March 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Made from durable rubber, this textured, heavy-duty ball may be used on the playground or in the gym.  The 7”-diameter ball sports whimsical illustrations of dinosaurs, as well as their names. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, the rubber used to make this ball contains no PVC, latex or vinyl.
— When asked about the best-selling sports items in her Fort Collins, Colo., store, Dandelion Toys owner Jenny Bramhall told TDmonthly, “Playground balls by Crocodile Creek.” Retailers reported sales averaging about six per month of playground balls.
— Seven percent of 60 retailers interviewed by TDmonthly during a March 2009 survey regarding sports and outdoor toys listed play balls as their top sellers in this category.

Designed especially for beginning kite fliers, the colorful Bird of Paradise from Premier Kites features a durable but lightweight fiberglass frame, and strong, bright ripstop nylon. Kids can send this graceful avian into clear skies on winds between 6 and 20 mph with the included 300’ of 50-lb Dacron kite string. The string comes on a plastic handle, and the kite is packaged in a reusable carry case.
— Thirteen percent of 60 retailers surveyed in March 2009 listed kites as their best-selling outdoor or sports toy, with sales of between six and a dozen per month.

There are over 1,400 standard baby names available for this license plate collection, with options for special names as well.
— These license plates were named as a top-10 best seller at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in early 2009, according to Owner Molly McMullin. “Families of tourists love them for souvenirs. We had them printed with ‘Twirl-Taos, NM,” she told TDmonthly. “Kids love to see their name on products, and people think they’re a great tie-on for packages. A fellow toy-store owner encouraged me to bring these in, and I am grateful for the advice.”
— “We always sell a bunch of those,” said Molly McMullin, owner of Twirl in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., of her top-selling personalized item, Blue Sabre License Plates.
— Two of 44 storeowners said License Plates from Blue Sabre are their most-wanted personalized item during a September 2010 survey conducted by TDmonthly.

These one-of-a-kind, handmade fabric friends are fair trade and stand 1.5" tall. They feature large mouths and variety of colorful designs.

This sled is available in assorted colors and measures 22” x 14” x 2”.
— Sleds from ERA Group in Canada were good sellers at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M. in late 2008. “We had some great snow over the holidays!” Owner Molly McMullin told TDmonthly.

This wooden sword may be used for hours of pretend play. It measures 29”long.
— Wooden swords were among the top-10 best sellers at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in early 2009, Owner Molly McMullin told TDmonthly.

This balance trainer can be used for both fun and serious workouts. It is designed to help develop balance, coordination and increased leg strength, while helping with core fitness. It’s may serve as a good cross trainer for a variety of sports.
— The Indo Board was a best seller for Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in February 2009, according to Owner Molly McMullin. “We got these balance boards in for the holidays because our local ski area just began this year allowing snowboarding, and these are great training tools,” she said. “They’re definitely for older kids and adults, but were a hit for the hard-to-buy preteens around.”

These bouncy balls are filled with glitter that shakes and swirls as they move. They come in assorted colors.
— These balls were on the top-10 best-seller list at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in February 2009. “We brought these in last year after I saw them at MOMA, and they’ve been a best seller ever since,” Owner Molly McMullin told TDmonthly. “People love that they look like crystal balls, and seem fragile, but you can bounce them.”

Classical pull toys encourage kids to walk. This colorful pull toy is designed to grab children´s attention. It is tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

Preparing your children for school is so important today, you´ll want to give them the best start possible. Combining colorful fun and learning and designed for little ones age three and over, this whimsical case contains everything your child needs to begin learning the alphabet and numbers. Your little one can draw and write on the white board or create words and numbers with the 52 wood letters and 10 wood numbers. And, when you are ready to pick up, the pieces fit nicely in the attractive case, featuring a contemporary smiling cow. Tested to meet European and U.S. afety standards. THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED since July 1, 2010.

Healthy imagination is part of any happy childhood. Designed for toddlers 24 months and older, this high quality, colorful and attractive puppet theater will help your little one create new worlds while feeling good about putting on a show for Mom & Dad. This brightly colored set features 4 wood Boikido stick puppets and a theatre with electronic sounds. The thoughtful design includes a handle so you can take your young one´s show on the road. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED since July 1, 2010.

Winner of 2009 Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award!
This environmental friendly wooden turtle is made of wood from FSC monitored source, painted with water based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials and printed with soy bean ink. Parents and gift givers will be proud to have made an environmental friendly purchase. This whimsically painted Tina The Turtle is happy to help kids to figure out how things fit together. Just the right size for little hands, the three colorful pieces of Tina’s shell nest inside each other – a terrific activity to improve motor skills and get your tiny tot thinking. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

Winner of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2009! Building hand-eye coordination is an exciting part of being a toddler. Designed for children 18 months and older, this unique and colorful bead maze features a nautical theme, with two wire bead coasters and a maze – featuring a fun whale and boat to spur your little one’s imagination. Children love to play with these toys in doctors’ offices and waiting rooms – now you can have one at home. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

The Work-Home Collection offers both Worktown Mat™ and Hometown Mat™, offering a variety of fun platforms to support kids' imagination of work and home life. Launch date: April 2009.

Now more than 10 years old, PlasmaCar continues to intrigue and fascinate with millions of units sole and multiple awards in over sixty countries worldwide. Just sit, put your feet up, and turn the steering wheel to propel yourself forward up to 6 mph on any smooth, flat surface. With a maximum weight capacity of 220 lbs., even parents and grandparents have experienced a giggle by taking it for a spin. Made from state-of-the-art, high-quality ABS plastics, this kid-powered, durable, ride-on vehicle comes in a variety of colors.
— “I can't believe how many of these I sell,” remarked Jacque Flagg, owner of Jacque’s Inc. in Bryan, Texas. In a March 2009 survey, Flagg reported sales of around 20 per month.
— In spring 2009, 41 percent of 60 retailers listed PlasmaCar as a best-selling ride-on in their stores, reporting sales of a dozen per month on average.
Awards: 2012 Parents Choice Awards Recommended, 2009 Green Parents List Check Mark, 2009 DisneyFamily.com Top Action Figures and Toys for Toddlers, 2009+2008+2005 The National Parenting Centre Seal of Approval, 2008 iParenting Media Toy Award, 2008 Fat Brain Toy Award Active Play, 2006 TIA Outdoor Toy of the Year - Specialty Toy of the Year, 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, 2005 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, 2005 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Products, 2005 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, 2001 International Patent Fair, Hong Kong Gold Medal

The inflatable toy floats on water, with an open head cavity for swimmers to place their head. There are two handles under the toy for gripping the two squirt guns. Other available varieties include turtle, killer whale, helmet and more. Launch date: January 2008.

This Bumble Bee costume includes a lycra leotard and organza tutu. Wings and headpiece are included. The costume is available in sizes XSC, SC and MC. Launch date: May 31, 2009.

The So Sweet dress features a stretch velvet bodice and glitter mesh over a satin inset, plus tulle over the organza skirt. It is available in sizes XSC, SC, MC and LC. "Our award-winning products have been proudly manufactured in the USA for over 15 years and use the finest fabrics and trims to create truly sophisticated dress up apparel," Renee Stojek, marketing director for A Wish Come True, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

All Purpose Mats serve as a cutting board, placemat and workstation in one. There are four educational mats: three feature a country from the Handstand Kids Cookbook series and the fourth illustrates a kitchen scene. Maps of Italy, Mexico and China are featured along with language translations of cooking utensils and foods used in the Handstand Kids’ recipes (the Mexican map border shows an apple and below is the Spanish translation “manzana”). These lightweight and durable mats are dishwasher safe and phthalate free. "There is no other multi-purposed item like this on the market. The mats educate kids on geography [and] language, and empower them in the kitchen to have their own work space," Yvette Garfield, creator of Handstand Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.

The Handstand Kids Chinese Cookbook kit features easy-to-learn recipes, such as The Great Wall of Chicken Lettuce Wraps, while teaching about the Great Wall of China; and Kung Pow! (Kung Pao Tofu), which shows characters doing karate. The Handstand Kids Chinese Cookbook introduces readers to the Mandarin language and comes in an adorable takeout box with a pair of child-friendly chopsticks. "The Chinese Cookbook introduces kids to the language, culture, and food of China in a delicious and healthy way! Children learn about new countries while gaining cooking skills that will assist them in being healthy and interested in the world around them," Yvette Garfield, creator of Handstand Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Players race to get rid of the cards in their hands by creating sets and runs in the middle of the table. Don’t have the right cards? No problem — grab from a set or run already on the table, or play your cards on any existing set or run. It's "the fastest Rummy game available," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 15, 2009.
Awards: 2009 Major Fun

Force Play capsulizes the excitement and strategy of baseball: Run or hold up? Steal or play it safe? Pitch to the slugger or walk him? While taking only five minutes to learn and 20 minutes to play, Force Play is a fast and fun way to enjoy the game of baseball indoors. "Force Play is the funnest and easiest baseball board game ever made, incorporating real play-action decisions in a fluid format that allows for three exciting innings in only 20 minutes. This game has been tested extensively on baseball players and non-baseball players alike [and] on gamers and non-gamers alike, and the consensus is the same — it's exciting, easy and launches you into the thrill of baseball immediately," Riley Drake, president and inventor of Force Play LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 8, 2009.

This kit includes printed cotton canvas, a doll pattern, scissors, needle, thread and stuffing so that kids can make their own dolly. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2009.

Where to Buy: Creative Kidstuff

Kids can make eyewear fun, fashionable and fresh with Ficklets charm huggers. They're versatile and are made to be easy to attach and remove. With a wide selection of designs, kids can mix and match depending on their interest, outfit or mood. "Ficklets is the first and original interchangeable/removable charm hugger or adornment for eyeglass frames," President and Founder Ros Guerrero of Ficklets LLC told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2007.