November 2010 Notable Toys — All

This wooden children's rocker is hand-painted in blues & red and features a rocket theme. The seat back features the words "Reach for the Stars" along with spinning planets, stars and a photo frame for the little astronaut's picture that holds a 4" x 6" photo. The rocker armrest has a joystick that moves as it plays the sound of a rocket "blasting off" (sound effects can be turned off). A tiny space shuttle moves along the base of the chair as the child rocks. A special understamp beneath can be personalized by the gift giver. A photo greeting card is also included.

This wooden children's bookcase is a grandfather clock design hand-painted in pastel colors featuring the classic nursery rhyme "Hickory Dickory Dock." The bookcase top has a working clock and a secret storage compartment. Children can pull the mouse on the side of the clock to hear the tune "Hickory Dickory Dock" and watch the mouse run up the clock. The bookcase features the full nursery rhyme on its sides, and has two shelves to hold favorite books. "Our products are designed as if for our own children ... with more than meets the eye so children have "levels to discover" as they rock, store toys, ride or play," Levels of Discovery PR Director Cheryl Batzing told TDmonthly.

This wooden children's rocker is hand-painted in pastel colors and features storybook characters from the classic nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle." The seat back has a working crescent moon clock with a cow jumping over the moon. The seat has a picture of a dish and spoon, and underneath is a special understamp for personalization. A photo greeting card is also included.

HeadPhonies are portable mini speakers shaped like designer toys. They are compatible with all iPod variations, and will also work with other MP3 and CD players, as well as computers, handheld video games and even certain cell phones. The speakers stand at only 3” tall, and are designed with high sound quality in mind. Each HeadPhonies includes a cable for connecting a music library as well as a charging cable for the internal battery. The internal battery can be charged in about an hour with a playback time of over four hours per charge. "The MOBI HeadPhonies provides the sound of a Boom-Box with the cute design of Hello Kitty," MOBI Technologies National Sales Manager Andrew Buckband told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 CEA Innovations Award for Design and Engineering

Like its parent unit the GloMate PLUS, the GloMate Jr. uses LED Technology to illuminate in blue, green, red and rainbow hues. It is completely portable and operates on 3 AAA batteries. The GloMate Jr. is designed to last over 80 hours on fresh batteries, and can be used for for home, travel and even camping. "The ease of portability with great features puts the GloMate Jr. in a class of its own," MOBI Technologies National Sales Manager Andrew Buckband told TDmonthly.

The GloMate PLUS is a portable, rechargeable play and night light designed to fit perfectly into a child's hand. The built-in lithium-ion battery lasts over 10 hours on a single charge. The base features an LED ring that lights when charging and makes the it easy to find in total darkness. The GloMate PLUS lights up in blue, green, red or a rainbow mode that cycles through all of the colors. "The GloMate PLUS is designed as the perfect play friend. The multi-color LEDs make any child's adventure a colorful one," MOBI Technologies National Sales Manager Andrew Buckband told TDmonthly.

Earthworm Ensemble is folk-country-rock children’s music designed for the whole family. This album features artists including I See Hawks In L.A., The Chapin Sisters and Mike Stinson, along with Southern California roots musicians David Jackson and Brantley Kearns, who have worked with John Denver, Dwight Yoakam and Emmylou Harris. The lyrics are fun, subtly informative and timely, reflecting eco themes and a return to do-it-yourself values. There are songs about trains, birds, buffalo migration, the earthworm’s role in the earth’s life cycle, an eco superhero bear and dog team, and a spaghetti western ballad about the magic of walking in the woods. A sweet lullaby about flying through space closes out the CD.
Awards: 2010 Parents Choice Silver Award

The PregoFIT Workouts DVD series consists of three DVDs, one for each trimester. Each DVD contains total-body workouts designed specifically for each month of pregnancy. Each workout follows the guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for each stage of pregnancy and is designed for any fitness level (beginner, intermediate or advanced). The workout videos are filmed in high-definition and run from 25 to 40 minutes each.

Little Honey is designed to make traveling fun and fashionable for the whole family. These luxe children's travel pillows feature modern patterns by artist Matthew Langille, known for his work with Swatch, Trumpette and Marc Jacobs.

The Okee Dokee Brothers deliver a collection of 13 original songs designed to get families on their feet and out of the house. Take It Outside offers enough witty wordplay, musical sophistication and food for thought for listeners of any age. The Okee Dokee Brothers, the Twin Cities duo of Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing, won national notice for their first release, Kids with Beards (2008). The album was produced by Grammy Award nominee Tor Hyams and features Adam Levy of the Honeydogs. Awards: Parent's Choice Foundation Audio Award Fall 2010

A magnetic cannon is a chain reaction device. It is built in a series of stages, each containing a magnet, a spacer, and a projectile. To start the chain reaction, a steel ball is released, which accelerates towards the first stage magnet. When it strikes the magnet, its energy is transfered through the magnet and spacer into the projectile which speeds off toward the next stage. The process repeats until the last projectile leaves the end of the device. The more stages an accelerator has, and the more powerful the magnets are at each stage, the faster the ball bearing will leave the final stage. This four-stage device features powerful rare-earth magnets, steel ball bearings, and 22cm firing trough.

A magnetic accelerator is a chain reaction device. It is built in a series of stages, each containing a magnet, a spacer, and a projectile. To start the chain reaction, a steel ball is released, which accelerates towards the first stage magnet. When it strikes the magnet, its energy is transfered through the magnet and spacer into the projectile which speeds off toward the next stage. The process repeats until the last projectile leaves the end of the device. The more stages an accelerator has, and the more powerful the magnets are at each stage, the faster the ball bearing will leave the final stage. This four-stage device features powerful rare-earth magnets, steel ball bearings, and 25cm firing trough.

The trebuchet was most highly evolved catapult type weapon of its time. Built on location, it was able to hurl carved stone balls weighing up to 300lb (136 kg) at enemy fortifications and at a safe distance from enemy fire. This tabletop trebuchet kit is designed to withstand rigorous use, safely and reliably when using the included projectiles. Each piece has been accurately machined from carefully chosen lumber, and precisely drilled to allow easy assembly. The completed model measures 20.3cm(8") x 10.1cm(4") x 15.2cm(6"). A how-to section demonstrates loading and firing the completed catapult, including tips on tuning the finished kit.

Catapults have been used throughout history. Its simplest form was the onager or mangonel, where a projectile was placed in a cup or spoon on the end of a throwing arm. The arm would be powered by twisted ropes of hair or fibre. When fired, the arm would swing up and slam into a stopping block, causing the entire catapult to buck, and sending the payload on its way. This tabletop catapult draws inspiration from this design and is powered by a powerful twisted rope skien, and features a simple spoon and arm type arrangement. Each piece has been accurately machined from carefully chosen lumber, and precisely drilled to allow easy assembly. The completed model measures 20.3cm(8") x 10.1cm(4") x 15.2cm(6"). A how-to section demonstrates loading and firing the completed catapult, including tips on tuning the finished kit.

The science project catapult kit allows you to tinker with the design of a medieval siege weapon, and provides you with the information needed to analyse your results. The catapult can be changed from a wheeled, sling type trebuchet, to a bucking spoon-arm onager in minutes. Power the siege engine with a free-swinging counterweight or fixed rubber bands. Vary the counterweight mass, projectile mass, or sling length. Install the optional crash bar or let the arm swing free. Compare the results of all the different configurations, and draw your own conclusions about which design is the ultimate medieval artillery weapon.

Truss bridges have been a mainstay of civil engineering for many years. From early railroad structures to modern spans like the Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron, MI, truss bridges continue to be indispensible to our transportation network. This kit features all-wood construction. The materials have been carefully selected, accurately cut, and precisely drilled to allow easy assembly without tools or glue. The included instructions demonstrate how to build any one of six different structures using the color coded parts. The finished truss bridge measures 13" x 4" x 3.5" (33cm x 10cm x 89cm), with a structural span of 12" (30 cm).

This collection includes magical, macabre, dramatic, funny, bizarre, absurd, delightful, moving and charming poems by Lewis Carroll, A.A. Milne, Edward Lear, Hilaire Belloc, Kenneth Grahame and many others. Readers such as Anton Lesser, Simon Russell-Beale and Timothy West bring the lines beautifully to life and aim to make this an ideal introduction to some of the best-loved children's poetry.

This lightweight, 100-percent waterproof boot has no seams, meaning no leakage. It was built for optimum functionality for spring, summer and fall. Weighing only 10 oz. per boot and manufactured using Holeys TREVA 2.0 process, Weatheralls are designed to be durable but comfortable.  It is the lightest 100% waterproof boot in the world.

This 48-piece set includes solid colored pieces, along with pieces with holes, curved pieces, a magnetic door and a wheeled piece. Magna-Tiles DX contains 12 small squares, four large squares, six isosceles triangles, 10 right triangles, 11 equilateral triangles, a wheeled piece, and arch and three special shapes. An idea guide is included.
— In late summer 2010, five percent of 43 specialty retailers told TDmonthly Magna-Tiles are an overall best-selling product.
— In late Spring 2011, 25% of retailers mentioned Magna-Tiles as a best-selling construction toy.
— As of 05/12/2011, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 23 reviews on Amazon.com.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Col., told TDmonthly that Magnatiles were their overall best-selling toy.

It's a beautiful day in Cloverleaf Corners, so Zach and Sandy decide to go for a bike ride. This play set includes Babblebrook Beavers Zach and Sandy, two colorful trikes, two tennis rackets and tennis balls.
— Dave Campbell of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., sells about 30 Calico Critters per month.
— Five of 43 specialty retailers cited Calico Critters as a top-selling toy in a late summer 2010 TDmonthly survey.

Playmobil Eggs open to reveal surprise play sets. This 13” egg contains a zookeeper figure, two panda figures, a basket and food for the pandas.
— In August 2010, 14 percent of 43 specialty toy retailers named Playmobil products an overall best seller.
— Clyde Walton, owner of The Toy Shoppe of London in London, Ont., Canada, told TDmonthly in summer 2010 that when it comes to Playmobil, “The only two responses (he receives) are “’I've never heard of it' and 'That's my child's favorite toy.’  If they like Playmobil they like it all.”

This Halloween-themed Silly Bandz 24-pack includes Jack-O-Lanterns, Bats, Frankensteins, Spiders, Witches and Ghosts. These bands can be collected, worn or traded with friends.
— In late summer 2010, 10 of 43 retailers surveyed named rubber band bracelets an overall top seller.
— Casey Sartain, buyer for Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, told TDmonthly in August 2010 that the store sells about 100 packs of Silly Bandz each month.

Gourds, known as Mates in Peru, are a pumpkin like vegetable that grow to be rounded, conical or light bulb shaped with many variations.

Gourd Critterz focuses on animal designs from all over the world. Our collection includes animals typically found in Zoos, Aquariums, Marine Mammal Centers, National Parks, Natural History Museums, Nature Centers and more.

This baby giraffe is shown at rest, with legs sprawled on the ground.