November 2008 Notable Toys — All

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.

Wee BE Organic baby blankets, Clean Burpers and baby caps are 100% organic and unbelievably soft for baby. For families who want only the purest of fabrics touching baby's sensitive skin, the Wee BE Organic brand is the natural choice. MSRP starting at $6.00!

The new Chic Clean Shopper is the trendy way to keep germs away! Adorable designer fabrics including Chocolate Fantasy, Pretty Petunia and Sage Dots make the new Chic Clean Shoppers, Super-Soft Clean Shoppers and Clean Diners so hip! Each comes complete with matching drawstring tote.

The new Luxe Minky Clean Shopper is the lavish way to keep germs away! Two luscious layers of minky fabric filled with thick and fluffy padding for extra comfort. Available in Brown and Pink swirls with matching minky drawstring tote! Also available in matching minky Clean Burpers and Baby Blankets!

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.

Those tempted to reach for the nearest sheet of plastic bubbles need look no further than Mugen Pop Pop.  Mugen Pop Pop is a highly addictive handheld keychain device that stimulates the strangely satisfying experience of popping plastic bubble packaging. Launch date: October 27, 2008,

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.

Designed for children ages 1 1/2 and up, this ride-on made of birch plywood features quiet wheels and encourages toddlers to use their own leg power to scoot along. MSRP is in the range of $180 to $200.

Nothing says Christmas quite like innocent children shrieking with terror as a stranger dressed in red drags them kicking and screaming onto his lap. Now this time-honored rite of passage is celebrated with a hilarious collection of more than two hundred and fifty priceless photos of kids' traumatic trips to Santa's workshop. Scared of Santa offers a cornucopia of photographic funnies—from sixty-year-old family heirlooms to last year's howlers—along with delightful commentary on those unforgettable childhood visits to scary ol' Saint Nick. By Denise Joyce and Nancy Watkins. Launch date: 2008.

The new Banz Wrapz and Banz sunglasses combo sets come in a pool ready tote bag and make the perfect gift for cool kids.

Authored by Vivan French and illustrated by Jackie Morris, this is a brand new fairy tale, for a brand new generation. Thorfinn's father is obsessed with power while his mother cares only for wealth. When it is time to choose a bride, Thorfinn decides he must listen to his own heart instead. He seeks the wisdom and experience of his friends, the court jester and the old tabby cat. In which direction will they lead him? Will he choose the princess who promises wealth, the princess who promises power, or the princess who is full of love and happiness? And, will that princess choose Thorfinn in return?

Offering a new and exciting twist on trading card games, the Blue Dragon Role Playing Card Game combines the excitement of Deck-Building with a variety of interesting cards and an element of role play and is the perfect entry level card game for young players.  For ages six and up, the Blue Dragon Role Playing Card Game features characters from the popular Blue Dragon Xbox 360® video game and character designs by the creator of the best-selling Dragon Ball series of manga.  The first Blue Dragon Role Playing Card Game release consists of two unique starter decks, Dark Shadow Wielder and Light Shadow Wielder.  Every Starter Deckcontains all of the components needed to start a game – 40 cards, including a Shadow foil card, a fold-out game mat and a beginner’s guide.  Launch date: 2008.

This light blue elephant functions as both a toy and a backpack, with eco-friendly features that include non-toxic dyes, recycled plastic parts, sustainable wood accents, and canvas and rope made from organically grown cotton. Measuring 14" x 10" x 5", the bag also has inside pockets and padded shoulder straps.

In the footsteps of the first discoverers of Lascaux, this unique and unusual visit goes into the original cave, closed to the public for over 40 years — an immersion into one of the most ancient periods of history, corresponding with the emergence in Europe, a little over 35,000 years ago, of a new human species, Homo sapiens sapiens, modern man. "Lascaux, A New Look" offers an interpretation that is original, rigorous and scientific, an interpretation that encourages further discovery and lets the imagination run wild. This spectacular film recreates the experience afforded to the few visitors who were allowed to go room by room and panel by panel into the original cave. Running time is 53 minutes. "As far as we know, there are no other DVDs in the marketplace with such comprehensive detail on this particular subject," President Amy Woodworth of Crystal Productions told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 17, 2008.

These high-tech goggles allow kidsd to see in the dark, so they can spy on family and friends late at night. They are equipped with headphones for enhanced sound and a high-powered LED light for better viewing. Launch date: November 2008.

Kids can track the ball, take aim, swing the weight, IMPACT and score. In this game of skill and eye-hand coordination, players may swing too soon or too late and miss. Timing a swing just right earns points, and the highest score wins. Launch date: 2009.