January 2013 New Specialty Toys — All

These Sidekix Toys are just like the pets kids have at home — only they can take them anywhere and they're a lot easier to clean up after. When these little furry friends are zipped into a ball they are ready for action. They can be tossed, kicked, thrown or anything a ball can do. By pulling on the custom made Sidekix Toys zipper pull kids can transform their sidekix back and forth from the ball to their lovable and furry friends.

Challenge kids' powers of deduction and their ability to think on their feet with this giant box of brainteasers. Made to be played at home, on the road, or on a family vacation, this set-up-free game is chock-full of cards that each contain 5 tantalizing clues that lead the player to just one correct answer. The opposing team or player draws a card and reads the 5 clues one at a time (starting at the fifth one), giving the guesser just 10 seconds to answer before reading the next fact. Clues progress in order of difficulty, where each factoid is easier to decipher than the previous one read. Sure to challenge your pint-sized competitor, this fast-paced game puts the pressure on the guesser since the number of points received for a correct answer decreases as he or she progresses through the clues. The player or team with the most points wins.

Kwizniac 2 is a trivia countdown game designed to test knowledge under pressure. The object of the game it for players to accumulate as many points as possible by correctly answering as many trivia questions as possible. To help players correctly identify the answer to each question, a set of 10 clues is provided in decreasing order of difficulty, where each clue is easier to decipher than the previous clue in sequence. The number of points a player receives for a correct answer decreases as he or she progresses through the sequence of clues. The player with the highest score wins the game.

High above Gotham City, Batman™ spots Bane in the armored Tumbler chasing Police Commissioner Gordon. Bust through the road barricades in the Bane Tumbler with hidden dual flick missiles and flame exhaust. Then swoop down from the skies in The Bat and winch the commissioner to safety with the rescue rope before Bane reaches him. Includes 3 minifigures: Batman, Bane and Police Commissioner Gordon with assorted weapons.
— In a May 2014 survey, four out of 11 retailers told TDmonthly that Lego was their best-selling line of licensed toys.

A velvety-soft security blanket for your baby. Each Cloud b character has a comforting expression that suggests it's time for sleep. Playful design allows Peekaboo Lovie to come out for play or be tucked in for sleepy-time. Features: 100% Polyester; Measures 13" x 13".

Disney Baby Dreamy Sounds Soothers effortlessly help calm children to sleep and make the perfect nighttime companion. Similar to the best-selling Sleep Sheep, Disney Baby Dreamy Sounds Soothers will lull little ones to sleep with the classic melody “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and pleasant “white noise” – soft sounds of nature. They can also be attached to a crib with Velcro® straps and feature a removable sound box.

Disney Baby Dreamy Stars Soothers bring children the magic of the night sky through their favorite Disney characters. Similar to the best-selling Twilight Turtle, Disney Baby Dreamy Stars Soothers transform any room into a starry night sky with a colorful, soothing projection of stars. Children will be delighted to find the familiar image of Mickey Mouse’s ears hidden in the stars. Disney Baby Dreamy Stars Soothers are available in classic characters.

Disney Baby Dreamy Stars Soothers bring children the magic of the night sky through their favorite Disney characters. Similar to the best-selling Twilight Turtle, Disney Baby Dreamy Stars Soothers transform any room into a starry night sky with a colorful, soothing projection of stars. Children will be delighted to find the familiar image of Mickey Mouse’s ears hidden in the stars. Disney Baby Dreamy Stars Soothers are available in classic characters.

For the first time, Cloud b takes its patented Twilight Turtle technology to a new form with this exciting race car. Ready to rev up the deepest dreams for even the most restless sleeper, transforming with push and play action for daytime fun. Featuring fully functioning wheels and fun light projections during the night that are set to a 45-minute timer, Twilight Carz ensures companionship throughout the day. Launch date: November 2012.

A fast and fun family card game where each player races to build the largest fleet of Schwinn bikes!  Be the player that builds the most bikes with the highest point value. Must have the following cards to build a bike: One tire card, One Frame card, One Seat card, One Handle Bar card and one Helmet card. Launch date: March 2013.

The Biking Game is a multi-generational game that allows every member of the family to play together. Themed around the legacy of biking with one of the more iconic biking companies on the planet, Schwinn, the Biking Game promotes an active lifestyle while educating and inspiring a future generation of bikers. The Biking Game was created to inspire families and bike enthusiasts to get outside and enjoy one of America’s greatest recreational activities together. The game is designed to grow with the player, starting at level one questions, which are primarily identification of basic bike parts and riding etiquette. As the players increase in their knowledge about biking culture they grow into the higher level questions. A fun & educational game where parents & children can race to see who can get their bike through multiple terrain and back home first.

This giant and cuddly plush dog measures 42 inches long and features 9 interactive functions. Ruffoo comes with his own bone that kids can "feed" him. Innovative KidooPets show kids how to nurture while having fun. These quality plush toys are designed in France and made with only the finest materials. Launch date: 2013.

This giant and cuddly plush horse measures 42 inches long and features 9 interactive functions. GALOO comes with a saddle and a carrot to feed him. Innovative KidooPets show kids how to nurture while having fun. These quality plush toys are designed in France and made with only the finest materials. Launch date: 2013.

Laser Maze is an innovative new game that integrates the use of laser beams into a mind-challenging logic game. 60 challenges flex strategic thinking muscles and ignite the light both on the grid and in players' minds.

Where to buy:
NORTH EAST

Hello Sunshine is a delightful learning game for toddlers. Play hide and seek with Sunshine – a huggable plush toy – while teaching your toddler positional words such as In, On Top, Below and more. As one of your child’s first games, Hello Sunshine builds interaction between parent and child while building vocabulary and language skills.

Who knew that positioning a word in one continuous ring would make it so tricky to read? WordARound is a fast-paced, fun party game where players race to decipher the word in the ring. The game is addictively fun, yet also helps build focus, attention and vocabulary skills.
— In a February 2014 survey, Michelle Sahr, owner of My Little Red Wagon in Hudson, Ohio, told TDmonthly in a February 2014 survey that Word Around was one of their best-selling games.

Explore and build EVEN MORE endless possibilities by combining the expanded assortment of gears. Place the puzzle pieces together and watch the amazing movement you can create by spinning and twirling the gears. (24 pieces included)

Get the road trip started as you steer your little car around the B. town on the screen, which lights up for night driving. Shift through forward, neutral and reverse. Both the engine and the horn make actual sounds. The LED blinkers let everyone know where your little driver is headed. Your child can push the music button to hear 3 driving songs in 3 unique styles. The YouTurns also make the perfect car seat toy – flip it over and it doubles as a pillow.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best Picks

The Temple In Paradise Scramble Squares® 9-piece educational brain teaser puzzle for all ages celebrates The San Marga (“The Good Path”) Iraivan Temple being constructed at the foot of an extinct volcano on Kauai, the northernmost of the Hawaiian Islands. The temple is being constructed at Kauai's Hindu Monastery, 5 miles from the town of Kapaa, 4 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The temple construction commenced in 1975 and is scheduled for completion in 2017. There are Hindu temples in virtually every nation on earth, over 1,000 in the United States and nearly a million in India, but this temple was destined to be unique—a white-granite edifice being brought stone by stone from south central India after being hand-carved by 75 sculptors working for 27 years with simple bamboo-handled mallets and tens of thousands of mild steel chisels. Their monumental efforts reflect the ultimate in artisan craftsmanship and design, surrounded by as beautiful a setting as the paradise island of Kauai could provide.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best Picks

Our adorable functional unit can be used as either pretend play washing machine or dryer. Turn the crank handle on the front and the tub actually turns! Watch the clothes rotate in either direction through the see through, shatter proof acrylic front door.

This special assortment of 8 fuzzy colorful durable, safe and fun toy vehicles includes plane, car, fire engine and bus. They are the perfect size for little ones to grab onto. With all the different colors and shapes they provide endless hours of pretend play and story telling. Rubbabu toys are made of soft, squishy rubber foam, which is organic, hypo-allergenic, and completely biodegradable. They are covered with the brightest, best-quality Swiss flock for a surface your child will enjoy playing with. This is a safe, durable and fun toy for preschoolers to enjoy at home and on travel. They are also available as a Little Vehicle Assortment B and the new Shape Sorter Bus.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

Tapeffiti Tape Art Tote Set is a fashion craft kit. Decorate the tote bag with 6 mini tape dispensers with different colors and patterns. Also has 6 replacement rolls and a style design guide with more than 2 dozen other project ideas, including tape bracelets, picture frames, pens or pencils, and pen/pencil containers. (Comes in Barbie licensed version, too). Also sold separately are 4 or 6 roll collection of Tapeffiti tapes in various designs, patterns, and colors. Color and pattern tapes for decorating is one of the hottest personal style trends for teens and tweens. Included are a full size tote bag, 6 mini tape dispensers with assorted colors and patterns.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20
— Karen Laroche, manager of Kid's Ketch in Lews, Del., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that Tapefetti is one of their best-selling tween products.
— Molly McMullin from Twirl in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., told TDmonthly in a January 2014 survey that Fashion Angels Tapeffiti was a best-selling arts & crafts toy.

Students will love becoming math detectives. Players earn points for solving math mysteries in this entertaining and educational game. In each round, players read about a crime committed and each player receives a suspect’s alibi. Players must determine whether the math in their suspect’s alibi is correct or not. If the math is correct, the suspect is innocent; if the math is incorrect, the suspect is guilty of the crime. Each game requires players to use multiple grade-level math skills. Includes 40 math mysteries. The game can be played with 2-4 players and includes ideas for turning the game into a quick-and-easy math center. Set contains 200 cards and directions. Available in grades 2-6.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

Colorforms, an iconic play product, once again brings classic Colorforms® to life with the Tinga Tinga Tales™ Create-A-Creature Game. Using African artwork from the loveable Disney Junior TV Show, Tinga Tinga Tales™, players use their imagination to tell stories about the unique creatures they create. So 2 to 4 players can take turns spinning the wheel to see which body part to select from the 32 pieces. When all players have collected a pair of legs, a tail, a head, and two ears and arranged them on a scene card, players take turns telling imaginative stories about how their creatures were created. Every generation will enjoy playing with the reusable pieces as they bring to life never before seen animals. Once the hilarious creatures are formed, the Create-A-Creature Game promotes imagination and creativity through the story each player tells about the new animal. The stories of how each animal came to be change every time as numerous animal combinations are created.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20