TDmonthly Magazine!
January 2010 | Vol. IX - No. 1


Tools:


January Staff Picks

Handbags Go to the Dogs


Whether it be poodle, pug or pomeranian, find your favorite pooch in Manhattan Toy's line of Fuzzy Nation dog-fashioned purses and wristlets. Try "baffling" or "perplexing" the mind with some brain-challenging games from Flying Rabbit and PlaSmart, or play your way onto the team with innovative balls from Fair Trade Sports and Saturnian 1 Sports. See below the rest of TDmonthly Magazine's staff picks for January — products we think specialty toy stores should take a close look at.

Cover image: Fuzzy Nation Crested-in-Tattoo "Betsey J" from Manhattan Toy





MSRP: $23.99
Age Range: 2 and up
SKU or Item #: 5TAPC
Launch Date: January 2009
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: Arts & Crafts
General Toys
Eco-Friendly



Mama K's Aromatic Play Clay is an all-natural play clay scented with organic essential oils and available in six scents, including soothing lavender, relaxing chamomile and tension-easing bergamot. "I'm confident there is no other product like Mama K's Aromatic Play Clay currently on the market," Mama Made It owner Kari Erickson-Valenzuela told TDmonthly. "It is high quality, 100-percent natural, gluten-free, beautifully colored using only natural ingredients and subtly scented for aromatherapy with the highest quality organic essential oils. It's lovely." Awards: 2009 Goddard Systems Best Green Toys Under $30.00. Launch date: 2009.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26189      (added 11/25/2009)
.
TD




Shaped to look just like a Pug (with a bit of extra design detail), this purse is outfitted with a silk blend outer fabric with a floral pattern, a zippered pouch for keys, makeup and cell phone, and the signature silver leatherette paw bearing the company's bone cross logo. It comes in a gift box with a paw-shaped "breathing hole."
— "What's been a surprise to me is the Fuzzy Nation stuff. I honestly chided my wife for ordering them, and I can't keep them in stock," Jude Larene, co-owner of Izilla Toys in Seattle, told TDmonthly in late fall 2009. "Even the expensive $50 purses are just flying out."
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26246      (added 12/2/2009)
.
TD




Baffle! consists of a 5 x 5 grid of 25 squares on the game board, plus 25 game pieces in five shapes and colors. The player strategically places and removes pieces to accomplish the goal of each particular game. In Baffle! Classic, he must end up with a configuration in which each row, column and diagonal has a piece of each shape and a piece of each color.
— At the Play House Toy Store in Durham, N.C., this game is a best seller, Owner Donna Frederick told TDmonthly in late November 2009.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26223      (added 11/30/2009)
.
TD


MSRP: $3.95
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: School Supplies
Novelties



This package includes 20 elephant-shaped paper clips in assorted colors.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26242      (added 12/2/2009)
.
TD


MSRP: $16.00
Age Range: 6 and up
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: General Toys



Flip-n-Stack Monkeys includes everything you need to create a perfect monkey tower: four super-magnetic monkeys, one launcher, and a target landing pad. Multiple stacking options allows for the monkeys to be stacked in different arrangements.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26227      (added 12/1/2009)
.
TD


MSRP: $24.99
Age Range: 6 and up
SKU or Item #: BL100
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: Puzzles & Skill
Educational
Family Games



The first member of the Perplexus family, 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. Invented in 1970 by Michael McGinnis, a design teacher, Perplexus helps develop motor and dexterity skills, along with hand-eye coordination.
― As of 12/17/2012 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 393 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 12 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games.
— At Izilla Toys in Seattle, "Perplexus is selling really, really well for us," Co-owner Jude Larene told TDmonthly in late fall 2009.
— In summer 2010 this game was a top-10 best seller at Dancing Bear Toys in Asheville and Hendersonville, N.C..
Awards: 2012 Parents’ Choice Awards - Silver, 2011 Time Magazine – 15 Smartest Toys for Young Geniuses, 2011 Parent Tested Parent Approved – Seal of Approval, 2011 Grand Prix Kidexpo – Elu par les Parents (Parents’Choice), 2011 Children of Museum of Indianapolis – Top 10 Toys of 2011, 2011 Canadian Toy Testing Council – Children’s Choice, 2011 Babble List – Best Kids Toys, 2010 Toy Insider – Hot 20, 2010 The National Parenting Center – Seal of Approval, 2010 Prémio Brazil – Award of Excellence, 2010 Parents’ Magazine – Top Toys, 2010 NAPPA – Gold, 2010 ASTRA – Best Toy for Kids
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26245      (added 12/2/2009)
.
TD




Each Pit-Stop racer includes a plastic chassis, racing decals, paint, paint brush, wheels and axles. Pit-Stop racers are designed to run on 1:64 Hot Wheels tracks. 6 different Pit-Stop Racers to choose from.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26301      (added 12/9/2009)
.
TD




Made of durable composite suede material with Fun Gripper™ patented Foam Matrix covering, these vibrantly colorful footballs come in 2 sizes (10" and 8.5") and in 3 assorted neon colors. $14.99-$15.99 each.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26287      (added 12/7/2009)
.
TD


MSRP: $229.00
Gender: Girls
Category: Bags & Backpacks



Designed with adjustable features for wear across this hips, this Hip&Go is equipped with a storage pocket on each side to carry a wallet, phone, keys, baby accessories and more. It is made of Nappa leather and features interior green lining with a velvety feel.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26285      (added 12/7/2009)
.
TD




Fair Share Chore Cards eliminates dreaded arguments among who does what chores and takes the phrase "that’s not fair" out of the housework equation by leaving chore assignments to the luck of the draw. The chore cards have helpful directions printed on each card on how to accomplish each chore safely and efficiently. The only Ace in the deck serves as a "get out of a chore free" card, giving one a lucky break from a chore.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26284      (added 12/7/2009)
.
TD


MSRP: $19.95
Age Range: 6 and up
Gender: Boys And Girls
Category: Board Games



Cobra Cubes is a stimulating 3 dimensional puzzle that facilitates the development of logic and spatial vision. Reading and following the directions make the snake twist around the cubes. Cobra Cubes consists of 40 challenging puzzles in increasing difficulty. For 1 player, ages 6 and up.
ToyDirectory Product ID#: 26276      (added 12/7/2009)
.
TD




Julie L. JonesWriter's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author


THIS BANNER IS AN AD:






Back to TDmonthly's front page

Advertise on TDmonthly


Related Product Archives

Go! Go! Sports Girls Soccer Girl Cassie Read & Play Doll and Book Set
By DREAM BIG TOY COMPANY
» More Information

Mini Monk Seal
By FOLKMANIS INC.
» More Information

Aurora Baby - GiGi Giraffe™
By AURORA WORLD INC.
» More Information


Related Articles
·Kid's Fashion 2021
(1/1/2021)
·Top-10 Most-Wanted Jewelry and Accessories
(11/1/2015)
·Top-10 Most-Wanted Jewelry and Accessories
(11/1/2014)
·Toys in the News: 11-24-2015
(11/1/2015)
·December Staff Picks
(12/1/2015)
·January Staff Picks
(1/1/2016)


Also See
·5 Backyard Toys That Are Totally Worth The Money
(8/1/2015)
·2014 Holiday Preview: Dolls, Plush & Puppets, Infant & Toddler, Electronics and Play Houses
(7/1/2014)
·TDmonthly 2014 Top Toy Debut Award Winners: Dolls, Plush and Collectibles
(5/1/2014)
·Q&A with Gloria Mecca for Heavenly Hug Dolls
(4/1/2013)
·TDmonthly's Toy Fair Videos: Dolls, Plush, and Figures
(3/1/2013)
·TDmonthly Seal of Approval - Dolls & Plush
(1/1/2013)
















Advertisement: