November 2009 New Specialty Toys — Gifts

High-end, custom-designed Five Star Copper Bookmarks are made with quality copper and Swarovski crystals and pearls, making them ideal for avid readers and gift giving. They come in three 3-1/2" high designs: a serene angel made with a divine crystal and opulent pearl; a paw print, which sports a teal or amethyst crystal; and a crystal-packing star. Launch date: October 15, 2009.

High-end, custom-designed Five Star Copper Bookmarks are made exclusively with quality copper and Swarovski crystals and pearls, making them ideal for avid readers and gift giving. They come in three 3-1/2"-high designs: a serene angel made with a divine crystal and opulent pearl; a paw print, which sports a teal or amethyst crystal; and a crystal-packing star. Launch date: October 15, 2009.

High-end, custom-designed Five Star Copper Bookmarks are made exclusively with quality copper and Swarovski crystals and pearls, making them ideal for avid readers and gift giving. They come in three 3-1/2" high designs: a serene angel made with a divine crystal and opulent pearl; a paw print, which sports a teal or amethyst crystal; and a crystal-packing star. "This is a novelty bookmark that's not sold everywhere," pointed out Lisa Goldman of Five Star Publications. "It's a real specialty item." Launch date: October 15, 2009.

"Legends in the Kitchen" is designed with delicious recipes to make it possible for chefs and novice cooks alike to impress friends and family with the same dishes celebrities prepare for their guests. Imagine the conversation around the table when diners discover they are noshing on the Beef Stew with Walnuts that Betty Ford makes for former President Gerald Ford, Victoria Principal’s Jade Empress Chicken or Dick Clark’s Cajun Corn Chowder. A portion of the book’s sales supports the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Launch date: January 2010.

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 Dream Baby Hallway Security Gate is designed to fit any opening 38' to 53.5'. The gate comes with a 7' extension and a 3.5' extension. It is pressure mounted, swings closed automatically, has a door that opens in both directions and closes automatically, and functions with one-handed operation. It is created for easy installation and comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty. This gate is available in white or black. Launch date: November 10, 2009.
— As of August 2010, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on Amazon.com. PROS: Sturdy, effective and fits even wide doorways. CONS: Some parents felt the gate was too difficult to open and close.

This add-on kit includes nine colored, durable magnets that can be used with the Every Day Kits or other sets. It could make an educational gift for homeschooling, help get kids organized and into routine, aid kids learning English, and help children with special needs. "This teacher-created product arose because of parent requests for a daily schedule like the one in my classroom," Elaine Comeau, founder of Easy Daysies, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2009.

This kit includes nine colored, durable magnets (perfect for little hands) that can be used on a fridge or on Easy Daysies Fold-&-Go. Some of the magnets in this set include Feed Pet, Clean Bedroom, Help Set Table, Walk the Dog, and two blank magnets to fill in for tasks like "Sitting Still and Eating Dinner," "Do Homework", etc.) Individuals can use a dry erase marker to check the white boxes below the task their child completes and reward him or her when all six boxes are checked. It can be used alone or mixed and matched with other Easy Daysies kits. It can be used from ages 2 1/2 and up since the pictures themselves are explanatory. Launch date: November 2009.

This magnetic daily schedule for kids consists of 18 durable, kid-friendly magnets and a fold-&-go magnetic board that kids can take anywhere. Grandparents and babysitters can easily know a child's daily routine. It can be personalized with a dry erase marker. Users can place magnets down the middle or use the "To Do" and "Done" columns for a reward system. The back stores unused magnets. This mom/teacher-created product is made in Canada of 70-percent recycled materials. Individuals can mix and match from nine different kits to create a family's or classroom's perfect routine. "A daily visual schedule helps children become more successful and independent all because they feel safe and confident knowing what is happening next! Wonderful for helping preschoolers or kids of any age, and children with special needs, with event transition," Elaine Comeau, founder of Easy Daysies, told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2009.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice of the Year Award (Parenting Aids-Teaching Responsibility & Educational Products-Preschool Category); 2010 Parent-Tested Parent-Approved Award

Gigapals is an award winning online interactive learning experience for kids ages 3-6. Each plush toy comes with an "adoption code" on certificate that can be used to register the Gigapal on the Gigapals website and enjoy an educational experience for kids ages 3 to 6.

Gigapals is an award winning online interactive learning experience for kids ages 3-6. Each plush toy comes with an "adoption code" on certificate that can be used to register the Gigapal on the Gigapals website and enjoy an educational experience for kids ages 3 to 6.

Show your basketball team spirit with the Basketball Car Kit for vehicles. One basketball for your car window and a basketball for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Show your football team spirit with the Football Car Kit for vehicles. One football for your car window and a football for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a Shamrock for St. Patrick's Day! Two shamrocks, one for each front window and a lucky Leprechuan hat for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a Valentine for Valentine's Day! Two hearts, one for each front window and a heart with Cupid's arrow through it for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a candy cane this Christmas with the Candy Cane Car Kit for vehicles. Two candy canes, one for each front window and a peppermint candy for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a bunny this Easter with the bunny ears car kit for vehicles. Two bunny ears, one for each front window and a pink nose for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a bat this Halloween with the batwing car kit for vehicles. Two batwings, one for each front window and a black nose for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant.

Make your car into a reindeer this Christmas with the reindeer car kit for vehicles. Two antlers, one for each front window and a red nose for the front grille make the look complete! Weather resistant. "You and your family will have so much fun when you drive your Reindeer Car around town and see the smiles on faces of all ages," Sue Valeri, inventor, told TDmonthly.

This classic cable knit baby blanket in pastel blue by Elegant Baby is an elegant gift for a baby boy. Adorned with a wide ribbed border this incredibly cuddly 100% cotton blanket can serve as a gift by itself, as well as being an ideal accent to the Elegant Baby cable knit jumpsuit or cable knit sweater.  The blanket is sized at 36” x 45”. Also available in chocolate, white and pink.

This signature Elegant Baby piggy bank features a beautiful orange color and adorable white polka dots. Hand-painted, no two piggy banks are alike. It’s packaged in a clear PVC box, so this coin bank makes for a nice gift for any baby shower or birthday.  Measures 6.5"x 5.75"x 7.75". Available in a variety of other colors.

The classic stuffed teddy bear with a soft cable knit exterior that makes this pink teddy bear pleasing to the touch but also durable enough to withstand the rigors of being baby’s favorite stuffed animal.  Also available in blue, chocolate and white.