December 2009 New Specialty Toys — Educational

Why do onions make you cry? Where was the first hamburger served? The TastyTalk deck is full of delectable tidbits about food, with intriguing questions that get conversations cooking. Each deck contains 50 illustrated cards, ideal for family time. "The delightful artwork and open-ended questions make this conversation deck appealing and engaging," Lynn Araujo, communications director of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., told TDmonthly.

This kit includes 24, 18" x 36" rectangle, 100-percent nylon scarves in a variety of colors, an Instructional/Informational Insert, and a durable, reusable plastic bag for storage. It is made in the USA. Launch date: 2008.

With six, 27" square, washable nylon scarves in purple, lavender, royal blue, medium blue, kelly green and lime green, this set also includes an instructional/informational insert and IDEAS Primary Music CD along with a reusable plastic hanging storage bag. Launch date: 2008.

With six, 27" square, washable nylon scarves, in red, pink, light pink, yellow, orange and peach, this set also includes an instructional/informational insert and IDEAS Primary Music CD along with a reusable plastic hanging storage bag. Launch date: 2008.

With six, 27" square, washable nylon scarves in lavender, medium blue, lime green, yellow, peach and pink, this set also includes an instructional/informational insert and IDEAS Primary Music CD along with a reusable plastic hanging storage bag. Launch date: 2008.

This pack includes six, 27" square, washable nylon scarves, one of each of the following colors: purple, royal blue, kelly green, yellow, orange and red. It also includes an instructional/informational insert and IDEAS Primary Music CD along with a reusable plastic hanging storage bag. Launch date: 2008.

This pack includes 12, 27" square scarves, two of each of the following color combinations: red, white and blue. It includes an instructional/informational insert and a reusable plastic hanging storage bag. Launch date: 1996.

This kit includes 12, 27" square scarves, two of each of the following color combinations: purple, lavender, royal blue, medium blue, kelly green and lime green. It includes an instructional/informational insert and a reusable plastic hanging storage bag. "Our scarf kits contain high quality, 100-percent washable nylon scarves in vibrant colors. ... we also provide durable and reusable plastic bags for storage as well as Velcro to hang the scarves in a special place, where they can be put away easily and beautifully," Rosanne Jessen, marketing associate for arts education IDEAS, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 1996.

The Alphabotz Superphonic Decoder Cards jumpstart beginning reading skills by building lasting associations between sounds and the letters that represent them. The cards include a variety of games and activities that are designed to promote vital early literacy skills such as phonemic awareness and are geared toward children of various skill levels, making this product both an educational tool and a toy. "The ALPHABOTZ personify sounds in the English language. They help children visualize and build lasting associations between sounds and the letters that represent them. The letter/letter team on a character's chest and the icon on its head serve as constant visual reinforcements for the sound that is represented by that character," Nicole Sigsby, principal of Ideopolis LLC, told TDmonthly. Awards: 2009 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award in the Educational Products Category; iParenting Media; Mom's Choice; Tillywig Brain Child; and Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009; 2009 Family Choice Award; 2010 The Toy Man Seal of Approval, Award of Excellence and Editors Choice Award. Launch date: July 2009.
— "Just when you thought it was not possible, here is another fresh approach to letter recognition.  Developed by an educator, Alphabots are for children at all developmental levels.  Use the 46 robot character cards in one of 12 fun letter and sound games to improve phonemic awareness. I love Alphabotz!" Jennifer Shuman, of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

The mirascope utilizes concave mirrors to project 3-D images of an item placed inside. Kids can stick their finger right through the illusional image that appears.
— The 3-D Mirascope “always attracts people’s attention,” Mike Lane, manager of Hobbytown in Cumming, Ga., said in late summer 2009.
— The Wooden Toy in Wethersfield, Conn., sells about 20 per month of this item, David Ekwall told TDmonthly in 2009.

Consensus® Junior Edition is an educational and parent friendly game. It is well suited as a family game. Consensus® Junior Edition is a game about opinions. Consensus® Junior Edition is not a trivia game, nor is it a strategy game. It is a game that allows its participants to express themselves as individuals and/or as part of a group.It has received the following awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Products 2009; Dr. Toy 10 Best Socially Responsible Products 2009; Major Fun Award 2009; Tillywig Laugh Out Loud Award 2009; Creative Child Magazine: Game of the Year 2009; Family Review Center Gold Award 2009; and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2009.
— Bernie DeKoven (Major Fun) proclaims that Consensus Junior Edition “is as much a tool for family harmony as it is a game for family fun.” With gameplay similar to Apples to Apples, Consensus Junior Edition challenges players to choose the noun card they feel best fits the revealed adjective card. Players who are able to come to a consensus and choose successfully move ahead. Everyone’s opinion matters, no matter their age, and even kids below the recommended age of 8 can play with a little parental help.
— At Toy House and Baby Too in Jackson, Mich., Consensus Junior Edition is a best-selling game, Owner Phil Wrzesinski told TDmonthly in November 2009.

This educational card game is great for teens. Launch date: 2009.

In this book written by Linda Glaser and illustrated by Daniel Howarth, a lovable family of bunnies explores the traditions of Hanukkah, including the lighting of one candle on the menorah each night. Launch date: September 2009.