October 2009 New Specialty Toys — Gifts

The creatures of Maakun Forest are available on these big backpacks designed for ages 5 to 10. The packs are large enough to hold textbooks, a laptop, sneakers, lunch and more. Constructed from durable, easy-to-clean nylon, they have a large front pocket and two side pockets, plus a large interior space with a smaller interior pocket. There are padded shoulder straps and a back panel with a name tag. "[It's a] mod design that both parents and kids love," Claire Theobald, partner at Dante Beatrix, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 15, 2009.

These sturdy backpacks are constructed with nylon made entirely from recycled plastic water bottles and are trimmed with naturally biodegradable canvas. Each pack removes four, 16-oz. plastic bottles from the environment. The large interior space contains a smaller zipped pocket, and the back panel and straps are padded. The backpack is sized for children ages 2 to 5. It "helps your child do something to help the environment while carrying around his or her favorite toys," Claire Theobald, partner at Dante Beatrix, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

Inhabited by the creatures of Maakun Forest, these little packs are designed to hold everything a tot needs for a busy day. Constructed from durable nylon and laminated canvas to make them extra easy to clean, they feature roomy interior space with a smaller zipped pocket. There's a padded back panel with a name tag and padded shoulder straps. The backpacks are sized for kids ages 2 to 5. Launch date: June 15, 2009.

The Kangaroo Zak facilitates skin-to-skin contact and is designed to assure safety and comfort of parents and baby (baby will not fall and lines will stay put), maximize the area of contact between the baby and the adult, assures proper positioning, provide containment and sense of security, allow mom or dad to kangaroo "hands free" to read a book or and even fall asleep while kangarooing. It is created to support and complement all the benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care (constant natural temperature, breathing, stable blood pressure, increase of the mother's milk supply) and is made so that moms and dads can hold their babies safely and for longer periods of time. Kangaroo Zak is adjustable and each fits three sizes. It also gives moms coverage so they are not "exposed" when holding their babies. "Kangaroo Zak helps parents show how much they love their babies and it provides a nice and safe transition between womb and world," Yamile Jackson, president and founder of Zakeez, Inc., told TDmonthly. Zakeez received a 2009 Outstanding Women-Owned Business of the Year Award (Small Business Administration - SCORE Foundation). Launch date: September 13, 2009.

This standing 14" bear wears a velour hoodie embroidered with the team name and logo. The bear's color is the NFL team's primary color and the hoodie is the team's accent color. It is available for all NFL teams. Launch date: December 2008.

Fifty years ago, Billboard launched a revolutionary music chart called the Hot 100. Billboard's Hot 100 Trivia Game captures 50 years of music facts, designed to appeal to both passionate and casual music lovers. Played in a fast-paced team format, Billboard's Hot 100 Trvia Game creates a party atmosphere. It has 2,880 questions in four categories: Who Sang It?, Finish The Lyrics, Who Am I?, and Grab Bag. Launch date: March 15, 2009.

This wind-up musical doll rolls her head in time with the music. She's "Jo" in the "Little Women" collection.

Tynies are glass collectibles, introduced in 2008 with 40 different styles. New styles are released three times per year. Each Tynies has a name — each name is three letters. First edition Tynies come on a cardboard base that can be removed by soaking in water for about one minute. Because Tynies are handmade, they vary in color and shape.
— Christine Osborne, co-owner of Wonder Works in Charleston, S.C., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that Tynies are her best selling keepsake item. They sell about 200 per month in each store.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly Tynies were their best selling collectibles. Elmer Carranza, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly that they sell 8-10 Tynies each month.
— In an August 2013 survey Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that Tynies are one of the store's best-selling collectible lines.

This set of four 8" melamine plates features a different robot on each against a bright, patterned background. The plates are dishwasher safe and coordinate with the company's robot juice cup and bowl set for kids.

Best friends can be celebrated with the "Best Friends Forever" Mini Brush, which is lighter and shorter than the original, making it ideal for smaller hands or on-the-go use. Launch date: April 2009.

The "Figure 8" brush features a girl gliding on the ice, with a little bunny friend in the background. Launch date: June 10, 2009.

Mary Meyer’s Fuzz that Wuzz collection is made from plastic bottles. The outer fabric and stuffing are high-quality polyester made from 100-percent recycled plastic bottles. There are six Mini Zzzzoo animals. Launch date: June 2009.

"Zoey and the Yok-Yok Man" is a musical journey with a positive message. Aimed at children 3 to 10, this entertaining story is designed to nurture children's imagination through upbeat and catchy songs. Launch date: April 30, 2009.

Pedoodles shoes are manufactured using environmentally friendly processes. Carefully selected quality remnant leather is used in construction of Pedoodles in order to reduce waste. Recycled materials are also used for the manufacturing of the soles, and the “green” packaging for Pedoodles is made from recycled materials. Designed to be developmentally correct for little feet, the shoes have PedFlex Soles that are lightweight and flexible to offer protection, durability and traction. Launch date: June 2008.

This 7/8"- square glass pendant comes with a 24" color-coordinated ball chain, a silver-plated bail, paper, acrylic sealer, a cello hanging bag, and a color-coordinated card with interpretive information on the back. Water resistant only. Launch date: August 2009.

This Silver Ion HEPA Air Filter is designed for homes with kids seeking to reduce airborne viruses that cause the flu. The HEPA air filter is coated with silver, an eco-friendly and non-toxic substance naturally occurring in nature that provides anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral protection. The Silver Ion HEPA filter is more affordable than other air sterilization methods and is designed to be extremely efficient when compared to ultraviolet technology alone. The Silver Ion HEPA filter reduces up to 50 percent of airborne viruses that cause the flu after 24 hours of use, and eliminates 99 percent of airborne allergens, 98 percent of bacteria, and up to 50 percent of the viruses that cause influenza. It's "perfect for a child's room or common high-traffic areas in the home," Akiko Tanaka, PR coordinator for Alen Corp., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 15, 2009.

Ficklets interchangeable eyewear charm huggers are designed to provide an innovative and affordable way to update kids' eyewear and help them feel more comfortable in their glasses. "Ficklets are the first eyewear charm hugger in the marketplace specifically targeted for kids at an affordable price," Ros Guerrero, president of Ficklets, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2007.

Kids can use their imagination and creativity to design a one-of-a-kind collar for their dog. Each kit comes with an adjustable collar made with high-quality nylon webbing and ribbon and featuring a quick-release buckle and sturdy metal "D" ring, plus a set of permanent fabric markers for drawing patterns, designs and doodles. Children can write their pal's name, their phone number or anything else they can think of. Launch date: August 2009.

Kids can personalize a lovable fabric dog with this kit that includes a stuffed dog (measures 8" from paw to the top of his head and 12" from his snout to the tip of his tail) and a set of permanent fabric markers. Children can use their creativity to create a one-of-a-kind work of art and treasured keepsake, featuring messages, autographs and designs to commemorate a special event, sleepover or graduation. It could even be used as a "guest book" at a party. Launch date: September 2009.

These natural colored piggy banks are handmade fair trade in a small artisan community called Quinea, in the province of Huamanga in Peru's central highland department of Ayacucho. Some designs are available in large, medium and small, and each bank has a cork stopper. Launch date: April 15, 2008.

The cotton outer body of this fair-trade, artisan-made animal is filled with acrylic and rice, so the pet may be used as a heating pad after placed in the microwave for a very short period of time. Velcro on the bottom of the animal enables washing of the cotton body and acrylic inside. The uncooked rice is separate, in a bag. Caution: When heating, please carefully check the temperature prior to giving it to a child. Launch date: May 20, 2007.

The soft, squeezable, 10"-round Norman PhartEphant produces eight different fart sounds with each gentle squeeze of his tail. "Norman PhartEphant appeals to all ages, and brings silly to any situation. He has become a gift of choice in hospital gift shops and even hit the corporate world as a gift to give the person that has everything. Really, who doesn't want a farting elephant?" Angela Larson, in sales at Fierce Fun Toys, told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: Great Dad Recommended: Seal of Approval - 2009; The Toy Man: Seal of Approval - 2009; and The Toy Man: Editors Choice Award - 2009. Launch date: June 2009.

Polar bears are well-adapted to severe cold. In fact, they often have a problem with overheating and have to take frequent breaks to cool down while hunting. Posed with her head turned to the left, lovely Anouk is a picture of grace with her calm expression. Shown here as a plaque mount; she is also ready to hang as a big game shoulder mount.
You can pose the lower jaw to make a sweet smile or to show a little tongue! Anouk stands 15" from the wall. Shoulder mount is an ample 36" girth. Plaque mount is a solid pine 11"x14" plaque

As North America's largest native land mammals, buffalo "bulls" stand up to six feet tall at the shoulder, are 10 feet long and can weigh over a ton. Revered by the Plains Native Americans; their word "Tatanka," means "buffalo." He is often purchased to be part of a theme room. Tatanka stands 16" from the wall with a 40" girth and 14" between horn tips. Available only as a big game shoulder mount. Ready to hang and enjoy.