July 2009 New Specialty Toys — Gifts

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.