March 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Tooth Rad Dog is one of 4 styles…each style in 2 sizes. These funky mongrels come with attitude!

Noser Rad Dog is one of 4 styles…each style in 2 sizes. These funky mongrels come with attitude!

One of 4 styles of large dogs, 3 styles in mini Quilti Dogs..a bouquet of fresh flower fabrics, hand picked for Quiltis.

A working purse in the shape of an animal, made of the newest designer prints with zipper enclosure, side pocket, and shoulder strap.

The object of this double-play puzzle is to remove the ring. It can be solved in one way, then turned over, hanging vertically, to be solved differently. Launch date: 2009.

In this game of geographical hop-scotch, two to seven players take turn drawing one of the 48 cards of the contiguous United States, toss the beanbag onto that state in three chances, and then hop across the 33-square-foot map, naming each state hopped on and retrieving the beanbag. The game includes instructions in both English and Spanish and can be played in teams.

Suitable for children in grades K through 4, this activity book covers basic geometry through exercises that include drawing shapes of animals and more advanced practice in shape analysis and logic.

Designed to encourage communication and self-expression, FAMILY MATTERS challenges players to do funny things, share stories, learn trivia, and resolve 140 "Fake Family Crises" as they take turns driving through town toward the finish line (aka the Weekend Wish) for some post-game family fun of the winner's choosing.

Made in the United States and available in pink, purple and green, this eco-friendly jump rope features 7' rope that's adjustable and made of 100-percent cotton, and handles made from recycled plastic. Launch date: 2009.

Made in the USA of recycled plastic milk jugs, this tool kit includes flat and Phillips screwdrivers, a wrench, pliers, a hammer, a saw, and two each of nails, bolts, nuts and two-hole connectors. The environmentally friendly set also includes a tool box for storage of the toys. Launch date: 2009.

Past Videos: ASTRA 2009

This set of flash cards for students in grades 3 through 8 is designed to help develop understanding of the order of operations and fact practice by allowing students to decide which operation needs to be answered first to solve a problem. Each card features a math problem on one side and the solving process on the other. The deck includes 105 flash cards, an instructional guide, games and extension activities. Launch date: February 2009.

This bright, chic bracelet for moms also serves as a teether and toy for babies. "Oh Plah" means "Here you go" in French. The flexible bracelet is free from phthalates, lead, paints, latex, PVC and BPAs. Simplicity (shown), Energy (green) and Harmony (navy) styles are available. Launch date: March 2009.

This small collectible is handmade out of polymer clay and even features a tiny spider on the base. It measures 2" to 3" tall, and no two are alike.

This premier collection of Bella Sara minis features small, velvety horse figurines that come with a stand for display. Each miniature comes with a checklist and a bonus code that gives the user an virtual statue for her cottage online at the Bella Sara website. The figurines may also be used as pieces for a board game. Launch date: March 2009; Series 2: October 2009.

This cuddly plush cow is part of the Zoo Crew collection of 14" stuffed animals. Others in the line include a horse, pink pig, monkey and panda bear. Launch date: 2009.

The Kettrike Happy Plus Surfer features a four-position Quik-Adjust frame, a three-in-one auto-freewheel system for pedaling, braking and coasting, limited turn-radius steering, a handlebar mounted storage bag, a dual-wheel rear handbrake, and a chrome-plated pushbar. "The Surfer trike has a lifetime warranty on the main 'D' tube frame and a five- year warranty on the paint against fading or rusting," Heather McGlothlin, national sales manager for KETTLER International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 20, 2009.

The Kettrike Happy Plus Baustelle features a four-position Quik-Adjust frame, a three-in-one auto freewheel design to pedal, brake, and coast, four-position adjustable ergonomic highback seat, limited turn-radius steering, a handlebar-mounted storage bag, an LCD fender light and a dual-wheel rear handbrake. "The Baustelle has a lifetime warranty on the main "D" Tube Frame and a five-year warranty on the paint against fading or rusting," Heather McGlothlin, national sales manager for KETTLER International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 20, 2008.

The Kettrike Alana features a four-position telescoping frame, a four-position, adjustable, high-back seat, a high carbon steel frame with a fade-resistant polyester powder coat finish, limited turn-radius steering, and a low center of gravity to help prevent tipping. It also has synthetic MaxXtread™ tires for a smooth and quiet ride. "KETTLER German-made tricycles all have a five-step paint process with an anti-rust coating. [This] allows for the tricycles to have a five-year warranty against fading or rusting," Heather McGlothlin, national sales manager for KETTLER International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This scooter features an eight-position, adjustable handlebar, a synthetic MaxXtread™ front tire for a smooth and quiet ride, EVA foam rear tires, a rear footbrake and an extra-wide footplate. Weight capacity is 100 lbs. "The KETTLER® Scooter Prinzessin comes with a lifetime warranty on the main 'd' tube frame, [and] also has a five-year warranty on the paint against fading. It is coated inside and outside with an anti-rust coating," Heather McGlothlin, national sales manager for KETTLER International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 10, 2009.

These digital timing bookmarks allow kids to track their nightly reading homework minutes for school or for the summer library reading programs. The bookmark now includes a 60-second timer for fluency checks. "Its unique, patented design allows for both count-up and count-down timing and removes the dreaded, 'Am I done yet?' from the nightly homework routine. The bookmark's price point makes it an ideal add-on sale for the specialty retail market," Owner Maureen Farinella of Mark-My-Time told TDmonthly. It has received the following awards: iParenting Media, National Parenting Center, Mr. Dad, Teachers' Choice, Family Review Center, Creative Child Magazine, and Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom. Launch date: February 17, 2009.

This certified, 100-percent organic cotton yoyo doll is handmade by fair trade artisans in India. This is the classic yoyo doll made for decades by grandmas, updated for the green community. "It's so difficult and time consuming to make this doll that it can only be made by hand. Yoyo dolls have been childhood favorites for generations," Jenny Krauss, president of Kinderware, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

You may look at Winkolina and say, "There goes a really plain, regular, every day looking Ugly." But on the inside, Winkolina is an adventure waiting to happen, which is funny because she sees that in you, too. Winkolina thinks you have nothing but action and adventure locked away, way deep down! Is she right? Are you ready to show the world what you've really got going on in there? Winkolina has six cookies, an apple and 11 tacos in there. What about you? Launch date: April 2009.
— “All of the Uglydolls do well. We sell about five a week,” said Jeanette Lauture, owner of Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., when asked about her best-selling plush toys in spring 2009.
— “We sell lots of plush, but as a single group or vendor, Uglydoll is at the top,” Sallie Kashiwa, owner of Timbuk Toys in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly in May 2009.
— Twenty-one percent of 43 retailers surveyed in May 2009 said Uglydolls are best-selling plush items in their stores.

Fea Bea: The Ugly Stick. Ugly Sticks are sort of the perfect sidekicks to have with you at all times in the Uglyverse. They are there for you. Feeling sad? Ugly Sticks will knock that right out of you. Happy now? No, wait ... feeling really ugly? Good! Ugly means unique! Anyone can retouch a photo to look beautiful, but you can't fake ugly. Launch date: March 2009.

This is a very special UGLYVERSE EDITION UGLYDOLL. These limited versions are produced only for one year. "Artist created, UGLYDOLLS inspire creativity/individuality [and] appeal to both genders and kids of all ages," Karen Laureigh of Pretty Ugly LLC told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.
— Uglydolls are top sellers at Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M., Owner Shana Hack told TDmonthly in summer 2009.