August 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Hannah is a limited edition collectible doll. Hannah is light-skinned and features a red, plaid-patterned dress with matching bow on her head and red shoes.

An enthralling tale of genius and unbounded creativity.  Discover the world of Mozart's time … what life was like for this brilliant musician, both personally and professionally.  His astonishingly prolific and creative works defined the Classical era of European music.  Hear Mozart's music as performed by master pianist Dennis Kobray, and watch as this historically accurate, motivational and inspirational tale unfolds.

An inspiring tale of courage and perseverance. In the wake of the French Revolution, Beethoven redefined the role of the musician from servant to artist.  His stormy and passionate music clearly mirrors both the joys and struggles of this deaf genius. Dennis Kobray portrays the essence of the man and his music with both dynamic piano performance and insight.
— Educators have praised Kobray’s live performances at schools for his musicality and ability to entertain a wide range of ages, as well as the historical context of his programs. “Holding the attention of our kindergarteners through eighth graders can be challenging,” wrote an elementary school music teacher in Bloomsbury, N.Y., “but it was obvious that everyone was captivated by your fascinating storytelling and enthusiasm for the music and messages.” Aaron Green, who reviewed the “Bach” and “Gershwin” DVDs for About.com, found them worthy of 5 of out 5 stars. He praised the high-quality production and “highly entertaining and informative” nature of the episodes. The series provides a good intro to music and history, he said; however, viewers may need to know some basic theory to grasp certain concepts.

An extraordinary story of a genius whose music helped to break down racial barriers. In 1974, audiences for the film The Sting left theaters humming the effervescent music of Scott Joplin.  A love of ragtime, revived in the mid-70s, continues to this day.  Discover what life was like for an African-American musician at the turn of the twentieth century.  Dennis Kobray portrays a friend and fan of Scott Joplin, whose Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer earned him the title of the "King of Ragtime."

A story of success achieved through the "fascinating rhythms" and melodies of this brilliant composer. George Gershwin was the epitome of the American success story.  The son of immigrants, this self-taught icon of music was raised on the streets of New York.  He grew up to write music that captured the American spirit.  Who among us does not recognize Rhapsody in Blue, I Got Rhythm, or Swanee?  These beloved songs are performed by Dennis Kobray in this dynamic portrayal of one of America's most treasured musicians.

Available in pink, blue and white, this  tee features brown lettering that lets the world know, "My mom doesn't want your advice." It comes as a onesie for babies and a tee for toddlers.

There are six different magic wishing bracelets. Each bracelet comes with a keycode that will open a different land. Throughout the opened land, girls can earn valuable Princess Points that can be used to create their own virtual Princess. The game and bonus games are designed to be educational and fun. Registered users will also receive a weekly letter from Princess Renee, full of geography, good deeds and much more. The bracelet shown is the Star Power Adventure, which opens up the Wishing Pond. "Unlike Webkinz and Club Penguin, once a keycode is entered it doesn't expire," Robin Sydney of Zorbitz Inc. told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

This Papa and Baby Bear duo are ready for a fishing excursion. They sport a removable fishing rod and flower, plus a wriggling fish in a tackle bag. Baby Bear can cling to Papa's legs, arms, head or woodlike tummy. Launch date: 2009.

These new dolls from MGA capitalize on big sister Bratz's exotic looks while adding a splash of wholesome innocence.  They wear trendy but modest clothes and have girlish figures. The doll line's tagline is "Be true! Be you!" Launch date: August 2009.

This bright, licensed plush toy unfastens to become a pillow and unzips to reveal a yellow blanket with a colorful butterfly design. It is fashioned after Eric Carle's classic character, the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

In 2008, One World Projects began participating in a teddy bear distribution project in Afghanistan. For each teddy bear sold, another is donated to a child living in an orphanage or refugee camp in Afghanistan. Often, the bears are the first toy the child has ever received. The teddy bears are handmade by Children and Women Education Fund (CWEF), which started a few years ago in Afghan refugee camps to provide a source of income and instruction on women and children's rights.

A monumental miracle in music, bridging the past & future. The viewer meets Johann Sebastian Bach who was the personification of the Baroque style - a music that was complex and highly embellished.  Bach drew from many sources and produced a vast body of work, steeped in the flavor of the period, yet belonging to all time.  Dennis Kobray brings this magnificent eighteenth century composer to life with exuberant performances of Bach's masterpieces on the clavichord, harpsichord and grand piano.

Candy Corn Jamboree fills a house with Halloween treats. The 3' x 5' full-color, high-quality plastic window decoration "lights up" at night with back lighting from everyday household lamps for the enjoyment of passersby on the street. It comes with corner stick adhesive squares. WOWindow Posters are made in the USA and are reusable. The product is "not sold in national big-box or national chain discount party stores," Robert Schott, director of national sales for WOWindows, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2006.

This kit is designed for children and adults who wish to build and solve the SphereXYZ. The pieces can be assembled in any way, and once snapped in, the puzzle is ready to be solved, which is done by rotating the hemispheres and moving the scrambled tiles along the canals until each hemisphere hosts the complete collection of one of the tile colors and the two white tiles are positioned at either pole. SphereXYZ takes about 10 minutes to snap together. "It's the first-ever 'build it, solve it' puzzle," Lori Powers, co-founder of LA1Products, told TDmonthly.  Launch date: November 2009.

Designed to provide all-natural, active fun for children of all ages, this product features a hand-dyed silk streamer (11" x 60") coordinated with a hand-painted wand (about 12" long) sealed with water-based, non-toxic sealant. The high-quality silk has hand-rolled hems, and the length is designated so as to not cause children to trip or trample upon the fabric, as might happen more easily with longer streamers. The hardware is designed so that it cannot be removed by a child. Young children should be supervised, as with all long items that can tangle around them. It is available in more than 15 styles, as well as custom colors. "It doesn't knot or tangle, like thinner streamers. It is 100-percent natural, safe and its core quality is the need for active, imaginative play," Lori Campbell, owner and artist of Beneath the Rowan Tree, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2008.

Tic-Attack-Toe adds a battling twist to the classic game of tic-tac-toe. Kids can challenge friends and family to claim three-in-a-row using numbered X and O cards. Players knock-out their opponent's spot with a higher value card or use their "Wild" card to take any spot. The goal is to be the first to get three-in-a-row five times. As an added bonus, the playing board doubles as a carrying case. "Tic-Attack-Toe takes the simple premise of a game everyone knows and gives it a twist to provide a game that is easy to learn and provides multi-generational fun," Nathan Jones, president of PB&J Toy Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

Little Hero Capes are designed to empower a child's imagination and expand his adventures. The fully lined capes are made from high-quality materials with high-quality sewing and have a SUPER design placed prominently on the back. The capes feature a snap closure so a child can easily spring into action when he or she hears the call. Each cape also has a collar, which may be placed upward for a more mysterious look.  "Each Little Hero Cape, mask, and pair of power cuffs is artisan crafted in the United States," Allison Faunce, owner of Little Hero Capes, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2, 2008.

This American-made Scramble Squares puzzle features nine cowboy-themed pieces that must be arranged into a 12" x 12" square so that the graphics match up edge to edge for every piece, forming a complete design. There exists only one solution. The packaging includes educational information relating to the puzzle theme, as well as a trivia quiz. Scramble Squares awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2008. Launch date: 2009.

Where to Buy: LB Toys

Available in blue, orange and lime green, these portable round cups feature a lid with a sturdy straw, and a clear body so the drink level can be monitored. They may be used with one or two handles, or without.

Designed for versatile use as a cradle, bathtub and crib for babies, the Peititen Cushion Tub-Bed features a cushioned floor and wall for comfort, with an antimicrobial surface that makes it safe for even newborn babies. Available accessories include a cradle and baby tub stand. It is available in white, pink, blue, cobalt and light green. The company makes both round (shown) and neckrest types.

The unique 4-in-1 Smart Trike Recliner designed for babies from 6 months and up, provides the child with a safe and comfortable ride. The adjustable seat is equipped with a reclining position to allow baby to nap. The multi-position adjustable handle guarantees an easy solution for the parents to steer and, by releasing the clutch, the child takes control for fun, independent riding. The Smart Trike Recliner includes a washable, quality seat cover and is available in a range of colors together with a useful functional bag. It is available in green, pink and red. Smart Trike “Recliner” is the winner of the “Toy Innovation” Award in the Fun + Sport category and “Right Start Award” Overall Winner in the 0-3 category and “Gold award” in the Sit n Ride category.
— As of 05/13/2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 20 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Doesn't easily stay in a straight line; sun shade doesn't align with the rest of the trike.

Past Videos:
Product Demonstration

The paintdots collection of totes and pen cases allows individuals to decorate their product with the included markers based on dot-color instructions generated from an image uploaded to the paintdots Simulator program. The tote has three pockets on the exterior and there are two sizes of pen cases available.