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:
Double Take by R&R GAMES INC.
 Two players co-star as they attempt to get the audience to guess 6 phrases. Trouble is, each only has half the phrase and it's up to the audience players to put it all together. Lots of laughs and fun in this charageous game for 3-8 players. Launch date: July 2012.
Awards: 2012 Games Magazine Top 100 - Party games category
10/16/2012 (Price: $19.95; Age: 12 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Pluckin' Pairs by R&R GAMES INC.
 Who will pluck the most popular pairs? Each player gets 60 seconds to pair up 11 images at the same time. 5 pairs and one bad apple. Players gain points by matching the most other players with the same pairs. Launch date: July 2012.
Awards: 2012 - Best Party game of the Year from Games Magazine; 2012 - Best Family Game of the Year from Creative Child.
10/16/2012 (Price: $19.95; Age: 12 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Spanish And English La Granja - The Farm. By Ms Blanca in DVD by LITTLE XAVIER COMPANY
 A high-energy educational Spanish & English class in DVD that will stimulate kid's musical & language development and captivate their imaginations. We believe that children's interest will peak after watching this special video. Children from 3 years old and up learn the name of many farm animals in the "Repeat After Me" segment. Includes "Numbers 1-30", "Sentences", "Opposites", "What Color It Is?", "Insects", "Puzzle Time" and "Time To Eat". The show ends in a fancy gelato shop learning the ice cream flavors. Songs, music, illustrations, and real farm animals are part of this wonderful video. Launch date: January 2012.
Awards: 2012 Best of Show Dealer Favorites; A “must have” item from the 2012 NSSEA Organization Ed Expo recently held on March 23rd in Baltimore, MD
10/16/2012 (Price: $22.99; Age: 3 to 8) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
The Earthshaking Earthquake Mystery by GALLOPADE INTERNATIONAL
 What do a brother and sister do when their sort-of-mad scientist dad takes them along the San Andreas Fault, to new Madrid Missouri and other earthquake prone places? What child can resist learning about the power of mother-nature and the tools to stay safe as these interested kids confront nature head-on. Launch date: 2007.
Awards: 2007 iParenting Media Award
10/16/2012 (Price: $5.99; Age: 7 to 14) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Ultimate Volcano Science Kit by DISCOVER WITH DR. COOL
 Discover with Dr. Cool turned this classic science experiment into the ultimate hands-on volcano experience. First you'll decorate the 7" ceramic volcano with the brush and paints included in the kit. Then kids'll make the volcano erupt over and over with the eruption powder and red lava coloring also included. Plus they'll get to examine 3 genuine volcanic specimens including: a real geode, an obsidian arrowhead, and a floating piece of volcanic rock called pumice. The information guide will teach kids all about their specimens as well as how volcanoes form and why they erupt. Also included is an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. Because everything is included in the kit, kids won't need to run to the store for additional supplies. If they're doing this project for the science fair, they'll love how nice the ceramic volcano looks-it's way better than the paper mache volcanoes. This is the perfect science kit for anyone interested in geology, earth science, or volcanoes. Launch date: August 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, 2012 Kids Product of the Year, Creative Child Magazine; 2012 Gold Award, Family Review Center;2012 Seal of Approval, Family Review Center.
10/16/2012 (Price: $19.95; Age: 6 to 12) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Ocean Fossil Excavation Kit! by DISCOVER WITH DR. COOL
 Excavate 3 genuine fossil specimens just like a real paleontologist. Buried inside the ammonite-shaped digging brick young paleontologists will uncover a real sliced and polished ammonite, a clam fossil and a gastropod specimen. This hands-on kit includes an excavation tool, brush, magnifying glass, full-color information guide, and an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. These 3 genuine specimens are each millions of years old. The info guide was written by teachers so that kids will improve their knowledge of science. Plus, there's an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: 2012 Seal of Excellence - Creative Child Magazine; 2012 Preferred Choice Award - Creative Child Magazine
10/16/2012 (Price: $14.95; Age: 6 to 12) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Pan for Gold Science Kit by DISCOVER WITH DR. COOL
 Ready to strike it rich? This hands-on science kit will teach kids how to pan for gold just like a real gold miner. This exciting treasure hunter's kit includes a 10" prospector's pan, 2 bags of pay dirt with pyrite (also known as fool's gold) nuggets inside, mining tools, and much more. Kids will learn all of the secrets to panning in the full-color adventure guide. Plus there's an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to solve. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: Dr. Toy 2012 Best Picks Winner, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20
10/16/2012 (Price: $19.95; Age: 6 to 12) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
I Go! by FOXMIND GAMES
 I Go! is a fast-paced game that gets the entire family thinking on their feet. Players quickly draw cards in turns, trying to improve their hand. If a player things their card is the best, they declare “I Go!” Being alert and astute will help players win this game. Launch date: 2011.
Awards: 2012 6/6 Consumer Guide of Canada
10/16/2012 (Price: $9.95; Age: 8 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
New Sprouts™ Fix it! My very own tool set by LEARNING RESOURCES INC.
 Big fix-it fun for the smallest fixer uppers. Encourage imaginative play with chunky tools made from durable, soft plastic. Includes saw, hammer, screwdriver, wrench, drill (with sound) and tool box measuring 9"L x 5½"H x 3¾"W. Launch date: January 2012.
Awards: 2012 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Gold Seal Award
10/10/2012 (Price: $24.99; Age: 2 to 4) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
Family Love by Julie K by JULIE K MUSIC
 Ready to giggle and groove...Celebrate with Julie K as she delivers with a musical medley of happy times for the family. Her retro vibe shines and gives kids plenty to smile about. Launch date: April 2012.
Awards: 2012 CD of the year award by Creative Child Magazine
10/10/2012 (Price: $12.00; Age: 0 to 10) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]
Related Video:
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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