "The bus-shaped packaging is unique and comes packed with lots of polymers and activity cards," Esther Novis, president of The Young Scientists Club, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

The Weplay ® Tricky Fish is a hand-held balance coordination board designed in the shape of a fish. This ball maze board is two-sided to provide the user with different types of tracks for more fun and challenge. As the user works the ball around the track, the board helps them to develop muscle control, flexibility of the wrists, and improves reflexes. The Tricky Fish enhances eye-hand coordination and exercises the eye muscles while elevating the user's attention span. The Tricky Fish is suitable for everyone. Includes: 1 Board, 1 Ball  Dimensions: 10 X 9 X 2". Launch date: January 2012.

The Gate is a challenging strategy game for 2 to 5 players. It’s two games in one: beginner and advanced. The Gate combines the fun of a classic board game with the fantasy of a role-playing game. Fight dragons and other monsters, escape encounters, or buy weapons from the gnome. The stakes intensify as players advance through 3 exciting levels. Earn special fighting dice; battle friends for treasure. The first player to the Gate wins, but they mustn't forget their key. Launch date: November 2011.

Wooden castle has a simple connector system with many construction possibilities.  Large - 26" x 28" - with lots of room for knights and royalty. Figures not included, but can be ordered separately. Launch date: January 2012.

Wooden posable bears come in a wooden storage box with eight different mix and match outfits. Also comes as dress-up mice. Launch date: 2011.

Build and roll this Construction Toolbox around like a vehicle. 5 projects included; kids can use their imagination to build anything. Includes 11 Geometric Shapes, 4 Wheels, 12 Screws, 10 Nuts, 1 Screwdriver, and 1 Wrench. This Toolbox also provides easy storage for all the pieces. Develops imagination, hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and problem solving and fine motor skills. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. "Unique design - the attractive colors, unique features, super play value, learning elements and cute character of this toolbox draws kids attention and become their best friend in no time," David To from Biokido/Georgeous Products Inc. told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

Soft and light, this adorable snuggly will delight the very young. It jingles softly when shaken and has lots of "handles" for tiny fingers to grasp. 9.5 inches tall. Machine washable.