August 2011 New Specialty Toys — All

Ickeez are a collectible, but they also can be used create various shapes and sculptures. Unlike other collectible miniatures Ickee Stikeez can stick to any flat surface, and because of their patented suction cups when pulled off any flat surface they make a loud pop. They are small enough that kids can bring them in the car, to restaurants and on vacation. Ickeez will travel any place kids want to bring them.

July 21, 1861 - the raw untried armies of North and South meet for the first battle of the American Civil War. Players can take the part of General Beauregard of the Confederate States of America defending Virginia, or the part of Union General Irvin McDowell seeking to stop the rebellion of the south and re-unite the nation. Simple game mechanics center on a system where command opportunities are determined by dice, action cards and the frustrations of command are eloquently portrayed. Simply put, the Union Army of Northeastern Virginia must seize Manassas Junction or rout the Southern Army to achieve victory. The Confederate Army of the Potomac & Confederate Army of the Shenandoah win by routing the Union army, avoiding rout, by seizing the Northern town of Centreville, or simply denying the Union victory. For two players; game time averages 45 minutes. Launch date: September 1, 2011.

New from miYim, beautifully made organic Disney plush toys are the ultimate in safety and softness for baby. Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet are joined by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in this collection of earth-friendly infant playthings, with embroidered details and muted colors.
— In a May 2012 survey, Barbara McVeigh from the Turtle's Nest in Johnson City, Tenn., told TDmonthly that "anything infant & toddler" with Winnie the Pooh is their best selling licensed product.

Cloud B’s Soothing Puppets have two functions in one product. They’re fun, cute hand puppets, but hidden inside is a removable gel pack. Heating the gel pack gives  kids a warming cuddle on chilly nights; cooling the gel pack helps keep kids cool on a hot summer night. Also good for boo-boos. Comes in four different plush characters: Sleep Sheep, Twilight Turtle,  Twilight Ladybug and Gentle Giraffe.

A hand knitted crochet doll made of 100% organic cotton inside and out, dyed with metal-free, low impact dyes certified by GOTS standards. Making it safe for babies. Size: 7.5 inches. Sckoon Organics plush toys are made of 100% organic cotton (even stuffing is 100% organic cotton) and dyed with low-impact, environmentally friendly dyes. They are machine washable, easy to clean and safe for babies to chew.

Packaged in a beautiful red Stocking Gift Box are five new tree ornaments from Giantmicrobes. Salmonella is adorned with holly, Dust Mite is sporting antlers and a red nose, Red Blood Cell is sprinkled with snowflakes, Penicillin is decorated with colorful ornaments, and an exclusive Green Amoeba available only in this collection is warmly wrapped up in a red scarf and ear muffs. Launch date: November 2011.

Our Wooden Koala Bear Bank is durable with a cork attached to the tail of the Koala Bear to be able to remove the saved deposits. The bank is attractive to display not only in a child's room but elsewhere in the house. It teachs children to form good habits of saving money. The Hard Maple and Black Walnut wood components are finished with a Clear Hand Rubbed Natural FDA approved Teak Oil. The size of this Koala Bear Bank is approximately 5" wide, 7-1/2" tall, and 3-1/4" deep. It is one of a series of wooden banks that we hand create out of the Maple and Walnut. Launch date: September 2004.

The Wooden Hamburger is a non-sequential educational stack toy that delights kids of all ages, from 1 yr to 101+. Hand/eye color coordination, finger dexterity, and non-sequential stacking capability, can all be measured with our stacking wooden Hamburger. There's no right or wrong way to stack it. Made of rugged Western Ponderosa White Pine. The colors are non-toxic stain-like impregnated finishes. Launch date: September 1980.

The Aggravation Game Board is a 20" Hexagon, made of solid Black Walnut, with the addition of (24) Inlaid Birch Pegged Spots, and with a beautiful wood grain enhanced by a non-toxic hand rubbed natural oil finish. The set includes: (24) 25mm (1") dia. solid opaque glass marbles of which there are (4) each of (6) different colors, plus (6) colored Dice to match the (6) sets of colors of the glass marbles. Plus instructions along with a velour pouch with a double drawstring. "The game board is designed to be able to set out permanently on display as a decorative piece when not being played with. This type of setting invites family participation more often. The family that plays together enjoys life a lot more," Charles H. W. Hall, owner of Charlie's Woodshop, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Large 5" dinosaurs retail at $2.00 each; sold in bucket of 45 dinosaurs. Launch date: October 2011.

Remove the cover and place gift card inside, remove the tab, and it's ready to give. It's a great way to give an any occasion gift. More than just a puzzle, this item makes gift giving fun. It's also fun for the person giving the gift get to see the recipient have to solve the maze first in order to receive the gift. Launch date: April 2009.

The Movie Maze Gift Holder is a great combination of a gift box, and challenging puzzle. The Movie Maze is the perfect gift for teasing that difficult to buy for person. Holds 2 DVD's, or 3 CD's, or 2 Video Games inside. Books, Video Tapes and more can be placed inside The Movie Maze. "Made in the U.S.A., An innovative idea to make gift-giving fun. Great way to give a holiday or birthday gift. More than just a puzzle-this item makes gift-giving fun," Ken Tinner, VP sales & marketing at Mag-Nif, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2008.

The Money Maze is a great combination of a gift box, challenging puzzle and intriguing bank. Place cash, checks, gift cards, lottery tickets, jewelry and more inside the Money Maze. Lock the door and watch as the recipient is forced to solve the puzzle in order to access their gift. "Our products are made in the U.S.A.. The Money Maze is more than a puzzle, and it makes gift giving fun. They are great for holiday gift giving," Ken Tinner, VP of sales and marketing at Mag-Nif, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2003.

Elder Sign lets players control investigators who must successfully endure adventures within the museum in order to gather clues, items, and the eldritch knowledge they need to seal the rifts between dimensions and prevent the Ancient One’s arrival. A clever and thematic dice mechanic pits their exploration against monsters and the sheer difficulty of staying sane and healthy while investigating the most dangerous exhibits and most terrifying instances of insanity. Elder Sign recreates the Lovecraftian thrills of eerie suspense and mind-numbing horrors in a cooperative game players can finish in one to two hours. Rules, card text, and innovative dice mechanics expertly designed by Richard Launius and Kevin Wilson, the designers of Arkham Horror, all blend in a game that’s quick to learn, quick to play, strategic enough to reward frequent replay, and eccentric enough to immerse players in the museum’s supernatural intrigue. "For those who love Arkham Horror, Elder Sign provides faster gameplay with an easier-to-understand mechanic. Dice add a bit of chance to the fun of it all, and the horror theme brings a bit of spookiness," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011.

Shards of the Throne is an epic expansion for Twilight Imperium, adding new races, new units, and many new options to create a power struggle in the far reaches of the galaxy. Mercenaries, Mechanized Units, and all-new Flagship units give players more options for customizing their fleets and Ground Forces, while the Political Intrigue option will crank up the agendas and espionage of the political phase. Also adding Race-Specific Technologies, alternate Strategy Cards, new System Tiles, Space Domains, and an all-new scenario that puts one player in control of the legendary Lazax Empire, Shards of the Throne creates a completely new way to wage galactic conquests. "There are no other games like Twilight Imperium. It's a fascinating game of interstellar diplomacy and strategy that captures the imagination from the first turn," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.

In the second edition of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, three to six players take on the roles of the great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, as they vie for control of the Iron Throne through the use of diplomacy and warfare. Based on the best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones is an epic board game in which it will take more than military might to win. Through strategic planning, masterful diplomacy, and clever card play, players spread their influence over Westeros. "Devotees of A Song of Ice and Fire need look no further to get their Westeros fix. This updated edition of the beloved Game of Thrones board game deepens the experience, bringing the intrigue, military might, and cunning of the fight for control of the Iron Throne to players' tables," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2011.

Deadwood is a board game of cowboys and control for 2-5 players, and is playable in 1-2 hours. Players control a gang of cowboys and send them into the vulnerable town of Deadwood to control businesses and collect as much money as they can. The player with the most cash at the end of the game is the winner. The 26 possible buildings that can be constructed in Deadwood promise variety in each game. With three possible ways for the game to end, your every decision either to stay at a building, instigate a shootout, or build the railroad can change the course of the game. "This fast-paced, family-friendly game is a winner with anyone who appreciates the Wild West, dueling, and immersive gameplay," Molly Glover, sales associate at Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly. September 2011.

This Jumbo Marble Whacker is a two player marble game where players operate sets of Flippers and attempt to smack and whack a rolling marble into a goal. The game is played with 20 large one-inch diameter marbles. The Flippers are controlled by by pushing big wooden buttons at the sides of the game. All wood construction, and Made in America. "This is a brand new game with an old fashioned look and feel.  It is built to last for many years," Mike Spikes, owner of American Toy LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011.

The Domino Express Maxi Power Plus set combines the fascinating action of falling dominoes with even more exciting stunts. It comes with a rocket tower, 2 straight and 2 curved speed tracks, a plane launcher, 36 speed dominoes and over 100 regular dominoes to stack up and watch fall. This set is hours of fun for both new domino fans, as well as the experienced pro. Launch date: July 2011.

Liberty Puzzles makes classic wooden jigsaw puzzles made with quarter-inch plywood and the finest archival paper and pigment inks for brilliant, lasting color. "Each puzzle features dozens of charming, intricate figural ("whimsy") pieces in the shapes of characters, animals, and fancy geometric shapes," Christopher Wirth, manager of Liberty Puzzles, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2011.

A nine piece set of simple durable hard maple furniture. Great for imaginative play. Chairs are 2" high and the table is 3 1/2" long. Crafted from responsibly harvested hardwood maple with laser engraved designs, this set comes shrink wrapped. Set comes unfinished, can be painted. "Simple furniture for basic play that can't be broken," Barbara Rainville, marketing manager at Maple Landmark Woodcraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011.

The WudWorkers™ line is a “Build and Play” construction line that allows children as young as three years old to begin their love affair with creative play and construction. They can be built into one specific set and become a work of art on a shelf, or they can be played with, taken apart, and then turned into something entirely different. "Our line stands out from any other wooden construction set through our design and creative engineering," Kris Millington, SVP of Maxim Enterprise Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011.

Ticked Off is a game that gives players the opportunity  to crush and impress their friends with their vast smartitude. Fast, fun and easy to play. 1. Bet on the first category...highest bid sets the mark to beat. 2. Reveal the Mystery Category. Start the timer. 3. Jot down as many answers as you can before the timer goes off. "A whole new twist on party games involving categories and matching answers, plus it comes with a unique 45 second electronic timer! You just gotta get TICKED OFF!" Frank DiLorenzo, president of R&R Games, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011.

Players Roll, Pass and Kick their way to victory in this head to head football game. The game pits two football teams in a classic gridiron match.  Playable by 2-4 players, ‘coaches’ call plays using the cards available in their hands. Yardage gained or lost is determined by the roll of the dice. Strategic play calling makes all the difference... The right offensive play might get a lot of yardage... unless the defense sets up correctly to stop it. Fumbles, interceptions, sacks, penalties, deep passes, breakaway runs... it’s all in here. "This is the most fun football board game in a box AND there will be 6 expansion sets available that allow you to completely customize the game with 24 different teams," Frank DiLorenzo, president of R&R Games, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2011.