February 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Whimsical eebee characterizes the line eebee's Adventures from Little Little Little, a system of toys, books, and DVDs aimed toward stimulating and educating babies and their parents. Bright colored and ultra soft, Snuggle Time eebee is a combination plush toy, puppet, and security blanket with various textures and knotted ends for easy grabbing or teething.

Warm earth tones in simple patterns distinguish the organic versions of Taggies blankets. The blankets themselves, made entirely of organic cotton and colored with safe, natural dyes, the blankets are edged in 100% silk ribbon tags of two different textures. Inspired by the observation that babies and toddlers love to rub clothing tags and satin blanket bindings, the natural fibers used in these take-along sized blankets offer young children a variety of inviting and comforting tactile sensations. Launch date: 2009.
— “Anything Taggies” sells well for babies, Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Games & Books in Oklahoma City, Okla., told TDmonthly in spring 2009. “I sell a dozen or so a month.”
—  Six of 64 specialty retailers named Taggies as a best-selling infant and toddler brand in March 2009. Several specifically mentioned the Taggies blankets.

Specializing in earth-friendly and organic goods for young children, Dandelion Earth Friendly Goods has created a line of whimsical rattles and teethers. This soft yellow duck has stitched features and is made with organic cotton velour. A fun first friend for teething, tugging, and snuggling. The interior stuffing is made from fluffy, natural corn fibers. Launch Date: April 2009

Made from the versatile, multi-experiment Snap Circuits that allow kids to safely and easily build real electronic projects, this kit features many of the latest innovations in alternative energy. Featuring a hand-crank dynamo, solar panel, and wind turbine, kids can light up an LED, power a clock, charge a rechargeable battery (included), run a small radio, and watch the created energy on an analog meter. Instructions for many other projects are included in the kit; can be integrated with other Snap Circuits sets. This product received a Dr. Toy Green Award. Launch Date: Fall 2009

With one side in crushed velvet and the other shiny satin, this generous hooded cape allows for hours of open-ended role playing and story telling. One the velvet side, the cape depicts a frog on a black background, featuring wide buggy eyes on the top of the hood. The other side is a rich royal blue with a black and silver shield that sports a heraldry-style lion. When flipped around, the frog-hood becomes a prince's crown. Fabrics compliment other items in the line such as crowns, tunics, and decorated form swords to accessorize your child's characters. Launch Date: April 10, 2009.

A seven-piece simple stacking set with a unique shape, Beka's Stacking Blocks are made of sustainably-harvested maple in the United States. Each set contains three rectangular unit blocks with holes to fit the four round posts included. Multiple sets can be combined to build higher or more complex structures, and are fully compatible with Beka unit blocks for a wider array of building options. Wood is naturally finished with no coatings. Launch Date: 2009

Brightly colored and heavy-duty, this large shoe-shaped cut-out comes laced with thick fabric shoelaces. With one half of the lace in one color and the other in a contrasting color, young children who are learning to tie their shoes for the first time can easily keep track of which lace is which as they memorize the steps of the knot. The material of the laces is designed to be easy for little hands to handle and stay tied securely. Bi-colored laces are also available separately to put in kid's actual shoes. Launch Date: 2008

So, why call them Rebelle Friendship Bags? Because each Friendship bag unzips to become two bags which can then be shared between best friends. Each style is available in two color ways so each friend gets a different color. Girls can exchange halves to create a dual colored bag which symbolizes that they are BFF's. Each handbag also contains a secret code which gives them special access to the Rebelle website and the Rebelle Girlz...Holly, Rosie Shaye, Lola, Allegra, Sophie, and Kaia. These six girls from around the world, meet at summer camp and instantly became best friends forever. Log on and Say Hello to the Rebelle Girlz! This product received a 2009 PTPA Media Seal of Approval.

These glow-in-the-dark stickers are unlike traditional glow-in-the-dark products due to their photo-quality images. The images are illuminated in true color and illumination can last several hours. Each of the four different sticker sheets comes with repositionable adhesive backing, meaning the stickers can be applied to almost any surface and then removed and relocated, without leaving behind any residue.

Brightec’s PlayGlo Pets Collection puzzles feature three 11” x 15”, 100 piece puzzles. These glow-in-the-dark puzzles feature photo-quality images and can be charged with a few minutes of exposure to light to allow for hours of glow. The puzzle pieces stay together after completion so that the completed puzzle can be hung directly on a wall to provide instant room décor by day and night.

This balanced ecosystem offers a low-maintenance way for children or adults to enjoy an aquarium environment. It comes complete with water, a snail, two little frogs, food and care pack. The water in the aquarium only has to be changed every five or six months.
— ''We sold about 660 during the year,” Marc Holcomb, owner of Toys & Co. in Greensboro, S.C., said in autumn 2010. Dave Campbell of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., sells approximately 12 per month.
— "I brought in 20, and in two weeks it sold out. I brought in 20 more and it sold out," Gage Brownell, manager of Belmont Toys in Belmont, Mass., told TDmonthly in March 2009 about the EcoAquariums he discovered at Toy Fair the month before. Molly McMullin of Twirl in Taos, N.M., reported sales of about 70 a month in March 2009.
— "Everyone was excited about them," Jeanne McCullough, owner of Children's Store Inc., said following ASTRA Marketplace in June 2009.
— In late summer/early fall 2009, three of 38 retailers named EcoAquariums as a best-selling science and nature product, noting sales of 18 to 60 a month. “We were hesitant to bring them in. We didn’t want to be a pet store. But it’s a neat idea. It’s low maintenance. It’s something the parents and kids can agree on,” Gary Green of Toy Box of Asheville in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Tillywig Top Fun; Parent's Choice Award 2010
Past Videos: Toy Fair 2009

This changing pad opens up to a large, padded surface for easy diaper changing. The two interior zipper pockets holds wipes, diapers, and lotion. Folds up small enough to place inside a diaper bag or can hang on to a stroller using the strap.

The splat mat measures 42 x 36 inches when fully opened, and folds down to 14 x 12 inches when closed. Features a padded mat and a large zipper pocket to hold snacks, toys, and essentials.

Kids need a lot of stuff and parents need an extra set of hands. This placemat has a unique pocket that makes on-the-go adventures more fun for kids and easier for parents. The pocket is secured using velcro, holding small toys until it is time for play. The placemat also serves as a sanitary spot for kids to play and eat. Water-resistant and wipes clean easily.

This large-sized kids backpack has pockets for a laptop, pens and pencils, cell phone, and more while featuring pirate-themed images on the front.  Machine washable and also available in different themes.

Kids need a lot of stuff and parents need an extra set of hands. This placemat has a unique pocket that makes on-the-go adventures more fun for kids and easier for parents. The pocket is secured using velcro, holding small toys until it is time for play. The placemat also serves as a sanitary spot for kids to play and eat. Water-resistant and wipes clean easily.

With pirate ships, buried treasure, and secret islands and coves, this bib is both clean and entertaining on the go. The bib features a zipper pocket that holds utensils or snacks. When the pocket is opened, it can serve as a crumb catcher. Water-resistant and wipes clean easily.

Perfect for princesses who want to take their treasures with them when roaming from the castle!  The fanny pack features a front zipper pocket for small toys and an elastic waistband with sheaths on either side for royal essentials.

These eco-friendly construction toys were inspired by children's board books and come with landscape and character pieces. Each set includes flat panels printed with colorful, water-based ink and slotted building blocks made from earth-friendly Sprigwood. The Palace and Barnyard are large sets. There are also medium sets: Construction Site, Ladybug Adventure and Safari Adventure (MSRP: $19.99). Large sets are 90 pieces; the medium are 60. Launch date: Fall 2009.

Part of a collection designed to introduce children to Spanish in a fun way, this set of five vehicles (car, truck, airplane, boat and bus) bearing their names in Spanish as well as the phonetic pronunciation. It also comes with a CD that has the pronunciation and activity phrases. Launch date: 2009.

The classic scooter design is kicked up a notch with a sparking mechanism to light up the ride. Riders can step on the refillable Spark Bar while riding to blaze a trail of sparks down the roadway. Launch date: Spring 2009.

This colorful set includes a 30" x 40" towel and matching tote with rope straps.

This line of spa wraps offers seven different designs. The wraps are outfitted with a Velcro closure and have a full elastic back. The bottom features a ruffled hem. Two sizes are available (xs/s - size
0-4) and m/l - size -12).

This parent and child activity kit includes materials to create a foot cast in the sand at the beach. It includes enough plaster mix to make molds of two feet and comes in a bright beach pail. Launch date: February 2009.