TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Books Product Category

Alley Loo (A Spooky Swamp Tale) by DRAGONFLY PUBLISHING

"ALLEY LOO: A Spooky Swamp Tale" is the children's picture book written by C. E. Walz. It was the winner of the "2008 DFP Award for Best Children Book" manuscript. "Written in a delightful rhyming style, ALLEY LOO takes children on a spooky tour of the swamps of the southeastern United States. It was illustrated in full-color by Pamela Wedel, who also did the artwork for 'GRIZZELDA GORILLA,' the EPPIE 2008 Best Children's Book," Terri Branson, publisher for Dragonfly Publishing, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009. 6/29/2009 (Price: $18.00)

The Best Way 2 Learn Foreign Language by Sing2Learn

 6/29/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Favorite Michael by TIGER TALES

One morning, Michael decides that he wants to be someone different. Someone exciting! So with the help of some dress-up clothes, he becomes Michael the businessman, Michael the knight, and Michael the pirate. He has a day full of adventures. But who is his favorite Michael? Come along for a day of play and pretend in this exuberant picture book about a child's boundless imagination! by Laura Heiman and illustrated by Sophie Keen. 32 Pages. Also available in Hardcover for $15.95. 6/26/2009 (Price: $7.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero by TIGER TALES

By day, Eliot is quiet. He reads his books, feeds his goldfish, and watches Mr. Smith wash his car.  "Eliot is such a quiet little thing," say all the grown-ups. But the grown-ups don't know that when the clock strikes midnight . . . Eliot is a SUPERHERO! One night, Eliot receives an urgent message from the world's most important scientists. A gigantic meteor is about to smash into the Earth! Readers will laugh out loud as they follow Eliot Jones, midnight superhero, on his most important mission ever! by Anne Cottringer; illustrated by Alex T. Smith. 32 Pages. Also available in Hardcover for $15.95. 6/26/2009 (Price: $7.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Boris and the Snoozebox by TIGER TALES

All Boris wants is a long catnap in his new cardboard box with no trouble whatsoever.  But suddenly--STAMP, STAMP, scribble, scribble--the box is taped up and zoomed off to doorsteps all over the earth and beyond... Every time Boris drifts off to sleep, someone opens the box and wakes him up. Beady eyes peek inside and loud voices shout, "This is NOT what I ordered! I DON'T want this cat!" This quirky cat tale proves there's no place like a loving home—especially if that home happens to have a plumpish pillow perfect for snooooooozing! by Leigh Hodgkinson. 32 Pages. 6/26/2009 (Price: $7.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The 108th Sheep by TIGER TALES

Emma can’t sleep a wink!  She tries drinking warm milk and even reading lots of books—but nothing seems to help.  So she decides to count sheep to help fall asleep.  All goes well until Emma reaches number 108.  Sheep 108 cannot make it over the bed!  Emma, along with 109, 110 and all the following sheep must try to find a way to help 108 jump over the bed or none of them will get to sleep.  Luckily Emma has a plan… by Ayano Imai. 32 Pages. 6/26/2009 (Price: $7.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Thumbuddy to Love™ Ballerina Sue Storybook and Thumb Puppet by THUMBUDDY TO LOVE LLC

Designed to help children stop sucking their thumbs, this puppet and storybook includes stickers and weekly calendar to chart successes. Ballerina Sue can be worn at bedtime and throughout the day. There's also a Fireman Fred version. ( Watch Video) 6/24/2009 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

YoYo Goes Next Door by TIGER TALES

YoYo's in your neighborhood! See YoYo as he goes next door for a visit. Children can look for YoYo under the flaps on every spread to see what he's going to do next! Written and illustrated by Jeannette Rowe. 8 Pages. 6/16/2009 (Price: $5.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tom's Tail by TIGER TALES

Tom has a problem with his tail--he doesn't like it. He wants to wag his tail like Sam the sheepdog, or swish his tail like Henry the horse. But Tom's tail is too short and curly. With the help of some mud, Tom's tail becomes long and straight. But it's also sharp! When Tom wags his tail, it pokes anyone standing by. His brothers and sisters kick him out of the sty because they're tired of being poked. In the middle of the night, as Tom's sleeping outside, it begins to rain. And the rain washes away the mud on Tom's tail, making it soft and curly again! By Linda Jennings, illustrated by Tim Warnes. 32 Pages. 6/16/2009 (Price: $6.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Very Greedy Bee by TIGER TALES

MINE! That's what the very greedy bee says to anyone who asks him to share. While the other bees work hard, the greedy bee is busy gobbling pollen and guzzling nectar. Until one day, the greedy bee finds a meadow full of the biggest, juiciest flowers he's ever seen, and he decides not to tell ANYONE. . . . Soon he's too full to fly, and worse, he doesn't know how to get home. Will anyone help a very greedy bee? By Steve Smallman, illustrated by Jack Tickle. 32 Pages. 6/16/2009 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

By the Light of the Moon by TIGER TALES

Mother Mouse is watching over Little Mouse, snuggly tight in his bed, when Mole appears. "Mother Mouse!" Mole says. "You can't leave your baby there! The farmer is coming to plow the field. That bed is not safe." By the light of the moon, Mother Mouse searches for the perfect new nest for Little Mouse. Her woodland friends offer many ideas, but nothing is quite right. Then Mother Mouse remembers something. Set against a spectacular sky of glittery stars and a flocked full moon, this inviting story will lull children to sleep as they appreciate the coziness of their own beds. By Sheridan Cain, illustrated by Gaby Hansen. 32 Pages. 6/16/2009 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Little Box of Ballet by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

The Little Box of Ballet includes an illustrated storybook, "Little Book of Ballet Stories" with the tales of "Sleeping Beauty," "Giselle," "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker"; an instruction booklet with photos, "Little Book of Ballet Steps: An Introduction to Ballet Dancing"; a pink tutu; a matching headband with rose decorations; and a slipper pendant on a ribbon necklace. ( Watch Video) 6/9/2009 (Price: $16.99)

Junior Golf Journal by EXCEL PUBLISHING

Designed for young golf players, this journal has colorful graphics and divided sections that allow kids or teens to keep track of their goals, lessons, statistics, practice, tournaments and more. It also includes a pocket for scorecards and quotes from famous golfers throughout. ( Watch Video) 6/9/2009 (Price: $26.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Caillou ABC by CHOUETTE PUBLISHING INC.

Featuring the main character from the Caillou television series, this board book showcases the ABC Train, which has removable puzzle pieces designed to help kids learn the letters of the alphabet. The pieces can be connected outside of the book to create a lengthy train puzzle. ( Watch Video) 6/9/2009 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kristina by FRIENDS FOREVER GIRLS

This Asian-American doll is part of the Friends Forever Girls series of dolls and books that focus on friendship, character and community. She comes with "The First Day of Forever" book. Launch date: September 2009. 6/5/2009 (Price: $59.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Nika by FRIENDS FOREVER GIRLS

This 18" vinyl doll represents a character in the Friends Forever Girls series of dolls and books centered on friendship, community and character. She comes with a purse accessory, a Butterfly Promises bookmark, and "The First Day of Forever" book. 6/5/2009 (Price: $59.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Christmas is Coming by ABRAMS BOOKS

This illustrated pop-up book offers a novel twist on The Night Before Christmas. Written by A. J. Wood, it's illustrated by Stephen Lambert. 6/4/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Look Book by SASSY

This little photo album holds six 4" x 6" photos and a wallet-size photo of the people baby loves most. Each photo is framed by a bold color and has a geometric pattern where photos are to be placed, designed to cultivate baby’s visual acuity. A colorful tab at the bottom of each page helps baby learn to turn the book’s pages. "The photo book provides interaction opportunities between parent and baby and helps introduce baby to new names and people," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009. ( Watch Video) 6/3/2009 (Price: $6.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary with Exclusive Figure by ENTERTAINMENT EARTH INC.

In true DK Publishing style, the Visual Dictionary is designed to elucidate, illuminate, and excite even the most discerning LEGO, Star Wars, and minifigure fans around the world. Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda, Luke Skywalker and others are brought to life with dozens of little-known facts and hundreds of photos, as are accessories, vehicles, weapons, and even the Death Star. Kids and adults can learn about the history, manufacture and construction of the minifigures of the Star Wars Universe, and come away a Lego Jedi Master. "LEGO and Star Wars are two of the world's most well-recognized and successful franchises, and have been collaborating since the 1998 release of the first LEGO Star Wars minifigures," Jenna Banks, director of sales for EE Distribution, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 31, 2009.
— "LEGO Star Wars — we just blew out of those," Bill Sartain, co-owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, told TDmonthly, citing sales of about 50 of these books a month in late 2009. Two of 44 specialty retailers named this title when discussing best-selling books. 6/3/2009 (Price: $21.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Baby's First Sounds by SASSY

These books are filled with bright, bold images and made from sturdy “wet-proof” material designed to stand up to eager hands, teething and readers who drool over the pages. The colors, geometric designs and symmetrical elements can calm baby and help little ones focus. The words imitate baby’s first babbling sounds, including “baba,” "dada” and “mama,” and encourage baby to experiment with language and refine his skills. A soft, plush block featuring images from the books reinforces the sights and sounds. "Engaging baby early in language is fundamental, as both communication and language development are significantly shaped by experiences. By 9 months of age, babies can recognize specific words up to two weeks after hearing them read repeatedly from a storybook," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009. 6/3/2009 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition™ - With Dark-Skinned Pixie Elf by CCA and B LLC

Santa's biggest secret is revealed in The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition gift set, with a North Pole pixie-elf (available with light skin or dark skin and dark eyes, as pictured), a hardbound children's book and a keepsake box. Launch date: October 15, 2009.
— Owner Diana Nelson of Kazoo & Co. in Denver told TDmonthly in fall 2009 that her store sells about 36 Elf on the Shelf sets per month. 6/3/2009 (Price: $29.95)

Goldilocks Story Telling Flip Doll by ALMAS DESIGNS

Creatively designed for story telling, pretend and imaginative play and overall interaction with family, our storytelling dolls (3 positions for each doll) have been very popular over the years. Curious Goldilocks flips in surprise to discover Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. ( Watch Video) 6/1/2009 (Price: $18.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Quiet Book by ALMAS DESIGNS

Kids will do more than just turn the pages with this cloth book: They'll button, zip, lace, buckle, snap items, and more. Between covers, there's page after page of activities to develop important motor skills. The book can be zipped up and carried about for car trips and overnights to Grandma's. ( Watch Video) 6/1/2009 (Price: $26.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Encyclopedia of Immaturity by KLUTZ

Complete with photos, drawings, footnotes and diagrams, this guide boasts 300+ entries, including how-tos such as “How to Do a Wheelie” and “How to Really Annoy Your Older Sibling.” The book received a National Parenting Publications Gold Award. 5/28/2009 (Price: $19.95)

Favor Johnson by BUNKER HILL PUBLISHING

Favor Johnson is a delightful story of loving and giving that epitomizes what the holiday season should be all about. In many ways life is moving much too fast these days and we have lost track of what is really important. This story of the wonderful old Vermont farmer, Favor Johnson, told by Willem Lange and beautifully illustrated by Bert Dodson, will help us slow down and savor the true values of Christmas. 5/27/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]