November 2010 Notable Toys — All

The Early Learning & the Arts mats engage young children to learn about shapes, colors, the alphabet, and other basic life skills through lively depictions and areas for practice. These BrainyMats help children gain interest in thinking and learning. Colors and Shapes BrainyMat features six shapes, in six different colors. Shapes include square, oval, triangle, pentagon, rectangle, and circle. Colors include yellow, orange, red, blue, green, and purple.

Colored sand scenes from Sandtastik. Peel and add sand. Package contains two die cut 5x7 boards and 6 sparkling sand colors.

Sandtastik Rappit Plaster Molding Cloth is made from safe and non-toxic materials. Ideal for making volcanoes, masks, body castings, sculptures, jewelry, dioramas and more. Simply cut, dip in water, squeeze out excess, and begin to model. From set up to finished craft in minutes. Available in rolls of 4”x15’, 8”x15’, 4”x135’, and 4”x270’.

Canson has created a wonderful wide range collection of paper supplies meant to inspire young artists and fans of Eric Carle.  This new eco series (90% of the paper is made from recycled materials)  includes little market and sketch pads that are just right for taking out of a backpack while you're traveling. 
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal.

The Adventures of Zylie and Friends is a new award-winning collection of lovable plush characters, fashionable outfits, and educational stories. The line follows Zylie, a young bear from Manhattan, on her exciting adventures around the world where she meets new friends, collects new outfits, and learns about new countries and cultures. The characters come packaged in their own Adventure Kits, complete with 18" 5-jointed plush bear, signature outfit, accessories, passport, and a storybook from the series.
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award; 2010 Dr. Toy Best Picks; 2010 Parent's Choice Approved; 2010 NAPPA Rising Star; 2010 Creative Child Magazine Top Toy of the Year Award; 2011 PAL Award

These spinning bears go round and round when baby pushes the knob on top. The brightly colored spinning top is made of sturdy plastic and has a flat bottom that sits flat on the floor. A fun toy for learning about cause and effect and for making things happen.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Thanks A Lot! is a game everyone can enjoy. You receive six cards that say things like: 24 hours of invisibility, National Debt: paid Off, Shopping Spree.  You then give two of the cards to the other players.  They rank them in terms of their favorite things from 50 to 300.  You then get a corresponding chip to where they placed your card. 
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A push toy with lots of pretend possibilities.  This mower is designed for true walkers.  It is not weighted for toddlers that are looking for something to hold onto.  This is a prop that makes a pleasing sound when it's pushed.  The top of the mower comes off and doubles as a leaf blower. It has a crank and a see-thru window so that you can see the parts move. Not difficult to put together.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A gender free red, white, and blue shopping cart. Scaled perfectly for toddlers and preschoolers. This is a favorite piece of equipment for pretend play. It can hold a doll, bear or other soft toy in the usual up front place. It has an open basket that is easy to load as well as a lower shelf for big items. The top basket has no openings for small items to fall through.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A giant size 47" diameter round play mat with plenty of room for baby to crawl and play. It has a detachable mirror, teethers, and eye catching polka-dotted fabrics and many interesting textures. There are big satin patches, and crinkle ears on big faces of a monkey, mouse, bear, and elephant. A colorful lion’s mane has a velour feel and bright yellow face.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A huge 47" square play mat provides plent of space for baby to roll, sit, and begin to crawl. It has 20 different play features with interesting sounds and textures to explore. The patterns on the vibrant patchwork quilt adds visual interest, as does the safety mirror and lift up ears on the animal faces. Big enough for twins or more to share.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

One of a charming series of 11-inch cuddly bears that comes with its own suitcase for toting about. Lotte is white with a pink chiffon tutu, pink headband, and satin slippers. She comes in an oval white carrying case that will thrill young ballerinas on the go.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Soft as silk and totally huggable this 16" plush Teddy bear has velvety snout and paws and a sweet friendly face. Ready to listen to stories, songs or just quietly in the arms of a child. The bean bottomed lovable is a nice armful and available in beige or light honey brown.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

This 15 piece tin tea set that comes with a wind-up tea pot.  Wind it up and then pour--it plays "I'm a Little Tea Pot".  The set comes with the tea pot, four plates, four cups and saucers and a tray--just right for pretend tea parties.  No batteries are required to get the tea pot to play-it just winds up like a music box. 
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

This is a set of building blocks that are made out of bamboo.  They are Lincoln Log inspired pieces - the set comes with 63 pieces.  There's enough pieces to make the house as shown on the packaging or to create your own structure. 
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Low to the ground, this is a perfect little first ride-on for kids who are steady on their feet. It's shiny red and looks like a classic red vehicle. There are no pedals to complicate the action. It's foot to the floor fun with a steering wheel loaded with a horn that is sure to please. The bumpers make this furniture-safe. The front bumper is loaded with 7 funny sounds.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Hang the Velcro fabric straps of this colorful Buggybu Musical toy on the crib rail or stroller. Give the smooth wooden ring a tug and the three parts of its body pull down and play Brahms Lullaby as they move back up. Each of the round segments of the body have ribbons to touch. The body of the Buggybu, itself has multiple textures. A fleece face with stitched features, crinkly wings, and segments done in cord and knits with satin piping.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Here is a fun way to learn the names of the states, the capitals, products and a smattering of history.  This two sides map is an "add-on" to be used with the electronic Tag reading system. You need the sensor stylus to explore, answer questions, and play games on the big 35" X 20" map. Along with the kinds of info and quizzes you would expect, they have also added distances and travel times between places, animals, cardinal directions and other map reading skills.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

This is a talking pot that speaks when you put its lid on and off. Sometimes it says "on" or "off" or switches to "closed" or "open." Toss the toy veggies into the pot and use the big grey spoon and it adds stirring and mixing sounds along with little factoids about the foods.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A great combination of two favorite play modes for learning about cause and effect and making things happen. There's an easy to activate ball drop with two balls that roll down a chute and best of all, there is a set of colorful gears that twirl and play music. Tots can activate the gears by moving them directly or by pressing the red happy face button.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

For the sitting up baby, this is an ideal floor toy with six Stack 'n Surprise blocks under the peg back of the Croc. It's an ideal put and take toy with places to stack the blocks that pop up as they are put on the big pegs. Now, open the long handle that locks under the body of the Croc and your toddler will use this for a pull along or push along toy as they begin to walk about. All the stacking blocks with jolly faces can ride along or stay inside.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

This blue-eyed beauty is a loveable 14" soft doll, dressed up in a white and pink dress with pink ribbon sash. She has hot pink Mary Jane shoes and a pink pocketbook. The Miss Corolle dolls have plenty of long hair for styling and sleepy eyes that open and close. She is hand washable.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

All done up in sky blue velour, this first doll is soft and totally huggable. The entire body of the doll is done in velvety fabric except for the little hands and face that are done in soft vinyl. The features are painted on so there is nothing to pull off. This new doll, Sky wears a one-piece romper and a blue and white striped hat with a knottie on top. It is completely machine washable.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A smaller 9 ½ inch version of the original Miss Grenadine rag doll. She comes all dressed in a red, hot pink, and melon velour dress. Her arms and legs are easy to grab and her painted vinyl face is tucked in a non-removable hood. There is no hair to mouth or do-dads that will come off. Light weight and huggable, this is a perfect doll for the littlest pretender.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.