June 2011 Notable Toys — All

The cooperative board games collection includes Count Your Chickens, Hoot Owl Hoot, Lost Puppies, Mermaid Island, and Stone Soup. Ideal for children two years of age and up, the games focus on socialization skills in a cooperative, group play setting. "Unlike traditional games where there is one winner and one (or many) losers, with cooperative games the players work together against a common obstacle in the game, not against each other. If the game is lost, the defeat is shared equally among the players. And, if the game is won, everyone is a winner," Donna Modrell, marketing & operations manager at Peaceable Kingdom Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2011.
Awards: Hoot Owl Hoot! - 2011 Dr. Toy Best Green Product

The Wheely Pig is the latest addition to the Prince Lionheart award-winning, ride-on toy line. The Wheely Pig teaches children balance and motor skills with castor wheels which will allow children free movement. Easy to clean and durable. Launch date: June 2011 Awards: Mother & Baby, Top Gear, 2005 Baby Gear Gold, 2005 Practical Pre-School, 2010 Fat Brain Best of the Best

Each pack of Twisty Stix Scented Erasers comes with four fragrant Twistys. There are six different scents to choose from, each with bright colors and a design on both ends. Scents include grape, watermelon, apple, banana, peach and strawberry. These unique erasers will last longer than other erasers- they are 6.5"" long, almost the same length as a standard pencil.

Inspired by kids’ submissions to Infinitoy’s online gallery, Z.A.C. the ZOOB Alien Creature gives kids all the tools they need to build their own aliens. Using specially-colored ZOOB pieces (including glow-in-the-dark pieces), and light-up eyes, kids can build aliens, a rocket, a UFO, a radio telescope, and lots more. This set includes 200 ZOOB pieces, 12 glow-in-the-dark pieces, 2 light-up eyes with batteries, and complete instructions. Launch date: September 2011.

The ZOOBMobile FastBack H2H features two pull-back friction motors, so kids can create their own ZOOBMobiles and race them against each other, or put the motors together to make a super vehicle that goes up to 50 feet. The Fastback H2H features 45 ZOOB pieces, and 8 high-quality tires that are notched so they work like gears. Because ZOOB® pieces snap together so many different ways, kids can use their imaginations to create their own vehicles, and add on pieces from their ZOOB collections to make even more. The FastBack H2H is fully compatible with all other Infinitoy ZOOB pieces. Launch date: September 2011.

ZOOB is a building set with a difference—the pieces move after kids put them together. So kids can play with their creations, instead of just looking at them. ZOOB JR. provides ZOOB’s award-winning creative play with softer pieces designed for young children. ZOOB JR. pieces are made with a special memory material that flexes and goes back to its original shape, so they bend, move, and snap together snugly. And just like ZOOB, ZOOB JR.'s open-ended versatility lets kids build anything they want to build as it sparks young imaginations. The ZOOB JR. Scooter includes 18 ZOOB JR. pieces, 4 wheels, and instructions for 17 creations, such as a scooter, a mini go-cart, a skateboarder, and a spinning robot (but kids can make up lots more). The instructions require no reading, and are printed on sturdy cards. Launch date: September 2011.

Kids construct circuits with colorful electric building blocks to learn about electricity and how electronic devices work. The innovative snap-together blocks in the ElectronX building system make learning electronics fun and accessible. Use the blocks’ bright colors and unique shapes, and easy-to-follow assembly diagrams to construct a variety of functional circuits. Includes Over 70 different experiments and building projects, plus capacitors, resistors, LEDs, phototransistor, cable blocks, battery holder, speaker, sound-integrated circuit, 30 contact blocks, and a 64-page, full color manual. Launch date: June 2011.

Soft foam books with bold photographs of sweet and funny kittens that pop off each page and stick to sides of the tub. Launch date: August 2011.

Soft Shapes Puppies are soft foam books with bold photographs of puppies that pop off each page and stick to sides of the tub. Launch date: August 2011.

Kids can put on a play with this fun, two sided foam stage set that floats in water or stands up on a table. Kids can use puppets, dolls, stuffed animals, or their own hands to create performances and indulge in creative play. It's "Portable Puppet Play Anywhere, Anytime," Rich Hill, director of marketing at innovativekids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011.

Color Fever is a family game for players 8 and up. It is a tile placement point scoring game that plays well for 2, 3 or 4 players. Each player has his/her own board to build points from tiles selected. This game is a combination of strategy and luck. "The best part about Color Fever is that it doesn't matter whether there are 2, 3 or 4 players. Everyone plays on the same dice roll so there is no waiting around for your turn. This keeps the game moving and each player can root every time the dice is rolled," Derek Chinn, owner of LMD Enterprises, told TDmonthly.

Recall is an educational memory game. People will be surprised on how much they will remember when playing this game. RECALL teaches people how to retain information for a period of time instead of just short term. This product is good for kids, teens, adults and seniors. Recall will remove the intimidating factor in terms of memory. "There are some memory games out there where you practice memory but you don't really learn from it. RECALL is an educational game where your ability to recall will be taken to another level. Good practice for one player, great for cooperative play," Derek Chinn, owner of LMD Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2011.

With it's innovative flipping mechanism, Wishbone Flip transforms from rocker to ride-on in seconds. Eye-catching and super-functional, Wishbone Flip is the perfect first birthday present. It’s an heirloom quality, transformable toy, packed with personality. Made from plantation birch for ages 1 to 5. "Wishbone Flip has an impressively simple flipping mechanism making it easy to transform Flip from rocking to ride-on toy and back again in seconds," Jennifer McIver, managing director at Wishbone Design Studio, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.

Rock away on Rocker-feller, a carefully designed and crafted rocking horse. All details are laser engraved. Overall measurements are 29"" long by 11 1/2"" wide by 19 1/2"" high. Seat is 12"" off the floor. Sized for early toddlers, up to age three. Made from responsibly harvested solid pine and with a non-toxic finish. Ships fully assembled. "Rocker-feller is constructed out of all wood," Barbara Rainville, marketing manager at Maple Landmark Woodcraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2011.
Awards: 2011 Baby and Child Best New Products Awards Winner, 2011 Blogger's Best January NY International Gift Fair

Earth-friendly wood rainbow fairies puzzle that exercises skills that prepare children for reading, math, problem solving and more. The 12-piece puzzle is made of wood from sustainable forests, and comes in a handy carrying case so kids can easily keep track of all the parts. Launch date: July 2011.

Nourish Toddler celebrates a toddler's growing independence with an easy-to-use, impossible to spill and healthy drink of their own. It is 10 oz of purified spring water in a unique, patented bottle designed for little hands and complete with a spill-proof sippy top. Nourish is also BPA-free, Phthalate-free, made in the USA and 100% recyclable and reusable. Toddlers can now quench their thirst without drenching themselves and everything around them. ""Nourish Toddler is the only 100% spill-proof sippy cup on the market,"" Brittany Roderick from Nourish Inc told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 MAX Award for Most Innovative New Product in Georgia; 2011 Water Innovation Award: Runner Up for Best New Water Brand

Nourish Baby eases the stress of feeding time on the go. It is 8 oz of pre-measured purified spring water with a wide neck for easy formula mixing. Nourish is also BPA-free, Phthalate-free, made in the USA and 100% recyclable and reusable. ""Nourish Baby is like no other baby bottle because it already comes with water in it and is the first immediate consumption drink for babies on the market,"" Brittany Roderkick, from Nourish Inc, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 MAX Award for Most Innovative New Product in Georgia; 2011 Water Innovation Award: Runner Up for Best New Water Brand

More than 120 reusable stickers, an engaging fold out-landscape scene, a full-color map and glossary take kids on a fun, educational journey to Latin America. "The Latin America Coloring Book is bilingual English and Spanish. This aspect along with its beautiful aesthetic sets it apart from other coloring books on the market," Ava Mostefaoui, co-manager of Putumayo Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.

20 large-format bilingual coloring and activity pages printed on heavy art paper and a colorful kid-friendly glossary invite children to discover their artistic talents and explore the diverse cultures, landscapes, animals and musical instruments of Latin America. "The Latin America Coloring Book is bilingual English and Spanish. This aspect along with its beautiful aesthetic sets it apart from other coloring books on the market," Ava Mostefaoui, co-manager of Putamayo Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.

The Pic N Color is a PC software program that converts any photo into an outlined image that can be printed out and colored. Kids or parents can choose an image, then print it out for coloring fun. The software is "Very child friendly," Dominick Testa, president of Rocko Unlimited LLC, told TDmonthly.

There’s no better or safer way to get your child into cycling? The Kiddi-o Junior Balance Bike is safe and easy to ride for children from 2 to 6 years old. With a scoot of their feet, our unique training bike helps a child build the skills needed later to ride a bicycle without training wheels. Your child’s confidence will grow while their sense of balance improves from the hours of riding without the pedals getting in their way! With a child’s natural tendency to want to move around combined with a fun way to exercise, the Junior Balance Bike helps promote a healthy lifestyle and better posture that can last through to adulthood.

Get ready to race!  This Kiddi-o® Pole Position Pedal Car goes as fast as your little driver can pedal, and the shifter lets you coast downhill.  The dual wheel handbrake slows down the action. Inspired by our 1st pedal car from almost 50 years ago, this remains an exciting way to play & burn off energy. No need to waste electricity waiting for the car to charge…it’s always ready for the neighborhood track. Set up a course at the local playground and watch the kids line up to test their driving skills.

The nationally acclaimed and award winning HKS KETTRIKE® HAPPY® PRINZESSIN NAVIGATOR™ simply is the smoothest, safest and most prized tricycle ride available.  Now there's one for that little princess.  This tricycle continues the KETTLER® tradition by being the Best of the Best.   Our customer’s ultimate compliment is that our trike is “built like a tank.”  KETTLER®’s team of certified engineers is in constant pursuit of perfection to incorporate the latest in safety, innovation and quality in our products. This is well documented by numerous patented and exclusive tricycle features from KETTLER®.  The HKS Kettrike® Happy® Prinzessin Navigator™ is well worth the investment in order to provide your children and grandchildren many years of safe and enjoyable triking.  When you invest in KETTLER®, you invest in peace of mind for present and future generations.

People just can’t get enough of pirate jewelry.  Many new styles from Cool Jewels® offer your children a great variety to choose from.  Each pirate skull key hangs on an adjustable black slider cord, so one size fits all.