January 2009 Notable Toys — All

The "Simply Subtraction" workbook and original music CD starring 11 genres is an upbeat and funky alternative for educating children anywhere. It combines motivational music with a standard-based workbook that is packaged ready to go in an eco-friendly portfolio. The educational products teach math skills and encourage audio, visual and small-motor skills, which is advantageous for all types of learners. The product was named on of the Top 10 Most Innovative Ideas for 2009 by CapitalGainsMedia.com. Launch date: 2009.

The "Absolutely Additon" workbook and original music CD starring 11 musical genres offer a hip and funky alternative to education. The standard-based workbook can be used with the musical CD to encourage the use of audio, visual and small-motor skills, which is beneficial for all types of learners. The all-inclusive, eco-friendly portfolio contains everything necessary for busy parents to encourage learning while on the go. This product was named one of the Top 10 Best Innovations of 2009 by CapitalGainsMedia.com. Launch date: 2009.

Late for the Sky's City games help preserve both the memory of home and the excitement of going somewhere new. Whether as a souvenir or a homesick cure, all the familiar places are there. "This is a newly released board game for people who love The Queen City — made right here in Cincinnati. We chose from some favorite landmarks, like Fountain Square, the Taft Theatre and Sawyer Point. We mixed in some chili cheese coneys, a few flying pigs, great traditions, riverboats and some BIG FUN," Carla Miller of Late for the Sky Production Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.

My Five Food Groups Reward Chart is an inspirational learn-and-play educational toy designed to help children learn more about their diet and the benefits of a balanced regime comprising all five food groups. "We offer this at a fantastic price, which means that our customers get more value for their money," Director Graham Macklin of Meadow Kids told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 5, 2009.

Children can learn and play with Colin, who is made of 12 colorful, detachable counting blocks designed to help children develop basic numeracy skills. The blocks can not only help children classify objects by color and shape; they can also help them learn about depth, width, height and length. Launch date: January 5, 2009.

Captain Corndog and Baron Von Broccoli will settle their ongoing feud once and for all in a knock-down, drag-out battle. The winner will become the undisputed feature dish of the kitchen. Captain Corndog stands 5.75" tall and fights for the delicious legion of carnival food. Baron Von Broccoli is 3-3/8" tall and represents the power of produce. Each vinyl figure has bendable arms and legs. They are packaged in an ilustrated window box. Launch date: February 6, 2009.

Individuals can turn a boring nightly routine into a party with Cupcake Floss. The frosting flavor is contained in a 2.5" plastic dispenser that contains 27.3 yards of waxed floss. It comes on an illustrated blistercard. Launch date: February 6, 2009.

Every fairy is hatched from a tiny speckled egg just like a bird. Very few fairies actually get to hatch, though, because their eggs happen to be one of the tastiest treats known to man or mythical beast. These Fairy Eggs have been freshly harvested and come in assorted fruity flavors. Each 3" x 3" x 1" tin contains 32 bubble gum eggs. Twenty-four shrink-wrapped tins are in each illustrated display box. Launch date: February 6, 2009.

The Tell Me About Today chart is a soft, plush, hand-crafted wall hanging. This "Learn and Play" interactive chart gives parents a fun way to help children learn the days of the week, the months of the year, the seasons, the weather and much more. With more than 40 hand-stitched, colorful and cute components, this chart will provide fun and education throughout the year. "Our price sets this product apart from any other. We offer fantastic value for money," Graham Macklin, director of Meadow Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 5, 2009.

At home or away, little adventurers will enjoy engaging in wild pastimes with magnetic Sudoku, tangrams and other games, and venturing on safari in imaginative play scenes. There are 18 games, puzzles and play scenes, more than 100 magnets, a zipper bag for storage, and a handy flip-over magnetic back cover. Launch date: July 2008.

Young princesses make their way through palaces and enchanted forests as they have a ball with memory and strategy games, Sudoku, imaginative play scenes and tangram puzzles. This activity includes 18 games, puzzles and play scenes, more than 100 magnets, and a zipper bag for storage. "The Mega MagnaForms has a magnetic foldover back cover [that] allows easy movement to play games and provides endless fun for play on the go or at home," Rasheen Hewlett, marketing assistant for Peter Pauper Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2008.

Kids can trace the illustrations of Princess Bella and her adventures and watch her colorful story unfold. Launch date: February 2005.

This activity features a scratch garden filled with bright flowers and lively fairies. Kids will see their artwork blossom on rainbow-swirled and gold, silver and purple glitter pages. They can use the sketch pages to draw their own designs. Scratch & Sketch "inspire[s] kids of all ages to become more creative and imaginative," Rasheen Hewlett, marketing assistant for Peter Pauper Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2007.

This product includes 20 super-cool drawing and design projects, from hieroglyphics to superheroes to Van Gogh. It comes with punch-out, reusable stencils kids can use in their designs. "Easy-to-handle wire-o binding makes each book user friendly," Rasheen Hewlett, marketing assistant for Peter Pauper Press, told TDmonthly. It was a 2006 NAPPA Honors award winner. Launch date: 2003.
— Debbie Rogers, owner of Bear and Friends in Johnson City, Tenn., told TDmonthly in a January 2012 survey that they sell a dozen or so Scratch and Sketch books each month, making them a top selling arts and crafts item.
— In an April 2015 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that scratch art was a best-selling travel toy.

Trendy designers can create their own fashions — party dresses, jeans, T-shirts, flip flops, sunglasses, bags and jewelry — by scratching away the black coating with the handy wooden stylus to reveal the swirl patterns and holographic colors in their hot new wardrobes. Launch date: June 2008.

Kids can learn all about Batman's crime-fighting friends and fierce foes, from The Riddler to Robin, The Penguin to Poison Ivy, as they copy 20 simple sketches of these world-class heroes and villainous criminals. They use the handy wooden stylus to scratch away the black coating on the pages and see Gotham City's characters come to life in swirl patterns and glitter colors that appear in the artwork like magic. "Our Scratch & Sketch products are great because they inspire kids of all ages to become more creative and imaginative. Kids are never limited to any one design, the colors are beautiful, and the activity promotes hand-eye coordination," Rasheen Hewlett, in marketing at Peter Pauper Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 8, 2008.

The "Body Bingo" CD, by Diane Cantwell, a specialist in education and dance, offers fun-filled manipulative activities using a bean and scarf, making it perfect for home and school activity time. The upbeat music and easy-to-follow verbal cues help teach body identification, locomotor and non-locomotor movement skills, improve coordination, balance and agility, and stimulate the imagination. It includes a guide, and Body Bingo cards are also available. "It feels like a game, but offers educational music and movement value," Elaine Murphy, director of sales and marketing for Kimbo Educational, told TDmonthly. This product received a 2003 Parents' Choice Gold Award. Launch date: 2003.

Laura has sculpted an adorable new baby with a unique body style. Dominic is 20" in silicone/vinyl and has an anatomically correct tummy plate that extends from the just under his neck to between his legs. It is tied on with ribbons to his weighted cloth body. The arms are sculpted above the elbow and the legs are full sculpts that attach to his hips so he can wear a diaper.

It is feeding time for Dominic so he comes with a spoon and his own bib. He wears a cute tee shirt and diaper. Dominic has a cute brunette wig and pretty brown eyes. Blanket not included. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Monika Peter-Leicht has created Lisa a full body sculpt Ht 36" with a sun kissed skin tone. She has beautiful jet black hair and pretty brown eyes. She has beautifully sculpted chunky arms and legs. Her outfit has a short bodice to show off her cute tummy. She also has on pretty pink sandals.

Her hair is styled with two pigtails accented with pink flowers. Another great beauty from Monika Peter- Leicht. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Gaby Jacques one of our gifted artists from Switzerland has created an adorable baby girl, Cassandra.

Cassandra has a cute face and is 20" in silicone/ vinyl. Her arms are sculpted just below the elbow and her legs are sculpted above her knees. She wears an adorable red and white striped outfit and coordinating hat and socks. Her hair is brunette and her eyes are brown.

You will love to pick her up for a hug with her weighted cloth body. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Emilee has a wonderful happy expression sculpted by Monika Levenig. She is a 34" seated doll in silicone/ vinyl. Her arms are full sculpts that connect with the shoulder plate. Her legs are sculpted above her knees. As always Monika's arms and legs are a chunky style that adds to the realism of the sculpt.

Emilee has a beautiful strawberry blonde wig accented with two barrettes and pretty blue eyes.She is wearing a pretty green, pink and white jumper with a short sleeve white shirt. She has on white socks and cute green check sneakers. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

A sculpt from Monika Levenig that is 44" vinyl in a seated position. She comes in the same box size as the 40" doll since she is seated. Lindsay is done in vinyl with her legs just below her knees and her arms just below the elbow for ease in posing. She has a shoulder plate and an articulated head. Her face is a new sculpt that has a sweet expression that will warm your heart. She has pretty blue eyes and a silky smooth blonde long wig.

Monika has dressed her in a cute outfit with denim pants and a layered look with her dark pink jacket and coordinating headband. She also has pretty pink boots. Her belt features a unique butterfly clasp.

Monika's dolls are treasured by her collectors for their realism and also for their beauty. We loved her face so much that we used her as the featured doll in our IDEX ad. Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Taylor is the first 40" seated doll in vinyl from Monika Peter-Leicht. She looks so life like. Look at her adorable chunky legs that go well above her knees. She has fully sculpted arms that attach to her shoulder plate.

Taylor as long silky brown hair and pretty blue eyes. She is dressed in a long sleeve shirt with a printed border and a layered pink skirt. She wears coordinating socks and specially designed pink shoes. The maribou in her hair adds to her overall charm.

Limited Edition 350 pieces.

Diana with her beautiful new face is a 40" vinyl standing doll with silicone/vinyl arms by Monika Levenig. Great size for redressing. Her arms are full sculpts and fit into her shoulder plate. She has legs sculpted above the knees.

Diana has a beautiful long and silky brunette wig with pretty brown eyes. I love the way she can be posed with one hand in her denim pleated skirt. She wears an adorable pink floral long sleeve tee shirt with pretty large separate colorful rhinestones at the neckline of her shirt.

She has on white socks threaded with a pink ribbon and coordinating cute shoes accented in pink as well. Limited Edition 350 pieces.