June 2012 New Specialty Toys — Preschool

A day at the park. A ride on Daddy's back. Run, Daddy! Faster! Faster! How fast can Daddy go? Faster than a dog? A horse? How about a cheetah? Must his feet even touch the ground? Leslie Patricelli reprises the duo from Higher! Higher! in another humorous riff on a favorite pastime - a laugh-out-loud-funny tale of few words about doting dads and high-energy kids whose imaginations know no bounds.

With touch and feels for little paws. Noodle loves to eat all sorts of things. With bumpy peas and shiny cheese, this is sure to encourage even the fussiest of eaters. 10 pages. Illustated by Marion Billet.

A small papery bundle hangs under a leaf by a silken thread. Can you guess what it will be one day? Butterflies, polar bears, turtles, frogs, birds - they all have a fascinating life journey to follow. Peek under each large flap and look at colorful spreads to find out how each animal develops. A final spread invites readers to match each full grown creature with its beginning stage. Illustrated by Marc Boutavant. 24 pages.

A bunny is furry and breathes air. Who else is like that - a pigeon, a fish, a chameleon, or a fox? Some animals have fins to swim with, some have feathers and a beak, some have skin that is scaly, or smooth and wet. But whatever features a creature has, someone else has them, too. Can you guess who? Big flaps and a matching spread at the end make animal classification fun. Illustrated by Marc Boutavant. 24 pages.

How do you feel? Sometimes you feel happy, sometimes sad. At times you feel curious, but that may be followed by feeling...surprised. And of course you feel bored or lonely once in a while as well. With spare words and simple, graphic illustrations, quintessential chimp renderer Anthony Browne draws on insight and humor to reassure children with an exploration of the varied emotions they experience. What better feeling than opening a new book from Anthony Browne? A simple look at familiar emotions for the very young. 32 pages.

Tallulah is having a sleepover, and Maisy is invited. So is Tallulah's new friend, Ella. Every moment is packed with fun as the friends talk, dance, giggle, and play together. After a tasty supper and lots of games, all three get ready for bed, and Maisy reads a story. Is everyone finally tired? With this anything-but-sleepy storybook, children new to sleepovers and seasoned pros alike can enjoy an overnight visit with Maisy and her pals. Good night, Maisy. Good night, everyone. Join Maisy on her very first sleepover. Friends and games, yummy food and funny dancing - it's hard to feel anything but wide awake.

The all-in-one pillow, comforter and attached fleece blanket just for kids who take naps. Can be monogrammed.

What should we buy today? Transport whatever fits in this pint-size carrier. Shopping Cart is from the Playfully Delicious range of the Hape Collection.  Measuring 16.85”L x 11.81“W x 19.84”H, Shopping Cart is age graded for children 3 Years +. The toy is beautifully crafted of FSC certified wood from sustainable forests and colored with safe water based paint. Launch date: July 2012.

Now youngsters can take pegging to a whole new level of excitement when playing with this versatile building set that combines popular Tall-Stacker Pegs with Mighty Monkey Pegs. Kids can stack colorful pegs and create different configurations for their monkeys to play. Use the included monkey figurines to swing from a vine, zoom down the slide or ride the elevator basket — with the Tall-Stacker Mighty Monkey Playset, the thrills are endless. "The Tall-Stacker Mighty Monkey Playset encourages free-form building and role-play, while fostering creativity and imagination," Mary Dolan, public relations coordinator for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

The fun of matching and the challenge of puzzles. There are puzzles and there are memory games...but only Puzzle Match™ combines these two timeless play patterns in one unique, patent-pending game designed for kids ages 3 to 6. Puzzle Match offers a unique challenge unlike any traditional memory game: Rather than searching for two identical images, kids have to find two halves of a whole image, such as the bottom and top of a seahorse. Once the interlocking pieces are found, they can be assembled into a giant, beautifully illustrated scene. Launch date: May 2012.

These big shovels are perfect for large scale sand projects at the beach. Shovels are made in the USA. Includes 40 Big Shovels.

This fun sand mold features two towers connected by a castle wall. Castles are made in the USA. Includes 80 Double Castles and 80 Shovels.

This big, soft and cuddly owl makes a great snuggle buddy at home, in the car, or to take along to Grandma's house. The calico patchwork print of fine-wale corduroy, soft cotton and flannel in bright colors, and whimsical eyes appeal to the child in us all. Made by Kathe Kruse of Germany. Some fabrics may vary.

This playful melody maker develops an early interest in music while teaching shape & color recognition. As individual pieces, these colorful blocks allow children to arrange and rearrange to create their very own melodies. When the music is done, nest the blocks together for a quick and easy clean up or stack for a beautiful display.

Made easy for driving trips with adjustable straps for vehicle headrest attachment – this playful ocean-themed mirror features dancing lights, charming characters and classical melodies.  Four play modes: Discovery mode introduces baby to colors and shapes in 3 languages; Lights and melodies; Melodies; Lights only. Adjustable straps for use over most headrests.

An innovative new magnetic, crescent shaped building block. A magnet rolls through each Arx piece, giving any builder the option of building in ways that defy common thought. When the magnetic force between two Arx pieces meets, kids’ll feel the slight click as the magnets adhere. 24 Versatile magnetic pieces. Building base included (optional for building). Launch date: August 2012.

Everything tastes better when you've got the right accessories. These safe and simple toys revolve around food and cooking, to promote realistic role play, and encourage healthy eating. The Apron Set includes an elasticized chef's hat, quilted oven mitt and bright orange-trimmed apron. The mitt and apron fabric is exclusive to Hape.

Have a bedroom fit for a Princess with this whimsical Mirror. Match shapes and colors to create this sparkling piece of room decor. This kit uses bright oversized tiles perfect for the youngest crafters. Launch date: March 2012.

Have a bedroom fit for a Princess with this whimsical Jewelry Box. Match shapes and colors to create this sparkling piece of room decor. This kit uses bright oversized tiles perfect for the youngest crafters. "Each kit contains 4 unique projects to hang and display," Stephanie Carver, marketing manager at The Orb Factory Limited, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2012.
— In a Fall 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Sticky Mosaics were their best selling hobby item.

No kitchen is complete without these basic utensils.  The 13-piece set includes a pot with lid, fry pan, two plates, knives, forks, soup ladle and spatula and salt and pepper shakers that make sounds when shook.

For kids with built up energy. Simply download the Hop-Along with RompyRoo video to an iPad, attach the device to our kid-tuff, universal tablet mount, and watch kids entertain themselves, learn and exercise all at the same time. (Can also be played on DVD player). Both DVD and iPad versions come with the iBounce.

Max loves trucks, mud, candy, and his big sister, Ruby. Ruby loves shopping, tea parties, and helping her little brother, Max. This is an official product from Ty. Look for the familiar heart-shaped tag.
— As of 3/30/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 118 reviews on Amazon.com.

Noah’s Ark Balance Game comes with pairs of brightly painted wooden animals and can be played either cooperatively or competitively by the entire family. Kids learn about weight distribution and how the shape of an object affects where it is able to be balanced. Played against an opponent, kids learn to place animals just so their opponent has difficulty finding a spot for their piece. Pieces are the perfect size for ages 3+. Kids can also work together to see how quickly they can stack all the animals on the rocking ark. Sevi is Europe’s oldest wooden toy company.

The possibilities are endless with the 147-piece Quadrilla Twist and Rail Set. A combination of straight and curved rails and even funnels plus color-coordinated blocks offers a new level of fascination to a build and play toy. Launch date: January 2012.
Awards: 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award; 2007 TDmonthly Top Seller Award; 2007 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award.