May 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Fiesta is all fun and games with its new Peek-A-Boo Plush, a plush toy and soft pillow in one. When one unzips the pillow, the animal peeks out. When turned inside out, the pillow becomes a stuffed animal. Each animal is about 18” tall. The pillow 14” by 11”. There are 12 animal styles in all. Launch date: 2009.

European Playground features 15 songs and colorful liner notes in four languages, and takes families on a cross-genre musical tour around the continent.  If you’ve ever wondered what the kids across the pond are listening to, here’s your chance. Launch date: May 19, 2009.

If you're shorthanded, Ernie the Interactive Talking Dog can entertain your customers for you. He can be programmed appropriately to respond to a number of phrases on cue. Can you say that about your staff? Mechanical Displays can also construct animated characters to order.

Expand your Flibbix possibilities with the Flibbix Bridge. A little trapdoor can send players onto a playing level they're not expecting. Launch date: February 2009.

These die-cast tractor trailers sport licensed NFL logos and team colors. All 32 teams are represented. Launch date: July 2009.

Kids will develop their hand-eye coordination while working up an appetite for pasta with Meatball Madness. The battery-powered ladel lets them levitate a meatball through a series of obstacles in a restaurant and onto the customer's plate. The game comes in three sections, which can be scattered throughout a room or house to encourage kids to run from section to section. Launch date: February 2009.

The Spooner is a balance trainer that simulates board maneuvers associated with surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding but not limited to that. The Spooner helps to develop flexibility and strength in the legs as well as creating a better center of balance. The Spooner is a core trainer, a stabilizer and a pasteurizer because of the ability to work the muscles closest to the spine. Also, it's loads of fun and can be done on any surface indoors or out. Made of H.D.P.E. it is unbreakable. Our guarantee is "You break it, we replace it."  Made by Hand in the USA. Launch date: 2006.
— In a March 2012 survey about outdoor toys, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Spooner Boards were among their best sellers.
— In a March 2012 survey, Chris Lowe, owner of Beanhead Toys in Sandy Springs, Ga., told TDmonthly that Spoonerboards were one of her best selling ride-on toys.
— Alexander McPherson, toy supervisor at Little Dickens in Lynchburg, Va., told TDmonthly in a March 2013 survey that Spooner Boards are their best selling item - they sell about 114 each year, with sales of the item concentrated in 4th quarter.

On this DVD series, professional Las Vegas magicians Will Roya & Joan DuKore  teach some of the most amazing magic tricks that kids will be able to perform for family and friends with little or no practice.  From the basics of magic to some of their all time favorite tricks, kids will be able to watch, learn and perform along with 20 other kids! Lessons include: Rules of Magic, Linking Paper Clips, String Surprise, Jumping Rubber Band, Up the Nose, Coin Thru Hanky, Vanish #1 (Confederate Method), Vanish #2 (Rubber Band Method), Vanish #3 (Pant Pocket Method), Vanish #4 (Shirt Pocket Method), Disappearing Wrapper, Straw Challenge, Static Straw, Sticky Straw.  Bonus Trick:  Penetrating Coin.  Extras:  Interview with Will & More! Running time: 84 minutes. DVD is not Regionally Coded.
 — “A fun and easy way for kids to learn magic, along with other kids!  A top notch product, highly recommended,”  said Dan Rodriguez, Society of American Magicians Past President and Co-Founder of the Society of Young Magicians.
— “The Magic Tricks R 4 Kids DVD series is an excellent resource for enterprising magicians planning their own lessons or classes for kids.  I urge you to buy it and get ready to take your magic classes to the next level!” raved Al Jensen, International Brotherhood of Magicians Las Vegas Ring President

Incrediline's murals and mats are designed to take any kind of permanent or impermanent marker and wipe clean easily without water or cleansers — even months after Junior first scrawled his Hancock.

Billions of people a year catch the cold. Now you can get one too. Kids of all ages and degrees of health can learn about the Common Cold with this cuddly 5" to 7" companion (about a million times the actual size of the virus). Also available are three tiny Common Colds in a Petri dish for 12.95 and a Giant Common Cold (15" to 20") will be available starting April 10, 2009. Launch date: 2006.

This soft, plush puppy features an earthy color palette, is made with organic cotton, and has pure silk ribbons. Launch date: 2009.

Children and tweens will appreciate the soft and cuddly tails and fun, bright colors of the Fluffy Tails line (animals are 9" in size and the fluffy tail stretches even longer!).  The animals include Purrrfect (pink, cat), Fluffee (white, cat), Fancee (violet, fox), Prancee (turquoise, horse) and Merri (mint/lime, monkey). Launch date: 2009.

T-me Design-Your-Own is a do-it-yourself kit that includes everything a child needs to design his or her own wearable artwork. She can draw a picture using the markers and papers in the kit, choose her favorite T-shirt style from the enclosed catalog, and mail the drawing to the company in the pre-paid return envelope. In 10 days, she'll receive her very own wearable art. The kit's T-shirt-shaped packaging converts into an easel-style picture frame so kids can easily display their favorite artwork.

Designed to give children ideas for creative filming while using the home video camera, this book includes a slate to mark takes, outlines gimmicks and gags, and provides step-by-step instructions on cool techniques, such as staging disappearances or fight scenes (where no one gets hurt). The guide is authored by John Cassidy and Nicholas Berger.
— “It's the Klutz that sells best,” said Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys in Oklahoma City, Okla., during an April 2009 survey of best-selling playsets and activity kits. 
— “Klutz is probably still my No. 1 seller. They have lots going on,” Pat Jensen, owner of Northwind Kites in Anchorage, Alaska, told TDmonthly. 
— “I sell a huge amount of Klutz books,” said Amy Barrett, owner of Lasso the Moon Wonderful Toys in Helena, Mont., in spring 2009.

Quentin is part of line of colorful and quirky eco-friendly plush designed to encourage children toward environmentally friendly initiatives. The Eco Snoopers characters each have their own stories. Launch date: April 22, 2009.

Based on the new Spitzer Hall of Human Origins in the American Museum of Natural History which opens in February 2007, The Book of The Genome takes the young reader to the cutting edge of science, exploring and examining the tools by which we study our origins, some of the milestones in human origins, human movement across the Planet and the beginnings of being human through language, music, art and tools.

Suitable for ages 18 months and up, this wooden play set includes a skillet, spatula, breakfast foods, utensils and service for two. It is made with organic materials and finished with linseed oil. The toast has internal magnets that allow the two pieces of bread to be joined together.

These multicultural, wooden dolls feature a child-safe design using organic materials and are finished with linseed oil.

This recycling game for two to four players encourages participants to put the proper items in the 3D recycling bin while keeping an eye out for litterbugs. It is made in England.

Made in England, this colorful, 20-piece fire truck puzzle features firefighters preparing for action. It measures 17" x 25" when assembled.

In this game for two to five players, participants must gather everything necessary to make a meal, and then wait while it cooks in the crazy kitchen.

This is a plastic, blow-molded skateboard deck only, NO WHEELS OR TRUCKS. Kids learn, practice, and get skills from balance and action sports moves indoors or out. The Yo Baby Kick Flipper is a great INDOOR sports toy. Whether it's too hot outside or the snow is coming down, children stay active and practice the fastest growing sport in the world indoors or outdoors. Parents love the product because children can learn boarding skills safely. The DVD that comes with it is mesmerizing for children and they watch it over and over hoping to master the same moves with their Yo Baby Kick Flipper.
Awards: 2007 TDmonthly Innovations Award; 2009 product of the year; 2008 preferred choice; ASTRA pick of the year; 2008 Seal of Excellence; Action Product Award ASR 2009
— “We're doing well with Yo Babys, [and] ordering a case a month,” said Connie Hoeft, owner of C R Toys in Kearney, N.E., when asked about her best-selling sports toys in spring 2009.

Past Videos: Toy Fair 2009

Designed for children who are learning to ride a bike, the Go Glider allows kids to practice balance and movement on a model that does not consist of pedals or training wheels. It has 16" EVA foam tires (no air), adjustable handlebars and a seat that is adjustable from 17.5" to 23". Launch date: 2008.

This set of colorful, squeezable bathtime friends includes eight animals that each measure around 2" x 2" x 2". They come in a vinyl bag that zips closed.
— “The little Squirties come in and go right out,” Barbara Paeth-Haas, owner of The Durango Kid in Durango, Colo., told TDmonthly of this strong seller in spring 2009.
— Two of 64 retailers named Elegant Baby’s Bath Squirties as a best-selling bath toy in March 2009. Cheryl Richmond, owner of Punkin Doodles in Havre, Mont., cited sales of 12 per month.