April 2011 Notable Toys — Gifts

These Sticky Mosaics Singles are the party-sized answer for a rainy afternoon or long car ride. With no mess, these small, portable kits are simple and fun for both boys and girls. Each includes 1 project, 1 wall hanger and over 400 sparkling tiles and jewels. Follow a simple numbered legend and create a beautiful mosaic with Sticky Mosaics singles. "Perfect for travel, stocking stuffers and party favors, Sticky Mosaics Singles are the perfect size for a quick craft on a rainy day or surprise gift for a special little girl or boy," Stephanie Carver from The Orb Factory told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2011.

These Sticky Mosaics Singles are the party-sized answer for a rainy afternoon or long car ride. With no mess, these small, portable kits are simple and fun for both boys and girls. Each includes 1 project, 1 wall hanger and over 400 sparkling tiles and jewels. Follow a simple numbered legend and create a beautiful mosaic with Sticky Mosaics singles. "Perfect for travel, stocking stuffers and party favors, Sticky Mosaics Singles are the perfect size for a quick craft on a rainy day or surprise gift for a special little girl or boy," Stephanie Carver from The Orb Factory told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2011.

These Sticky Mosaics Singles are the party-sized answer for a rainy afternoon or long car ride. With no mess, these small, portable kits are simple and fun for both boys and girls. Each includes 1 project, 1 wall hanger and over 400 sparkling tiles and jewels. Follow a simple numbered legend and create a beautiful mosaic with Sticky Mosaics singles. "Perfect for travel, stocking stuffers and party favors, Sticky Mosaics Singles are the perfect size for a quick craft on a rainy day or surprise gift for a special little girl or boy," Stephanie Carver from The Orb Factory told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2011.

Sticky Mosaics Tropical Friends comes with 4 sparkling projects, 4 plastic wall hangers and over 2300 sparkling tiles and jewel pieces. Follow a simple numbered legend and stick on the colorful tiles and jewels to create a stunning masterpiece every time. This no mess, no fuss kit features colorful chameleons, hopping tree frogs and curious geckos. "Sticky Mosaics are not just crafts; they are works of art!  Just because a craft is completed doesn't mean the fun is done; display these mosaic masterpieces for years to come with the special wall hangers included in each kit," Stephanie Carver, from The Orb Factory, told TDmonthly.

Sticky Mosaics Owl Pals comes with 4 sparkling projects, 4 plastic wall hangers and over 2500 sparkling tiles and jewel pieces. Follow a simple numbered legend and stick on the colorful tiles and jewels to create a stunning masterpiece every time. This no mess, no fuss kit features little owls peeking out of trees, snuggling under the moonlight and reading a book. "Sticky Mosaics are not just crafts; they are works of art!  Just because a craft is completed doesn't mean the fun is done; display these mosaic masterpieces for years to come with the special wall hangers included in each kit," Stephanie Carver, from The Orb Factory, told TDmonthly.
— Retailers surveyed by TDmonthly have been naming The Orb Factory's Sticky Mosaics kits as a best-selling line since 2009.
— In late Spring 2011, 25% of retailers surveyed said Sticky Mosaics were their best-selling line of activity kits.

Sticky Mosaics Ocean Princess comes with 4 sparkling projects, 4 plastic wall hangers and over 2100 sparkling tiles and jewel pieces. Follow a simple numbered legend and stick on the colorful tiles and jewels. This no mess, no fuss kit features our underwater Princess with her fishy friends and submerged palace. "Sticky Mosaics are not just crafts; they are works of art!  Just because a craft is completed doesn't mean the fun is done; display these mosaic masterpieces for years to come with the special wall hangers included in each kit," Stephanie Carver, from The Orb Factory, told TDmonthly.
— In a January 2012 survey about arts and crafts toys, Kelly Boone, manager of The Elephant's Trunk in Greenville, S.C., told TDmonthly that "Orb Factory's Sticky Mosaics, specifically Ocean Princess," are best selling arts and crafts items. They sell 10-12 each month.

Sandtastik PlasterMix is easy-to-use and loads of fun. Just add water. Choose from 8 quick-setting colors to capture your favorite keepsake creations. WHITE, YELLOW, BLUE, PURPLE, RED, BROWN, ORANGE, & GREEN. Recommended for use with Sandtastik Molds. Conforms to ASTM D 4236 ACMI cert. AP non-toxic.

The SB1 is a portable amplified speaker system that works with any audio device. The SB1 allows people to enjoy their tunes on the go in a stylish, modern package.

Mezco Toyz will be introducing even more characters from the DC Universe including world-famous super heroes such as Batman, Superman and the Green Lantern. The first series of 2 packs includes the following pairings: Batman: Gotham City's Dark Knight and The Joker: The Clown Prince of Crime; Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern: Intergalactic Protector of Earth and Sinestro: Former Green Lantern turned cosmic villain; Superman: The Last Son of Krypton- Earth's Greatest Hero and Mongul: Ruler of Warworld, gladiatorial space empire. Mini Mez-Itz are 2" collectibles. All Mini Mez-Itz feature five points of articulation and are packaged together on a blister card. This contains 1 of each of the 3 sets. Launch date: June 2011.

DC Mini Mezitz with Vehicles Set: Asst 1- Batman and The Batmobile is the 1st Mez-Itz character produced with a vehicle: The Batmobile. This 2 inch figure features all the articulation of his larger counterpart at 1/3 the size. Batman can fit inside this famous car, The Batmobile, and still have room for a 2nd passenger. The Batmobile is the first car to ever be transformed into a Mez-Itz vehicle. It measures nearly 6 inches long, features a detailed cockpit, and has a convertible hardtop so the Dark Knight and a passenger can fit inside. Batman and The Batmobile come packaged together in a collector friendly window box. Ships in late July 2011.

Wimmer-Ferguson infant development toys are designed with your baby’s interest in mind. Studies show that high-contrast patterns and images prove to be more stimulating than brightness or color alone. Each Wimmer-Ferguson toy is specifically designed for infants through each developmental stage to meet the best stimulus level. Launch date: January 2011.

Wimmer-Ferguson infant development toys are designed with your baby’s interest in mind. Studies show that high-contrast patterns and images prove to be more stimulating than brightness or color alone. Each Wimmer-Ferguson toy is specifically designed for infants through each developmental stage to meet the best stimulus level. Launch date: January 2011.

This is one of Manhattan Toy's seven new Mod Baby toys that feature soft fabrics and textures in every design. Each unique piece provides engaging entertainment. Launch date: January 2011.

This is one of Manhattan Toy's seven new Mod Baby toys that feature soft fabrics and textures in every design. Each unique piece provides engaging entertainment. Launch date: January 2011.

This is one of Manhattan Toy's seven new Mod Baby toys that feature soft fabrics and textures in every design. Each unique piece provides engaging entertainment. Launch date: January 2011.

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride while blasting off with erupting volcanoes. Young Scientists learn about the layers of the Earth, study tectonic plate movement, explore different volcanic shapes and eruptions, make real pumice float, create the ultimate “lava” mixture, paint and explode a volcano, and more. This kit includes a colorful poster with volcanic facts, pictures, and stickers. "The Magic School Bus is a very popular brand that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Our Magic School Bus kits takes Young Scientists on a great journey that includes a poster, stickers, volcano mold, test tubes, and lots more. The manual in the kit is colorful and designed in a similar fashion as the books that are so popular," Esther Novis, president of The Young Scientists Club, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2011.

Creative Whack’s newest product is both a challenging puzzle and a creativity toy. Star-Balls's 32 magnetic pieces can be rearranged in countless different ways. Polarity dots help you reassemble the star shape by combining the 5-legged stars with the 3-legged "tri" pieces. Star-Ball pieces can also be combined with the award-winning Ball of Whacks for even more creative possibilities. "The geometry of Star-Ball embodies the golden ratio found in mathematics, art, and nature," Lynn Araujo, communications director of the Creative Whack Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2011.

The Storymatic is a writing prompt, a teaching tool, a parlor game, and a toy, all in one little box. Combine a few of the 500+ cards, and watch a story take shape. Six trillion story combinations are possible. "I made the first one while teaching creative writing at a small Vermont college...my students kept asking me to make more than one so they could buy it and play with it outside of class with their family and friends. Finally, I took their advice," Brian Mooney, president of The Storymatic, told TDmonthly. Additionally, "The Storymatic is made here in the U.S., in a printing plant and box factory that have both been in continuous operation for more than 100 years." Launch date: March 2009.

Mary Meyer has brought the bold fashion and flare of its top selling Print Pizzazz products to their baby line by softening the bold and turning up the cute. Baby Pizzazz is the result. There are two collections for Boys – Squiggles Puppy and Dots Giraffe – and two collections for Girls – Birdy Boo Elephant and Petals Pony. Each of the collections include a rattle, soft toy, and floppy pillow. The Dots Giraffe Soft Toy is 12'' high. All of the Baby Pizzazz items exceed safety standards and are machine washable.

This album is full of elephants and tigers and rain and cuckoos and babies and flies and centipedes and googly eyes and acoustic guitars and pianos and clear, funny stories inside the super lovely songs. Launch Date: 2010
— “Caspar Babypants has been huge. I don't know where he's from, but his stuff is extremely popular and parents say that it doesn't drive them crazy to listen to it,” said Valla Wagner, co-owner of Teaching Toys & Books in Tacoma, Wash.
— Owner Joan Hewitt of Wind Up Here in Olympia, Wash., sells “probably 12+ a month… We got to have him live in the store!”

This colorful line of giftwrap from Disegno is made of eco-friendly Kraftpaper (sustainable PEFC/FSC cultivation) and is CO2 neutral. The creative design features children playing, a castle, a volcano, princesses and knights, and more. This design is available as counter-roll wrapping paper, paper shopping bags, gift bags,  and gift certificates. Once a child opens their gift, the wrap can be used as a border in their room, hung as a poster, or laminated onto cardboard and cut into puzzle pieces.

From flower girl to firefighter, Aurora has released nine new "dress up" outfits that fit all of Aurora's five inch YooHoo & Friends. Each dress up set comes in clear packaging that includes two accessories. Retailers can combine the dress up packaging (fits slatwalls) with existing YooHoo & Friends displays. The "Blast to the Past" set includes three YooHoo & Friends "hippies.” Available separately are the "Go Green" set with two flower girls and a princess butterfly; and a third set that includes doctor, firefighter and police officer. Each 5-inch YooHoo & Friends animal (w/ sound) is available separately for $6.
— "They are all over the board, but I've sold about 100 of the various things," Barbara Fineblum, Owner of Barston's Child's Play in Baltimore, Md., said about YooHoos to TDmonthly when surveyed in late Spring 2011.

Mary Meyer adds new ring rattles and WubbaNub™ pacifiers to its popular Sweet Chocolate Collection in 2011. The baby pink and baby blue plush animals are designed with delicious chocolate accents. The 5inch Sweet Chocolate Puppy Ring Rattles are available in pink and chocolate and blue and chocolate colors. A Giraffe version is also availabe.

This 7" Ella Bella Bank has a firm plastic bank inside and is covered with fuzzy pink plush.  Embroidered features are baby safe.