July 2009 New Specialty Toys — Plush

This 9" reindeer boasts an array of red and green against striped and floral fabrics. He has plush antlers and spearmint green piping for an extra bit of detail. Launch date: June 2009.

This line of plush donkeys is stubbornly cute. Tomato comes in various sizes, but this one is 45 cm long.

This 5-7" plush doll represents the Influenza A virus H1N1 in an oblong pink shape covered with pink fur and adorned with big red eyes and a pig snout. It is part of a line of educational stuffed "animals" that look like mini microbes. The GIANTmicrobes series turns creepy crawly microscopic organisms into irresistible stuffed toys. Launch date: June 2009.
— Online Reviews: Minnesota Mamas’ Sarah found GiantMicrobes “a fun way to teach your kids about germs and how to stay healthy as well as why they are ill.” The Mom Buzz thought the plush can help kids develop healthy habits, like washing their hands, as well as alleviating fear of medical procedures.

An L.A.-based mom designer created this supersoft plush elephant ... plus some more animal friends.

This 10" tall (25 cm) stuffed Meerkat is alert and super-soft.

Baby’s first prehistoric plush pal! This extremely soft, loveable baby dinosaur was designed especially for infants. Its embroidered details, soft blue color, orange spikes, and smiling face make this a toy that children of any age will cherish.

Jane Yolen and Mark Teague's remarkable series is a delight for children and adults. The books are a warm and no-nonsense way of helping kids manage the important things in their lives—going to bed, eating their food, coping with being sick, and going to school. By using humor and showing what a dinosaur would and wouldn’t do, the books make things easy to understand for even the smallest child. Dolls come in 14" ($16.00) and  8" ($9.00) sizes.

Kids can slip their hand through the opening of this soft, slinky ferret puppet's chest to work his mouth. There's an additional rear pocket for extra wriggling. Launch date: August 4, 2009.
Awards: A TDmonthly Classics Award for being an all-time favorite toy.
— As of 7/21/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 4 review on Amazon.com.
— In late Spring 2011, eight out of 15 retailers surveyed said that puppets from Folkmanis were best-sellers in the category. "They have all kinds, and people can get odd things, like a ferret," Lisa LeStrange, owner of Lucky Duck Toys in Wayne, Pa., told TDmonthly. She sells 10-15 Folkmanis puppets each month.

My SportBEAR line-up features handmade 15" jointed bears dressed in authentic sport apparel and accessories. ChalkTalkSPORTS offers add-ons that can make this special gift ideal for players, coaches and fans. Customization is also available. "With millions of childrens and their parents involved in organized sports, the My SportBEAR line is a perfect gift to celebrate the sport they love and are dedicated to," the marketing director for ChalkTalkSPORTS told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 20, 2008.

Nelly Dragon is a 10" plush educational pal. She includes 1/2 life-size dentition with four flossible locations, bendable extremities to hold toothbrushes. The product includes two children's toothbrushes and one plush toothbrush, designed to serve as a great way to teach the proper way to bruch and floss. Launch date: 2009.

Featuring Lauren Fisher Cat, Penny Petite Bear, Willow Cottontail Rabbit and Nibbles Norwood Mouse, each Critter comes with removable clothing and can easily be placed in a sitting position. The plush Critters are approximately 8” tall. "The Calico Critters plush dolls are unique additions to a popular product line that formerly only featured miniature characters. This loveable, hugable, Calico Critter character provides children with a cuddly version of the characters they've already come to know," Vickie Cullen, account executive for International Playthings LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Pilloroo Pillows have a hidden pouch for hiding away a toy or gift item. The pillow is stuffed so the item cannot be felt from the outside. This product is made in the USA and received a 2008 Moms Best Award. Launch date: November 2008.

My Pillow Pets are snuggly plush companions that are also a comfortable pillow for bedtime, television time or travel time. There are more than 20 styles, all made from soft, high-quality chenille and safety tested.The Original Pillow Pets come in both 11" and 18" sizes. "My Pillow Pets are the Original pillow pets. The overall design, special facial features, and highest quality chenille make them ideal for the specialty and gift market," Heidi Niehart, director of marketing for My Pillow Pets, told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: iParenting Media Excellent Product Award, Dr. Toy Best Vacation Toy, and Mr. Dad Seal of Approval. Launch date: 2003.

Each LovBun & Friends plush character features a poem on the hangtag: "Meet LovBun, the love bunny who comes from outer space! They live on hugs so remember to give them lots of hugs each day!" Launch date: August 15, 2009.

This 12" duck is filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender, and after two minutes in the microwave is a warm buddy to take to bed. He will stay warm for at least an hour, and may remain warm all night if snuggled under the covers. The duck can be microwaved thousands of times, CEO Ruth Hamilton of Pritty Imports told TDmonthly, and his aroma is designed to help kids fall asleep naturally. Launch date: June 2009.

This 12" pig is filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender, and after two minutes in the microwave is a warm buddy to take to bed. He will stay warm for at least an hour, and may remain warm all night if snuggled under the covers. The pig can be microwaved thousands of times, CEO Ruth Hamilton of Pritty Imports told TDmonthly, and his aroma is designed to naturally help kids fall asleep. Launch date: June 2009.

At 15", this plush bear takes to the stuffed teddy bear tradition. As with other The Bear Mill plush animals, The Bear Mill's line of accessories and outfits can help customize and add variety to this bear.

This 8" plush lamb can be dressed up with an assortment of accessories and outfits from The Bear Mill.

8 inches in length, this plush, black and white cow features a pair of small horns and can be dressed with The Bear Mill's assortment of accessories and outfits.

This 12" sheep is filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender, and after two minutes in the microwave is a warm buddy to take to bed. It is designed to remain warm for at least an hour, and may stay warm all night if snuggled under the covers. "This sheep can be microwaved thousands of times," CEO Ruth Hamilton of Pritty Imports told TDmonthly, "and his aroma is designed to help kids naturally fall asleep." Launch date: June 2009.

This 12" bunny is filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender, and after two minutes in the microwave is a warm buddy to take to bed. He's designed stay warm for at least an hour, and may remain warm all night if snuggled under the covers. The bunny can be microwaved thousands of times, CEO Ruth Hamilton of Pritty Imports told TDmonthly, and his aroma is designed to naturally help kids fall asleep. Launch date: June 2009.

Floppy and relaxed, Jellycat's Loppie Elephant is covered in soft, shaggy fabric. Wide ears, curving trunk and beady eyes, along with long limbs and big feet, characterize this 13” gentle giant.
— “Jellycat is our best line,” said Mary Schedjick, owner of Educare Learning Center in Oshkosh, Wis., during a May 2009 survey of top-selling plush.
— Two of 42 retailers listed Jellycat as their best-selling line of plush in spring 2009.
— In a June 2014 survey, three out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Jellycat made their best-selling plush toys.

Affectionately considered 'slightly overfed' by the Russ Berrie company, Prudence is a quite round-bodied tabby cat with beanbag and plush filling and a soft Caress material cover. Available in orange tabby and silver tabby patterns, Prudence has a plump face, realistic whiskers, and detailed stitching on all four white-socked paws. 
— “Kitties and puppies from Russ Berrie,” said Cheryl Richmond, owner of Punkin Doodles in Havre, Mont., when TDmonthly inquired about her best-selling plush items in May 2009. Richmond said she sells around a dozen per month. 
— Out of 43 retailers surveyed, three named Russ Berrie as a best-selling plush line in their stores in spring 2009.

One in a series of extra-whimsical characters from Manhattan, Galoompagalots Glus is a soft, lovable pal in a circus-array of bright colors — from his orange and violet shaggy ears to his key-lime green and goldenrod toes. Galoompagalots Glus has poseable ears and a floppy body, and a much friendlier face to imagine underneath the bed at night.
— Six of 43 retailers surveyed by TDmonthly in May 2009 said Manhattan Toy is one of their best-selling plush lines.