June 2011 Notable Toys — All

This 8" plush, chocolate colored meadow mouse holds a cross in one hand. "We like to think of the MiFe Mouse as a reminder that big messages such as 'my faith' can be carried out by the smallest of creatures," Michael Kessler, Aurora’s SVP of sales and marketing, told TDmonthly. Also comes in a "Lord is my Shepherd" Mouse, cradling a lamb.

This product features colorful metal bars with matching color plastic resonator tubes that share the same color template as the Boomwhackers tuned percussion tubes. Line bells up to play solo, or separate them for use with small groups. The set is flexible enough to be used in classrooms as an educational tool, or at home for the sheer fun of making music. Standard contents include a carrying case, eight bells (C-c Diatonic Range), and eight mallets.

Capucine is an Asian doll with all of the familiar elements of the Les Cheries Collection: long, lush hair, and contemporary fashion. Complete with a trendy outfit, Capucine especially appeals to children ages 4 and up. She makes an ideal playmate for sharing confidences, for hairstyling, and fashion play. Launch date: March 2011.

Coquette Redhead is a lovable doll with long, rooted hair that can be brushed and styled. She comes dressed in a fashionable purple jacket, plaid shirt, and matching pants, with coordinating sneakers. Her face has a realistic, delicate sprinkling of freckles. Launch date: April 2011.

Babipouce Bilberry has a cuddly plush body with vinyl hands and a sweet face with the perfect pout. Dressed in a soft lavender and pink printed ensemble, it is the ideal first doll for newborns. 
 

Squaredy Cats are square kittens that feature a soft and puffy tail. Each Squaredy Cat has a saying embroidered on its side, saying what they are not "squared" (scared) to do. Promotes self-acceptance and self-expression.

Kachooz are an all new collectible line of unique and furry pencil toppers that come with different hair textures and colors. Launching with 36 new characters consisting of 20 different kinds of creatures, Kachooz!™ live in six little groups –  tiny tribe clusters they call Moops. The Moops are Nervous, 2Faced, Highlights, Mohawk, and Punk. Come in packs of two or four.

Sturdy spring steel construction makes for long lasting fun in this Dinosaur Train themed tunnel. Assists in developing cooperative play. Great for muscle development. Stimulates the imagination for creative playtime.

Sturdy spring steel construction makes for long lasting fun in this Dinosaur Train themed tunnel. Assists in developing cooperative play. Great for muscle development. Stimulates the imagination for creative playtime.

Durable and washable, this tent comes with a roll-up doorway and mesh ventilation panels that allow for airflow on hot days. Features several Dinosaur Train characters including Buddy the T-Rex.

These glitter wings come in an organza bag with maribou trim. Six layered pieces feature a three color base and two colors of glitter.
— In a Winter 2012 survey Melissa Pennille, co-owner of Teaching Toys & Books in Tacoma, Wash., told TDmonthly that butterfly wings were one of their bestselling items this Halloween season.

This size-flexible dress is made of heavy satin and embroidered brocade. Encourages creative play. Fully machine washable.
— In a December 2011 survey about best selling Halloween items, seven out of 12 retailers named Creative Education as their best selling brand of costumes.

These musical skirts have adjustable waistlines to fit girls of all sizes and ages. The skirt plays music while the wearer dances.

Kloo has taken the proven five principles of language learning and embedded them in a game system. These principles of language learning are independently corroborated by language experts. It means you can just play and learn a language at least 200% faster and much more easily. There is no work, writing or study – just playing, learning naturally and having fun. Comes in French or Spanish.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

The game consists of a board approximately 30 inches long, 16 inches wide and having surrounding sides that are 4 inches high. The game also has several small rooms laid out on the board. The pins (Skittles) are positioned amongst the rooms and a top is launched and sent spinning from one end of the table in an effort to topple as many of the skittles as possible. Each skittle, knocked down, scores a differing number of points. This game probably dates back to, at least, the late 1700s and most likely originated in France Table A Toupie) or England.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

Prismatic contains a variety of brightly colored hardwood prisms and hand-polished acrylic prisms that fit into square boxes. Children create simple and complex designs that help them think about order, pattern, and symmetry. Children also experience the beauty and wonder of the color spectrum when light refracts through the acrylic prisms that form part of their inventive buildings and designs. Contains 30 hardwood prisms (natural finish), 36 hardwood prisms (in 6 colors), 6 clear acrylic prisms, and 1 hardwood tray.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

The Party Pumper comes filled with assorted balloons, including the magic twisty animal balloons. Use the pump to fill the balloons with water or air. Eliminates the mess of traditional water balloons that have to be filled up at the sink or outside using the garden hose. Even young children can easily fill their own balloons. Available in Purple or Red.
— As of 05/18/2011 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 13 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy for kids to use; kids like filling the balloons with air as well as water; eliminates the mess created by using the sink or hose to fill balloons. Cons: Two customers received defective product.

The Language Mechanic is an effective, comprehensive program that uses fun examples and logical reasons to eliminate the confusion students often feel while learning the rules of language mechanics. Each activity demonstrates and reinforces why following the logical rule is important. Lessons begin with a "grabber”—a humorous miscommunication that results when a rule is broken. Examples are followed by an explanation of the specific rule, the logic behind it, then guided and independent practice exercises. Includes presentation and reinforcement suggestions, answers, a glossary, and a compare/contrast organizer.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

A small cottage with rooms and doors for 5 fun animal characters and 5 shapes, which can be inserted into the corresponding slots. Children can either find the correct key to open the door, or lift the roof off and remove all of the contents in an instant. The Animal Cottage Shape Sorter helps children develop their hand & eye coordination and logical association skills.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

The sophisticated colors of the realistic Serengeti Scramble Squares puzzle make it among the best selling styles of Scramble Squares overall, appreciated by enthusiasts of African art and nature, naturalists and conservationists. This puzzle is also especially popular with children.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

The Soccer Scramble Squares puzzle features boys and girls of many cultures playing the world's most popular team sport. This puzzle edges out our Baseball Scramble Squares as the most popular sports style and sells strongly all though the year.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

With easy and challenging charades, and with charades for different tastes and interests, the Family Charades In-A-Box Compendium can be played by virtually any member of the family. It includes six games, one each for ages 4+, 7+, 8+, 10+, 12+, and 14+.

Kit includes sleek black nylon case contains binoculars, magnifying glass, fingerprint powder, brush, flashlight, secret marker pen set and a printed spy guide. Can be carried by the convenient handle or looped through the belt.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

Includes 5 colors of soapy finger paint, a fish-shaped sponge for clean up and a hand-shaped palette to hold the paints. Safe, clean and fun for kids.
Awards: Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011
— In an April 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Paint in the Tub is one of their best-selling bath toys.