May 2010 New Specialty Toys — Creative Activities

This book was designed to open dialog between parents and children about money issues. Moo learns the importance of saving her money, want versus need, and the importance of being charitable. "Our humorous approach sets us apart; we try to add a lot of fun and self-motivational reasons to work — no matter how young or little you are," My Cow Moo Creator Kimberly Arezzi told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 The Toy Man Seal of Approval; 2009 The Toy Man Eco-Recognition Seal; 2009 The Toy Man E-Choice Award

This 18-piece Thanksgiving set includes eight Adorable Kinders Paper Dolls (four boys and four girls) and eight outfits (two Pilgrim Boy, two Pilgrim Girl, two Indian Boy and two Indian Girl), a glue stick and blunt-tip scissors. The dolls are made of durable, UV-coated card stock and come with a foot stand. They are perforated for easy removal and assembly.

Writing Center is designed to help parents and teachers prepare children for the writing demands required in elementary school. The kit focuses on the development of fine motor skills, pencil grasp and control, mastery of pre-writing shapes and the capital letters of the alphabet. Each kit contains Shape Builders Learn To Draw, Capital Letter Stories, stencils, grips, three #2 Pencils, 12 colored pencils, and Pop Beads.

Designed by artist Lori Schory, The Crazy Toys Jigsaw Puzzle is a 24” x 30,” 1000-piece toy-themed puzzle. The puzzle is made  in the United States from recycled materials.
— Sue Wrzesinski, owner of Toy House and Baby Too in Jackson, Mich., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2012 survey that puzzles from White Mountain were among her best sellers.

Sandtastik supplies safe non-toxic colored PlasterMix in 8 different colors including white, yellow, blue, purple, red, brown, orange and green molding PlasterMix. PlasterMix is perfect to use with Plaster Molds, for creating exciting craft projects like handprints or animal paw prints and can even be used as chalk when dried. Available in 1 kg bags, 10 kg bags, and 5 lb bags. Custom Packaging also available.

This 24-piece, two-sided puzzle has a sturdy 5.5" x 9.75" x 2.75" sliding drawer box. It features a full-color front and black-line reverse and includes five wipe-off crayons. The completed puzzle measures 10" x 15". It is printed with non-toxic inks and CE tested for safety, and the puzzle greyboard contains 90-percent recycled paper.

The Playdate Central Giant Activity Tablecloth is imprinted with more than 50 mazes, word finds, connect the dots and pictures to color. Children can color one side then flip it over for more creative activities. The tablecloth comes with six colored markers and works with any washable markers. Cloth is machine washable in cold water, no detergent, on gentle cycle. Measures 55" x 38".

These create-your-own whimsical wind-ups with this set. The Wind-up Workshop Robots come with five wind-up mechanisms, colorful cardboard robot cut outs, retro-robot stickers, wiggly eyes, sticky foam shapes, eight mini markers and more.

The Calico Critters Country Tree House comes full of features for pretend play. The Country Tree House has four rooms and comes with two Mango Monkeys, a hot tub, pagoda, patio, water slide and lake. House measures 18" x 24" x 16".

Left or right handed - these safe and simple scissors are ergonomically designed with little hands in mind. Kids can practice fine motor skills on simple paper patterns and use the glue stick and wiggly eyes to turn these clever cut-outs into abstract art or amazing animals. Display boards and hanging yarn are included.

This kit has everything needed to assemble and decorate a jewelry tree. Easy to assemble 14"" wooden tree features velvety flocking and fashionable felt accents. Bonus jewelry included too! The set includes assorted felt flower and leaf shapes to decorate the tree and bird, a wooden bird tree topper, assorted felt flower shapes for jewelry making, assorted wooden beads, three satin ribbons, one pair of 100 percent steel earring hooks, a bead threader, and double-sided adhesive dots.

This coloring tray features five dimensional rubbing plates and markers. The set includes 20 printed sheets, 20 blank sheets of paper and 15 break-resistant jumbo crayons.

Decorate six sturdy boxes with icing inspired trims and colorful felt accents such as cherry pom poms, glitter pain and a sprinkle of beads. The Dainty Desserts set comes with colorful felt, felt confetti, six colorful trinket boxes, chenille yarn, glitter gel, craft glue, scissors and assorted trims. The set includes a bonus 4.5" tiered dessert tray.

Designed to be compatible with other popular brands of building toys, Cobi's snap-together building bricks are a familiar classic. Kids can build sturdy structures from simple walls to complex designs that will hold together through play and manipulation. The 200-piece set contains plenty of material to stimulate children's imaginations and motor skills.
— Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., is selling 50 to 75 Cobi sets per month, Owner Rebecca Goblish told TDmonthly in April 2010. Nathan McKelvey, manager of Toy Castle in Jonesboro, Ark., mentioned that the blocks were a hit for the 2009 holidays.
— Christine Osborne, co-owner of Wonder Works in Charleston, S.C. said that COBI building sets were a best-selling construction toy in her store when TDmonthly interviewed her in late Spring 2011.
— Want this? As of 05/10/2011, this product was available for purchase at Wonder Works

This cross between Pin the Tail on the Donkey and darts allows the user to take a snout peg and snout their enemies on the Pig Board. It can be played as a novelty party game, individually or used at the office. Snout A Pig founder Sue LoGuercio told TDmonthly, "There is nothing out there like it that is fun, satisfying, hilarious and therapeutic — which is harmless and not harmful." The Pig Board has been featured in the Oscar celebrity gift bags , the Teen Choice celebrity gift bags, and on the Ellen Show in 2010. Launch date: 2010.

Vehicle Mini kit-ArtiSands Mini Vehicle kit includes nine(9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Dump Truck, Cement Truck, Race Car and Train). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

Farm Mini kit-ArtiSands Mini Farm kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Barn, Rooster, Cow and Horse). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

The Silly Monsters Quick Sticker Kit includes three bodies (printed on both sides) with stands and over 45 stickers to decorate, mix and match for monster mayhem. It lets kids use their imaginations to create silly monsters. Stickers include eyes, noses, hair and mouths. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: 2010.

This kit includes three fairy paper dolls with stands, three fairy wings and more than 150 glitter stickers. Donna Modrell, marketing and operations manager of Peaceable Kingdom Press, told TDmonthly, "Girls will love decorating and playing with these enchanted fairies. It's super simple sticker fun!" Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: 2010.

This craft kit allows one to create the Beaky Family: Mama Owl, Papa Owl and their little 'un. Young sewers can design their own color scheme from a selection of felt sheets (brights or pastels). The owls are approximately 3.75", 2.75" and 1.75" tall when sewn. The sewing kit makes all three owls and includes re-usable patterns and full instructions, wool felt (5 colors), stuffing, embroidery thread, buttons and needle. All the crafter needs to supply is tracing paper, scissors, pencil, pins and dried beans for balance. Owner Sarah Ketchley of Kit and Caboodle Designs told TDmonthly, "Kit and Caboodle Craft Kits are designed and developed to emphasize the natural, the reusable and recyclable and are ideal for the beginning crafter with scope for embellishment and personalization by those more experienced." Launch date: June 2009.

Peggy Flores shows examples of wire sculpture and how creating them teaches students the elements of line, space, and shape. She explores using different types, gauges, and colors of wire and the tools necessary to cut and bend the wire to create a sculpture. She begins by drawing an outline of a subject and plans adding form by bending, sculpting, and cutting the wire. "This product is unique because an art teacher demonstrates the sculpting process and finished examples are shown," said Amy Woodworth of Crystal Productions. Launch date: March 12, 2010.

Make a Copter Ball, a Rocket Ball or a Glider Ball with the new OGOBILD-FLY. The soft bouncy rubber ball has 12 sockets that let you reposition and twist the wings to create your own flying creation. Part of the new OGOBILD Building Ball system from OGOSPORT. Can be combined with any of the other OGOBILD attachments offering a brilliant combination of active and constructive play.

Add accents and highlights with smooth, opaque, white Gelly Roll ink. Gelly Roll white is archival, waterproof, and fade resistant. This white ink is very bright on dark papers.