January 2010 Notable Toys — Novelties

The Particle Zoo is a collection of more than 36 plush versions of subatomic particles from the worlds of physics and astronomy. Often compared to Giant Microbes, these handmade soft toys represent the familiar neutron and proton as well as lesser-known particles like the charm quark and muon. A favorite of physics students can make unique birthday and graduation gifts, especially for physics students. The particles are handmade in the USA. "There are no other companies making plush subatomic particles, so they are a unique concept. Because they are weighted according to their relative masses, they can serve as a teaching aid or novelty gift," Julie Peasley, owner and seamstress for The Particle Zoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

Available in various “flavors” of ice cream, this 7” cone has a button that, when pressed, pops out the soft, spongy ice cream ball that’s connected to the cone by a string.

Available in a variety of shimmering shades, this 65mm glitter ball is fun to bounce and features colorful effects on the interior.

The Pocket Laser Light Show has been designed for home use or take it outdoors — it's wireless. It's so portable it fits into the palm of your hand. Simply turn it on and watch as a spectacular array of laser light designs perform on your walls or ceilings. The most portable laser light show ever, the Pocket Laser Light Show is so small it can fit in your pocket. But don't let its size fool you; the Pocket Laser Light Show™ creates giant-sized light shows.

The Laser Kaleidoscope is not just a laser pointer; it's real holographic and laser technology combined to create an infinite star-like display of kaleidoscopic images that you control, at your fingertips.  All this power and still just the size of a pen; it even has a pocket clip. Use it anywhere you want a light show; it fills a whole room with kaleidoscopic moving images.

The Amazing Wave of Light Animatronic Dolphin is a work of art that combines lights, sound and movement. The visual experience is hypnotic, creating a relaxing tranquil environment for any room in your home or office. You can choose from three modes: 1) Watch it move in a well-lit room with the Sound & Movement Mode; 2) Bring it into the bedroom shut the light off and watch the Movement, Sound and Light Mode take over - completely relaxing you; 3) Simply use it in the Movement Only Mode (with no sound or light) and be mesmerized by the slow graceful movement of the Dolphin. The Amazing Wave of Light Animatronic™ Dolphin has a built-in Sleep Timer Mode; with the push of a button it can be set to turn off in a 30 minutes to one hour. Cons: One user reported that the dolphin's nose got stuck and wouldn't go back down.

This magical light show can be held in the hand. It includes 36 built-in light show patterns from super bright LEDs.  It's so portable kids can take it anywhere: parties, concerts, amusement parks ... anywhere they want to dazzle their friends! Even the batteries are included so they can enjoy their Light Show Stick immediately.

The Amazing Magnetic FridgiGears Deluxe Light Show Puzzle Gear Edition lets kids make creations light up & glow in the dark. Each gear is a puzzle that a child puts together to create a moving work of art. A rotating magnetic black light is included. The motorized picture frame gear powers all 20 gears with an easy "tap on/tap off" function. Included are over 103 black-light responsive magnetic fridgi puzzle pieces.

 Airzooka is a hand-held device that  blows a harmless "ball of air" towards any object or person. Laugh with amusement as, seemingly from nowhere, you are able to mess up someone's hair, ruffle their shirt or just plain blow them away! It's available in four blacklight-responsive colors: Blue, Green, Orange and Magenta.
― Out of 39 retailers who participated in an October 2009 survey of specialty retailers, two said the AirZooka is their best-selling item for tween boys.

The Amazing String Thing transforms an ordinary piece of string into a magical moving rainbow nearly 3' in the air. Point it up, down, even sideways and watch as the string playfully dances in mid-air. Gently touching the string generates wave patterns and interactive shapes that seem to defy gravity. Kids can operate The Amazing String Thing while inside the custom base (directly on any table top), or they can simply take the lightweight hand-held wand wherever they go and conduct their very own string show. It requires 4 "AA" batteries, not included.

With a gentle spin, watch in amazement as the Non-Stop Top™ picks up speed and keeps its balance — defying physics, gravity and logic. Add to this a light show that seems to change with every spin and watch as it fills the room with wonder. It spins on any hard surface and comes with replacement batteries.

The rules are simple but, unlike regular Tic Tac Toe, you never know who will win until the last chip is played. Each player takes a turn “flicking” his or her chip up the ramp and on to the “Chip Magic” playing area where the chips are held perfectly in place. You can even take over your opponent’s square by landing on top of their chip and changing that square to yours. There are even built-in side walls for bank shots. Two different skill levels - Beginner & Professional - means kids and families will never out-grow this game. Even though the playing field is over 2-1/2' long, it all folds up into a handy case for easy portability.

You have seen it in movies and on TV hundreds of times. Just before the marksman takes the shot, the red laser dot appears on the target. Now kids are able to do the same! Turn on the Laser AirZooka™, place the laser dot on the target and shoot a harmless ball of air. Laugh with amusement as, seemingly from nowhere, you are able to mess up a person's hair, ruffle their shirt, dress or office papers or simply try your luck at indoor target practice from a distance of over 50 feet away!

Watch in amazement as The Magical Animated Butterfly comes to life with the flick of a switch. Not only will you be amazed by the butterfly’s animated wings but you will be mesmerized by the optical effect that the built-in black lights create when the lights in your room are off. Use it where you want a center of attention. Use it in your living room, den or bedroom. Add to this a sleep timer that automatically shuts your butterfly off after 15, 30 or 60 minutes or you can choose continuous operation. The choice is yours.
Wings available in 4 black light responsive colors: Blue, Orange, Green and Pink

A well-recognized throwback to yesteryear, Schylling's Mood Rings combine glossy, color-changing cabochons with silver-toned settings styled with the 1960s in mind. The “stones” in the rings sense the mood of the wearer and change accordingly from anxious orange-black to content jewel-tone blue-violet. Styles are assorted, and the metal rings are made in the USA.
― “We sell dozens of mood ring pick-ups at the counter,” said Joe Berardoni Sr., owner of Pun's Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa., during an October 2009 survey.
— In a September 2010 TDmonthly survey, seven of 44 retailers named mood rings a best-selling jewelry and accessory item, with one claiming sales of 43 a month.
— In an October 2011 survey about best selling jewelry and accessories, 4 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that mood rings were their best sellers. They sold an average of 2 dozen each month.

These 2" rubber animals have hard plastic eyes that pop out when the character's head is squeezed. The eyes then go back to their normal position. This series includes Holly the Hippo, Mickey the Monkey, Bobby the Bear and Parker the Penguin. Launch date: 2009.

Flower Power CoolZips is made of a rainbow of round wood beads with a red flower metal charm on the end. Total length is approximately 4 inches.

This two-piece, dishwasher-safe drying rack features a flexible grass top to hold baby utensils and accessories and a lower tray to catch water as it drains. It is free of BPA, PVC and phthalates.

Shocking gum appears to be a regular packet of gum with one piece sticking out. When someone grabs the piece of gum, they get a real shock.
— The Toy Store in Highlands, N.C., sells about four dozen per month of this item, Owner Michelle Bears told TDmonthly in fall 2009.

These colorful rubber bands function like traditional bands  but feature fun animal shapes when not holding something together.
— "We got 270 packages on Thursday and were sold out by Saturday morning. High school, middle school and elementary school kids are all buying them," Katie Rook, owner of Be Beep A Toy Shop in Columbia, S.C., told TDmonthly in fall 2009.
— Editors Note: This item is very similar to the Animal Rubber Bands by Eastern Accent Int'l, first reported by TDmonthly in 2005.

This cool retro scooter is designed to add a little flair to any suitcase or other bag. It measures about 5.75" x 5".