July 2010 New Specialty Toys — All

This plane can go from charger to flying in just 10 seconds with the easy-to-use, all in one hand-held charger/launcher. The plane is designed to fly for 30 seconds or more, and stand up to many back yard landings. It features a single-pull trigger, requires three AA batteries, and can fly up to 100 feet.
— The owner of Kid’s Center in Tucson, Ariz., told TDmonthly they ordered from ASTRA 2010 a Kid Galaxy “back yard flyer that we had not seen operational before” — one of their favorite products of the show.
— In a November 2011 survey Lisa LeStrange, owner of Lucky Duck Toys in Wayne, Pa., told TDmonthly that their "Top selling flying toy is Backyard Flyer by Kid Galaxy...Depends on the season, but in warm weather we sell maybe 10 per month."

This plush teddy bear measures 48cm (or roughly 19"). It comes in a tan brown color with a striped scarf around its neck.

This set includes two rock 'n roll instruments, a microphone and a turntable, in plush form with expressive "faces."

The SplashJack set of cards allows for card play in the water. SplashJack is simply Slap Jack, but played in water. To play, distribute the deck of cards evenly among all of the players. The player holds their pile of cards face down. Each player takes a turn placing their card face up in the middle of the group on the water. When someone places a Jack down in the pile, the first player to splash the pile of cards wins the cards. Play continues until a player has acquired all of the cards from the deck. Splashing the cards may also happen if the same number is laid down twice in a row or the same number sandwiches only one other card.

Splashimals can be played anywhere there is water but it can also be played on dry ground too. For ages 2 to 5+, depending on the age, children can use the cards for animal recognition, for creating new animals by mixing the combinations, for a game of memory, and for practicing reading skills.

Each bag contains 12 pieces of assorted rock band shaped rubber band bracelets, in fun glow in the dark colors.

An assortment of 72 colorful slider bracelets with cats eye and fimo beads in a counter top display.  Counter display is included free for retailers with each bracelet individually UPC’ed.

These fun adjustable sliders can be worn on ankles or wrists.  Each bracelet / anklet is made with colorful dolphins, and fun "bell" beads which quietly jingle with movement when worn.

These Heart Glitter Bracelets features a heart pendant that hangs from a matching color adjustable slider cord. Each dozen comes in an assortment of colorful pink, purple, blue, and black heart pendants speckled with glitter on each bracelet.

This double-sided modern children's kitchen is made in Germany from high-quality beechwood. "Children can play on both sides of the kitchen," Detlef Schülingkamp, Sales Manager, Fagus Wooden Toys, told TDmonthly.

This placemat with reversible chalk mat is durable, waterproof and easy to clean. The mat turns any table into a creative play space or clean eating area, then easily folds into the included travel pouch to hold creative essentials or eating utensils.

The ZBall is a special marble very easy to control and that can stop in inclines. Players have to flick their way through the obstacles as fast as possible to win the race, and they can jump over their opponent’s car to pass them. No batteries are required, and hundreds of tracks can be designed for over 13' of fun. Kids can also use the track and cars separately to play by themselves. "This is the only race track on the market that can be played on with the whole family and doesn't need electricity!" Cedric Arnould, vice president of CEPIA Games, told TDmonthly.

Life goes from Hollywood to Michigan to Mars when Lisa and her family take in her grandmother who has dementia. The Weavers quickly discover the “comicals” of Nora Jo bring a whole new realm of “crazy” to their copasetic abode. And the question becomes, how high a price can they pay for this traumatic change? "As Nora Jo Fades Away is a great read with an even grander cause: to create action and awareness," Lisa Goldman, Five Star Publications office coordinator, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Paris Book Festival Romance Award First Place

Life is never boring back at the pond once Iggy, Radic, Cabby and Roc get together. Readers can join them for a humorous yet serious look at nature. "'Green Pieces: Green From the Pond Up' is a delightful read for any age group. Grown-ups will be reminded of what they were told by their parents — to respect nature — and young readers will learn, through the eyes of the four main characters, why it’s important to respect nature," Lisa Goldman, Five Star Publications office coordinator, told TDmonthly. 

THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER PUBLISHED BY FIVE STAR PUBLICATIONS as of 8/18/2010.

Deep Sea Diver is a real-life adventure game about diving for treasures and other discoveries. Players need teamwork to plan the dive, share equipment, get each other out of trouble, and divide whatever treasure they bring up. The game includes a 13" x 18" board, diver cards, danger cards, treasure cards, equipment tokens, air tank tokens, a glossary of diving terms, and movers.

Players are a team of magicians performing a series of dangerous illusions, trying not to get trapped in them. Each game played is the performance itself, full of risks. This game includes a 13" x 18" board, manager's chart, magicians, dangers, escapes and magic power cards. "Play as friends, not as enemies! Our games foster the spirit of co-operation," Family Pastimes President Jim Deacove told TDmonthly.

During this "Walk in the Woods," players can observe beautiful things such as wildflowers and butterflies, help each other gather goodies such as apples, berries, nuts and herbs, and keep an eye out for dangers like poison ivy, stinging nettle, biting bugs and even hot sun. The game includes a 12" x 12" board, dangers, remedies, goodies, look-ats, baskets, and rules for basic and hard games. "Play as friends, not as enemies! Our games foster the spirit of co-operation," Family Pastimes President Jim Deacove told TDmonthly.

This licensed 1:18 scale special edition die cast replica features a detailed engine, real rubber tires, metal body and chassis, detailed graphics and custom license plate.

This signature travel kit includes a chocolate-hued ballet pop-up mirror and matching pop-up brush. Travel kits are also available in Butterfly Julie, Blush Ballet, Blue Ribbon, Dragonfly, Flower and Ladybug, Green Signature and Tiara versions.

This pop-up brush is painted with cheery bright colors and has a cute-as-a-bug ladybug perched on top.

This classic toy is easily portable and appeals to "kids" of every age. Just use the magnetic wand to move the metal filings around Fuzzy's face to give him (or her) unusual hairstyles.

This fishbowl features three happy residents for puzzle play. The extra-thick, three-piece wooden puzzle includes a fish, a turtle and a crab, each with jumbo wooden knobs for easy grasping. Full-color, matching pictures appear underneath each piece.
— In a Summer 2011 survey, 5 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that wooden peg puzzles from Melissa & Doug were their best-sellers in the category.
— As of 7/12/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 32 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; age-appropriate; puzzle pieces fit well. Cons: One reviewer said the veneer on the puzzle pieces began peeling a month after purchasing it.
— In a June 2010 survey of 40 specialty retailers, 15 percent named Melissa & Doug as an overall top-selling brand. Two retailers told TDmonthly that the brand’s puzzles sell especially well.

Think-ets is a little game in a pouch containing tiny treasures from all over the world. The game includes an assortment of 15 miniature trinkets that can be used to tell stories and play memory and strategy games. These Think-ets come in a purple pouch, replacing the previous yellow pouch design.
Awards: 2008 iParenting Media Award; 2008 AblePlay Rating; 2007 The Toy Man Editor's Choice Award; 2007 Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award

A versatile all season bootie that can be worn over shoes, Stonz Linerz, slippers or bare feet. Their durable coated nylon upper provides wind and water-resistance, their fleece lining provides warmth and comfort, and their wide opening allows the booties to slip on and stay on easily. The booties have rubberized, skid-resistant soft soles and are machine-washable.