August 2012 New Specialty Toys — Eco-Friendly

Roy Toy's Classic Building sets are all wooden pieces, dyed with natural vegetable based food dyes, and made 100% in the USA. This line features a log cabin and a fort set, both have 140 plus pieces and each set comes complete with building directions. Launch date: January 1992.

Roy Toy's 250 pc. set is all wooden, dyed with all natural, vegetable based dyes, and made 100% in the USA. This set comes complete with building directions for a log cabin, a tree house, and a farm set, but the possibilities are endless. Launch date: January 1992.

The Zither Heaven harp is unique in value. While small enough to be portable and affordable, the Zither Heaven harp is capable of sound quality superior to others in its class. When the strings are plucked, the soundboard resonates. The strings form a diatonic scale, allowing many familiar tunes to be played. Beginners can explore the harp while making real music, and they can share the experience with generations to come. This instrument was designed to turn dreams of playing the harp into reality. The harp includes a bench and tuning wrench. Launch date: February 2011.

The Zither Heaven harp is unique in value. While small enough to be portable and affordable, the Zither Heaven harp is capable of sound quality superior to others in its class. When the strings are plucked, the soundboard resonates. The strings form a diatonic scale, allowing many familiar tunes to be played. Beginners can explore the harp while making real music, and they can share the experience with generations to come. This instrument was designed to turn dreams of playing the harp into reality. The harp includes a bench and tuning wrench. Launch date: February 2011.

The Zither Heaven Ukulele Banjo, commonly known as the banjolele, provides that great banjo sound while being played like a ukulele. The precise action and proper placement of the bridge enables chords to be played at the bottom of the neck as well as the top of the neck without losing its tune. The ukulele banjo features an 18-inch vibrating string length with an overall length of 25 inches. Using sustainable native North American hardwoods, the neck is made of solid hard maple with nylon frets and nylon strings. The open-back body is made of solid cherry with a Baltic birch skin. Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. From the beginner to the experienced musician, anyone who picks up one of these instruments can make a great sound right away. The ukulele banjo includes a tuning wrench, pick, and song booklet. Launch date: February 2011.

he Zither Heaven 5-string banjo provides incredible value to anyone interested in learning to play. While reasonably priced to appeal to beginners and children, experienced musicians of all ages can appreciate the quality and solid construction typical in a Zither Heaven instrument. The precise action and proper placement of the bridge enables chords to be played at the bottom of the neck as well as the top of the neck without losing its tune. The 5-string banjo features an 18-inch vibrating string length with an overall length of 25 inches. Using sustainable native North American hardwoods, the neck is made of solid hard maple with nylon frets and nylon strings. The open-back body is made of solid cherry with a Baltic birch skin. Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. The banjo includes a tuning wrench, song booklet, and pick. Launch date: February 2011.

Zither Heaven's Rock-it Stick is a cross between a dulcimer and a guitar. The strings are tuned to D-A-D. Anyone who picks up one of these instruments can make a great sound right away without knowing music.  It is designed to promote interest in music for children and beginners, while experienced musicians can play familiar tunes without hesitation.  The Rock-it Stick features a 23-inch vibrating string length. The neck is made from sustainable native North American solid cherry with nylon frets and steel strings.  Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. The body is made from sustainable native North American solid black walnut with a Baltic birch back. Launch date: February 2011.

An easy option for swaddling a baby. Babies will feel secure and snug with stretch organic cotton. It allows babies to move their hands into a comfortable position that suits them without waking up. Now with poppers in the arms for an easy transition into a sleeping bag. The ergococoon gives babies the option of sleeping arms free or tucked in. Launch date: 2010.

Made of high quality cotton from controlled organic farming. Charming companion to snuggle up to and cuddle. Stimulates crawling and walking. HABA Pure Nature series: high quality, sustainable use of resources and protection for our environment.

Zither Heaven's Rock-it Stick is a cross between a dulcimer and a guitar. The strings are tuned to D-A-D. Anyone who picks up one of these instruments can make a great sound right away without knowing music.  It is designed to promote interest in music for children and beginners, while experienced musicians can play familiar tunes without hesitation.  The Rock-it Stick features a 23-inch vibrating string length. The neck is made from sustainable native North American solid cherry with nylon frets and steel strings.  Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. The body is made from sustainable native North American solid maple with a Baltic birch back. Made in the U.S.A. from sustainable native North American solid wood. Launch date: February 2011.

Bright, colorful, 100% natural crayon wedges that last. 12 colors, kids will love using these multi-surfaced crayons for all of their coloring activities. Each crayon has 4 writing points and multiple surfaces to use for different width lines. Makes coloring large areas a snap. Easy to hold for artists with small hands.
— As of 09/05/2012 this product had 3 out of 5 stars from 1 review on AbesMarket.com. Pros: "Nice packaging. The bright, rich colors remind me of chalk or pastels, not run-of-the-mill crayons;" Cons: "Greasy-feeling crayons leave pigment on hands as hands and crayons warm up. As one colors an area, some of the crayon comes off in clumps and curls."

The Wet-Erase coloring kit comes with 3 stone paper coloring scenes and a set of patented wet-erase crayons that wipe off with a damp cloth for multiple use. Launch date: 2012.

The eco-friendly, handcrafted SIXKID ROCKING HORSE is a modern and natural version of the traditional children’s piece, appealing to any generation. It's design is based on classic forms with a unique, modern twist. With no loose pieces and ergonomically shaped saddle it makes riding safe and enjoyable for little ones.  Made of sustainable European beech with a walnut saddle, the rocking horse is finished with oils and waxes and are not treated with paint, chemicals, or lead. The fine joinery requires only four screws for assembly. Two sizes are available: one for 18 months and older and one for 3 years and older. They meet all US safety standards. Imported and distributed by Beck To Nature. Made in Hungary, EU. Launch date: November 2011.

A gentle alternative to rough-and-tumble playtime with fun-loving creatures that are not only specially designed, but also destined to "bounce back". Plush Cover, Machine Washable & Interchangeable. Charitable Donation to Wildlife Alliance. Stands 36" Tall When Inflated. Biodegradable, Free from BPA, Made in USA. Launch date: June 2012.

PlayMais is a biodegradable crafting material made from corn and colored with food coloring. It is manufactured in Germany, 100% safe, and biodegradable. PlayMais stimulates children's imagination and creativity, trains fine-motor skills, and develops social group skills. PlayMais can be shaped, squeezed, and cut — and all it takes is a little bit water to create unlimited fun. Children can build in 2 or 3 dimensions, or wherever their imagination takes them. The PlayMais M-Box contains 150 pieces, a sponge, and an instruction booklet. It is a perfect starter box.

PlayMais is a biodegradable crafting material made from corn and colored with food coloring. It is manufactured in Germany, 100% safe, and biodegradable. PlayMais stimulates children's imagination and creativity, trains fine motor skills, and develops social group skills. PlayMais can be shaped, squeezed, cut and all it takes is a little bit water to create unlimited fun. Children can build in 2 or 3 dimensions, or wherever their imagination takes them. The PlayMais XM-Box contains 250 pieces, a sponge, a biodegradable plastic knife, and an instruction booklet. It is a perfect starter box if you want to build more and bigger creations.

PlayMais is a biodegradable crafting material made from corn and colored with food coloring. It is manufactured in Germany, 100% safe, and biodegradable. PlayMais stimulates children's imagination and creativity, trains fine motor skills, and develops social group skills. PlayMais can be shaped, squeezed, cut and all it takes is a little bit water to create unlimited fun. Children can build in 2 or 3 dimensions, or wherever their imagination takes them.

Two complete place settings for pretend meals. Includes 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 cups, 2 sets of utensils. Made of sustainable PlanWood, a durable new material made from the sawdust leftover from rubberwood products.

A beautiful garden of flowers contains eight circles of the same size and shape for mix-and-match play. Each piece is a different color with a matching color as well. Made from 98% post consumer recycled materials and printed with eco-friendly inks.

Plan Toy Sort and Count stacking toy can move preschoolers to the next level of basic math skills through play. It is designed to challenge children's sorting and counting skills. The natural wood frame has collapsible rods for safety and the large bead-like rings fit nicely into small hands. Kids sort the beads by color, counting as they stack the beads. Children will make basic math discoveries as they experiment and see that two yellow beads and one blue bead goes as high as three green beads.

Go green with a new and innovative approach to building. Don’t toss out newspapers: recycle them to build incredible geometric sculptures. Tape the included tubes to both ends of a sheet of newspaper. Roll up the newspaper and secure with tape to make a connecting paper rod. Includes durable plastic connectors that fit into the rods. Follow the step-by-step instructions in the guide to make a triangular pyramid, a square anti-prism or design kids can design their own creations in the classroom, gymnasium or playground. Includes guide. 36 connectors, 200 rod-tubes.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Polar Eclipse is an educational board game created to raise awareness about climate change and lifestyle choices. Published in 2011 by turn 4 turn llc. based in Park City, Utah, the game is created for global citizens 8 years and older. Designed, tested and re-tested with students who attend a Utah K-8 charter school, the game offers players the opportunity to add their ideas to the discussion and move toward their survival by doing so. The game board is a warm to cool, and past to future grid; a game about time and temperature. The object of the game is, as one of five species, to make it into the future and get cooler, to survive. If you hit 100 your species becomes extinct and you are out of the game. The motivation to create this game comes from the inventors background as an elementary teacher and the concern for the natural world. By playing the game, it is hoped that the mix of experience that sparks awareness, concern and stewardship to protect the natural world will expand. Knowledge is power. The game includes a die to set your place in time, 184 event cards to experience cause and effect, 64 arctic cards to offer open-ended and multiple choice questions, five players/species, the game board and a rules and reference booklet. Playing time ranges from twenty to forty-five minutes depending on the set of cards you play and number of players. Eight blank event cards are included to create your own events to add to the game. A secondary activity is to sort the event cards into sets of eight cards, by a symbol on the card, and assemble puzzles that make up the photographs on the cover and sides of the game box.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys

Hatch is a member of the Compact Line of Tegu Mobility. Deconstruct Hatch and click the wheels on and off to create any number of mobile creations. Magnetic connections make racing and crashing as fun as building. Hatch integrates seamlessly with the existing line of Tegu blocks. Made with beautiful Honduran hardwoods and safe water-based finishes.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys

Made from the new collection of PlanWood materials, the classic Dancing Alligator has been remade using this new sustainable wood to delight children. When pulled along, the alligator moves his head and tail up and down making a click-clack sound. Created to maximize the usage of the reclaimed rubber trees, PlanWood uniquely provides an even safer, higher quality and more affordable product, while maintaining the eco-minded excellence and unforgettable design consumers have come to expect from the PlanToys brand. PlanWood is made from the sawdust and wood chips left over from regular PlanToys production. By adding some organic pigments for color, mixing it with less than 1% of their non-formaldehyde E-zero glue and pressure molding the mix, a new safe and non-toxic material was born. Launch date: 2012.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys