November 2011 Notable Toys — Preschool

Cloud B’s Soothing Puppets have two functions in one product. They’re fun, cute hand puppets, but hidden inside is a removable gel pack. Heating the gel pack gives  kids a warming cuddle on chilly nights; cooling the gel pack helps keep kids cool on a hot summer night. Also good for boo-boos. Comes in four different plush characters: Sleep Sheep, Twilight Turtle,  Twilight Ladybug and Gentle Giraffe.

The Wooden Hamburger is a non-sequential educational stack toy that delights kids of all ages, from 1 yr to 101+. Hand/eye color coordination, finger dexterity, and non-sequential stacking capability, can all be measured with our stacking wooden Hamburger. There's no right or wrong way to stack it. Made of rugged Western Ponderosa White Pine. The colors are non-toxic stain-like impregnated finishes. Launch date: September 1980.

This new family music release is the follow-up to Alastair Moock's award-winning debut family album, "A Cow Named Moock." These Are My Friends features many of Moock's old musical collaborators, including Rani Arbo, Lori McKenna, Mark Erelli, Vanessa Trien, Kris Delmhorst, Jennifer Kimball, Anand Nayak, Rose Polenzani, Scott Kessel and Paul Kochanski. Launch date: October 2011.

Thisset of four paint & clay palm printers includes a variety of patterns, scribble design, concentric dots, star bursts, and a multi-sized dots array. Made of long-lasting hard rubber, each circular stamp has a 2” diameter surface area.  The handle easily slips onto a child's hand. Easy clean-up with soap and water.  For 3 years and older. Launch date: February 2011.

This set of 8 finger printers stimulates a child's imagination. Children can use finger printers with paint or clay to create designs and activities in countless ways. The diameter of each hard, rubber stamp is 1 1/8” and slips easily onto one or two fingers, depending on the youngster's hand size. Easy clean-up with soap and water. The patterns are concentric circles, branches, waves, overlapping ovals, dots, parallel lines, stars, and diamond shapes. Launch date: February 2011.

Creative play is lots of fun with these great tools, as children learn how to roll the various patterns using dough, clay, or paint to make fanciful designs. Each tool has an easy to use plastic handle that fits nicely into a child's palm. The three roller patterns are rows of circles, rows of squares, and a waffle pattern. If paint is used, these tools clean up easily with soap and warm water. Launch date: February 2011.
Awards: 2011 Kids Product of the Year Award, Creative Child Magazine.

These modeling dough based language kits do such a great job of teaching literacy skills that they "make the pencil jealous."  Kit includes red, yellow and blue dough, 32 Write and Wipe cards, a black erasable marker, a black erasable crayon and instructions for step by step activities. Launch date: November 2010.

This whimsically illustrated version of "A Child’s Garden of Verses" by Robert Louis Stevenson is illustrated by Fern Bisel Peat. The collection first appeared in 1885 and has proven popular with children and their parents over the past 100 + years. We were drawn to reprint this version especially, for the appeal and high quality of the illustrations and how well they fit with the poems chosen. The charming art is from the 1930’s. This version is designed specifically with the very young reader in mind, hence the bold and colorful artwork and selective offering of poems. It includes: The Lamplighter, The Land of Counterpane, Bed in Summer, My Shadow, The Swing and more. 16 pages.

All the fun of the grill with no fire hazard. Kids can become a barbeque expert just like their parents, no matter how cold it is outside. Meats even come with realistic grill marks. Dinner options are a juicy steak, crunchy chicken drumstick, sizzling sausages, fresh fish, and shish kebob. Set comes with grill tongs, slices of tomato garnish, “fire” insert, stand-up grill with grates and 5 charcoal briquettes. Launch date: September 2011.

Preschoolers join Rollie Roundman and friends for a learning adventure full of songs, laughter, and games. Children enjoy counting and identifying objects by color, shape, or a combination of both. Includes advanced concepts. Approx. 46 min. Launch date: June 2010.
Awards: 2011 Mom’s Best Award; 2011 Creative Child Magazine DVD of the Year

Thermobaby has invented the Kiddyloo for toilet training from 18 months old. Allows the child to do what grown-ups do. The Kiddyloo is very comfortable and its enveloping shape reassures the child. Features include: Soft surface ensures pleasant contact with skin;  Ergonomic handles;  Non slip step with two settings;  Feet adjust to different height toilets;  Non slip skids under feet offer stability. Case Pack: 4 units. Min order: 12 units. Colors can be assorted:  Blue/Green,Black/White Plum/Lilac, Grey/Green.

Jemima Puddle-duck and Mr. Tod take a stroll down a country road, while rabbits and other wildlife busily move about, in this 36-piece floor puzzle featuring Beatrix Potter's timeless art.  Made in the USA from extra-thick puzzle board and wrapped on both front and back for extra durability. Launch date: March 2011.

15 fairy tales burst to life as joyful songs and colorful videos in this rocking new Parents' Choice Award Winning CD/DVD, Happily Ever Moey! A Fairy Tale Lark in Central Park. 65 children join Moey, New York City's "Pied Piper in Pink" to turn classic tales into songs and videos with new kid-power endings. "Little Red Riding Hood" rescues herself from the Big Bad Wolf. Snow White and Sleeping Beauty wake themselves up with their own magical kiss. Goldilocks is a parable to protect the environment. The true princess in Princess and The Pea gives her mattresses to the homeless and sleeps on a king-size futon! Entertaining, engaging, inspiring, and empowering, this award-winning DVD gets children and grown ups dancing to the beat.
Awards: 2011 Parents' Choice "Fun Stuff" Award

Little Pim Chinese Word and Phrase Cards are beautifully drawn and introduce 60 words and phrases.  They feature lovable Little Pim, the panda, and include phonetic translation for adults. The cards can be used on their own or as part of the Little Pim DVD series. 

Old MacDonald had a … pond? Come along with Jo MacDonald and learn about the wild creatures at the farm pond, including fish, frogs and ducks – and a few surprises. This riff on “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” introduces youngsters to the concept of ecosystems. Author Mary Quattlebaum engages little ones with rhythm, repetition, wordplay, and onomatopoeia, while illustrator Laura Bryant charms them with lively watercolors of a pond community. A resource section in the back features both outdoor and indoor activities and games sure to encourage young naturalists at home and school. Jo MacDonald’s pond discoveries closely resemble those that Mary discovered, too, when she grew up in the country with fields, gardens and ponds.

Arrow-shaped footprints lead a young backyard naturalist to a flock of funny-looking birds with big strong feet: Wild Turkeys. Once nearly extinct, these comical critters now gobble their way across North America. Follow Jenny through a year of enchantment as she shares her discovery of these wonderful birds. Gobble, gobble! Jenny wrote a journal, too, with lots of fascinating stuff about a distinctly American bird. Although it once numbered in the millions, wild turkeys nearly disappeared with over-hunting and habitat destruction, but are now making a comeback. The unique illustrations are block prints over collages. The collages are made from cut and torn paper plus all sorts of things from nature – bark, leaves, feathers, even wasp nests. Author Cathryn Falwell also offers tips for children to make their own cut-paper pictures and how to keep a nature journal. Also available in Hard Cover.