March 2009 New Specialty Toys — American-Made

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.

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

The Red Bolt Cape is elegant and durable. Each satin cape is lined with supersoft velvet chamois (made from recycled plastic bottles) and adorned with a retro-cool handsewn wool felt applique. The high neckline has a one-size-fits-all snap closure. It includes a drawstring bag, perfect for tucking away secret identities. Available in various styles, and two sizes, the cape starts at $18. It is handcrafted in San Francisco. Launch date: March 2009.

Jingle Blocks were created with baby's love for discovery and touch in mind. Soft and visually interesting prints are appliqued with felt stars, and a gently chiming bell is securely placed in the center of each block. Other applique options include letters and numbers. Other fabrics are also available. The product is made in Vermont. "The Jingle Blocks combine old-world quality with design that appeals to modern parents. There is a special magic about toys such as these blocks, that are handmade in small batches by artisans who love thier work. They are intended to be lasting heirlooms, cherished by many generations," Cecilia Leibovitz, president and creative director of Craftsbury Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 15, 2009.

The Vamos Kids product line is designed to introduce the Spanish language to toddlers and preschoolers through the use of toys and audio CDs while interacting with a parent. Launch date: November 2008.

Follow history in the making with our 44th President. Each card in this 510-card deck identifies an actual campaign promise made by Obama, and provides background information on the impact of the promise. This deck is an ideal starting point for lively debates, discussions and classroom activities. Compiled by reporters and researchers at Politifact.com, this deck can be used interactively to track the progress of each promise. It is made in the USA. Launch date: March 2008.

This no-stress optical illusion coloring activity captivates all ages, has global appeal, and is ideal for mixed boy and girl groups. The activity is easy to assemble, totally child safe, and made in the USA. Each Party Fun Pack for 8 Children contains eight morphed placemat coloring pages with colorable borders, eight Morph-O-Scope mirror decoders, and eight bonus morph activities. Activity time is about 30 to 45 minutes. Retail cost per child is about $2. The Princess Pony Party Fun Pack meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards. Pirate and Halloween themes are also available.

Available in blue and purple, this play sand has a unique texture and almost lifelike quality. It is dustless, non-stain, eco-friendly, and safe for kids, and may even be used in reptile habitats. The product is made in the USA. Launch date: February 2009.

Part of a collection designed to introduce children to Spanish in a fun way, this set of five vehicles (car, truck, airplane, boat and bus) bearing their names in Spanish as well as the phonetic pronunciation. It also comes with a CD that has the pronunciation and activity phrases. Launch date: 2009.

Muu, the new children’s furniture line created by Robert Kwak, is inspired by the Zen concept of Mu, which teaches that there is no difference between us and our environment. This modern crib  can be tailored to your personal taste. A centerpiece that is safe, comfortable, and elegant, it will become a family heirloom. Make it your own with a custom MuuPanel® … which is a snap to change for baby number two … or three. Made in the USA, the Sam Crib features fixed side rails for greater stability, three-level adjustable mattress position, easily converts to toddler bed with Sam Toddler Conversion Kit, fits standard 28" x 52" full-size crib mattress (not included), made of solid maple, poplar and recycled wood fiber MDF, white non-toxic lacquer finish, easy assembly.  Launch date: February 2009.

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

Late for the Sky's City games serve as great connections to preserving both the memory of home and the excitement of going somewhere new. Whether as a souvenir or homesickness cure, all the familiar places are there. And if players are living in the city the game is designed around, it’s fun playing with places they can see out their window. "We chose some favorite landmarks and traditions, mixed in some Rocky Mountains, professional sports, music, a great big amphitheater, and some BIG FUN ... and voilà [vwä lä] -behold; Denver-OPOLY!" Carla Miller of Late for the Sky Production Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.

This 18" x 24" wall art reflects a skateboarder's mantra — EAT, SLEEP, SKATE. It is ready to hang and made in the USA. Launch date: November 2008.

This 36" x 24" ready to hang picture depicts a yellow NY taxi cab fashioned from an Empire State license plate. The image is available in several presentation styles: Contemporary Mount (with beveled edge), Creative Canvas Wrap, Framed Canvas, Gallery Framed, Heritage Framed and Art Block Mounted. It is made in the USA. Launch date: November 2008.

Winner of 19 educational toy awards, the Circus Kit offers hours of unique optical illusion eye-hand coordination fun and independent play in reasoning and art. Kids find and crayon morphed shapes on distorted coloring pages to make color appear in the right place in the circus cartoon reflections. Challenges include completing the morphed drawing, sketching your own morph, navigating a morphed maze, completing a morphed connect the dots, predicting a reflection, and more. The activities help develop logic and perception skills, flex problem-solving mental muscles, exercise fine motor control, test spatial intelligence, and spark imagination and creativity. The Circus Kit contains 32 morphed circus coloring pages activities, two mirror-perfect Morph-O-Scopes (easy assembly), 16 non-toxic crayons, a Circus Kit Enrichment Guide for extra learning value, and instructions in English, Spanish and French — all in a portable “desk" convenient for travel. The activities engage boys and girls, kids, tweens, teens and adults, as they have universal, cross-cultural appeal. The Circus Kit is made in the USA and meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards. Launch date: November 24, 2008.

This hand-gilded scrapbook is made with eco- and photo-friendly Kraft pages and insert sleeves that are free of acid. Decoupage is used to apply the picture to the front of the album, where it is framed in acrylic and then sealed. Each scrapbook accommodates from 100 to 300 4" x 6" or 5" x 7" photos. "Our products are handmade in the USA by fine expert artisans with the utmost care," CEO Helena Honovich of Terra Traditions told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 15, 2008.

Each Softdough Play Set includes the following: four, 4-oz. tubs of Softdough (in colors red, blue, green and yellow), a hardwood rolling pin and 11 cookie cutters (turtle, frog, squirrel, dragonfly, moon, star, sun, leaf, butterfly, heart and cloud).

KidsRuler was created by a veteran elementary school teacher, who noticed that students consistently struggled with using the standard ruler to learn the beginning concepts of measurement. KidsRuler was created to help students visualize the increments of measurement, and give them a fun way to practice their skills. The KidsRuler helps students master the NCTM standards of measurement. They also connect together to allow kids to measure real-life objects, such as a desk or chair.
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TRIVIATHON... fast-paced trivia for smart AND stupid people! Triviathon will have players singing, dancing, arm wrestling, cheering, cheating, and more as they compete in a game that puts each player's  cognitive, physical, and social skills to the test, while they try to win a race moving at speeds of 0, 1, 2, or 3 spaces based on trivia questions they don’t even have to know the answers to. Made in the USA, this game is designed for 2 to 12 players. Triviathon has received the following awards: Creative Child Magazine’s 2009 Game of the Year; PTPA Media 2009; iParenting Media Award 2009; The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2009, NAPPA Honors 2009; and Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009.
— "A trivia game that you can win without having to know the answers.  Now some of us might agree that that is our kind of trivia game.  Super fun and fast paced.  A great choice for family game night.  My own children are going to love this game!!" Jennifer Shuman, of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

Past videos: Toy Fair 2009

The Sports of All Sorts Kit optical illusion eye-hand challenges provide hours of independent, brain-powered, sit-down sports fun. Kids find and crayon morphed shapes on distorted coloring pages to make color appear in the right place in the sports cartoon reflections. They complete the morphed picture, create their own morphed drawing, navigate a morphed maze, connect the dots, predict a reflection, and more. The activities help develop logic and perception skills, flex problem-solving mental muscles, exercise fine motor control, test spatial intelligence, and spark imagination and creativity. The kit contains 32 coloring page activities (“Soccer” is shown), two mirror-perfect Morph-O-Scopes (easy assembly), 16 non-toxic crayons, a Sports Kit Enrichment Guide to maximize learning, and instructions in English, Spanish and French — all in a portable “desk” convenient for travel. The activities engage boys and girls, kids, tweens, teens and adults, as they have universal, cross-cultural appeal. The Sports of All Sorts Kit is made in the USA and meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards. It's the second Morph-O-Scopes Kit offered by OOZ & OZ, whose Circus Kit earned 19 national educational toy awards.
The Sports of All Sorts Kit has received the following awards and honors: 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products,  a “Recommended” endorsement from the National Association for Gifted Children, 2009 The Toy Man Editors Choice Award, 2009 The Toy Man Award of Excellence, and 2009 The Toy Man Seal of Approval.  “No other products on the market use OOZ & OZ's exclusive technology or have earned as many toy honors," Myrna Hoffman, managing director and chief morphologist of OOZ & OZ, told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 13, 2008.

The Belly Bandit is an abdominal compression wrap for post-pregnant women. It is designed to help reduce the swelling of the uterus, decrease bloating caused by water retention, support the legs and back, and provide additional support for breast-feeding Moms. Tagless, latex-free, and comfortable under all clothing, the Belly Bandit also helps constrict the skin to help minimize stretch marks. Launch date: May 2008.

The 2009 SummerMuff InfantMuff is a 100-percent organic, lightweight, sun-blocking muff for infant carriers and car seats. Its patented design fits most three- and five-point harness systems and comes in three colors. The larger SummerMuff StrollerMuff fits strollers and joggers. The InfantMuff protects baby's skin from UVA/UVB rays using certified UPF50 fabric, and from scratchy synthetic fabrics in strollers by lining them with jersey cotton. Launch date: August 2008.