December 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Packaged with a wheel-shaped bead tray containing six colors of glass seed beads, Bead Rings includes all the materials and techniques necessary to make seven different styles of beaded rings. Endless combinations of colors and patterns allow for the creation of unique pieces every time, and the basic beading techniques taught in the book can be applied to other projects.
― During an October 2009 survey, Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer's Toy World in Battle Creek, Mich., told TDmonthly, “We do a lot with Klutz in the jewelry area.”

Tiny characters molded in soft, colorful vinyl, Let's Hang Zipper Pulls easily clip onto a zipper, backpack, cellular phone, or any other place someone might want a little bit of whimsy. The characters include, but are not limited to, a wide assortment of foods and beverages printed with friendly faces. With 26 styles available, the assortment is sold in sets of 36 and packaged blind. 
— As of 05/12/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 8 customer reviews on Amazon.com.
― One of 39 retailers told TDmonthly Kidrobot Zipper Pulls are their best-selling accessory item, reporting sales of approximately 50 per month in October 2009.

In silver-toned metal finished with brilliantly colored enamel and matching rhinestones, Charm It!'s Safety Pin Bracelet circles the color wheel with seven glitzy safety pins. A funky accent piece alone, the bracelet can be personalized with any selection of Charm It! charms to suit a girl's individual styles and interests.
― “By far, Charm It!s are the best,” Terri Bracken, owner of Earth Explorer Toys in Zionsville, Ind., told TDmonthly when asked about her best-selling jewelry item in fall 2009.
― Three of 39 retailers said Charm It! is their best-selling jewelry or accessory item during an October 2009 survey.

Snap Caps® feature a stretchy neon cord as a comfortable choker fixed with an anchor to which the interchangeable bottle caps lock on by a strong magnet. The Recycle cap collection includes four bottle caps decorated with different versions of the three-arrow recycling symbol with pastel colors and rhinestones.
― “I would have to say [Snap Caps] are the most popular one throughout the year,” Sandy Challinor, owner of Owl's Nest Toy Store in Southlake, Texas, told TDmonthly about her best-selling jewelry and accessories in October 2009.
― “We like those,” said Lesa Smith, owner of Whiz Kid Toys in San Luis Obispo, Calif., of Snap Caps by m3 girl designs. Smith reported sales of approximately 30 pieces per month in fall 2009, when three of 39 retailers named Snap Caps as a top seller in their stores.
— Snap Caps are a best seller at Jonesboro, Ark.'s J. Christopher Toys, which sold 861 of them from August through October 2009, Owner Mary Horne told TDmonthly.

Sold in a matching set of two, these bright pink ponytail holders feature strawberries, in glossy plastic, that are studded with red and green gems for a little extra sparkle. The elastic bands are a matching pink. 
― “I sold 60 pieces last month,” Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toy Store in Anchorage, Alaska, told TDmonthly in October 2009 of the Pink Poppy line.
― Of 39 retailers, four listed Pink Poppy as their best-selling line of jewelry and accessory items in fall 2009.

A well-recognized throwback to yesteryear, Schylling's Mood Rings combine glossy, color-changing cabochons with silver-toned settings styled with the 1960s in mind. The “stones” in the rings sense the mood of the wearer and change accordingly from anxious orange-black to content jewel-tone blue-violet. Styles are assorted, and the metal rings are made in the USA.
― “We sell dozens of mood ring pick-ups at the counter,” said Joe Berardoni Sr., owner of Pun's Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa., during an October 2009 survey.
— In a September 2010 TDmonthly survey, seven of 44 retailers named mood rings a best-selling jewelry and accessory item, with one claiming sales of 43 a month.
— In an October 2011 survey about best selling jewelry and accessories, 4 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that mood rings were their best sellers. They sold an average of 2 dozen each month.

Using the pieces included in this kit, plus recycled water bottles provided by the user, kids can build a working sailboat that not only floats, but realistically uses the wind to sail. The design can be modified into several different kinds of boats. Plus, Uberstix are designed to be compatible with many other popular construction systems, allowing for virtually endless possibilities. This kit comes with with a three- to four-hour lab lesson planning sheet that teaches the basics of sailing and the function of keel and rudder.
― “Uberstix. We love that,” said Terri Bracken, owner of Earth Explorer Toys in Zionsville, Ind., when asked about her top-selling item for tween boys in October 2009. 
― “Uberstix is up and coming,” said Tom Levin, owner of Tom's Toys in Great Barrington, Mass., about his best sellers for tween-aged boys.
― Two out of 39 retailers said Uberstix are a best selling item for tween boys in fall 2009.

An updated and more complex version of the classic 3x3 Rubik's Cube, this brainteaser has twists and turns to baffle even experienced puzzlers. Winning Moves Games warns that due to the complex mechanics required to allow movement of the four row Rubik's Cube, care should be taken during play to align the rows fully before attempting to twist. 
― Two of 39 retailers told TDmonthly in October 2009 that Rubik's Cubes are their top seller for tween boys.

Modeled after the rebel-controlled, icy planet Hoth from the Star Wars movie series, the Echo Base set from Lego features a rebel fortification with two gunner figurines, a missile-firing defense turret, two Imperial snow troopers, and a Hans Solo character figurine complete with Tauntaun. Children can reenact their favorite scene from the movies or invent new adventures by combining this with other Lego Star Wars sets.
― “Lego star wars is still very popular,” said Scott Loveless, owner of Toys That Teach in Bothell, Wash., when asked about his best-selling items for tween boys in fall 2009.
― Nine out of 39 retailers that participated in an October 2009 survey said Legos are their top-selling item for boys in the tween age category.

Armed with an erasable sketch book, an erasable marker and a word card, players get 90 seconds to simultaneously sketch out their own word in their sketch book.  When time’s up, everyone passes their sketch book to the player next to them.  Every player now looks at the sketch they received from the previous player and writes down what they think the drawing is and passes it to the next player. Each player now looks at that word, sketches it out, and passes it on. This simultaneous sketching and guessing continues until everyone gets their own sketch book back and each player can see if the final guess matches their original word, or like the “telephone game,” see how it becomes amusingly different. The more players, the more laughter, and the crazier it gets for a different game each time. Telestrations is a party game for 4 to 8 players. Launch date: 2009.
— As of 1/13/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 167 reviews on Amazon.com.

Roll five dice to win. Calculated chances and strategic choices will place the odds in your favor. After each roll, choose the dice that will get you the best combination. Each combination is worth a different point value and has only four chips, so get the best ones before they run out. Race your friends to the special bonuses and keep the suspense rolling until the end with Pocket Yamslam. It is compact, self contained and includes a chip rack. The colorful wooden retail display holds 12 games. Launch date: February 2010.

Curtain Critters are cute, plush curtain tiebacks that hold your curtains while decorating the home. Available in different animal designs such as bear, monkey, giraffe, elephant and others. All Critters conform to toy safety regulations, come with an elastic safety loop for easy attachment and child friendly velcro pads to keep the hands firmly in place. Arms are standard curtain tieback length to fit almost any curtain. Curtain Critters come in sets of 2 for $24.95.

When ten little hedgehogs are surprised by some bad-news badgers, they have to roll together to reach the low spot in the hedge where mama hedgehog is waiting. Players help the spiny guys escape by rolling them safely past the badgers. There is only one way all ten can clear the hedge in a single roll. 50 different setups challenge players to foil the badgers.

Medieval play has never been more fun. Children can play as prince or princess, queen or king, and even pirate with their own huge castle. My Very Own Castle™ is a single-piece, cardboard castle that is pre-assembled and can quickly expanded for play and folded up for storage when not in use. The castle features a bright white interior and exterior for coloring fun, as well as doors and windows. Fully expanded, the playhouse measures 44" long, 28" wide, and 28.5" tall.

My Very Own House™ is a single-piece, cardboard playhouse that is pre-assembled and can quickly expanded for play and folded up for storage when not in use. The playhouse features a bright white interior and exterior for coloring fun, as well as 2 doors, 4 windows, and 2 mail slots. Fully expanded, the playhouse measures 43.5" long, 28" wide, and 35" tall.

First just turn the eight magnetic puzzle wheels left and right to mix up the picture. Then reverse the process until all images are complete. Too easy? Now separate the wheels, mix them up and try again.  Hidden magnets keep the wheels together while you try to solve the puzzle, making it ideal for travel.

The Wildkin Princess Backpack features a durable exterior polyester fabric decorated with a princess theme print, interior nylon lining, adjustable padded straps, and two zippered compartments with interior storage pockets.

These 2" rubber animals have hard plastic eyes that pop out when the character's head is squeezed. The eyes then go back to their normal position. This series includes Holly the Hippo, Mickey the Monkey, Bobby the Bear and Parker the Penguin. Launch date: 2009.

This Playzzle™ game has you build a puzzle and then play the game. Join Bromly and Cotica as they journey through the Amazon. Learn the names of exotic animals that live in the Amazon. The first to reach the ocean wins.

This Playzzle™ game has you build a puzzle and then play the game. African Adventure takes you on a journey with the game's characters Bromley and Cotica. Players will travel through the jungle and learn about the animals that live there. The first player to arrive at the Pyramids wins.

Stinky Smells the Skunk™ is on the loose with his stinky Smellorator! In P.U! The Guessing Game of Smells™, players race around a large exciting board full of good, bad and mystery smells. Whose nose knows best? Be the first to cross the finish line and stop Stinky from polluting and ruining the town fair. For 2 to 8 players. Winner of the National Parenting Center 2009 Seal of Approval.

With fun colors and textures and a cushy design, this seat offers a great place for any Groovy Girl to relax.

This performance design of the S9 sedan features a deep blue shade with two color emblems and fully branded center capsg. It rides lower to the ground on bigger wheels with low-profile tires, and has been reduced to three blocks. The front and rear blocks accept a front splitter and a rear diffuser.

With soft golden fur and a brown felt mane, this lion has weighted legs for standing upright.