May Staff Picks

This craft kit allows one to create the Beaky Family: Mama Owl, Papa Owl and their little 'un. Young sewers can design their own color scheme from a selection of felt sheets (brights or pastels). The owls are approximately 3.75", 2.75" and 1.75" tall when sewn. The sewing kit makes all three owls and includes re-usable patterns and full instructions, wool felt (5 colors), stuffing, embroidery thread, buttons and needle. All the crafter needs to supply is tracing paper, scissors, pencil, pins and dried beans for balance. Owner Sarah Ketchley of Kit and Caboodle Designs told TDmonthly, "Kit and Caboodle Craft Kits are designed and developed to emphasize the natural, the reusable and recyclable and are ideal for the beginning crafter with scope for embellishment and personalization by those more experienced." Launch date: June 2009.

Suitable for ages 18 months and up, this 14-piece set includes 10 shapes with numbers and letters to count and sort into the A-B-C-D compartments, each with a hook and loop closure. Julie Flann, Manager of Marketing & Sales at Manhattan Toy, told TDmonthly, "This great Chicka Chicka Boom Boom-themed toy provides a great way for little ones to practice their numbers and shapes." Launch date: 2010.

This kit includes three fairy paper dolls with stands, three fairy wings and more than 150 glitter stickers. Donna Modrell, marketing and operations manager of Peaceable Kingdom Press, told TDmonthly, "Girls will love decorating and playing with these enchanted fairies. It's super simple sticker fun!" Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: 2010.

Make a Copter Ball, a Rocket Ball or a Glider Ball with the new OGOBILD-FLY. The soft bouncy rubber ball has 12 sockets that let you reposition and twist the wings to create your own flying creation. Part of the new OGOBILD Building Ball system from OGOSPORT. Can be combined with any of the other OGOBILD attachments offering a brilliant combination of active and constructive play.

Meet Norman PhartEphant's friend Ben Kachoo, a Hippo with a bit of sneezing problem. Ben is a plush pink hippopotamus that makes sneezing sounds when squeezed.

Vehicle Mini kit-ArtiSands Mini Vehicle kit includes nine(9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Dump Truck, Cement Truck, Race Car and Train). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

This robot construction kit includes pieces for children to make animals and figures that move via a one-geared motor.

These squeeze-powered, kid-sized flashlights come in a variety of animals whose noses light up when switched on. The side lever stores inside the body and can be released and squeezed to charge up the light. The 12-piece counter displays include four assorted animals in each assortment. The Zoo assortment includes a tiger, panda, monkey, and penguin, whereas the Farm assortment features a cow, pig, duck, and dog.

You control a faction in beautiful Atlantis, the glorious civilization built upon the sea. No other city rivals its power. None command such riches. Now, the link between the land and your beloved home of Atlantis is crumbling! You must race to move your people along the great bridge to the mainland before it disappears into the thundering waters below. AtlantisT is a very casual, social game for 2-4 players ages 10 and older.

These kid-powered flashlights are available in 104 designs with 88 popular names and eight color combinations.
— "We have sold a lot of those," Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper for Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly, listing this product as one of her best sellers in June 2010.
— Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper for Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly that My Name Flashlights from John Hinde are her best selling personalized items. “[We sell] one a day, maybe more.”
— Of 44 retailers, two said John Hinde is a best-selling product line in a September 2010 survey of most-wanted personalized items.

Wallables are three dimensional and eco-friendly, made from a revolutionary soy-based foam material using U.S.-grown soybeans. They are easy to apply to any surface with a Velcro patch and are designed as removable to be played with. Eva Burkley, Vice President of Wallables, told TDmonthly, "They are intricately sculpted, lightweight foam wall décor products."

Goodbyn is a lunchbox reinvented for kids, parents and the planet. Made in the USA, BPA free and phthalate free, Goodbyn is designed to keep tastes (and moisture) separate with five separately sealing compartments. Each Goodbyn lunchbox comes with hundreds of stickers: alphabets, body parts, allergy labels and more. Goodbyn has a carrying handle, is dishwasher-safe, and can be recycled simply and easily when it’s time to buy a new one. Rob Grennan, COO of Byndoo LLC, told TDmonthly, "The Goodbyn lunchbox line eliminates the need for one-time packaging like plastic bags and drink boxes; it has five separately sealing compartments to make packing lunches easy and fun."