January 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Fire fighters don’t go to work wearing sneakers. It’s against regulations. So help your Jr. Fire Fighter with a genuine-looking pair of Jr. Fire Chief Boot covers. Available in small, medium, large and adult (Hey, moms and dads like to pretend too!). Launch date: February 2009.

Where are you running, kid? To a fire? Well, you’re certainly dressed for the part! This brand new yellow fire fighter outfit includes bib overalls with pockets and knee patches, adjustable suspenders. Also included is a coat with buckles, zipper, pockets, authentic gauntlet cuffs and reinforced elbow patches. Plus, an awesome adjustable hard helmet. Available in 6 months size for babies all the way up to adult size for the dad or mom who wants to play, too. (Price varies for baby and adult sizes.) Joins best-selling colors tan and black. Launch date: February 2009.

The cheers are up to you but the style is all Aeromax with bright colors, great attention to detail, a set of pom-poms, matching briefs and hair scrunchie too! Choose from three fresh color combinations: red, white & blue; purple & gold or classic blue & white. The one-piece outfit with authentic pleated skirt comes in three sizes: 2/3, 4/6 or 6/8. Launch date: February 2009.

New adventures from Frog and Toad bring to life the charming artwork of Arnold Lobel. The unique “create asyou go” game encourages kid’s creative thinking and problem solving. For one to four players. Launch date: February 2009.

Get ready to Explore Space with this exciting mini-kit! Young Scientists recreate a solar eclipse, match planets to their descriptions, make their own “moonlight,” recreate the phases of the moon, construct a constellation box, identify mystery constellations, and design constellation cards. Explore Space will make Young Scientists want to be future astronomers! Launch date: February 2009.

Get ready to Save the Earth with this exhilarating mini-kit! Young Scientists learn about acids and bases, use pH paper to test rain water, make Styrofoam magically disappear, create pulp from old newspapers, recycle paper, make new paper, recycle leaves in a peat pellet and learn about the three R’s! Go Green teaches Young Scientists all about recycling and how they can help Save the Earth! Launch date: February 2009.

WorkTown Mat™ presents children with images commonly found in industry, including: heavy equipment, workers, safety gear, buildings under construction, and construction materials. When WorkTown Mat™ is placed next to other PlayTown Mats™, roads wind seamlessly throughout. Like all PlayTown Mats™, WorkTown Mat™ has a rigid surface to support action figures and small toy vehicles; and, they are lightweight, readily expandable for play, and fold compactly for easy travel and storage. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

HomeTown Mat™ presents children with images of a peaceful small town, including: residential community, various civic and commercial buildings, roads, and nature. When HomeTown Mat™ is pieced together with other PlayTown Mats™, roads wind seamlessly throughout. Like all PlayTown Mats™, HomeTown Mat™ has a rigid surface to support action figures and small toy vehicles; and, they are lightweight, readily expandable for play, and fold compactly for easy travel and storage. Other collectible themes, such as FunTown Mat™, FarmTown Mat™, CampTown Mat™ and DownTown Mat™, to follow soon. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

The Max Liquidator® now has a big brother. The award winning Blaster Board™ is a Liquidator, Kickboard and Shield ALL-IN-ONE! Kids love to float on anything in the pool and the Blaster Board™ is the perfect fit. Pull back to fill, and blast water up to 30 feet! Launch date: February 2009.

What a purr-fect little companion for a new baby. This 9” kitty meows when you press her belly. An attachable clip design makes her portable from crib to kitchen and beyond. Kitty offers a soft teether for tender gums plus ribbon tags for tugging. Besides her meow, baby will enjoy hearing rattle and crinkle noises when touching the cat in special spots. Launch date: February 2009.

This puppy loves to have his belly rubbed. Press the center and hear him bark with joy. The soft 9” puppy features an attachable clip design to take in the car, off to grandma’s or hang in the nursery. There’s a reflective mirror to catch his smiles plus rattle and crinkle sounds, ribbon tags and rings for grasping. Launch date: February 2009.

As Nana Star continues her journey to bring the baby star back home to the heavens, her new friend Blue Wolf shows her that she can do anything she sets her mind to as long as she has the courage to believe in herself. Storytime and sing-along CD included. Launch date: February 2009.

This friendly wolf, perched on his hind legs with head raised to the sky, softly howls when his foot is pressed. Launch date: February 2009.

This colorful bunny features fabric and plastic, as well as a ringing bell and ears that make a rustling sound. It helps develop a baby's senses and gross motor skills.

This colorful construction kit contains four pieces each of the five ZOOB shapes in sparkly shades. They come in a reusable tube that includes instructions for 17 simple projects, including a giraffe, rocket man, cell phone and tiara.

Made from recycled plastic milk containers, this sturdy flying disc weighs approximately 130 grams. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This educational board game jump-starts the road to reading by incorporating basic phonics and more than 300 sight words in an engaging activity. The cards comprise up to 90 percent of beginner-level reading material and more than 50 percent of all English text. The game takes new readers on an adventure through literacy land complete with common landmarks and street signs. They earn a bonus roll after correctly identifying a game card. The first player to reach the library is the winner. "Through repetitive interaction with basic phonic sounds, sight words, and their definitions, new readers enhance their reading skills while playing a fun game. Er-u-di-tion provides families and schools with a useful tool for preschool and elementary school students," Owner Denise Bossard of Acumen Associates told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 20, 2008.

Each player is a powerful wizard with a dragon companion, and resources in the region are getting low. Players must take on the other wizards as well as their dragons to survive, collecting treasures to gain power and battle it out to rule the world. The game uses cards, dice and miniatures, as well as luck- and skill-based game-play elements. "No matter if it's parents and their children, experienced players or someone absolutely new to the game, everyone can jump in and play and expect an even playing field that's easy to learn and fun to play," CEO Ray Farrar of Ascended Games told TDmonthly. "They can expect innovation and clever ideas at every turn, such as the unique aspect of eliminated players being able to still influence the game's outcome." Launch date: April 2009.

Harnessing high-tech magic, when kids drop the strange “egg” into a container of water, all manner of foaming bubbles and fizz whoosh through the void. When it’s finished, a small creature of unknown origin and form lies at the bottom. It should be picked up and placed into another jar of water. Slowly, fantastically, it begins to grow, and within three days, it’s three times bigger. "These 'Freaks of Nature' aren't just any typical animal. They are wacky cross-breeds. Including a Horsefly (a fly with the head of a horse), a Bullfrog (a frog with the head of a bull), a Catfish (you guessed it, a fish with the head of a cat) and more," Aaron Ackert, sales manager for Geospace International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009. THIS PRODUCT WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MARKET AND IS NOT AVAILABLE.

This aquatic version of the old game “hot potato" is irresistibly fun for the whole family. Here’s how it works: Fill a balloon with water and set it inside the AQUA TIMEBOMB's “cage.” Wind up the timer spring and start passing the “bomb” around. But be quick! You don’t want to be the one caught holding it when it explodes and the water balloon splashes all over the unlucky player. "This game can be played right out of the box, since 10 water balloons are included. AQUA TIMEBOMB™ is a new twist on a familiar game concept that everyone will enjoy and instinctively know how to play," Aaron Ackert, sales manager for Geospace International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.

PetTalk is a title in the expanded and updated TableTalk Conversation Card series. With charming illustrations, each of the 50 cards presents fascinating facts about favorite feathered, finned and furry friends. Fun questions get kids eagerly involved in conversations at home, school, parties and on the road. There are 16 titles in the series, including GreenTalk, WeatherTalk and MusicTalk. "TableTalk decks provide a unique format for engaging kids in conversations with topics that educate and entertain," Lynn Araujo, communications director for U.S. Games Systems, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 20, 2009.

The "Simply Subtraction" workbook and original music CD starring 11 genres is an upbeat and funky alternative for educating children anywhere. It combines motivational music with a standard-based workbook that is packaged ready to go in an eco-friendly portfolio. The educational products teach math skills and encourage audio, visual and small-motor skills, which is advantageous for all types of learners. The product was named on of the Top 10 Most Innovative Ideas for 2009 by CapitalGainsMedia.com. Launch date: 2009.

The "Absolutely Additon" workbook and original music CD starring 11 musical genres offer a hip and funky alternative to education. The standard-based workbook can be used with the musical CD to encourage the use of audio, visual and small-motor skills, which is beneficial for all types of learners. The all-inclusive, eco-friendly portfolio contains everything necessary for busy parents to encourage learning while on the go. This product was named one of the Top 10 Best Innovations of 2009 by CapitalGainsMedia.com. Launch date: 2009.

Late for the Sky's City games help preserve both the memory of home and the excitement of going somewhere new. Whether as a souvenir or a homesick cure, all the familiar places are there. "This is a newly released board game for people who love The Queen City — made right here in Cincinnati. We chose from some favorite landmarks, like Fountain Square, the Taft Theatre and Sawyer Point. We mixed in some chili cheese coneys, a few flying pigs, great traditions, riverboats and some BIG FUN," Carla Miller of Late for the Sky Production Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.