December 2011 New Specialty Toys — Books

Surprise, absurdity, and laugh-out-loud humor are the hallmarks of this New York Times-bestselling author, and in Killer Koalas from Outer Space, Griffiths offers up a collection of ridiculous stories featuring zombie kittens, rocket stealing ants, and of course, killer koalas from outer space. Launch date: Fall 2011.

When Garnet's mother decides it's time for a change, she drops off her daughter at her aunt June's house  in Black Rock, Virginia, while she goes to Florida to find a job. Garnet has never met her Aunt June, so she feels angry and abandoned. But Aunt June thinks Garnet is there for a reason. Each week, Garnet and June visit a different religious service as Aunt June, who has cancer, tries to find God. After a miraculous spiritual healing occurs and an unexpected visitor comes to town, Garnet learns the power of love and forgiveness, and what being a family truly means. Launch date: Fall 2011.

This 8 page picture features include a ladybug beeper, a foil mirror, a crunchy sounding wing, and a pop-up rainbow. Different textures are used for multi-sensory development. The fabric is washable and detachable.

Introduce young children to water-color painting with Palette Pages Painting Books. Each painting page comes complete with its own palette of watercolors, ready to use. Just dip the brush in water and apply. Books feature 12 pages of black and white line art for painting and early-learning themes. Each book includes a sturdy fold-under painting page protector sheet, as well as a few handy painting tips for young artists. Launch date: February 2012.

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime.  In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole? Launch date: November 8, 2011.
— As of 11/11/2011 this book had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 6 reviews on Amazon.com.
— As of 11/11/2011 this book had 4.22 out of 5 stars from 179 ratings on Goodreads.com.

This new adaptation of Dee Brown's multi-million copy bestseller, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, is filled with photographs and maps to bring alive the tragic saga of Native Americans for middle grade readers. Focusing on the Sioux nation as representative of the entire Native American story, this meticulously researched account allows the great chiefs and warriors to speak for themselves about what happened to the Sioux from 1860 to the Massacre of Wounded Knee in 1891. This dramatic story is essential reading for every student of U.S. history. Launch date: October 25, 2011.

Everything kids need to fly like a pro, indoors or out. Our three only-from-Klutz, rubber band powered airplanes have been carefully engineered for coolness, from the extra-large Firebird (an impressive 19-inch wingspan), to the acrobatic Lightning Looper (it really loops), to the Shooting Star (which makes such tight turns kids can fly it in the living room). Simple directions explain how to assemble the planes from the included parts and, just as importantly, how to fly them for maximum performance. And by experimenting with the variations in the book, junior aviators will learn basic principles of aerodynamics and physics.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a November 2011 survey that Klutz flying books are her best selling flying toy.
— In a November 2013 survey, Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly that they sell several of these books each month.
— In a December 2013 survey three out of 10 retailers said that Klutz made their best-selling books.

This original series of electronic Discover the-Sound Books allow kids to explore  backyard, farm, rain forest and pond scenes to discover the animals who live there. Each book has a sound module that plays an animal sound. Available in English and Bilingual versions (English/ French, English/ Spanish). Launch date: January 2012.

Parents can have fun with their child as they practice early learning skills with Water Magic™, an exciting new educational format by Beaver Books Publishing. This series of educational discovery books includes four colorful discovery scenes that are magically revealed with the Water Magic™ brush. The engaging activities presented above each scene reinforce the basics of each subject while keeping children entertained. Titles include Alphabet Zoo, Candy Counting, Bug Play: Matching, Circus Colors and more. Launch date: 2011.

There's a new busy word book in town—and Ugly has never looked better. Uglydoll characters are sharing their bright and colorful Uglyverse down to the tiniest detail. Featuring over 563 labeled wacky and regular words, readers will have a blast with lots and lots to search for, point to, and wonder about.

Kipsy and the Magic Beans is a bedtime story about a special little gnome named Kipsy. He isn't very fond of bedtime, but after finding something magical in the forest, his feelings change. The story offers a time of bonding between parent and child and many times even helps children get excited about bedtime, instead of dreading it. Includes 13 pg colorful boardbook, the cuddly Kipsy doll, 5 magic beans and 5 prepackaged incentive toys. Launch date: October 4, 2011.

AnyBook Reader is a reading enhancement and reinforcement tool enabling language and reading enjoyment and improvement. This flexible record and playback tool with 60 hours of recording time enables read-out-loud record and playback by parent and/or child, building experience, confidence and reading ability. By recording their own reading voice the child can reinforce their own reading performance and the ability to record and playback any book or text tailors the reading and learning experience to the individual child. With ease parents can “read” to their child whenever he or she desires. The AnyBook Reader uses a simple touch, record, playback process that allows users to record the words on any page of any book so they can read to their children or grandchildren even when they’re not there. The AnyBook Reader comes with a selection of AnyBook Reader stickers. Each sticker uses a unique code which allows users to associate different recordings with every page of the book. These stickers use special glue that won’t damage the book so they can be removed and re-used at any time.
— As of 10/25/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 6 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros:  A great way for distant family members to stay connected with kids; can be used with any book; stickers are reusable. Cons: Takes a little while to set up.

AnyBook Reader is a reading enhancement and reinforcement tool enabling language and reading enjoyment and improvement. This flexible record and playback tool with 15 hours of recording time enables read-out-loud record and playback by parent and/or child, building experience, confidence and reading ability. By recording their own reading voice the child can reinforce their own reading performance and the ability to record and playback any book or text tailors the reading and learning experience to the individual child. With ease parents can “read” to their child whenever he or she desires. The AnyBook Reader uses a simple touch, record, playback process that allows users to record the words on any page of any book so they can read to their children or grandchildren even when they’re not there. The AnyBook Reader comes with a selection of AnyBook Reader stickers. Each sticker uses a unique code which allows users to associate different recordings with every page of the book. These stickers use special glue that won’t damage the book so they can be removed and re-used at any time.
— As of 10/25/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to use; Can be used with any book; a good way for parents and family members who live far away to connect with children.

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.

Start collecting the Super Sprowtz books now with the Bundle Pack. Includes all four books, introducing kids to all the characters and the story behind Super Sprowtz. Super Sprowtz pledges to donate 18 cents per book sold to Hunts Point Alliance for Children (HPAC) - a non-profit in Hunts Point, Bronx serving the most at-risk youth in the country, in the second poorest community in the United States. The Super Sprowtz book series are FSC certified (Forestry Stewardship Council), eco-friendly and made in the USA. Super Sprowtz cares about Planet Earth.

Kids in Business around the World is an interactive workbook that offers FUN content, ideas, and hands-on learning exercises to give kids, tweens and teens the tools to start and run their own business or fundraiser. Chapters include information on goal setting, money management, and social entrepreneurship, determination and more. "This interactive workbook teaches kids, tweens and teens the foundations of entrepreneurship," Stephanie Lutz Paulauskas, marketing director at Del Visionaries, LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2010.
Awards: 2011 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys; 2011 Oppenheim Toy Award; 2011 NAPPA Gold Award

This book about loss follows beloved cat Tiger Rose as she says goodbye to her family and favorite things for the last time. Written by prolific children's author Jane Yolen and illustrated by Jim LaMarche. 32 pages. Launch date: May 24, 2011.

Baby Lullaby takes baby on a soothing journey with classical lullabies by Bach, Brahms and Mozart. Enjoy relaxing ocean waves, sweet puppet shows and tranquil images. Includes DVD, CD, and picture book. 30 minute run time. Other titles in this series include World of Rhythm and Neptune's Oceans. Launch date: February 22, 2011.

What do puppies love? Puppies love to run and play, puppies love to eat and sleep, and puppies love you. This over-sized board book with a unique sliding-panel format is designed to introduce youngsters to the delights of puppies. With colorful illustrations and adorable photographs of puppies under sliding panels, youngsters will love discovering what puppies are all about. Launch date: June 7, 2011.

The events of September 11, 2001 changed the world forever. In the fourth installment of the Actual Times series, Don Brown narrates the events of the day in a way that is both accessible and understandable for young readers. Straightforward and honest, this account moves chronologically through the morning, from the plane hijackings to the crashes at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania; from the rescue operations at the WTC site to the collapse of the buildings. Vivid watercolor illustrations capture the emotion and pathos of the tragedy making this an important book about an unforgettable day in American history. Launch date: August 26, 2011.
— As of 09/09/2011 this product had 4.25 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings on GoodReads.com.
— A School Library Journal Starred review.
— "While the book is written for a younger audience, you should still use your judgment on whether it’s appropriate for your own kids. The watercolor illustrations do show some of the destruction and explosions, as well as people being pulled out of rubble, but avoids showing graphic scenes of the dead and dying." Jonathan Liu, Geek Dad review

Thumbuddy To Love- the Binky Fairy helps children wean from pacifier sucking. It comes with a children's book, matching Binky Fairy puppet and success chart. Launch date: June 2011.

This is a story about a good witch who lives in a good neighborhood. Written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell, the creator of Clifford.

As soon as geese fly south, children take autumn's cue to start their preparations: it’s almost Halloween. With poetic language and vivid collage illustrations, Tom Brenner and Holly Meade follow all the familiar rituals, from hanging paper skeletons to carving pumpkins, from costume-making to trick-or-treating. Halloween lovers will be eager to grab a bag or bucket and join them on this lively and lyrical journey. When nighttime creeps closer to suppertime, And red and gold seep into green leaves...Then it’s time to decide what to be.

This 128 page, fully illustrated book features the migration habits of many different animals in a colorful, informative, and easy-to-read format. From Animal Planet's new line of children's books. Launch date: September 27, 2011.