ASTRA Exhibitors F - J

Build social and emotional skills (and brainpower) with upbeat, inviting songs by a child psychologist and award-winning songwriter. Musically sophisticated, professionally produced songs teach and reinforce caring, sharing, resilience, the Golden Rule, valuing diversity, learning and asking questions, taking care of things, peacemaking, and more. The kid-friendly lyrics and beats you can dance to make learning fun. Adults like these tunes as much as kids do (teachers and parents, they won’t drive you crazy). The companion book includes activities that reinforce key concepts, reproducible activity pages, and complete lyrics.

Writing on the easel encourages the child to sit with good posture while writing, assisting the child visually and supporting a good wrist and hand position. The kit comes with a chalk board, a "Cloud to Garden" Dry Erase board, a Fine Motor Funbook, 12 E-Z grip crayons whose triangular promotes proper grasp, kid scissors, three mini pencils, a dry erase marker, an easy-to-grip chalk in a sturdy holder and a sponge eraser. “The kit and contents fold up easily to become a travel case,” Fun and Function LLC President Aviva Weiss told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

Imagine if a bakery merged with barber shop. What would you call the new business? Bread Heads? ... Cookie Cutters? ... How about Shave 'n Cream? Think up these and other creative answers in this hilarious party game where naming is the name of the game. Randomly select two different business cards and then try to come up with a clever name for their unlikely merger. If your name wins the most votes, you're the boss. Game includes 200 business cards, 8 write-erase boards, 8 write-erase markers, 8 voting wheels, 2 card stands, 1 sand timer, 1 score board and instructions. Launch date: March 2009.

Ideal for learning geography, this 57-piece puzzle features more than 30 animals from around the globe and is illustrated by award-winning children's book author Dennis Rockhill. When completed, it measures 22" x 14.5". Launch date: Fall 2008.

Billions of people a year catch the cold. Now you can get one too. Kids of all ages and degrees of health can learn about the Common Cold with this cuddly 5" to 7" companion (about a million times the actual size of the virus). Also available are three tiny Common Colds in a Petri dish for 12.95 and a Giant Common Cold (15" to 20") will be available starting April 10, 2009. Launch date: 2006.

In Loop It, players connect their tiles to any of the twisting lines on the board and score points based on the point value of the tile they played, the place they played it and other neighboring tiles. "This international sensation is new to the U.S. but a great new twist on an old favorite," David Norman, president of Goliath Games, told TDmonthly. "[The] game combines logic, spacial reasoning, math and fun in a great game that is really easy to learn." Launch date: July 2009.

Made in the United States and available in pink, purple and green, this eco-friendly jump rope features 7' rope that's adjustable and made of 100-percent cotton, and handles made from recycled plastic. Launch date: 2009.

Wise Alec is the new highly interactive party and family fun game from Griddly Games. The game is entertaining as well as educational and is tailor-made for family game nights. Wise Alec is filled with challenging questions for the young and old. This stimulating trivia game takes you back to everything you learned in grade school. With over 1,000 questions covering a wide range of interesting topics like history, science and spelling, this game is guaranteed to entertain time and time again. Each card features both easy and hard questions – great for leveling the playing field between big and little kids. The second edition of Wise Alec features updated questions, new packaging and a new game board.

The Gryphon Games Bookshelf Series is a numbered collection of book-size games that will appeal to a wide array of players of all ages. The games in this series are of medium-weight strategy, featuring short, clear rules playable in under an hour. The first thing you’ll notice about the Gryphon Games Bookshelf Series is our emphasis on high-quality art and superior graphics and production values. The game play is always snappy and innovative. The themes are fun and interesting. Catch people on their way back to board games with the Gryphon Games Bookshelf Series. Since we are committed to adding no fewer than three games a year to this collectible series, it is sure to be the talk of the gaming community for years to come.

Simply slide four sections of a Block Mates character onto a traditional-sized unit block, and the character comes alive. Each piece slides on easily and securely with a patented “gripping” system. Kids will enhance their fine motor and color matching skills. Additionally, the character pieces can be mixed and matched. Other varieties include Farm Animals and Safari Animals. Launch date: Spring 2008.

This soft, fleecy white lamb produces sheep sounds when squeezed.
— This little lamb is a top-selling toy at Kazoo & Company in Denver, Owner Diana Nelson told TDmonthly in early 2009.

This soft bunny rattle contains a soft bell that sounds when shaken. The machine-washable, air-dry rattle was designed in Germany. Launch date: June 2009.
— Elizabeth Ryan, owner of Tales & Toys in Venice, Calif., sells “a lot of Haba rattles,” she told TDmonthly in spring 2009.
— Four of 64 retailers named Haba when discussing best-selling infant and toddler products in March 2009.

The Handstand Kids Chinese Cookbook kit features easy-to-learn recipes, such as The Great Wall of Chicken Lettuce Wraps, while teaching about the Great Wall of China; and Kung Pow! (Kung Pao Tofu), which shows characters doing karate. The Handstand Kids Chinese Cookbook introduces readers to the Mandarin language and comes in an adorable takeout box with a pair of child-friendly chopsticks. "The Chinese Cookbook introduces kids to the language, culture, and food of China in a delicious and healthy way! Children learn about new countries while gaining cooking skills that will assist them in being healthy and interested in the world around them," Yvette Garfield, creator of Handstand Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

There will be no hazardous waste dumps with this mini dump trucks; it's made of sustainable bamboo. Launch date: Early 2009.

The Golden Dragon has been discovered and ninja players must be the first to reach its location. To move throughout the game, players roll one of two sets of dice and solve the number challenge rolled. The skill level of each player determines which set of dice that ninja will use. To win the game, ninjas will solve four word challenges. While moving throughout the lands, other ninjas will try to trap opponents and block their way to the Golden Dragon. "Players will be having so much fun they won't realize they may actually be reinforcing their math skills while playing," Tami Murphy, marketing manager of The Haywire Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Each Charm It! box holds a surprise, oversized charm inside. There are seven different charms available, including Troy, Chad, Sharpay and Gabriella. Charm It! Secret Surprise Boxes are also available in Hello Kitty and Hannah Montana themes. Launch date: September 2008.

Kids can turn the knob of this spinning toy and watch the Spinny go round and round. The simple design is available in a variety of colors and can provide hours of fun. Aside from toddler use, it also has application for adults in physical therapy rehab (grasp handle and turning action), stroke victims and alzheimer patients. Launch date: July 2008. Display Ideas: It should be featured with other Holgate toys. The clear acrylic toy box provides for maximum visibility for consumers and keeps toys well protected.

This hand-painted dragon is wearing armor and has fire coming out of its mouth. "Hotaling Inc. believes that in a world full of too many passive play options, children should be encouraged to engage in self-driven play. That's why they distribute simple and attractive toys with child friendly designs that encourage them to actively use their imagination and develop through active play, stimulation and, above all, fun," Brian Shackelton, operations manager for Hotaling Imports Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.

This 15-piece set contains a mixture of favorite Wedgits pieces, as well as new angled and straight Wedgits Building Stix. The distinctive pieces allow for even more building possibilities, and the set integrates fully with other Wedgits sets so children can take the complex geometry, balance and stability of this building system to new heights.
— “Wedgits are doing very well. We sell them weekly,” Cathy Albrow, owner of Creative Learning Toys, told TDmonthly in spring 2009 of the construction toy best sellers in her store in Grand Rapids, Mich. 
— Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Colo., named Wedgits as a best seller in an April 2009 survey about construction toys, remarking, “We sell a few sets a day.”

The center is great for tummy time and seated play. It includes four activity-packed sides with a large peek-a-boo mirror, put-and-take bird’s nest, colorful fish rattle on fish bowl and peek-and-see leaves. This product is intended for children over the age of three months. Launch date: July 2008.

Who knows what 500 pieces of poseable, snap-together Zoob could stir in the imagination? Geometric structures, funky creatures, buildings and whimsical characters can be built and rebuilt easily with the simple ball-and-socket joints that connect Zoob pieces. The set comes packed in a sturdy, reusable storage case complete with four removable play pads that fit into the lid to act as foundations for the creations. 
— “Up until now, Zoob has been best,” Jeff Oslick, owner of The Enchanted Toy Store in Fullerton, Calif., told TDmonthly during an April 2009 survey about best-selling construction toys. 
— “I have a good run on Zoob year round,” said Amy Barrett, owner of Lasso the Moon Wonderful Toys in Helena, Mont., of her top selling construction items.
— Four of 49 retailers listed Zoob as a best-selling construction item in spring 2009.

A hermit crab is in search of a place to be alone by the seashore, but he discovers that many creatures call the seashore home. Sidebar facts about sea lions, starfish, pelicans, and other amazing animals introduce kids to life at the seashore. By Ruth Koeppel (author) and Scott McBee (illustrator).

This 5'-long crawl-through tunnel comes with a removable Caterpillar face and is made of sturdy material.
—“The Crawlerpillar always does really well in spring. I probably go through a dozen of those a month,” Lynn Sanchez, owner of Wiz Bang Toys in Lake Oswego, Ore., told TDmonthly when asked about best-selling furniture and playhouses in June 2008.
— Five of 62 specialty retailers mentioned tents and tunnels from various manufacturers.
— Insect Lore also offers a Butterfly Bungalow tent.

Cloverleaf Corners is a busy little town, complete with a ballet studio. With this playset from International Playthings, children can tell the story of aspiring ballerina Britney Bunny. The set includes three tiny dresses that fit the poseable, flocked bunny character, a mirror, and a ballet bar. Britney Bunny's Ballet Set integrates fully with the wide variety of other Calico Critters sets.
— “Calico Critters is fabulous, for the fantasy. All girls love those,” said Sheryl Guidera, owner of Kaleidoscope: The Parent Teacher Store in Capitola, Calif., in April 2009. 
— “[We] sell a ton of them,” Becca Bramhall, owner of Dandelion Toys in Fort Collins, Colo., told TDmonthly when she listed Calico Critters as her best-selling playset line in spring 2009.

Surprise your friends with a novel new instrument and a JAMTOWN formula for making music. Start with three drums in one, decorated in bright sun, moon and star designs. A colorful guide walks one or two players through a foolproof way to create jammin’ rhythms that bring smiles to faces young and old. It’s as easy as saying, “Sun. Sun. Moon. Star. Moon.” It’s fun and easy to demo in your store. It comes complete with guide and two sticks for duets. It can hang on a peg for retail display.

The CD and book set helps kids practice their multiplication skills. The CD features catchy songs recorded by live musicians, and is accompanied by a book full of comic-book style illustrations for each of the numbers — or characters — on the CD. Launch date: July 2008.

Six is an elegant and subtle game of shape and strategy, where the goal is to be the first to form one of three winning shapes with one’s pieces. The game comes in a box cube and features high quality, red and black hexagonal wooden pieces. The game is great for travel. Launch date: June 2008.
Awards: Excellence Consumer Guide of Canada