December 2009 New Specialty Toys — All

Cutie Cake Pets are designed to be completely sweet inside and out. These cupcakes don’t have traditional filling, buy convert into loveable pets. Launch date: 2010.

Cutie Cakes™ are designed to be completely sweet inside and out. These cupcakes don’t have traditional filling, but convert into sweet dolls. There are five in the collection: Pistachio Penny, Bubble Gum Bitsy, Chocolate Chip Charlie, Lemon Drop LuLu and Jelly Bean Bella. Launch date: 2010.

ThinkFun a-ha! Brainteasers are designed to inspire special a-ha! moments for novice and seasoned problem solvers alike. A player will need all his brainpower for this one. The goal is to fit all four cubes into the box so they sit flush with the rim. Expert, Level 4. Launch date: 2010.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va, told TDmonthly in a July 2013 survey that ThinkFun Brainteaser Puzzles were among her store's best-selling puzzles.

ThinkFun a-ha! Brainteasers are designed to inspire special a-ha! moments for novice and seasoned problem solvers alike. Can you “shoot” the arrow out of the front of the tray without removing the three planks? Hard, Level 3. "[It's] another brainteaser to add to ThinkFun's collection of best-selling brainteasers, which teach pattern recognition, abstract thinking and problem solving," Edoardo Kulp, Marketing Manager, ThinkFun Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010.

For novice and seasoned problem solvers alike, the object of the Star Burst is simple, the solution is elusive. Just take the Star Burst apart and put it back together again. Simple. Or is it? Medium, Level 2. Launch date: 2010.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va, told TDmonthly in a July 2013 survey that ThinkFun Brainteaser Puzzles were among her store's best-selling puzzles.

This “cousin” of the best-selling Gordian’s Knot is designed to be elegant but cunning. Untangling Zig-Zag Knot is not as easy as it looks. The player slides each piece in the correct sequence of 37 moves to take the Zig-Zag Knot apart. With every move made, one or more pieces will move easily, but there’s only one right answer. The included guide shows the complete solution as well as full instructions for putting Zig-Zag Knot back to its original form. Launch date: April 2010.

This new and improved version of What’s GNU? may serve as a fun confidence-builder as it allows early readers to build their vocabularies. Two or more players slide the “Letter Getter” to reveal two letter tiles at a time, then use those tiles to create three-letter combinations on their Word Starter cards. The player who spells the greatest number of words wins. It now includes beginner and advanced Word Starter Cards and highlighted vowels for added learning. "ThinkFun has taken a best seller and improved it by including both beginner and advanced cards. Now the entire family can play!" Edoardo Kulp, Marketing Manager, ThinkFun Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: Jan. 15, 2010.

Two or more players race to be the first to get the animals into the barnyard in this matching game. Focusing on image completion, players search their cards to complete a barnyard animal, then use the fun Barnyard Flipper to turn over the card and reveal the next image to be matched. Images help children match, while the writing on each card will help early readers make associations between the words and the image. Launch date: March 2010.

Zingo! now comes in a fun, portable package. Just shake the Zingo! Zoomer car to expose the two dice. Got a match? Turn over the corresponding traffic light on your game board. The first player that turns over a completed traffic light wins. With no loose pieces and a snap-together game board, this Zingo! is designed for family fun on the go. Launch date: April 2010.

With Zingo! 1-2-3, players must match their numbered tiles with the corresponding display on their challenge board. The first player with a full card wins the game by yelling “Zingo!” In this fast-paced game, two levels of play focus on image recognition and addition. "This is a line extension of the best-selling Zingo! game by ThinkFun. It now uses numbers and math skills as compared to of pictures and image recognition skills used in original Zingo!" Edoardo Kulp, Marketing Manager, ThinkFun Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: Jan. 15, 2010.
— Angie Knutson from My Four Monkeys:  the “easy to use” number dispensing Zinger was “the funnest part of the game” for her kids. “As with most ThinkFun games,” said Angie, “Zingo! 1-2-3 would also make a great preschool and kindergarten resource!”
— Ruth B. Roufberg and Parents’ Choice applauded the successful blending of number education and bingo as well as the game components and packaging for being “functionally designed.” Zingo 1-2-3 Number Bingo received the Spring 2010 Parents’ Choice Gold Award.
— Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award Winner, 2010

This detailed, 1/200 scale, die cast Hobby Master model of the Lockheed L-188 Electra — which, introduced in 1958, was the first turboprop airliner produced in the United States — features rotating propellers, separately applied plastic detail parts, optional position landing gear, an American Airlines livery with "Flagship Los Angeles" markings, and more. Measures 6½" long with a 6" wingspan and includes a display stand. Launch date: February 2010.

Replicating the A-1H Skyraider flown by Lt. (JG) William "Tom" Patton of the VA-176 "Thunderbolts" when he downed a MiG-17 jet fighter during a RESCAP mission over North Vietnam on October 9, 1966, this 1/72 scale, die cast model features engraved panel lines; a detailed cockpit with an optional position canopy and a removable pilot figure; a rotating propeller; removable wing-mounted armament; optional position landing gear; and the unit's colorful "Stinging Bee" tail art. 8¼" wingspan; includes a display stand. Launch date: February 2010.

The Tessell play mat was designed to develop kids' creativity, space perception and shaping ability by giving them the option to assemble whatever shape they want from soft colorful piece segments of the soft play mat. Tessellation has been adopted as part of mathematical curriculum in the United States since the 1960s. It has been applied in mathematical education in many countries in the world because it enables kids to develop mathematical thinking and creativity in the most natural way while they move, rotate and turn over the basic shapes of triangle, square and hexagon. "It's two products in one. The puzzle mats changes to a rocking chair while it enhances learning skills," Jennie Nam, PR, Tessell, told TDmonthly. Awards: 2008 & 2009 Kind + Jugend Innovation toys. Launch date: 2010.

MAGNETIC PALS Alphabet blocks show capital and lower case letters with images that match, helping preschoolers learn what picture begins with what letter as they play. "All MAGNETIC PAL items are made in Oregon with USA manufactured products that meet the toy safety standards," Janice Gardner, Partner, Gardners Gatherings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 15, 2009.

Mrs. Grossman’s Play Sets are a tactile way for children to create and tell picture stories. There are eight different play set designs that come with a simple, colorful background card and a sheet of animated, coordinating stickers. All the stickers included are part of Mrs. Grossman’s Chubby and Fantasy Girls collection and have been exclusively designed to work together in each play set. The assortment includes Undersea, Barnyard, Jungle, Car Town, Fairyland, Mermaids, Pegasus and Unicorns. "We are a company with a 30-year history and parents have come to trust our products, our philosophy and the way their children respond to our designs. We design and manufacture our stickers in the USA in our plant, have been green for more than a year and have a keen relationship with the adults who grew up with our stickers," Barbara Marino, PR manager for Mrs. Grossmans, told TDmonthly. Launch date: Jan. 25, 2010.

This interactive, web-enabled, financial education game is developed to help children learn what they should know about money. It includes fun and educational games for kids 6 to 12 years old to learn about saving, mathematics, foreign cultures, ecology and more. "This is the first interactive moneybox connected to an Internet gaming platform. This is also one of the best educational games that will make your kids money savvy," Jerome Bousquet, online sales and development, Ekomini Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

The CROCODILE STAGE PUPPET features an easily animated mouth and operable arms. Design details include soft-sculpted plush with molded claws and teeth that are lots of fun to snap. Awards: 2007 iPARENTING MEDIA Best Products Award, NAPPA 2007 Gold Award, 2007 CREATIVE CHILD AWARDS Preferred Choice - Puppets for Kids, CTTC BEST BET AWARD for TOY REPORT 2008. Launch date: 2007.

The standard Adorable Kinders rag doll is sold in a sturdy white box. The Box Cover Bed Ensemble converts the box into a 22” L x 10” W bed for the Adorable Kinders doll. The set includes a bed skirt, a fitted sheet, a colorful blanket, a sleeping pillow with removable pillow case, a large stuffed pillow sham, and 2 decorative throw pillows. The entire ensemble is machine washable and can be used with other conventional doll beds. The ensembles are available in assorted colors and prints. The product is made in the USA. Launch date: 2010.

The award-winning Joe Rock and Friends interactive stories are now available on iPhone and iPod Touch. Featuring two languages (English and Spanish), original fun songs, 3D graphics, instant switching between languages, optional narration, and word tracking, these stories can provide a great reading experience for emerging readers (ages 3-8) and a great tool for language learners. "The multi-language features ... allow instant switching of any page between the two languages," Allan Crossley, CEO, BoggleNoggin Media Inc., told TDmonthly. Awards: 2008 Outstanding Product - iParenting Media Awards, Preferred Choice Award - Creative Child Magazine, June 2008, Editor's Choice Award - Children's Technology Review, June 2008 & Dec 2006, Recommended - Parent's Choice FOundation, March 2008. Launch date: September 2009.

Players must compete on a crazy track in order to win a bicycle race. No cards or electrical devices are involved. The whole concept is in the ZBall, a new kind of marble that Cepia Games designed internally. This marble is designed to be very easy to control and has surprising effects when flicked. The goal of the game is to flick through the obstacles to the finish line as fast as possible. "BISIKLE reinvents the marble and will be the new classic in race games. It develops mobility and concentration skills, teaches players to evaluate risk, and reveals the competitive side in each of us! All of that in one box ready to use, no batteries are required. Extensions are available to increase the fun!" Cedric Arnould, VP, CEPIA Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2009.

This video and music kit is designed to educate children about safety and well-being issues in a fun way. Award winning early childhood safety educational music video and 3 music CD's. "Our programs have actually saved many children as young as age 2 from abduction, child predators and serious accidental injuires," Jim Tomaszewski, Executive Director of LICSF, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010.
Awards: 2010 Kids First Award

The VirtueGame is a card game designed to bring out the best in people. It's a lighthearted, fun way for kids to learn about and practice virtues such as responsibility, compassion, thankfulness and trust. Can you be trusted with a treasured pet fish? Or name five things you have in common with the person next to you? Players should be prepared for silly fun. "The VirtueGame is the first Character Education game on the market. It coincides perfectly with our cultural trend towards things that matter and the renewed interest in family time and personal values," Anne Brunell, Founder, Virtue Toys, told TDmonthly. Awards: 2009 Best Practice Award, Character Education Partnership. Launch date: March 2009.

This colored poster format game is designed for two to four players and comes with dice, colored game pawns and rules of play. It has a playing time of between 15 and 45 minutes. The object of the game is to strategically be the first player with all four of your same-color game pawns off the board. This is accomplished by landing on other players game pieces by rolling dice. The poster format allows for hanging the game on a wall. Launch date: December 10, 2009.

A line of premium 1:43 scale replicas, the Griffith Series 200 is a classic '60s blend of British and American V8 muscle. Automodello has enlisted Raffi Minasian — a respected diecast industry designer — to craft the inaugural and future releases. Available in Standard and Founders editions. "This is the first Griffith model ever produced that has been authenticated by the founder of Griffith Motor Cars (Jack Griffith). The Founders Edition includes Jack's signature and VIN Plate," James Cowen, CEO, Diecasm, LLC d/b/a Automodello, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2010.