November 2008 New Specialty Toys — Tween

This 9"-square artwork on canvas features a pretty, polka-dot dress on a neutral background.

My Smart Budget is a fun, parent-child interactive financial literacy program that trains kids as young as 8 to become Money Wise for Life™. Kids CREATE their budget; DECIDE to spend, save, share or invest; MANAGE their activity; and TRACK their results. Parents CREATE the budget; FUND the budget monthly; DELEGATE management and STAND BY to help. Professionally designed by Day Timer, the kits includes everything needed to get started. "Just like an adult, kids get to manage a real budget on expenses that are all about them while still under the tutelage of the parent. Well beyond an allowance program, the expenses the parent incurs for the child are delegated to the child to manage. No more kids asking for money everytime they want something. No more worried parents when they send their child off as a young adult," Creator Danielle Aguiar told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2008.

Shailie goes beyond “dress-ups,” allowing girls to design, create, and wear their own fashions. It includes a life-sized designer dress form and stand (girls' size medium). Shailie dresses come in pieces, and sleeves, skirts, tops and accessories come in various styles, colors and lengths. Using Velcro®, all pieces mix and match to create endless looks. The design easily comes off to wear and model with friends. "Shailie promotes interactive play among a variety of ages, and the possibilities for creativity and fashion fun are endless," President Kari Kawa of Style Paige LLC told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This 14"-long edgy canine features black and grey markings, a toothy grin and a half-winking eye. Sly 9 Junior (9" long) has an MSRP of $8.95. Launch date: Early 2009.

Each Charm It! box holds a surprise, oversized charm inside. There are seven different charms available, including Troy, Chad, Sharpay and Gabriella. Charm It! Secret Surprise Boxes are also available in Hello Kitty and Hannah Montana themes. Launch date: September 2008.

Complete with Harry Potter shoes, this whimsical footstool features Harry Potter-themed fabric and corresponding red tassels around the edge.

Girls can design a fashion line for each model in this kit with the fabric supplied and detail them with trims, sequins, beads and more. This kit includes four 12" models, fabric, trim, sequins, beads, gems, glitter paints, tickers, patches, buttons, instructions and more.  10.5" W x 11" H x 2D".  Launch date: 2008.
— Barbara Vininsky, owner of Blossom & Harry in Ontario, Canada told TDmonthly that Fashion Angels Project Runway was one of her two top toys for girls in the autumn of 2008.

ModelWorks makes artfully crafted personalized action figures in just 10 days. ModelWorks Mini-Me separates itself from other companies by making hobby-grade models. The difference lies in the details. “We don’t just sculpt a face, we capture an expression," Graeme Warring, president of ModelWorks and creator of the Mini-Me, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 20, 2007.

These 12" plush tooth fairy dolls are shaped as little fairies and come in boy and girl styles. The dolls hold a child's tooth in their shiny pouch, waiting for the tooth fairy to come. Launch date: September 6, 2008.

The peace sign is back in fashion. Girls can show off their peaceful side and inner fashionista with the Peace and Love Jewelry collection by Fashion Angels. The ring-shaped pendants come etched with the words “Peace & Love” and are embellished with Austrian crystals. They are adjustable, come packaged in a decorative gift box, and come in a silver-plated or antique-silver finish, with rainbow or crystal gems. Launch date: July 2008.

Love - Hope - Peace - Believe. Fashion Angels Enterprises' Faith Inspired jewelry collection includes necklaces with cross-shaped pendants and circle-shaped pendants with a cross in the center. The necklaces are embellished with Austrian crystals for just the right amount of glam, and etched with inspirational words. They come in a sterling-silver-plated and antique-silver finish in a decorative gift box. "There is a wide variety of finishes and word combinations for everyone's taste," noted Sarah Koth, PR coordinator for Fashion Angels Enterprises. Launch date: July 2008.

Wishing on stars is a thing of the past with the Wishes 2 Wear line from Fashion Angels Enterprises. Girls can write their wish on paper and slide it inside the pendant to wear close to the heart. The pendants have the sides — one with glam Austrian crystals and two with inspirational sayings such as "Peace - Live in Peace." The necklaces come with a chain and leather cord, with six different messages in antique brass or antique silver finish.

This combo garden and playset gives girls the opportunity to grow a Lilly Bloom and Jasmine Fern while also utilizing the main flower as an enchanting doll house. The set comes with two dolls, two seed packets and 20 accessories.

This origami kit comes with 16 sheets of metallic gold paper and 16 sheets of red- and gold-toned, multicolor paper. When completed, the star has 20 points and measures approximately 6" in diameter.

This kit includes ingredients to make flavored lip balm that has an SPF of 15.

After the potion dice are rolled, it is the goal of the two to four players/apprentices to be the first to create the potion as instructed. They must be careful, though, as some apprentices may steal ingredients, change the recipe altogether or even spill the cauldron. The game comes with 52 cards, four dice, 20 token, a token bag and a cauldron. Launch date: 2008.

Girls who-just-wanna-have-fun will enjoy the tween-themed 6.75" x 9" Text Message Insulated Lunch Box. It features "LOL" zip pull and a 3-dimensional flower. The lunch box includes a nylon handle and shoulder strap. Launch date: 2008.

This 10.25” x 10” Laugh Out Loud paper frame has dimensional flower pop ups and a vibrant, popping pattern. Launch date: 2008.

This fantasy story is about 12-year old Sophie’s adventures during her summer vacation while visiting her archeologist grandparents in Greece. They are in the middle of an exciting dig, resurrecting an ancient goddess temple. When she meets a new friend, Tena, the two girls find themselves in trouble as they venture into explorations of their own. The experiences and challenges Sophie and Tena go through teach them the importance of self-love. This hardcover adventure book contains 192 pages, 10 full-color illustrations, a parent workbook and guide. "This book is geared for women and girls," said Bridgette Nofer, Executive Administrator, Nea Matia Inc. Home of SophiaDolls. Launch date: 7/21/2008.

This book allows girls to create their own poseable fairy dolls that feature petal dresses and flowing floss hair. Supplies to make 12 posey pixies are included, and the book is written by Rachel Haab.
- “Girls love Klutz; [it] sells constantly,” Jeanne McCullough, owner of Children’s Store Inc. in Boise, Idaho, told TDmonthly.  
- “Klutz is No. 1 by far,” said Ron Banducci, co-owner of Games Unlimited in Danville, Calif., when telling TDmonthly about best-selling items for tweens in fall 2008.
- “[Tweens] want to make something,” said Diana Gisolfi, co-owner of Sister’s Kids in Springfield, Mass.

This fluffy white horse comes with a special code kids can use to access Webkinz World online.
— Kathy Mabry, owner of The Village Toy Shop in North Easton, Mass., told TDmonthly that Webkinz continue to be a top seller for her store. She reported sales of hundreds every month in early fall 2008.
— “Ganz’s Webkinz — they're still selling well here,” said Linda Laramy, owner of Cracker Jacks in Easton, Md., when asked about best-selling items for tweens. “They’re still very popular.”
— Webkinz was on the top-10 best-seller list at Pun’s Toy Store in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in October 2008. “Although not the sellers they were before, they still present the greatest play value in our industry,” Owner Joe Berardoni, Sr., said.

PakNaks are soft, rubbery 3-D decorations designed for kids (and adults!) to use to personalize backpacks, lunch bags, headbands, computer bags, household items and more. There are more than 40 available designs. Customized Velcro makes them interchangeable and weather resistant, and they quickly and easily adhere to surfaces. Robert measures 2.5” x 2.5”.
— “PakNaks are from a new little small company, and we’ve been selling them like hotcakes since Easter,” said Michelle Smith, owner of Piccolo Mondo Toys in Portland, Ore., in December 2008. “We were the first ones to launch them.”

This striped character comes with an Internet access code that gives kids the freedom to explore Webkinz World online with the virtual equivalent of the plush pet. The tiger’s special item in the virtual world is a rock ledge bed.
— “Webkinz are still selling,” Owner Randy Austin of The Gifted Child in Lenox, Mass., told TDmonthly in summer 2008.
— “We move probably 100 to 150 per month,” William Meredith, owner of Learning Express in Cary, N.C., told TDmonthly in August 2008.
— Twenty percent of 64 retailers named Webkinz as their top-selling collectible toy in summer 2008.
Six of 63 retailers named Webkinz as their overall best seller in September 2008.

With this kit, kids can color a dragon and butterflies on purse that measures 10” W x 7.5” H x 3.5” D. It comes with six permanent markers in a pouch.
—  The “Color a Purse and Backpack by Alex,” are popular girls’ gifts at Pun’s Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Owner Joe Berardoni told TDmonthly in July 2008.
— Four retailers of our 68 mentioned Alex craft kits as a best-selling product.