June 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Bright colored and super-chunky for little hands, Polly's Pony Adventure includes six pieces to accompany a child on a horse-riding adventure. The car and horse trailer attach easily with magnets, getting the two characters and their two horses ready to go on the road.  Other arena-side accessories, as well as the push-button tailgate and shape-sorting roof of the trailer, add to the fun.
— “Wow toys are my best seller, bar none,” said Ron Kutchik, owner of Grand Slam Toys in Kodiak, Alaska. Kutchik listed Wow Toys as not only his best-selling playset in an April 2009 survey, but also as a long-time top seller in his entire inventory.

Cloverleaf Corners is a busy little town, complete with a ballet studio. With this playset from International Playthings, children can tell the story of aspiring ballerina Britney Bunny. The set includes three tiny dresses that fit the poseable, flocked bunny character, a mirror, and a ballet bar. Britney Bunny's Ballet Set integrates fully with the wide variety of other Calico Critters sets.
— “Calico Critters is fabulous, for the fantasy. All girls love those,” said Sheryl Guidera, owner of Kaleidoscope: The Parent Teacher Store in Capitola, Calif., in April 2009. 
— “[We] sell a ton of them,” Becca Bramhall, owner of Dandelion Toys in Fort Collins, Colo., told TDmonthly when she listed Calico Critters as her best-selling playset line in spring 2009.

Just the right size for a variety of tiny treasures, jewelry or other extra-special keepsakes, this miniature craft kit from Melissa & Doug comes with four pots of paint, a brush, glitter, white glue, and glittering gems to decorate the lidded, heart-shaped box.
— “It's a party favor. A cute and fun activity,” Linda Rocco, owner of Gummy Lump Toys in Medford, N.Y., told TDmonthly when asked about top-selling activity kits in spring 2009.
— Seven of 49 retailers surveyed in April 2009 listed Melissa & Doug as a top-selling activity brand in their stores.
— Bill Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that items from the Melissa & Doug "Decorate Your Own..." line are their best-selling activity kits.

With My Giant Busy Box, kids can craft and create with two frames, four animal punch outs, 10 colors of dough, two peel-and-stick tissue art pictures, plenty of tissue paper, and glue. All the supplies come in a handy storage box with an easy tote-along handle.
— “It's awesome,” said Vicki Davis, owner of Children's Prep in Atlanta, Ga. In an April 2009 survey of best-selling activity kits and playsets, Davis reported sales of about a dozen per month.
— About 10 percent of 49 retailers named Alex as a best-selling activity kit line in spring 2009.

Kids can take their imaginations to the high seas with the rough-and-tumble Red Corsair. Crimson sails are emblazoned with the Jolly Roger, and the Red Corsair comes with three pirates, a cannon and other assorted accessories to dress up the deck. The boat floats and will accommodate the Playmobil motor, available as an add-on. Launch date: August 2009.
— “Playmobil is our best seller. Everything in that line is strong,” said Peggy Sebert, owner of Becky & Me Toys in Glenview, Ill., of her best-selling playsets in spring 2009.
— “Playmobil as a line. The pirate ship is probably the best in that line,” Dean Nelson, owner of Wizard Kids Toys in Toledo, Ohio, told TDmonthly during an April 2009 survey on playsets. 
— “As a brand, Playmobil is our No. 1 selling brand in store. All day long, everyday,” remarked Casey Sartain, buyer at Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah. Eleven of 49 retailers surveyed in April 2009 named Playmobil as a best seller.

Our hats, mittens & scarves are plush and warm inside and out. The perfect mix of style and comfort. Available in all sizes from infant to adult.

Our Lounge Wear is made from our signature ultra soft minky chenille. Our hoodie is perfect as a light weight jacket or as a top in those colder months. The lounge pants are perfect anytime.

Choose from our plush double sided Minky Chenille to our tactile Satin & Minky Blankets. Our soft, luxurious blankets come in four great sizes.

Form, function & fashion continue with our booties. Minky inside and out for comfort, warmth and style with a side snap design that actually stays on the babies feet.

Ciao Ciao is condemned to live forever on earth, in her modern grave-loft with her boyfriend Adios. But she's cute, so that makes everything okeydokey. From TokiDoki.

This prickly lass is a lot cuddlier than she looks. She's part of a Japanese-inspired designer line of toys and clothing from Italian company TokiDoki. She's 9" high.

This plush poundcake takes comfort food to a whole new level. It measures 6.5" long.

This Relaxed Bear is so relaxed, he'll take anything lying down.

Hello Kitty is so healthy, she's transformed herself into a yummy-looking 4" fruit. She's also helpful -- use the padded slot on her head to hide jewelry, cell phones or mini erasers. She comes in a variety of flavors, including green pear (pictured).

This relaxed bear is taking it easy on his feet. He can make you relaxed, though, by stashing keys, change and other treasures safely in his zippered back.

Ruu and Suu are tiny plush bunnies with just enough design detail to set them apart from the herd.

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.