This ball, available in several colors, can blow up to 12” in diameter.

An LED light rotates inside to create many patterns. The 7”-tall novelty features an on/off button, and three AAA batteries are included. “Meteor Storms are a visual delight. By holding the button you can create several different patterns,” Sales & Marketing Coordinator Jaime Edry of Schylling told TDmonthly. And they’re “always great for summer night and outdoor festivals,” she added. Launch date: June 2004.

As music plays, ladybugs spin on this 4”-wide hand-painted music box.  “It’s the simple things in life that put smiles on our faces. It’s something as elementary as dancing ladybugs that make us laugh,” Sales & Marketing Coordinator Jaime Edry of Schylling told TDmonthly. “This product is made from quality wood and has the potential to last from generation to generation.” Launch date: January 2004.

This white L.E.D. disc light securely attaches to flying discs for play in low-light and after-dark situations. It is lightweight and water resistant, and comes with long-life replaceable batteries. It is easy to install and has a push-button on/off switch. “This is the only product on the market that is an actual retrofit kit to transform a standard flying disc into an L.E.D. light-up flying disc. Now, the fun doesn’t have to stop just because the sun is going down!” Marketing Manager Brenda Isaac of Nite Ize told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 1, 2007.

Hog Wild's already distinctive and innovative Faucet Light is new and improved. It now changes color when the water changes temperature. When the water is hot, the light turns red. When the water is cold, the light turns blue. The magic point at which the change occurs is 89º F. The Faucet Light is fun and functional. It's also ideal for the kids’ bathroom, and a smart gift for older people, too. It works on most faucets and includes universal adaptors for 95 percent coverage across the U.S.
— "Little fun pick-me-ups, like the Faucet Light from Hog Wild, do well," said Kate Tanner, owner of Kidstop Toy & Book Store in Scottsdale, Ariz.
— This version of Hog Wild’s Faucet Light brings extra visual appeal and utility by warning users if the sink water is hot or cold. It’s both fun and functional, and makes for an innovative extra nightlight for late trips to the bathroom or kitchen. It might even encourage kids to wash their hands more often! Therefore, it was awarded a TDmonthly Innovations 2007 award.

Where to Buy: Escapade Direct

You don't have to roll the Electronic Light Up Dice from Schylling. Simply tap them on a table or surface and they'll start flashing a random number. They put a new and "flashy" twist on an old concept in games of chance. Batteries are included.
— "Light-ups do fairly well from Schylling," said Anna Barr, owner of Anna's Toy Depot in Austin, Texas, when she talked to TDmonthly about popular novelty toys.

Just place the egg in a container of cool water and, within 48 to 72 hours, your dino will hatch and grow to sizes ranging from 6” to 8” in length.
— "The Hatchin Grow Dinosaurs by Toysmith" was a hot-selling novelty item in the store of Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles Toys in Norman, Okla.
― "Toysmith I like because they're fast. They always have a pretty good deal to get low freight. They take a percentage off on the price,” Shirley Reilly, owner of Let’s Play in Hillsboro, Ore., told TDmonthly.

The Chicken and the Egg are an inseparable duo. Squeeze the Chicken and watch as the Egg squishes out and begins to swirl. The Chicken is 7" long and has a shipping weight of 6.1 ounces.
— "The chicken with the egg that comes out from Toysmith" was a customer novelty favorite in the spring of 2007, according to Melissa McCollum, owner of Learning Express in Hoover, Ala.

Push the putty back into the 2.5" potty to create gastronomical noises. The Potty Putty is an interesting twist on the Noise Putty concept also developed by Toysmith. It comes in five different colors.
— "Potty Putty by Toysmith is a big one. Sometimes, it surprises me what is selling," said Hans Masing, owner of Brain Station in Ann Arbor, Mich., when asked about favorite novelty items.

Wind them up and watch these wacky ducks swim across the pool or bath. The ducks move their heads back and forth while they paddle and are part of Toysmith's line of wacky wind-up toys. They come in three assorted styles, are 2" x 2.5" x 1" in dimension, and weigh approximately 1 lb.
— "We sell quite a few wacky wind-ups from Toysmith," said Scott Loveless, owner of Toys That Teach in Bothell, Wash.
— Three of 58 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in winter 2007 specifically named Toysmith wind-ups as a sure stocking-stuffer hit.
— Over 27 percent of 58 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly cited Toysmith as a popular stocking-stuffer brand.

Put this colorful frog in water and watch it grow to 8" in length. Frog can be dried out and regrown again, and comes in assorted colors.
— "Anything gross. Any of those squooshy...frogs....and things like that [from] Toysmith. They're for both boys and girls. The grosser the better," said Fred Rosenberg, owner of On The Park in Kingwood, Texas.

As Play Visions asks on its website, "Is this the coolest item you have ever seen?" It is so soft that it seemingly stretches forever. You can't put it down because it's wiggly, jiggly, delightful and entertaining to the max. The Spaghetti Ball comes in assorted colors.
— "Play Visions covers a whole range, including their Spaghetti Balls," said Trish Garlock, co-owner of The Treasured Child in La Grange, Ky., when she talked to TDmonthly about hot-selling novelties.

The Rocket Balloon Fun Set gives the user 50 reusable rocket balloons and a two-way action pump. The balloons inflate into 36"-long rockets that fill the sky with color. Rocket Balloons are a safe alternative to fireworks on the Fourth of July, and adults have a great time letting them fly indoors on New Years Eve. An additional pump can be added to the set to keep the balloon ammo flowing.
— "Rocket balloons. We sell them from Cold Spring," said Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles Toys in Norman, Okla., when asked about popular novelty items with her customers.
— Three of 38 retailers TDmonthly spoke with in spring 2007 said rocket balloons were hot-selling items in their store. Sales of rocket balloons appeared to be concentrated in the Southwest, according to research conducted by TDmonthly.
— “This is the best-selling outdoor product we have ever had in the store,” said Joe Berardoni, Sr., owner of Pun’s Toy Store in Bryn Mawr, Penn. “Just blow up the balloons and watch them whistle and fly all over.”

The fun of Toysmith's Magic Mic is now available in translucent colors. Kids can speak or sing into this 9.5" echo microphone to hear the sound of their own voice magnified. No batteries are required. An order includes one translucent Magic Mic available in various colors.
— "For a long time we have been selling a lot of the echoing Magic Mic by Toysmith. It's a hollow microphone that gives off an echo sound. It's very inexpensive," said Buddy Wood, owner of Le Jouet Inc. in Metairie, La. 
— According to Wood, 24 units sold monthly means the Magic Mic has the magic touch with customers in his store.
— Ten of 38 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in spring 2007 said Toysmith is still hot in novelty items.

You go to the sink and pick up the soap. You run the water and start washing your face. You look into the mirror, and to your horror, your face is black. You wash your face harder, but your face gets even dirtier. You hear laughing behind you and realize you've been had by the good people at S.S. Adams. Trick Black Soap washes off with water and has a shipping weight of 12 ounces.
— "Adams prank and magic," was the response TDmonthly got from Buddy Wood, owner of Le Jouet Inc. in Metairie, La., when asked about best-selling novelties in his store. He said he regularly sells 18 to 24 units per month.
— Two of 14 retailers cited Adams products as best-selling novelties in spring 2007.
— "The Trick Black Soap is a classic gag that's been around for decades. It's a time-tested seller," said David Haversat, an owner of S.S. Adams.

Toysmith has made it easier to engage in rocket-balloon fun. The newly added pump allows for automated balloon inflation so that ammunition is always ready. Kids simply inflate the balloons, let them go and watch them fly.
— "Rocket Balloons with pump. We shoot those off in the shop," said Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles Toys in Norman, Okla. Toysmith was the manufacturer she mentioned.
— "About three a day," was a sales figure for rocket balloons given to TDmonthly by Trish Garlock, owner of Treasured Child in La Grange, Ky.
— Three of 38 retailers TDmonthly spoke with in spring of 2007 mentioned rocket balloons as best-selling novelty items in their stores.

The 10"-tall Elephant on Bike tin wind-up toy is a reproduction of classic tin toys made in the 1940s and 1950s. Kids can wind the key and watch the ball spin on the elephant's trunk while he rides his bike in a circle. Schylling carries approximately 50 tin toy reproductions in its line, including many exclusives.
— Kara Fichtner, owner of Out of the Blue in Albuquerque, N.M., told TDmonthly that she sells up to 100 Schylling animal wind-ups to customers per month.
— "Collecting actual antique tin toys is extremely costly, but the Schylling Reproductions are very affordable and display just as nice," said Stephen Medina, public relations and marketing, Schylling Toys.
— Over 10 percent of 58 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly cited Schylling as a company whose products will make popular stocking stuffers.

The Creepy Worm Ball allows kids to gross-out their friends. Children can squeeze the ball and watch the ugly worms and flies ooze their way around inside.
— "I actually do hardly anything in novelty toys, although the Creepy Worm Balls are probably my top pick. We get them from Toysmith," said Frances Finfrock, owner of Aunt Franny's Toys in Richland, Wash.
— Although Finfrock told TDmonthly that monthly sales of two units are routine, the product’s suitability as a stocking stuffer increases demand during the holiday season.
— Two of 41 retailers who spoke to TDmonthly in spring 2007 cited squishy novelties from Toysmith as popular.
— Toysmith products are so popular for the holiday season, in fact, that preparation is crucial. “I’ve already got sacks of them, holding them for people,” Sherry Grisham of Yesterday’s & Today’s Dolls in Corinth, Miss. told TDmonthly.

Made of flexible coated wire cable, the Q-Man luggage tag is durable, stylish and fun. It comes in six solid colors and is also available in camouflage.

Add visual fun to parties, twinkle lights and holiday celebrations such as 4th of July and Halloween with these special visors.  Unique cross star holographic film lenses lets you discover the spectral colors of light by displaying a myriad of rainbow pattern.  Spectrix Visors are sold in Science and Discovery Museums and Planetariums throughout the U.S., where they are often used in their exhibits as well.

Instant Masterpiece is a gilded, old master-style picture frame that quickly inflates to make any art look great — just as those dusty gold frames do in the world’s most famous museums. Made of clear vinyl with printed graphics, the Instant Masterpiece puffs up to 11” x 16” with a crystal-clear pocket that holds an 8” x 10” picture. It includes tabs to hang as either landscape or portrait. The frame is packaged in an unusual triangular box that measures 3” x 10” and is suitable for display at any museum shop. Launch date: March 2007.

This high-quality vegetable glycerin soap features a toy duck that gives a multi-colored light show when handled or placed in water.

This fake cat’s paw has a bell on the handle and a trigger to make the claw ... well, do claw things. Backscratcher? Friend tapper? Dog deceiver? This thing is just straight weird. The user manual shows things such as using it to reach for a coffee cup, confuse a real cat, and even duel — if your opponent also has a cat paw. It looks fun, and Izumi Nagano at Bandai headquarters in Tokyo explained that “it is something that is unique and brings both playfulness and joy.”

Distributed by Firebox.com Ltd., Shock Ball takes Hot Potato to another realm. This tennis ball-sized red danger orb made from soft PVC with little metal plates on it glows green from the inside until ... ZAP! The light randomly turns red, and a wicked electric shock courses through whoever has the ball in his hand. There follows much screaming and lots of laughter ... by everyone but the shocked. This is the hippest thing around London. The rechargeable ball makes a great party game. Or, for those of a more masochistic bent, it can be played alone. Rob Fleischer, who does publicity for distributor Firebox, said “a battery version of Shock Ball will be shipping in late summer, early fall.”

In America, we mostly know Sega for its video games, especially that master-of-disaster Sonic the Hedgehog. But bits and bytes are not the only thing they do — or should we say “do-do”? The Horror Summer Toilet Roll is being released only in Japan at the moment (Ms. Takamora, a representative of Sega in Japan, would not confirm nor deny its export to the U.S. of A.), but how can something this hilarious not make a big ... er, splash here? Making loud noises, explosions and shouts every time the TP is rolled, it’s as surprising as it is annoying. And isn’t that comedy: “something bad happening to someone else”? Release date: July 2007.