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:

P.U! The Guessing Game of Smells™ by TALICOR / ARISTOPLAY

Stinky Smells the Skunk™ is on the loose with his stinky Smellorator! In P.U! The Guessing Game of Smells™, players race around a large exciting board full of good, bad and mystery smells. Whose nose knows best? Be the first to cross the finish line and stop Stinky from polluting and ruining the town fair. For 2 to 8 players. Winner of the National Parenting Center 2009 Seal of Approval. 10/23/2009 (Price: $29.99; Age: 5 and up) ENTER TALICOR / ARISTOPLAY TOYSHOW [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Thoughts and Feelings - Sentence Completion Card Game by BRIGHT SPOTS GAMES

This cheerfully illustrated therapeutic tool for parents, teachers, and mental health professionals is designed to engage children of all ages.The deck contains 35 cards especially effective in helping children identify, process and work through a variety of issues, including changes within the family, trauma, grief, anger, depression, anxiety and fears. It's also available in Spanish. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. 10/20/2009 (Price: $19.95; Age: All Ages) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sea Play Creative Drama Kits by PIPPEROOS™ LLC

Designed for children ages three to eight years old, Pipperoos’ creative drama kits include dress-up materials and illustrated storybook. Each kit focuses on one theme, and includes either a single or an ensemble set of character costumes. Costumes include Opus the Octopus, Terry the Turtle, Julie the Jelly, and Mark the Shark. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009 and 10 Best Creative Products 2009. Launch date: 2009. 10/16/2009 (Age: 3 to 8) ENTER PIPPEROOS™ LLC TOYSHOW [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Musical Jingle Bell Rock Skirt by ACTING OUT

The holiday season would not be as joyous without the musical composition “Jingle Bell Rock” written by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe. The Jingle Bell Rock petticoat style skirt is made of red and white soft tulle.  The skirt is adorned with a candy cane striped bow finished off with a silver jingle bell.  This fun flowing skirt is perfect to rock around the Christmas tree or pose for a holiday picture. Skirt also features an adjustable waistband, which allows for maximum size versatility. Skirts fits most little girls aged three to eight. Music device is hidden within an interior front pocket. Press on for music and it continues with motion. Three AAA batteries included. Winner of the Oppenheim Platinum Best Toy 2008. 10/16/2009 (Price: $44.00; Age: 3 to 8) ENTER ACTING OUT TOYSHOW [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Come Dance With Us by First Wave, LLC

Through story-telling and song, children learn by listening and singing along with Come Dance With Us.  This vocabulary-building CD from the producers of the award-winning DVD series, Fundamentals, teaches young children about time, geography, ecology, phonetics, arithmetic, emotions, and many more subjects.  Educators have discovered that children can learn and remember concepts particularly when these concepts are set to music and rhythm. This CD has received the following awards: Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009, Dr. Toy's 10 Best Audio/Video Products, and Creative Child Magazine's CD of the Year 2009. Launch date: October 2008. 10/14/2009 (Price: $12.99; Age: 2 to 6) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

BuckleyLion by BuckleyBoo, LLC

For ages 15 months and up, each BuckleyBoo is designed to teach babies and toddlers visual matching, small motor coordination and problem solving as they match brightly patterned ribbons and configure five different types of plastic buckles. An internal motion activated chime will delight young ears as little fingers buckle their way to mastery. "BuckleyBoo is a unique, one-of-a-kind find that has been embraced by moms, educators, special needs educators, the media and more. BuckleyBoo is the ONLY toy that gives toddlers a platform to practice essential developmental tasks in an using the every day buckles that they are surrounded by and love to play with," Emily Ross, CEO of BuckleyBoo LLC, told TDmonthly. BuckleyLion was named one of Dr. Toy's Top 10 Toys of 2009. Launch date: September 2009. 10/5/2009 (Price: $29.99; Age: 1 to 4) ENTER BuckleyBoo, LLC TOYSHOW [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System by ZIGO INC.

With this mom- or dad-powered family transportation system, the user places one or two children in the ChildPod, puts on a helmet and is ready to ride. The LeaderLink System allows the Leader to uncouple in 30 seconds or less, transforming it into the separate elements, Zigo ChildPod and Zigo Cycle. The Zigo Leader can be used as a Carrier Bicycle, Stroller, Jogger (with accessory), Bicycle or Trailer (with accessory). "The Zigo Leader is the only product that allows parents to transport children in full view, unlike a rear bicycle trailer," Michael Ehrenreich, CEO of Zigo, Inc., told TDmonthly. It received a JPMA Innovation Award 2008. Launch date: April 2009. 10/5/2009 (Price: $1399; Age: 1 to 7) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Laser Pegs by CAPRIOLA CORPORATION

Laser Pegs are a construction set in which each piece feeds the next piece low-voltage current. Users can build or create anything they want with the Laser Pegs and use them lit up or turned off. All parts of the Laser Pegs are ASTM tested and federally approved. Once one Laser Peg is connected to the power source, it then illuminates any other peg it is connected with. "The Laser Pegs are the world's only illuminated construction set that allows kids or adults to piece together light one peg at a time," Jon Capriola, CEO of Capriola Corporation, told TDmonthly. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. Launch date: June 9, 2009. 10/5/2009 (Price: $37.95; Age: 7 and up) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Englacha Triple Model by ENGLACHA USA, INC.

The Englacha Triple Model is a three-in-one top-swiveled stroller with seat, car seat and bassinet. It boasts a "360-degree top-swiveled function by using two fingers only," Daniel Fan, president of Englacha USA, told TDmonthly. It received a 2006 Innovation Award at the 2006 Kind+Jugend in the category "World of Mobile Baby." Launch date: December 2009. 10/5/2009 (Price: $499.99; Age: 0 to 3) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cover-Me by LITTLE CARR LLC

The Cover-Me is a fully adjustable strap that attaches to any baby blanket, converting it into a secure nursing cover. The Cover-Me is compact enough to fit in mom's pocket. "The Cover-Me is the only breastfeeding essential that can be used for other purposes! The Cover-Me creates a secure bib using a cloth napkin or cloth diaper [and] it keeps a blanket secure over baby in a stroller or front carrier," Natascia Carr, owner of Little Carr, LLC, told TDmonthly. It received an iParenting Media Award in 2008. Launch date: February 9, 2007. 10/5/2009 (Price: $12; Age: 0 to 4) [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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