June 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Players pick one of eight quirky characters and make their way around the board answering "Scatterbrainz" categories and "Quizzle" trivia, or acting out "Stuntz" and "Showbiz" cards, all while following the "Roolz." "Quelf provides cross-generational appeal that is active, wholesome and hilarious fun that the whole family can enjoy together. It is the most random and silly game on the market and will provide players with a memorable night!" Jill Schneiderman, in marketing for Imagination International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2005. This game has received the following awards: 2007 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, 2007 iParenting Media Award, 2006 Major Fun Award, 2006 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, and 2005 Upbeat Magazine Board Game of the Year.

Kids can name the five figurines and take charge of the day, from writing on the "blackboard" to extra-long recess. This set is compatible with other Gears! Gears! Gears! sets. Kids can follow the color-coded building instructions or use their imaginations. The 60-piece set includes 20 colorful gears, five figurines, playground equipment, a write-and-wipe schoolhouse, a flag, a sticker sheet and a base. All pieces except the cardboard school house are plastic. "Gears! Gears! Gears! School Set is a hands-on educational product that builds fine motor skills while creating positive feelings about school," Nancy Davies, group account director at the Salmon Borre Group, PR agency for Learning Resources, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

This wrap-and-tie crib rail cover is designed to protect baby and protect cribs from teeth marks. It is lightly padded with a waterproof layer, and machine washable in soft Sherpa fleece. The product is available in solids of chocolate, natural, white, pink, blue and sage green, as well as the company's Max and Maya dot print. It may be purchased in one long piece for the front or back rails of the crib, or two short pieces for the side rails of the crib. "[It's] tie on, not Velcro, so can be knotted, which makes it difficult for a child to remove from crib," Marchelle Lyons, marketing coordinator for Trend Lab, told TDmonthly. "[The] waterproof layer prevents the chewing and drool from soaking the wood of the crib." Launch date: May 2009.

Tri-a-Puzzle College Edition consists of three puzzles in one. Players choose how they want to create their puzzle. Launch date: June 2009.

In this game, the goal is to collect monster friends. Kids learn more about each monster by flipping over their deed and reading the bios. Players can also learn cool monster jokes to share with friends. Launch date: June 2009.

This 100-percent organic cotton dress with water-based ink is made in USA and sweat-shop free. It is a limited edition. Launch date: June 2009.

Know It or Blow It tests teams’ knowledge of general information and fun facts, such as the three singing chipmunks, the five Great Lakes and Santa’s eight reindeer. For each round, a team captain picks the order in which teammates will respond. If a player knows an answer, great. However, if they're not absolutely, positively sure, they can stop rather than risk their team’s points. "The best part about Patch Products new party game, Know It or Blow It, is that one person doesn’t have to know everything. Instead, teammates work together to know it all," Jessica Wineke, PR coordinator for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 7, 2009.

Packaged in a purple box, this craft set includes a mirror fit for royalty, stickers, gems that sparkle, and both craft and glitter glue.

Complete with photos, drawings, footnotes and diagrams, this guide boasts 300+ entries, including how-tos such as “How to Do a Wheelie” and “How to Really Annoy Your Older Sibling.” The book received a National Parenting Publications Gold Award.

Favor Johnson is a delightful story of loving and giving that epitomizes what the holiday season should be all about. In many ways life is moving much too fast these days and we have lost track of what is really important. This story of the wonderful old Vermont farmer, Favor Johnson, told by Willem Lange and beautifully illustrated by Bert Dodson, will help us slow down and savor the true values of Christmas.

These odd plush microbial characters at least have mouths and eyes, to help orient them. They're soft, too. Sold separately.

This happy "god of things as they are" is also known as a Billiken and has been floating around the U.S. for decades. He's even the mascot for the St. Louis University Billikens baseball team. Here, though, he's happy to sit on (or off)  the bench and guard your loose change.

This John Deere tractor go-kart in the BERG Traxx line feature tractor tires measuring 18.9 inches in diameter at the rear and 15.75 inches in diameter at the front. Capable enough to go to work using real tools as it comes equipped with a rear 3-point hitch, roll-bar, front/rear mud guard, and three gears.

The BalanzBike is a unique tricycle for children (and parents) as it is close to the ground, super maneuverable and super fast. The BalanzBike uses the body for steering. The small movements made when cycling train the abdominal, leg and buttock muscles, exercising the body while having fun.

Buddy drives both forward and in reverse, and provides optimal safety and back pedal brake thanks to the unique BFR-hub. Also features a 3-way adjustable seat and height adjustable steering wheel. Stability on any terrain is possible with its swivel axel.

The Ferrari FXX Exclusive features aerodynamic spoilers and side skirts, as well as 7 gears, 12" rims with a light-metallic look, and ultra-flat, X-treme tires braced by a double disc brake. Top speed and lap times can be monitored using the digital dashboard computer. In addition, the soft-grip leather looking steering wheel and soft sport seat ensure unprecendented racing comfort.

The MOOV by BERG is both a construction toy and a rideable vehicle for children, ages 5 to 12. Children can construct MOOV by themselves without the use of any tools or help from parents. The wooden parts, rings, shafts and frames are multi-functional. Once the model is complete, the fun continues. MOOV construction toys are available in three kits: Starter, Advanced, and Street. The Starter kit ($210.00) can create three wooden models, the Advanced ($300.00) seven models, and the Street ($376.00) up to 10 models. For each new construction, the old model must be taken apart.

Healthy eating can be child’s play...even for picky eaters! Once engaged in an entertaining meal, children won't notice that they are actually eating healthy food. Kids spin the spinner and eat food from the designated section of the plate where the spinner lands. The matching mug completes this gift set that will have children Playing with their Food (and eating it, too). Dining set includes: Plate, Mug, Spinner. Plate and mug are made of melamine. Not for use in the microwave. Dishwasher safe.  Available themes include Fairy Princess, Dinosaur, Transportation and Farm Animals.

Rebelle's classic Blue Victorian bag is fun and fashion forward. The bag features a delicate Victorian pattern on laminated spandex, hidden magnetic clasp, lavendar faux suede lining, silver faux leather trim, rhinestone accents, and silver hearts.

This Rebelle butterfly bag features a distinct fuchsia pattern on laminated spandex with silver faux leather trim, buttercup yellow faux suede lining, hidden magnetic clasp, and sparkling rhinestone accents. Finished off with silver hearts laid over the print.

The Signature Bag features extra space and extra pockets for those who need it. Made with laminated spandex, lavendar faux suede lining and contrasting frosted faux leather trim, it also features Signature Rebelle hearts with rhinestone accents and a hidden magnetic clasp.

Show style with the Rebelle Red Matrix backpack. Can be used as a book bag, a backpack, an overnight bag or a sports bag. The backpack features laminated spandex and colorful accents as well as detachable, tradeable wristlet and belts.

Produced in a detailed 1:16 scale, this die-cast replica of a John Deere tractor demonstrates a high degree of attention to realistic features. The classic John Deere green and yellow color scheme is accented with chains on the oversized back tires so that this heavy duty farm equipment can take on any terrain to get the work done.
— “We don't do much license product, but we do some, like John Deere. That does well for us,” said Phil Wrzesinski, owner of Toy House and Baby Too in Jackson, Mich., during an April 2009 survey of 49 retailers about their sales of licensed toys.

Sanrio's popular character Hello Kitty comes to little girls in an 8” tall plush toy. Dressed in a candy-pink tutu and leotard with matching ballet slippers, this little ballerina is accessorized with Hello Kitty's recognizable bow in matching satin material as well as a tiny gold crown for her performance. 
— “I know it is a good product when people never return them,” Barbara Vininsky, owner of Jack and Jill, said of the Hello Kitty merchandise in her Montreal, Quebec, store.
— Hello Kitty products were popular at the Toy Shop of Concord in Concord, Mass., at the end of 2009, according to Owner David Hesel.