December 2008 New Specialty Toys — All

Written by Laurie Krebs and illustrated by Aurelia Fronty, this picture book takes kids on an adventure across Lake Titicaca and through Machu Pichu to the city of cusco, where a wonderful festival is underway. The educational endnotes include facts about Peru's population and culture, the Andes Mountains and the Inty Raymi Festival. Launch: 2008.

A follow-up to R.D. Henham's "Red Dragon Codex," this novel explores ths story of Satia, a young thief, and the lies she tells to a young black dragon so he will spare her life. But the dragon's evil nature, and Satia's dishonesty, may be a bad combination. Will it lead to their doom? Launch date: 2008.

It's Saturday, and one small girl and her Dad do the shopping while Mom is working. When the little girl sneezes, it sets off a reaction that leads to her Dad being blamed for a supermarket calamity. After the daughter speaks up and takes responsibility, the mood changes. Written by Matt Harvey and illustrated by Miriam Latimer. Hardcover, color, 32 pages, 8.5" x 11". Launch date: September 2008.

Once called a "musical Dr. Seuss," Jim Copp recorded nine children's albums from 1958 to 1971. These critically acclaimed, clever rhyming stories told through song won Copp many passionate fans. Now his most popular characters — Kate Higgins, Miss Goggins and the gorilla, and Martha Matilda O'Toole — hop, stomp and skip to life on the pages of the "Jim Copp, Will You Tell Me a Story?" picture book illustrated by Lindsay DuPont.T he book comes with a CD featuring three of Jim Copp's original recordings. Hardcover, 56 pages, color. Launch date: September 2008.

This book written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen captures the story of a group of hippos at their peak of boredom, and follows them on a journey to happiness, which they find wallowing in the mud. It combines simple text with colorful, expressive artwork. Launch date: April 30, 2008.

This fitness DVD gives offers parents a way to work out with their children from birth to 6 years old, while having fun at the same time. It features real moms and kids alongside cartoon scenery background to catch children's attention. There are three workout options: cardio; toning and abs; and cardio, toning and abs. Launch date: 2008.

This high quality, 1:64-scale die-cast police car comes with a code that allows users to log onto the corresponding, interactive website. Once logged on, users get a garage and can fix up their cars and race them in the world of street racing, track racing and the dragstrip. The 06 Charger debuts in a limited edition. Launch date: February 2008.

KooKeys offers a line of plush animals with online, interactive digital counterparts known as the Virtual Koo. Each plush KooKey comes with a special key that unlocks the online world for children to explore, interact, play, and learn. Launch date: 2007.

This soft plush  kangaroo puppet keeps her joey snugly tucked in her pouch. Launch date: 2008.

This mega gift basket includes the following: a Kids Rule! ruler, Bumblebee Scissors, a Turtle Flashlight, an Easy Writer, a Dragonfly Whistle, Glow in the Dark Spiders, Waikiki Sunglasses, a wind-up caterpillar, wind-up bugs and a magnifying glass. Launch date: 2008.

This fun gift basket for boys includes the following: a velour, reversible dog-and-cat hat, baby keys, a blue picture block, a puppy crinkler and a mother-and-baby-lamb toy that plays "Imagine." This gift basket is only available to consumers via the Rich Frog website; individual items are available at wholesale prices. Launch date: 2008.

Just about everyone loves the BUMPER CAR ride. It's the next thing to driving a real car and the only time you can legally bump into someone. MAGNETIC BUMPER CARS is a brainteaser puzzle that is almost as much fun as the real thing. The challenge is to position the nine bumper cars on the track so they don't bump into one another or the surrounding wall. Of course these miniature drivers have something else on their minds, as powerful hidden magnets in the cars and track walls cause all sorts of collisions as you maneuver your way through 12 brain-bumping challenges!

This game comes with a colorful spinner and corresponding shapes that fit into puzzle board with color-corresponding cut-outs. Launch date: 2009.
— “eeBoo is excellent,” Elizabeth Ryan, owner of Tales & Toys in Venice, Calif., told TDmonthly of this preferred vendor in late 2008. One other retailer, out of 52, also mentioned eeBoo as a favorite.

This clean-energy set created for use at home or school uses fuel cells and allows kids to learn about wind energy as well as create hydrogen using wind and water; thus kids make their own scientific demonstrations. The set includes a water/gas storage module, a reversible fuel cell, a miniature wind turbine, an electric motor, a propeller blade and a manual. Launch date: Fall 2008.

Two to four players must travel through the remote jungles of the Amazon River, identifying greater-than and less-than fractions while avoiding obstacles. Two levels of play allow students to gain understanding of fractions with denominators of halves through twenty-fourths.

These colorful, animal-shaped shoulder bags come in three puppy designs and five pony styles. Each zips closed and also has an outside pocket. Launch date: March 2009.

The plush, animal-shaped backpack is available in three varieties: 16" Panda, 15" Black Bear and 16" Red Panda. Launch date: March 2009.

Mix and match your empty favorite beverage bottles to make this personalized lamp. Your glass recyclables will be glowing in no time. The lamp is packaged in a gift box.

A trash bin that is always happy to serve you. Includes a cleverly designed lid to hide away the rubbish. Size approx. 11"H x 8.5"W (at top)

Fresh and fruity mini lip gloss popsicles. So sweet in every way possible. Individually sealed and packed in 36 Piece canister. Each approx. 2"L x 1"W x .5"D

Have an out of this world good time with our wacky flyers. Flip & fly tossing with no hard edges makes catch and play fun for all! Available in 4 brightly assorted colors. Packaged individually in blister pack. Floppy flyer approx. 7" Diameter

The Toot Scoot has no pedals or training wheels. Children sit on the seat while pushing off the ground with their feet, scooting themselves and the bike forward. By first learning balance, coordination and motor skills on the Toot Scoot, children as well as parents will find the transition to a traditional two wheel bike much easier than without a Toot Scoot. Available in Red, Blue, Black, and White.

A bundle of playful exercise to set kids on the path to health and happiness! Kit includes the Fun Exercise Book, which is a colorful, imaginative, and richly detailed book that entertains kids with animals, games, jokes, and illustrations. Also included is the Little Yogis DVD volumes 1 and 2, where Wai Lana makes yoga a treat with two fun-filled workouts, which include all kinds of fun exercises for strong bodies and sound minds, colorful cartoons, catchy songs, cute animals, and fun learning games.

A colorful, comfortable, high-performance yoga mat that is also eco and health friendly. Perfect for children!