January 2010 New Specialty Toys — All

The Nylon Pizza Cutter from Curious Chef is designed as a safe and fun kitchen utensil for cutting pizza. "The Pizza Cutter is made of nylon, which is hard enaough to cut pizza, but not skin! Also, the design is very compelling, since it features a unique guard that will keep fingers from [the] blade and soft touch button grips," Cristina Villa, account executive at JB Cumberland PR, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Rolling Pin by Curious Chef is designed specifically for kids' small hands, has ergonomic handles and non stick surface. "Its diameter is the same as a regular one, so that it's highly functional, while being cute and safe. The only difference is that it's shorter and with ergonomic handles," Cristina Villa, account executive at JB Cumberland PR, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Scopa is a centuries old Italian card game of memory, strategy, and skill. Easy to learn, a challenge to master. Included in this set is an authentic set of imported Italian cards, a classic game board, and full instructions on how to play Scopa. Also included is a booklet with instructions on how to play other classic Italian Card Games. The Scopa playingboard features an attractive design with card values printed in each corner for players' reference. The Italian playing cards features 4 suits; and can be used for up to three separate Italian games.

This 37-key wind piano produces a professional, rich tone with a full three-octave range (37 piano keys) and a tonal range from F through F. Includes a specially designed mouthpiece and deluxe carrying case.The sweet-sounding Melodica is so easy to play that many educators use it for teaching the rudiments of harmony, chord formation, theory, and for choral work. You can play chords and single notes, sharps and flats just like a piano, but within a smaller range. It's portable, inexpensive and fun — perfect for camping or travel.

This redesigned version of Sleep Sheep has brighter hooves to create a warmer effect and to match Cloud B's Sleep Sheep Aroma Pillow. Sleep Sheep is equipped with four soothing sounds to help baby rest: mother's heartbeat, spring showers, ocean surf and whale songs. The 12" Sleep Sheep has a removable sound box and an automatic time-out function that can be set to 23 or 45 minutes. Launch date: November 2009.

This small, 12-legged microrobotic creature is battery powered and designed to behave just like a real bug. It moves very quickly and can even flip over by itself. Five colors are available in the Newton Gravity Series. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: Fall 2009.
— Chris Lowe, owner of Bean Head Toys in Sandy Springs, Ga., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that she sells between 20-30 items from the HEXBUGS line each month.
— Christine Osborne, co-owner of Wonder Works in Charleston, S.C., has a Hexbug Nano Habitat set up in the store. They've sold ''thousands,'' she said; she couldn't even guess at an exact number.
― “Hexbugs are doing very well,” said Jenny Bramhall, owner of Dandelion Toys in Fort Collins, Colo., in summer 2010. Fifteen percent of 40 retailers polled in June 2010 said Hexbugs are their best-selling electronic item.
— Hexbugs were great sellers at Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in Aug. 2010. “They fill the affordable techno/RC need - grab and go,” said owner Brett Sommer.
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller

Fish Stix is a visual strategy game. To start, players place 1 fish stick in the center of a table where all players can reach it. Give 3 sticks, 1 scoreboard, and 6 fish tokens to each player. Players take turns matching fish by color and direction. For every fish matched, a player moves her fish tokens that number of spaces on her scoreboard. The first player to move all tokens to 10 wins! For 2-4 Players. This game was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009 and 10 Best Games 2009.

Daisy is one of several plush in this line centered online orphaned wild animals. When an individual buys one of these products, he gains a code that allows access to the story of the oomfy supported by his purchase. A blog keeps track of the rescue and rehabilitation of the orphaned animals.

In the board game, sworn enemies Black Xiacons and Red Xiacons must battle each other in order to take the other's bunker while each protecting their own. The game comes with red and black "casino looking" dice and a gameboard that provides the battlefield for play.

This early learning game for children is designed to be both interactive and progressive. Visually colorful, the DVD features three, 20-minute sessions suited to the attention span of young children. It features three puppets: Oüm, the main character, asks children to participate in his friends' lessons with him; Mimi has a talent for music and Coco, for physical activity. Children and animals appear throughout each of the lessons. Both English and French original versions are included.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine DVD of the Year Award

This bear features fur made of 70-percent natural bamboo fleece and 30-percent organic cotton, and is stuffed with hypoallergenic, biodegradable nature-fil derived from corn. Hemp and organic cotton are used on the bear’s character’s ears, feet, tail and paw pads. Non-toxic, cold water dyes were used. Launch date: November 2009.

The U-Play Mat is a U-shaped mat with 15 clear pockets on its surface. The mat is 4 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. The innovative "U" shape allows the child to sit inside the opening of the "U" with full access to the 15 pockets. The child has full visual and tactile access to the whole surface, without having to crawl atop the mat. Child-safe see-through pockets allow fifteen theme-based cards to be secured to the mat surface. This patent pending design allows for the caregiver to sit across and engage the child in a variety of exercises using the adorable theme-based card decks. The pockets are designed to be slightly larger than the cards, allowing for the cards to be placed and removed easily. The Professional Edition is recommended for the two to five year old child at home or for the professional (speech therapist, teacher, etc.) working with children of any age or ability. This includes all of the eight available card decks for a total of 240 cards. Includes U-Play Mat, Tote, U-Animals Card Deck, U-Foods Card Deck, U-Fruits and Vegetables Card Deck, U-Go Card Deck, U-Home Card Deck, U-Dress Card Deck, U-Outside Card Deck, and U-Play Card Deck.

The U-Play Mat is a U-shaped mat with 15 clear pockets on its surface. The mat is 4 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. The innovative "U" shape allows the child to sit inside the opening of the "U" with full access to the 15 pockets. The child has full visual and tactile access to the whole surface, without having to crawl atop the mat. Child-safe see-through pockets allow fifteen theme-based cards to be secured to the mat surface. This patent pending design allows for the caregiver to sit across and engage the child in a variety of exercises using the adorable theme-based card decks. The pockets are designed to be slightly larger than the cards, allowing for the cards to be placed and removed easily. This set is recommended for at-home use, especially with the one to two year old child just starting to use the U-Play Mat. Includes: U-Play Mat, Tote, U-Animals Card Deck, and U-Foods Card Deck.
— "A great language activity that promotes listening, language and social skills.  A superior choice for children who need support in these areas and might have trouble staying focused," Jennifer Shuman, of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

This transparent blade attaches to bicycle spokes and displays various design images prompted by an internal computer as the blades spin while the bike is moving. Hokey Spokes utilize LED lights and have waterproof keys to select the play mode.

This replica of the short, lightweight Delta-7B starfighter has four has four partially hidden laser canons. Parts snap together, and it does not require painting or gluing. Skill level for this project is 1.
— Mud Puddle Toys in Marblehead, Mass., sells about 20 to 25 Revell kits of cars, airplanes and Star Wars items each month. “We’ve carried them for a few years now. People know we carry it,” he told TDmonthly in October 2009.

This little flyer is equipped with micro air-engine technology and comes with a mini pump. It’s sized for smaller hands, making it ideal as a backyard flyer for a junior pilot.
— Two of 40 specialty retailers mentioned products from Spin Master when asked about best-selling hobby items in fall 2009.

Kids create a 9” sparkly Christmas tree, then color Shrinky Dinks ornaments with the included color pencils, bake them, and then hang them on the tree. The kit includes 30 ornaments, eight colored pencils, a hole punch, metallic stars, ornament rings, a star-shaped tree topper, silver metallic tree branches, metallic foil paper for wrapping the base of the tree, and a pre-assembled tree base.
— Two of 40 specialty retailers mentioned Shrinky Dinks when asked about best-selling hobby products in fall 2009.
— Two other retailers named Creativity for Kids as a best-selling hobby brand in their stores.

This large, hairy spider comes with a remote control to direct its movement. For a realistic effect, each leg moves separately. It requires two AAA batteries.
— Fred Rosenberg, owner of On the Park in Kingwood, Texas, said in fall 2009 that these R/C Tarantulas are popular at his store.
— Two of 40 retailers mentioned International Playthings when answering a TDmonthly survey about best-selling R/C and hobby items.

At 6” long, this tiny helicopter features a V-Wing design and can fly up to four or five minutes on a 20-minute charge. It has dual rotors and can be steered right or left while hovering. The charger/infrared controller requires six AA batteries (not included).
— Kazoo & Co. in Denver sells two dozen per month of Kid Galaxy’s helicopter, Owner Diana Nelson told TDmonthly in fall 2009.
— Two of 40 specialty retailers pinpointed Kid Galaxy’s helicopter as a hot-selling R/C item.
Per a March 15, 2010, letter from Feldman Law Group, P.C., of New York, N.Y., Interactive Toys claims this product infringes on U.S. Patent 7,204,453.

Doors and hoods dislodge and trunks open when these remote-controlled vehicles are smashed and crashed together. The unhinged parts can simply be pressed back into place. The cars require 2 AAA batteries and the remotes take 3 AAA batteries (not included).
— “We sell dozens and dozens of Kid Galaxy’s R/Cs,” Owner Joe Berardoni Sr. of Pun’s Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in fall 2009.
— Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Books & Games in Oklahoma City, told TDmonthly in fall 2009 that her store sells about four Demolition Derby items per month.
— Two of 40 specialty retailers pinpointed Demolition Derby as a hot-selling R/C item.

This four-wheel drive, remote-controlled vehicle can be navigated over land and on water. It has working headlights. The vehicle takes three AA batteries and the controller takes two AAA batteries (not included).
— J. Christopher Toys in Jonesboro, Ark., sold 68 Morphibians since August, Owner Mary Horne told TDmonthly in October 2009.
— Five of 40 retailers specifically named Morphibians as a best-selling R/C item in fall 2009.

This inflatable globe from Castle Toy is available in blue or clear, and offers a fun way for kids to learn about their world.
— This globe has been a consistent best seller for the last two years at The Parent-Teacher Store & Toys Too in Louisville, Ky., Owner Kimberly Kopatz told TDmonthly in fall 2009.

A variety of placemats are available from Castle Toy, including themes such as addition, alphabet with animals, bugs and insects, ocean, and the solar system.
— Placemats by Castle Toy have been best sellers over the last two years at The Parent-Teacher Store & Toys Too in Louisville, Ky., according to Owner Kimberly Kopatz in fall 2009.