July 2009 Notable Toys — Preschool

The unique 4-in-1 Smart Trike Recliner designed for babies from 6 months and up, provides the child with a safe and comfortable ride. The adjustable seat is equipped with a reclining position to allow baby to nap. The multi-position adjustable handle guarantees an easy solution for the parents to steer and, by releasing the clutch, the child takes control for fun, independent riding. The Smart Trike Recliner includes a washable, quality seat cover and is available in a range of colors together with a useful functional bag. It is available in green, pink and red. Smart Trike “Recliner” is the winner of the “Toy Innovation” Award in the Fun + Sport category and “Right Start Award” Overall Winner in the 0-3 category and “Gold award” in the Sit n Ride category.
— As of 05/13/2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 20 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Doesn't easily stay in a straight line; sun shade doesn't align with the rest of the trike.

Past Videos:
Product Demonstration

Cheekeyes are a series of wooden play sets with distinctive pink cheeks and dreamy eyes. These toys are handmade from eco-friendly rubberwood and are partially painted. There are more than seven playsets: Arctic, Africa, Dino, Forest, Farm, Rainforest and Sea. The average size of an animals is between 6 and 14 cm wide and 8 and 12 cm high. "Brought to you from The Netherlands (Europe) by STUDIO SPOON ... there are no bells or whistles, no batteries or flashing lights. All you need is just a little imagination and magic begins to happen. The Cheekeyes will definitely spark your kid's imagination and will encourage open-ended, educational play," Rogier van Zijp, designer for STUDIO SPOON B.V., told TDmonthly. Cheekeyes received a 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Launch date: 2009.

Written and illustrated by Sarah Dillard, this picture book welcomes readers to Arugula’s tea party. Everything’s going to be just perfect, because that’s exactly how Arugula likes things. The problem? Perfection is no fun for her guests — they’re too nervous to touch or eat anything. And when someone unexpected arrives, ready to get her party started, Arugula is horrified. Especially when everyone seems to like him better than her. The book features a hedgehog heroine, comic-book style panels, and witty thought balloons. "Arugula is an day-dreaming diva, part Martha Stewart, part Miss Piggy, and all fun," Dillard told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 3, 2009.

Featuring laminated canvas material, this sturdy, insulated lunch box is designed for easy cleaning and includes a name tag and zipped pocket on the back. It is free from PVC, phthalates and lead.

This 6" plush castle with a front door that opens from the top includes prince and princess finger puppets as well as a dragon and a white unicorn with sound effects.

Kids can find a place to park their cars by taking them up and down the ramp or using the the elevator provided to get a car serviced, washed or parked.  Wonderworld wooden toys are made of rubberwood, a replenishable resource, and utilize non-toxic color and lacquer. "Wonderworld uses only water-based paint for our wooden toys so to minimize: child exposure to chemicals ... CO2 emission ... and chemical waste release to the environment," Jason Cohen, president of Smart Gear, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

This set features a detailed Santa with his toy sack and best friend Rudolph the Reindeer for pretend play. The figures may be used with other WOW toys sets. Launch date: July 9, 2009.

This friction-powered cement truck has an automatic revolving mixer. Mike’s motor rotates his inner cement drum, tossing and turning all the mix of cement ingredients with real cement-making sounds. He is operated by a friendly removable construction driver figure who can either drive him to his next job or watch the mixing process from the top of his truck. A detachable bollard can be fixed to the back for easy storage. "Mix ‘n’ Fix Mike, as with all other vehicles from WOW’s toy range, has been designed to help children make sense of the world around them through imaginative play. Every WOW toy is compatible with others from the range, [and] they are extremely resilient, don’t require batteries, and exceed all toy safety regulations," Tanya Laperouse, PR manager for WOW Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 9, 2009.

The myPC Stage I Keyboard is a personalized computer keyboard designed especially for toddlers' learning styles and lifestyles. "Unique features include large, rubberized keys and a tough spill-proof exterior," Elizabeth Tarpley, CEO of Targeted Technology Solutions, told TDmonthly. It received a 2008 Toy Man Award of Excellence and Seal of Approval. Launch date: September 2009.

This game comes with 10 three-piece spelling puzzles using three letter animals illustrations — pig, fox, hen, etc. The eco-friendly product uses 90-percent recycled grey board and non-toxic inks. Its old-fashioned look is designed to be appealing to every generation of toy buyers. In this pre-reading game, the puzzle also spells its name. Launch date: June 30, 2009.

The Early Learning Center Colors & Shapes kit is made to challenge kids in a fun and colorful format. Kids can learn to identify shapes and colors by completing tasks, to sort using more than one attribute, to recognize shapes and colors of objects in their environment, and to develop grouping and classifying skills through game play. "Children especially love the color and shape bingo, combining shapes and colors and the picture search activity mats," Jessica Wineke, PR coordinator for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The sporty, sturdy Bamboo Hot Rod, has hot-rod graphics with rugged wheels and curved bamboo to offer a sleek design for children. "[It] combines modern design with a highly sustainable material: bamboo," Robin Lehnert, marketing manager for Hape Intl., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Color Caterpillars are designed as a captivating way to introduce children to colors, patterns and sizes. The big, bright, snap-together pieces are made for little hands to manage as they build cute, colorful, caterpillar friends, develop fine motor skills, and engage in early exploration at the same time. Color Caterpillars encourages creativity with 15 mix-and-match pieces and includes a convenient plastic storage jar. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

Number Bugs are designed to introduce children to numbers, counting 0 to 5, addition and color matching. The chunky, snap-together pieces are made for little hands to manage as they build adorable bug friends, develop fine motor skills, and engage in early learning at the same time. The 18-piece set makes six bugs and includes a convenient plastic storage jar. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— “[We] do a lot with Learning Resources in math,” Jacque Flagg, owner of Jacque’s Inc. in Bryan, Texas, told TDmonthly in fall 2009 about best-selling educational supplies.
— Two of 40 retailers named Learning Resources as a top-selling brand for school supplies and educational products.

"Global Wonders: Around the World" is an educational entertainment brand created to inspire kids (3 to 6) to explore and appreciate the customs, music, languages and lifestyles of various cultures from around the neighborhood and world. It was created by a mom of two young girls and a veteran team of children's entertainment and developmental education experts. In a world where animation meets live-action footage, children can discover, share, and compare new cultures with their new friends from Global Wonders. "Global Wonders packaging dazzles, and the cultural content is entertaining and deep. Interactive features like WonderVision and Language Jams also set it apart," David Burchianti, VP of marketing and brand development for Global Wonders, told TDmonthly. It has received the following awards: Dr. Toy Best New Product, iParenting Media Best New DVD and Toy Tips Top 10 Back to School Toy. Launch date: October 21, 2008.

These four lightweight, easy to use rollers offer a way to get creative. Children can roll out borders for note paper, party decorations, designs on wrapping paper and anything else that their imagination will allow. Using the circular paint pads or washable tempera paint will yield the best results, along with a shallow pan for the paint and a lesson in holding the handles properly. Each roller is 8.5" long. The themes for this set include teddy bears, butterflies, gingerbread men and frogs. Each design is a different color. Launch date: June 2009.

Ever wash a pair of socks and end up with one lone sock and wonder where all those lost socks go? Silly Socksplays on this question while teaching young children skills such as turn-taking, matching and counting. Each player receives three different silly socks to start the game. Players take turns picking an item from the washing machine. If it’s a sock that matches one of the socks the player is holding, the player places the pair in the laundry basket. But, if a player pulls out a pair of pants, he or she will lose one turn until they can try for silly socks again. The first player to collect three matching pairs wins. Launch date: August 2009.

This colorful, themed set includes a carry handle and a storage pouch on the back for toting the various pieces included. It features felt fairies, flowers, insects and more. Launch date: 2009.

YoYo's in your neighborhood! See YoYo as he goes next door for a visit. Children can look for YoYo under the flaps on every spread to see what he's going to do next! Written and illustrated by Jeannette Rowe. 8 Pages.

Tom has a problem with his tail--he doesn't like it. He wants to wag his tail like Sam the sheepdog, or swish his tail like Henry the horse. But Tom's tail is too short and curly. With the help of some mud, Tom's tail becomes long and straight. But it's also sharp! When Tom wags his tail, it pokes anyone standing by. His brothers and sisters kick him out of the sty because they're tired of being poked. In the middle of the night, as Tom's sleeping outside, it begins to rain. And the rain washes away the mud on Tom's tail, making it soft and curly again! By Linda Jennings, illustrated by Tim Warnes. 32 Pages.

MINE! That's what the very greedy bee says to anyone who asks him to share. While the other bees work hard, the greedy bee is busy gobbling pollen and guzzling nectar. Until one day, the greedy bee finds a meadow full of the biggest, juiciest flowers he's ever seen, and he decides not to tell ANYONE. . . . Soon he's too full to fly, and worse, he doesn't know how to get home. Will anyone help a very greedy bee? By Steve Smallman, illustrated by Jack Tickle. 32 Pages.

Mother Mouse is watching over Little Mouse, snuggly tight in his bed, when Mole appears. "Mother Mouse!" Mole says. "You can't leave your baby there! The farmer is coming to plow the field. That bed is not safe." By the light of the moon, Mother Mouse searches for the perfect new nest for Little Mouse. Her woodland friends offer many ideas, but nothing is quite right. Then Mother Mouse remembers something. Set against a spectacular sky of glittery stars and a flocked full moon, this inviting story will lull children to sleep as they appreciate the coziness of their own beds. By Sheridan Cain, illustrated by Gaby Hansen. 32 Pages.