November 2009 New Specialty Toys — General Toys

 Airzooka is a hand-held device that  blows a harmless "ball of air" towards any object or person. Laugh with amusement as, seemingly from nowhere, you are able to mess up someone's hair, ruffle their shirt or just plain blow them away! It's available in four blacklight-responsive colors: Blue, Green, Orange and Magenta.
― Out of 39 retailers who participated in an October 2009 survey of specialty retailers, two said the AirZooka is their best-selling item for tween boys.

The Amazing String Thing transforms an ordinary piece of string into a magical moving rainbow nearly 3' in the air. Point it up, down, even sideways and watch as the string playfully dances in mid-air. Gently touching the string generates wave patterns and interactive shapes that seem to defy gravity. Kids can operate The Amazing String Thing while inside the custom base (directly on any table top), or they can simply take the lightweight hand-held wand wherever they go and conduct their very own string show. It requires 4 "AA" batteries, not included.

With a gentle spin, watch in amazement as the Non-Stop Top™ picks up speed and keeps its balance — defying physics, gravity and logic. Add to this a light show that seems to change with every spin and watch as it fills the room with wonder. It spins on any hard surface and comes with replacement batteries.

You have seen it in movies and on TV hundreds of times. Just before the marksman takes the shot, the red laser dot appears on the target. Now kids are able to do the same! Turn on the Laser AirZooka™, place the laser dot on the target and shoot a harmless ball of air. Laugh with amusement as, seemingly from nowhere, you are able to mess up a person's hair, ruffle their shirt, dress or office papers or simply try your luck at indoor target practice from a distance of over 50 feet away!

The Party Animal’s Lil’ TEAMMATES NCAA Running Back is available in the authentic uniform of more than 50 NCAA College Teams. Team Quarterback will also be available in 2010. Vinyl figures are approximately 3” tall with rotating heads. Comes in eye-catching, peggable double blister package. For ages 4-10. Hand painted, phthalate and lead free. Tested and meets all requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

The Party Animal’s Lil’ TEAMMATES NFL Quarterback is available in the authentic uniform of all 32 NFL Teams. Team Running Back will also be available in 2010. Vinyl figures are approximately 3” tall with rotating heads. Comes in eye-catching, peggable double blister package. For ages 4-10. Hand painted, phthalate and lead free. Tested and meets all requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

The Party Animal’s Lil’ TEAMMATES MLB Pitcher is available in the authentic uniform of all 30 MLB Teams. Team Batter will also be available in 2010. Vinyl figures are approximately 3” tall with rotating heads. Comes in eye-catching, peggable double blister package. For ages 4-10. Hand painted, phthalate and lead free. Tested and meets all requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

The Party Animal’s Lil’ TEAMMATES NBA Playmaker is available in the authentic uniform of all 30 NBA Teams. Vinyl figures are approximately 3” tall with rotating heads. Comes in eye-catching, peggable double blister package. For ages 4-10. Hand painted, phthalate and lead free. Tested and meets all requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

These evening gowns come individually packaged in a clear plastic pouch. The gowns are designed to fit dolls approximately 11.5" in height. Available in assorted colors.

The Jelly Flyer adds a new dimension of fun to flying toys.  Its floppy and flexible properties makes catching it easy and painless, even for little kids.  Just 4 inches in diameter, it’s safe indoors or out. Available in 5 vibrant colors (and glow-in-the-dark styles).

A newer model to the original wooden flying copter. Aero-Props are high flying, hand propelled plastic copters. Available in Primary, Glitter, Glow-in-the Dark, and Neon colors.

This pthalate- and latex-free puppy jumping toy promotes balance and coordination.

These jumping balls come in either 18" or 22" sizes. Colors include pink, blue, red and yellow and the balls can come with single or double grips. Launch date: 2009.

For little linebackers who can’t wait to hit the fields, the nine-piece Touchdown Football Set includes a kid-sized football with “laces” for proper holding technique, an adjustable goal post and a kicking tee. "This play set encourages outdoor, active play for children. It also develops hand-eye (foot-eye) coordination," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

The iPlay Six Pin Bowling Set includes flat-bottomed pins and a weighted foam ball for indoor or outdoor play. The set comes stored in a study zippered bag for both portability and storage. "Weighted pins allow for easier set up. Children love this age-old game for indoor and outdoor play, featuring parts in fun and stimulating colors," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Each Splat Attack display comes with 12 splat balls in six styles: Egg, Tomato, Gold Pig, Green Pig, Purple Pig and Orange Pig. Kids can throw them on the ground to see them splat and morph back into their original shape. In addition to the six styles, the company can create customized Splat Attack to feature licensed products or specifications. Launch date: August 2009.

This kit contains everything needle to make two cute stuffed owls, right down to the stuffing, scissors and needle. The owl pattern is printed onto unbleached cotton fabric, making it easy to cut out and simple to sew together the owls. The box is printed on the inside to cut it out and recycle it into glasses for your owl. Launch date: January 2, 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.

This interchangeable charm features a full-color image and a round clasp. Full length including clasp is 1.5". Launch date: March 2004.

The collection includes a complete set of gingerbread characters: Cookie Formal Boy, Cookie Cinamon Girl, Cookie Softy Snowmank, Cookie Boy and Cookie Reindeer. They are 8" with colorful holiday buttons and edging, ideal for gifts, decor or play. "Douglas toys are distinctive in design and quality. There is visual appeal as well as true quality workmanship and safety consciousness," Erika Radich, marketing manager for Douglas Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 20, 2009.

This distinctive bank has a patented, four-chambered design created to help kids (ages 4-11) and their parents or grandparents begin a conversation about money. It helps teach basic money skills (Fiscal Fitness Training for Money - Smart Kids™) by introducing four choices: SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST. It is available in brown with white stripes and laces. The Money Savvy Football Bank received a 2008 NAPPA Gold Award and a 2008 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: December 2006.

A cousin to the award-winning Money Savvy Pig® piggy bank, this four-chambered bank is designed to help kids (ages 4-11) and their parents or grandparents begin a conversation about money. It helps teach basic money skills by introducing four choices: SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST. It is available in clear with black cow spots. "Its unique four-chambered design allows children to deposit their money through four separate slots on the top of the bank — one slot for each money choice — and empty each money chamber individually through the feet on the bank," Melinda Voelcker, director of operations and marketing for Money Savvy Generation, told TDmonthly. It has received the following awards: 2004 Parents' Choice Gold Award and 2008 NAPPA Gold Award (National Parenting Publications Awards). Launch date: November 2004.