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:

Cash Cow by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

This Cash Cow makes saving money fun and educational! The friendly talking bank identifies coins as they are inserted and tallies your balance. The bank also features a game that challenges children to correctly count change. Cash Cow is a great way to teach children to recognize coin values and to count and save money! Requires three “AA” batteries (included). This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. 12/10/2008 (Price: $24.99; Age: 5 and up) ENTER THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL TOYSHOW [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Joobles by FAIR INDIGO

Designed with little ones in mind, this product features pure organic cotton that is wonderfully soft, washes beautifully, and means the world's tiniest citizens are leaving a smaller footprint. Each Jooble is made fair trade at a Peruvian-run family business that does everything from growing the cotton to providing jobs (and hope) to hundreds of Peru's most impoverished. "The Joobles line is not only responsible and sustainable, but adorable too," President Robert Behnke of Fair Indigo told TDmonthly. This line received a 2009 Tillywig Top Fun Award. Launch date: September 3, 2008. The Joobles are a direct-to-consumer line and are no longer available wholesale as of April 2009. 11/18/2008 (Price: $29.00; Age: All Ages) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

TykeLight GloMate by MOBI TECHNOLOGIES INC.

TykeLight GloMate by MOBI features an easy-to-clean surface that is soft to the touch, durable and impact resistant. The all-white GloMate, once illuminated, can turn a constant blue, green or pink; or rainbow-mode cycles between all three colors. Thanks to the built-in NmH rechargeable batteries and low-voltage charging base, TykeLight GloMate can provide up to 10 hours of constant light when fully charged. It turns on automatically when removed from the base, and the LED lights do not give off heat, so it’s cool to the touch. “Gentle Sleep” mode automatically dims and shuts off the light after 15 minutes. "The GloMate is not just a nightlight, but [also] a portable buddy for kids [that] is great for traveling and the perfect answer to 'Can you leave the light on?'" Dan Grody, publicist at Tellem Worldwide on behalf of MOBI, told TDmonthly. "It provides the perfect ambiance for nighttime feedings and it uses very little energy, lasting through the day or night on a single charge." This item received a 2008 Greatest Products iParenting Media Award. Launch date: October 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $24.99; Age: 3 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Jishaku by RSV PRODUCTIONS INC.

This portable strategy game is similar to chess or checkers, but with a twist — the magnetic stones with unmarked north and south poles can jump out of their position at any point during the game, giving players a whole new element of challenge. "Jishaku" is the Japanese term for "magnet." The game received a 2008 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, an iParenting Media Award, a Major Fun Award and a Mr. Dad Seal of Approval. Launch date: June 3, 2008.
— Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City sells about 20 per month of this game, Buyer Casey Sartain told TDmonthly in fall 2009. 11/11/2008 (Price: $19.95; Age: 8 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Angel Heavenly Hug Doll - Boy by HEAVENLY HUG DOLLS LLC

This 24" soft, terrycloth angel doll is the size of a small child, designed to make a perfect naptime/bedtime companion. It has soft wings and long arms with “Heavenly Hug” embroidered down one arm and “Hug You“ over the doll’s heart. The angel's hands snap together so he can give hugs to the child. The doll comes with an I.D. tag with space for a child to write the doll's chosen name, plus a mesh bag for washing.  The doll was named as Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Products and 10 Best Socially Responsible. It is also available in a girl version. Launch date: June 2008. 11/10/2008 (Price: $39.99; Age: 3 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Billy Blue Hair and Me! - Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks? by BILLY BLUE HAIR

On this 30-minute personalized DVD, blue-haired Billy speaks directly to the child who owns the DVD, educating him or her as he interacts with wild animals and encourages use of the imagination. A non-personalized version is also available. "We have over 400 unique names in stock, so product ships within 48 hours," Kris Olson, president of Kayo Media LLC, told TDmonthly.  This product received an iParenting Media Award. Launch date: October 14, 2008. 9/23/2008 (Price: $29.95; Age: 3 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Thought Cards - I Have Fun When ...™ by SMILES MADE EASY

Packaged in a small tin, this product includes 15, 8 cm x 8.5 cm note cards and envelopes. "We start the thought. You finish it," the packaging says. Starter phrases include "You are especially good at ...,"You have a great way of ..." and "I remember when ..." The cards can be stuffed into stockings or lunch bags, and four other themes are available. Thought Cards won an iParenting Media Best Products Award. 9/23/2008 (Price: $8.99; Age: 6 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

WowWee FlyTech Bladestar by WOWWEE GROUP LTD.

This indoor flying machine features an Autopilot Mode with sensor-based navigation that allows it to avoid ceilings and other obstacles while gliding. It also comes with a three-channel digital IR remote controller, plush a Dogfight accessory for use when pitting two Bladestars against one another. The crash-resistant Bladestar boasts lightweight "high-flex" materials and is for indoor use only. It has a 12" wingspan, and 20 minutes of charge time results in about five minutes of flight. It requires 6 AA batteries (not included). The product received a CES 2008 Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award. 9/23/2008 (Price: $49.99; Age: 8 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Slooh Kids Volume 2 Activity Book by BLUESTORM PRODUCTIONS INC.

Each Slooh Kids activity book includes 14 celestial objects located in the northern and/or southern Hemisphere. It’s easy to launch, explore, and learn with the whole family. Kids can learn about space, then go see it LIVE using the Slooh mission card via Internet access on a Mac or PC. Kids can connect to three observatory site locations, learn how to plan missions, remotely control the telescopes, and take and print pictures, then paste them in the book. Access includes Live SkyGuide Audio. "Slooh is revolutionizing the way we explore the night sky," Patrick Paolucci, president of BlueStorm Productions, Inc., told TDmonthly. Slooh mission cards won a 2006 NAPPA Gold Award Honor award. Launch date: July 2008. 9/19/2008 (Price: $19.95; Age: 5 to 17) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

CALAFANT Pirate Fortress by Calafant USA

Children can easily build this sturdy Pirate Fortress, decorate it, and play with it. This kit transforms from a crafting activity into a real toy, and, best of all, is recyclable. All pieces are made from pre-cut and pre-punched sturdy white cardboard and can be put together without glue and scissors. "It's a great choice for parents who want to promote their children's creativity, and it is a wonderful, unique present for a kid that wants a cool toy," Martina McConnon, owner of distributor Creative Toyshop, told TDmonthly. It received the Spiel gut 2008 award in Germany. Launch date: September 8, 2008. 9/19/2008 (Price: $24.99; Age: 4 to 9) ENTER Calafant USA 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, 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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