January 2009 Notable Toys — All

The wooden Magnetic Number Match Up Puzzle is a great interactive activity that helps children develop math skills. It comes with 30 colorful wooden pieces that fit together to form three-piece number tiles. Children learn to count the number of objects illustrated on one piece of the tile and match it to the correct number and the right number word. Launch date: December 2008.

The MagnaPlay Magnetic Activity Travel Set includes one MagnaKase and one magnetic wooden activity, such as the Alphabet Picture Puzzle or the Number Match Up. Children can use the top of the MagnaKase as a dry-erase magnetic activity board while they're on the go. The MagnaKase also comes with two magnetic strips that secure coloring pages to the activity surface. Launch date: November 2008.

At this doggie daycare center, kids will get to take care of the most adorable puppies and dogs, teaching them cool tricks and rewarding them with toys and yummy treats. Launch date: October 2008.

It's up to kids to shelter and nurse their little animal friends back to health. In "Happy Tails: Animal Shelter," they'll get to care for and love hamsters, puppies, kittens, bunnies and more in their very own animal shelter. They can learn the animals' stories and give them a happy ending by finding them perfect new homes. Launch date: October 2008.

"A Pirate's Quest" is the story of a one-legged pirate who loses his family heirloom peg leg. The pirate's journey begins by a tiny lake where his peg leg had drifted away during the night. He vows to find his leg by following the moving water from the lakes to the rivers to the ocean. And he never gives up. The story is beautifully illustrated with paintings by award-winning wildlife artist and host of the PBS television show "Your Brush with Nature," Heiner Hertling. Launch date: September 2008.

For fans of all ages, mascot backpacks are designed to depict a favorite team's mascot. Each is made of a quality plush material and comes with adjustable nylon straps and a zippered storage compartment. Launch date: August 2008.

The Burj Al Arab — a luxury hotel built on an artificial island in the Persian Gulf - has already become an iconic landmark of Dubai. Currently it stands for the world's tallest hotel and the world's tallest structure with a membrane facade. Our 1/1000 scale model depicts all the beauty of the building, including the helipad and the hanging restaurant. Size when assembled: 12.8 x 5.5 x 5.1 in. / 32.5 x 14 x 13 cm. Launch date: November 20, 2008.

This portable hand-washing station, without plumbing, encourages hand-washing habits to help keep everyone healthy while meeting licensing requirements. The water is heated 20° F by the tankless, on-demand water heater. The water pump has a flow rate of up to one-half gallon per minute. The tank (blue) for the non-potable clean water holds five gallons, and the waste-water tank (gray) holds six gallons. There is a catch tray under the tanks. Mistake-proof connectors mean the clean- and waste-water tanks cannot be inadvertently switched around. Quick-connecting hook ups for the tanks have an internal valve to prevent spills when disconnected, and the faucet is ADA compliant. The sinks are 5" deep and come in stainless steel or FDA approved plastic. There is a storage shelf in the adult height portable sink, and coin-locked doors are in the back for safety. Other safety features include UL and NSF approved components, a power switch inside the cabinet, four heavy duty locking casters, and openings for cord management. Launch date: 2009.

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.

The Eco range is part of Wonderworld's collection of products designed to educate children on the importance of recycling, saving energy, and being friendly to the environment. The Eco House wooden doll house comes complete with room settings and a family. Themes include recycling, planting trees, using solar panels, bicycling and collecting rain water. All accessories are included. "Wonderworld uses only water-based paint for our wooden toys so [as] to minimize child exposure to chemicals," President Jason Cohen of Smart Gear told TDmonthly. "Wonderworld, as a strong advocate of protecting the environment, insists on using only rubber-wood that is of replenishable source and [is] widely accepted throughout the world as the environment-friendly material." Launch date: November 2008.

This activity table and stool set has pop-out play pieces and includes a stand-up Handy Manny and his Toolbox. The table is reconfigurable, allowing for four different arrangements: large square, L-shaped, long rectangle, or two smaller rectangles. The product is super safe, recyclable, and manufactured in the USA. Made of Eco-Lock™ foam, it is vibrant, sturdy, durable, lightweight, and easy to clean. The design is under license from Foamables, LLC. It's an "innovative combination of versatile functionality and imaginative shape play," Kristine Bello, product manager for Kids Only, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This ultra-luxurious line from Honey by The Bumble Collection was created to facilitate a high-end lifestyle and endure the challenges of motherhood. It features full Italian cowhide leather, 18k gold-plated signature hardware, a removable front clutch with detachable shoulder strap, and a water-resistant exterior. Launch date: December 15, 2008.

These plush pet beds are a fluffy, fashionable and fun addition to the Pawparazzi line. They are available in Leopard Print and Pink & Black styles. "Accessories like our Plush Pet Beds expand the Pawparazzi play experience and bring girls into the world of these miniature superstar pets in a way other plush toys don't," Susan DeCoste, marketing manager for Noodle Head, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2006.

This set is filled with pets, purses, fashion and more — everything little girls need to spark their imaginations and pamper their favorite celebrity pets. It includes two pet sets, two dress-up sets, two plush pet beds, a doggy dining set and the Hotel Pawparazzi playset and carrying case. "Pawparazzi pets’ unique personalities (artists, writers, actors and more!) encourage young girls to use their imaginations to unlock and explore the exciting world of these tiny superstars. The pets inspire individual expression and creativity and encourage social interaction and collaborative play with friends at birthdays, parties and play dates," Susan DeCoste, marketing manager for Noodle Head, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008.

The Pilloroo is the pillow with the surprise pouch. Each pillow has a zippered pocket at the top that opens to a hidden pocket big enough for a small toy, book or remote control. The pillow is stuffed just enough so kids can’t feel the toy from the outside. There are eight themes for girls and eight themes for boys. Each Pilloroo comes with a toy that coordinates with the theme. "The Pilloroo is the best hiding spot for kids!" President Vicky McQuoid of Pilloroo Designs told TDmonthly. This product received a 2008 Mom's Best Award. Launch date: September 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.

Pop Princess Sticker Nails are perfect first-time kits for the younger tween consumer. They are available in six fun nail designs and two toenail designs to fit smaller hands and feet. Glue is already on the nail, so girls simple press it on and go. The product is completely safe on natural nails and is very easy to remove by soaking in water. Expected length of wear is one day. "Testing has been done for sizes, designs and colors to make sure our nails are perfect for that younger consumer," Kristin Giarrusso, marketing assistant at Kiss Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Every new parent wants to make sure baby’s environment is as healthy as possible. This 12-oz. bottle is made from 100-percent recyclable, high-quality, food-grade stainless steel so it doesn’t need a synthetic lining like aluminum bottles. It’s completely BPA-free and won’t leach chemicals, toxins or funky flavors into baby’s beverages. It’s designed for small hands, making it easy to hold, and the large-mouth makes it easy to clean. It can be scrubbed out with soap and water, or tossed in the dishwasher. It comes with a nipple adapter, stainless stopper and no-leak sport lid so the bottle can be used for many years. "G2 Grows with your child from newborn right into grade school. At Goo-Goo Baby we make products that last," CEO Rea Cymbol of Goo-Goo Baby told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008.

The Sports of All Sorts Kit optical illusion eye-hand challenges provide hours of independent, brain-powered, sit-down sports fun. Kids find and crayon morphed shapes on distorted coloring pages to make color appear in the right place in the sports cartoon reflections. They complete the morphed picture, create their own morphed drawing, navigate a morphed maze, connect the dots, predict a reflection, and more. The activities help develop logic and perception skills, flex problem-solving mental muscles, exercise fine motor control, test spatial intelligence, and spark imagination and creativity. The kit contains 32 coloring page activities (“Soccer” is shown), two mirror-perfect Morph-O-Scopes (easy assembly), 16 non-toxic crayons, a Sports Kit Enrichment Guide to maximize learning, and instructions in English, Spanish and French — all in a portable “desk” convenient for travel. The activities engage boys and girls, kids, tweens, teens and adults, as they have universal, cross-cultural appeal. The Sports of All Sorts Kit is made in the USA and meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards. It's the second Morph-O-Scopes Kit offered by OOZ & OZ, whose Circus Kit earned 19 national educational toy awards.
The Sports of All Sorts Kit has received the following awards and honors: 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products,  a “Recommended” endorsement from the National Association for Gifted Children, 2009 The Toy Man Editors Choice Award, 2009 The Toy Man Award of Excellence, and 2009 The Toy Man Seal of Approval.  “No other products on the market use OOZ & OZ's exclusive technology or have earned as many toy honors," Myrna Hoffman, managing director and chief morphologist of OOZ & OZ, told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 13, 2008.

The LaQ Free Style Series includes all seven types of snap-and-click-together blocks in various color themes. LaQ Free Style Colors is a 400-piece kit of blocks in red, blue, yellow and green. "The innovative construction toy block LaQ has been shown to aid the growth of a child's mind. A child's mind shows activity in both the right and left hemisphere of the brain," Mo Saeki, manager of the Overseas Division for YOSHIRITSU CO., LTD., told TDmonthly. "All LaQ blocks materials, assembly and packing are handled in Japan." Launch date: December 2008.

The LaQ Free Style Series includes all seven types of LaQ snap-and-click-together blocks in various color themes. The 400-piece Free Style Pastel kit features the blocks in pink, orange, sky blue and yellow green. "The intellectual construction toy block LaQ makes a fun snap! and click! noise when piecing the parts together. This encourages the child that the pieces are firmly connected. The basic square and triangle parts connect together with angled joint pieces. The joint parts make possible the creation of flat, two-dimensional, three-dimensional and spherical models," Mo Saeki, manager of the Overseas Division for YOSHIRITSU CO., LTD., told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.

Snuggle up with your soft and cuddly Wumbler named Bertrum. He is guaranteed to be your best friend
Available in 8.5", 5" and a backpack clip.

The Wumblers rely on their best buddy Raimundo as they tackle life in Wumbleton. Raimundo is a cuddly little snail with big dreams to make little ones smile.
Available in 8.5", 5" and a backpack Clip

Born from watermelon and at the center of one of our most successful "social" enrichment activities for kids held at The Wumbler Patch retail store, Baby Wumblers teach children the importance of caring for ALL beings, even the weakest and most vulnerable. Each Baby Wumbler transforms from a soft, cuddly watermelon into an adorable blue or pink Baby Wumbler that children can register on line at the Wumblers website. Each baby arrives with a bright yellow identification band worn by the adopting child which states, "It's A Wumblerful World We Live In!" Each band marks the adoption and full commitment by children and their families to helping "make the world a better place for ALL!"
— “I love the message behind these Baby Wumblers and the things that it teaches not only our kids but ourselves as well,” said the reviewer at Mommy 2 Two Girls. Her kids, on the other hand, loved that the Wumbler could be tucked back into its “little watermelon house.”
— After testing the Baby Wumblers with her sons, Erin Tales from The Mom Buzz jokingly observes that a “toy like this can start arguments if you don’t have one for each kid.” Her sons “were so excited when they discovered them,” while Erin liked that the watermelon transformation “opens up discussions about watermelons and healthy snacks!”

Blending watermelon with imagination, learning, and fun, each Wumbler DVD and CD centers itself upon lessons critical to nourish the "whole and balanced" child. The Wumbler Patch's goal is to help parents raise children that understand the many responsibilities they have to "human kind and the world" in a way that leaves a positive impression on them and remains a lifelong goal.