November 2013 New Specialty Toys — All

STRIKE UP THE BAND! This assortment of musical instruments is a great way of introducing children to music. Encourages rhythm and social interaction. Provides lively entertainment for all ages. Fun for jam sessions and group play. Makes a creative, reasonably-priced gift.

STRIKE UP THE BAND! This assortment of musical instruments is a great way of introducing children to music. Encourages rhythm and social interaction. Provides lively entertainment for all ages. Fun for jam sessions and group play.  Makes a creative, reasonably-priced gift.

At 27 inches high, this beautifully constructed, lightweight instrument is an excellent choice for a child's first harp. The design of its curved sides and spacious box, along with a range of 15 notes (from C to C), permits playing a wide variety of music in haunting, melodic tones. 15 Nylon strings, fully tunable by way of zither pins and a zither pin wrench. Includes: Bench and Tuning Wrench.

Introducing a new family of super-soft, collectible plush mushroom characters called mi mu ru™ (my moo roo). Each of the unique, beautifully embroidered characters (eight in all) have individual personalities complete with their own mottos and fun names. missikissi says, "A simple kiss can make everything better”. zzzzizi says, "A nap a day makes grumpy go away." And, ouchi booboo states, "Bumps and bruises reminds us not to do that again." These are just some of the mottos from mi mu ru™.

Adding to their play value, each handmade 2" tall cute plush is attached to their own ultra-soft wristband (buddi bands™) which allow kids to wear ’em, carry ’em and share ’em. This feature enhances the play value while still being affordable. Kids will want to collect ’em all! mi mu ru buddi bands are more than a toy, they are a super-fun children's accessory. Sales reps/distributors welcome. www.mimuru.com

Whether you call it gimp, lanyard, scoubidou, or boondoggle, vinyl craft lace is the perfect activity for home, camp, school or party. And Plastic Lace Crafts for Beginners is the perfect way to get started in this easy-to-learn craft. This book shows readers all of the essential stitches and skills they need to master the art of plastic lacing, with easy-to-follow weaving diagrams and colorful photos of finished projects.

Get inspired to craft your world with these fun and funky projects for fashion and flair! Celebrity crafter Marisa Pawelko shows how to cut, rip, layer, and fold colorful duct tape to concoct fantastic fashions, school supplies and room décor. She reveals the nine skills every tapester needs to know, and provides all of the bells and whistles that kids need to get seriously funky as they customize each of the amazing projects in this book.

Weave and braid versatile parachute cord in an array of brilliant colors to create fun and fashionable accessories. Parachute Cord Craft ties it all together, with 22 clever projects for home, outdoors, school, and sports. Kids can make attractive and useful bracelets, necklaces, belts, lanyards, dog collars, key fobs and more, with detailed instructions and step-by-step diagrams.

With this new book and a Rainbow Loom®, Cra-Z-Loom™, or FunLoom™, kids can make all of the cool accessories that are fueling the hottest craze since Beanie Babies! Totally Awesome Rubber Band Jewelry shows kids exactly how to use the new looms, with full color photos, step-by-step instructions, and clear diagrams. It features original projects (not available anywhere else) for creating completely colorful and super stylish bracelets, earrings, and belts in just minutes.

These cute little colorful owls have a secret compartment in the bottom, filled with lip gloss. Owls measure 1.5 inches tall. Assorted colors and fragrances.
— The manager of Givens Books & Little Dickens in Lynchburg, Va., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that lip gloss owls from Kikkerland are one of their best-selling jewelry/accessory items.

This watch features eight high-tech qadgets including stopwatch, world time, motion alarm, nightlight and more. Requires one button cell battery (incuded).
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that spy watches from ToySmith are a best-selling jewelry/accessory item.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Inflatable Cube for iPad® will delight and entertain children of all ages while they play and interact with their iPad. Perfect for little ninjas in training, the inflatable cube helps protect the iPad from bumps and damage, safely bringing the wonder of tablet technology to young children while entertaining them with fun images of Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mikey in action.

Kids love to race and there are hundreds of great motion-controlled racing apps to play, but tilting an iPad around just isn’t as comfortable or fun as actually turning a real wheel. With the Dora the Explorer Inflatable Car for iPad from CTA Digital kids can hop in and feel like they’re really driving! The steering wheel cradle is especially designed to hold and protect the iPad so kids can play and pretend to drift and race to first place. Watch them maneuver through virtual obstacles and go on driving adventures in this fun Dora the Explorer themed kart.

In this hilarious game, you read a topic card and then write down your response. It can be anything that comes to mind, there's no right or wrong answer! Then all the responses are read aloud and you have to figure out who said what! You won't believe the THINGS... the people you know will come up with! For 4 or More Players.

Who says children and wild life can’t play together? Mobi introduces AnimaLamps™, the cool-running LED light that’s great for desktop, late night changing table and feeding, reading in bed, games, and playtime. Portable and solidly built, AnimaLamps ™ can go anywhere. Adjustable brightness, one-touch operation and built-in rechargeable battery makes it the perfect light for children. Caution: we’ve heard reports of parents stealing AnimaLamps ™ from  the nursery.
Awards:  Mom's Choice Gold, NAPPA Gold and National Parenting Center Seal of Approval awards.

Create your own amazing light show with these sets of mini finger lights. Each set includes four .75 x .5 inch lights with elastic bands. Each light projects a different color.
— In a Fall 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Lazer Fingers were their best-selling novelty toy.

Climb the Monkey Bars? That’s Bananas! is our second book and is also available in hardback. Here, our young boy faces his fears on the playground. Excited to play on a new jungle gym, he tearfully changes directions when his Papa encourages him to climb a ladder so he may join friends on the monkey bars. When his imagination tosses him into a wild place, a gentle, furry friend coaches the new climber through his first success with high places. Includes plush Monkey.
TDmonthly Editor's Notes:
- A series of books that help kids with their phobias. My daughter loves the  illustrations.
- A story line that kids can follow and relate to. A great gift for any child.
- Fun use of rhyme throughout the story.
- Fobie Friends encourages youngsters to confront their fears with courage and an open mind. 
- Encourages inner strength

Did My Owl Just Growl? is our first book and is now available in hardback. The turmoil begins the moment the lights go out. Our frightened young boy is in his bedroom tucked in for the night, but he is confronted with eerie sounds and creepy shadows that send his imagination soaring into the spooky, dark woods. Fortunately, an unexpected friend guides him through his adventure. Includes plush Owl.
TDmonthly Editor's Notes:
- A series of books that help kids with their phobias. My daughter loves the  illustrations.
- A story line that kids can follow and relate to. A great gift for any child.
- Fun use of rhyme throughout the story.
- Fobie Friends encourages youngsters to confront their fears with courage and an open mind. 
- Encourages inner strength

This doctor's bag comes complete with everything kids need to make sure their patient is on the road to recovery and to make their trip to the doctor a good experience. Kit includes electronic stethoscope, blood pressure gauge with arm cuff, reflex hammer, thermometer, squeaking syringe, auriscope, laryngoscope, pretend bandage, and doctor bag. Batteries are included. Surface clean.

Includes 10" x 10" x 2" colored sandbox, 20" x 20" no mess play mat, ultra fine sand, prince and princess, horse drawn carriage, magic castle, hope chest, jewels and treasure, swan, glass slipper, wish bucket, grooming rake, digging shovel.

Make colorful, chunky jewelry with Bling Blocks! Create looks that are uniquely your own by stringing Bling Blocks into necklaces and bracelets. Add sparkly touches to your designs! You can make a ring and earrings, too. Includes blocks, silver-colored beads, 1 block ring, sticky gems, satin cord, elastic string, earring hooks, jump rings, beading needle and easy to follow instructions.
— Joe Berardoni Jr., owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that ALEX-PANLINE is one of his store's top activity toy brands.
— Matt Peel, manager of Toys & Co. in Greensboro, N.C., told TDmonthly in a January 2015 survey that Alex Toys was their best-selling brand of arts & crafts toys.

This deluxe set is loaded with lots of great tools to keep little builders busy. Each tool is made of rugged hi-impact plastic; set includes a working LED light with hook for hanging, multi-tool, saw, nuts and bolts, pliers and wrenches.

Create your own GoGo City with this Fire station play set. Includes building, detachable ramps, water cannon and a soft, safe and squeezable fire engine with a powerful pull-back friction motor. 18 months and up.

Discover the science of living things with this complete introductory microscope kit. The beautifully illustrated experiment manual guides you through observations of many living specimens found in and around your home: onion cells, pond water, chloroplasts, plant stem cross sections, microorganisms, mouth cells, meat cells, different types of hair and fur, dust mites, bugs, pollen in honey, and much more. The kit includes three prepared specimens on a slide, four blank slides, cover slips, tweezers, needle, section slicing tool, and vial. The ocular lens, or eyepiece lens, of the microscope has an adjustable 12x to 18x magnification power. When combined with the three objective lenses, this results in a total magnification power of 96x to 750x. It has a battery-powered light and a mirror to light up the specimens.

Texo is the award-winning 3 dimensional design and construction system by architect, author and designer Lester Walker. The beauty of Texo is the variety of building systems found within one toy: simple puzzles, shape sorting and color matching at its most basic level, the system allows for a gradual progression to stacking the interconnected shapes and on to advanced architectural models such as bridges, houses, skyscrapers and more! Solid wood rods and planks coupled with the geometric precision of molded plastic connectors enhance the design and construction potential. Also included is a deluxe Activity Guide with how-to’s, commentary and step-by-step instructions on maximizing the potential of Texo.