November 2008 New Specialty Toys — All

Each 80+ page book is packed full of age-appropriate games, activities, account tracking and more to enhance the learning of the KidsWealth Program. Trackers include Game Tracker, Activity Tracker, and Money Tracker. Each tracker is suited for a different age range, the higher age range tracker being more advanced than the previous and each tracker teaches about the five KidsWealth accounts and contains activities asking for decision-making, goal setting, and plan execution.

This safari includes over 20 pre-cut favorite and exotic animals. All are illustrated and moveable felt pieces allowing for a creative adventure among children.

Help Grandpa feed the animals and plow the fields, since there is always work to be done and fun to had on the farm. "A Trip to the Farm" includes over 30 pre-cut felt pieces, providing children with lots of variety to be creative.

Players race to say a common phrase using one word from the previous phrase. If a player pauses, the horn honks and he or she has to give up a link. The player with the most links when the first player is out wins The Chain Game! Fast, fresh and free flowing . . . The Chain Game is the link that brings friends and family together. Launch date: 2008.

Players have ten days to chart a course across Africa—touring by car, plane or foot. Using clever planning and a little luck, players attempt to be the first traveler to make connections for a complete ten day journey. Also available in Europe, Asia and USA editions. For two to four players. Launch date: 2008.

Gold Digger sets two to five anxious prospectors on a quest to find their fortunes in gold. Picking the right mines will yield a conucopia of riches, but players must beware of fool's gold! This game has received the following awards: 2004 Traditional Games 100, 2004 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, and Canadian Toy Testing Council Three Star Award. Launch date: 2003.

In a flurry of no-holds-barred trading, only the crafiest players will survive in this stock-taking, deal-making game. The first player claiming majority control is the winner. "The players control the entire game," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. It has won the following awards: 2004 Games 100, 2004 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, 2004 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Product, 2004 Parenting for High Potential Recommended, and 2004 Canadian Toy Testing Council Three Star Award. Launch date: 2004.

This innovative card game plays like a ball game and sends action in all directions. Players send a card to another player and see if they have what it takes to respond. "Pepper is based on the familiar playground game of four-square. It is a simple card game that is great for families," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. The game earned a 2006 Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence. Launch date: 2006.

First printed in 1903, Gavitt's Stock Exchange is an exciting card game that challenges three to six players to be the first to get all the cards of one railway line, call out "Topeka" and win the hand. It received a 2003 Major Fun Award as well as a 2003 Best Classic Toy Award from Dr. Toy. Launch date: 2003.

FingerPrints is a complete art kit for children. It contains everything needed for a child to create a finger painting that is framed and treasured for a lifetime: a quality 11" x 14" frame, acid-free artist paper, a child's apron, six bright, washable, non-toxic finger paints and a Certificate of Authenticity. "Anyone with a child will appreciate the convenience of an all-inclusive, one-stop-shop package that turns family time into a keepsake that will last a lifetime," Jennifer Ridley, account rep for ColorGoRound, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 18, 2008.

Each 3.75" (9.5 cm) metal pocket tin contains 12, 1.75" x 1.5" (4.4 cm x 3.8 cm) latex-free adhesive bandages with sterile gauze and a free prize to help make even the ouchiest owies feel all better in no time. Twelve shrink-wrapped tins come in each illustrated display box. Launch date: January 9, 2009.

This high-quality iron-on patch (tattoo) for kids' clothing and jeans allows kids to express themselves. The product earned a 2008 Creative Child Magazine Award of Excellence. "We have creative designs and also offer a website to bank your points and earn prizes," Owner Carolyn Thiel of Jinks Tattoos told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2, 2008.

Shailie goes beyond “dress-ups,” allowing girls to design, create, and wear their own fashions. It includes a life-sized designer dress form and stand (girls' size medium). Shailie dresses come in pieces, and sleeves, skirts, tops and accessories come in various styles, colors and lengths. Using Velcro®, all pieces mix and match to create endless looks. The design easily comes off to wear and model with friends. "Shailie promotes interactive play among a variety of ages, and the possibilities for creativity and fashion fun are endless," President Kari Kawa of Style Paige LLC told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

The hottest European trend for kids has arrived in the USA. The immensely popular Kiddimoto balance bikes have the unique look of real motorcycles and are hand crafted of 100-percent birch plywood. Kiddimoto bikes do not have pedals or training wheels; therefore children learn to balance and steer very quickly, improving motor skills, increasing strength, and developing confidence on two wheels earlier than they have been able to ever before. "Our unique, British-designed wooden balance bicycles look like real motorcycles," Liz Roth, for Kiddimoto USA, distributed by Rocat LLC, told TDmonthly. Awards won include a 2007 Practical Pre-School Award, a 2007 Right Start Best Toy Award, a 2006 Hamleys Toy Award and a 2005 Baby Gear Gold Award. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

Monsters in the closet or under the bed? Parents can ease a classic nighttime fear by posting this sign on their tot's bedroom door. Personalized with a child's name, the sign tells Monsters to KEEP OUT! Each canvas is a museum-quality Giclee art print, gallery wrapped around a high-quality, 1.5" wooden frame. It arrives ready to hang on a door or wall within two weeks of order. "Personalized with a child's name, they give children a sense of ownership over their rooms and a sense that they are in charge," Amy Turner Senftlebe, creative director and president of Toccare Design, LLC & Hip Kid Art, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2007.

This research-based kit for busy parents includes materials to help baby grow healthily from birth. It includes a "Life With Baby" information guide and 23-minute DVD that go over children's development and encourage healthy communication with baby. The kit also includes a plush dog, the book "Goodnight, Moon," some small toys and a bib. It received a 2008 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center.

This 14"-long edgy canine features black and grey markings, a toothy grin and a half-winking eye. Sly 9 Junior (9" long) has an MSRP of $8.95. Launch date: Early 2009.

The Giant Construction Block Set comes with 24 blocks (16 timber blocks and 8 cinder blocks). Large and easy to handle, children can build objects from skyscrapers to cabins to forts.  The timber blocks are 12" x 16" x 3" and the cinder blocks are 12" x 16" x 6". Assembly of the blocks is required. For ages 18mo. and up.

Crafted from 100% Australian sheepskin, this Flat Friend is made in the shape of a Seal Pup and comes with a gift card that tells you all about the animal in 8 different languages. The Seal Pup is part of a range of animals made in the shape of endangered species. There are 22 animals in the range and they all come with either a carry bag or drawstring bag with a character illustration of the animal. The Flat Friend Seal Pup can be purchased by itself or with a 100% cotton carry bag or drawstring bag with an illustration of the Seal Pup. Passes ASTM standards.

Packaged together are the Flat Friends Crocodile made from Australian sheepskin and a 100% cotton carry bag with an illustration of the Crocodile. Other Australian animals in the range also include the Wombat, Platypus and the Tasmanian Devil. There are 22 Flat Friends Soft Animals available in the range. All animals are made form 100% Australian sheepskin in the shape of endangered species and pass the ASTM standards. Each animal comes with a gift booklet that tells you all about the animal in 8 different languages.

Robert Schneider, the mind behind one of indie-rock's seminal music groups, The Apples in stereo, will be releasing his debut children's music album under the character name Robbert Bobbert. The album, entitled Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine will  include a humorous comic book designed by artist Todd Webb, introducing kids and parents to his inventor/scientist character, Robert Bobbert. "Kids' ears are very tuned in to unusual sounds, so I threw many of my regular instruments out the window in order to come up with a whole new palette of colorful noises,” Schneider explained. “It forces me to be extra creative because you are writing for an extra creative audience."  Schneider tests his tunes with live audiences and his son Max. Launch date: January 20, 2009.

This set features 230 bricks in a wooden box, plus a building plan and packing model. Anchor (Anker) Stones are made with 100-percent-natural ingredients: quartz sand, color pigments, linseed oil and chalk. Each stone is individually tested and hand measured to ensure it meets the company's standards.

This starter set comes with two simple construction plans and 42 bricks, offering an introduction to the word of Anchor (Anker) Stones by allowing children to create cars, trains and simple buildings.

Designed by famed illustrator and Designer Toy pioneer James Jarvis, this series consists of new 4-inch versions of his popular King Ken character in six special color variants. Like many designer toys, King Ken Series 1 is packaged in a “mystery box” assortment – much like a trading card, each figure is packed in an identical box, so the actual figure inside is unknown until the box is opened. The series features five main color variations – two from the original 12" collectibles and three original colors – plus one special surprise “chase” figure. Launch date: November 2008.