November 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Preschoolers can practice drawing and writing by tracing the lights that make shapes and letters. This portable tool is designed to foster development of phonics and early writing skills, as well as gaining control of a pencil. It employs a retraceable surface, and parents can find more ideas for learning online at the LeapFrog Learning Path.
— As of 7.26.2010, this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from - reviews on Amazon.com, and was listed No. 20 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Educational but entertaining; children seemed to enjoy learning to write with this product. CONS: Some customers felt the product did not provide enough constructive feedback.

Designed for wannabe DJs, this digital music system allows kids to record samples, demo mash-ups and mix and match loops. A online site allows kids to start a collection of tracks and special effects as they create their own beats.

Made in collaboration with ASUS, this Disney netbook computer for kids is designed to be Web-safe and easy to use. It has a sturdy design, various options for parental control, an 8.9” LCD screen, Wi-Fi capabilities, Windows XP Home, and child-friendly software that features Disney. It is available in Princess Pink and Magic Blue. Launch date: Summer 2009.

Contagious musical fun. Delightful characters help put those germs at bay! Original, easy to learn songs that really connect with young children.

Bilingual fun for young children. Includes songs for Spanish/English Alphabet, Colors, Numbers, Opposites, Dancing, and more.

A twist to new and old holiday favorites. Holiday fun that children will want to play over and over.

Celebrate the outdoors with music, movement and imagination as children explore and experience nature’s musical symphony featuring songs with movement and delightful character interactions like Let’s Go Green, Quackadoodlemoo, the Ugly Buglies and Waddle Waddle.

Encouraging young children to explore, experience and create through music and imagination for ages 2 to 8. Includes songs to use with rhythm sticks, drums, and lots of fun creative movement activities.

This rugged playset is constructed of Sprigwood, which is a bio-composite material that blends reclaimed wood and recycled plastic, and is dyed with safe pigments. The set includes explorer and rescue boats, Captain Owen the adventure guide, an interchangeable adventure hat, a life preserver, mother and baby dolphins, and a backpack accessory.

The Winner's Challenge Set features NASCAR authorized cars—Chevrolet Monte Carlo Car of Tomorrow J. Burton and Dodge Charger Car of Tomorrow K. Petty. The slot cars feature realistic acceleration and braking, and a polarity switch to change directions. Set includes 5 standard straights, 1 connecting section, 12 high banked curves, 2 controllers, transformer, guard rails, and instructions. 1:32 Scale.
— In the autumn of 2010, 2 of 33 toy-store owners told TDmonthly that slot cars were their best RC/hobby line.
— ''We carry the full line and have a Digital Set set up for customers to try out,'' said Dave Campbell, owner of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont.

The wide tracks of this tactical slot race track provide optimal racing in bends with sensational drifts and power slide action—you can accelerate, brake, even pass and change lanes at full speed with the touch of a button. Maximize the action by racing up to six cars at once on a stable track system with perfect track contact every time. Both the track and cars are made to scale (1:24 and 1:32 respectively). Cars are individually codable with five speeds and are controlled digitally.

Carrera's Digital 143 set can race up to 3 cars at once. You get realistic tactical racing in 1:43 scale with the ability to change lanes and pass. Full speed lane changing and passing at the push of a button. It is compatible with the Carrera Go series, making for expansive possibilities.

This fun bag for day trips features padded shoulder straps that adjust to fit, a handle on the top, zipper closure for the main storage area, and a zipped compartment on top that stores a weatherproof hood. It also comes with a detachable safety rein for parental use.

Each of the 52 cards in this set includes a funny drawing, a catchword and a phrase. They are designed to be drawn randomly to spark conversation between parent and child, to provide comfort or reward, or to function as an ice breaker at a kids' party.

This punky yet cute Bottle Cap Pendant features a skull with pink hearts for eyes topped with a pink polka dot bow. Bottle Cap Pendants are interchangeable. Pendant chains are sold separately.

Deep black with subtle green sparkles, this slightly stiffer Thinking Putty has a mind of its own. Near a powerful magnet it comes alive! Strong enough to defy gravity. It can even lift tacks and paperclips on its own after charging in a magnetic field. One would be mesmerized by the invisible forces at play.
— Candace Gooch, owner of At Once All Agog in Limerick, Maine, told TDmonthly in July 2010 that this product is one of her top-three best sellers. She cited sales of 12 in the last month and three in the last week.
— In a late Summer 2012 survey, three out of 12 retailers said Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty was their bestselling novelty item. Richard Gibson, owner of Learning Express of Newton in Newton, Mass., told TDmonthly that the putty brings in $5-6,000 a year, and "the best is the magnetic one."
— In a Fall 2013 survey, three out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty was their best-selling novelty toy.

The ZipBin® Dinosaur Mini Play Set's features a dramatic exterior theme design, and when the bin is unzipped, it becomes a dinosaur island play mat. This activity mat is perfect for playing with dinosaurs, animals, vehicles, boats, action figures, etc. Fantasy play is encouraged by a prehistoric world featuring a volcano, a river, a tar pit and a mysterious cave. When play is done, the play mat easily becomes the storage bin, storing toys inside. Set includes 3 plastic dinosaurs.

Jewel Tone Tie Dye kits offer an assortment of two-tone color combinations colors with easy-to-follow instructions that allow anyone to create sophisticated variations on 3 tie dye patterns popular in today’s fashion world. Each kit includes enough products for two shirts: two applicator bottles with coordinating Procion MX dye colors, soda ash dye fixer, gloves and rubber bands. Jewel Tones are available in 7 beautiful color combinations: Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Onyx, Ruby, Sapphire, and Topaz. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: February 2010.

This kit has a unique tie dye method designed to get the best Camouflage look. Complete, easy-to-follow instructions the Classic Camo pattern and ideas for creating 3 other dye patterns are included. The kit contains two applicator bottles of Procion MX dye, one container of dye for immersion bath, soda ash dye fixer, gloves, rubber bands and will dye up to four shirts. Launch Date: January 2010.

This set of two construction vehicles is outfitted for Nuchi train tracks. There's a rubber tread on the front of the steamroller and a functional red tipper decking out the front of the bulldozer.

This product is designed so that young toddlers will delight in placing the dowel/balls in the holes, turning the base, and watching the whirling forms turn around. Older toddlers can start to build with the hardwood squares, put “red hats on the red heads," and stack colored shapes into sturdy towers. Preschoolers can build more complex and imaginative structures while exploring how motion changes the appearance and stability of forms. "Torno Torno combines a wood building toy with a wood turn-table base that is activated by the child — no batteries, just the child's gentle push and imagination," Karen Hewitt, president of Learning Materials Workshop, told TDmonthly. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 10 Best Toys 2009. Launch date: November 2009.

"Young Minds - Numbers and Counting" teaches young children how to count from 1 to 10 by way of visually counting objects on the screen in an interactive manner. he entire production is set to classical music from Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi and other classical composers. The objects counted on the screen include animals, machines, fruits, vegetables and scenes from nature. "Our DVD has substantially more educational value than other DVDs marketed to this age segment. In addition to numbers, our DVD also teaches animal sounds, colors, and much more," Jason Gibson, owner of Math Tutor DVD, told TDmonthly. This DVD has received the following awards: Dr. Toy Top 100 Best Products 2009; 2009 Dr. Toy Top 10 Best Audio-Video Products 2009; Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) 2009; iParenting Media 2009; Creative Child Magazine Top Choice Award 2009; Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence 2009; and "The Toy Man" Award 2009. Launch date: July 21, 2009.

"Up Down & All Around" is a creative movement/exercise DVD for people of all ages and abilities. The DVD provides resources to develop gross motor skills, spatial awareness, strength and balance. It’s designed to be easy to follow, easy to do, and encourage adult-child interactions. "It was designed specifically to be utilized by educators and parents to do with their students and children. ... each of the eight sections of the DVD begin with bulleted objectives. There is also a detailed movement guide ... [that] explains how to do each section of the program in depth, what kinesthetic skills are being addressed, as well as offers fun variations to the exercises. This is a comprehensive program that will help schools and communities meet the National Physical Education Standards as well combat the obesity epidemic," Stacey Pepper Schwartz, founder of Leaping Legs Creative Movement Programs, told TDmonthly. The DVD was awarded Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Active Products 2009 and Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children’s Products 2009. Launch date: December 21, 2008.

Little Bites Freezer Trays are designed to make storing and freezing homemade baby and toddler foods safe and easy. Made of durable, BPA-free and phthalate-free silicone, these stackable trays feature four storage cups and a see-through silicone lid. Users seal with a pinch, and then place in the freezer. They are sold in sets of two, and feature 2-oz. servings that can simply be popped out, warmed and served. The toxin-free trays are freezer safe, dishwasher safe and microwave safe. Kinderville offers "uniquely designed products made of resilient silicone. Not too many items in the market place ... are similar to what we are offering," Oliver Albers, president of Luft Industrie LLC dba Kinderville, told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2009.