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:

Hanukkah Scribble Mat! by SCRIBBLE MATS

Like all Scribble Mats!, this durable vinyl place mat is designed to provide hours of fun and creativity. Kids can learn as they color. Each mat comes with a box of four crayons. Scribble Mats! may be used at school, home, restaurants, or during travel. "Color on Wipe off Scribble Mats! are made with our signature surface that allows any waxed based crayon to wipe clean and easy with a dry paper towel or cloth. Kids can color again and again," Andi Thea of Scribble Mats! told TDmonthly. This product received a 2003 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toy award. Launch date: July 2003. 6/29/2009 (Price: $7.00; Age: 3 to 7) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Funny Phone Early Listening Game by Learning Resources by LEARNING RESOURCES INC.

The Funny Phone Early Listening Game is created to get players of all ages giggling. Players dial a number and listen as Funny Phone tells what the next game is. With more than 300 challenges — tongue twisters, singing, drawing, acting and more — Funny Phone is full of surprises. Winners can dial a secret phone number to hear a victory message. It features automatic shut-off, adjustable volume and a break-away safety cord. It requires 3 AA batteries, not included. An AC adapter is available separately. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. Launch date: April 15, 2009. 6/29/2009 (Price: $34.99; Age: 4 to 12) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Global Wonders: Around the World DVD by GLOBAL WONDERS INC.

"Global Wonders: Around the World" is an educational entertainment brand created to inspire kids (3 to 6) to explore and appreciate the customs, music, languages and lifestyles of various cultures from around the neighborhood and world. It was created by a mom of two young girls and a veteran team of children's entertainment and developmental education experts. In a world where animation meets live-action footage, children can discover, share, and compare new cultures with their new friends from Global Wonders. "Global Wonders packaging dazzles, and the cultural content is entertaining and deep. Interactive features like WonderVision and Language Jams also set it apart," David Burchianti, VP of marketing and brand development for Global Wonders, told TDmonthly. It has received the following awards: Dr. Toy Best New Product, iParenting Media Best New DVD and Toy Tips Top 10 Back to School Toy. Launch date: October 21, 2008. 6/29/2009 (Price: $15.99; Age: 3 to 6) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dinosaurs, Extinct? by BRIARPATCH INC.

This game asks the question, "Can you keep your dinosaur alive into the 21st century?" It's a board game full of pitfalls and promotions as each player's dino works its way from the Jurassic to modern times, trying to avoid terrifying predators and extraordinary earth events in order to survive and be the winner. It comes with six free dinosaur replicas and is made in the USA. This game received an Oppenheim Gold Award. Launch date: March 31, 2008. 6/29/2009 (Price: $21.00; Age: 5 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

I Spy Ready, Set, Silhouette! by BRIARPATCH INC.

It takes a keen eye and a quick hand to keep up in this fast-paced matching game. Players search the colorful picture cards to find the one that matches the silhouette card in hand. The player with the most matches wins. No reading is required and there are four levels of play. The game is created to help develop visual interpretation, critical thinking and social skills. It received a 2009 Oppenheim Gold Award. Launch date: March 31, 2009. 6/29/2009 (Price: $17.00; Age: 5 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Block Mates™ - Safari by GUIDECRAFT INC.

Block Mates build upon the foundation of unit blocks by providing children with a themed exploration set. All Block Mates are designed to fit standard unit blocks and can be built in their natural form or mixed and matched with others in the set to create new, imaginative creatures. The patented gasket design is created for a snug fit. There are five characters per set. The Safari set includes Gorilla, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Alligator and Lion. Blocks not included. There is not a toy in any market like Block Mates™. "They bring new life to a store's unit block sales and they are not marketed in big-box stores. They can be sold as an educational toy or a creative toy," Dave Ruddock, digital imaging and design for Guidecraft, told TDmonthly. This product received a Best of 2008 Instructor Teacher's Pick award and a 2008 and 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: October 20, 2008. 6/29/2009 (Price: $25.00; Age: 3 to 6) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

POLICE CHASE by CARRERA

This 1:43 scale racing set for boys and girls comes with a Police Car with a red and blue flashing light chasing a Corvette C5 through straights and curves. The set comes with straights, curves, a lap counter, two speed controllers, a transformer, guardrails spare contacts and guardrails. It received a 2009 Toy of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: September 15, 2008. 6/29/2009 (Price: $69.99; Age: 8 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Monkey Match by HUNTAR COMPANY INC.

To play, a child selects one of five colorful, two-sided match cards and place it in the tray. Then, he places the magic monkey in the center on the left side of the card and points his banana to the picture, letter, shape, or color he wants to try and match. Then, he selects the image on the right side of the card that best matches his selection. To see if he's correct, he'll place the monkey in the center on the right side of the card and let go. He will mysteriously spin and point to the correct match. "This little monkey's actions will even amaze adults and he does it all without batteries," Jason Cheung, general manager of Huntar Company, told TDmonthly. This product received a 2009 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award. Launch date: 2009. 6/29/2009 (Price: $19.99; Age: 4 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

4 Shape Puzzles, Things That Go! by BRIARPATCH INC.

Four individual puzzles help children learn shapes by putting the puzzles together. The shapes are cleverly shown in the puzzle pictures. The sturdy puzzles come in a self-closing carrier box designed for years of puzzle fun. "The unique Briarpatch Carrier design makes it a one-of-a-kind item, perfect for holiday and birthday party gift-giving. The award-winning SAMi artwork is also made for the specialty store shopper," Carol Comes, product manager for Briarpatch, told TDmonthly. This product is an Oppenheim Gold Award winner. Launch date: March 31, 2009. 6/29/2009 (Price: $17.00; Age: 3 to 6) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Creativity Kit by ARTTERRO

The Creativity Kit is one of 12 Artterro kit styles and has an assortment of glass beads, felt shapes and handmade paper to set the creative spirit free. Each product is put together considering the environmental and social impact on the community with minimal packaging and green printing methods. "No two kits are exactly alike, featuring unique assortments of materials, patterns and colors," Marilyn Chalais, principal of Chalais Associates, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009. This set received a 2008 NAMTA Best New Kid's Product Award. Launch date: 2009.
— "I love these craft kits because the materials used are so incredible. Kids get to play with 100-percent wool felt, glass and wood beads, and beautiful handmade paper. It’s an added bonus that the company has skipped excessive packaging and uses 100-percent post-consumer waste recycled paper, reusable bags and vegetable-based inks," said Autumn Orndorff, gift buyer for Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Ariz., after discovering Artterro kits at ASTRA Marketplace 2009. 6/29/2009 (Price: $14.95; Age: 8 and up) [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, 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.

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