November 2008 Notable Toys — All

By Scott Lobdell & Paulo Henrique, this is one of the rare cases that aren’t assigned by A.T.A.C (American Teens Against Crime).... when Joe and Frank’s friend, Haley Danelle learns the friends on her MyFacePlace page’s Top Eight are disappearing one at a time, she turns to the Hardy Boys for help in finding them!  Also included, a sneak-peak at the Hardy Boys Graphic Novel #15: “Live Free, Die Hardy!”

Glee Gum is all natural chewing gum made with sustainably harvested rainforest chicle. It comes in EIGHT great flavors: cinnamon, peppermint, tangerine, bubblegum, spearmint, triple berry, sugar-free lemon-lime and sugar-free refresh-mint. Glee Gum is the #1 healthy alternative to synthetic chewing gum and bubble gum.

Make your own chewing gum with chicle, the sap of the Sapodilla tree that grows in the rainforests of Central America. Everything you need is included in this kit and it's easy! You can make your own gum on the stove or with a microwave. Great for class room activities, scout troops, birthday parties, home school, or after school groups. Adult supervision is recommended. Makes a great gift for kids!

Make your own gummies out of seaweed! Everything you need is included in this kit and it's easy! You can make your own gummi bears, gummi worms, gummi fish or any other shape. Make gummies on the stove or with a microwave. Great for class room activities, scout troops, birthday parties, home school, or after school groups. Adult supervision is recommended. Makes a great gift for kids!

Inspired by the unique combination of literacy and science in Jeffrey Bennett's series of Science Adventures with Max the Dog, the Summit School District (Colorado) created a district-wide "Make Your Own Max Science Adventure" contest for their first annual "Summit Writes Celebration." More than 100 third and fourth graders submitted entries. Series creator Jeffrey Bennett was so impressed with Logan Weinman's winning entry that he decided to help Logan publish it as Max's Ice Age Adventure. Logan both wrote and illustrated Max's Ice Age Adventure, a story in which Max and Tori travel back in time to the last ice age, where they encounter a saber-tooth tiger and other adventures. Jeffrey Bennett then added science Q&A boxes to address common questions that children might ask as they read the story.

Max Goes to The Moon tells the story of how Max the dog and a young girl named Tori undertake a quest to make the first trip to the Moon since the Apollo era. Their trip proves so inspiring to people back on Earth that the nations of the world join together to build a great Moon colony, complete with a university and an astronomical observatory. The colony, with its beautiful views of Earth hanging in the lunar sky, helps inspire everyone with a message of unlimited human potential and the importance of respecting our home planet.

Max Goes to Mars begins where Max Goes to the Moon left off, with Max getting ready to go on the first human mission to Mars. This time, the trip is too long for his human friend Tori to go along, but she helps him prepare. On Mars, Max makes one of the most important discoveries of all time. After returning home, Max and Tori reflect on the beauty and fragility of our own planet Earth.

All of the NHL action packed into one puzzle.  You build, you score!  The assortment features popular NHL players. Finished puzzle measures 24” x 36”.

You and your opponents become the ultimate Battle Brawlers and must save the Bakugan that are trapped in Vestroia! Catch the Bakugan as they plummet to Earth. Be the first player to build your Gate Card puzzle and win! Includes game tower, 2 scoops, 4 gate card puzzles, 6 non-morphing Bakugan balls and more. 2 to 4 players.

After years of research and worldly expeditions enough intangible facts have been constructed to prove the existence of the fictional species “weebeasts”. Captivating the imagination, this newly discovered specimen is a simple yet playful creature from the exciting book series Weebeasts by artist and author Micah Linton.

Like all of the collectable Bella Sara trading cards, Baby Bella cards can also be brought to life online in Bella Sara’s virtual playground for kids. Adding babies to the Bella Sara family follows on the hooves of the June launch of the Bella Sara Magical Friends card set, in which more than 70 whimsical, lifelong companions were introduced and paired with Bella Sara horses. "Babies make our Bella Sara families complete and give our young fans a much broader game experience," said Peter D. Adkison, CEO of Hidden City Games, a leader in online gaming. Launch date: October 7, 2008.

This soothing collection features performers Marco Calliari, Bia, Lynda Thalie, Idrissa Zal Sissokho, Penny Lang, Luc Lopez, Muna Mingole and members of the Canadian folk-pop group Hart-Rouge.  The lullabies come from Brazil, Belgium, Senegal, Israel, Algeria, Germany, Canada and other diverse places. The warm lead vocals and harmonies on each track are supported by musicians playing on more than 30 different instruments. The earth-toned, dreamlike illustrations of the picture book edition and CD packaging reflect both the subject and country of origin of each song. Run time is approximately 40 minutes. Each CD includes printable files with lyrics and illustrations. A colorful, 36-page hardcover picture book with a CD is available separately at an MSRP of $22.95. Launch date: October 21, 2008.

Gab to Go is a travel-friendly cup filled with 100 clever questions that liven up conversations and give insight into the people that matter most. Travel friendly, it fits in car cup holder. The game's "Unplug & Connect" tagline is very appealing to busy moms and seniors and helps families bridge generations. Launch date: 2008.

From Tiger Electronics, this remote-controlled, 29" dancing robot moves and two wheels and can tote an iPod or MP3 player on its back. Equipped with flashing LED lights, stereo speakers and hands shaped like turntables, the Automated Music Personality robot uses Dynamic Balancing Technology in order to move in a way that seems to defy the laws of gravity. Launch date: November 2008.

For infant and toddlers, this soft black beanie hat is decorated with a bright orange Celina flower.

For infant and toddlers, this soft and cutered beanie has a bright Cesilia apple red flower.

For the little princess in one's life. This custom made pettidress has a large decorative flower with swarovski stone, and soft and feather-light layers. A V-strap is available for 12-18 month year old sizes, and a regular strap for small and medium sizes.

The Undee Bandz™ collection includes tie-dye bags, tie dye clothing line, fashion accessories, hair accessories and more. Undee Bandz fashion accessories and apparel come in different sizes, colors, and fabrics.

These chokers and bracelets are made on a NYLONZ band that is very stretchable on the neck, wrist or ankle. There are over 100 styles of charms and many assorted colors of nylonz bandz including tie dye.

Make your own locket necklace, bracelets or keychains by customizing it however you like with separately sold initials, birthstones, and over 80 assorted charms such as crystal hearts, peace, stars, and soccer balls. Lockets are available in hearts, peace sign or circle with or without crystals.

Everything about this version of Connect Four is decked out for the football field — Chicago Bears checkers, scoreboard and flags, and a stadium and field design for the playing surface. There are even new rules. Various NFL teams are available.

This 6" Dallas Cowboys Mr. Potato Head comes with 10 mix-and-match components, including a jersey, foam finger and several different "game faces." Launch date: September 2008.

"Bitty Fish" is an easy-to-read book that combines phonics and rhyme in a lively, entertaining story for young readers. It is one of 15 books in the "Let's Read Together" series. Each book includes an artful blend of familiar vocabulary and easy-to-sound-out words, along with amusing characters. The storylines stress positive character traits such as sharing, friendship and responsibility. An audio component — CD or audiocassette — is available for each book in the series. "Bitty Fish offers a complete story with endearing characters and a humorous plot line," Margo Gunsser, marketing director for Kane Press, told TDmonthly. "Many books written for this age group offer rhyming words in unrealistic, uninteresting context. Bitty and her friends in the 'Let's Read Together' series offer stories that kids can 'sink their teeth into.'" Launch date: September 29, 2008.

With this collection of children’s CDs and read-along stories, kids can join the Little Mermaid, the Three Pigs, the Gingerbread Man and the Three Bears as they ring in the season. Each charming Christmas adventure is told in delightful original verse, telling tales with holiday humor and celebrating the joys of family. Included with every book is a CD with a captivating read-along narration by the legendary Nigel Lambert that is jam-packed with exciting bonus features, including all-new Christmas songs, a bouncy music video and a fully animated mini-movie with highlighted words that let kids follow along and learn to read as the story comes to life before their eyes. The Night Before Christmas series will create merry Christmas memories for years to come. "The included 'Stories Come Alive' CD is full of enormous value that is unrivaled in the children's book marketplace," Brian Austin, president of PC Treasures, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 8, 2008.