October 2008 Notable Toys — Teddy Bear

This bear, straight from Grammy Bears' Stitchery, is unique among its fellow bear friends. It features hearts on its paws and chest and comes with membership to Bear-Beach Club. Kids can earn funscapers coupons that they can use for prizes for them and their bears.

No two Little Toy Bears from Grammy Bears' Stitchery are alike. The bears have mending hearts and are members at Bear-Beach Club, which features online activities.

The animated, singing Cheerleader bears are dressed in a traditional cheerleading outfit and matching pom-pom, with nine different uniform colors to choose from. Made of super soft, high-pile Kohair, these 19” bears sing the classic “Mickey” song by Toni Basil. Launch date: July 2008.

This chocolate bear dances while singing “I Feel Good.” These singing, animated plush bears are the color of rich, dark chocolate and wear brightly colored T-shirts extolling the virtues of chocolate. The set of six Chocolate Bears is the perfect gift for teddy bear collectors and chocolate lovers alike. Launch date: June 2008.

An ideal gift for friends and family in the medical field, the Scrubs Bears come in both male and female versions. The male is dressed in dark blue scrubs and sings “Doctor Doctor; Bad Case of Loving You,” and the female is dressed in pink scrubs and sings “I’ll Be There.” Launch date: January 2008.

The Pearl’s Wisdom bears (six assorted) are the company’s best-selling bears. Dressed in bright pastel hats and matching T-shirts, each bear’s shirt has a different saying of love, friendship and inspiration. The head and mouth move while singing “That’s What Friends are For.” Launch date: 2006.

At just 7” tall, these bears have the look of a classic teddy in a much smaller package. Available in four styles, they each have their own color scheme and basic design.
— “Our mini bears are great. We have four varieties. It's the best little bear; it has character,” said Barbara Anderson-Sannes, owner of The Essence of Nonsense in St. Paul, Minn., about her best-selling plush line, Gund.
— “[People] request them for gift toppers,” Rhonda Cole, owner of Ansley's Attic in Newnan, Ga., told TDmonthly.
— Ten percent of 62 retailers named Gund as their top seller in plush in early summer 2008.