December 2008 New Specialty Toys — Award Winners

This album features fun children's music that encourages creative movement and embraces, enriches, and extends early learning through songs that are age- and developmentally appropriate, as well as relevant to themes in a child's world. As a former prekindergarten teacher, Brian has long been an advocate of the philosophy known as emergent curriculum — a system of creating lesson plans that are based on student’s passions and interests. It was through this process, including arrangement tips and lyrical ideas from children, that each song was crafted. The CD won the 2008 Children's Music Web Award for Best New Artist for Preschoolers Ages 0-5. Launch date: June 2008.

Keys to Comprehension offers an adventurous way for kids to master six key skills. Players spin to determine which specific reading skill to focus on, draw a card, read its short passage, and then answer the specific skill question. If they get it right, they get a “key” for that skill. Once they collect all six keys they are on their way to unlocking the buried treasure and winning the game. The game for two to six players includes a gameboard, 90 question cards, 36 key cards, six pawns, and one die. "The Keys to Comprehension game is available in two different reading levels - RL 1-3 (REM 6006A) and RL 3-5 (REM 6006B)," Liz Mullen, director of sales for Remedia Publications, told TDmonthly. It received a Learning Magazine 2009 Teachers’ Choice Award. Launch date: 2006.

The Belly Bandit is an abdominal compression wrap for post-pregnant women. It is designed to help reduce the swelling of the uterus, decrease bloating caused by water retention, support the legs and back, and provide additional support for breast-feeding Moms. Tagless, latex-free, and comfortable under all clothing, the Belly Bandit also helps constrict the skin to help minimize stretch marks. Launch date: May 2008.

This much-anticipated first album from New York City’s favorite kindie rockers, "The Jimmies," has already met with wide acclaim and plenty of toe tapping, with music running the gamut from rock, funk, pop and blues to reggae, hip-hop and even Dixieland. The group's clever lyrics, catchy hooks and sophisticated melodies add up to an album full of songs listeners won’t mind getting stuck in their heads. Launch date: April 22, 2007.

Designed for children who are accustomed to saying, "Five more minutes, please," or interpret "right now" to mean at the commercial break, The My Time Activities Timer helps children complete tasks in a timely manner, self-monitor their leisure activities, and take more responsibility to manage their time. Features include Main Activity icon buttons (TV Time, Video Game Time, Computer Time) and a customizable interchangeable button (far right button on timer). The timer is easy to set up and use, and comes with instructions for pre-programming. "This product is ideal for children who need that extra help to limit their exposure to too much TV, video games and computer time, but also encourages [them] to spend more time reading, practicing music [and] doing physical activities," Veronique Bella, owner of My TIme Timer LLC, told TDmonthly. The timer requires 2 AAA batteries. It received a 2008 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center. Launch date: 2008.

"Moey’s Music Party" is a 17-song CD with fun songs that entertain and educate children — and get parents dancing, too. The songs are about manners, sharing, listening to parents, getting dressed, tasting sushi, and being a kid in New York City. They were inspired by award-winning, Off-Broadway songwriter Melissa Levis's (aka Moey’s) own experiences as a mother. “I Gotta Go Potty” was her son’s potty training mantra, and “Pierre Wouldn’t Wash His Hair” was her solution to his six-month hair-washing strike. The CD is a winner of Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Product 2008. Launch date: June 2008.

This high-quality iron-on patch (tattoo) for kids' clothing and jeans allows kids to express themselves. The product earned a 2008 Creative Child Magazine Award of Excellence. "We have creative designs and also offer a website to bank your points and earn prizes," Owner Carolyn Thiel of Jinks Tattoos told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2, 2008.

With hip-hop, reggae and R&B grooves, the CD gets everyone dancing and singing while counting, spelling and learning. Kids love the high-energy sound and educational messages, and parents will be surprised and engaged by the cool and unconventional songs. The CD has been applauded nationally by parenting publications, teachers and music critics. It received a 2008 Parents' Choice Award and a 2008 National Parenting Publications Award. "Alphabet Rockers provides educational hip-hop to the preK-1st grade market, which is more often saturated with folk and traditional children's music," Kaitlin McGaw, co-owner of School Time Music, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 23, 2007.

Players fill in their safari boards with base ten units and rods to escape the tiger. They'll learn about addition, subtraction and place value while trying to escape the tiger. "Place Value Safari is a great hands-on game for teaching math skills that's beautifully designed and includes materials children will have fun playing with while they're learning," Margo Hanson, marketing manager for Didax Education, told TDmonthly. This product received a 2008 Teacher's Choice Award and was a 2008 AEP(Association of Educational Publishers) Distinguished Award Winner. Launch date: February 2008.

This four-DVD set includes 20 award-winning and best-selling children's stories colorfully adapted for the small screen. It provides hours of educational fun, with a helpful Read-Along option. From recent children’s best-sellers like "Karma Wilson’s Bear Snores On" and "Bear Wants More," to classic tales like Beverly Clearly’s "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," this value-priced gift set offers parents and children true storytelling treasures, expertly designed to enhance the reading experience. Together, these stories-on-video have won 35 awards including the Caldecott Medal, the NAPPA Gold Award and the Parents’ Choice Gold Medal. "The Scholastic Storybook Treasures series is produced by Weston Woods Studios. The stories are carefully adapted from the original books, and producers work with authors and illustrators to be sure the productions are faithful to the original stories," Beth Blenz-Clucas of Foundry Communications told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 18, 2008.

Will this fish get his wish?  Join Theo on an amazing underwater adventure. Bonus features: Read-A-Long CD, read by the author, over 20 mouth-watering illustrations, a matching game, 15 ways to get your kids to eat more fruit, and green smoothie recipes using fruits and veggies. Hardbound. 36 pgs.

The award-winning Fruit Flies Picnic Book is now a fun interactive learning tool including 100 pop-up windows with fun fruit facts and history. Learn about 48 fruits, 16 fruit-veggies, and 25 vegetables. Bonus features: audio narration, animated characters, clickable graphics, printable nutrition facts and supplemental documents with over 130 discussion questions. Can be used individually or as a whole class activity. Windows and Mac compatible. Winner of the 2008 Dr Toys 100 Best children’s Products Award and 2007 Best New Product of the Year Finalist- Stevie’ Awards for Women in Business.

After reading this book, kids will want to have their own fruit flies’ picnic. Join these bug buddies as they gather a feast of fruit. Kids will learn the importance of eating fruit in all sizes and shapes. Bonus features: Read-A-Long CD, read by the author, filled with music, sound effects and 30 mouth-watering illustrations. Reviewed in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Hardbound, 32 pgs. This product has received the following awards: 2007 Best New Product of the Year Finalist- Stevie’ Awards for Women in Business, 2007 Best Book Award Finalist - USA Book Awards, 2005 iParenting Media Award, and the 2005 Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Children's Product

This nutrition game is SmartPicks' top selling game for over 12 years. This updated version makes learning about basic food groups and healthy alternatives a treat for players of all ages and appetites. Based on the new MyPyramid, this game provides a variety of food choices that will improve the quality of an average American diet. Winner of the Learning® Magazine 2008 Teachers' Choice Award. For 2-30 players.

Treasures and Traps™ is a complete card game that puts you in the role of the hero. Your quest is to collect three treasures before anyone else. Sounds simple enough, but throw in a two-headed troll, a maze of dangerous doors, and a few cunning thieves and you won't know what might happen next. With 100 different cards, each game is a unique journey of wild adventure never to be repeated again. Awards: 2007 Origins Award Best Card Game of the Year Silver Award. "Treasures and Traps is a game that the family plays. Kids, youth, and adults all enjoy it. This features makes it unique-we have heard countless stories of parents and kids, young and old, boys and girls, spending time together enjoying this one," C. Aaron Kreader, Designer, Studio 9 Inc. Launch date: 8/1/2006.