November 2010 Notable Toys — All

Weighing less than three pounds and the size of a rolled towel, the Piggyback Rider bonds parent and child in active transport that is natural and instinctive.  Rather than a seat attached to a frame or wheels, the brothers Jonny and Wayne Lifshitz designed a backpack with a shoulder mounted foot bar for a child to stand on, four integrated grab handles for a child to hold, and a safety harness to secure the child. The foot bar rests just below adult waist level, allowing the child to stand perched on the adult’s back and be engaged in active transport, rather than sit (and fall asleep). The Piggyback Rider is built strong and sturdy, made with high quality climbing buckles, webbing and a tempered aluminum bar. The foot bar has textured grip tape to ensure  traction on the shoes; the child’s harness is clipped to the adult carrier at two points and the back has a neoprene panel for comfort. The entire carrier comes in a convertible multipurpose storage bag/mudflap.

24-multi-part 28mm (1/48th scale) Amazon Warriors boxed set with bases. This set contains 24-multi-part hard plastic (polystyrene) models of Amazon Warriors which can be built as hoplites or bowmen (women). Various head, body and weapons combinations means this kit has an almost endless variety of poses.

The LaQ Zodiac Collection series are 53-piece kits to complete models representing the various signs of the Zodiac. By collecting all twelve of the Zodiac Collection kits, it is possible to make the model of the Greek Hero Perseus. Instructions to build the Perseus model is available at the LaQ website, Gallery Level 4.

This kit includes 12 27" square washable nylon scarves in white, pink, red, orange, yellow, lime, kelly, medium blue, royal blue, lavender, purple and black. Also included is the IDEAS Primary Music CD, an instructional insert and velcro to hang the scarves. These bright colorful scarves stimulate the senses, encourage movement, teach and reinforce color recognition. Dance to the music, use for dress-up, learn to juggle. These scarves can be used for infinite possibilites limited only by the child's imagination. "Our kit is the only kit on the market that includes 12 bright, colorful, nylon scarves along with an accompanying music CD made exclusively for arts education IDEAS," Cynthia Cavone, Marketing Associate, arts education IDEAS, told TDmonthly.

Pop is a high quality rubber toy incarnation of a weasel. A weasel who wandered onto the wrong side of the tracks. He comes complete with a coffin, a toe tag, a death certificate, and a bumper sticker.

Splodge is a high quality character based plush toy of a hedgehog that had bad timing on the race track...He comes complete with bodybag and toe tag.

Twitch is a high quality character based plush toy of a raccoon that didn't quite make it to the other side...He comes complete with bodybag and toe tag.

This handheld device uses x-ray flourescence technology features software that is simple to navigate and offers real-time results on its touchscreen PDA. When the user gets back to the laboratory, those results can easily be transferred to a desktop computer for long-term storage, analysis and report generation. The initial application that this system was developed for is hazardous substance analysis and it exceeds the requirements of RoHS and CPSIA regulations with detection limits down to ten parts-per-million (ppm).

This portable play mat is eco-friendly, and made in Canada. Play mat is available in three chic two-tone combinations of pink/brown, blue/brown, and natural/brown.
Awards: 2010 Parent Tested Parent Approved Award; 2010 Parent Tested Parent Approved Environmental Award; 2010 Pediatrician Approved - Dr. Natalie Geary

This lot of Red & White Stripes feature "relaxed cuffs" which are slightly looser and longer, making for a better fitting outfit for infants with chunkier thighs.

Fan Stamp's Disney Face Art takes dress-up and playtime invites for increased imaginative options. For parties or everyday fun, Fan Stamp allows children to enhance their role-play experience with Disney characters they love. Designs are 100% mineral make-up, hypo allergenic and sweat and water resistant. Designs are reusable, include glitter, apply in seconds and wipe off easily.
Awards: National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2010

Baby Bubadoo's Diaper Changing Wrap features a water-resistant outer shell and protects baby's clothes from accidents and secures little one's arms for a quick and clean diaper change.

The D-FLY XL Alloy with Gyro Helicopter, is an extra large sized remote control helicopter, approximately 1.5 feet long. It comes with LED Rockets, easy to fly, and very stable for indoor and outdoor flight. Features a Li-Po battery for longer flying time.

The Darkhawk Defender XL Helicopter, is an extra large sized military RC helicopter with 3 channels, Gyroscope and LED Lights, and with action figures. The Darkhawk Defender XL Helicopter is fabricated with high impact plastic materials. It is completely stable and can be flown indoors and outdoors. It comes with Li-Po battery for longer flying time.

The Micro X Copter E-agle Metal with Gyro and LED lights, is a mini Infrared 3 channels helicopter and it is one of our upgrade versions of the Micro X Copter. It comes in 4 assorted colors and includes a USB cable. There are 3 different infrared frequency bands available. The Micro X Copter E-agle Metal with Gyro is fabricated with high impact alloy materials. It is infrared controlled. The three frequencies makes possible to fly three Micro X Copter E-agle Metal with Gyro at the same time with no interference. The Micro X Copter E-agle Metal with Gyro is an indoors helicopter.

The Bannister family – including former K-9 police hero Zeus (voiced by Mario López) – is back, and this time they’re spending their holidays at a beautiful Rocky Mountain resort. But toss in an unexpected visit from cocky Uncle Randy (Casper Van Dien of “Watch Over Me” and The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb) and his foxy poodle Bella (voiced by Paris Hilton) and a familiar pair of bumbling jewel thieves (led by Dean Cain of “Lois & Clark: The New Adventure of Superman” and The Dog Who Saved Christmas) and this holiday may be headed downhill fast! Can Zeus solve the crime, save Bella and hit the slopes, all in time for Christmas Day? Gary Valentine (“King of Queens”) and Elisa Donovan (“Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and Clueless) co-star in the all-new four-legged family adventure!

A great whimsical gift and it's educational too: each doll comes with a multilingual hangtag with phrases you say after someone sneezes in 5 different languages.

In many parts of the world, it's still a time of Cholera. Learn why there's no love lost for this infamous character.

This sensation can lead to desperation, so make some preparation for this situation, or else you'll face dehydration destructive to your reputation!

You are what you eat, even if it's contaminated. So be careful - food poisoning can b. cereus!

This doll's soft vinyl face is infused with a delightfully gentle vanilla fragrance, and its soft round body is perfect for hugging and cuddling.  Following the Waldorf tradition, this doll's minimal facial features allow the child to image their own faces and feelings for the dolls.  Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 7.7 x 10.4 inches ; 1.2 pounds.

This second series of figures features two alternate versions of your favorite nuclear family and 15 new characters including extended family members and loveable barflies, including Mariachi Homer, Mariachi Marge, Zombie Homer, Zombie Bart, Sideshow Mel, Carl Carlson, Selma Bouvier and many more. Each vinyl figure stands 3-inches tall, includes a character sticker, and comes blind boxed to preserve its identity.
— Tom Levin from Tom's Toys Inc in Great Barrington, Mass., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that minifigures from Kid Robot are a popular choice for tween customers.

This fun, sprawling floor puzzle (2 feet X 3 feet) has large, rugged pieces made from 98% recycled materials. Like all innovativeKids' Green Start series products, this puzzle is not only good for the earth, it also helps kids see their connection to
it, in this case with a wonderfully illustrated garden scene showing kids busily working and playing in and around the garden. Once assembled, the puzzle becomes a hunt-and-find adventure in which kids count objects hidden in the garden. Numerals and matching illustrated quantities (chicks, apples, bees, flowers, etc.) along the top and bottom borders of the puzzle show kids what, and how many of each, to look for. When finished, pack it back up into the very attractive carrying case package it came in, also made from recycled materials.
Awards:  Bright Eyes Autumn 2010 Tillywig Award

Written by Nora Gaydos and illustrated by Akemi Gutierre, these two companion books are sure to help both parents and new siblings face the challenges and changes that come with having a new baby brother or sister. The text is simple and straightforward and the illustrations are whimsical and endearing. This is the perfect book for the sibling with a new baby brother or sister.
Awards:  2010 NAPPA Honors Award.