February 2012 New Specialty Toys — All

Parents can have fun with their child as they practice early learning skills with Water Magic™, an exciting new educational format by Beaver Books Publishing. This series of educational discovery books includes four colorful discovery scenes that are magically revealed with the Water Magic™ brush. The engaging activities presented above each scene reinforce the basics of each subject while keeping children entertained. Titles include Alphabet Zoo, Candy Counting, Bug Play: Matching, Circus Colors and more. Launch date: 2011.

Everyone gets ten dice. Someone says “Go.” Then everyone rolls and rolls as fast as they can until someone gets all their dice on the same number. It’s a fun, fast frenzy. It’s TENZI. It's "Super-simple to learn & super-fast to play," Steve Mark, executive Dice president of  CARMA GAMES, LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2011.
— In a February 2012 survey about games, Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly that she sells 6+ copies of Tenzi each month.
— In a February 2013 survey, two out of 11 retailers told TDmonthly that Tenzi was their best selling game.
— Glisyn Lewis Jarrells, manager of Imaginations Toy & Furniture in Blacksburg, Va., told TDmonthly in a March 2013 survey that Tenzi is their overall best selling product. They sell around 15 copies of the game each month.

Mommy I'm Here electronic child locators are the fun, easy to use, reliable and stylish way to find a wandering child. Simply press the button to locate a toddler; it's like a wireless leash for kids. Launch date: January 2005.

The My Web RC - 1:24 - Wiki Rally Street - Souped-up Jitney - Ready-to-run includes online My Web RC game card for user access. With exchangeable body, full function.
— In a November 2011 survey, Stephanie Dupuy from Playville in Covington, La., told TDmonthly that they sell six units from the Wiki Rally line each month.
— Greg Bonner, owner of Heights Toy Center Inc. in Little Rock, Ark. told TDmonthly in a Summer 2012 survey that he sells just over a dozen My Funky Planet racing cars each month, making them his best selling electronic/battery operated toy.

With textured "skin" and glowing eyes kids won't want to turn their back on this guy. Powerful four wheel drive moves him over the water, then even faster on land. These high-performance radio control amphibious creatures can go anywhere- dirt, pond or pool. Features sturdy 4x4 turf digging tires for land and wake forming paddle wheel treads for ripping through the water. Powerful full-function controller makes explorations on any surface just a touch away. Requires 2 "AAA" and 3 "AA" batteries, not included. As with all water related activities, use with close adult supervision.
— In a November 2011 survey, Mike DiAndrea from Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly that they sell about a dozen units of the Morphibians Gator each month.

There's a new busy word book in town—and Ugly has never looked better. Uglydoll characters are sharing their bright and colorful Uglyverse down to the tiniest detail. Featuring over 563 labeled wacky and regular words, readers will have a blast with lots and lots to search for, point to, and wonder about.

This set includes 1 piece of Babo, Ox, and Ice-Bat. Each with their own unique function. Babo does a back flip. Ox walks and spins his money. Ice-Bat hops.

Feel empty inside? Remember, it's not what you have inside but what you get out of it. Wait no, everything on the inside only counts if you bring it out. Ok that sounds right. Ok so put little Ox or Babo in there and see if any of that works. Or Trunko? Big Toe? Like they say, It's who you know.

Uglydoll Super Race Series – 6 cool tin Uglycars with friction motors. Go for a relaxing cruise with Cinko in the family wagon. Approx. 5" long.

Kram Scrammy love information of any kind. If knowledge is power, then Kram Scrammy is uh, power hungry. But you have to help him learn how to take it easy and have a good time.. too much of a good thing and all that, you know? If Kram Scrammy gets to become a problem, take him phone booth hunting. He's nuts about phone booths, especially those old ones with the closing doors. Watch out for beepers though. Oh man, don't let him have a beeper. No no no.

Groody is a pretty relaxed, easy going, energetic, stressed out, moody broody mess! AAAAHHHH! Did I just close that door? It was a ghost! Did I close the garage door? Did I send that e-mail to the wrong person!!!??? You get the picture…which is exactly why Groody has chosen you to be his pal. If you are willing to help him on his quest for inner peace he will help you on your quest for whatever dealio you got going. His first though.

Jiker didn't sign up for any of this! Did you? You don't look like you did. Who would! OK so Jiker was born... can't help that! So why does she have to follow these wacky rules! Says who! Well she's had enough. From this day on, Jiker is going to live the good life no matter what. And now that you're reading this, she figures she can leave it up to you to figure out the details, such as what in the world this all means, the purpose of life, and the other good stuff (like baking secrets, etc.). Jiker is approximately 12" tall.

Kipsy and the Magic Beans is a bedtime story about a special little gnome named Kipsy. He isn't very fond of bedtime, but after finding something magical in the forest, his feelings change. The story offers a time of bonding between parent and child and many times even helps children get excited about bedtime, instead of dreading it. Includes 13 pg colorful boardbook, the cuddly Kipsy doll, 5 magic beans and 5 prepackaged incentive toys. Launch date: October 4, 2011.

Defend the LEGO Star Wars Hoth Echo Base (7879) from the evil Imperial forces. Imperial forces have discovered the Rebel base hidden on the ice planet of Hoth and are preparing to crush the Rebel Alliance. Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and protocol droid R—3PO get ready to fend off the attack as 2 snowtroopers approach. Luke Skywalker is in the bacta tank being treated by medical droid 2—1B. The LEGO Star Wars Hoth Echo Base (7879) includes: Tauntaun stable with locking gate, tauntaun, rotating radar dishes, falling icicle trap, working cargo crane, and medical bay with bacta tank; Han Solo, injured Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, 2—1B, protocol droid R—3PO, Chewbacca and 2 snowtroopers; flick missile gun turrets; repeating blaster and blaster rifle weapons; Measures over 21" wide and 5" tall; Imperial speeder bike measures over 5" long; Contains 773 pieces.

Stop the prisoners from escaping the police station through the pipe drain. They won't get far on foot. Use the police car to chase them down and transport them back to prison in the police van. Help keep LEGO City safe with this feature-packed set. The LEGO City Police Station (7498) features: Set Contains 783 Pieces; Includes 4 police officers, 2 robbers, a police dog and lots of accessories; Modular building make building easy; Includes police car, prisoner transport van, and bicycle; Station features 2 jail cells, command center with computers, helicopter landing pad on the roof, garage for two vehicles.
— As of 11/07/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 11 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Lots of accessories; fun to build; very detailed. Cons: Expensive; took one reviewer two days to assemble completely.
— As of 11/07/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 15 reviews on Amazon.com.
— Paul Sahagian, owner of Learning Express in Needham, Mass., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that this Frozen Coloring book is one of the best-selling books at their store.

Classic Whistle Balloon Helicopter. Inflate the balloon and attach it to the propeller. It whistles while it flies. Each propeller comes with two balloons.

This is a "Twist on the Classic Four-in-a-Row Game." It's full of secret colors, sneaky moves and wacky wild tokens that make players Swivel. Just when one player is about to get four in a row, another player may have to twist a level of the 3-D board and change everything. Launch date: 2011.

Kids can bring classic tales such as Mother Goose, The Little Engine That Could, The Berenstain Bears and Where the Wild Things Are to life with colorful game boards, including three-dimensional accessories and pawns. Each game is an adventure, much like the ones children read about in books. "No other game brings to life cherished childhood stories in the form of a board game that children will love to play over and over," Mary Dolan, public relations coordinator at Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2011.
Awards: 2011 Dr. Toy Best Picks Children’s Products; 2011 Creative Child Game of the Year, in the Kids Games, Learning to Share category; 2011 Parents’ Choice Foundation Parent’s Choice Recommended Product Award.

In 100 Wacky Things, players will do some ridiculous things while laughing uncontrollably at each other. The game has two types of cards: Always and Whenever. If you draw an Always Card, you will do the wacky thing on your card every time it's your turn. A Whenever Card directs you to do what the card says whenever another player does something specific. And we can't forget the silly props: the elephant nose, feathered boa, funny glasses and echo microphone. Launch date: 2009.
Awards: 2010 FamilyFun 8 Best Family Board Games; 2009 Creative Child-Preferred choice award; 2009 iParenting Media Awards-Outstanding products; 2009 The National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval; 2009 Winner of the Washington Post’s KidsPost best toys

Each set includes a fashionable pet carrier purse and fuzzy blanket for celebrity naps.  Paired with Pet Personality Sets and Celebrity Pet Play Sets these couture purses pull the whole Pawparazzi look together for only $7.99. Launch date: September 2011.

Choose from 6 themes: Winter Fun, Celebrity Sleepover, Beach Boogie, Fun in the Sun, Celebrity Wedding, and Diva Ballerina. These accessory sets expand the pretend play experience for Pawparazzi fans. Launch date: September 2011.

Pawparazzi Pet Personality Sets are the newest addition to the Pawparazzi line. 6 new 'mini' Personality Sets offer kids their Pawparazzi pet fix at a retail price of only $9.99. Each set includes a plush pet, clothing accessory, sticker, and trading card with fun facts about the famous pet. "Kids become engaged in the fantasy world built around Pawparazzi. Every pet has a personality that is enhanced through the product accessories and offerings and online at PlanetPawparazzi.com," Susan DeCoste, marketing coordinator at Noodle Head,Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011.

Destina Inc. has released its first expansion to the Wise Money board game: the Spanish Card Set. The Spanish Card Set is a direct translation of all the card decks in the original WiseMoney board game, from Banking and Investing to Identity Protection including directions in Spanish. The Spanish Card Set is an extension of the board game that uses all of the same basic game elements (board, spinner, dice, etc.) of the original English version. "Our product addresses the financial literacy needs in the Hispanic community," Jan Noah, director of R&D at Destina, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011.

The Laser Band is a laser-activated instrument from PlayAbility Toys that lets children and adults experience the joy of creating and playing beautiful music. The Laser Band allows everyone a world of musical opportunities with small arm and hand movements that break the plain of a laser beam. Launch date: October 2011.