January 2009 Notable Toys — All

A young boy attempts to solve the mystery of his missing sock, only to realize that his sock has run away, and is quite possibly leading an adventurous life of its own. Mystery. Humor. Enrichment activities that complement this book can be downloaded free from www.wocto.com (Jakary, Lin. Illus by Ryan Olson, 40 pages ) "Children can relate to the hero’s troubles and excitedly share their own past frustrations. This will be a well-worn favorite." — Linda Hartner Coffman, M.A., Elementary School Teacher
Awards: A TDmonthly Classics Award for being an all-time favorite children's product.
— As of 7/21/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 1 review on Amazon.com.

This student activity fun book CD includes a comprehensive teacher's guide and engaging activities which provides incremental instruction in using the KidsRuler, from inches, to half-inches, to quarters. Additionally, it includes a fraction review, and covers feet and yards, and perimeter and diameter.

This student activity fun book includes a comprehensive teacher's guide and engaging workbook pages which provides incremental instruction in using the KidsRuler, from inches, to half-inches, to quarters. Additionally, it includes a fraction review, and covers feet and yards, and perimeter and diameter. It features reproducible pages and is also available on CD

Webkinz Jr. features its own website where smaller boys and girls can play age-appropriate games chosen by their parents. This 12", super-soft Kitty comes with her own secret code that little tots can use to access the online play space.  Launch date: Spring 2009.

Now little boys and girls can be like their big brothers and sisters, with their very own Webkinz toy, Webkinz Jr.  “Webkinz Jr. is a world for younger children to discover, where learning and daily activities can be chosen by parents to meet their child’s needs," explained Howard Ganz, president of Ganz. "The site is bright, welcoming and easy to explore, with music, familiar environments and lots to do with every visit.”  The 12", super-soft Webkinz Jr. Monkey comes with its own code so kids can enter an online play world. Launch date: Spring 2009.

This big, soft 12" version of Webkinz is designed for younger children. Each plush animal comes with a secret code granting pet owners access to an online world. The interactive experience will include music, laughter and new characters in a fun and educational environment. Launch date: Late Spring 2009.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010

This peel-and-paint art project contains safe, non-toxic and washable powder art in eight colors. Children simply peel away pieces of the design to expose a sticky surface and then apply the different colors of powder to the appropriate sections.

This animals-themed Kids Color Tissue Box® kit features illustrations of popular animals such as a tiger and a panda for a child to color in. Each animal occupies a different face of the tissue box. Each Kids Color Tissue Box® kit includes 2 Coloring boxes, 4 Crayola® Crayons, and 2 packs of Hankeez Brand facial tissues, each with 80 SuperSoft 2-ply tissues in each pack. The tissue box size measues 4 3/8" x 4 3/8" at the base, and 4 3/4" tall.

This 6" x 4" x 5.5" bag is available in various styles and features waterproof nylon so that it can be used indoors or out. It has pockets around the outside and can be filled with toys, supplies and accessories in the main compartment as well, helping to keep things organized.

This colorful set of four knit cupcakes is completely made by hand. The wrappers are made to peel down, and the cupcakes come in a fabric box.

This tutu dress is being custom made just for your little princess and is perfect for Easter, portraits, birthday parties and dress up! we ship in 1 week. This item is custom made and can not be returned.(flower sold separate)

size : 12m,24m,3-4yr,5-6yr : 124.00
7-8yr, 9-10yr : 144.00

A beautiful and natural big flower with swalovski crystals. size : baby, toddler

Ruffled top goes perfect with the pettiskirt. Also available in pink, violet, and other colors.

Sizes available for 12m/18m/2-4yrs/5-6yrs/7-8yrs

Wow.It's just cute........!!! Your little girl will look beautiful for special event, photo shoot, or just for every day play while wearing this fluffy pettiskirt.

12mo, 24mo, 3-4yr, 5-6yr, 7-8yr, 9-10yr: $80.00
Small/Medium: $100.00
Large: $120.00

Tactile, colorful PlayFoam never dries out, can be molded and sculpted, leaves no residue, and sticks best to itself rather than the many surfaces of a home. Whether constructed into elaborate art projects or simply enjoyed for its unique texture, this double pack of PlayFoam in 12 colors contains enough to share.
— “PlayFoam is still strong,” said Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toys in Anchorage, Alaska.
— Of 44 retailers surveyed in late fall 2008, seven percent said PlayFoam is one of their top-selling items.

Hours of creative entertainment for the young jeweler are packed into this boxed learning-activity-turned-craft. Kids can use the bright laces, various shapes and alphabet beads to create keepsake jewelry for themselves or parents, or use the kit as a reusable lacing set to practice spelling and patterning. 
— “The Melissa & Doug bead stringing kits” are the best-selling craft item at Let's Play in Hillsboro, Ore., Owner Shirley Reilly told TDmonthly in fall 2008. Reilly said she sells around 20 kits per month.
— Fifteen percent of 44 retailers said Melissa & Doug supply their best-selling craft kits.
— 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.

This pop art kit comes with bottle caps, charms, glitter and gooey glaze so that kids can make colorful, retro creations. The goo dries into a hard, shiny coating overnight. The caps feature safety-coated edges.
— “Klutz books are our main focus regarding arts and crafts for both boys and girls,” said owner Kevin Pohle of his Denver, Colo., toy store, The Wizard's Chest.
— “We sell a lot of Klutz books,” said Lesa Smith, owner of Whiz Kids in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
— Eighteen percent of 44 specialty retailers named Klutz as a best-selling product line in fall 2008.

This kit includes four big, chunky pull-back monster trucks, ready to take a custom paint job and adhesive decals dreamed up by a young designer. On their giant wheels, these lifted pickups are fit to race, roll, and smash their way around. The early auto enthusiast is provided with the four assembled trucks, acrylic paints, a paintbrush and two sheets of stickers.
— “From Creativity for Kids, the [Monster Trucks] have been great,” John Naisbitt, owner of Thinker Things in Del Mar, Calif., told TDmonthly.
— “Monster Trucks … sell well,” said Jeanette Lauture, owner of Aunt Jean's Toys and Treats in Montclair, N.J.
— “It's a great line; we sell tons,” said Jake Thomas, co-owner of Applause Toy Store in Bracebridge, Ontario, of Creativity for Kids, which 20 percent of 44 retailers listed as their best-selling craft line in fall 2008.

Just the cozy cottage backyard birds are looking for, the Home Tweet Home bird-house has a real thatched roof and unique décor as provided by the child. The wooden house has various windows for the residents, pegs for perches on the outside, and attached twine to hang from. It includes weatherproof paint in six colors, a paintbrush and instructions.
— “Alex is strong in the arts and crafts area,” said Randy Horn, owner of Learning Express in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
— “We've done well with the Alex craft kits this year,” said Richard Belanger, owner of Scalliwag Toys in Belleville, Ontario.
— Sixteen percent of 44 retailers listed Alex as their top-selling craft kit supplier in fall 2008.

The 8" Rain Babies feature bean-filled plush bodies and embroidered faces, and come with an adoption certificate plus a collectible hangtag that includes the raindrops name and the date it was formed. Four styles are available: Drench (blue), Sprinkle (pink), Splash (yellow) and Dewy (green).

The LaQ basic 3 includes all 7 types of blocks with a balanced number of pieces in the 6 basic colors of red, blue, yellow, green, white, black. This 650 piece kit includes a Starter Instruction Book and Collection 1 Instruction Book so that beginners can create a variety of LaQ models.

The Advanced KidsRuler is an easy to use, colorful and engaging tool for older students who have the basic concepts of measurement. It is sturdy, kid friendly, and simply attaches to another unit with its unique interlocking end cap units, to extend learning measurements to beyond 12 inches. Its four sides feature a standard ruler, quarters, eighths, and the decimal conversion of increments in eighths of an inch.

Camp Rock PY Planner is the perfect planner to organize a class schedule and calendar. It features initital stickers to personlaize with name or intitials. Also comes with lined pages inside for contact information, class schedule, weekly and monthly planning.

Open the Sphinx’s secret mummy hiding place with your amulet. Includes two figures, skeleton that glows in the dark, and many other accessories. Recommended for ages four and up. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for ages under 3 years.
— Playmobil products continue to be great sellers at Melody’s Choices, as reported by Owner Steve Melody in spring 2009. “Although this line is in the big box, if you support it well, you have something the [big] box does not … selection,” he told TDmonthly.