March 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

From the sustainably-minded Plan Toys company comes a dollhouse built with many of the latest advances in green engineering in mind. The house itself is made out of recycled rubberwood accented with safe vegetable dyes for color. It includes a retractable canopy wall made from organic cotton, a wind turbine, solar panels and recycling bins. The house is available furnished and unfurnished. Launch date: 2009.
— Plan products were named as best sellers at Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., in March 2009. “They’re eco-friendly and beautifully designed and made,” Owner Patricia Fiedler told TDmonthly.

Snap Caps® are the original, interchangeable, magnetic bottle cap necklace.  This collection of Snap Caps offer designs for the girl rock star, from images of zebra stripes to hot pink iPods.

Snap Caps® are the original, interchangeable, magnetic bottle cap necklace.  This collection of Snap Caps are based off of common chat phrases, both in normal speech conversation as well as text speech.

Snap Caps® are the original, interchangeable, magnetic bottle cap necklace.  This collection of Snap Caps include letters of the alphabet with a swirl theme.

This 4"-diameter ball features not only the colorful, clutchable design of the original Oball, but is also outfitted with beads that add a rattling dimension to the product when shaken.
— These spherical rattles have been consistent best sellers for over a year at Pufferbellies in Staunton, Va., as reported by Co-owner Susan Blanton in September 2009.

This handmade bookend features a faux leather exterior and is heavily weighted with a filling of natural cotton and iron filings. It measures about 8" x 10" and comes in a non-woven drawstring bag.

Create a masterpiece with sand! Four 8x10 pre-cut designs of some famous paintings (Mona Lisa, Gleaners, Bedroom at Arles, and Still Life with Apples). Just peel off a piece of the design and apply your choice of 14 colored sands. Biographies of each artist included. Features four 8x10 pictures, fourteen easy-to-pour tubes of colored sand, two 8x10 cardboard frames to finish your masterpiece, museum-quality carrying box, and colored biography sheet of the artists and their works.

ArtiSands Mini Nature kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Parrots, Fish, Butterflies, and Lizards). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns,
sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

ArtiSands Mini Geometric kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand in vivid colors and eight (8) geometric pre-cut Sandesigns (circles, squares, stars, and composites). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x5 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.
Watch Video from Pomona 2009

ArtiSands Mini Dinosaur kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Brontosaurus, T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

Featuring forest characters and available in three designs (Jean-Pierre, shown; Droolie; and Fei-Fei), this backpack has faux-fur straps and sides, plus one interior pocket. It measures 9" x 12" x 5.5".

This handcrafted, wooden pull toy is made by artisans in India and features coloring provided by natural vegetable dye. The turtle's shell rotates as the toy is pulled along. It measures 5" x 5" x 4.5".

Written by Rudyard Kipling and read unabridged by Jim Weiss. With vivid characters and an hysterically funny choice of words, Rudyard Kipling’s beloved stories “explain” how camels got humps, great whales got tiny throats, elephants got trunks and more. These time-tested classics cause us to look at accepted qualities in new and creative ways, and even better, make us laugh out loud. With his menagerie of voices and warm, witty narrative presence, Jim Weiss brings Kipling’s own words to life. The result is a wondrously charming recording that is certain to become an all-time favorite for listeners of all ages.

Written by Charles Dickens and told by Jim Weiss, this masterful, historical novel is set in Paris and London during the stormy upheavals of the French Revolution. Combining adventure and a moving personal story, it tells of Lucie Manette, daughter of a hero of the Revolution, who loves Charles Darnay, an aristocrat who sympathizes with the poor. When revolutionaries seize Charles, only Englishman, Sydney Carton, can save him. But here too, we run into complication and intrigue! Shaping his telling for the entire family, Jim Weiss gives us Dickens’ unforgettable heroes, remorseless villains and thrilling plot twists to make A Tale of Two Cities a classically memorable, dramatic presentation.

These uproarious American folk stories will have you laughing out loud and pondering. You'll meet Paul Bunyan, taller than the trees and mightier than the rivers; Johnny Appleseed, whose gentle generosity make him a beloved legend; and Pecos Bill, whose outrageous Texas-sized exploits make him the greatest of all cowboys. There's even one of Jim's own tales, a tongue-twisting, hilarious tale of the Old West. The entire family will listen to this recording over and over again.

Filled with laughter, tragedy and astonishing triumphs, this storytelling biography will entertain and inspire listeners as they experience touching personal moments, Lincoln's famous wit, great ethical issues, military battles, and the complete Gettysburg Address. With vivid descriptions of Lee, Grant, Stephen Douglas, Mary Todd Lincoln, Frederick Douglas and more, one will remember anew why Abraham Lincoln holds a special place in our history and in our hearts. Approximately 70 Minutes.

The VRC Helicopter features a controller that looks like a real helicopter joystick offering flight control simulation using virtual radio control. Pull the trigger to soar, tilt for left and right for direction and tilt down for safe landings. Total digital proportion control. 2 channel operation. The helicopter can fly for 10 minutes on a single charge.

The VRC MicroFighter features a controller that looks like a real cockpit joystick offering flight control simulation using virtual radio control. Pull the trigger to soar, tilt for left and right control. 2 channel operation. The MicroFighter can fly for 10 minutes on a single charge.

Hunt or be hunted with the Duck Hunter. Launch the duck in the air and try to hunt it down with the toy shooter as it flies freely in the air. The i-Fly Duck Hunter offers an interactive infrared battle between bird and player. Free flights can be up to 30 secords or more with realistic wing flapping. Takes 3 direct hits to bring down the duck. A 10 second charge equates to 30 seconds of free flight.

This ready to fly indoor RC helicopter offers a stable and precise flight with its patented coaxial design and infrared technology. Ascend, descend, turn left and turn right with a constant forward speed. Charging directly from the transmitter, the lithium polymer battery allows for extended flight times.

This 500-piece starter kit includes enough components for the construction of 12 lineal elevated feet of monorail track. It also comes with a powered engine and a car to ride the rail and weather 30-degree grades.

This machine-washable, neoprene lunch bag has two interior mesh pockets and is designed to both cushion and insulate its contents. It stands upright and features wide zipper openings and an easy-to-grip, cushioned handle.

Combining a mesh porthole and quick-drying neoprene, this organizer protects kids' bath toys from mildew by allowing them to dry, and keeps them in an easy-to-reach, stylish location. It is available in orange and sky blue. Four suction cups on the back allow the bag to stay put on a tile or glass surface. The two hangers at the top may be used for placing scrubs or washcloths. The product is free of BPA and phthalates.