November 2007 New Toys — All

Green Baby: "Return to Nature" by GREEN BABY PRODUCTIONS

This inspirational, 26-minute DVD for babies and children is designed to encourage appreciation for Mother Earth. It features babies playing in nature while interacting with fun and colorful animation. The original soundtrack is composed of peaceful music with toddlers delivering positive messages about peace, love, joy and harmony. “It's simply about raising awareness,” commented Director Jeff Goolst of Green Baby. “‘Green Baby’ is the green generation's baby DVD about returning to nature, also inspiring adults to help make a difference.” Launch date: September 14, 2007. 11/14/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Ancient Rome: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of Rome's Past by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

Excavated writing tablets, a famous mosaic and various artifacts are all clues to the history of the Italian people, which is discussed through archaeological research in this book. 11/14/2007 (Price: $17.95)

Ancient Pueblo: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of America's Past by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

This book reveals what researchers have learned about the Pueblo people through petroglyphs and studies of prehistoric sites in Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. 11/14/2007 (Price: $17.95)

Fully Woolly by KIDS CAN PRESS

This book in the Planet Girl series includes three project levels and instructions on knitting, crocheting and felting. It is written by Ellen Warwick and illustrated by Bernice Lum. 11/14/2007 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Owl and the Pussycat by KIDS CAN PRESS

Part of the Visions in Poetry series, this book features a nonsensical poem by Edward Lear, involving a bohemian pussycat and an aristocratic owl, accompanied by whimsical illustrations by Stéphane Jorisch. 11/14/2007 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

OOgal! by MOUNTAINMEN ENTERPRISES

This fast-paced word game features 20-sided dice with consonants and six-sided dice with vowels, as well as a special OOgal die. It combines the strategy used in Scrabble with the luck of the roll players find in Yahtzee. A 60-second sand timer keeps play moving as a player goes through multiple rolls trying to build the highest scoring word. 11/14/2007 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Lime Backpack by FRECKLES & MAYA GIRLS ACCESSORIES USA

These are the same backpacks Gramcracker sewed for the girls in the first original story about Freckles & Maya!  So soft and cuddly and perfect for carrying all her secret treasures.  Washable and reversible, be careful, though, these well-built little packs dislike a hot dryer. The opening has two top drawstrings with pom-poms designed for little hands to pull closed. The inside of the backpack has a shiny silky satin with an original design copyrighted by the creators of Freckles & Maya™ accessories.  The outside is the most incredible lush soft fleece in all the hottest colors! The dimensions are 19”X19” and one size truly fits all. Made in the USA. ( Watch Video) 11/13/2007 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ty Girlz – Lucky Lindsay by TY INC.

Ty Girlz have a new, more wholesome look that should appeal to worried moms everywhere. Though they’re still eye-shadowed, their general expression says more “girl next door” than “girl on the corner.” They still come with an access code for good, clean online fun.
— “We carry Ty Girlz, but they don’t do well,” sighed Joyce Hoover, owner of Doll and Gift Gallery in Rogers, Ariz., in January 2008. She hoped the new line of clothes she’d received recently would improve sales.
— Tricia Cooper, buyer at Le Jouet in Metairie, La., was looking forward to the dolls’ revamped non-vamp look: “They’re more wholesome-looking girls and I think they’ll do much better,” she said. Ty has also just released new poseable Girlz.
— Ty Girlz are one of the three most popular dolls at Playville in Covington, La., according to Owner Stephanie Dupuy. 11/13/2007 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Peek-a-Boo Zoo by TRANSGLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP INC.

Written by Dian Curtis Regan and illustrated by Amanda Gulliver, this bright, lift-the-flap book lets little ones explore fun animal characters. “One, two, peek-a-boo! I may be small but I’m not a runt. I am baby …” The interactive book for toddlers is filled with riddles about the zoo, and the correct answer for each makes the stanza rhyme. "Gulliver’s art includes painted cut-paper collage illustrations which are bold, rich and practically palpable. This unusual style complements a toddler’s curiosity with the interactive lift-a-flap adventure and is the perfect pairing for Regan’s catchy stanzas. Simply lift-the flaps to reveal the clues," Kimberly Walsh of Transglobal Communications Group told TDmonthly. 11/12/2007 (Price: $8.95)

Webkinz - Hippo by GANZ

To help meet the demand for Webkinz sweeping the continent, Ganz has come out with a new line of Lil'Kinz. Like their larger counterparts, Lil'Kinz characters come with their own codes that are revealed after purchase. Kids adopt the little guys as their own and take them into an online world of fun and KinzKash. Kids can now make Lil'Kinz Hippo their best buddy, play some games at the arcade and stop by the "W" shop to pick up a bowl of crunch "shoots n' roots."
— “We sold over 2,000,” Gwen Boden said of how Webkinz fared in 2007. Boden is the manager of Doodlehopper in Springfield, Va.
— “Webkinz: We sell daily, hourly,” Robin Ellerman, owner of Trains-n-Toys in North Canton, Ohio, told TDmonthly.
— Over 21 percent of retailers told TDmonthly that Webkinz was their all-around best-selling item of 2007. 11/12/2007 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Say What? by RADICA GAMES

The aim of this board game is to unravel a mixed up situation; in this case, it’s a phrase from popular culture that has been sliced up into five different segments. Each of the coloured domes on top of the crescent-shaped game deck represents one of these segments, and it is the player’s job to rearrange them from their initial, muddled positions to the correct phrase. In each round the balls light up from left to right, with voices speaking the jumbled phrase accordingly; player’s then rush in a crazed panic to swap them around before they forget what each stands for. Smacking the ‘Solve button’ at the end of the game shows kids which answers they got right. 11/12/2007 (Price: $50.83) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puppy Grows and Knows Your Name by FISHER-PRICE INC.

Puppy Grows & Knows Your Name is an electronic mechanized plush dog. Puppy is at his smallest size when the child brings him home and over one week puppy will grow to full size. The child can personalize puppy and as he grows he will learn to speak, learn his own name, the child’s name and more. Puppy is personalized using the software on the included CD-ROM. Areas of personalization are: child’s name, dog’s name, friend’s name, favourite place to go with puppy, two activities to do with puppy, child’s birthday. 11/12/2007 (Price: $50.00)

GR8 Art Bindeez Super Deluxe Studio Centre by THE CHARACTER GROUP PLC

Use the new pen dispenser to place the beads onto the tray, spray with water and then use the built-in fan for quick drying Bindeez designs. This deluxe set includes 800 beads, 5 templates, 2 trays, 6 stands, a sprayer bottle and an instruction booklet. Requires 2 x AA batteries. 11/12/2007 (Price: $40.58) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Golden Balls by VIVID IMAGINATIONS

From the hit TV game show, Golden Balls is a game of luck, intuition and barefaced bluff. Grab the cash and avoid those dreaded Killer Balls that can turn millions into cents in seconds. The game is different every time. Requires 3 x AA batteries (not included). 11/12/2007 (Price: $40.66) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Baby Annabell New V4 by ZAPF CREATION (U.S.) INC.

When the "doll mummy" talks to Baby Annabell, she turns her head to the left or the right depending on where the voice is coming from. She babbles, gurgles and sucks on her dummy. When she drinks from the water-filled bottle she makes sucking sounds. Once she has finished drinking, she burps and falls asleep. If she is awakened by noise, she cries - and real tears roll down her cheeks - but singing soon hushes her. The new Baby Annabell’s increased capacity to interact with her "doll mummy" will help girl’s fluency, confidence and growing sense of responsibility. 11/12/2007 (Price: $70.47)

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? by PARKER BROTHERS

Based on the hit game show, this game features Jeff Foxworthy and five 5th Graders putting ordinary adults to the test by having them answer real questions from the 5th grade curriculum. The fun is that a 10-year-old has just as much chance of knowing the answers as his or her parent. 11/12/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Transformers Movie Leader: Optimus Prime by HASBRO INC.

Electronic robot-to-vehicle figure features lights and sounds, and partially automated Advanced Automorph Technology. This technology is designed to enhance vehicle-to-robot conversion with partially animated mechanical triggers that activate the final shift to battle mode. Includes 2 “AA” batteries. 11/12/2007 (Price: $39.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Doctor Who "Dalek Sec" Hybrid Voice-Changer Mask by THE CHARACTER GROUP PLC

Features two brain hemispheres, a wrinkly nose and several tentacles that come out of the side of the head. This voice-changer is "Dalek Sec" Hybrid which features speech and voice-changing effects. It has two play buttons. Button one activates Dalek question, followed by Dalek Sec Hybrid's reply. Button two activates Dalek Voice-Changer Function. Batteries included. 11/12/2007 (Price: $60.92) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Roary the Racing Car by VIVID IMAGINATIONS

Moves forwards, backwards and left and right. Comes with a steering wheel remote control and sounds and phrases from the TV programme. Packaged with ‘Try me’ batteries only. Dimensions: 232 x 354 x 198 mm 11/12/2007 (Price: $60.40) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Igglepiggle Interactive Dancing Plush by HASBRO INC.

The creators of ‘In the Night Garden’ on the CBeebies channel have turned to the toy-makers Hasbro to come up with all the merchandise. The pick of the bunch is looking like it will be the interactive all singing and dancing Igglepiggle toy, though Igglepiggle’s red soft fleece blanket with a miniature Igglepiggle tucked inside [at MSRP: $71.17] is also tipped to be a sellout. 11/12/2007 (Price: $30.19) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper by BABY EINSTEIN

An activity center and jumper all in one, the innovative Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper will captivate your little one! Three developmental play stations offer tactile activities and stimulation for the development of fine motor skills. Classical melodies and colorful lights provide additional entertainment! 11/9/2007 (Price: $79.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Charlie the Chipmunk by MASTER TOYS AND NOVELTIES, INC.

11 inch animated dancing and singing plush chipmunk. Press on his foot to activate the singing and dancing. Dressed in two assorted holiday attires. 11/9/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Computer Game Maker-Lite by WINDMILL WORKS

This program allows students or teachers to create games by inputting questions and answers, importing graphics — even importing voice — and then letting the software create the ever-popular memory square game with content of the user's own choice: ESL language learning, math, science, social studies and more. It’s an “amazingly simple interface that allows text, picture and sound customization of the classic memory game in minutes,” Billie Pagliolo, president of Windmill Works, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 1, 2007. 11/9/2007 (Price: $39.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

THAT: Teaching History and Things – Lights, Camera, Answer! Black American History by WINDMILL WORKS

This program helps students learn about well-known African American authors and founders of organizations, significant court decisions and more. It features “a game format that reinforces classroom presentation of significant facts in Black American History,” Billie Pagliolo, president of Windmill Works, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 9, 2002. 11/9/2007 (Price: $17.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

THAT: Teaching History and Things – Multiplication Shape-Up by WINDMILL WORKS

With 15 lessons, this software offers study of basic multiplication facts through such games as Match-mate, Paired-Squares, Pop Quiz and Spinmesiter. “It’s a drill, but doesn't seem like it,” Billie Pagliolo, president of Windmill Works, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 12, 2001. 11/9/2007 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]