May 2009 New Specialty Toys — Gifts

These analog watches for kids come in a wide variety of colors and in more than 100 designs, such as penguins, sports, bugs, berries and monkeys.
— Children’s watches from Fantasia Gifts are best sellers at Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore, Owner Patricia Fieldler told TDmonthly in March 2009. “They are great analog watches that help kids learn.”

The Swing Pony is designed to make skills training more fun. Launch date: 2009.

Each Vermont Teddy Bear is handmade in Vermont and comes with a lifetime guarantee. The company's core product is a jointed, 15" teddy bear available with dozens of outfits. Vermont Teddy Bear can personalize product and is also introducing a second major line of floppy, 15" plush bears that are made for hugging. MSRP ranges from $39.95 to $49.95. Launch date: 2009.

These small characters with removable clothing are poseable and have jointed arms and legs and heads that turn. The parents are approximately 3" tall, while brother and sister are 2.25" tall. The Wilder Panda Bear Family is comprised of Mother Penelope, Father Percival, Brother Phillip and Sister Priscilla. "This miniature animal family allows young girls ages 3+ to interact in imaginative play. As part of a larger line of Calico Critters, the Wilder Panda Bear Family can be combined with any number of other animal family lines, previous homes, detailed furniture environments and ready-to-play sets," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.
— “International Playthings offers lots of consistent sellers,” said Steve Melody, owner of Melody’s Choices in Fayetteville, Ark., in April 2009.

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.

This bright, cuddly butterfly measures 3" x 5".

This colorful collection of fruits and vegetables from the HABA garden consists of a leek, a banana with a removable peel, two carrots and two tomatoes with rattles, all in a wooden basket. The fabric items are machine washable. Launch date: 2009.

This is a heat and cold therapy item that looks like a stuffed animal and is part of the Toasty Wild Animal Collection. It can be a calming, soothing aid for children, and also may comfort those with Alzheimer's, anxiety or sore muscles. The elephant can be warmed in the microwave to deliver heat therapy, or placed in the freezer to deliver cold therapy for up to two hours. Launch date: 2007.

Each alarm makes the sound of the animal on the dial, so the dog barks, the frog ribbits and the butterfly kisses. Batteries are included. The product features a clear-box design with a "hear me" option that allows customers to hear the sound of the clock alarm sound inside the package. The product is 7" tall, with a 4"-diameter clock face. "Bright colors and clearly printed numbers make it fun for children to learn how to tell time," a representative of Streamline Inc. told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2007.

This stain-resistant, machine-washable lunch bag is made of sturdy neoprene, which also acts to insulate and cushion contents. The lightweight bag measures 12" L x 10" W x 6" D and has interior pockets, cushioned handles, and wide zipper openings for accessibility.

This recycled cuff bracelet features two rows to display colorful, snap-on Shains letters and icons. The cuff is available in black, blue, concrete, earth, grass, orchid, pink, poppy, red, sky, sun and vanilla shades. This set includes each letter of the alphabet along with seven icons.

From the Toasty Barnyard Collection, this plush pig has a herb and flaxseed filling and is designed to deliver heat and cold therapy by being warmed in the microwave or placed in the freezer. Launch date: 2007.

This soft, plush duck functions as a source of heat and cold therapy. It can be warmed in the microwave to deliver heat therapy, or frozen to provide cold therapy for up to 2 hours. Launch date: 2007.

This little baby doll with a big smile is made in the USA of 100-percent phthalate-free material.

This firefighter themed toothbrush holder is a stand to place one's toothbrush. A two-minute sand timer is included to help ensure kids brush their teeth for a full two minutes. Toothbrush not included.

This police officer themed toothbrush holder is a stand to place one's toothbrush. A two-minute sand timer is included to help ensure kids brush their teeth for a full two minutes. Toothbrush not included.

A collection of bracelets and necklaces in a wide variety of color options.

These colorful accessories come in assorted colors and designs to match the outfit of the day. Accessories include rings, clips, and ponytail straps.

Use this letter frame to personalize a person's room with their name. Letters are available in assorted colors and designs.

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.

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.

The Handstand Kids Chinese Cookbook kit features easy-to-learn recipes, such as The Great Wall of Chicken Lettuce Wraps, while teaching about the Great Wall of China; and Kung Pow! (Kung Pao Tofu), which shows characters doing karate. The Handstand Kids Chinese Cookbook introduces readers to the Mandarin language and comes in an adorable takeout box with a pair of child-friendly chopsticks. "The Chinese Cookbook introduces kids to the language, culture, and food of China in a delicious and healthy way! Children learn about new countries while gaining cooking skills that will assist them in being healthy and interested in the world around them," Yvette Garfield, creator of Handstand Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Kids can make eyewear fun, fashionable and fresh with Ficklets charm huggers. They're versatile and are made to be easy to attach and remove. With a wide selection of designs, kids can mix and match depending on their interest, outfit or mood. "Ficklets is the first and original interchangeable/removable charm hugger or adornment for eyeglass frames," President and Founder Ros Guerrero of Ficklets LLC told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2007.

Girls can decorate their lives with these 1" (2.5 cm) to 1-1/4" (3.2 cm) vinyl Shimmering Jewels Puffy Stickers. There are eight different fade-resistant stickers in each package, an illustrated plastic sleeve. Launch date: April 15, 2009.