January 2011 Notable Toys — All

Dance and sing along with your children or grandchildren to this CD featuring the latest hit, "Mrs. Pinkelmeyer Makes You Happy," and the song that started the dance craze, "Pinkelmeyer Dance."

This soft and cuddly plush toy plays the music of Mrs. Pinkelmeyer's latest hit, “Mrs. Pinkelmeyer Makes You Happy,” and provides love and warmth to all those who carry her around. Playful Moopus is never far from her side, but he is detachable so he can be played with alone if child wishes.
Awards: A Summer 2011 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Product

“Meet Einstein” introduces young minds to what scientists do, helping kids make connections in things they see and experience, and teaching them that science is all around them. With colorful, playful illustrations, the book portrays Einstein as a likeable, approachable character.

Your budding artist can paint anytime with our Ultimate Art Smock. Long sleeves give complete coverage with a soft, comfortable interior. For home or school, this versatile smock closes with velcro in the back, for easy on and off. Fits most sized 3 - 7. "Our art smock is made from a soft cotton laminate that can be machine washed and dried," Jill Chuckas, Owner and Designer of Crafty Baby, told TDmonthly.

BuildaDream Playhouses give children the gift of creativity. The unique products are lightweight, sturdy and easy-to-assemble with no adhesive or fasteners required. The cardboard is printed with black graphics on white corrugated cardboard made from 80-percent recycled materials, to allow children to decorate with creative accents, making it their own.

The Drum Therapy® Kit, designed to help autistic and special needs children and adults develop retention, coordination, self-esteem, fine motor skill, sensory integration, social skills, and physical and cognitive functioning, can also help children get better grades in school, and make homework much easier. "[Used by] Doctors, School Systems, and Therapists throughout the world," Pat Gesualdo, President/CEO of DAD, told TDmonthly.

Discover rare glowing fluorescent minerals. Shine a UV light on these fluorescent minerals and what looks like an ordinary rock suddenly becomes a brilliant display of fluorescent color. Only 15-percent of the world's minerals are fluorescent, making for a fun challenge to go hunting for more of these rare minerals. Kit includes a portable, battery powered UV lamp, 6 fluorescent minerals that glow in beautiful colors and an information packet filled with fun experiments. Requires 4 AA batteries.

Challenge your mind with 15 classic puzzles. This assortment features mind-benders, take-apart puzzles, mazes and IQ challenges that are fun at home or for travel. These conundrums will test your brain, hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills. "Offers customers more problem solving and more fun than a single type of puzzle," Jordan Willing, CEO of Discover With Dr. Cool, told TDmonthly.

The Mega Shark Tooth Comparison Kit contains five real fossil shark teeth from an assortment of species: Mako, Tiger, Bullshark and more. It also includes a full-sized museum quality replica of one of the largest Megalodon teeth ever found. At over sixty feet, Megalodon was the biggest predator to ever live. Shark info guide included.

Fossils take millions of years to form and provide a record of the past. The Ultimate Fossil Kit features six superior quality fossils including an iridescent ammonite from Madagascar, a trilobite, a Mosasaur tooth from Morocco, a giant sharks tooth, two polished ocean fossils, and an info guide.

Fossils take millions of years to form and provide a record of the past. The Basic Fossil Kit features 10 specimens which include plants, sea creatures, dinosaur bones, sharks teeth and more. Also comes with a 25-page information guide.

Geodes are formed by prehistoric bubbles in lava. Over time, surrounding minerals penetrate the bubbles forming crystals. The adventure is in cracking open these real geodes to reveal the crystal caverns hidden inside. The basic kit contains six geodes from one mine. This kit includes safety glasses and instructions.
Awards: 2009 Informal Education Product of the Year Award; 2010 Museum Tour Excellence Award

Geodes are formed by prehistoric bubbles in lava. Over time, surrounding minerals penetrate the bubbles forming crystals. The adventure is in cracking open these real geodes to reveal the crystal caverns hidden inside. The Ultimate kit includes 15 geodes from three different mines for a wider variety of crystal formations which could include: quartz, fluorite, calcite, or even amethyst. This kit includes safety glasses and instructions.
Awards: 2009 Informal Education Product of the Year; 2010 Museum Tour Excellence Award

Only One Ocean contains 14 original songs from the award-winning Banana Slug String Band; all designed to inspire young people and their families to learn about and care for the ocean. Special guests include Grammy winners George Winston, Victor Wooten of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet. All songs are based on "Ocean Literacy: The Essential Principles of Ocean Sciences K-12." Associated curricula also available.
Awards: 2008 NAPPA (National Parenting Publications Awards) Honor Award; 2008 Skipping Stones Honor Awards; 2007 Moonbeam Children's Book Gold Award; 2007 iParenting Media Award; 2005 Gail Rich Award; 2005 NAPPA (National Parenting Publications Awards) Gold Award; 2005 Parents' Choice Silver Award; 2004 iParenting Media Award; 2004 Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award; 2000 AFIM Children's Album of the Year; 1997 American Library Association's Notable Children's Recording Award; 1996 NAPPA Honor Award; 1996 Parent's Choice Honor Award;  School Library Journal starred review

Made in Brazil, these life-like babies that float inside a magic bubble feature artistic characteristics such as skin, touch, and other life-like baby properties. Sculpted by Luciana Miglioranzi.
Awards: 2009 DotY Award Industry Choice, 2009 DotY Award People's Choice, 2010 IDEX Tiny Treasures

Mouth Man long-sleeve hoodie apparel feature animated designs that form an open-mouthed animal when the arms are folded at the chest level, bringing the particular animal to life. Eco-friendly and made in the USA.

Rain or shine, these colorful rainbow socks are sure to brighten your little one's day! Available in sizes 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years, and 2-4 years as well as the new larger sizes of 4-6 years and 6-8 years.

Bestie Buds can show their bestie love with bestie necklaces based on sweet treats. There are nine adorable sets available, including peanut butter & jelly, milk & cookie and ice cream & cake. "We also have 2 charms on each necklace instead of the old style which is just one of each," Darcee Matlen, President of VioletGumDrop, told TDmonthly.

Popochos™, Columbian slang for "cool" or "sweet", is the watch skin made to accompany the silicon sports watch. This watch accessory is stylish, colorful and simple to click on and off of the sports watch. The diverse collection of watch skins includes several trendy designs for Fall including: plaid, animal print and camouflage.

Helmtops are soft helmet decorations to style bike, skate, ski and snowboard helmets. Helmtops come in playful designs that let children and adults personalize their helmet. "Helmtops encourage children to get active in a safe way," Gregg Mastoras, owner of Helmtops, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 - Creative Child Magazine, Seal of Excellence. Launch Date: February 2011 at Toy Fair

Easy Fill & Tie features a way to fill and tie water balloons easily, quickly and finger friendly. This kid-friendly device can screws onto an outdoor tap to enable everyone to make water balloons. Using Easy Fill & Tie, one can tie water balloons with just two fingers.
Awards: 2010 INPEX Silver Medal awards in Toy/Games, Sports, Gadgets, and Lawn/Garden categories.

These natural rubber baby toys and teethers are made from the rubber tree sap and hand-painted with non-toxic paints. These toys are water-resistant and are completely PVC, BPA and Phthalate free. Babies can chew and mouth safely. "Our natural rubber toys and teethers are made in Spain since 1952," Olek Zhylin, manager of Nova Nature Distributing, told TDmonthly.

Meet Mrs. Pinkelmeyer, Silliest, Warmest Know-It-All™ and her lovable dog Moopus McGlinden. Follow their adventures in the Pinkelmeyer book series, dance along with their music or snuggle up with their plush, singing doll as they inspire self-esteem in children through love, warmth and silliness.

The Take Home Center unit features ten locker sections, each with a paper-tray slot. Designed for organizing messages and homework amongst other things. Each locker contains two double hooks for hanging book bags, jackets and more. Ten paper-trays are included and come in a variety of colors. This stationary unit has a lifetime warranty is made with KYDZSafe® edges, KYDZStrong® construction and KYDZTuff® finish.