August 2010 Notable Toys — All

Each cosbaby stands 3" tall, has articulated joints and features a classic Disney character in baby form. The set features seven figures, including Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Stitch, Pinocchio and a secret character.

Each cosbaby stands 3" tall, has articulated joints and features a classic DC Comics character in baby form. The set features eight figures, including Modern Batman, Classic Batman, Robin, Joker, Two-Face, Cat Woman, Batgirl and a secret character.

ABC’s Around the World was developed to be used as the foundation for a child becoming multilingual. The interactive wheel enhances the learning experience. Children, especially pre-literate children, both hear the word and “read” the “picture” at the same time.

Sophisticated Style is the first in a collection of Michelle Obama dolls. Each fully articulated, poseable doll is handcrafted of vinyl, hand-painted for lifelike details and features tailored ensembles inspired by some of the First Lady's favorite fashions.

Crosshairs the Ferret makes his debut with the “Pretty in Pink” Delilah doll. Just as Crosshairs wears a bright pink collar, the 16" fully articulated ball-jointed doll wears pink from head to toe.  Delilah wears a pink bunny tee, a white sweatshirt with bunny ears and a skirt trimmed in pink lace. Stockings, high-heeled tennis shoes, earrings and a messenger bag complete her look, and bright pink streaks decorate her long curly hair. Crosshairs the Ferret measures 3.5” long.

Delilah Noir is preppy and polished during the day, and romantic and edgy by night. This ball-jointed and articulated vinyl collectible doll lets girls change her look, her pose and her mood at a moment's notice. She arrives in her "School Outfit" and blonde wig, along with a detailed ruffled outfit and black wig.

This doll captures the cute gothic "Emily the Strange" character. She has long dark hair and wears a black sleeveless dress and a gray messanger bag.

This two-piece doll wardrobe set is inspired by the Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart character from the motion picture. When Hannah takes the stage, she is costumed in a glam embellished mini dress and pearlized ecru fashion boots. Miley Stewart goes casual, in a white tee, embroidered plaid skirt, plaid shirt, pink sheer hose and brown boots.

This Hannah Montana ball-jointed doll is licensed by Disney and crafted of lifelike vinyl. It measures 16" high and has 14 ball-and-socket joints. She comes with all the extras to change her from Miley to Hannah and back, including two realistic wigs and two collector-quality concert outfits that let girls recreate all her moves and moods.

Designed by artist Andrew Bell and produced in association with Google, the"Android" series features 12 different blind-boxed designs. Each figure is made of vinyl and measures 3" tall.

Designed by artist Andrew Bell and produced in association with Google, this cute "Android" figure is left blank for drawing or painting on. The figure is made of vinyl and measures 3" tall.

This series includes Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Snow White, Ariel and Cinderella. Each doll stands about 11" tall.

This Belle doll's enchanting features include lights, music and "magical" blooming roses. Three AAA batteries are included.

Randy Kaplan’s third not-just-for-kids music release, "The Kids Are All Id," offers a Woody Guthrie-esque style that blends a chatty kind of storytelling with an eclectic range of rootsy music. Highlights include his takes on Gershwin's “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’” and Bob Dylan's "Forever Young."

This line of DVDs is designed to teach early sign language skills to preschool-age children. Featuring beautiful video productions of some of the most recognizable children’s books of all time, this series offers a unique approach to learning sign language and helping kids of all hearing abilities to gain literacy and pre-reading skills. "A Pocket For Corduroy...and More Stories About Friendship" is adapted from the beloved book by Don Freeman.

This line of DVDs is designed to teach early sign language skills to preschool-age children. Featuring beautiful video productions of some of the most recognizable children’s books of all time, this series offers a unique approach to learning sign language and helping kids of all hearing abilities to gain literacy and pre-reading skills. "Goodnight Moon…and More Great Bedtime Stories" is adapted from the 1947 storybook by Margaret Wise Brown that has sold tens of millions of units worldwide.

Made from heat-attracting "Absorba" plastic, this giant solar airship needs only a small amount of sunlight to cause the air inside to expand and thus lift the airship into the sky. It measures 26' long. Awards: Tillywig Toy Awards Sterling Fun Winner

An inflatable base holds the bubble liquid around the perimeter, allowing people to stand inside while the bubble wand is moved up over their heads. This product aims to teach the physics behind bubbles. Full instructions for use, plus instructions on how to make bubble solution, are included. Awards: Tillywig Toy Awards Sterling Fun Winner

Kids can touch the wire to hear a buzz, and if unlucky, a very loud bang. Patented gearing means the balloon could burst on the first or 21st contact with the wire. Awards: Tillywig Toy Awards Sterling Fun Winner

These bright tropical fish swim around their bowl all day long while requiring none of the feeding, cleaning, or careful temperature monitoring of a real aquarium. The round bowl and simulated rock base offer an attractive and realistic appearance.
― When asked about her top-selling electronic or battery-operated toys in June 2010, Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Colo., said “this whole line” from Fascinations, including the Magic Fish Bowl.

A die-cast model of Sodor's cheerful green engine, Learning Curve's Battery-Powered Percy brings life to a child's wooden railway. With an easy start button and glowing headlights, the four-wheel-drive engine powers itself around the track and can even pull other cars. It requires one AA battery (not included).
― “There's quite a bit [of growth] in the battery powered engine category with … the Learning Curve items,” said Keith Schumacker, manager of Talbot's Toyland in San Mateo, Calif., when asked about his best-selling battery-operated toys during a summer 2010 survey.

At the pool, on the pond, or on the shores of a small lake, Kid Galaxy's Barracuda is a fun, refreshing water toy. Durable, fast and easy to steer, the boat is designed with a distinctive hull for stability on the water's surface and a steerable prop for responsive handling. The boat comes in two colors: bold red and white, and bright yellow. The two designs are 49MHz and 27MHz respectively, allowing for two boats to race and play together without crossing the signals from the controllers. The vehicle requires one 9V and 6 AA batteries, which do not come with the set.
— In a Summer 2011 survey, 2 out of 12 retailers said that R/C vehicles from Kid Galaxy were their best-selling electronic or battery-operated product.
― Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston's Child's Play in Baltimore, Md., said in June 2010 she sells three Kid Galaxy Barracudas per month, and listed this item as her best-selling electronic toy.
― “They're really good and sturdy. [Kid Galaxy] is a great company to work with,” said Sarah Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., after telling TDmonthly Kid Galaxy is her top-selling electronics line during a summer 2010 survey.
— Though Pun’s Toys is not a hobby store, “we sell dozens [of Kid Galaxy products] in total each month,'' said Owner Joe Beradoni, whose store is located in Bryn Mawr, Penn.

Beyond the basic motion detector or potato clock, Elenco's Snap-Micro I Standard kit allows children to learn about the theory and application of micro-controllers while building their own complex projects. A variety of components and software included in the kit guide children through the basic commands and flow charts required to assemble and operate the micro-controller, which can then program more than 25 different projects. 
― “Snap Circuits do well,” said Sherry Phipps, owner of School Crossing in Williamsburg, Va., during a summer 2010 survey of top-selling electronic toys.
― Two of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in June 2010 that Snap Circuits are their best-selling electronic item.

The R/C Tarantula from Uncle Milton puts control of this large, realistic spider in the palms of kids' hands. The flocked texture and detailed coloring of its legs and body give it a lifelike texture, and all eight legs move as it rolls along on wheels concealed under its abdomen, for a convincing scurry. Even the remote control is a creepy spider egg. The Tarantula works best on smooth, flat surfaces and requires two AAA and two AA batteries (not included).
― “[We carry] some battery operated R/C toys. The most popular is the [Tarantula] from Uncle Milton,” Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys in Oklahoma City, Okla., told TDmonthly about her best-selling electronic toys in June 2010.