The Few, The Proud…The Award-Winning Toys

Who Made the Cut This Year?

Thousands of products are introduced to the toy industry every year, but only a limited number are good enough, playable enough and innovative enough to garner an award.

In addition to issuing TDmonthly Awards, TDmonthly Magazine regularly asks manufacturers to present their award winners to our readers so that retailers can quickly identify products with great potential and manufacturers can learn and be inspired by others' successes. Here are the most recent responses:

Paint Ceramic Beads by ALEX-PANLINE USA INC.

Kids can design and paint their own ceramic beads and create personalized bracelets, necklaces and keychains. The kit includes 16 square beads, 10 shaped beads, two large heart pendants, six ceramic paints, two brushes, two keychain accessories, glass seed beads, ball chains, elastic and easy instructions. This item is an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award winner.
—  “Any arts and craft kits by Alex sell really well,” Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles Toys in Norman, Okla., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— “Our best-selling craft kits are bead kits by Alex. …[We sell] at least three or four every day,” Gary Timmerding, manager of Johnny’s Toys in Covington, Ky., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— Over one-fourth of the 50 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in spring 2008 named Alex kits as  best-selling kits in their stores. 5/8/2008 (Age: 7 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Patch-a-Peel Purse by ALEX-PANLINE USA INC.

Kids can create their own beautiful handbag with this kit, which comes with a canvas purse, adhesive gems, more than 160 precut, sticky fabric shapes and easy instructions. This product is an iParenting Media Award winner.
— “Alex is our number one activity set … [and] make-your-own purse is good right now,” Joyce Matthews, owner of Just 4 Fun in St. Simon’s Island, Ga., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— In April 2008, Steve Ricks, owner of My Story House Toys in Roswell, Ga., told TDmonthly that his store sells “maybe one a day” of this particular item.
— Six of 50 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in spring 2008 singled out this particular item as the best-selling kit in their stores. 5/8/2008 (Age: 7 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Billy Brown and the Mystery Package by GIDDIO LLC

The story follows the adventures of Billy Brown — a big, talking, friendly bear — and his best friend little Emma, as they explore to figure out the correct addressee of a mysterious, unmarked package. The CD features full-cast voice acting, sound effects and music that hearken to old-time radio dramas. Other varieties are available in the Billy Brown series. This item is a 2007 Dr. Toy Best Products Award winner. 5/8/2008 (Price: $10.99; Age: 3 to 7) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Billy Brown Goes Hiking by GIDDIO LLC

This story follows Billy Brown — a big, friendly, talking bear — and his friend Emma as their hike into the woods is interrupted by a family caught in the rapids, struggling to survive. The CD features full-cast voice acting, sound effects and music that hearken to old-time radio dramas. Other varieties are available in the Billy Brown series. This item is a 2007 Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award winner. 5/8/2008 (Price: $10.99; Age: 3 to 7) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Billy Brown and the Frog Tunnel by GIDDIO LLC

The CD features full-cast voice acting, sound effects and music that hearken to old-time radio dramas. The story follows the adventures of Billy Brown — a big, talking, friendly bear — and his best friend little Emma. Other varieties are available in the Billy Brown series. This item is an iParenting Media Award winner. 5/1/2008 (Price: $10.99; Age: 3 to 7) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Scribble Puzzle ABC's – Zoo Friends by SCRIBBLE MATS

The puzzle features 24 big, chunky pieces and four non-toxic crayons. The puzzle’s draw-and-wipe surface allows kids to draw again and again, letting their imagination flourish. The puzzle is available in six varieties and measures 12-1/2" X 15" when assembled. This item is a 2007 Dr. Toy Best Product Award winner. “Scribble Puzzles keep the imagination and energy going!” Arlene Tucker of Scribble Mats told TDmonthly. “The color on- wipe off signature surface allows a child to create with crayon till infinity.” Launch date: Fall 2007. 5/1/2008 (Price: $5.00; Age: 4 to 11) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rub a Dub Pirates of the Tub by ALEX-PANLINE USA INC.

This 38-piece, phthalate-free set includes foam pieces that stick to the wall, letting kids build pirate ships and islands. It also includes three pirate squirters and a suction-cup mesh bag for drying and storage. This item is a Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award winner and an iParenting Media Award winner.
— “Alex has … pirate ships — we sell at least one of those every day,” Pam Horwitz, manager of Mr. Toad’s Toy Company in Naples, Fla., told TDmonthly in March 2008.
— “[We] carry a lot of Alex — they sell best. They all fly out the door,” Susan Blanton, owner of Pufferbellies in Staunton, Va., told TDmonthly in March 2008.
— More than 7 percent of 40 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in March 2008 singled out Alex’s pirate ship as their stores’ best-selling bath toy. 4/30/2008 (Age: 3 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

“Swing, Dance and Sing” DVD with Bonus CD Sampler by THE SWINGSET MAMAS

This DVD contains a collection of favorite Swingset Mamas songs brought to life by imaginative sets, costumed characters, whimsical animation and graphics, and 35 real-life kids who extend the fun for children at home. From getting dressed yourself to being awed by nature's smallest creatures, the songs celebrate the daily rhythms and wonders of growing up. Genres range from folk-rock-blues to calypso, hip-hop and zydeco. “The Swingset Mamas blend terrific musicianship and heartfelt parenting tips with their signature style ranging from rock to reggae. The Mamas infuse their playful, inspiring tunes with their own mom-tested wisdom — providing musical strategies to making everyday activities fun,” Marlowe Bechmann of the Swingset Mamas told TDmonthly. This product received a 2008 Parents’ Choice Fun Stuff Award and a 2008 iParenting Media Award for Best Home Video/DVD Product. Launch date: January 8, 2008. 4/21/2008 (Price: $12.98; Age: 1 to 8) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spintastik for the Family by SELLERS PUBLISHING INC.

Designed to help families designate chores in a fun and creative way, this set includes a 32-page guidebook, a colorful, two-sided magnetic wheel with a spinner, 32 chore, reward and blank magnet pieces that fit onto the wheel, and an erasable pen. The guidebook gives suggestions for assigning chores, and once a child has finished his chore — such as “fold laundry” or “clear table” on one side of the spinner, he can spin for a reward — “pick a movie” or “earn a buck,” for example — on the other side. This product received a 2007 Teachers’ Choice Award from Learning Magazine, a 2006 iParenting Media Award and a 2006 Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award. 4/11/2008 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Snack & Play Travel Tray by STAR KIDS PRODUCTS

Snack & Play Travel Tray is made of soft, durable, 100-percent nylon. It buckles around the child and fits most car and booster seats. Snack & Play Travel Tray has two side pockets for storage and easy reach, plus a 2" wall to stop toys, food and other items from falling off the tray. It has won a number of awards, including iParenting Media and NAPPA awards. 4/7/2008 (Price: $19.99; Age: 1 and up) ENTER STAR KIDS PRODUCTS TOYSHOW [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

To view more products and learn more about each award, please click on the following links: TDmonthly Awards, Dr. Toy, iParenting Media Awards, TIA T.O.T.Y., ASTRA, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, The National Parenting Center, Family Review Center, Parents' Choice Awards, Canadian Toy Testing Council, Mr. Dad, The Toy Man Product Guide, Creative Child Magazine, Teachers' Choice Awards, NAPPA, Toy Wishes Ultimate Toy Awards and MAJOR FUN. You can also access TDmonthly's review sections to see which products earned 5 TD stars.

And to learn more about how award winners are chosen, read What Makes an Award-Winning Toy.

Advertise on TDmonthly

Advertise on TDmonthly

Advertise on TDmonthly

Advertise on TDmonthly