May 2009 New Specialty Toys — Educational

This Personal Journal serves as a chronicle of the player's unique adventure in the Jacabee Code MMO Game. It is the only place you can see the secrets behind the glyphs. The Jacabee Code is part of a larger “story” that will be revealed in good time. When you take part in the quest to crack the code you have the exclusive ability to write your very own book starring Abby, Dooley, Baldy and YOU!

These wooden play watches are a must for any little girl's costume wardrobe. They also teach her how to tell time. Designed in Italy, produced mostly in the Phillippines.

Think-ets Deluxe "Teacher Edition" contains a distinctive assortment of 30 miniature trinkets specially selected for storytelling and imaginative play. Like the original Think-ets, there are 10 different games. The Teacher Edition comes with three formal lesson plans and more activities and applications. Think-ets Deluxe is the larger version of the Original award-winning Think-ets game, and may be used by teachers, ESL teachers, speech therapists, school psychologists, trainers and others. Think-ets utilizes "unique manipulatives from around the world [that] have many educational applications," CEO Randy Compton of Think-a-lot Toys told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

Think-ets Deluxe contains a distinctive assortment of 30 miniature trinkets specially selected for storytelling and imaginative play. Individuals can use them to play 10 different games, including the following: What’s Missing? (fun memory game); What’s Your Story? (hilarious storytelling game); Who’s Last? (challenging strategy game); What’s Moved? (keen observation game); and What’s Similar? (mind-bending categorization game). It is ideal for travel and use in restaurants. Think-ets Deluxe is the larger version of the Original award-winning Think-ets game. It "has enormous play value for open-ended play using miniature items for storytelling," CEO Randy Compton of Think-a-lot Toys told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

Think-ets Genius is a more challenging version of the Original award-winning Think-ets game. There are 12 new games and 15 new miniature items from around the world for creative storytelling and intriguing word games. Players can use the trinkets to tell a “Surprise Story,” a “Time Warp Story” or an “Interrupted Story,” or use them to play “Name That Word,” “Ghost” or “Killer Mouse.” Think-ets Genius may be used for creative family or group fun, or one-on-one parent-child time. "Think-ets Genius uses tiny treasures from around the world for imaginative play and critical thinking, all within a cool, portable tin," CEO Randy Compton of Think-a-lot Toys told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

In this card game for two to eight players, players assemble sets of cards to make their army of knights and dragons. A player can include the magical breath weapon with his knight or dragon to destroy the knight or dragon of the same color. "You assemble the cards to make the image of your knight or dragon. The cards are in four languages, so there maybe some accidental learning," Dr. Daniel Sulliban, owner of Earwig Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Designed to teach children about the names of animals, nature and wild living things, these plush toys have a suction cap on the back and can be hung from smooth surfaces. The animal figures might be used to tell stories or teach kids about the food chain. Size is 4" x 3". Babies can pick up, drop and bite these toys easily. Launch date: 2009.

Designed to teach children about numbers, mathematics and calculation, these plush toys have a suction cap on the back and may be hung from any smooth surface, including windows. There are 13 pieces in this series, including – 0-9, +, -, and =. Launch date: 2009.

This product is designed to teach children the English alphabet, spelling and pronunciation. It has a suction cap on the back and can hang from any smooth surface. The colorful product has a small size of 4" x 3". Launch date: 2009.

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.

This game includes an inflatable globe with more than 270 animals printed on it. The point of the game is to locate the animal using a variety of clues. Children 4 and up can play up to four levels. Level 1 starts by identifying an animal's silhouette in among one of six sections of the globe. With the highest level, the player is only given a verbal description of the animal. "Everyone is able to play given that the game has different levels of difficulty," Shantel Cartwright, in sales and marketing for TEDCO Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

This interactive flat disc with several informational windows provides valuable information about the states and Presidents of the United States, including Barack Obama. It may be stored in a three-ring binder. "This product is considered 'green' do to its lack of throw-away packaging," Shantel Cartwright, in sales and marketing for TEDCO Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Players add or subtract 1, 2 or 3 to the number on the top card of the pile to determine if they have a card that can be played next. It sounds simple, but with everyone playing simultaneously, the options are constantly changing. The first player out of cards wins. The game is for two to four players and offers "quick, easy and fun mental math practice," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: July 15, 2009.
Awards: 2009 Major Fun; 2010 Parent's Choice Silver

On each turn, one team flips over a category card. Team members frantically brainstorm words that fit the category while the opposition tries to sidetrack them. The team must agree on a word and pull each letter of that word one lane closer to their side of the street, all before the time runs out. "It has excellent educational applications but feels like a party game," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. Awards: 2009 Oppenheim Gold Award; 2009 Major; 2010 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Products; 2010 Mensa Select. Launch date: June 2009.
— "A great language skills development game. I wonder if they are going to make a Spanish version," Jennifer Shuman, owner of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

The Golden Dragon has been discovered and ninja players must be the first to reach its location. To move throughout the game, players roll one of two sets of dice and solve the number challenge rolled. The skill level of each player determines which set of dice that ninja will use. To win the game, ninjas will solve four word challenges. While moving throughout the lands, other ninjas will try to trap opponents and block their way to the Golden Dragon. "Players will be having so much fun they won't realize they may actually be reinforcing their math skills while playing," Tami Murphy, marketing manager of The Haywire Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

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.

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.

Players race to get rid of the cards in their hands by creating sets and runs in the middle of the table. Don’t have the right cards? No problem — grab from a set or run already on the table, or play your cards on any existing set or run. It's "the fastest Rummy game available," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 15, 2009.
Awards: 2009 Major Fun

Force Play capsulizes the excitement and strategy of baseball: Run or hold up? Steal or play it safe? Pitch to the slugger or walk him? While taking only five minutes to learn and 20 minutes to play, Force Play is a fast and fun way to enjoy the game of baseball indoors. "Force Play is the funnest and easiest baseball board game ever made, incorporating real play-action decisions in a fluid format that allows for three exciting innings in only 20 minutes. This game has been tested extensively on baseball players and non-baseball players alike [and] on gamers and non-gamers alike, and the consensus is the same — it's exciting, easy and launches you into the thrill of baseball immediately," Riley Drake, president and inventor of Force Play LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 8, 2009.

Minymini storytelling products are designed to teach children about the objects around them. The functional plush toy has a suction cap on the back for hanging. It may be used as an educational, decorative or collectible item. Launch date: 2009.

A beautiful spotted Owl in miniature?  What a hoot!  As a puppet, he perches on your finger, ready to dispense owlish wisdom.  Whooo could be cuter?

A favorite of the finger puppets, this charming Mini Field Mouse has mottled brown plush and big soft ears.

This tiny woodland creature appears to be alive when nestled atop your finger.  With lifelike detail, this miniature Chipmunk finger puppet will bring to your home the charm of a walk in the woods.

The sheer wings of this finger puppet, silk screened with the realistic orange and black markings of the Monarch Butterfly, flutter gracefully up and down with the motion of your hand. Its stretchy nylon fabric body fits fingers of many sizes.
— In a May 2012 survey, three out of 11 retailers said that Folkmanis Butterfly finger puppets were their best selling plus or puppet item. Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barstons's Childs Play in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly that they sell approximately 23 each month.