December 2011 New Specialty Toys — Tween

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it – these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world. The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive? Launch date: September 27, 2011.
— As of 11/23/2011 this book had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 10 reviews on Amazon.com.

BunkiMunki™ Keys are collectible trend merchandise kids can wear in unique ways to express their own style. When kids see other kids wearing the iconic key, they will recognize fellow members of BunkiMunki, an innovative social network that provides tweens a unique online experience. Kids create their own alias in the likeness of BunkiMunki™, the brand character, their own home space with realistic decor, and choose activities like journal writing, music creation, earning badges, games and virtual shopping. Launch date: October 2011.

Jiker didn't sign up for any of this! Did you? You don't look like you did. Who would! OK so Jiker was born... can't help that! So why does she have to follow these wacky rules! Says who! Well she's had enough. From this day on, Jiker is going to live the good life no matter what. And now that you're reading this, she figures she can leave it up to you to figure out the details, such as what in the world this all means, the purpose of life, and the other good stuff (like baking secrets, etc.). Jiker is approximately 12" tall.

Watching the rising and falling colored blobs in these lamps is hypnotizing. They measure 13.75 inches tall and come in three assorted colors: pink, green and blue.
— Mary Porter, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn Va., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that she sells several of these lamps each month, making them her best selling tween item.
— Marc Slotin, owner of My Imagination Station in Spartanburg, S.C., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that lava lamps were a big seller with tweens.

This bracelet features a pink band covered in orange rhinestones, and bright orange ties. 7" long.
— Joanne Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that jewelry from Natural Life is a best selling product for tweens at her store.

A class trip to a local natural history museum  takes a  dangerous turn for the characters of this book, the fifth and allegedly final installment of The Secret Series, when a mummy with a missing finger goes missing. Launch date: September 2011.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 5 out of 5 stars from 155 reviews on BarnesandNoble.com.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 5 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 4.39 out of 5 stars from 106 ratings on GoodReads.com.

OMG! Hand painted tin charms bring fashion and fun together. The adjustable necklace makes the perfect fit for any girl. Each one comes in an organza bag. 16" long, adjustable necklace. On the back of each necklace is a text expression, such as "BFF," "I<3U" and "LOL." 12 styles available.
— Joanne Smith co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in October 2011 that they sell 3-4 dozen items from Natural Life each month. They have "lots of quirky jewelry and accessories for teens and tweens," she said.

Clear directions for ten different kinds of bracelets, with all the colorful floss and beads needed to make them. A built-in clipboard provides the ideal work surface for this craft.
— Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly in October 2011 that they sell about 8 of these kits each month, making them a best seller in the jewelry and accessories category.
— In a January 2012 survey about arts and crafts toys, two out of 13 retailers said that Klutz's Friendship Bracelets book was a best selling toy.
— In a December 2013 survey three out of 10 retailers said that Klutz made their best-selling books.

ZOMBIEZOO is a family of fun loving animals including Boo the black cat, the natural born leader of the group, and Stich, a pig obsessed with hygiene.  Along with their friends, Muck, the “party animal” monkey, Rob the poetic rabbit and Toxic the competitive red snake. These new Mini ZOMBIEZOO clip-on plush are 4" replicas of Boo, Muck, Rob, Stich & Toxic are made out of soft velboa fabric. With a red hook they are great to hook onto your keychain or backpack.

Create 10 accessories with this ultimate headband set. The Fashion Headbands craft kit includes a rainbow array of satin headbands, rhinestone, flowers, feathers a butterfly, yards of ribbon and more. Includes: 10 Colorful Satin Headbands, Sparkling Butterfly, Elastic Felt Pieces, 2 Fabric Flowers, Assorted Ribbons, Craft Glue, Craft Thread, Colorful Feathers, Assorted Colorful Rhinestones, Instructions and Ideas.
— Elmer Carranza, assistant manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly in a January 2012 survey that Fashion Headbands from Creativity for Kids was a best selling arts and crafts toy. They sell about 15 each month.
— In a May 2012 survey, Taka Andrews, owner of Miller's Toys in Mamaroneck, N.Y., told TDmonthly that they sell two dozen of this item each month.
— Kim Emigh, VP of E-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Penn., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that this was a top-2 best selling jewelry item at their store.

Our 100% corduroy cotton bag has a beautifully embroidered pastoral scene Bag measures 13" x 12". Strap is 36" long. Purple fleece inner lining. Snap closure. Machine Washable. Launch date: June 2011.

This exciting new word game requires a quick hand and a keen eye. Players create words by combining letters from their own racks with letters from another player's rack. With double-sided letter cards, everything can change in a flash. When the timer goes off it becomes  a free-for-all FlashRound. Game includes 100 two-sided letter cards, 4 card racks, FlashWordz Timer, and FlashRound Token. Launch date: July 2011.
Awards: 2011 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award.