February 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

PetTalk is a title in the expanded and updated TableTalk Conversation Card series. With charming illustrations, each of the 50 cards presents fascinating facts about favorite feathered, finned and furry friends. Fun questions get kids eagerly involved in conversations at home, school, parties and on the road. There are 16 titles in the series, including GreenTalk, WeatherTalk and MusicTalk. "TableTalk decks provide a unique format for engaging kids in conversations with topics that educate and entertain," Lynn Araujo, communications director for U.S. Games Systems, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 20, 2009.

The "Simply Subtraction" workbook and original music CD starring 11 genres is an upbeat and funky alternative for educating children anywhere. It combines motivational music with a standard-based workbook that is packaged ready to go in an eco-friendly portfolio. The educational products teach math skills and encourage audio, visual and small-motor skills, which is advantageous for all types of learners. The product was named on of the Top 10 Most Innovative Ideas for 2009 by CapitalGainsMedia.com. Launch date: 2009.

The "Absolutely Additon" workbook and original music CD starring 11 musical genres offer a hip and funky alternative to education. The standard-based workbook can be used with the musical CD to encourage the use of audio, visual and small-motor skills, which is beneficial for all types of learners. The all-inclusive, eco-friendly portfolio contains everything necessary for busy parents to encourage learning while on the go. This product was named one of the Top 10 Best Innovations of 2009 by CapitalGainsMedia.com. Launch date: 2009.

Late for the Sky's City games help preserve both the memory of home and the excitement of going somewhere new. Whether as a souvenir or a homesick cure, all the familiar places are there. "This is a newly released board game for people who love The Queen City — made right here in Cincinnati. We chose from some favorite landmarks, like Fountain Square, the Taft Theatre and Sawyer Point. We mixed in some chili cheese coneys, a few flying pigs, great traditions, riverboats and some BIG FUN," Carla Miller of Late for the Sky Production Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.

My Five Food Groups Reward Chart is an inspirational learn-and-play educational toy designed to help children learn more about their diet and the benefits of a balanced regime comprising all five food groups. "We offer this at a fantastic price, which means that our customers get more value for their money," Director Graham Macklin of Meadow Kids told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 5, 2009.

Children can learn and play with Colin, who is made of 12 colorful, detachable counting blocks designed to help children develop basic numeracy skills. The blocks can not only help children classify objects by color and shape; they can also help them learn about depth, width, height and length. Launch date: January 5, 2009.

The Tell Me About Today chart is a soft, plush, hand-crafted wall hanging. This "Learn and Play" interactive chart gives parents a fun way to help children learn the days of the week, the months of the year, the seasons, the weather and much more. With more than 40 hand-stitched, colorful and cute components, this chart will provide fun and education throughout the year. "Our price sets this product apart from any other. We offer fantastic value for money," Graham Macklin, director of Meadow Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 5, 2009.

At home or away, little adventurers will enjoy engaging in wild pastimes with magnetic Sudoku, tangrams and other games, and venturing on safari in imaginative play scenes. There are 18 games, puzzles and play scenes, more than 100 magnets, a zipper bag for storage, and a handy flip-over magnetic back cover. Launch date: July 2008.

Young princesses make their way through palaces and enchanted forests as they have a ball with memory and strategy games, Sudoku, imaginative play scenes and tangram puzzles. This activity includes 18 games, puzzles and play scenes, more than 100 magnets, and a zipper bag for storage. "The Mega MagnaForms has a magnetic foldover back cover [that] allows easy movement to play games and provides endless fun for play on the go or at home," Rasheen Hewlett, marketing assistant for Peter Pauper Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2008.

Kids can trace the illustrations of Princess Bella and her adventures and watch her colorful story unfold. Launch date: February 2005.

This activity features a scratch garden filled with bright flowers and lively fairies. Kids will see their artwork blossom on rainbow-swirled and gold, silver and purple glitter pages. They can use the sketch pages to draw their own designs. Scratch & Sketch "inspire[s] kids of all ages to become more creative and imaginative," Rasheen Hewlett, marketing assistant for Peter Pauper Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2007.

This product includes 20 super-cool drawing and design projects, from hieroglyphics to superheroes to Van Gogh. It comes with punch-out, reusable stencils kids can use in their designs. "Easy-to-handle wire-o binding makes each book user friendly," Rasheen Hewlett, marketing assistant for Peter Pauper Press, told TDmonthly. It was a 2006 NAPPA Honors award winner. Launch date: 2003.
— Debbie Rogers, owner of Bear and Friends in Johnson City, Tenn., told TDmonthly in a January 2012 survey that they sell a dozen or so Scratch and Sketch books each month, making them a top selling arts and crafts item.
— In an April 2015 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that scratch art was a best-selling travel toy.

Trendy designers can create their own fashions — party dresses, jeans, T-shirts, flip flops, sunglasses, bags and jewelry — by scratching away the black coating with the handy wooden stylus to reveal the swirl patterns and holographic colors in their hot new wardrobes. Launch date: June 2008.

The "Body Bingo" CD, by Diane Cantwell, a specialist in education and dance, offers fun-filled manipulative activities using a bean and scarf, making it perfect for home and school activity time. The upbeat music and easy-to-follow verbal cues help teach body identification, locomotor and non-locomotor movement skills, improve coordination, balance and agility, and stimulate the imagination. It includes a guide, and Body Bingo cards are also available. "It feels like a game, but offers educational music and movement value," Elaine Murphy, director of sales and marketing for Kimbo Educational, told TDmonthly. This product received a 2003 Parents' Choice Gold Award. Launch date: 2003.

Laura has sculpted an adorable new baby with a unique body style. Dominic is 20" in silicone/vinyl and has an anatomically correct tummy plate that extends from the just under his neck to between his legs. It is tied on with ribbons to his weighted cloth body. The arms are sculpted above the elbow and the legs are full sculpts that attach to his hips so he can wear a diaper.

It is feeding time for Dominic so he comes with a spoon and his own bib. He wears a cute tee shirt and diaper. Dominic has a cute brunette wig and pretty brown eyes. Blanket not included. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Monika Peter-Leicht has created Lisa a full body sculpt Ht 36" with a sun kissed skin tone. She has beautiful jet black hair and pretty brown eyes. She has beautifully sculpted chunky arms and legs. Her outfit has a short bodice to show off her cute tummy. She also has on pretty pink sandals.

Her hair is styled with two pigtails accented with pink flowers. Another great beauty from Monika Peter- Leicht. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Gaby Jacques one of our gifted artists from Switzerland has created an adorable baby girl, Cassandra.

Cassandra has a cute face and is 20" in silicone/ vinyl. Her arms are sculpted just below the elbow and her legs are sculpted above her knees. She wears an adorable red and white striped outfit and coordinating hat and socks. Her hair is brunette and her eyes are brown.

You will love to pick her up for a hug with her weighted cloth body. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Emilee has a wonderful happy expression sculpted by Monika Levenig. She is a 34" seated doll in silicone/ vinyl. Her arms are full sculpts that connect with the shoulder plate. Her legs are sculpted above her knees. As always Monika's arms and legs are a chunky style that adds to the realism of the sculpt.

Emilee has a beautiful strawberry blonde wig accented with two barrettes and pretty blue eyes.She is wearing a pretty green, pink and white jumper with a short sleeve white shirt. She has on white socks and cute green check sneakers. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

A sculpt from Monika Levenig that is 44" vinyl in a seated position. She comes in the same box size as the 40" doll since she is seated. Lindsay is done in vinyl with her legs just below her knees and her arms just below the elbow for ease in posing. She has a shoulder plate and an articulated head. Her face is a new sculpt that has a sweet expression that will warm your heart. She has pretty blue eyes and a silky smooth blonde long wig.

Monika has dressed her in a cute outfit with denim pants and a layered look with her dark pink jacket and coordinating headband. She also has pretty pink boots. Her belt features a unique butterfly clasp.

Monika's dolls are treasured by her collectors for their realism and also for their beauty. We loved her face so much that we used her as the featured doll in our IDEX ad. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Taylor is the first 40" seated doll in vinyl from Monika Peter-Leicht. She looks so life like. Look at her adorable chunky legs that go well above her knees. She has fully sculpted arms that attach to her shoulder plate.

Taylor as long silky brown hair and pretty blue eyes. She is dressed in a long sleeve shirt with a printed border and a layered pink skirt. She wears coordinating socks and specially designed pink shoes. The maribou in her hair adds to her overall charm.

Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Diana with her beautiful new face is a 40" vinyl standing doll with silicone/vinyl arms by Monika Levenig. Great size for redressing. Her arms are full sculpts and fit into her shoulder plate. She has legs sculpted above the knees.

Diana has a beautiful long and silky brunette wig with pretty brown eyes. I love the way she can be posed with one hand in her denim pleated skirt. She wears an adorable pink floral long sleeve tee shirt with pretty large separate colorful rhinestones at the neckline of her shirt.

She has on white socks threaded with a pink ribbon and coordinating cute shoes accented in pink as well. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Regina Swialkowski from Germany has created an adorable look in Jessica, height 32" in vinyl. Jessica's arms are sculpted above the elbow and attach with cloth to her cloth body for ease in posing. She has a shoulder plate so she can wear a lower neckline on her outfit and her legs are sculpted above her knees.

She is a great size for those who love to redress their dolls. Jessica has a beautiful long brunette wig that is styled in pigtails and pretty brown eyes. She wears a pink printed shirt with a scoop neckline and a denim jumper with a butterfly embroidered on the bodice. She also has on white socks and red sandals that coordinate with her outfit. Regina has a special heart bracelet that comes with each of her dolls that has a little lady but on it to identify the doll as one of her sculpts. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Misty is Monika Peter-Leicht's first 40" standing vinyl doll. What a great size fo redressing. She looks so life like. She has pretty blonde hair with soft curls and beautiful blue eyes. Her arms are fully sculpted and attach to her body at the shoulder plate so she can wear a sleeveless dress as shown. Her legs are sculpted above the knees.

Monika has dressed Misty in a pink and gray paisley sleeveless long waited dress. She has on dark gray capri length pants with a gray ruffle. Her socks have a lace ruffle and her shoes are a pretty pink. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Poppy is the first butterfly baby in the Anne Geddes Collection. Height 20". The baby has been produced in silicone/vinyl which adds to the overall beauty of the doll. Anne has worked with well known artist, Laura Tuzio-Ross to translate her vision for this doll. Poppy has an adorable expression that will warm your heart. Her arms are sculpted just below the elbow and her legs are sculpted just below her knees so that she can be posed many ways. She also has a weighted body. Her light brown hair has been painted on her head to give her a very baby like appeal. She has pretty blue eyes.

This very special outfit for the Poppy doll was specially designed by Anne Geddes inspired by her best selling Baby Butterfly images.