February 2013 Notable Toys — All

Lloyd, the golden ninja, has summoned the powerful Golden Dragon into an epic stand-off against Lord Garmadon's minions. Attach Lloyd onto the Golden Dragon and soar into battle. Avoid the launching catapult attacks with the huge extending wings. Fire the dragon sphere! Harness the power of the Golden Dragon to send Lord Garmadon's soldiers back underground. Includes 3 minifigures with weapons: Golden Ninja Lloyd, scout and warrior.
— Joe Berardoini Jr, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that though they don't carry many licensed toys, LEGO Ninjago does well.
— In a Fall 2013 survey, 50% of retailers told TDmonthly that LEGO items were overall best-sellers at their stores.
— In a August 2014 survey, Sunni, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly that LEGO Ninjago is one of their best-selling lines of collectibles.

Aurora's Pop Up Puppets are a fun way to stimulate your child's imagination and help them develop their learning and creative skills. Pop Up Puppets are available in seven styles: Tiger, Black Bear, Lesser Panda, Owl, Raccoon, Giraffe and Panda.

The all new collection includes Wide Eyed Garfield "Sitting" (SRP: $13), Garfield "Floppy" (SRP: $13 and $20) and Garfield "Just Clinging Around" (SRP: $13) featuring suction cups "so you can easily attach Garfield to any glass surface." All Garfield products will include a unique, double-sided "Cattitude" hangtag featuring the classic Garfield cartoon. Garfield will be distributed to specialty shops, gift stores and retailers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand through December 31, 2015.

The luscious, squeezably soft Sherbet Bunny collection is available in four colorful styles including Berry Orange, Cotton Candy, Lime Delight and Berry Raspberry. 14".

Aurora’s award winning Baby Talk line expands for 2013 to include five new themes: My First Purse, My Farm Friends, My Forest Friends (pictured), My Beach House and My First Discovery. Each Baby Talk set includes a "carrier" and four plush pieces to encourage learning and development in children through the associated sights, shapes and sounds.

"Eye'm sweet, you're sweet, we're all sweet!" Introducing Aurora's all new line, Gumdrops, featuring 12 fun and trendy characters named after the tastiest treats: Peanut Butter Bon Bon, Snickerdoodle, Lolly Pop, Fortune Cookie, Mud Pie, Apple Strudel, Whipped Cream, Popsicle, Caramel, Ginger Snap, Rainbow Jelly Drop and Roly Poly Pudding. Each colorful character includes a custom hang tag and features signature glasses, big eyes and soft, shiny materials.

Millions of Aurora’s Fancy Pals "toy pet carriers" have been sold worldwide. Kids love to take their plush friends on the go. Aurora’s Fancy Pals “Light Up” assortment features this darling pony (removable from its carrier) adorned with a big bow that lights up when squeezed.

Pammee’s popularity is on the rise. She’s cute, she’s trendy and she’s “gaga 4 you” with a perfectly pink oversized bow and pink rhinestone at her heart. Squeeze the 5” and 8” sizes and she’ll give you a smooch. The 16” is here thanks to popular demand for larger pieces.

Aurora’s Sea Sparkles line shimmers and shines its way into 2013 with an expanded offering to include new styles and sizes of the popular mermaid dolls and sea life. The Sea Sparkles collection now includes new 10”, 18”, 38” mermaids plus four 27” mermaids. Each mermaid has long yarn hair and her dress is accented with a shiny jewel (small, medium, large and extra large sizes; SRP: range from $8-$70).

RAGGEDY ANN and RAGGEDY ANDY have been part of our play culture for decades. Aurora is thrilled to work with Hasbro to bring a new generation of children into the fold of this classic and beloved brand with a new line consisting of plush dolls striking the right balance of vintage and modern elements. In addition to the classic rag doll and Fancy Pals(tm) styles, Aurora has released holiday, Valentine's Day and Spring themed versions that make great gifts any time of year. Each is handmade and features exquisite detail including fine facial features and yarn hair with the classic loop style. These are heirloom treasures that can be passed on for generations.
— Teresa Derry, owner of Annie's Toy Chest in Cocoa, Fla., told TDmonthly in a May 2015 survey that this was their best-selling licensed toy.

Aurora’s award-winning Miyoni™ line features adorable animals from popular domestic, woodland, farm and jungle categories that are incredibly realistic and made with exceptional attention to detail. The collection boasts over 200 styles with new introductions throughout the year. Ages 3+ MSRP: $15.50

Includes interactive hard cover storybook. Learn about over 10 features of a motorcycle and how they work. Enter codes into the keypad to see each vehicle part come to life. Real motorised action, Amazing 60 mph scale speed. Program mode feature let’s children create 3 unique sequences. Parent friendly volume control. Remote transmitter compatible. Minimum order case pack 4 units.

10 Precut shapes, 8 colored pencils, 12 jewelry findings, chain bracelet, stretchy loop and easy instructions.

Since it was first introduced in 1965, Spirograph has made it possible for aspiring artists of all ages to create beautifully intricate designs, originally developed as a drafting tool, by a mechanical engineer named Denys Fisher, the distinctive wheels and rings of the Spirograph cleverly combine, the principles of art and mathematics in a way that has inspired and delighted generations. Now you too can create your own cool designs and awesome pictures with the help of this fun and classic Spirograph drawing accessory. Put your paper in place and then choose again and again from 19 different gears to mix and match patterns and create a totally awesome image. Use the design guide to try out tried and true designs or get creative and create cool and colorful graphics of your own. Drawing accessory includes tray with built-in storage and includes 19 gears, 2 rings, 1 rack, 3-Ounce of Spiro-Putty, 3 retractable ball point pens, a 14 page guide book, 20 sheets of design paper and a carry along storage case with a built in work surface.
— Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston's Childs Play in Arlington, Va., told TDmonthly in a January 2014 survey that the Spirograph was a best-selling arts & crafts toy.
— Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a January 2015 survey that the Spirograph is one of their best-selling arts & crafts toys - they sell around 20 each month.

Build an authentic vintage fire station! Ding ding ding! There’s a fire in town! The fire brigade drives to the scene from this detailed and realistic 1930’s fire station. Designed to fit with other modular buildings like 10182 Café Corner and 10185 Green Grocer, the station features rare LEGO® pieces and innovative construction techniques. It includes a ‘30s-style fire truck, 4 minifigures, a fire-dog, an opening station garage door, and a removable building roof for interior access. It also includes 2 fully-furnished floors with fire-fighting tools, racks for the firemen's helmets, fire-pole, ping-pong table, kitchen with fully-stocked fridge, couch, bookshelf and a roof with a water tower and bell. Measures 14" (35 cm) high and 10" (25 cm) wide.
— As of 1/11/2013 this product has 4.4 out of 5 stars from 38 reviews on Amazon.com.

Stick figures to the dark side only lead. To doodle like a Jedi you must learn. With this companion to the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, beloved author Tom Angleberger—with the help of the kids from McQuarrie Middle School—presents young Padawans with dozens of activities from the Star Wars universe. Padawans can learn how to fold R2-D2 and C-3PO, draw Jabba, and even build a fully functioning ChapStick rocket! Other Force-mastering activities include: “Kellen’s Guide to Cool Letters,” “Mike’s Complete Rules and Tips for Pencil Pod-Racing,” “Rhondella’s Tips for Photographing Origami,” and much more. Launch date: March 2013.

As a little girl tours and twirls through the halls of the art museum, she finds herself on an exciting adventure. Each piece of art evokes something new inside of her: silliness, curiosity, joy, and ultimately inspiration. When confronted with an empty white canvas, she is energized to create and express herself—which is the greatest feeling of all. Launch date: March 2013.

In this stylish and sturdy pop-up story, five little tadpoles hatch from their eggs, but their mother is nowhere to be found. They set off to find her—but how will they recognize her? What does she look like? By meeting the other animals in the pond—Mama Duck, Mama Fish, Mama Turtle, and Mama Crab—they gather the clues they need, until finally an especially loud “Ribbit, ribbit!” happily reunites the family. Young readers will delight in this charming family story, with its opportunities to identify mama and baby animals and its striking pop-up illustrations. Launch date: April 2013.

This oversized interactive book is a heartfelt look at the wonder and excitement of waiting...and waiting...and waiting for a new sibling to arrive. The charming protagonist is so eager to step into her role as a big sister that she’s starting early! She sticks close to her mama so she can sing songs to her sibling-to-be (loudly, of course) and explain all the great things waiting in the outside world (cupcakes! strawberries! swimming!). Quaint line drawings and lovely patterns lend a breezy, lighthearted atmosphere to the story, and a variety of playful flaps add gentle humor, showing the new baby blissfully tucked away in its mama’s belly. A joyful and celebratory ode to the growing family for any sister- or brother-to-be. Launch date: May 2013.

A companion board book to Ben Loves Bear, Bella Loves Bunny shares the sweet story of friendship between a little girl and her beloved stuffed bunny rabbit, from morning till night. Bella and Bunny do everything together. In the morning, they play piano and dance (and hop!). In the afternoon, Bella has lunch and Bunny has carrot cake. At night, they pick out Bella’s favorite pajamas and snuggle close until they fall asleep. Launch date: March 2013.

Hello Kitty, hello seasonal fun. This pair of sunny offerings depicts our favorite star and her cast of friends enjoying all that the seasons have to offer: butterflies, baseball, sand castles, ice cream cones, and more. With sparse text and irresistible original scenic art, these titles are the first two of four in the newest series of Hello Kitty collectible board books. Launch date: March 2013.

It’s a busy day on the construction site, and these industrious mice are up to something big. But what are they working on? Bold, colorful illustrations and recognizable vehicles with moving parts add to the fun, with hidden clues for the careful observer. Is that red paint...or red sauce? Is that a construction pit...or a drain? Children will delight in guessing their way to the end, when the final spread reveals a carefully constructed surprise. It’s favorite vehicles meet lunchtime and bathtime in these novelty board books with interactive mechanisms. Launch date: March 2013.

This spirited new board book proves there’s nothing sweeter than friendship. Emily loves to dance and can’t wait to meet the other girls in her dance class, who are sure to be just like her. But instead she meets Nicole, a tomboy; Bitsy, who loves arts and crafts; and Anna, a shy bookworm who has no interest at all in dancing. But just as different flavors of jellybeans taste delicious together, the girls learn how to team up to make their dance recital a success. March 2013.

Recognizing and labeling animals has never been so geometrically inspired. Young children will delight in the usual suspects (bunny, pig, frog, chicken, monkey, and lion) depicted in a whole new way. The elements of each zoomed-in face provide only a subtle hint of the animals’ identities, inviting children (and adults) to stretch the boundaries of what defines an animal image. The simple question-and-answer format provides immediate gratification for even the shortest attention spans. Launch date: April 2013.