April 2011 Notable Toys — All

This wooden train from European company GoKids features a train car that holds a set of colorful wooden blocks. The train doubles as a pull toy, with a string in front for kids to tug along.

This set of wooden figures are bendable and poseable. The line also includes wooden furniture for the figures. Set of six figures.

With a little help from some crayons or colored pencils, and the included red and blue (cyan) 3-D glasses, the children (and adults) will discover a whole new world right before their eyes. While any child can appreciate the cool 3-D effect, the art books are very beneficial for children diagnosed with Autism, ADD, ADHD and Down Syndrome. Once the child sees the depth of these images, it almost ensures they will complete the task. Wholesale is sold in packages of 15. Launch date: March 2010.
Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy Award, June 2011
— Why it won: 3-D is no longer passive! This set of coloring books allows kids to feel their pictures have really come to life. Once they wear the special, included set of glasses, their work seems to pop off the page. It's a great toy for traveling or Dr.'s offices, and will be sure to keep kids and their spectators engaged for some time.

One 23" green Beanpod fits four Beandolls, including one pink Beandoll (named “MeiLin”), one red Beandoll (named “Bahiya”), one orange doll (named “Adora”) and one green doll (named “Oris”). The Beandolls are soft and cuddly and the Beanpod can be hung from a loop on its end. Each Beandoll represents a different cultural theme and has a special symbol on it (the meaning of which is explained on its tag). Also sold individually or in pods of two.

These puppets are hand-made in Bolivia. Kids slip their hands and feet into the puppet, so that their motions make the puppet move too. There are 5 different characters to choose from, including four animals and one clown.

Miniature versions of the popular Wahoo toys from Marky Sparky, kids can write messages on these pthalate- and latex-free animals, affix postage directly, and mail them to someone special. No packaging is needed.

The Elephant Table is built on a inter-locking frame and will not tip over. The seats are part of the table so they don't get moved or lost. Strong enough for the kids to stand on — even when they are not supposed to.

Roxie the Doxie, a new character line whose life inspires adventurous young girls to learn more about the world’s most interesting cities, features plush animals, stationery and room décor for girls. Roxie the Doxie takes tweens along for the ride as she travels the globe to meet new friends and explore the food, fun and fashions other cultures have to offer. The smart and inquisitive Roxie likes exploring, discovering, learning new things, trying new foods, sharing with her friends and journaling about all her adventures. She travels a lot because her parents are diplomats and take her all over the world. Roxie keeps in touch with her friends by sending them postcards and emails. Each product offering will highlight the different locations Roxie visits; the first being Paris (next stop, London). The “dream” plush with journal has an MSRP of $20. Plush is safe for ages three and up.

After a mysterious explosion in the high school science lab, 16 ordinary bugs were transformed into something more: Smarter, stronger, faster---they became Power Buggz. Power Buggz turns standard vehicle play into a character-based competition between well-developed personalities battling with their unique speed features. Ripcords, pullbacks, crawlers and a competition Stunt Battle play set make up the initial product line. Figures include a Battle Card with bio, stats and multiple game play options to get things going.

Constructed of durable, lightweight foam, Big Grips Frame is a big, soft protective case for iPad that is easy to grab, comfortable to hold and very grip-able. Big Grips Frame mounts snugly into Big Grips Stand in portrait or landscape orientation for watching movies, working at a desk, or surfing on the couch. Made from the same material as Big Grips Frame, Big Grips Stand is sturdy and stable—even on soft or uneven surfaces. Big Grips Frame and Big Grips Stand are available separately for $34.95 and $24.95 or as a matching set for $49.95. They come in four colors: Fresh Green, Electric Blue, Carnation Pink and Steel Grey
— As of 10/01/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 14 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to grip; thick protective material. Cons: The cover makes it difficult to charge the iPad or plug in headphones.

Each PetCakes animal features a "frosting" hat, comes nestled in its own cupcake wrapper and has its own whimsical backstory. At first look, children will see a delicious cupcake but will then be surprised by the pet they find snuggled inside. PetCakes are collectible and provide hours of open-ended imaginative play.

This exclusive design is printed on 50# premium coated paper. Available in 18" (price give), 24", and 30" widths. Roll lengths are either 417' or 833'.

These expandable, retractable dollhouses are designed to fit in any room, large or small. The dollhouse can be folded up into its small box, or expanded to turn an entire room into a dollhouse for fashion dolls 12" and under.  No tools required for setup, no small parts. Set-up time- Approx. 10 minutes. Expands up to 108"W x 72"D, Weighs 5 lbs. Made in the US of recycled materials.

This fun variation of Ludo lets kids kick those pesky monsters out of their closet and move them around the board to send them back to a cave where they belong. But players must watch out- if another player's monster catches up, the first player's monster will go running back to hide in the closet all over again. Kids get to draw and color their own fun monster pictures to create their very own game pieces.

Kids can become jungle adventurers by racing jumbo-sized game pieces filled with their own photographs, or pictures of imaginative jungle creatures that they get to color or draw themselves, against one another.

This soft plush monkey with super sweet face is perfect for hugging. "Features velcro hands," Valerie Henderson, administrative assistant at Lambs & Ivy, told TDmonthly.

These unique Bath to Go gifts are perfect for baby’s bath. Each design includes a hooded towel with appliqué, three squirt toys, two wash cloths and a re-useable bath bucket. The terry cloth is 100% Cotton and the squirt toys are baby safe.

Meet brother and sister Momo and Mimi. These cute plush monkeys come together with Momo holding little Mimi. "The monkeys feature brightly colored striped socks," Valerie Henderson, administrative assitant at Lambs & Ivy, told TDmonthly.

Meet Sock the Zebra. With his super soft plush and sweet face, anyone is sure to love cuddling with Socks. Launch date: 2011.

Meet Bubbles and Squirt, two adorable and fun fish from under the sea. These sweet fish come together as a set with their brightly colored embroidery and super soft plush fabric. Launch date: 2011.

All-in-one pillow+mat+blanket. An easy solution for daycare, Preschool, travel, Grandma’s house or just any time a little one needs to relax. This easy to carry mat that is colorful and versatile. Easy to roll up, has Velcro closures and a carry handle. There is also a name tag included. Comes in three different styles.

Sunny SleeveZ are light-as-a-feather, 50+UPF fabric sun protection sleeves. They block 98% of UVA & UVB rays. No mess. No missed spots. No Fuss. Kids can wear Sunny Sleevez with a regular short sleeve & get instant, chemical-free sun block that never has to be reapplied. Slip them on in the sun, Slide them off when you're done. They provide sun protection "that never needs to be reapplied and won't get in babies eyes and mouths," Dashiel St. Damien, founder of Sunny SleeveZ, told TDmonthly. Available in 7 sizes (baby-adult), with a wide range of colors & designs, including 3D.

Sunny BeadZ Jewelry features color-changing beads that are white indoors and instantly change to color in the sun, the stronger the UV rays the brighter the color. Skin cancer rates are skyrocketing, (1 in 5 Americans diagnosed annually). Often some of the worst sun damage occurs on cloudy summer days when the UV rays are just as strong but the temperature is cool, but Sunny BeadZ alerts the wearer to the strength of the rays. Sunny BeadZ Necklaces, bracelets and key-rings featuring both permanent-color beads & charms as well as UV beads, and all are made in the USA. Launch date: 2011.

Each member of the Piggy Wiggies family comes with a name and a lovable little story. Each Piggy is a hand-crafted plush made from socks. There are also mini Piggy Wiggies. Launch date: February 2011.