May 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Squeak? You'd squeal like a pig if this ghoulish Halloween child got a hold of you on a dark starless night. She comes dressed in an eerie swine costume, but what's underneath her mask is even more frightening.

This Japanese chick has adapted a look that's all her own.

Entymologists of all ages finally can have what they've been pining for: a cuddly cocoon! No matter how much love this little cc gets, he'll never be a butterfly.

Domo is a breakthrough character whose popularity began in Japan. This little guy can happily dangle from a key chain or even a Christmas tree. His soft plushy body is offset by hard, beady plastic eyes.

This little bean bag may look innocent enough, but check Gloomy Bear's red chin and you'll see an even deeper shade of red. That's the blood of his latest victim. This gruesome character is a big hit in Japan and may appeal to the macabre tween/teen and beyond in your community. They can even play hacky-sack with this head.

These rounded, sanded teethers boast a smooth surface and measure approximately 3.5" in diameter and .75" wide.

This maple wood toy recycling truck is finish-free and measures about 4" long. It includes the word "recycling" and portrays sorting bins for glass, plastic and paper.

Unzipped, ZipBIn Mini Zoo becomes an animal habitat, complete with zoo animals. When play is done, kids can capture all the toys inside. This mini play set is sized for travel. Launch date: 2009.

Unzipped, ZipBIn Mini Aquarium becomes a reef habitat, complete with a sea creature. When play is done, kids can capture all the toys inside. This mini play set is sized for travel. Launch date: 2009.

Unzipped, the ZipBIn Mini Mansion becomes a fashion doll paradise, where dolls can sleep, cook, entertain, dance, or throw a garden party by the pool. Storage pockets are built in for doll accessories such as clothes and shoes. When play is done, kids can capture all the toys inside. This mini play set includes a mini doll and is sized for travel. "We make it fun to be neat!" Dee Farrell, VP of sales for Neat-Oh! International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

In this fast-paced word game for two to five players, players trade two-sided letter cards between elegant wood racks, to create words, or steal them from each other. It may be used for family game nights as well as in educational settings. Game play takes 30 to 45 minutes. "PatchWord employs a unique game mechanic using cards with different letters on the inside vs. the outside, which trains logic, memory and sequencing skills, as well as spelling and vocabulary skills," Daniel Weaver, founder of Knightweaver Games, told TDmonthly. This product has won the following awards: 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products; and 2009 Game of the Year for Educational Word Game from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: January 29, 2009.

Patchwork is a fast-paced logic game for two to five players designed to build logic, memory and patterning skills in a fun setting. Players trade colorful, two-sided cards between elegant wood racks to create sets, or steal them from each other. Game play takes 20 to 30 minutes. "The game employs a totally unique game mechanic that is easy to learn, fun to play and teach[es] logic, memory and sequencing skills," Daniel Weaver, founder of Knightweaver Games, told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: 2009 Oppenheim Gold Seal; 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products; 2009 Seal of Excellence for Kid's Strategy Game from Creative Child Magazine; and 2009 Outstanding Products iParenting Media Award. Launch date: January 29, 2009.
— "It is an engaging game that encourages player to think logically while trading card with other players.  You have to use logic, memory and create pattern sets to win the game," said Angel Stahl of Angel's Toy Barn in Greensburg, Pa., who especially liked this game at the 2009 ASTRA Marketplace.
Editor's Note: Gamewright announced May 25, 2010, that it signed an agreement for the worldwide publishing rights to Patchwork. Play will remain the same; however, Gamewright will re-launch the game as FlipOut in late 2010 or early 2011.

Dozy Dolphin On The Go helps re-create sleep time routines by bringing familiar soothing sounds while away from home. Dozy Dolphin’s peaceful, water-based sounds are designed to take a child on a tranquil journey while effortlessly transforming unknown surroundings to a more familiar environment. Tucked inside Dozy Dolphin is a removable sound machine that plays fun sounds for play time and soothing sounds for sleep time. Dozy Dolphin On The Go is made from eco-friendly bamboo fabric. "It needs no plugs and comes with multiple soothing sounds with two timer options. All Cloud B products are made in consultation with our advisory board made up of pediatricians, sleep specialists and child experts," Emily Chae, marketing associate for Cloud B, told TDmonthly. This product received a a 2009 NAPPA Honors award. Launch date: May 2009.

This chic, croco full wallet/wristlet has a front photo window that holds one photo. The interior has 12 accordian compartments for credit cards, and the back wall has an elastic compartment for a check book or bills, a full zipper, and an exterior detachable wristlet. It also features a back gusseted zipper coin purse with a self tab. Launch date: March 2009.

Three-dimensional anaglyphic glasses are used for viewing print, movies, Web sites, games and computer applications in 3-D, defined as two views of the same subject (either moving or still) in contrasting colors and slightly offset for two different perspectives. These IYF (In Your Face) 3-D anaglyphic glasses are re-formulated and supercharged with red and cyan filters, designed to punch full four-color 3-D with depth-defying clarity without compromising colors, flesh tones and light. "With the phenomenon of 3-D movies and with all the new movies planned to be released in the next two years, you need to be prepared for the rush. More and more children are having 3-D movie-watching parties. Most DVD rentals only come with two glasses and only four are packed in a DVD when you purchase them," Mark Nidzgorski, director of retail for American Paper Optics, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

Butterfly Puzzles are Consumer Product Safety Commission 2009 tested and approved. All Wee Organics products are hand rubbed with natural oil that is FDA approved. Designed for early learning, the 7" x 5" puzzles measure are 1" thick, and each of the four to five pieces is 2" to 3" high. Wee Organics recommends that parents help their child initially and then let them progress on their own. "Wee Organics hand rubs each wood piece for a smooth, tactile experience. Each puzzle can also stand up on its own," Ed Bogosian, president of Wee Organics, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2004.

This word search race game includes 20 different word search puzzles. The object is to find the words and mark them with your color tile. Whoever has the most tiles when the puzzle is complete is the winner. Launch date: 2008.

In Loop It, players connect their tiles to any of the twisting lines on the board and score points based on the point value of the tile they played, the place they played it and other neighboring tiles. "This international sensation is new to the U.S. but a great new twist on an old favorite," David Norman, president of Goliath Games, told TDmonthly. "[The] game combines logic, spacial reasoning, math and fun in a great game that is really easy to learn." Launch date: July 2009.

NobleWorks is a company that produces outrageous greeting cards. "Always pushing the envelope, these cards redefine the edge of sophisticated, sassy and downright silly fun," Morgan Gertler, in administration at NobleWorks, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 1999.

This collection of hand-crafted Nutcracker ornaments is limited to 1,000 pieces worldwide. It includes a G.DeBrekht-branded, satin-lined wooden keepsake box. Launch date: 2006.

Elegantly-shaped keepsakes are ornamented in a wintry palette with gold accents. The hand-painted childhood scene captures the character of the G.DeBrekht style. It includes a G.DeBrekht-branded, satin-lined presentation box. Launch date: 2009.

This mask Christmas ornament is hand-cast from wood and freehand painted. It includes a G.DeBrekht-branded, satin-lined presentation box. Launch date: 2009.

Each delicately hand-crafted figurine tells the story of the Nativity through sophisticated illustrations. The set is meticulously hand-painted in refined hues of violet, indigo, crimson, amber and jade. It is limited to 900 pieces worldwide. and includes a G.DeBrekht-branded, satin-lined presentation box. Launch date: 2009.

Part of the Wrapped Wishes series, these secret swivel boxes open to reveal a heartfelt sentiment inside, “Christmas brings out the child in all of us." The product is hand painted and includes a G.DeBrekht-branded, satin-lined presentation box. Launch date: 2006.