TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Books Product Category

The Kissing Hand by TANGLEWOOD PRESS

School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester's fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called The Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. 6/23/2008 (Price: $16.95)

Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully by TANGLEWOOD PRESS

In this latest addition to the Kissing Hand book collection, Chester Raccoon must learn to deal with another common problem of childhood: a bully at school. When Mrs. Raccoon learns that there is a bully problem at school, she decides to investigate the situation. But after seeing the bully for herself, she shares a story about a forest that was full of smooth yellow stones, and how the animals living there changed a pointy stone they found into a smooth stone so that it wouldn't hurt any tender paws. This book encourages children to understand that many child bullies are themselves unhappy and gives readers a good example of settling differences by peaceful means. Educators will embrace this story about a positive strategy for dealing with a bully. 6/23/2008 (Price: $16.95)

A Parent's Guide to Promoting Positive Character Growth by JAMBOKIDS COMPANY INC

A Parent's Guide to Promoting Positive Character Growth is intended to provide parents and educators with a helpful set of resources for promoting positive character growth in children. It is presented in a handy worksheet format that contains tips, discussion prompts, and activities that enhance children's natural character strength development. The materials may be used by themselves or in combination with the other JamboKids children's products. You may download this e-book immediately upon purchase. You will need to have the free Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. 6/20/2008 (Price: $14.99)

Chicken Socks - The Cootie Catcher Book by KLUTZ

This activity book contains 20 pre-printed pages that can be torn out and folded into cootie catchers. It also provides instructions on how to make the craft as well as the fortunes that lie inside it.
—  “I’m continually impressed by the quality of products coming out from this company even after 30 years,” Paul Faustine of Red Dragon Toys in Brunswick, Maine, said in reference to Klutz books, which are a best-selling gift for girls in his store.
— Renee Nordhus, owner of ABC & Toy Zone in Rochester, Minn., noted that Klutz crafts are the top-selling gift item for girls in her store.
—Three of 66 retailers cited Klutz as a top seller for girls’ gifts in a summer 2008 TDmonthly poll. 6/18/2008 (Price: $9.95)

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Activity Book™ by CCA and B LLC

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Activity Book™ is the companion book to the much beloved The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition™. Families, teachers and all who believe will enjoy celebrating the Christmas season with their favorite elf as they play with reusable, full-color stickers, enjoy The Elf on the Shelf games, construct crafts for fun and gifts, sing along with The Elf on the Shelf North Pole singers, and more. 6/17/2008 (Price: $14.95)

Pet Fashion Design Sketchbook by FASHION ANGELS

The Pet Fashion Design Sketchbook has a design guide, two pet sketchpads, markers, pencils and a design guide. Girls can create any style of pet clothes they can imagine. A portion of the proceeds from sales of their two new dog design kits to SPCA International (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International). Launch date: May 2008.
— “Anything in Fashion Angels makeup and book line is moving pretty well for us,” Linda Hanzelko of Timmy’s Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthly in summer 2008. ”We sell at least a dozen a month from the arts and craft line.”
— “We sell a lot” of the design books by Fashion Angels, said Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles in Norman, Okla.
— Four of 66 retailers named Fashion Angels as a top-selling girl gift in August 2008. 6/16/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Picture Me® as the Amazing Spider-Man® by PICTURE ME BOOKS

Simply insert a child’s photo into the book to make him Spider-Man. Launch date: June 2007. 6/16/2008 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Picture Me® as One of the Marvel™ Heroes by PICTURE ME BOOKS

Simply insert a child’s photo into the book to make him or her part of the exciting superhero action as ten different Marvel heroes. Launch date: June 2008. 6/16/2008 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

USB Flex Neck Light by LIGHTWEDGE

The USB Flex Neck Light uses LEDs, which never get hot or burn out, and last more than 20,000 hours. The light is powered by USB port or batteries housed in the detachable clip. “The USB Flex Neck Light is the perfect solution for the student on-the-go,” Lightwedge Marketing Communications Director Nicky Shifman told TDmonthly. “Plug it into the USB port on a laptop for late-night studying or, use the detachable clip to attach to a book for reading in bed.” Launch date: April 2008. 6/16/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Who Will Save our planet? by ALL 4 KIDZ ENTERPRISES

The educational book teaches children about global warming in an eye-catching, informative format. An accompanying audio CD is also included. Launch date: May 2008. 6/16/2008 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Simple Principles for a Happy and Healthy Marriage by WS PUBLISHING GROUP

The small, paperback book offers practical tips and advice that any married couple can apply immediately to enhance their relationship. The book is written in a direct, easy-to-read style, and organized in subjects such as communication, trust, romance, finances and resolving conflict. Launch date: October 2008. 6/16/2008 (Price: $9.95)

Personalized Storybook - "The First Adventures of Incredible You" by CUSTOM MADE FOR KIDS

With "The First Adventures of Incredible You," customers are able to build a one-of-a-kind book by inserting more than 20 personal facts about a child and the people and places that are most important to that child. From tasting a favorite food to cheering on a beloved sports team to visiting a special vacation spot or park, this rhyme-based book celebrates the first adventures of every young child who stars in it. This full-color, hardcover book is perfect for any child — no matter their sex, race or family structure. Launch date: August 1, 2007. 6/12/2008 (Price: $39.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Birgitta Lauren's Expecting Fitness by EXPECTING FITNESS INC.

Birgitta Lauren's book explains why one must exercise and how to exercise during pregnancy for a healthier baby. The book covers medical research, pregnancy guidelines and modifications of 80 sports, "high risk" pregnancy, posture, stretching, postpartum and nutrition. You will learn how to prevent most pregnancy discomforts and problems that are really related to inactivity.  6/11/2008 (Price: $13.98)

My First Book of Mazes by KUMON PUBLISHING NORTH AMERICA INC.

The workbook gives kids the opportunity to build a firm foundation for pencil-control skills by tracing lines through basic mazes following clear directional indicators. The exercises have many 3D illustrations, such as towns, streets and parks, which will engage a child’s curiosity. This amusing practice will also help children acquire the ability to concentrate, a crucial study skill for the emerging student. Launch date: February 1, 2004. 6/4/2008 (Price: $6.95)

My First Book of Tracing by KUMON PUBLISHING NORTH AMERICA INC.

The workbook lets kids practice basic pencil-control skills. All the exercises include colorful, pleasing pictures that children will enjoy drawing. Children start by tracing straight vertical lines, and gradually move to drawing more challenging curved, zigzag and diagonal lines. Launch date: February 1, 2004. 6/4/2008 (Price: $6.95)

My Book of Numbers 1-30 by KUMON PUBLISHING NORTH AMERICA INC.

The workbook gives kids the opportunity to learn to read and write numbers from 1 to 30. Fun and colorful exercises progress slowly from tracing over numbers to writing them from scratch. Children will be able to easily learn the shapes and concepts of numbers by tracing and writing numbers again and again. Launch date: February 1, 2004. 6/4/2008 (Price: $6.95)

My Book of Easy Telling Time: Learning about Hours and Half-hours by KUMON PUBLISHING NORTH AMERICA INC.

The workbook introduces kids to the concept of telling time by concentrating on the hours first, and then incrementally introducing children to half- and quarter-hours. Learning to tell time this way will also help children improve their general understanding of numbers. This item is an Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award winner. Launch date: April 1, 2006. 6/4/2008 (Price: $6.95)

My First Book of Uppercase Letters by KUMON PUBLISHING NORTH AMERICA INC.

The workbook gives kids the opportunity to develop basic pencil-control skills while learning the shapes of uppercase letters. The book begins with easy-to-write letters, like the letter L, and then gradually progresses to more difficult letters, such as the letter A. Children learn the shapes and concepts of letters by writing and tracing them again and again. Launch date: February 1, 2004. 6/4/2008 (Price: $6.95)

Now I'm Reading!™ GAMES: Word Dominoes!: A Game of Word Building by INNOVATIVEKIDS

“Et,” “ip” and “op” are all letter families that make the fun rhymes and sounds in this storybook and game.  Kids learn the rhyming word families in the story and then build the words in a game of Word Dominoes. The Now I’m Reading! Games series turn reading into play. Launch date: May 2008. 6/4/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Now I'm Reading!™ GAMES: Rhyming War: A Game of Comparisons by INNOVATIVEKIDS

The numbers are at war. One thinks he’s bigger than Two and Three thinks he’s greater than Four; only wise Zero knows that nothing good can come of all this division. Kids will have fun rhyming as they practice number-comparison skills in this twist on the classic card game War. The Now I’m Reading! Games series turn reading into play. Launch date: May 2008. 6/4/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Now I'm Reading!™ GAMES: Letter Bingo!: A Game of Letter Sounds by INNOVATIVEKIDS

Annie packs an apple into a box marked “A.” Zelda puts a toy zebra into a box with a giant “Z.” In all, kids learn letters and the sounds they make as they read the alphabet party book from A through Z and play the Bingo game to reinforce what they’ve learned. The Now I’m Reading! Games series turn reading into play. Launch date: May 2008. 6/4/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Now I'm Reading!™ GAMES: Go Fish Stories!: A Game of Story Sequencing by INNOVATIVEKIDS

Story sequencing meets the well-loved matching game Go Fish. As kids read the book, they learn how a seed becomes an apple and flour makes a cake. Then they build essential story-sequencing skills by playing the game and building each of nine story scenes. The Now I’m Reading! Games series turn reading into play. Launch date: May 2008. 6/4/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Sesquipedalian Word Game: Act it! Draw it! Ad-lib it! Guess it! by INNOVATIVEKIDS

By playing this game, kids will learn a plethora (a lot) of words to make them sound sagacious (wise). Each player will become a sesquipedalian (one who uses long words) and enjoy some tomfoolery (playful behavior) in the process. Launch date: May 2008. 6/4/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Phonics Comics™: Tutu Twins (Level 2) by INNOVATIVEKIDS

The tutu twins collide at center stage as Tina and Nina, two ballerinas-in-training, learn what it takes to be a star. Developed with the help of reading specialists, Phonics Comics make reading fun. Launch date: March 2008. 6/4/2008 (Price: $3.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Phonics Comics™: The Fix-It Crew (Level 1) by INNOVATIVEKIDS

The fun-loving Fix-It Crew trio can fix any mix-up in a jiffy using strength, smarts and speed. Kids learn the importance of teamwork while building reading skills in this engaging story. Launch date: March 2008. 6/4/2008 (Price: $3.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]