November 2011 New Specialty Toys — All

Choose from 6 themes: Winter Fun, Celebrity Sleepover, Beach Boogie, Fun in the Sun, Celebrity Wedding, and Diva Ballerina. These accessory sets expand the pretend play experience for Pawparazzi fans. Launch date: September 2011.

Pawparazzi Pet Personality Sets are the newest addition to the Pawparazzi line. 6 new 'mini' Personality Sets offer kids their Pawparazzi pet fix at a retail price of only $9.99. Each set includes a plush pet, clothing accessory, sticker, and trading card with fun facts about the famous pet. "Kids become engaged in the fantasy world built around Pawparazzi. Every pet has a personality that is enhanced through the product accessories and offerings and online at PlanetPawparazzi.com," Susan DeCoste, marketing coordinator at Noodle Head,Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011.

Destina Inc. has released its first expansion to the Wise Money board game: the Spanish Card Set. The Spanish Card Set is a direct translation of all the card decks in the original WiseMoney board game, from Banking and Investing to Identity Protection including directions in Spanish. The Spanish Card Set is an extension of the board game that uses all of the same basic game elements (board, spinner, dice, etc.) of the original English version. "Our product addresses the financial literacy needs in the Hispanic community," Jan Noah, director of R&D at Destina, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011.

The Laser Band is a laser-activated instrument from PlayAbility Toys that lets children and adults experience the joy of creating and playing beautiful music. The Laser Band allows everyone a world of musical opportunities with small arm and hand movements that break the plain of a laser beam. Launch date: October 2011.

Soft, white, and squishy, this 15" spherical polar bear is made of all new polyester fiber.

AnyBook Reader is a reading enhancement and reinforcement tool enabling language and reading enjoyment and improvement. This flexible record and playback tool with 60 hours of recording time enables read-out-loud record and playback by parent and/or child, building experience, confidence and reading ability. By recording their own reading voice the child can reinforce their own reading performance and the ability to record and playback any book or text tailors the reading and learning experience to the individual child. With ease parents can “read” to their child whenever he or she desires. The AnyBook Reader uses a simple touch, record, playback process that allows users to record the words on any page of any book so they can read to their children or grandchildren even when they’re not there. The AnyBook Reader comes with a selection of AnyBook Reader stickers. Each sticker uses a unique code which allows users to associate different recordings with every page of the book. These stickers use special glue that won’t damage the book so they can be removed and re-used at any time.
— As of 10/25/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 6 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros:  A great way for distant family members to stay connected with kids; can be used with any book; stickers are reusable. Cons: Takes a little while to set up.

AnyBook Reader is a reading enhancement and reinforcement tool enabling language and reading enjoyment and improvement. This flexible record and playback tool with 15 hours of recording time enables read-out-loud record and playback by parent and/or child, building experience, confidence and reading ability. By recording their own reading voice the child can reinforce their own reading performance and the ability to record and playback any book or text tailors the reading and learning experience to the individual child. With ease parents can “read” to their child whenever he or she desires. The AnyBook Reader uses a simple touch, record, playback process that allows users to record the words on any page of any book so they can read to their children or grandchildren even when they’re not there. The AnyBook Reader comes with a selection of AnyBook Reader stickers. Each sticker uses a unique code which allows users to associate different recordings with every page of the book. These stickers use special glue that won’t damage the book so they can be removed and re-used at any time.
— As of 10/25/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to use; Can be used with any book; a good way for parents and family members who live far away to connect with children.

All Toasty Friends products are filled with American-grown flaxseed and a special combination of FDA food grade herbs, which means they retain their temperature and aroma longer and provide ultimate therapy benefits. A Toasty Bear & Friends animal can help calm a child, soothe aches and pains, speed healing, relieve symptoms of flu, bronchitis, and other illnesses. They can warm up hands and feet, and fill a void caused by a loss or life change. They are ideal for those with arthritis, sore muscles, stress, anxiety, cramps, Alzheimer's, or anyone who needs a little tender loving care. Toasty Bears & Friends are a fun and inviting way to provide soothing comfort for the body and mind.  Over the years, the Toasty Bears Collection has grown to include a menagerie of friends such as Toasty Junior Bears, Toasty Curly Bears, Toasty Chamois Bears, and Toasty Looped Fabric Bears. In addition to these adorable lavender bears, the Toasty Bears & Friends Collection includes the Toasty Bunny Collection, the Toasty Wild Animal Collection, Toasty Beach Collection, and the Toasty Collar Collection.

Pony Pals are sidewalk pony bikes designed for children 2-5 years old. These pony bikes come with a life-like pony head with groomable mane, a miniature English saddle with matching tack, and a tail that bounces up and down when the pony bike is ridden. "Pony Pals are unique. There are no other life-like pony bikes in the market. Plus you can choose the color of mane, saddle & tack and color of tires at no extra cost," William C. Melzer, president of Pony Pals Ranch, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2009.

This toy is a box set of 12 realistic toy fish about 3 inches long.  The fish species are the ones we catch: Walleye, Northern Pike, Brook Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, Crappie, Muskellunge, Tiger Musky, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass. Made of plastic and hand painted. Box measures 7” x 3.8” x 1.4”. Launch date: November 2010.

A full, tulle skirt and delicate flowers sweetly accent this dancing doll's ensemble. She shows off her grace while holding a favorite teddy  bear. An ideal recital gift. Includes doll stand. Launch date: July 2011.

Giddy-up! With all of Raggedy Ann's charm, this darling rides off to her next imaginative adventure. Designed by award-winning designer and artist Linda Rick. Licensed by Precious Moments and Simon & Schuster. The full-vinyl doll is 9 inches tall and sits on a wooden rocking horse. Launch date: July 2011.

Players must complete each word challenge and motor across the USA. "Rest Stop" cards add to the fun along the way, with lucky breaks and the occasional pothole. Road Trip game contains 120 Challenge Cards, 40 "Rest Stop" cards, 7.5" x 20" Vintage Road Map Board, 30-sided Alphabet die, and 4 retro Station Wagon movers.
Awards: 2015 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Award; 2011 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award for Best Toys
— As of 10/21/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 3 reviews on Amazon.com.

Think-ets Holiday Collection is a carefully selected assortment of well-known holiday items that will engage kids before and after all the presents have been opened.  Kids will love the holiday themed trinkets and will begin telling lots of great stories right before your eyes. The game has 15 miniature trinkets from around the world and the same instruction booklet as Think-ets Original, with 10 different games to play, all housed in a red or green mesh pouch. Now kids can have their own Think-ets game with a holiday theme to it. Sample contents include: snowman, snowflake, jingle bell, present, tree, polar bear, slice of Yule log cake, ring, milk bottle, plate, and more.

This nostalgic edition of the classic CANDYLAND ® game is a “sweet” way for young children to have fun and learn at the same time. The adventure takes you on a wonderful journey, travelling past the Crooked Old Peanut Brittle House, and Lollypop Woods until you eventually reach Home Sweet Home…
As this magical experience unfolds, your child is learning colors without reading or counting.
This collectible tin edition features the charming graphics of the 1955 edition as well as the iconic gingerbread men. It is a timeless edition to be enjoyed by children of all ages with a sweet tooth for fun!

This premium edition game features the great fun of Monopoly with many premium upgrades including a solid wood cabinet in a black painted finish with a recessed flocked silver foil stamped rolling area.  Other upgrades include an integrated storage area with lined compartments and a wooden banker's tray.  This deluxe set also includes a silver foil stamped game path and Chance and Community Chest cards, Monopoly money with silver ink printing, wooden houses and hotels and plated die-cast tokens.

For game fans who like nostalgia and style, Winning Solutions’ Library Classic Collection includes special editions of MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE and CLUE board games, packaged within a luxe faux-leather “book” that makes a decorative addition to any bookshelf. Each game design is inspired by original graphics and game pieces that made these brands cultural icons, such as wooden houses and hotels in the MONOPOLY Library Classic game, and die-cast metal “weapon” play pieces in the CLUE Libary Classic version.

Players of all ages and abilities will enjoy the new BIG scale Scrabble, which is 50 percent larger than the original version, making the print easier to read and letters easier to manipulate for older (and even younger) players. The Giant SCRABBLE game features an oversized, rotating wooden game board. The tiles and rack are also made with wood and the gold-foil raised grid keeps letters in place during play.

Smart Mat multi-purpose play mats are ideal indoors or out; for playrooms, story time, snack time, the beach, backyard, even classrooms. Children will engage in hours of imaginative play using their own vehicles, such as PlaSmart’s Wonky Wheels, as well as play figures. With a giant play surface (minimum 78” x 46”), Smart Mats are easy to clean, travel, and store. Made from high quality, coated, EVA foam.

The Cassie brings plenty of charm to a doll's neighborhood. The second floor has two dormers with gable windows, while the first floor features a transom-lit door and three-over-four windows for well-lit living spaces. An open back makes designing and decorating easy. This superior-quality dollhouse comes as natural, unpainted wood, and is ready to be assembled, shingled and decorated by its owner. Shingles and paint not included in kit. 1:12 scale. Dimensions: 18" x 20.5" x 24" Assembled
— In an October 2011 survey, Robert Lightburn from Cville's Hobbies, Games and Toys in Charlottesville, Va., told TDmonthly that "Collectible doll houses, like Melissa and Doug's House that Jack Built," are their best selling keepsake items.

In this game, players build a railroad empire in the land of the rising sun. Players use their initial investment to build track. Then pick up commodities where they are grown, mined, or manufactured and deliver them to a lucrative place of demand. Players complete a delivery and make the money they need to buy larger, faster trains, and expand their railroad empire. Win the game by building the most effective railroad empire. Obstacles are rival tracks and Japan’s great mountains, channels, and rivers and restrictive coastline.
Nippon Rails is geographically accurate. The game depicts Japan’s rivers, plains, and mountains, as well as its natural resources. It’s a great way to learn about the geography, business, shipping, and transportation of Europe while having fun with friends or family. For 2-6 players. Playing Time: 120-240 minutes. Launch date: October 20, 2011.
— As of 10/20/2011 this product had 6.7 out of 10 stars from 358 ratings on BoardGameGeek.com.

Watching the rising and falling colored blobs in these lamps is hypnotizing. They measure 13.75 inches tall and come in three assorted colors: pink, green and blue.
— Mary Porter, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn Va., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that she sells several of these lamps each month, making them her best selling tween item.
— Marc Slotin, owner of My Imagination Station in Spartanburg, S.C., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that lava lamps were a big seller with tweens.

This bracelet features a pink band covered in orange rhinestones, and bright orange ties. 7" long.
— Joanne Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that jewelry from Natural Life is a best selling product for tweens at her store.

A class trip to a local natural history museum  takes a  dangerous turn for the characters of this book, the fifth and allegedly final installment of The Secret Series, when a mummy with a missing finger goes missing. Launch date: September 2011.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 5 out of 5 stars from 155 reviews on BarnesandNoble.com.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 5 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 4.39 out of 5 stars from 106 ratings on GoodReads.com.