May 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Suitable for ages 6 months and up, the Fishing for TAGGIES play set includes three rattling fish, a soft pond with a large mirrored bottom, and a soft fishing pole with a jumbo hook-n-loop hook for easy fish-catching fun. The base mirror encourages self-recognition and makes a game of fill-and-spill play extra engaging. Featuring the TAGGIES vibrant colored materials and ribbons, this distinctively textured game is designed to stimulate baby’s senses. Launch date: 2009.

Parents can keep babies entertained and protected from the sun as they ride in the car with the Monkey Tunes Window Shade. A funny monkey spins around as the music plays and lights blink. Even when driving, Mom or Dad can control the monkey’s actions with a remote control that attaches to the car's visor. The shade attaches with strong suction cups and plays a variety of different songs. It is suitable for ages 3 months and up. "[The] detachable mobile allows parents to control the level of stimulation. When in the car, mom or dad can use the visor remote to control lights and sounds if baby begins to be fussy," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Baby Activity Birdhouse includes five sides of fun. Each side features a new activity, including find the owl, peek-a-boo birdie, slide-along bugs, put-and-take pocket bird, and a mirror on the bottom. The birdhouse chimes as it swings from the included link. "This easy to take-along toy is truly packed with baby-exploration, including seven activities total," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The bright green inchworm’s segmented body offers many different sights, sounds, activities and textures. Baby can gaze at the smiling face, with its high-contrast eyes and soft, teethable antennae. The symmetrical face is designed to have a calming effect on baby. The activity center has a baby-safe mirror outlined in black and white stripes, and the inchworm’s multi-textured features foster tactile exploration, which encourages brain development. A convenient snack segment flips open and can be stocked with small snack foods to encourage development of baby’s pincer grasp. Babies can push a leaf to hear “moving” classical music, including the “William Tell Overture” and silly sounds. A bumblebee on the base clicks when baby dials. It has high contrast stripes and bright orange silky wings that crinkle to the touch. The toy attaches to all strollers using Velcro® straps. Launch date: July 2009.

This aquarium crib toy features a bold, bright spectrum of colors to help baby develop visual perception. A school of fish in a variety of silky, nubby, fuzzy, smooth and bumpy textures enhances baby’s tactile experience as the reaches out to touch them. Classical music and tonal sounds encourage development of listening/hearing skills. This crib toy offers pleasing sounds to encourage motor and cognitive processing. Adjustable elastic straps make it easy to attach to a variety of cribs with different rail widths and to put the action at the right height for baby. It can also be used for floor play when baby is old enough to sit up. "This toy stimulates baby's vision and tactile development with many colors, patterns and textures," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant for Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

This 12" elephant is filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender, and after two minutes in the microwave becomes a warm buddy to take to bed. He is designed to stay warm for at least an hour, and may remain warm all night if snuggled under the covers. Trumpet the Elephant comes in a gift box. Launch date: June 2009.

This 12" penguin is filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender, and after two minutes in the microwave, becomes a warm buddy to take to bed. He is designed to stay warm for at least an hour, and may remain warm all night if snuggled under the covers. "The penguin can be microwaved thousands of times," CEO Ruth Hamilton of Pritty Imports told TDmonthly, "and his aroma is designed to help kids fall asleep naturally." Launch date: June 2009.

"Beddy Bear is the world's first-ever fully microwavable teddy bear," CEO Ruth Hamilton of Pritty Imports told TDmonthly. He has soft fur and is filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender. He is designed to, after just two minutes in the microwave, stay warm for at least an hour, and longer if he is snuggled under the blankets. Launch date: June 2009.

Buzzy is a 12" bee filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender, and after two minutes in the microwave is a warm buddy to take to bed. He is designed to stay warm for at least an hour, and may remain warm all night if snuggled under the covers. "The bee can be microwaved thousands of times," CEO Ruth Hamilton of Pritty Imports told TDmonthly, "and his aroma is designed to naturally help kids fall asleep." Launch date: June 2009.

Players pick one of eight quirky characters and make their way around the board answering "Scatterbrainz" categories and "Quizzle" trivia, or acting out "Stuntz" and "Showbiz" cards, all while following the "Roolz." "Quelf provides cross-generational appeal that is active, wholesome and hilarious fun that the whole family can enjoy together. It is the most random and silly game on the market and will provide players with a memorable night!" Jill Schneiderman, in marketing for Imagination International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2005. This game has received the following awards: 2007 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, 2007 iParenting Media Award, 2006 Major Fun Award, 2006 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, and 2005 Upbeat Magazine Board Game of the Year.

Kids can name the five figurines and take charge of the day, from writing on the "blackboard" to extra-long recess. This set is compatible with other Gears! Gears! Gears! sets. Kids can follow the color-coded building instructions or use their imaginations. The 60-piece set includes 20 colorful gears, five figurines, playground equipment, a write-and-wipe schoolhouse, a flag, a sticker sheet and a base. All pieces except the cardboard school house are plastic. "Gears! Gears! Gears! School Set is a hands-on educational product that builds fine motor skills while creating positive feelings about school," Nancy Davies, group account director at the Salmon Borre Group, PR agency for Learning Resources, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

This wrap-and-tie crib rail cover is designed to protect baby and protect cribs from teeth marks. It is lightly padded with a waterproof layer, and machine washable in soft Sherpa fleece. The product is available in solids of chocolate, natural, white, pink, blue and sage green, as well as the company's Max and Maya dot print. It may be purchased in one long piece for the front or back rails of the crib, or two short pieces for the side rails of the crib. "[It's] tie on, not Velcro, so can be knotted, which makes it difficult for a child to remove from crib," Marchelle Lyons, marketing coordinator for Trend Lab, told TDmonthly. "[The] waterproof layer prevents the chewing and drool from soaking the wood of the crib." Launch date: May 2009.

Tri-a-Puzzle College Edition consists of three puzzles in one. Players choose how they want to create their puzzle. Launch date: June 2009.

In this game, the goal is to collect monster friends. Kids learn more about each monster by flipping over their deed and reading the bios. Players can also learn cool monster jokes to share with friends. Launch date: June 2009.

This 100-percent organic cotton dress with water-based ink is made in USA and sweat-shop free. It is a limited edition. Launch date: June 2009.

Know It or Blow It tests teams’ knowledge of general information and fun facts, such as the three singing chipmunks, the five Great Lakes and Santa’s eight reindeer. For each round, a team captain picks the order in which teammates will respond. If a player knows an answer, great. However, if they're not absolutely, positively sure, they can stop rather than risk their team’s points. "The best part about Patch Products new party game, Know It or Blow It, is that one person doesn’t have to know everything. Instead, teammates work together to know it all," Jessica Wineke, PR coordinator for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 7, 2009.

Packaged in a purple box, this craft set includes a mirror fit for royalty, stickers, gems that sparkle, and both craft and glitter glue.

Complete with photos, drawings, footnotes and diagrams, this guide boasts 300+ entries, including how-tos such as “How to Do a Wheelie” and “How to Really Annoy Your Older Sibling.” The book received a National Parenting Publications Gold Award.

Favor Johnson is a delightful story of loving and giving that epitomizes what the holiday season should be all about. In many ways life is moving much too fast these days and we have lost track of what is really important. This story of the wonderful old Vermont farmer, Favor Johnson, told by Willem Lange and beautifully illustrated by Bert Dodson, will help us slow down and savor the true values of Christmas.

These odd plush microbial characters at least have mouths and eyes, to help orient them. They're soft, too. Sold separately.

This happy "god of things as they are" is also known as a Billiken and has been floating around the U.S. for decades. He's even the mascot for the St. Louis University Billikens baseball team. Here, though, he's happy to sit on (or off)  the bench and guard your loose change.

This John Deere tractor go-kart in the BERG Traxx line feature tractor tires measuring 18.9 inches in diameter at the rear and 15.75 inches in diameter at the front. Capable enough to go to work using real tools as it comes equipped with a rear 3-point hitch, roll-bar, front/rear mud guard, and three gears.

The BalanzBike is a unique tricycle for children (and parents) as it is close to the ground, super maneuverable and super fast. The BalanzBike uses the body for steering. The small movements made when cycling train the abdominal, leg and buttock muscles, exercising the body while having fun.

Buddy drives both forward and in reverse, and provides optimal safety and back pedal brake thanks to the unique BFR-hub. Also features a 3-way adjustable seat and height adjustable steering wheel. Stability on any terrain is possible with its swivel axel.