December 2008 Notable Toys — Plush

This brightly colored plush hippo has his mouth wide open and features a decorative band around his body.

The Fruit Flies' Picnic are now available as cuddly beanies. Each Fruit Fly stands 6.5" tall and holds a piece of fruit in one hand. The Fruit Flies include Gracie, Zak, Ben, Nicholas and Jake.

With a name describing one's own appearance, k9 kritters Starbelly Stripes feature durable 100 percent cotton rope appendages and plush body. This toy also features a high-pitch squeaker for added enjoyment or to quickly get your dog's attention. Size: 7 inch.

Sporting the emo-punk look, this k9 kritters Rocker features durable 100% cotton rope appendages and plush body. This toy also features a high pitch squeaker for added enjoyment or to quickly get your dog's attention. Size: 7 inch.

A naturally sweet girl, k9 kritters Candy Girl features durable 100% cotton rope appendages and plush body. This toy also features a high pitch squeaker for added enjoyment or to quickly get your dog's attention. Size: 7 inch.

Complete with bandana and eye patch, k9 kritters Pirate features durable 100% cotton rope appendages and plush body. This toy also features a high pitch squeaker for added enjoyment or to quickly get your dog's attention. Size: 7 inch.

Paci-Plushies® are an extraordinary new pacifier holder that connects popular name brand infant pacifiers with a super-soft and light plush toy using a patent-pending flexible Hug Ring™. Paci-Plushies® are the answer a common problem: the all too often missing pacifier. When a Paci-Plushie® is attached to Baby's pacifier, the pacifier becomes easy for both Mom and Baby to find. Pacifers are fully removable allowing for proper sanitation of both the pacifier and plush toy. Paci-Plushies® are compatible with over 200 varieties of name brand pacifiers allowing for ultimate usability and versatility.

Paci-Plushies® are an extraordinary new pacifier holder that connects popular name brand infant pacifiers with a super-soft and light plush toy using a patent-pending flexible Hug Ring™. Paci-Plushies® are the answer a common problem: the all too often missing pacifier. When a Paci-Plushie® is attached to Baby's pacifier, the pacifier becomes easy for both Mom and Baby to find. Pacifers are fully removable allowing for proper sanitation of both the pacifier and plush toy. Paci-Plushies® are compatible with over 200 varieties of name brand pacifiers allowing for ultimate usability and versatility.

Paci-Plushies® are an extraordinary new pacifier holder that connects popular name brand infant pacifiers with a super-soft and light plush toy using a patent-pending flexible Hug Ring™. Paci-Plushies® are the answer a common problem: the all too often missing pacifier. When a Paci-Plushie® is attached to Baby's pacifier, the pacifier becomes easy for both Mom and Baby to find. Pacifers are fully removable allowing for proper sanitation of both the pacifier and plush toy. Paci-Plushies® are compatible with over 200 varieties of name brand pacifiers allowing for ultimate usability and versatility.

Cuddle up at night with Emily the Strange's kitty, Miles, the cutest one-eyed pilot around! He is 12 inches high, and comes with a striped pilot scarf, goggles and cap. He makes a great gift for aviation, cat or Emily the Strange fans. Pilot Miles also makes a great Halloween gift. "This plush toy is Miles, an Emily icon. He does not look like the average black cat, as he has an X replacing one eye," explained Jill Beaverson, PR/Marketing Director, Emily the Strange. "And he is outfitted in all pilot gear. Emily and cat fans alike will love Pilot Miles."

Handmade in Germany, the white and the brown alpaca have a durable woven fur made of natural alpaca wool, which makes them especially soft and cuddly. Special emphasis was given to their naturalistic appearance. All KÖSEN plush animals conform to the highest safety standards. The materials, products and production are inspected by TÜV and meet all requirements of the European safety standard for toys EN 71. "This toy has the potential to be a keeper beyond childhood and to be passed on to the next generation," assured Sybille Hartmann, Sales and Marketing Manager, KÖSEN USA, Inc. Launch date: January 2008.

This fluffy white horse comes with a special code kids can use to access Webkinz World online.
— Kathy Mabry, owner of The Village Toy Shop in North Easton, Mass., told TDmonthly that Webkinz continue to be a top seller for her store. She reported sales of hundreds every month in early fall 2008.
— “Ganz’s Webkinz — they're still selling well here,” said Linda Laramy, owner of Cracker Jacks in Easton, Md., when asked about best-selling items for tweens. “They’re still very popular.”
— Webkinz was on the top-10 best-seller list at Pun’s Toy Store in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in October 2008. “Although not the sellers they were before, they still present the greatest play value in our industry,” Owner Joe Berardoni, Sr., said.

The mittens, scarf and hat in this set can also be purchased individually. "Our unique, adorable accessories appeal to kids and adults alike; they are both fun and functional," Julie Dennis, designer at BearHands & Buddies, told TDmonthly. Available in a rainbow of fleece colors with a variety of animals. BearHands received a 2008 Product of the Year award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: July 1, 2008.

Martha™ Mom and Baby is a 10.5” fluffy mom duck with an orange beak and feet. She sports a yellow and lilac chiffon neck bow. Her chick is crafted of yellow plush and wears white and pink bunny ears. When you press mom’s wing, mom’s mouth and body move to the music “How Sweet It Is” while the chick’s wings flap up and down. It includes three replaceable AA batteries. The product's "animated movement" and "design concept" set it apart from similar items, according to Shallu Chhabra, marketing manager for GUND. Launch date: 2009.

"Catnap Kitties generate a patent-pending harmonic purr contained in a soft-bodied cat that feels and sounds so much like a real cat some people might not notice the difference," Owner Vivian Hoard of Catnap Kitties Inc. told TDmonthly. They are ideal for people with allergies; children who are denied a real pet cat; families whose real cat hisses at small children; people with special needs who cannot properly care for a real cat; anyone living where cats are not allowed; families who have a cat that needs “a night off”; and anyone who loves cats. Catnap Kitties recently won the 2008 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: February 18, 2008.

Made to resemble the Tiger mascot of the University of Missouri, this quality plush backpack has adjustable straps and center compartment that zips shut. Launch date: July 2008.

No one will doubt an individual's support for his or her favorite team when they're wearing this plush mascot backpack, outfitted with a zippered compartment and adjustable straps. It is available for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and various other collegiate teams. Launch date: July 2008.

This mascot backpack invites the ultimate in team spirit for the Georgia Bulldogs. It is made of quality plush and features adjustable nylon straps plus a zippered center compartment. It can be displayed with other collegiate gear, on a rack or on a mannequin. Launch date: July 2008.

Now even the tinest Baby can have a Zoobie. The Baby Mashaka plush toy  un-Velcroes to become a comfy pillow, then unzips to transform into an infant-sized blanket. The blanket even features fuzzy "comfort corners" to stimulate Baby's interest in textures. Release date: 2008.

Paci-Plushies® are an extraordinary new pacifier holder that connects popular name brand infant pacifiers with a super-soft and light plush toy using a patent-pending flexible Hug Ring™. Paci-Plushies® are the answer a common problem: the all too often missing pacifier. When a Paci-Plushie® is attached to Baby's pacifier, the pacifier becomes easy for both Mom and Baby to find. Pacifers are fully removable allowing for proper sanitation of both the pacifier and plush toy. Paci-Plushies® are compatible with over 200 varieties of name brand pacifiers allowing for ultimate usability and versatility. Launch date: 2008

Flat Friends are unstuffed soft toys made of 100% Australian sheepskin. The 11.8" sea turtle is brown and green and comes with his own totebag and gift card.

This animal is part of a "magnetically mixable" line of plush pets that allow children to create hundreds of combinations by interchangeing the creatures' heads and tails. The 4" plush come in 12 designs. Launch date: September 2008.

This striped character comes with an Internet access code that gives kids the freedom to explore Webkinz World online with the virtual equivalent of the plush pet. The tiger’s special item in the virtual world is a rock ledge bed.
— “Webkinz are still selling,” Owner Randy Austin of The Gifted Child in Lenox, Mass., told TDmonthly in summer 2008.
— “We move probably 100 to 150 per month,” William Meredith, owner of Learning Express in Cary, N.C., told TDmonthly in August 2008.
— Twenty percent of 64 retailers named Webkinz as their top-selling collectible toy in summer 2008.
Six of 63 retailers named Webkinz as their overall best seller in September 2008.

For the dog lover! Mr. Chris the Pug stuffed animal from Fiesta’s High Society dog series. Plush fabrics and very soft. Posh satin-like fabrics and beaded dog bone decoration. Even a curly pug tail. Not a toy. Decoration purposes only.