October 2012 New Specialty Toys — All

Box of 24 ct available in BBQ, Mexican Spice, Cheddar Cheese or Assorted flavors. Larvets® are genuine larva baked & lightly coated with seasoning. (Think chips, popcorn or pork rinds.) Larvets® appeal to a large demographic — children to grandmothers — & make a great gag gift. HOTLIX® insects have been featured on the History channel, Discovery, National Geographic & many newspapers & magazines. HOTLIX® can be found in candy stores, airports, theme parks, nature centers, museums (Smithsonian, American Museum of Natural History, Universal Studios, Ripley’s Believe It or Not), etc. Launch date: 1994.

Discover with Dr. Cool turned this classic science experiment into the ultimate hands-on volcano experience. First you'll decorate the 7" ceramic volcano with the brush and paints included in the kit. Then kids'll make the volcano erupt over and over with the eruption powder and red lava coloring also included. Plus they'll get to examine 3 genuine volcanic specimens including: a real geode, an obsidian arrowhead, and a floating piece of volcanic rock called pumice. The information guide will teach kids all about their specimens as well as how volcanoes form and why they erupt. Also included is an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. Because everything is included in the kit, kids won't need to run to the store for additional supplies. If they're doing this project for the science fair, they'll love how nice the ceramic volcano looks-it's way better than the paper mache volcanoes. This is the perfect science kit for anyone interested in geology, earth science, or volcanoes. Launch date: August 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, 2012 Kids Product of the Year,  Creative Child Magazine; 2012 Gold Award, Family Review Center;2012 Seal of Approval, Family Review Center.

Excavate 3 genuine fossil specimens just like a real paleontologist. Buried inside the ammonite-shaped digging brick young paleontologists will uncover a real sliced and polished ammonite, a clam fossil and a gastropod specimen. This hands-on kit includes an excavation tool, brush, magnifying glass, full-color information guide, and an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. These 3 genuine specimens are each millions of years old. The info guide was written by teachers so that kids will improve their knowledge of science. Plus, there's an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: 2012 Seal of Excellence - Creative Child Magazine; 2012 Preferred Choice Award - Creative Child Magazine

Ready to strike it rich? This hands-on science kit will teach kids how to pan for gold just like a real gold miner. This exciting treasure hunter's kit includes a 10" prospector's pan, 2 bags of pay dirt with pyrite (also known as fool's gold) nuggets inside, mining tools, and much more. Kids will learn all of the secrets to panning in the full-color adventure guide. Plus there's an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to solve. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: Dr. Toy 2012 Best Picks Winner, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

In this game, players take turns placing randomly drawn location cards in the correct position, around a given starting point. Is Bangkok north or south of Cancùn? What about Mount Everest? Is it east or west of St.-Petersburg? If a player isn't a geography wiz, they bluff. Their opponents might just believe them…Launch date: 2012.

Sonny the Seal moves and sounds like a real seal. Toss rings around Sonny’s bobbing head. When a ring lands around Sonny’s neck, he claps and barks to cheer. For every ring that lands around Sonny’s neck, the player gets a fish reward. The first player to get three fish is the winner.
— As of 10/15/2012 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on Amazon.com.

The interactive Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Star Doll set comes with 6 removable hairstyles that play 6 different songs when placed on Harmony's head. Simply mount her on the dancing stage, press her chest, and watch as she sings, grooves and spins her hair around. Includes 1 doll, 1 stage, 6 hairpieces, 1 rattling pet cat and 1 poster.

Girls can rock the runway with their own amazing fashion show. Simply scratch off the black coating to create their own trendy sticker designs in glittering foil or swirly colors. Then apply the stickers to the paper doll models included. Show off the designs by positioning models in front of the backdrop. Launch date: December 2012.

Young artists can create cute pictures of puppies, kittens, bunnies, and more. White outlines on black scratch-off boards create an easy way for younger children (ages 5 and up) to trace the illustrations, revealing magnificent colors beneath. Illustrated instruction sheet includes fun text about furry friends. Launch date: February 2012.

Ready to giggle and groove...Celebrate with Julie K as she delivers with a musical medley of happy times for the family. Her retro vibe shines and gives kids plenty to smile about. Launch date: April 2012.
Awards: 2012 CD of the year award by Creative Child Magazine

Motorized animatronic kitty bank. Watch this super cute kitty, peek out, make a sweet meow sound, and then snatch coins and keep them safe. The box lid pops up and kitty paw snatches the coin. Battery operated. Uses 2AA batteries (not included). For ages 3 and up. Launch date: January 2011.

Our bracelets are colorful "collars" embroidered with the single word: "Adopt". Launch date: September 2012.

Singer-Songwriters Lydia Adams Davis and Kathy Byers have collaborated on this album of original songs about nature, recycling, animal habitats, global warming, conservation and environmental awareness. Highlights include the sprightly "Shy Raccoon," the appropriately tropical and lyrically transformative "Chameleon," and the easy picking tale of the great northern environment "In Alaska." Elsewhere, we are treated to tales of the decidedly un-limbed "I Am Snake," the busy "Be a Bumble Bee," and the complexity of ecosystems in "Think About the Ocean." Other favorites include "We Study Frogs" which will be a welcomed song for any science teacher to learn, and the pressing question of "Why Do Turtles Cross the Road," answered in the song of the same name. The album closes with the lovely and spirited "Song of Life" which should become the theme song for every nature center and school. The CD comes in mostly paper packaging, with nature-themed illustrations, a full booklet of lyrics and credits. Launch date: January 2012/
Awards: 2012 A Parents' Choice Award-Music Category

The Cardinal Gates Wrought Iron Decor Gate (Model WI-30) is a beautiful new "twist" on our best-selling stairway safety gate. Available in bronze or black, this gate is both attractive and highly functional. With durable all-metal construction, the Wrought Iron Decor Gate is for indoor use only. Launch date: December 2012.

Big Owl Toy makes the perfect addition to your baby's toy collection. Measuring 16” tall and available in two colors, the cuddly owl will be cherished for years to come. Makes for a great pillow as well. Launch date: September 2012.

Winner of Dr. Toys 100 Best Childrens Products of 2012 and 10 Best High-Tech Products of 2012, as well as a Preferred Choice Award by Creative Child Magazine, this new children's book is built around The Global Game Changers, a fictional team of superheroes whose leader, Global Girl, and her sidekick, Little Big-Heart, and their trust dog Pixel, recruit real-life kids to help change the world for the better by doing good things for others without expecting anything in return. At the end of The Global Game Changers book there is a call to action for the reader to be inspired to join the Alliance by visiting The Global Game Changers interactive web community where they can share their Ignite Good! stories, learn how to utilize their talents to affect things they are passionate about, have fun, and be empowered to help make a difference in the world. Launch date: July 15, 2012.

Beary Happi comes to life as the next-generation teddy bear. He combines a classic plush toy, a free app, and the latest multimedia technology from iPhones or iPod touches to create a truly interactive and lovable companion. A mix of snuggly plush teddy bear and interactive fun, HappiTaps is changing the way little ones play. Start by purchasing the HappiTaps cover, then download the HappiTaps app from the App store. Put the cover on a iPhone or iPod touch and watch your a new pal come to life with interaction, games, and activities. Launch date: November 2011.
— As of 10/5/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 6 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Keeps electronics safe; App is entertaining and free. Cons: There is no plastic to protect the actual screen.

On Charley’s first night, Henry carries his new puppy in his old baby blanket all the way to his house. He shows Charley every room, saying, "This is home, Charley." He says that a lot so that Charley will know that he is home. Henry’s parents are very clear about who will be walking and feeding Charley (Henry will, and he can’t wait). They are also very clear about where Charley will be sleeping: Charley will be sleeping in the kitchen. But when the crying starts in the middle of the night, Henry knows right away that it’s Charley! And it looks like his parents’ idea about where Charley is going to sleep may have to change. With warmth, humor, and endearing simplicity, Amy Hest tells a tale familiar to everyone who has loved a puppy, while Helen Oxenbury renders each tender gesture and charming detail in a beauty of a book that children will be eager to take home. Launch date: October 2012.

There is not a whisper when Louis de Rougemont steps onto the stage to recount his astonishing experiences on the sea and in lands far away. It is a breathtaking tale of catastrophe and miraculous events. A monster with enormous tentacles! A sea turtle big enough to ride! Fish raining from the sky! Cannibals! But critics say he is an imposter with a gift for spinning yarns. Are Louis’s tales true? Or is he the greatest liar on Earth? Bold, whimsical artwork brings to life the tale of an early-twentieth-century man who held audiences rapt while his critics dubbed him a hoaxer of the highest degree. A fun slice of history sure to inspire a lively discussion of truth, fabrication, and the gray areas in-between. Launch date: October 2012.

Zephyr is a girl who loves airplanes. She draws pictures of them, makes them out of paper, builds them out of junk, and hopes one day to fly one of her own. But when Gramma, Daddy, and Mom are too busy to play airplane with her, Zephyr’s excess enthusiasm gets her sent to her room -- where she discovers a secret door that leads to the most wondrous place she’s ever seen! Lovers of flying machines and gadgets, along with adventurers of all kinds, will be buoyed by this lighthearted tale of a little girl who finds her wings. Launch date: October 2012.

Oliver is different. He enjoys his solitude. He likes playing with his friends, who are puppets, stuffed animals, and other toys. With his rich imagination, Oliver’s day is never dull. There are bridges to cross, sharks to fight, and treasures to find! But maybe toys don’t always give a boy everything he needs. Maybe he needs another kind of companion. Will Oliver discover a way to be, well, different? When his tennis ball rolls across the lawn into the yard of the girl next door, he just might be surprised. Launch date: October 2012.

This long floppy eared bunny is colorful and cuddly. Knotted eyes & nose add classic touches. 13" tall. Launch date: June 2006.
— As of 10/5/2012 this product had 4.1 out of 5 stars from 21 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Colorful; cute Cons: Several reviews said the toy was not as durable as they had hoped.

A classic starter set for the 2 year + child with all wooden details. Take the classic inspired engine out on an adventure along the tracks. Stop by at the all wooden station and continue along the tracks passing by trees and a crossing bridge. Lots of fun for the youngest drivers. Launch date: August 2012.

Take office warfare into the sky with the Dream Cheeky iStrike Shuttle. This 3-channel Helicopter is wirelessly controlled by the iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad through Bluetooth®. With the free and fully equipped iStrike Controller app users can make the iStrike Shuttle go where no Dream Cheeky gadget has gone before. Make it hover above the unsuspecting heads of targets and drop an iStrike Bomb at the exact right moment. Its unique design and flying pattern give the iStrike Shuttle an almost human character. Yet it’s surprisingly easy to control. It even comes with an attachable bright orange training wheel that makes landing easier. Launch date: November 2012.