December 2011 New Specialty Toys — All

These “PJs” for Pillow Pets™ Pee-Wees pack a pint-sized punch of coziness and cushiness by covering them in soft-as-a-cloud fabric. A combination slipcover, outfit and carrier, Petjamas Minis are the perfectly designed accessory for smaller plush pillow toys. This super soft, super cute and super cleanable cover acts as clothes or a carrying case for plush companions and a pillow case for children. Petjamas Minis make the ideal gift for the child who is inseparably connected to their “little” stuffed friends. Launch date: December 2011.

Crossboccia is the reinvention of Bocce Ball by introducing play in 3 dimensions. Crossboccia balls will rest on uneven surfaces. A vertical vector becomes part of the game, so stairs, tables and chairs can be played upon. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, the next arena can be anywhere. Launch date: February 2012.

Wait, so you don't have this hat already? You know how the teacher would say let's put our thinking caps on? Well this is the other kind of cap. Sort of. in a good way. See, in the UGLYVERSE™, UGLY means being yourself and expressing your true inner being. So take off your thinking caps and join in on the fun. Yes you...HEY UGLY! Launch date: June 2012.

These new Uglydoll pillows are a fun accessory/decor item featuring an Uglydoll character face on soft plush fabric. Launch date: May 2012.

You can totally count on SOFTY! SOFTY is made out of love. Need something done in a huge hurry? SOFTY knows a whole bunch of other folks willing to help! Math test got you down? That’s easy! SOFTY has six fingers! That should be plenty! Mega personal problems? Man, SOFTY is all over that! See? Out of snacks? Oh…oh SOFTY won’t be able to hold the tears back….please hold SOFTY. Launch date: January 2012.

No way. No, not going. Forget it! Are you joking? Remember the part about me saying OK? Well that part has changed to the other answer. Wait. Oh, I get to go with YOU? Ok but then I gotta be me, if I am going to roll with you. Just you be you and we will be cool like that. Yes way. Launch date: January 2012.

These large plush Uglydolls have a mini Uglydoll in their pouch. Launch date: May 2012.
— Shana Hack, owner of Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2012 survey that they sell a couple dozen Ugly Dolls each month, though sales have slowed slightly.
— Bill Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that Ugly Dolls are one of their best selling tween products.

Looking Glass is a highly detailed line of miniature glass figures. Each figure is made from 100% colored glass and they have no paint or tampo printing, so they will never fade. Within our twelve collections there are over 290 different styles to choose from. Launch date: March 2011.

eBoo's eco-friendly Tot Towers are beautifully illustrated with the same characters from our revered "Life On Earth" series. The Tower includes ten sturdy cardboard blocks to nest, stack, and tumble down. Great for children who love to build things as much as they love to see them knocked over. "eeBoo's eco-friendly Tot Tower helps build large motor skills while promoting language and concept development," Regina Gelin, sales & marketing associate at eeBoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2012.

"A Day in Paris" is the latest in eeBoo's award-winning Paper Dolls' series. The set comes two 8 1/4" tall dolls - one is a baker, the other a painter - and a colorful 2-sided stand-up scene featuring a bake shop on one side and a Parisian street on the other. Two sheets of re-usable electro-static sticker clothes and accessories suit up the dolls to bake, paint, or stroll cobble-stoned city. Launch date: January 2012.

eeBoo continues its arts and crafts offerings with our easy-to-handle, easy-to-use Felt Sheets. Each packet includes five 12x12" sheets in 5 corresponding colors and a great project idea. While not a traditional arts & craft "kit", each Felt packet comes with suggested craft ideas, suggested materials, and an example of a felt project made by eeBoo friend Aya Kakeda. "eeBoo's Felt Sheets offer children a wonderful introduction to the art of seing and design, as well as a creative alternative to the over-stimulating, indoor activities that so often take over our lives. Plus, our beautiful felt sheets are extremely easy to cut," Regina Gelin, sales & marketing associate at eeBoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

eeBoo's Paper Novas are inspired by one of the universe's most impressive phenomena - Supernovas. Each comes with 200 strips of crepe paper in vibrant colors and a length of baker's string for hanging and suspension. All are aptly named after the brightest celestial bodies seen from Earth, such as Betelgeuse, Alpha Centauri, and Vega. "Papers Novas are assembled into bundles, then gently pulled apart until they puff up - one might say "explode" - into a big, colorful 10-inch diameter ball," Regina Gelin, sales & marketing associate at eeBoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2012.

The innovative Wind n Sun Specialty Kites were design with the Museum, Gift and Specialty customer in mind. There is a wide selection to choose from and each WNS kite has incredible graphics. The Wind n Sun also includes Lawn & Garden decor. "Customers will not only want to fly these kites you will see them displayed in children's bedrooms as room decor," Richard Brady, SR VP of Sales at BrainStormProducts/X Kites told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

Mungi Bands are magnetically connectable designer bands.  Each halfband is designed to interchange and connect to any other half band, and are connected by a magnet to create a whole band. "Mungi Bands allow the user to express themselves by choosing which design combination to wear," Chad Anger, owner/Inventor of Mungi Bands, told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2011.
Awards: 2011 Best of Show
— As of 09/13/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 1 review on Amazon.com.

Drawing inspirations from cards illustrated with whimsical characters and situations, players weave fanciful stories ranging from the romantic to the preposterous. Whether making up their own fairy tale or creating a story together, Tell Tale Fairy Tales revs up kids' imaginations.

Search the seas for matching shrimp in this fun family game. The shrimp may share any of 4 characteristics—quantity, origin, size, and color. When players catch a matching shrimp trait between the 3 fishing zones, they squeeze the starfish to haul in their catch and collect their cards. The slickest shrimp spotter will be crowned King of the Prawns.

Armed with a stack of Ingredient Cards and a given Food Challenge, create the yummiest or yuckiest meals with Chef Cuckoo. The best—or the worst—chefs will emerge from the kitchen with the stars to prove it.

Spot It NHL edition is great for die-hard hockey fans. Hockey themed symbols give Spot It its cool edge. The logo of every NHL team appears on the cards.

What happens when America’s favorite pastime and the best-selling card game in the country collide? The official MLB™ edition of Spot It! Whether the logo of a favorite team, a bitter rival, or another baseball related image, spot it and players will be running the bases to victory.
— In a May 2012 survey about licensed products, Elmer  Carranza, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., named Spot It as their best seller. They sell 24 copies each month.

Finally, a Spot It for little ones. With a scaled down card deck and 6 symbols instead of 8, Spot It Jr. Animals is accessible for kids under 6. Adorable animals appear on all the cards, with one big animal centered on each card for easier spotting.
Awards: 2014 TDmonthly Top Toy Debut Award, 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Everyone’s favorite travel-size game has officially hit the open road. Each colorful symbol is something one would see on a typical road trip. This edition has a new way to play: One card is turned over, and all players scan the scenery for things that match the symbols from the card. Spot it to win.
— Karl Steinbach, owner of Rainbow Toys in Falmouth, Maine, told TDmonthly in an April 2013 survey that this version of Spot It! is a best-selling travel toy.

Harry, Ron and Hermione often visit Hagrid in his hut on the Hogwarts grounds. Sometimes their visits are uneventful – but other times, a visit to Hagrid can lead to adventure. Includes 6 characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Hagrid, Norbert and Aragog. Hagrid's Hut features light up fire place. Furnishings, such as chairs, a table, a stove, and pots and pans also included. 442 LEGO pieces.
— As of 12/16/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 28 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Lots of great details inside the hut; a great selection of mini-figs; detailed instructions. Cons: Not very durable once it is built; a bit small.

A successor to the classic three-wheeler of the 1970s, the RipRider 360 rides like no other—thanks to dual inclined caster wheels. The casters allow resistance-free drifting and spinning action. Includes: Front wheel with pneumatic tire; MX-style handlebar; Rubber grips; Welded steel frame and fork; 3-piece crank; Double crown fork design.
— As of 12/16/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 206 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; very fun; a smooth ride. Cons: A couple reviewers said the assembly was difficult and there were missing parts; may be slightly too tall for kids who are shorter than average.

Feed the Woozle is a cooperative game that focuses on developmental skills of children ages 3-6 in an active, fun game. The object of the game is for all players together to "feed" the Woozle 12 silly snacks. Players roll a die and then place the indicated number of snacks on a spoon. Then they spin a spinner that directs them to walk to the Woozle performing a gross motor movement like Bunny Hop or Walk Backwards. It's not so easy to keep those snacks from sliding off the spoon while hopping across the room. If everyone together can feed the Woozle 12 snacks, then everyone wins. "This game is cooperative - either the game wins or the players win. It encourages group participation and habits of cooperation. The game is leveled - meaning it focuses on specific preschool developmental skills in a fun way that is age-appropriate and grows with the child," Donna Jaffe, president of Peaceable Kingdom Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2012.