November 2008 Notable Toys — General Toys

This holiday dress-up Sassy Pet Sak is a tote style and comes with a black lab puppy that is removeable. The bag measures 7" wide. "The design and unique choice of fashionable materials" set this item apart, Erika Radich, marketing manager for Douglas Company, told TDmonthly. "It is a toy and an accessory all in one!" Launch date: September 20, 2008.

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists diving into slime, gel and goop with fabulous experiments. Young Scientists discover oobleck, produce glue from milk, grow jiggly marbles, make snow from super-absorbent crystals, form a bouncy ball, create slime, expand super-absorbent gel crystals, melt fake snow, learn about polymers, and much, much more. This polymeric kit includes extra super-absorbent crystals, gels and marbles to repeat the fun. "This series has won multiple awards, has been on TV shows, and has appeared in many articles. This great exposure makes this series a great addition to any specialty retail store," CEO Esther Novis of The Young Scientists Club told TDmonthly. February 2, 2009.

RockJamzz Guitar allows anyone, even someone without prior musical experience, to jam out with the touch of finger.  With its built in touch sensor, users can strum the plush instrument to output clear, rich sounds of preprogrammed musical riffs.  RockJamzz Guitar also comes complete with a crowd-cheering function and whammy-bar effect.

This classic Cow Rocker is crafted from durable hardwood and a beautiful fine silk screen finish. A comfy seat with a cloth safety strap and sturdy handlebar. 32" long x 13" wide x 20" high Assembly required Adult supervision advised

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.

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.

Media Chest Bear has a soulful face and removable pillow head (approx. size 12" H X 9" L) with an enormous pocket inside. The soft foam body has three compartments to store CDs/DVDs, speakers/cables, and an MP3 player (approx. size 6" H x 11" L with legs 6" W). The shaggy, rust-colored fur also stores accessories (not included). "Our patented pets are all uniquely designed to organize accessories on the outside and store treasures in the secret compartments on the inside," Lisa Lloyd, president of Treasure Chest Pets, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 15, 2008.

Accessory Chest Dog has five secret compartments. The soulful face and removable pillow also have secret pockets inside both ears (approx. size 12" H x 9" L). The soft foam body has a hidden drawer and two pockets on the body to store even more treasures (approx. size 6" H X 11" L with legs 6" W). Accessories not included. Launch date: November 15, 2008.

Treasure Chest Monkey features a soulful face and a removable pillow head with a pocket that spans the entire inside of the head. The head attaches magnetically like magic (approx. size 12" H x 9" L). The soft foam body opens like a treasure chest to hide treasures (approx. size 6" H x 11" L x 6" W), and the shaggy brown fur helps store hair accessories (not included). Launch date: November 15, 2008.

The HEXBUG Inchworm is the first Micro Robotic Creature in the HEXBUG line to feature a full-function IR remote control. Users drive the Inchworm forward, back, left and right. A and B control bands allow users to control two Inchworms at once or multiple Inchworms on the same band. The product features a unique crawling and pirouette motion around its center pod foot. "This unique HEXBUG Micro Robotic impulse item is offered in a five-pack impulse counter display with five-color variety assortment," Joel Carter, VP of marketing for Innovation First, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 15, 2008.
— The Inchworm has been a top seller at Pufferbellies in Staunton, Va., for at least a year, according to co-owner Susan Blanton in fall 2009.
— The Hexbug Inchworm is a popular item at the Toy Shop of Concord in Concord, Mass., Owner David Hesel told TDmonthly in late 2009.

Watch in amazement as this extraordinary plant sprouts, grows, flowers and produces seeds of its own within two months. The leaves of these fast-growing plants are edible. Within weeks, a flourish of yellow flowers will appear and delight. Rocket Plants have both medicinal and culinary value that were useful in the past and persist into the present. This set comes complete with everything needed to grow Rocket Plants, including a 3.25” four-color printed planter, sprouting dome, germination medium and seeds. "This product is all inclusive and contains a character from a top-rated children's show," said Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft. Launch date: February 2008.

Fairy Dust is the trail of sparkling material that follows pixies and fairies. This enchanted dust is said to have magical powers of its own. Fairy Dust is a precious thing that can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary and make fairy tale dreams come true! "DuneCraft products have an exciting secret! In addition to being fun, engaging, and unique, all of our items are educational! Ignite a love of learning and of the world around us," said Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft. Launch date: February 2008.

With five games for play with cards featuring favorite horse breeds, this is a perfect choice for horse lovers of all ages. "There are many horse lovers who would appreciate their own card game with photos of each type of horse on each card," Nicole Tiedemann, Public Relations Account Executive, International Playthings. Launch date: 2/1/2008.

Bluff your way to victory by having two to four players take turns laying matching animal cards face down. Since you can't see them, are you sure they match? Can you trick your opponents into believing you? If you can, you can get rid of your cards quickly. Don't get caught, or you'll be skunked.  "This fun card game challenges kids with an extra element of 'dramatics.' It will be hard to win without having that extra element of slyness," warned Nicole Tiedemann, Public Relations Account Executive, International Playthings. "Whoever has the most, will be sure to win. It's a fun game for slightly older kids." Launch date: 2/1/2008.

This adorable first counting-card game is really 5 games in one: Penguin Pick-Up, Penguin Race, Countin' Penguins, No more Penguins and Penguin Memory. "This unique card games uses cute penguins to help children learn to count, while playing one of five fun games," explained  Nicole Tiedemann, Public Relations Account Executive, International Playthings. "Up to four children can play together." Launch date: 2/1/2008.

Also known as urban vinyl, Gonks have a high bounce-ball head and poseable arms. Standing 3" tall, each has its own name and personality. The collection of art toys includes Flipps, Slick, Binko, Be-Bop, Bernie and Bonko. Gonks combine "super-unique urban vinyl and distinct artwork," Kate O'Donnell, sales and marketing assistant for Schylling Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 1, 2008.

The Prince Lionheart Balance Bike is the only spoked wheel "like the big kids have" on the market to date. It features quality construction from plantation timber as well as a height-adjustable seat for the growing child. The bike promotes gross motor skills, primarily in balance and coordination. Launch date: October 2008.

Designed by artist Kari Makoutz, this handmade kaleidoscope entraps the Aberrant Quadrator, a friendly boggart known to reside in closets, ruining fine clothing by creating stains, wrinkles and tears. The kaleidoscope is 6.5" long, and the glass globe has diameter of 1.75".

These Eskimo dolls are created for a range of ages. Some are soft-bodied with rubber hands and faces (for younger children), and others are porcelain (for the collector).  All are wearing Eskimo parkas, and the porcelain dolls have rabbit fur trim on their parkas. MSRP: $9-$22.
— The Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, does well with both the children’s and collectible Kipmik dolls, Operations Manager Susan Miller told TDmonthly in summer 2008.

Featuring various color palettes, designs and different textures, these flat shape characters are extra easy for little ones to grasp. "Bright Beginnings products benefit a children’s development by enticing them to explore through visual and tactile stimulation," said Stephanie Araujo, marketing coordinator for Russ Berrie. Launch date: 2008

This versatile, attention-grabbing product is a twist on classic building blocks, designed to engage the imagination as the slits on each cube interlock to create an unlimited number of three-dimensional structures. The "interlocking" takes on a whole new dimension as the Cubes go Pink to connect for a cause — the company donates 10 percent of profits to cancer research on behalf of the seller. "[It's a] great promotion for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In addition to being loaded with educational benefits, Dado Pink can be used as a centerpiece, sculpture, or design-centered art, adding to its versatility as an already-proven product. [It is] made in the USA," Shannon Wallingford of Fat Brain Toy Co. told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

Silly Squares provide hours of silly, wiggly, jiggly, educational fun. Place Silly Squares in a cup or bowl of water and watch in amazement as they grow to epic proportions. Silly Squares will grow to hundreds of times their size. They are available in different colors. Kids can test their skill and try to stack them, build with them, and watch them slip away. Launch date: February 2008.

Developed with the help of entomologists, this product can identify more than 70 different insects. The Bug ID asks eight "yes" and "no" questions to help determine what bug has been found. A warning alerts the user when a bug is dangerous, and the product includes fun bug facts and trivia. Bug ID, which includes a field guide and a large magnifier, lets kids become experts on bugs. Launch date: 2007.

The Zillionz Deluxe ATM Machine works just like a real ATM and gives kids all of their up-to-date account information. It features incredible sounds and a large screen, and even knows their name. Plus, it can only be accessed with a secret PIN that they choose. The electronic bill feeder and coin recognition works with real money. Kids can insert the ATM credit card to get the exact balance. Launch date: 2007.