July 2010 Notable Toys — All

With this kit, kids can paint their clogs and erase them to paint them again. The set comes with a pair of clogs, six waterproof paints, 32 erasing pads, two brushes and a mixing palette.

Sleepover Sassy Sak is a 16” L x 9” W duffel-shaped Sassy Sak with two long, over-the-shoulder straps for carrying. It comes in purple peace, flower power, pink floral and green zebra designs and is "totally hip and versatile," Press Release Etc. President Jacki Ralph told TDmonthly.

Based on the hit CBS-TV crime series, this game lets players visit a crime scene, get statements from suspects and see what the latest news is at headquarters. During each game, plot twists occur that may or may not change your suspicions. As a group, players decide who to arrest.

This 1:72 scale die cast vehicle replicates "The Bloody Trail," an armored landing vehicle employed by the First Platoon of "B" Company, 3rd Armored Amphibian Battalion, in the Battle of Peleliu in September, 1944. The model features textured surfaces, a rotating turret with an elevating M6 37mm gun, plastic detail parts, realistic tracks and authentic markings. It measures 4.25" long and comes with a removable display base with a clear protective cover.

Designed to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Green Toys Fire Truck is solidly constructed from 100-percent recycled plastic milk containers and has no metal axles. It includes a sturdy extendable ladder that rotates 360 degrees and two removable side ladders. The truck contains no BPA, PVC or phthalates, and is packaged using only recycled and recyclable materials.  Made in California.
—  Joe Mitchell, owner of YoYo Joe’s Toys & Fun in Wilmington, Del., called the Green Toys Fire Truck a “slam dunk” at ASTRA 2010.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010

GeoPalz is the first decorative activity tracker and online game that allows users to earn points through physical activity. With a simple message of  “Walk to Win,” every mile walked counts as one pedpoint and once the points add up, the child can use the points to redeem fun, activity-focused prizes - including basketballs, jump ropes and frisbees. The site also displays a map of the distance the child has walked – showing the specific destinations he/she has reached with their steps.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010, 2011. Launch date: August 2010

With this kit kids can learn about symmetry, then create their own symmetrical cut paper designs. Based on a traditional South American craft, the Amate Cut Paper Kit contains everything needed to make seven cut paper designs, right down to the pencil and glue stick.

With the Sumi-e Painting Kit, kids can paint in the Japanese style with watercolor ink, then stamp their creations with a hand-crafted symbol. The kit contains everything needed to make eight paintings and one scroll painting, along with enough extra ink to print dozens more. Easy-to-follow instructions are also included.
Awards: 2008 Parents Choice Award; 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal

With the Eye Can Art kit, kids can draw a pastel picture or make a collage inside a frame, then melt a layer of wax and draw on top. This wax drawing kit contains everything needed to make two ready-to-hang encaustic artworks, along with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions.
Awards: 2010 A+ Education.com Award

This pre-knit craft kit includes everything needed to make a 7" x 7" Purse Pal with a 30" strap. Simply attach the pre-made parts by stitching them up with yarn supplied. Leaving the top open and adding the strap turns this toy into a purse. Purse Pals are also available in Hamlet the Pig, Millard the Duck and Twitch the Rabbit versions. "It's a kid-friendly craft that spins off of the popular knitted and crocheted amigurumi trend. It allows kids to create their own toy, but doesn't require knitting or crocheting!" Lion Brand Marketing Communications Coordinator Lindsey Shaw told TDmonthly.

These bean bag activities, blended with world traditions and rich musical rhythms, are designed to teach unique customs and cultures. These activities include circle and partner activities, traditional dances, games, fiestas and original action fun, with the goal of teaching important concepts, motor skills and language.

WOKER is Word Poker. The cards represent letters and the goal is to make the highest scoring words based on the points associated with each letter. The cards are dealt as in three popular poker games. "It can be a family game, a party game or an educational tool," LCT Enterprises President Lisa C. Teore told TDmonthly.

Children can get actively engaged with these easy circle time ideas for a daily routine. Circle time activities and games are designed to provide structure and help children develop important concepts and skills, such as listening, color and letter recognition, patterns, rhythms, body identification, weather and counting. "The music and movement action will help calm kids down and get them ready for learning," Elaine Murphy, Kimbo Educational director of sales and marketing, told TDmonthly.

All of the songs on "Be Nice" were inspired by Leeny's persuasive, misbehaving, penguin-loving nephew Zak, and the result is an album of irresistible, hilarious, and educational tunes for children and their parents.
Awards: 2008 Parents' Choice Approved Award; 2008 Children's Music Web Award: Best Recording for Preschoolers; 2008 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award; 2008 Best Music Recommended List for Your Family by Common Sense Media; 2009 Song of the Year nominee by Just Plain Folks Music for "What Have You Done With All the Penguins?!"; 2008 International Songwriting Competition Finalist for "Mammals"

"Sharing the Same Stars" by Leeny and Tamara features 14 original songs about topics including ladybugs, seat belt safety, the epidermis, shyness and kindness.
Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Recommended Award; 2010 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Rising Star honoree; 2010 Independent Music Awards (IMA) Song of the Year nominee for "Ladybug, Ladybug, Ladybu-u-ug"; 2009 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award.

The Sterling Police have just announced a major breakthrough in the case of the pirated video game MazTech Ultimate SK8 and need help breaking up the piracy ring. In this game, kids can join the Ectropy Secret Science Team, using science skills to help solve the mystery. "Secret Science Team is about taking what you learn about science and applying it to everyday situations ... it is more than science experiments, it is truly a science experience," Ectropy Science President Walter Thompson told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Approved

This set of nine dice is printed with a full deck of 52 playing cards and two jokers. The set is specially designed to allow hands to be rolled for poker and most other card games. Instructions for both family and betting games are included.

Word FRENZY is a fast-paced, word-forming card game that aims to foster spelling, vocabulary, word association and math skills. Playing with letter cards, players try to be the first to collect cards that spell a four-letter word relating to a category. "It's stealth education made fun!" Tame Tiger Marketing VP Steve Kam told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 Parents' Choice Approved Award; 2009 Dr. Toy's Best Picks; 2009 The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval; 2010 Family Review Center Gold Award; 2010 Family Review Center Editor's Choice Award

Replicating a T-33A Shooting Star — the two-seat trainer version of the USAF’s first combat-capable jet fighter stationed in 1953 Korea — this 1:72 scale die cast airplane features engraved panel lines and simulated rivets, a detailed cockpit with an opening canopy, prototypical wingtip fuel tanks and wing-mounted bombs, optional-position landing gear, and authentic markings, including "The Red Devil" painted on the front wheel well doors. Its wingspan measures 6.25".

Replicating a Grumman F9F-2B Panther flown by the U.S. Marines' VMF-311 "Tomcats" in 1952 Korea, this 1:72 scale die cast airplane features engraved panel and hatch lines, a detailed cockpit with an opening canopy, four 20mm cannons mounted in the nose, prototypical wing roots with detailed engine air intakes, wing-mounted HVAR rockets, optional-position landing gear, and authentic "panther head" nose markings. Its wingspan measures 6.25".

Created by a preschool teacher, these play dough gift sets are eco-friendly, organic and American-made by hand.

This deluxe play dough gift set, created by a preschool teacher, is American-made and non-toxic. The set includes three containers of Miss Brittany's Organic Preschool Fun Dough, a 100-percent organic toddler apron featuring the "Organically Awesome!" logo, a wood rolling pin, and four wooden shape stampers.

Goodwood is a system of innovative wooden blocks, designed to invite imaginative and creative play. The precisely crafted blocks allow for building in every dimension, creating structures that are architecturally interesting and visually pleasing. The system includes seven intercompatible sets, each intended to be fun and interesting on its own, and to combine in fascinating ways with the others. These colored blocks are made from forest-friendly wood and are CPSIA tested. "The abstract, innovative shapes of the Goodwood blocks, which fit together in surprising and interesting ways, cultivate truly open-ended explorative play," Around Square President Matthew Hiebert told TDmonthly.
Awards: Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children’s Products Award

"A Sunny Day" captures all the fun and wonder of a child's day from sun up to lights out. With an eclectic mix of melodies, playful lyrics and inviting vocals, Julie K takes children on an exciting train ride, a trip to the zoo, flying high jumping like a jumping bean and more.
Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Award; 2010 Dr. Toys Best Vacation Product Award; 2010 Dove Family Approved seal from the Dove Foundation