January 2012 New Specialty Toys — Animal Figures

Soft, white, and squishy, this 15" spherical polar bear is made of all new polyester fiber.

All Toasty Friends products are filled with American-grown flaxseed and a special combination of FDA food grade herbs, which means they retain their temperature and aroma longer and provide ultimate therapy benefits. A Toasty Bear & Friends animal can help calm a child, soothe aches and pains, speed healing, relieve symptoms of flu, bronchitis, and other illnesses. They can warm up hands and feet, and fill a void caused by a loss or life change. They are ideal for those with arthritis, sore muscles, stress, anxiety, cramps, Alzheimer's, or anyone who needs a little tender loving care. Toasty Bears & Friends are a fun and inviting way to provide soothing comfort for the body and mind.  Over the years, the Toasty Bears Collection has grown to include a menagerie of friends such as Toasty Junior Bears, Toasty Curly Bears, Toasty Chamois Bears, and Toasty Looped Fabric Bears. In addition to these adorable lavender bears, the Toasty Bears & Friends Collection includes the Toasty Bunny Collection, the Toasty Wild Animal Collection, Toasty Beach Collection, and the Toasty Collar Collection.

Pony Pals are sidewalk pony bikes designed for children 2-5 years old. These pony bikes come with a life-like pony head with groomable mane, a miniature English saddle with matching tack, and a tail that bounces up and down when the pony bike is ridden. "Pony Pals are unique. There are no other life-like pony bikes in the market. Plus you can choose the color of mane, saddle & tack and color of tires at no extra cost," William C. Melzer, president of Pony Pals Ranch, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2009.

This toy is a box set of 12 realistic toy fish about 3 inches long.  The fish species are the ones we catch: Walleye, Northern Pike, Brook Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, Crappie, Muskellunge, Tiger Musky, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass. Made of plastic and hand painted. Box measures 7” x 3.8” x 1.4”. Launch date: November 2010.

These helium-filled shark balloons are remote controlled to "swim" through the air. The infrared remote functions include climb, descend, and tail fin control. Up to a 40 ft range. 57 inches long, 36 inches high.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 2.8 out of 5 stars from 19 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Visually striking. Cons: Difficult to assemble; flimsy; does not stay inflated very long.
— Mike McCollum, owner of Learning Express in Hoover, Ala., told TDmonthly in November 2011 that Air Swimmers are becoming one of his best selling flying toys. He said that since September 2011, he has sold 16 of the sharks and 7 of the clown fish.