March 2010 Notable Toys — All

LEGO's construction play sets and figures feature classic and new characters from Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3. The Toy Story 3 Western Train serves up many adventures as builders help Woody, Buzz and Jessie fight their way into the train and get everyone off safely.

There is more Snuffles to love with the 15” 30th Birthday Snuffles, which features a special 30th birthday commemorative medallion. Available in frosted-tip, caramel plush fur or frosted-tip, chocolate plush fur.
— Rick Henry, owner of Stellabella Toys in Cambridge, Mass., and three other toy stores, says they sell about12 brown Snuffles per month.

The classic GUND icon Snuffles is celebrating his 30th birthday in 2010 and GUND has created a high-end one-of-a-kind Snuffles valued at $10,000 and one of the largest Snuffles ever made. Draped in diamonds, the 30th Birthday One-of-a-Kind Snuffles is wearing a birthday necklace of real diamonds totaling nearly 10 carats on a white gold chain. This 10” Snuffles is made from soft white alpaca fur, features genuine leather accents on the nose, and eyes of 100% Tahitian pearls.

The Mystic Treasure Chest the players seek sits on the altar behind the Guardian Ghoul. Players must complete challenges of the ancients to earn the right to try and open the Chest. They must also choose a mystic key carefully, as only one will unlock the chest to reveal the gold coins and any other key will wake up the guardian bringing the sleeping skull to life. The skull’s teeth grind, clatter and bang while his eyes wobble and shrieks a warning at the player who dares try to steal his treasure. For 2 to 4 players.

Princess slippers are made from metallic sequin knit with a foam sole and non-skid vinyl bottom. Decorated with marabou and roses. *Winner of the 2010 Children's Choice Award- Best Toy In Pretend Play", by the Canadian Toy Testing Council.

Grateful Dead-Opoly was created by music industry veteran and longtime Grateful Dead associate Debbie Gold, and includes artwork by comic book illustrator Timothy Truman. Each game comes with a VIP Pass and tokens that include a guitar, drum, amp, a tour bus and even Bob Weir’s dog, Otis. Players circle the board, attempting to acquire album-themed properties. Along the way, they might catch a show at Winterland, hang in the Parking Lot or even get thrown Off the Bus. Grateful Dead fans will surely appreciate the game's attention to detail. For 2 to 6 players.

Discovery Bay Games partnered with Broadway Video Enterprises to produce this “Saturday Night Live” board game. The SNL game allows players to choose content from their favorite SNL era (70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s) in order to compete in interactive challenges and answer trivia questions.

Designed after old-fashioned farms in Germany and Holland, this high quality cardboard farm from Calafant USA is a pretty large home for the farmer, his family and all his animals. Made from recycled material and is 100% biodegradable.

This Halo has a comb to affix it to a child's head and is adorned with bows, flowers, ribbon and rhinestones.

This two-in-one kit for "Following Directions" and "ABCs and Simple Shapes" was developed by an occupational therapist and contains 20 hands-on games in a no-spill carrying case. It's designed to get children prepared for school through activities such as ABC fishing, letter building, turn taking, coloring on bumpy line pages to enhance concentration, and more. It comes with an illustrated guide for parents.

Part zoo adventure, part songbook and part early confidence builder, through this musical journey, children can appreciate their individuality and have loads of fun along the way. Dance routine, CD and sheet music included.

Musically motivate toddlers to get out of their diapers and onto the toilet seat with a bouncing island beat that will have children motivated to transition from diapers to the toilet. A full musical CD and sheet music are included.

Kidorable describes its Fairy Umbrella as an “imagination tent,” an apt description for such a delightful and functional product. This whimsical, kid-sized umbrella features a beautiful fairy print, a spiral handle, ruffled edges and magical fairy wings. Kids can pair the Fairy Umbrella with matching Fairy Rain Coats, Rain Boots, Backpack or any of Kidorable’s coordinating rainy day items.
— Cinde, The Freebie Fairy, recounted how her daughter was a big hit at school with her Kidorable fairy umbrella: “The girls all wanted to touch the wings!” Cinde praised the company’s attention to detail and was so enamored with the product line that she wished the items came in adult sizes.
— Stefany of To Be Thode reviewed the Kidorable Frog Rain Boots, Umbrella and Rain Coat. She found them all to be top quality products sure to last a long time.
— Cindi Matthews of Moomette’s Magnificents called the Kidorable Rain Coats she reviewed “absolutely fun.” She was especially fond of the easy-open snaps and the reflective coating the coats have to make kids visible at night.

Written by a pediatrician, the Dr. Hippo book series teaches kids about common childhood illnesses like ear infections, colds and sore throats. Each story features a friendly animal family that is affected by one of the illnesses and goes to the reassuring Dr. Hippo for help. The stories are written so that kids learn how they can keep themselves from getting sick and that doctors are friendly people who just want to help them get better. The Dr. Hippo books also include a Parent’s Guide with common questions about the illness featured in the story.
— Guessing All the Way’s Laurie reports that the books were popular with her kids, even inspiring her nephew to share what he had learned with his friends. Laurie cites the laminated Parent Guide as the book’s best feature.
—    Alexandra from Design Baby praised the books as “a wonderful way for kids to absorb knowledge about common illnesses.” Her kids were captivated by the books, especially “The Moose with Loose Poops.” She concluded by vowing that “the next time one of my kids do face one of these five illnesses, I'll be pulling out the appropriate book to soothe their fears, and remind them what is happening, and that this too will pass.”

SafetyTats are temporary tattoos designed to keep kids safe when they get lost. The SafetyTats Quick Stick Write-On! pack features 18 temporary tattoos with blank spaces to write in a cell phone number or other safety information. Once customized, the SafetyTats can be quickly and painlessly applied to a child’s skin without water. The tattoos’ vibrant colors are made to last up to two weeks. SafetyTats are ideal for visits to public places like zoos, malls or amusement parks.
— Maricris of  Zen Mama Ventures tested SafetyTats with her daughter at a Chinese New Year festival. During the hustle and bustle of the celebration, Maricris felt assured knowing that if she wondered off, her SafetyTat would help get her back safe and sound.
— Valerie of Val’s Views “couldn’t recommend Safety Tats more highly.” She found the product perfect for her special needs son. Valerie considered SafetyTats a good value as well: “And while they’re affordable, they’d help contribute to something you can’t put a price on — safety and peace of mind.”

Take a trek through the deserts of Arabia. Traverse the desert, capturing wild animals to sell at the city markets. The journey is harsh and the desert sands can shift without warning. Can you make the biggest offering when the pilgrim arrives in Mecca? Don't get too far behind, or you'll be lost in the desert. For 3-6 players. Play time: 45-60 min. For ages 10 and up.

It's Fair time. Send your pickers and gardeners into the orchards for the best fruit. But watch out for the raccoon, or they may return empty handed! Pick the most fruit to attract special visitors to your farm. They'll help you send your fruit on to the fair. Whoever makes the best showing wins first prize. For 3-5 players. Play time: 45-60 min. For ages 10 and up.

Fly the crowded skies of Europe. Claim important airlinks from city to city across the countryside. Assign your airplanes to a path that satisfies the public demand for air travel. To keep adding planes to your fleet will take money, and that means claiming some of the profitable short flights before you can try for the more valuable long flights. In the end, the player who can best manage both money and airlines will be the winner. For 2-6 players. Play time: 90-120 min. For ages 12 and up.

This small reading couch for kids comes with red or blue cushions and includes storage with tubs underneath the seating and slots to hold books along the back. The bench is 11" high and the couch is 18.5" wide, 42" long and 23.5" high. Launch date: February 2010.

Ninja Batty Shogun flies around at night with his best pal Ice-Bat, he does up the real dealio in an actual Ninja costume. No red flames, stripes or other crazy decorations. No spelling Ninja with a “Z” at the end. Just straight up stealth mode; that’s how he rolls. No sword though, those are sharp!
Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: 2010.

Cosmos' parents are getting a divorce. Cosmos has a lot of questions! Is it his fault? Where will he live? What will happen? Tips & interactive play therapies at end of book.

Chloe's new baby brother is coming home from the hospital! Chloe doesn't know what to expect, but she’ll be a big sister, and that is a very important job! Tips & interactive play therapies at end of book.

Will Danny like his new house, his new school and his new friends? Discover with Danny that although moving can be scary it can also be fun and exciting. Tips and interactive play therapies at end of book.

Cartoon DVD vignettes on behavioral issues along with a coloring and puzzle book. This set mainly focuses in on valuable lessons for young children such as lending a helping hand, the importance of paying attention, sharing with friends, and being polite.