December 2012 New Specialty Toys — Interactive

This giant and cuddly plush horse measures 42 inches long and features 9 interactive functions. GALOO comes with a saddle and a carrot to feed him. Innovative KidooPets show kids how to nurture while having fun. These quality plush toys are designed in France and made with only the finest materials. Launch date: 2013.

Laser Maze is an innovative new game that integrates the use of laser beams into a mind-challenging logic game. 60 challenges flex strategic thinking muscles and ignite the light both on the grid and in players' minds.

Where to buy:
NORTH EAST

Time to dust off the FURBISH dictionary because FURBY is back and ready to take the world by storm. Kids had better be prepared because FURBY has A MIND OF ITS OWN. Feed it, speak to it, tickle it, play music for it, and shake, tilt or turn your FURBY upside down. But be warned - how kids treat their FURBY will shape its personality.Kids can also download a free app to help them translate FURBISH, as well as virtually feed their FURBY and other interactive features. App is optional and works with iPad, iPod touch and iPhone with iOS 4.2 or later. Launch date: 2012.

Kids will meet friendly animals in their home environments: farm, pond, forest and yard. Each book introduces readers to other animals that the main character meets along the way. The pages are filled with sounds, lively text and beautiful illustrations.

With their amusing movements and realistic sounds, the lively animals in this series will easily keep kids engaged. Books also include riddles to solve and fun information about adorable animals that live on the farm, in the forest, in the pond, and at the zoo.

This series is great for little readers who love to build and repair things. Sam is not only a skillful builder, but also a good teacher. In these books he shows kids how to repair a car or build something special. Each book include the sounds of tools, amusing melodies, and colorful pictures.

This exciting series introduces kids to the wonders and dangers of many worlds: underwater, forest, jungle, savanna, and the land of dinosaurs. 3D pictures and realistic sounds bring to life the atmosphere of nature in all its wildness. Detailed pull-out cards provide lots of information about each creature.

Classic fairy tales given a modern twist with pop-up pictures and magical sounds! These books unlock the enchantment of the past and keep children eager for the next turn of events as they read one page after another. They'll want to read these classic stories over and over again.

Kids love to get into the act, and this charades game is made especially to put youngsters in the spotlight. In this game, every player gets in the act on every turn, so it's ideal for home or school play. And there is no reading required, so little ones can play without help from Mommy or teacher. Encourage creativity and communication skills while having active fun. It's a game the whole family can play and enjoy. National Parenting Publications Award and Early Childhood News 100 Best Picks.

The Hot Dots pen works with dozens of Hot Dots card sets, providing instantaneous visual and audio feedback. Simply press the pen to choose an answer on any Hot Dots or Hot Dots Jr. card for an immediate response—cool, kid-friendly phrases for correct answers and gentle redirection for incorrect responses.

The interactive Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Star Doll set comes with 6 removable hairstyles that play 6 different songs when placed on Harmony's head. Simply mount her on the dancing stage, press her chest, and watch as she sings, grooves and spins her hair around. Includes 1 doll, 1 stage, 6 hairpieces, 1 rattling pet cat and 1 poster.

Winner of Dr. Toys 100 Best Childrens Products of 2012 and 10 Best High-Tech Products of 2012, as well as a Preferred Choice Award by Creative Child Magazine, this new children's book is built around The Global Game Changers, a fictional team of superheroes whose leader, Global Girl, and her sidekick, Little Big-Heart, and their trust dog Pixel, recruit real-life kids to help change the world for the better by doing good things for others without expecting anything in return. At the end of The Global Game Changers book there is a call to action for the reader to be inspired to join the Alliance by visiting The Global Game Changers interactive web community where they can share their Ignite Good! stories, learn how to utilize their talents to affect things they are passionate about, have fun, and be empowered to help make a difference in the world. Launch date: July 15, 2012.

Tech 4 Kids has gone back to the drawing board to reinvent the board itself, with a new and unique artistic sensation. Each 3-D Magic creativity station gives kids an innovative designing world to generate a 3-D artwork, allowing them a new way to let their creativity run wild. This product magically transform designs into vibrant 3-D artwork by using the magnetic coloring studio and colorful 3-D Magic Dots. The unique magic dot pens allow children to place the 3-D Magic Dots to color in the stencil design bv either creating a single spot or make trails of multiple dots by running the pen across the screen. When finished, they sweep the dots into the sorter compartment and watch as the dots magically return back into the pens with absolutely no mess.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys

This new set of Smarcks Smart Blocks has 70 standard building blocks and four new smarter talking blocks. Each new Smart Block uses a higher capacity microprocessor and is equivalent to three of the original; so four blocks in this new set is equivalent to having 12 of the original. The new blocks have been programmed with a new progressive learning function to enable children, as they get older, to play differently as the blocks are programmed to react differently. Very young children can press the buttons in the blocks or stack them one block at a time. This is a discovery stage as they sing, play nursery rhymes, play sound effects, laugh, and talk about color and good manners. As children develop fine motor skills they begin to stack two blocks at a time. Play moves to a higher level as they sing nursery rhymes, like Old MacDonald, with 7 different animals and learn spelling, counting, math, and puzzle solving providing years of entertainment and learning.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys

The Construction Set includes nuts and bolts, wheels, pieces of different length and a screwdriver. 84 pieces in all made from Plantation Birch Wood. There is no limit to what kidscan make. Develops mechanical aptitude and stimulates the imagination.  Packaged in a durable flat box with a handle for easy storage. Launch date: June 2012.

The quality and solid construction of a Zither Heaven soprano ukulele puts this instrument in a class of its own. While reasonably priced to appeal to beginners and children, experienced musicians of all ages have fun playing the Zither Heaven soprano ukulele. The precise action and proper placement of the bridge enables chords to be played at the bottom of the neck as well as the top of the neck without losing its tune. Zither Heaven's soprano ukulele features a smaller body with a 14-inch vibrating string length. The neck is made of solid hard maple with nylon frets and nylon strings. The frets are closer together making it easier for a young child to play. Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. Zither Heaven's soprano ukulele is sturdy and easy to carry, making it the perfect choice for the smallest of children. Launch date: February 2012.

The quality and solid construction of a Zither Heaven ukulele puts this instrument in a class of its own. While reasonably priced to appeal to beginners and children, experienced musicians of all ages enjoy playing the Zither Heaven ukulele. The precise action and proper placement of the bridge enables chords to be played at the bottom of the neck as well as the top of the neck without losing its tune. The yellow ukulele features a 15-inch vibrating string length. The neck is made of solid hard maple with nylon frets and nylon strings. Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. The ukulele includes a tuning wrench and song booklet. Launch date: February 2012.