July 2010 New Specialty Toys — Creative Activities

Kids can find out what the future holds with these fortune tellers. The book includes 24 fortune tellers and eight sticker sheets, and features a colorful lenticular flip cover. "Not only are our activity books fun and hip, they are produced with the lenticular technology. The front covers flip from one colorful image to another," Iscream Prepress Manager Leslie Montalbano told TDmonthly.

This 96-page activity book lets kids create lists that are all about them. "Not only are our activity books fun and hip, they are produced with the lenticular technology. Our covers flip from one colorful image to another," Leslie Montalbano, Iscream prepress manager, told TDmonthly.

Every child can be Santa's Little Helper with this holiday cookie kit. Users can combine their favorite cookie recipes with the Curious Chef cookie cutters and utensils to create a unique holiday treat. "These are REAL cooking utensils designed to meet the unique needs of small hands, not toys. This means they actually work!" Shelly Schumacher, Curious Chef communications manager, told TDmonthly.

This kit includes all the art materials a child needs to create. The plain brown paper exterior allows kids to personalize all sides. The set includes 18 colored pencils, 12 oil pastels, eight watercolor cakes, a paintbrush, a sharpener and an eraser. It measures 9.75" x 5" x 1.75" and has a rope handle and closure.

Kids will be over the moon for this new space-themed version of Techno Gears Marble Mania. An automatic marble launcher sends marbles flying into the tracks’ twists and turns. Glow-in-the-dark components, blinking lights, and fun, space-like sound effects add to the fun children can have when assembling this marble run, which includes more than 425 pieces. Colors may vary. Requires 3 “AA” batteries. Ages 8+ years. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts and marbles. Not for children under 3 years.

With this kit, children can make a pink, yellow and turquoise cupcake. The set includes tie-dye cupcake mix, pink frosting mix, cupcake liners, a recipe and instructions.

Cernit's expanded clay line includes 30 additional colors in six color categories, including Glamour (metallic), Neon, Translucent, Doll (7 flesh tones) and Nature (flecked). Manufactured in Belgium, this clay is high-quality and durable and features a porcelain-like finish. Cernit can be used to make miniatures, dolls, buttons, beads, jewelry and more, and can be further embellished with Jacquard's Pearl Ex (powdered pigments), Piñata (alcohol-based inks), Lumiere and Neopaque paints. Cernit colors come in a 62g package, with some also available in a 500g size.

Flower Feelings are emotions brought to life as a garden of eight adorable plush characters, each with a distinctive facial expression identifiable by the feeling name embroidered on the back. Accompanying the toy is a full-color booklet describing the individual traits of each emotion, along with playful questions and answers designed to help children recognize feelings in their own life. A sing-along CD about the Flower Feelings is included in the package, along with lesson plans for home or classroom. "The colorful and engaging plush allow children a tangible way to embrace their feelings while the activities and song included in the kit provide many ways to create a positive setting in which children can express their emotions," Ei Kids President Daniel Nix told TDmonthly.

With 40 interactive activities and games, Kids’ Garden encourages children to engage with the outdoors and appreciate the green world around them. Each double-sided card has step-by-step instructions with colorful collage artwork.
Awards: 2010 Ippy Award Best Children's Interactive Category

With the Sumi-e Painting Kit, kids can paint in the Japanese style with watercolor ink, then stamp their creations with a hand-crafted symbol. The kit contains everything needed to make eight paintings and one scroll painting, along with enough extra ink to print dozens more. Easy-to-follow instructions are also included.
Awards: 2008 Parents Choice Award; 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal

This pre-knit craft kit includes everything needed to make a 7" x 7" Purse Pal with a 30" strap. Simply attach the pre-made parts by stitching them up with yarn supplied. Leaving the top open and adding the strap turns this toy into a purse. Purse Pals are also available in Hamlet the Pig, Millard the Duck and Twitch the Rabbit versions. "It's a kid-friendly craft that spins off of the popular knitted and crocheted amigurumi trend. It allows kids to create their own toy, but doesn't require knitting or crocheting!" Lion Brand Marketing Communications Coordinator Lindsey Shaw told TDmonthly.

Created by a preschool teacher, these play dough gift sets are eco-friendly, organic and American-made by hand.

This deluxe play dough gift set, created by a preschool teacher, is American-made and non-toxic. The set includes three containers of Miss Brittany's Organic Preschool Fun Dough, a 100-percent organic toddler apron featuring the "Organically Awesome!" logo, a wood rolling pin, and four wooden shape stampers.

Goodwood is a system of innovative wooden blocks, designed to invite imaginative and creative play. The precisely crafted blocks allow for building in every dimension, creating structures that are architecturally interesting and visually pleasing. The system includes seven intercompatible sets, each intended to be fun and interesting on its own, and to combine in fascinating ways with the others. These colored blocks are made from forest-friendly wood and are CPSIA tested. "The abstract, innovative shapes of the Goodwood blocks, which fit together in surprising and interesting ways, cultivate truly open-ended explorative play," Around Square President Matthew Hiebert told TDmonthly.
Awards: Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children’s Products Award

Kids can add a dash of creativity to this bear pet with the included stencils, stickers and colorful markers.

This pre-knit craft kit includes everything a child needs to make an Amigurumi Friend. Simply attach the pre-made parts, stuff them with fiberfill and stitch them up with yarn supplied. A customizable six-second message on a recordable sound module makes each semi-homemade stuffed animal unique. The kit is available in Coco the Dog, Blossom the Lamb, Rudy the Rectangle, Walle the Koala, Katie the Cat, and Pookie the Panda.

These plush dolls are designed to teach children practical skills like buttoning, zipping, tying and snapping. The 15" pirate comes with a parrot pal, sword and eye patch, and the 15" princess includes a butterfly, flower and crown.

Kids can fire up this "power drill," grab some bolts and create a mosaic masterpiece. Designed to build coordination, the kit includes a power drill, screwdriver, wrench, three interchangeable drill bits, 20 bolts, an 11.5" pegboard and 20 idea cards.

This magnetic dress-up set features two double-sided wooden figures that can be dressed for every occasion. An extensive wardrobe of magnetic tops and tights, reusable vinyl shoes and hair accessories are included in a portable zippered fashion-designer portfolio.

Young children can create colorful mosaics with the Fantacolor Junior peg board set. The set includes eight pattern cards, a clear peg board and 48 colorful pegs that are large enough for preschool-age children to handle. This toy is designed to help children develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

The Creative Caddie has an easy-to-clean Write-n-Wipe adjustable tabletop that can also be easily covered with paper (not included) for art projects. Kids can store supplies in the tray below or in optional bins that can be attached to the sides. The caddie accommodates a 24" paper roll and is available in 21" and 25" sizes.
Awards: GREENGUARD indoor air quality certified.

Kids can wrangle backyard creepy-crawlies into this mini funhouse, catching crickets, ants and beetles with the handheld bug catcher, then watching how they behave in the 5” x 3.5” x 3” plastic playground. The Bug Playground comes with a 12-panel fully illustrated booklet written by insect expert David George Gordon.

GLOB's do-it-yourself Paint Kit includes everything a child needs to be eco-creative. The paints are made from fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices and organic extracts. This kit contains six scented color packets that make paint when mixed with water. The packets include Lemon Verbena, Tangerine, Pomegranate, Plum Purple, Berry Blue and Basil Green. The kit also comes with six compostable jars with lids and two bamboo vegan brushes, all packaged in a rice paper pouch. "GLOB Natural Blends minimize manufacturing processes to reduce environmental impact," GLOB LLC Founder Ashley Phelps told TDmonthly.

"Color Me Cosmo," designed by the creator of the chidren's book "Cosmo The Boat Cat" and made in the USA, encourages children to use their imagination to create a colorful Cosmo to share with family and friends. "Color Me Cosmo" is a 12" cotton stuffed animal with a handy pocket sewn on the back with three washable makers. Cosmo is washable and can be used again and again.