Hasbro Partners with Sesame Workshop. February 14, 2011 — Hasbro’s Playskool announced its partnership with Sesame Workshop with the launch a dazzling line of all new toys and games featuring favorite “Sesame Street” characters including Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby and Elmo.

Barbie and Ken, Together Again. February 14, 2011 — It’s official; one of America’s favorite couples is back together. After a 7 year hiatus and extensive social media marketing campaign, the couple has reunited. You can read retailing tips for this story here.

Media Signs Tinga Tinga Partners. February 11, 2011 — Classic Media announced new licenses for “Tinga Tinga Tales,” with Ravensburger (puzzles), Pressman Toy Corporation (games) and University Games (Colorforms activity products). The new partners join master toy partner Bandai and master publishing partner Grosset & Dunlap for the U.S. launch of the preschool brand.

Chuggington Adds Apparel, Décor. February 11, 2011 — Ludorum announced its partnership with several prominent soft goods licensees to develop the first-ever lifestyle products for its preschool property Chuggington. Merchandise will be available throughout the U.S. next year in several categories including apparel, footwear, accessories and room décor to support Chuggington’s debut on Disney Junior Feb. 14.

Chorion Expands Olivia Offerings. February 11, 2011 — Chorion announced new licensing partners for its preschool property Olivia, developing its program in all major categories across the U.S. this year.

Rechargeable Batteries in Video Baby Monitors Recalled to Replace by Summer Infant Due to Burn Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Babies R Us. February 11, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 58,000 rechargeable batteries sold with certain Slim and Secure™ Video Monitors imported by Summer Infant, sold exclusively at Babies R Us from September 2009 to May 2010 for about $200. The battery in the handheld video monitor can overheat and rupture, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Consumers should immediately stop using the video baby monitors with the recalled batteries and contact Summer Infant to receive a postage paid envelope to return the defective battery in exchange for a free replacement battery. The monitor can continue to be used on AC power with power cord.

Two Strangulation Deaths Prompt Summer Infant to Recall Video Baby Monitors with Cords; Firm to Provide New On-Product Label & Instructions. February 11, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Summer Infant Inc., of Woonsocket, R.I., is announcing the voluntary recall to provide new on product label and instructions for about 1.7 million video baby monitors with electrical cords. The cords can present a strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers if placed too close to a crib. Because of this serious strangulation risk, parents and caregivers should never place these and other corded cameras within three feet of a crib. Over the past year CPSC and the firm have received reports of two strangulation deaths of infants with the electrical cords of Summer Infant video baby monitors. CPSC and Summer Infant urge parents to immediately check the location of the video monitors, including cameras mounted on the wall, and all electric cords to make sure the cords are out of arm’s reach of their child. Consumers should contact Summer Infant toll-free at (800) 426-8627 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.summerinfant.com/Home/Product-Recall.aspx to receive a new permanent electric cord warning label about the strangulation risk and revised instructions about how to safely mount camera and keep cords out of child’s reach.

Blip Toys Expands Squinkies Licensing. February 10, 2011 — Blip Toys has announced a partnership with Cardinal Industries, Inc., according to a press release. Cardinal has been granted the exclusive rights to bring Squinkies into the puzzle and game world, and will be manufacturing and distributing Squinkies licensed games, card games, action games, and puzzles to North and Central America.

Big Idea Grows VeggieTales Brand. February 10, 2011 — Big Idea Entertainment announced the expansion of its popular VeggieTales brand with several new partners. The first new products hit stores in January, and will continue to roll out this year.

Disney and miYim Partner to Made Eco-Friendly Plush. February 10, 2011 — This July, eco-friendly plush manufacturers miYim, in collaboration with Disney, will be releasing Winnie the Pooh characters in My Natural eco-plush. Serah Chae, president of miYim, said “This Disney collaboration will allow miYim to have a bigger voice in the green movement. Popular, relevant characters such as Winnie the Pooh help us involve more parents in our quest to keep children healthy and chemical free.” miYim is the only company making licensed eco-toys. They are currently working with Disney, Dr. Seuss and Jane Goodall.

Warner Bros. Continues Hobbit Games. February 10, 2011 — Warner Bros. Consumer Products has extended its six-year agreement with Games Workshop, continuing its exclusive, worldwide rights to produce tabletop games based on “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.”

Dino Dan and Wild Creations Pair Up. February 10, 2011 — Popular Nick Jr. show “Dino Dan” has partnered with Wild Creations to produce a line of toys. The new Dino Dan licensed products will include excavation kits, play sets, fossil replica kits, action figures, and more.

Toys”R”Us Rolls Out Wood Car Line. February 10, 2011 — Toys”R”Us announced its first-ever collection of wood vehicles, track and play sets based on the popular Disney-Pixar movie Cars. Available exclusively at Toys”R”Us, the collection was created and designed in collaboration with Disney Consumer Products.

Fisher-Price and DreamWorks Announce Partnership. February 10, 2011 — Mattel, Inc.’s subsidiary, Fisher-Price®, Inc., and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. today announced that Fisher-Price will serve as the worldwide master toy licensee for a number of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films and television series, including Kung Fu Panda 2 and The Penguins of Madagascar, whose lines will be shown at Toy Fair 2011 this weekend. According to a press release, additional films Fisher-Price will produce toys for are Puss In Boots, The Croods, Madagascar 3 and Legend of the Guardians; television properties include Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.

HIT Adds Thomas Furniture, Décor. February 9, 2011 — HIT Entertainment has entered into two first-time licensing deals with KidKraft and Kids Only for Thomas & Friends children’s room décor and furniture lines. Both lines will be available throughout the U.S. and Canada this spring.

Allied Integrated Marketing and Mattel Announce Partnership. February 9, 2011 — Allied Integrated Marketing and Mattel announced today that Allied Integrated Marketing will manage national promotions, product placement, marketing partnerships and strategic alliances for Mattel’s Games Division, according to a press release. Mattel’s Games Division, whose notable games include UNO, Pictionary, and Apples to Apples, will be utilizing an agency of record for promotions and product placement for the first time. Allied Integrated Marketing executives have worked in the past with Warner Bros. on the “Harry Potter” and “Matrix” franchises, among others, before joining Allied’s Strategic Marketing & Branded Entertainment team.

Gyrobike Appoints Consumer-Products Veteran Chief Executive Officer. February 9, 2011 — Gyrobike, the sole manufacturer of patented gyroscopic-stabilizing technology for bicycles, announced today it has hired Rick Malagodi as its chief executive officer.

Snow Bikes Recalled by Tech 4 Kids Due to Fall Hazard. February 9, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 2,100 OUTER EDGE Snow Bikes, manufactured by Tech 4 Kids Inc., of Canada, and sold at Costco, sporting goods stores and other retailers nationwide and online at Amazon.com and Walmart.com from September 2010 through January 2011 for about $150. The front ski can crack or break, causing the snow bike to stop suddenly and posing a fall hazard to consumers. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled snow bikes and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.

AmerTac Recalls Night Lights Due to Fire and Burn Hazard. February 9, 2011 — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 261,000 LED Night Lights, imported by American Tack & Hardware Co. Inc. (AmerTac), of Saddle River, N.J., and sold at hardware stores, lighting showrooms and home centers nationwide from March 2009 through January 2011 for about $7. An electrical short circuit in the night light can cause it to overheat and smolder or melt, which can burn consumers or result in fire. Consumers should stop using the recalled night lights immediately and unplug them from the wall. Contact the firm for instructions on receiving a full refund.

CBeebies Orders Third Chuggington Series. February 9, 2011 — Ludorum announced today that it ordered 26 more ten-minute episodes of the pre-school series “Chuggington” for the BBC’s CBeebies channel. The new series will launch early next year.

Chorion Grows Mr. Men and Little Miss. February 8, 2011 — Chorion has signed Posh Paws to produce a line of collectible plush to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its brand Mr. Men and Little Miss. In addition, Chorion will launch its new character, “Little Miss Princess,” with a Little Miss Princess book published by Edgmont on March 7.

Jay Franco and Kidzworld Get Pinkalicious. February 8, 2011 — The Joester Loria Group brokered a deal for its property Pinkalicious with Jay Franco and Kidzworld to launch a collection of bedding, room décor and furniture inspired by the New York Times best-selling children’s book series “Pinkalicious.”

New Bieber Dolls Released. February 8, 2011 — A new line of Justin Bieber dolls will be released at New York Toy Fair, according to a press release. The Bridge Direct, Inc. and Bravado are showcasing new versions of their Justin Bieber singing dolls, now featuring soft, easy-to-comb hair reminiscent of Bieber’s famous coiffure. The line also includes several playsets such as a tour bus and a performance stage.

Escalade Sports Recalls Oasis Playsets Due to Fall Hazard. February 8, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 4,600 Outdoor Playsets from Escalade Sports of Evansville, Ind. This recall involves belt-style swing seats on four models of Oasis Playsets: PG01W, PG02W, PG03W and PG04W. Model numbers are located on a plate on the swing’s horizontal beam. The green plastic seats are about 26 inches long and are hung from green, plastic-coated chains. The swing seats have rounded ends with black grommets on each end. The sets were sold by Oasis distributors and dealers nationwide from April 2008 to December 2010 for between $1,500 and $2,200. Consumers should immediately stop using these swing seats and contact Escalade Sports for free replacement swing seats.

Star Wars Toys Are Top. February 7, 2011 — Star Wars was the bestselling US boys’ toy license in 2010, boasting more than $510 million in sales, their biggest year since 2005. According to Licensemag.com, 2010 was also the property’s biggest sales year without a movie release in their history. They attribute to their success the popularity of the Cartoon Network series “Clone Wars,” as well as to strong licensing partnerships with LEGO and Hasbro.

Hasbro Sales Miss in Holidays. February 7, 2011 — Hasbro Inc reported weaker-than-expected revenue in the fourth-quarter on tepid U.S. demand for games and puzzles in the biggest selling season of the year. The results came less than a week after industry leader Mattel In handily beat Wall Street estimates in its fourth quarter covering the holidays.

Aardman Signs Tomy for Canimals Toys. February 7, 2011 — Aardman Rights has signed Tomy as the European Master toy partner for Canimals, on behalf of VOOZClub. Tomy will produce and distribute toy and gift lines including plush, toy figures, electronics, arts and crafts for the U.K., France, Benelux, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as capsule toys for all of Europe.

National Geographic Arts and Crafts Line. February 7, 2011 — National Geographic, in conjunction with Colorbök, will be developing a line of children’s arts and crafts products, to be available later this year. According to Licensemag.com, the activities will broach topics such as conservation, world cultures, wildlife and nature, and will include National Geographic Fun Facts.

MGA Files Antitrust Suit Against Mattel. February 4, 2011 — As MGA and Mattel fight it out in court over a copyright infringement lawsuit, MGA has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Mattel claiming they used unfair business practices and anticompetitve conduct, according to the Los Angeles Times. The lawsuit alleges that after Bratz dolls began hurting the sales of Barbie, Mattel resorted to extreme behavior such as infiltrating MGA’s showrooms, threatening licensees who might work with MGA, rearranging retail displays of Barbie and Bratz dolls, and paying retailers not to buy Bratz dolls or any other MGA products. In a statement made late last night, Mattel lawyer Mike Zeller countered MGA’s claims, saying “These same arguments have been repeatedly rejected as irresponsible by the Court. This is nothing more than an end run against these prior decisions.”

CPSC Extends Stay of Enforcement for Testing and Certification of Lead Content in Children’s Products Until December 31, 2011. February 3, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 4-1 on January 31, 2011 to extend the stay of enforcement for testing and certification of lead content in children’s products (except for metal components of children’s metal jewelry) until December 31, 2011. Starting on December 31, 2011, manufacturers and importers of children’s products that are subject to the lead content limit must have the appropriate certificates that indicate that their products have been tested by a CPSC-approved third party laboratory, in order for their products to be sold in the United States.

Google Accuses Bing of ‘Copying’ its Search Results. February 2, 2011 — Google has accused Microsoft of cheating, following an investigation known as the ‘Bing Sting’. Google engineers created 100 nonsensical queries such as “hiybbprqag” and inserted a fake result for each. Within weeks, the same results began to appear on its rival Microsoft’s Bing search engine.

For more news go here

Air Swimmers by the William Mark Corporation
These helium-filled shark or clownfish balloons are remote controlled to move around in the air.

Kre-O Transformers- Bumble Bee Set by Hasbro
These Lego-compatible block sets are coming in a variety of Transformers characters, just in time for the movie release this summer.

Solowheel by Inventist
Gyroscope technology is behind this new self-balancing electric unicycle. Lean forward to go forward and backward when you want to slow down. The lithium ion battery recaptures energy when going downhill or slowing down.

Sbyke by Sbyke
The Sbyke is a rear-steering scooter that is self standing and weight shift controlled, making it easy for both children and adults to ride.

Hexbug Nano Glow-in-the-Dark by Innovation First Labs
The regular Hexbugs just won the Specialty Toy of the Year Award. This glow in the dark version features the same motion sensors and scuttling capabilities that made the original version so popular.Glow in the dark habitats are also available.

Ninjago by LEGO
A variety of products, including games and building sets, are part of the Ninjago line, which is getting its own animated series on Cartoon Network.

Celestial Buddies by Celestial Buddies
Celestial Buddies, an original line of educational plush characters, is inspired by planets and other celestial bodies. Each plush planetary pal is designed to capture the unique variations of the actual object it represents through fabric, color, size and shape.

Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure by Activision
Activision is back with Spyro. This time, characters in the video game are available as action figures that can be plugged into the game. The characters can be plugged into the “power portal” on a different console and enter the game with all of their statistic in tact.

Let’s Rock Elmo by Hasbro
Let’s Rock Elmo is an interactive toy that sings and plays musical instruments. Kids can switch the instruments and Elmo knows which one he has; kids can play the instruments, too.

Fijit Friends by Mattel
These cute, interactive robot toys can speak up to thirty phrases, dance, and laugh. They are also compatible with various social media platforms and apps.

InnoPad by VTech
This multi-function tablet is like a starter laptop for kids. It offers interactive reading, gaming, and creative activities. It features a 5inch color touchscreen, a tilt sensor for game control, microphone, interfaces for USB, SD card and a headphone jack, and plays MP3′s; VTech will offer more than 100 software titles for InnoPad including Dora the Explorer and Toy Story programs.

Redakai by Spin Master Toys
These 3-D trading cards by the makers of the popular Bakugan feature animation and graphics effects on each card. The first series will have more than 100 cards and will include action figures and accessories.

LEGO

JAKKs Pacific and LEGO
Pirates Of the Caribbean- On Stranger Tides
Jakks Pacific is coming out with a series of playsets that correspond with the movie, while LEGO is showing a line of Pirates building toys.

Salt Water Fuel Cell Car by OWI
This small salt water fuel cell car let’s children lean about new forms of clean energy and engineering.

Phone Frenzy by Buffalo Games
This party game requires player to call their friends on speaker-phone in order to win- often at the risk of embarrassing themselves and their loved ones.

Gotcha! by Buffalo Games
In Gotcha! players race to hit the buzzer whenever they see someone breaking a rule – all the while making sure they are following the rules themselves. The more rules that are played, the funnier the game gets.

Penbo Penguin Robot by Bossa Nova Robotics
Penbo is an autonomous robot designed to move like a penguin and interact with you and her Bebe through an array of sensors. She is aware of her surroundings, loves to dance, plays games and talks with Bebe in Penguish, her own language.

Little Mommy my Very Real Baby Doll by Mattel
This interactive baby doll responds to the different toys you give her, like a teddy bear, or her bottle. When you feed her a green popsicle, her mouth turns green.

Air Picks by Ohio Art
These picks play three songs each- now your air guitar skills can finally be heard by all.

Box-O-Mania’s Play Box Kit by Box-O-Mania
Box-O-Mania puts a modern twist on the traditional cardboard box – the inspiration behind imaginative play and creative learning without complicated instructions and power charges. The idea was dreamt up by Anna Tselevich when she was just 4 years old, and her father Max helped make that dream reality.

Egg Bods by Bluw
These cute eggs come in a variety of characters. You can switch around their heads to let them have a chance to experience a different costume. They also wind up and walk.

Spy Camera Set by Playmobil
The Spy Camera Set includes a camera with a USB port and a color monitor. The images shot from the camera are displayed on the monitor via wireless transmission, and can be attached to Playmobil vehicles.

Secret Agent Headquarters by Playmobil
The well-disguised Secret Agent Headquarters contains covert features, such as a trapdoor leading to the jail, a jet ski hiding place for an emergency escape, and a secret command center with LED board.

NERF Dart Tag Swarmfire Blaster by Hasbro
This battery-powered dart gun shoots a succession of 20 foam darts in rapid-fire. Launch date: Spring 2011.

Sesame Street Count N Crunch Cookie Monster by Hasbro
Along with Let’s Rock Elmo, Hasbro is releasing this Cookie Monster toy. He asks for cookies, which children can feed him to hear loud, funny chomping noises.

Max Force Shadow Hawk 100 by Jakks Pacific
This intense play gun for older children shoots water soaked paper pellets that stick to their targets and can shoot up to 100ft. Launch date: Fall 2011.

ZombieZoo
These undead animals are a lot cuter than the other inhabitants of the Pet Cemetery. Each stuffed animal comes with a DVD storybook that explains how the ZombieZoo critters came to be.

Bizu by Spin Master
These fashionable beads can be twisted into the shape of a cute animal, or connected to be a bracelet or necklace. They’ve been featured on the Today show, and are in keeping with the tiny toys trend that we keep seeing pop up.

Moshi Monsters by Spin Master
This line of Plush and collectible toys corresponds to the incredibly popular MoshiMonsters.com. Many of the products can be used along with the website.

Befuzzled by Fun Q Games

Players take turns flipping over cards that show different shapes. The first to complete the correct action wins that card. The game keeps it exciting by shuffling the actions and their corresponding shapes after each round.

Zip-It! by Bananagrams
This 2-player crossword race can be played in under 20 seconds. Portable and intellectually stimulating, just like its extremely popular predecessor, the original Bananagrams.

Green Lantern Quickshot Game by Pressman Toy Corp
This fast-moving, marble-shooting game was produced in conjunction with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, to correspond with the release of the new Green Lantern movie this summer. It is one of many new Green Lantern toys being shown at Toy Fair.

T-Pain’s Auto Tune Microphone by Jakks Pacific
This microphone was developed in conjunction with the eponymous hip-hop artist, notorious for his auto-tuned jams. The handheld wireless microphone plays three different beats to sing over, and records your voice. It features pitch-correction. Launch date: Fall 2011.

Little Big Planet SackBoy by Mezco
This popular video game gets its own collectible sackboy critters, dressed in some of the costumes from the game. Available later this year.

Global Water Quality Kit by Thames & Kosmos
This environmentally focused toy teaches kids how to test water for impurities, with the option of uploading their results online and comparing with other kids’ finds.

Brush With Genius by Colorform
This watercolor paintbrush allows kids to assign a musical scale to their drawings and control the sounds as they slide their fingers over the strokes of the brush.

Stikits by Poof-Slinky Inc
These sticky pellets are made of cornstarch and completely edible. Just add a little bit of water to get them to stick together, then construct models from the pellets.

Quadrilla Sound Blocks
This wooden marble run features toned parts that chime different notes when the marbles hit.

Magic School Bus Microscope Kit by The Young Scientists Club
Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride with the Magic School Bus as they explore the world around them with a microscope. Young Scientists learn about the history of the microscope, explore the different parts of a microscope, and discover how to use a microscope.

V-Cube 7 by V-Cubes
Similar to a Rubik’s Cube, this multicolored cube has seven rows and columns users have to align.

Fantasy Island by WILD! Science
This habitat for ants and fighter fish allows children to examine the natural world. Including “swimming pools” and “food bars,” this habitat might be a little fancier than what its inhabitants are used to.

Bioloid by Robotis
Bioloid is an educational robot kit with which one can build various robots including the autonomous exploration robot, quadruped puppy robot, hexapod spider robot, dinosaur robot, and bipedal humanoid robot. You can see an exclusive video here.

Pefect Petzzz by CD3 INC.
This realistic sleeping animal looks like it’s really breathing as it’s belly moves up and down.

Ghostbusters Stay Puft Marshmallow Man Plush by Underground Toys
This ghostly marshmallow plays the main theme from the movie “Ghostbusters” when you press his tummy.

Gremlins Action Figures by NECA
Based on characters from the cult classic movie, these plastic and resin figures will be released in two lines, one in Spring 2011 and one in the summer.

The Hunger Games by NECA
This popular book series, soon to be a movie franchise, gets its own card game based on the mythology of the book. Available later this year.

My Little Mailbox by Manhattan Toy
This unique toy features a fabric mailbox, postcards, and stamps. It is “a great toy to practice roleplay with a unique soft toy design,” Julie Flann, manager of marketing & sales services at Manhattan Toy, told TDmonthly.

Batman Mini-Mezitz With Batmobile by Mezco Toyz
Among the many licensed toys at Toy Fair, this Mini-Mezitz by Mezco are some of the more unique. “Far cooler than any other Batman and Batmobile ever made,” Mike Drake, director of special projects at Mezco, told TDmonthly.

Perplexus by Plasmart
This see-through sphere houses a 3-D labyrinth game with 100 barriers, turns, twists and cliffhangers that serve as obstacles to getting a small steel ball to the end. The new version takes the game to the next level.

Externally, the Solowheel consists of a wheel and two foldable foot platforms. Internally, the inner workings of the Solowheel use gyro sensors, a 1000-Watt motor and a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. All this technology is housed under a visually appealing, slim case with leg pads and a handle for easy carrying.

100% battery operated; leaning controls your speed. Lean forward to go forward and backward when you want to slow down. lithium ion battery recaptures energy when going downhill or slowing down.

Features gyro-sensors and left and right steering capability; portable and weighs twenty pounds.

GOTCHA! By Buffalo Games -- one of the dozens of toy and game demos captured by ToyDirectory and TDmonthly Magazine at Toy Fair 2011.

ToyDirectory and TDmonthly’s video team brought back dozens of demos from Toy Fair 2011. Here are a few of them:

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GIRLS: Click here to see the Top-10 Girls most notable toys at Toy Fair 2011.

BOYS: Click here to see the Top-10 Boys most notable toys at Toy Fair 2011.

OVERALL: Click here to see the Top-10 Overall most notable toys at Toy Fair 2011.