July 2009 New Specialty Toys — Educational

This DVD includes six award-winning music videos, a 45-minute live concert, six karaoke videos, an in-depth, behind-the-scenes "Film 101" documentary, and a bonus 45-minute live audio concert CD. Launch date: September 29, 2009.
Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Gold Award; 2009 Independent Music Awards Best DVD of the Year

Girls can make their own bracelets, hair ornaments and flower bouquets with fun snapping blocks in pretty pastel colors. The 260-piece Hobby Kit Flower comes with an instruction guide to make 12 interchangeable models from seven types of blocks. "LaQ is an innovative construction toy block with a patent for the cleverly angled block pieces which allow a child to create flat, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and spherical objects from just seven types of blocks! The infinite possibilities of creating geometrical shapes through play is highly educational and enjoyable for children and adults," Mo Saeki, manager, overseas division, Yoshiritsu Co., told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2009.

These four lightweight, easy to use rollers offer a way to get creative. Children can roll out borders for note paper, party decorations, designs on wrapping paper and anything else that their imagination will allow. Using the circular paint pads or washable tempera paint will yield the best results, along with a shallow pan for the paint and a lesson in holding the handles properly. Each roller is 8.5" long. The themes for this set include teddy bears, butterflies, gingerbread men and frogs. Each design is a different color. Launch date: June 2009.

From the "It's Our Planet" series, this DVD is designed for kids to learn about the animals, people and plants that call this region home. They can discover what a rainforest needs to survive, and how this beautiful natural resource is disappearing. In collaboration with rainforest conservation organizations, One Smart Cookie has compiled an educational and informative DVD that uses imagery and video. "The DVDs in the 'Let's Explore' series and in the 'It's Our Planet' series use a multi-level format to cover background knowledge, as well as appealing to a wide age group (pre-K through age 10). Multi-level learning (or differentiation of instruction) is a critical factor in our children's education. Being able to move at their own pace allows your child to feel a sense of pride as they complete a level and move onto the next. Each level in the 'Let's Explore' series expands on the teachings of the previous level, adding more facts, vocabulary and scientific knowledge," Keli M. DiRisio, CEO of One Smart Cookie Productions, told TDmonthly. It was named a 2009 Dr. Toy Vacation Product of the Year and was a 2009 Gold Award winner in the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA). Launch date: May 2008.

This album boasts a collection of food-themed songs from around the world. Launch date: July 28, 2009.

All four seasons come alive with this collection of 15 original and classic songs and activities. Row, Row Your Boat to a fun adventure, rock around the Mulberry Bush and bounce to a new London Bridges beat. This musical celebration of the seasons will invite listeners into movin', groovin', singing and dancing. Also includes songs for Kwanzaa and Hanukah. Runtime - 49:57

La Di Da La Di Di is designed for dancing. It prompts listeners to start toe tapping, hand clapping, finger snapping, twisting and actively participating as they step and move and groove to these dancing songs. This collection of 12 tunes are set to a variety of contemporary jiving dance beats with interactive partner dances, circle games and activities that encourage socialization skills, making friends and a positive self-image. Other concepts include following directions, listening skills, left/right discrimination, body identification, creative expression, rhyming and so forth. Includes lyrics and movements. For school and home use.  Runtime - 41:11

This collection of 20 interactive songs, dances and activities are designed to motivate children to read, and foster a lifelong love for reading. The Learning Station has chosen some of the most popular children’s books (primarily Caldecott Medalists) and designed movement songs that correlate to each story. Children will be invited to dance and get wild to Maurice Sendak’s, “Where the Wild Things Are”, make something out of nothing with Simms Taback’s, “I Had a Little Overcoat”, learn how to whistle (“Whistle for Willie”), tap dance with Bojangles, count to ten in Swahili and more. Runtime - 63:19

Heritage Alphabet Blocks are classic toys designed to last generations. The solid-wood blocks are oversized, measuring 3” square, and they are all natural, non toxic and 100-percent organic. Each set of 12 blocks features 48 engraved characters, including the numbers 0-9. Heritage Alphabet Blocks come in three finishes: Color, Oil Only and Raw. Each Color Set utilizes real milk paint and a polymerized linseed oil rub. The blocks are made in Bend, Ore. "Promise Brand has made it our No. 1 goal to manufacture wooden products that exceed every toy test imaginable. Our materials set us far and above our competition," Alisha Alway Braatz, manager at Promise Brand LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

A mini Ferris wheel, the Sensation Station has four activities that spin and rotate on a center axis. The toy features the full spectrum of colors to appeal to the well-developed vision of a child 6 months or older. Lots of bold, bright patterns are designed to engage baby visually, too. A bright red bug with high-contrast eyes sends showers of beads in motion as it spins, making a pleasing sound. A cylinder is filled with colorful rattling beads and makes a cheery sound when baby bats at it. A textured disk is split in the middle, allowing the two parts to spin together or independently. Bumpy dots on the ridges invite exploration by finger and mouth. The toy is two-in-one: secured into the wide suction cup base, it is a high chair toy; when removed from the base, baby can grasp the black-and-white-striped, textured handle and play with the toy using both hands. "All the moving parts encourage baby to manipulate, explore and investigate this toy," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant for Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

This mirror allows babies to gaze at their own faces and also encourages parental interaction with baby: “Who is that?” “Look at your happy smile!” “Your eyes are so blue!” The mirror straps on to the handles, placing it at the right height and angle for baby to see his reflection. Two spinning balls, one on each side of the mirror, feature reflective surfaces and bold geometric patterns in high-contrast black and white. A smiling caterpillar in bright colors sits on top of the large mirror. He has a symmetrical smiling face designed to engage and calm baby. "This mirror can be adjusted so that even very young babies can see the patterns, colors and mirror to help develop vision," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2, 2009.

This rattle is designed to catch the eye of even the youngest babies with high-contrast black and white geometric patterns and bold orange and red accents. Like a mini barbell, the rattle has a thin handle with a ball on either end. One side features a black ball with white polka-dots. The other is a clear ball with a rotating disk showing three eye-catching images. These bold visuals encourage baby to track the rattle as eye muscles develop. Three thin rings in tones from yellow to red rattle around the handle. Baby is encouraged to finger these rings and to touch and mouth the raised bumps on the handle to cultivate tactile sensitivity. The toy "provides auditory, visual and tactile stimulation," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant for Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Mark-my-time digital bookmarks in neon blue, green and purple are fun and easy to use. A simple and easy way to monitor reading times for either a countdown session with alarm or cumulative sessions monitoring and storing up to 100 hours of achieved reading time.

This smiling bug is designed to encourage development of communication with textural variety for mouthing. When refrigerated, the squishy, ridged, water-filled upper wings provide cool comfort for teething babies. The bottom wings are bumpy and chewy for added teething enjoyment. Other teethable textures include a smooth, shiny face and body; a round, white handle with raised black stripes; and a thin, chewy antennae. Beginning at birth, a high-contrast, smiling, symmetrical face is designed to engage and calms baby. Slightly different shades of blue on the wings encourage eye sight development at 6 months and up. "The toy's many textures encourage development of communication through mouthing of the toy," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Bold black and white geometric patterns — stripes and polka-dots — are designed to attract baby’s attention and help her focus on this ring-shaped rattle. Chewy textures on the handle and three smooth, smaller blue, green and teal rings on the handle are designed to encourage baby to teethe and touch, developing baby’s tactile sense. The smaller rings make a soft click clack sound, and black and white beads in the clear portion of the handle make soft rattling sounds. The thin ring is sized for tiny hands to grasp.

Bright, bold colors, high contrast, symmetrical animal faces, and real-life photographs of people baby loves make these photo blocks an ideal toy to stimulate baby’s visual development. The set has four blocks that stack to make a house. There are two cubes, a rectangle and a triangle for the roof. "Babies love to look at faces, even as newborns, so these lightweight photo blocks will capture even the youngest child’s gaze and imagination," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

The company's longtime sweetheart, the Press 'n Dress Doll & Outfit Collection, is available in an embroiderable carry case for personalization. Developed from the concept of paper dolls, each interchangeable cloth outfit has secure Velcro® backing so kids can just “press to dress.” The product is tested and certified safe for all ages, and is designed to develop role playing and social skills. "Press ‘n Dress is absolutely perfect for the little girls who have not yet developed the small motor skills to dress and undress a traditional doll," May Grant, director of communications for Pockets of Learning, told TDmonthly. Press 'n Dress has received the following awards: Dr. Toy Best Vacation Toy in 2000; National Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Honors Award Winner in 2002; and a TDmonthly Top Toy award in 2008. Launch date: June 2009.

Kids will do more than just turn the pages with this cloth book: They'll button, zip, lace, buckle, snap items, and more. Between covers, there's page after page of activities to develop important motor skills. The book can be zipped up and carried about for car trips and overnights to Grandma's.

The Purpllinker from Parchmint, Inc. is designed to duplicate the play value of an old-fashioned carpenter’s ruler. The Purpllinker builds on the ruler’s concept making it smaller, stronger, safer, more flexible and adds yet another unique dimension. Seven arms become adjustable when linked together, so the Purpllinker holds its shape to form letters, numbers, and objects. A series of holes on the five inside arms guide the child in learning and playing games. The Purpllinker helps with reading and math readiness for all youngsters, especially those who learn best through hands-on activities.

This aquarium crib toy features a bold, bright spectrum of colors to help baby develop visual perception. A school of fish in a variety of silky, nubby, fuzzy, smooth and bumpy textures enhances baby’s tactile experience as the reaches out to touch them. Classical music and tonal sounds encourage development of listening/hearing skills. This crib toy offers pleasing sounds to encourage motor and cognitive processing. Adjustable elastic straps make it easy to attach to a variety of cribs with different rail widths and to put the action at the right height for baby. It can also be used for floor play when baby is old enough to sit up. "This toy stimulates baby's vision and tactile development with many colors, patterns and textures," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant for Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Kids can name the five figurines and take charge of the day, from writing on the "blackboard" to extra-long recess. This set is compatible with other Gears! Gears! Gears! sets. Kids can follow the color-coded building instructions or use their imaginations. The 60-piece set includes 20 colorful gears, five figurines, playground equipment, a write-and-wipe schoolhouse, a flag, a sticker sheet and a base. All pieces except the cardboard school house are plastic. "Gears! Gears! Gears! School Set is a hands-on educational product that builds fine motor skills while creating positive feelings about school," Nancy Davies, group account director at the Salmon Borre Group, PR agency for Learning Resources, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

EZ-Fort is an open-ended building toy that just requires the addition of sheets. The easy to use, 54-piece building system can transform into a playhouse, a ship, or even an obstacle course. Also, it's designed as an educational toy for developing critical thinking skills and nurturing the creative thought process. Launch date: September 2009.

The pottyPOD is designed to help create a hassle-free potty experience that makes potty training easier for parents and their child. The soft, cushiony seat provides comfort while the rigid base provides strength and stability. "The pottyPOD is the anti-microbial potty on the market!" Nicole Strand, in sales administration at Prince Lionheart, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

In this colorful family game of strategy and bluffing, players try to capture all the STIXX of their own color. They can bluff by also taking different colored STIXX in an attempt to thwart opponents. Players who believe they know their opponent's secret color can call them out but will lose a turn if wrong. Launch date: 2008.