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The Few, The Proud...The Award-Winning Toys!

Who Made the Cut This Year?

By Alison Marek and Julie L. Jones

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:

Gemlok by PYWACKET GAMES

Gemlok by PYWACKET GAMESClaim the most precious gems and build your fortune. Roll the dice, move your pawns by following the patterns on the dice, and capture your gems. You finally land on a diamond, a ruby and two emeralds. But now you must keep them from being taken by another player. You must roll a “GEMLOK” to make them yours to keep (when rolling GEMLOK, flip your pawn over to display the “GEMLOK” symbol and lock your pawn - hopefully onto a high value gem). Each player attempts to capture the highest value gems with their eight pawns, and will compete with other player’s strategies before securing their fortune.  Players attempt to bump their opponent’s “unlocked” pawns, claim their gems, and send them up to three spaces away from the high value gems. Players may also bump themselves in a strategic move, up to three spaces onto a higher value gem. The player with the highest total value of gems wins.  Game play 25-35 minutes. Winner of Mensa Select, GAMES100, Creative Child Family Strategy Game of the Year, Canadian Toy Testing Council “Best Bet Award”, iParenting Outstanding Product Award and Major Fun Thinking Award. Gemlok “is easy to learn, yet contains some nice strategy. It appeals to all ages and reaches very wide market demographics. Pywacket Games are always very high quality and heavily play tested before entering the consumer market,” President Donald Meyer told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2007.
 5/4/2007 (Price: $19.99; Age: 7 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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Bur Bur and Friends™: Bur Bur's Boating ABC's by FARMER'S HAT PRODUCTIONS

Bur Bur and Friends™: Bur BurChildren can learn boating basics and see many things in and on the water as Bur Bur and his parents go for a boat ride in this read-aloud book. "This is the first series of books that educates children about sports using a group of multi-ethnic characters," President and Founder JoAnne Pastel of Farmer's Hat Productions told TDmonthly. "Bur Bur and Friends…learn about sports through their own first-time experiences. This exposure may include watching or participating in a sport, overcoming athletic obstacles, or learning about teamwork and good sportsmanship. The products aim to help kids embrace our diverse world and family structures while also addressing the need for healthy physical exercise." This product is a 2007 iParenting Media Award winner. Launch date: July 2007.
 5/2/2007 (Price: $14.95; Age: 2 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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Illuminated Sudoku Mega Screen by TECHNO SOURCE

Illuminated Sudoku Mega Screen by TECHNO SOURCEThis product tests logic skills with more than 2 million accessible puzzles. It features a puzzle input option that allows players to input any Sudoku puzzle from their favorite newspaper or book and solve it with ease on the Mega Screen. It even provides the answers. Full illumination and an extra-large screen make the game easy to read and ready to play anytime, anywhere. In January 2007, this product was announced as 2006 Best Toy of the Year in the Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Awards. Launch date: April 2006.
 5/2/2007 (Price: $24.99; Age: 8 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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The Student From Zombie Island: Conquering the Rumor Monster by FIVE STAR PUBLICATIONS INC.

The Student From Zombie Island: Conquering the Rumor Monster by FIVE STAR PUBLICATIONS INC.Written by Michael J. Moorehead as a thank-you gift to his teacher when he was in the second grade, this book tells the story of the rumors surrounding Bust ‘em Up Bill’s arrival as the new kid at school. It shows readers that rumors can easily get out of control and often do not represent the truth. The book is illustrated by Kathy Parks. This product received the 2008 Reader Views Annual Literary Award for Best Children's Book. Read Review
 5/2/2007 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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Rose Art smART Easel™ by MEGA BRANDS

Rose Art smART Easel™ by MEGA BRANDSThis revolutionary eight-in-one fold n’ go easel is easy to clean and features a patented trend-setting design that allows children to be creative at home and on the go. It serves as a mess-free hub for Rose Art coloring and drawing materials, and includes eight broadline markers, a roll of paper and a deluxe bag for portability and storage. This product is a 2007 iParenting Media Award winner. Launch date: Fall 2007.
 4/24/2007 (Price: $39.99; Age: 4 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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Gary Gadget: Building Cars by VIVA MEDIA

Gary Gadget: Building Cars by VIVA MEDIAChildren can design, build and drive with this set, putting together engines, gadgets, doors, wheels, lights and tons more. It’s up to them to recycle wacky old parts from Gary’s junkyard into amazing vehicles in the workshop. There are 16 missions and activities, and more than 127 parts to create endless car part combinations. Participants can earn certificates and medals, race their cars, and create a photo album of their favorites. This product “provides quality education while also being entertaining and fun for kids,” Project Manager Beatrice LaBarge of Viva Media told TDmonthly. It has won iParenting Media and ALA awards and received a spring 2007 Parents' Choice Award. Launch date: January 2007.
 4/23/2007 (Price: $29.99; Age: 4 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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babyGUND® Spunky Key Wind Motion Musical by GUND INC.

babyGUND® Spunky Key Wind Motion Musical by GUND INC.A beloved babyGUND character, Spunky is a floppy-eared pup made sweeter by the spot of white fur surrounding his right eye. The tan-colored, 8” plush plays “Rock a Bye Baby” as he moves his head to the music. This product received a 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: January 2007.
— Baby Gund is the No. 2-best-selling plush for Co-owner Fred Rosenberg of On the Park in Kingwood, Texas, he said in spring 2007.
 4/18/2007 (Price: $25.00; Age: 0 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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Paxton by GUND INC.

Paxton by GUND INC.Paxton, at 14.5” tall, features cuddly, toffee-toned fur and warm brown eyes. He has fully jointed arms and legs for a timeless quality, and a cream-colored ribbon around his neck to accentuate his happy smile. Paxton was awarded a 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: January 2007.
 4/18/2007 (Price: $27.50; Age: 5 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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Wrist Pix by FASHION ANGELS

Wrist Pix by FASHION ANGELSThese bracelets couldn’t be more original. There are more than 400 gorgeous glass beads, 198 stickers, 24 tiles and much more to fashion create-your-own bracelets. “Every girl wants to have accessories no one else has! Use the enclosed designs — or better yet — you can make your own 'pix' for a one-of-a-kind piece of art for your wrist,” Sarah Koth, manager of trade shows and exhibitions for Fashion Angels, told TDmonthly. This product received a 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Best Toy Award.
 4/18/2007 (Price: $15.00; Age: 8 and up) ENTER FASHION ANGELS TOYSHOW [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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Magic Mirror Laptop by KIDZ DELIGHT

Magic Mirror Laptop by KIDZ DELIGHTWhen a child opens this early-learning laptop, his or her reflection will magically appear on the screen. Kids can learn and play with ABCs, 123s, colors, shapes, animal names, sounds and melodies. This product won a 2007 iParenting Media Award. Launch date: June 2007.
 4/18/2007 (Price: $22.99; Age: 1 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]


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Following are some of the programs represented in TDmonthly.com's section of award winners: Dr. Toy, iParenting Media Awards, TIA T.O.T.Y., Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, The National Parenting Center, and Parents' Choice Awards.

You may also access TDmonthly's review section to see which products earned 5 TD stars.

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