May 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Aurora’s super-soft and interactive 14” teddy bear provides cuddly comfort while helping kids learn valuable skills. Through the bear’s colorful pair of overalls children learn how to tie a ribbon, fasten a snap, close a button and put items in a pocket. As they practice their motor skills, they will also learn the names of popular fruits that correspond to the colored parts of the overalls, banana and orange feet, and an apple and pear to put inside a bib pouch. Sound effects, a rattle and a squeak, on the hands round out the educational and developmental fun.

This American-made, child-powered ride-on toy features an injection-molded polyethylene seat. Kids simply put their feet on the handlebars and swing the handlebars side to side with their hands to generate movement. The Flying Turtle, which comes pre-assembled, may be used both indoors and out, and holds up to 150 lbs.
— Deborah Smith, owner of Toys That Teach in Richmond, Va., listed the Flying Turtle as her best-selling ride-on toy in a March 2009 survey. “In spring and summer, [we sell] at least a dozen per month,” she said.
— Five percent of 60 retailers told TDmonthly in spring 2009 that Mason Corporation's Flying Turtle is a best seller in their stores.
— Three of 37 retailers named the Flying Turtle when discussing best-selling ride-on toys in spring 2010. Creative Kids Inc. in Columbia, S.C., sells about three dozen annually, Owner Melodie Ingwersen told TDmonthly in March 2010.

This brightly colored trike offers kids and parents a large array of features to adjust to various situations. The durable metal body supports an adjustable seat to accommodate the growing preschooler, and the tricycle easily goes from a kid-powered pedal-along to a push trike that the parent can easily steer. Patented internal gears allow the wide, stroller-style push bar to turn the front wheel of the trike, and free-wheeling pedals allow the rider to comfortably coast while the adult pushes. 
— “Radio Flyer Steer & Stroll Trike. [We sell] four per month,” Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Centre Inc. in Paoli, Pa., said of his best-selling ride-on toy during TDmonthly's March 2009 survey.
— Seven percent of 60 retailers listed Radio Flyer as the manufacturer of their top-selling ride-on toys in spring 2009.
— Two of 37 retailers named a trike by Radio Flyer as a top-selling ride-on in spring 2010.

Designed to help young children learn balance and coordination, the inflatable Rody Horse is made of strong, latex-free vinyl. Its ride-on qualities and softness make it suitable for therapy, too.
— “The Rody is good for little guys — definitely No. 1 there,” Linda Hamm, owner of Early Work Toy Station in Petaluma, Calif., told TDmonthly in spring 2009 of the top-selling ride-on toys in her store.
— “People love them for the age range,” added Lauren Obenour, manager of Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., noting that Rody’s high weight limit contributes to its status as a customer favorite. It’s been a best seller for a year at Pufferbellies in Staunton, Va., Co-owner Susan Blanton in fall 2009.
— Of 60 retailers surveyed in March 2009, seven named the Rody Horse as a best-selling ride-on. Three of 64 retailers named Rody as a top-selling infant and toddler toy in March 2009.

Where to buy:
NORTH WEST

When swung and thrown by the tail attached to the hollow ball that houses the Klutz Sling Chute, kids and adults alike can send this parachute high. Once aloft, the brightly colored 32” parachute deploys and floats the ball gracefully to the ground. Users quickly stuff the chute back in the ball to repeat the process. While easy enough for a young child to handle, the Sling Chute can provide lots of entertainment and observation for older children as well.
— “The Klutz Sling Chute. I sell tons of those,” Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys in Oklahoma City, Okla., told TDmonthly when asked about her top-selling outdoor products in spring 2009.
— Two of 60 retailers surveyed in March 2009 reported this product as a best-selling outdoor toy, with one store averaging sales of about 15 per month.

Made from durable rubber, this textured, heavy-duty ball may be used on the playground or in the gym.  The 7”-diameter ball sports whimsical illustrations of dinosaurs, as well as their names. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, the rubber used to make this ball contains no PVC, latex or vinyl.
— When asked about the best-selling sports items in her Fort Collins, Colo., store, Dandelion Toys owner Jenny Bramhall told TDmonthly, “Playground balls by Crocodile Creek.” Retailers reported sales averaging about six per month of playground balls.
— Seven percent of 60 retailers interviewed by TDmonthly during a March 2009 survey regarding sports and outdoor toys listed play balls as their top sellers in this category.

Designed especially for beginning kite fliers, the colorful Bird of Paradise from Premier Kites features a durable but lightweight fiberglass frame, and strong, bright ripstop nylon. Kids can send this graceful avian into clear skies on winds between 6 and 20 mph with the included 300’ of 50-lb Dacron kite string. The string comes on a plastic handle, and the kite is packaged in a reusable carry case.
— Thirteen percent of 60 retailers surveyed in March 2009 listed kites as their best-selling outdoor or sports toy, with sales of between six and a dozen per month.

There are over 1,400 standard baby names available for this license plate collection, with options for special names as well.
— These license plates were named as a top-10 best seller at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in early 2009, according to Owner Molly McMullin. “Families of tourists love them for souvenirs. We had them printed with ‘Twirl-Taos, NM,” she told TDmonthly. “Kids love to see their name on products, and people think they’re a great tie-on for packages. A fellow toy-store owner encouraged me to bring these in, and I am grateful for the advice.”
— “We always sell a bunch of those,” said Molly McMullin, owner of Twirl in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., of her top-selling personalized item, Blue Sabre License Plates.
— Two of 44 storeowners said License Plates from Blue Sabre are their most-wanted personalized item during a September 2010 survey conducted by TDmonthly.

These one-of-a-kind, handmade fabric friends are fair trade and stand 1.5" tall. They feature large mouths and variety of colorful designs.

This sled is available in assorted colors and measures 22” x 14” x 2”.
— Sleds from ERA Group in Canada were good sellers at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M. in late 2008. “We had some great snow over the holidays!” Owner Molly McMullin told TDmonthly.

This wooden sword may be used for hours of pretend play. It measures 29”long.
— Wooden swords were among the top-10 best sellers at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in early 2009, Owner Molly McMullin told TDmonthly.

This balance trainer can be used for both fun and serious workouts. It is designed to help develop balance, coordination and increased leg strength, while helping with core fitness. It’s may serve as a good cross trainer for a variety of sports.
— The Indo Board was a best seller for Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in February 2009, according to Owner Molly McMullin. “We got these balance boards in for the holidays because our local ski area just began this year allowing snowboarding, and these are great training tools,” she said. “They’re definitely for older kids and adults, but were a hit for the hard-to-buy preteens around.”

These bouncy balls are filled with glitter that shakes and swirls as they move. They come in assorted colors.
— These balls were on the top-10 best-seller list at Twirl Toystore & Playspace in Taos, N.M., in February 2009. “We brought these in last year after I saw them at MOMA, and they’ve been a best seller ever since,” Owner Molly McMullin told TDmonthly. “People love that they look like crystal balls, and seem fragile, but you can bounce them.”

Classical pull toys encourage kids to walk. This colorful pull toy is designed to grab children´s attention. It is tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

Preparing your children for school is so important today, you´ll want to give them the best start possible. Combining colorful fun and learning and designed for little ones age three and over, this whimsical case contains everything your child needs to begin learning the alphabet and numbers. Your little one can draw and write on the white board or create words and numbers with the 52 wood letters and 10 wood numbers. And, when you are ready to pick up, the pieces fit nicely in the attractive case, featuring a contemporary smiling cow. Tested to meet European and U.S. afety standards. THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED since July 1, 2010.

Healthy imagination is part of any happy childhood. Designed for toddlers 24 months and older, this high quality, colorful and attractive puppet theater will help your little one create new worlds while feeling good about putting on a show for Mom & Dad. This brightly colored set features 4 wood Boikido stick puppets and a theatre with electronic sounds. The thoughtful design includes a handle so you can take your young one´s show on the road. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED since July 1, 2010.

Winner of 2009 Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award!
This environmental friendly wooden turtle is made of wood from FSC monitored source, painted with water based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials and printed with soy bean ink. Parents and gift givers will be proud to have made an environmental friendly purchase. This whimsically painted Tina The Turtle is happy to help kids to figure out how things fit together. Just the right size for little hands, the three colorful pieces of Tina’s shell nest inside each other – a terrific activity to improve motor skills and get your tiny tot thinking. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

Winner of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2009! Building hand-eye coordination is an exciting part of being a toddler. Designed for children 18 months and older, this unique and colorful bead maze features a nautical theme, with two wire bead coasters and a maze – featuring a fun whale and boat to spur your little one’s imagination. Children love to play with these toys in doctors’ offices and waiting rooms – now you can have one at home. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

The Work-Home Collection offers both Worktown Mat™ and Hometown Mat™, offering a variety of fun platforms to support kids' imagination of work and home life. Launch date: April 2009.

Now more than 10 years old, PlasmaCar continues to intrigue and fascinate with millions of units sole and multiple awards in over sixty countries worldwide. Just sit, put your feet up, and turn the steering wheel to propel yourself forward up to 6 mph on any smooth, flat surface. With a maximum weight capacity of 220 lbs., even parents and grandparents have experienced a giggle by taking it for a spin. Made from state-of-the-art, high-quality ABS plastics, this kid-powered, durable, ride-on vehicle comes in a variety of colors.
— “I can't believe how many of these I sell,” remarked Jacque Flagg, owner of Jacque’s Inc. in Bryan, Texas. In a March 2009 survey, Flagg reported sales of around 20 per month.
— In spring 2009, 41 percent of 60 retailers listed PlasmaCar as a best-selling ride-on in their stores, reporting sales of a dozen per month on average.
Awards: 2012 Parents Choice Awards Recommended, 2009 Green Parents List Check Mark, 2009 DisneyFamily.com Top Action Figures and Toys for Toddlers, 2009+2008+2005 The National Parenting Centre Seal of Approval, 2008 iParenting Media Toy Award, 2008 Fat Brain Toy Award Active Play, 2006 TIA Outdoor Toy of the Year - Specialty Toy of the Year, 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, 2005 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, 2005 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Products, 2005 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, 2001 International Patent Fair, Hong Kong Gold Medal

The inflatable toy floats on water, with an open head cavity for swimmers to place their head. There are two handles under the toy for gripping the two squirt guns. Other available varieties include turtle, killer whale, helmet and more. Launch date: January 2008.

This Bumble Bee costume includes a lycra leotard and organza tutu. Wings and headpiece are included. The costume is available in sizes XSC, SC and MC. Launch date: May 31, 2009.

The So Sweet dress features a stretch velvet bodice and glitter mesh over a satin inset, plus tulle over the organza skirt. It is available in sizes XSC, SC, MC and LC. "Our award-winning products have been proudly manufactured in the USA for over 15 years and use the finest fabrics and trims to create truly sophisticated dress up apparel," Renee Stojek, marketing director for A Wish Come True, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

All Purpose Mats serve as a cutting board, placemat and workstation in one. There are four educational mats: three feature a country from the Handstand Kids Cookbook series and the fourth illustrates a kitchen scene. Maps of Italy, Mexico and China are featured along with language translations of cooking utensils and foods used in the Handstand Kids’ recipes (the Mexican map border shows an apple and below is the Spanish translation “manzana”). These lightweight and durable mats are dishwasher safe and phthalate free. "There is no other multi-purposed item like this on the market. The mats educate kids on geography [and] language, and empower them in the kitchen to have their own work space," Yvette Garfield, creator of Handstand Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.