February 2009 New Specialty Toys — Pretend Play

Baby's first camera encourages "digital" exploration. Press the button on the top of TAGGIES Smile! Camera and hear a shutter noise, while if you spin the mirrored lens, you'll hear a "click." There is room for a photo in the back, and it comes with a locking link. "TAGGIES' vibrant colors, materials and ribbons make this TAGGIES Smile! Camera a visually and tactilely stimulating toy for baby. Given the importance of pretend play in baby's life, the TAGGIES Smile! Camera is a great first toy for all of the future photo-lovers," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This six-piece playset is full of activity. Each food features a different texture and crinkles, jingles or chimes. It is ideal for fill-and-spill and take-along fun. "Often times, play fruit and veggie items are made of rubber or plastic; however the Lil' Shopper playset features soft, squeezable fabrics with stimulating textures and sounds," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This tent features four large, closeable windows and door for ventilation and easy viewing by parents, a 58”x45” floor size that easily accommodates several children and their toys, an attached porch that shades the door and gives a little one somewhere to kick back and relax after a hard day, and fiberglass poles that go together easily to make set-up quick. It is designed to be used inside or outside and can keep children busy for hours. The floorless design makes clean up easy, and the home comes with carry bags for the poles and tent and stakes. It is made from durable and fire-retardant coated polyester to last for years. "We design each tent, tunnel and play house to be large enough for more than one child to play in. All of our products are evaluated and tested by seasoned professionals before hitting the open market," CEO Joe Robey of Gigatent told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

A child can slip through the opening of this plane and run around holding the sides of it, pretending to fly. It can also be decorated and personalized with paints, markers and accessories. It measures 29" x 18" x 18".

The Shailie™ Closet is an 18" x 30" fabric panel and hangs from a standard clothes hanger.   The Shailie™ pieces attach by simply pressing the Velcro® side of each Shailie™ design piece onto the Closet.

The Closet helps the pieces "play nice" and not hook and snag each other, keeping everything in runway-ready condition.

Shailie™ themed fashion kits are sold separately and include the Pink Princess, Prom, Fiesta, Bride, and Fairy.  Dresses are designed to fit most girls ages 5-13.  The themed fashion kits come in pieces, from jewels to sleeves, collars, and skirts.  Girls can design their own dresses and then wear them.  All Shailie™ products can be mixed and matched, providing endless creativity and endless fashion fun!

Pink polka dot fabric is the new signature look for Shailie's™ life-size dress form—the foundation on which girls design, create, and wear their own unlimited fashions using a wide variety of Shailie™ dress-up pieces and accessories.  The pink polka dot dress form comes in child size, medium and is a darling accent to any girls' bedroom or play area decor.

WorkTown Mat™ presents children with images commonly found in industry, including: heavy equipment, workers, safety gear, buildings under construction, and construction materials. When WorkTown Mat™ is placed next to other PlayTown Mats™, roads wind seamlessly throughout. Like all PlayTown Mats™, WorkTown Mat™ has a rigid surface to support action figures and small toy vehicles; and, they are lightweight, readily expandable for play, and fold compactly for easy travel and storage. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

HomeTown Mat™ presents children with images of a peaceful small town, including: residential community, various civic and commercial buildings, roads, and nature. When HomeTown Mat™ is pieced together with other PlayTown Mats™, roads wind seamlessly throughout. Like all PlayTown Mats™, HomeTown Mat™ has a rigid surface to support action figures and small toy vehicles; and, they are lightweight, readily expandable for play, and fold compactly for easy travel and storage. Other collectible themes, such as FunTown Mat™, FarmTown Mat™, CampTown Mat™ and DownTown Mat™, to follow soon. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

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.

Aquarium Mini is part of the new ZipBin® Minis line. This travel-sized ZipBin® includes two sea life toys among an available assorted collection.

The ZipBin® Airport looks like an airport hangar and when unzipped, reveals an operating airport with runway, control tower, heliport and hanger.  When play is done, capture all the toys inside. This play set includes a die cast, propellered plane.

DinoPack™ is a backpack that looks like a dinosaur’s head when worn on the back and opens to reveal a prehistoric adventureland play surface for imaginative fun. Included with the DinoPack™ is a T-Rex figure.

No drippy mess with these delectable ice creams. Play and share three icy desserts, including a waffle ice cream sandwich, dairy ice cream “Spirello” plus a “Big Choc” popsicle. Launch date: February 2009.

PB & J no longer rules at lunch; big kids need a baguette. Watch
them ponder over the many stuffings to make one delicious snack. Includes baguette, 3 slices of cheese, 4 slices of salami, 2 onion rings, 2 leaves of lettuce plus 2 tomato slices. Launch date: Feburary 2009.

Dinner is already done with this adorable grilled chicken. Prefer a drumstick or a wing? Each poultry part is detachable by hook-and-loop strip. Made of soft
velour, cleanup at this dinner table is quick. Launch date: February 2009.

Ahoy mates. This pirate’s crate was designed for storing loads of treasure!
Pirates (even big ones) can sit comfortably on top of it. The padded lid can be detached. Made of nylon and foam, with wooden panel for sturdiness. Launch date: February 2009.

This ZipBin, shaped and decorated like an ice cream truck, zips open to reveal a colorful ice cream parlor outfitted with serving utensils and ice cream dough in four flavors. Launch date: November 1, 2009.

This colorful set of four knit cupcakes is completely made by hand. The wrappers are made to peel down, and the cupcakes come in a fabric box.

Open the Sphinx’s secret mummy hiding place with your amulet. Includes two figures, skeleton that glows in the dark, and many other accessories. Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for ages under 3 years.
— Playmobil products continue to be great sellers at Melody’s Choices, as reported by Owner Steve Melody in spring 2009. “Although this line is in the big box, if you support it well, you have something the [big] box does not … selection,” he told TDmonthly.

Celebrate the newlyweds’ marriage at the Wedding Pavilion. Includes two figures, bride with veil and bouquet, table and chairs, champagne glasses, pink Wedding Pavilion, and many other accessories. Also comes with a pink jewel case to hold rings. Dimensions 11.4 x 22 x 15.7 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for ages under 3 years.

This lilac Arabian Princess dress is designed for comfort with a stretchy, crushed velvet top adorned with beautiful gold trim and a purple jewel. The lilac pants have an expandable waistband and are made from China silk with an added gold fringe. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This exquisite dress is made with a stretchy pink, crushed velvet bodice and an elegant skirt made from pink China silk. There is great attention to detail in the trims and ruffles, making this a charming, regal dress up. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— “Little Adventures — anything with a princess theme for girls. They're well-made outfits, and reasonably priced,” Gary Green said of the top sellers in the dress-up department of his Asheville, N.C. store, Toy Box of Asheville.
— “Little Adventures, a new company out of Salt Lake, has a Princess line which does very well,” said Carol Knight, owner of The Toy Store in Ketchum, Idaho, in early 2009.
— “I sell Little Adventures out of Utah. [We] found them to have more of a play value,” Jeanne McCullough, owner of Children's Store Inc. in Boise, Idaho, told TDmonthly when asked about her best-selling dress-up items.
—  “Little Adventures is the most successful and ha[s] the best quality,” Jim Davis, owner of Kid's Center in Tucson, Ariz., told TDmonthly of his best-selling line of dress-up clothing in spring 2010.
—  Eight of 37 retailers named Little Adventures as a best-selling dress-up line during a March 2010 survey.

This themed cape is made of washable crushed velvet lined with comfortable China silk. It is easy for children to put on and take off with quality Velcro closures. Launch date: February 15, 2009.