January 2013 New Specialty Toys — Gifts

Join Nellie and Gus and their family - plus all manner of other families - for a day at the zoo, where they see animal families galore! To top off their day, Nellie and Gus invite friends and relatives for a fun dinner at home. Accessible, humorous, and full of charming illustrations depicting families of many configurations, this engaging story interweaves conversations between the siblings and a matter-of fact text, making it clear to every child that whoever makes up your family, it is perfectly normal - and totally wonderful. Trusted New York Times best-selling author Robie H. Harris continues her series for preschoolers with a look at the many kinds of families that make up our world. Launch date: September 2012.

Because Amelia smiles as she skips down the street, her neighbor Mrs. Higgins smiles too, and decides to send a care package of cookies to her grandson Lionel in Mexico. The cookies give Lionel an idea, and his idea inspires a student, who in turn inspires a ballet troupe in England! And so the good feelings that started with Amelia’s smile make their way around the world, from a goodwill recital in Israel, to an impromptu rumba concert in Paris, to a long-awaited marriage proposal in Italy, to a knitted scarf for a beloved niece back in New York. Putting a unique spin on "what goes around comes around," David Ezra Stein’s charmingly illustrated story reminds us that adding even a small dose of kindness into the world is sure to spur more and more kindness. Launch date: September 2012.

Tonight Maisy and her friends are playing in a band. Pull the tabs to see Maisy play drums (rat-a-tat-tat), Charlie play bass (tum-te-tum! tum-te-tum!), and Tallulah tickle the ivories (plinkety-plonk). Sound words fill this joyful, exuberant read-aloud, giving little listeners a taste of onomatopoeia as more friends rehearse their root-a-toots and tings. The excitement builds up to a final pop-up stage show starring Maisy and all of her pals. Maisy and her friends love music - and so do her fans. Interactive pull tabs and a 3D stage scene make this Maisy presentation boogie-woogie. Launch date: September 2012.

Budding geographers will love to immerse themselves in this fun, bright, fact-packed first atlas with lots of detailed illustrations. Each continent has its own spread, with pop-ups, flaps, booklets, and sturdy pull-tabs introducing the world’s countries, inhabitants, and famous landmarks. Launch date: September 2012.

Moshi love to dress up and love to be seen. At first glance, all Moshi look the same - but look again, and you’ll see they’re all different. In these activity books, help Strawberry Moshi and her friends do puzzles and activities like: search and find coloring, spot the difference, mazes, connect the dots, design your own Moshi, and a page of more than twenty stickers. Launch date: August 2012.

Moshi love to dress up and love to be seen. At first glance, all Moshi look the same - but look again, and you’ll see they’re all different. In these activity books, help Strawberry Moshi and her friends do puzzles and activities like: search and find coloring, spot the difference, mazes, connect the dots, design your own Moshi, and a page of more than twenty stickers. Launch date: September 2012.

First read this beautifully detailed pop-up book, then unfold it to transform it into a 3D farmyard landscape playmat, with stand-up cardboard animals and a tractor that kids can move all around the farm. A unique novelty book that folds away again in its own box. Launch date: September 2012.

Prepare to find: A striking new jacketed cover, an original poster on the underside of the jacket, a spot-the-difference game between the jacket and the self-cover designs, a gatefold with a new visual checklist on every spread, a never-before-seen section of artwork revealed on every spread, and new things to search for. Launch date: September 2012.

Jane Ray’s layered cut-paper artwork elegantly retells the time-honored tale of a scullery maid turned royalty. Six meticulously detailed tableaux include a shabby kitchen, a gorgeous nightscape in a magical garden, and a sparkling ballroom filled with nobles, as well as Cinderella’s iconic gilded pumpkin coach. Side panels unfold to reveal the story’s text and evoke an evening at the theater. Little girls who dream of fairy godmothers will adore this unique portrayal of the world’s most famous princess - no glass slippers required. Launch date: September 2012.