January 2011 Notable Toys — Award Winners

Cycle Flyr is a home playground ride that combines the fun of riding a bicycle with the "flying sensation" of a carousel. Kids pedal on the bicycle-style seat and are lifted into the air, rotating for as long as they keep pedaling. "There are no similar products on the market and this is a first one-of-a-kind playground/backyard ride," Michael Bishop, partner at Cycle Flyr, told TDmonthly. (Prototype Only.)

Between a Roc and a Hard Place is the story of a young dragon named Tephra, who is abandoned as an egg and is subsequently adopted and raised by a family of giant birds (Rocs). Through trial and error, Tephra and her family members learn along the way what being a family really means. The story explores intricacies of adoption, especially interracial adoptions, all without ever mentioning the word ‘adoption.’ Author Danny Birt has an MA degree in music therapy, and has worked with children who have special needs.
Awards: 2010 National Parenting Center Children's Books award

The Creative Child "Album of the Year" winner introduces children to the sophisticated instrumentation of New Orleans style music, while keeping them entertained with classics like "Zip a Dee Doo Dah" and "Yellow Submarine".  Each song is stylized and funkified by one of New Orleans' acclaimed artists (Ivan Neville of Neville Brothers, Radiators etc.) and a portion of all proceeds goes toward music education in classrooms.
Awards:  2009 Creative Child "Album of the Year, 2008 Creative Child "Preferred Choice."

This collection features re-recorded lullabies and popular songs whimsically re-imagined as lullabies by some of today's most notable indie artists. "We reinvent what it means to be a lullaby allowing indie-hipster parents to enjoy our CD just as much as their children do," American Laundromat Records Founder and President Joseph H. Spadaro told TDmonthly.
— “Chockfull of surprises,” said SoundXP’s Paul M of the CD, “it’s like a musical jamboree bag, perfect for savvy toddlers and their funloving carers.” Paul praised the inclusion of “a lot of quirky numbers like Little Boxes by The Real Tuesday Weld and Inchworm by The Leisure Society” and the charity nature of the album.
— Jason of CT Indie had high expectations for the CD, but he “had no idea how touching it would be. Hearing this record was like when all the Whos down in Whoville started singing, making the Grinch's small heart grow three sizes.” He loved “every note of this record” and found it “perfectly suitable for softly fading evenings.”
Awards: 2010 NAPPA Gold

Canson has created a wonderful wide range collection of paper supplies meant to inspire young artists and fans of Eric Carle.  This new eco series (90% of the paper is made from recycled materials)  includes little market and sketch pads that are just right for taking out of a backpack while you're traveling. 
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal.

The Adventures of Zylie and Friends is a new award-winning collection of lovable plush characters, fashionable outfits, and educational stories. The line follows Zylie, a young bear from Manhattan, on her exciting adventures around the world where she meets new friends, collects new outfits, and learns about new countries and cultures. The characters come packaged in their own Adventure Kits, complete with 18" 5-jointed plush bear, signature outfit, accessories, passport, and a storybook from the series.
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award; 2010 Dr. Toy Best Picks; 2010 Parent's Choice Approved; 2010 NAPPA Rising Star; 2010 Creative Child Magazine Top Toy of the Year Award; 2011 PAL Award

These spinning bears go round and round when baby pushes the knob on top. The brightly colored spinning top is made of sturdy plastic and has a flat bottom that sits flat on the floor. A fun toy for learning about cause and effect and for making things happen.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Thanks A Lot! is a game everyone can enjoy. You receive six cards that say things like: 24 hours of invisibility, National Debt: paid Off, Shopping Spree.  You then give two of the cards to the other players.  They rank them in terms of their favorite things from 50 to 300.  You then get a corresponding chip to where they placed your card. 
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A push toy with lots of pretend possibilities.  This mower is designed for true walkers.  It is not weighted for toddlers that are looking for something to hold onto.  This is a prop that makes a pleasing sound when it's pushed.  The top of the mower comes off and doubles as a leaf blower. It has a crank and a see-thru window so that you can see the parts move. Not difficult to put together.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A gender free red, white, and blue shopping cart. Scaled perfectly for toddlers and preschoolers. This is a favorite piece of equipment for pretend play. It can hold a doll, bear or other soft toy in the usual up front place. It has an open basket that is easy to load as well as a lower shelf for big items. The top basket has no openings for small items to fall through.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A giant size 47" diameter round play mat with plenty of room for baby to crawl and play. It has a detachable mirror, teethers, and eye catching polka-dotted fabrics and many interesting textures. There are big satin patches, and crinkle ears on big faces of a monkey, mouse, bear, and elephant. A colorful lion’s mane has a velour feel and bright yellow face.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A huge 47" square play mat provides plent of space for baby to roll, sit, and begin to crawl. It has 20 different play features with interesting sounds and textures to explore. The patterns on the vibrant patchwork quilt adds visual interest, as does the safety mirror and lift up ears on the animal faces. Big enough for twins or more to share.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Soft as silk and totally huggable this 16" plush Teddy bear has velvety snout and paws and a sweet friendly face. Ready to listen to stories, songs or just quietly in the arms of a child. The bean bottomed lovable is a nice armful and available in beige or light honey brown.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

This 15 piece tin tea set that comes with a wind-up tea pot.  Wind it up and then pour--it plays "I'm a Little Tea Pot".  The set comes with the tea pot, four plates, four cups and saucers and a tray--just right for pretend tea parties.  No batteries are required to get the tea pot to play-it just winds up like a music box. 
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

This is a set of building blocks that are made out of bamboo.  They are Lincoln Log inspired pieces - the set comes with 63 pieces.  There's enough pieces to make the house as shown on the packaging or to create your own structure. 
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Low to the ground, this is a perfect little first ride-on for kids who are steady on their feet. It's shiny red and looks like a classic red vehicle. There are no pedals to complicate the action. It's foot to the floor fun with a steering wheel loaded with a horn that is sure to please. The bumpers make this furniture-safe. The front bumper is loaded with 7 funny sounds.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Hang the Velcro fabric straps of this colorful Buggybu Musical toy on the crib rail or stroller. Give the smooth wooden ring a tug and the three parts of its body pull down and play Brahms Lullaby as they move back up. Each of the round segments of the body have ribbons to touch. The body of the Buggybu, itself has multiple textures. A fleece face with stitched features, crinkly wings, and segments done in cord and knits with satin piping.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

A great combination of two favorite play modes for learning about cause and effect and making things happen. There's an easy to activate ball drop with two balls that roll down a chute and best of all, there is a set of colorful gears that twirl and play music. Tots can activate the gears by moving them directly or by pressing the red happy face button.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

For the sitting up baby, this is an ideal floor toy with six Stack 'n Surprise blocks under the peg back of the Croc. It's an ideal put and take toy with places to stack the blocks that pop up as they are put on the big pegs. Now, open the long handle that locks under the body of the Croc and your toddler will use this for a pull along or push along toy as they begin to walk about. All the stacking blocks with jolly faces can ride along or stay inside.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.

Rubbery letters cover with a soft flocking and done in bright primary colors make these an eye appealing way to know and name the alphabet. The magnet is totally encased in each letter so no fear about safety. These are a great way to give kids a feel for the shapes of the letters, building a sensory awareness that will help them remember and eventually write.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal, 2010.

Four friendly Weebles are ready for play in their own little treehouse. Put the figures in the tree and shut the door for a game of peek-a-boo. Put them in the treetop platform and they teeter and totter. Or put them at the base of the tree and turn the crank to bring them up, up, up and onto the ramp that they can slide down again. Toddlers will like the repetition of sending their Weebles up and down. The toy has four songs and eight different sounds.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal, 2010.

Yoga fans will relate to this baby mat immediately. It's made of a cushioned foam surface that is non-toxic  - 100%TPE  (no PVC, no Latex) and that rolls up in a bag for easy on-the-go activities.  Going to a mommy and me class? Just need a place to change the baby that doesn't feel creepy?   This mat is ideal for little ones and much like a yoga mat, very easy to take along. Comes in a variety of patterns.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal, 2010.

This sleek looking clock is powered with a solar panel and features a small projector so you can watch time fly on your ceiling. It has a 2 minute crescendo alarm with and 8 minute snooze option. A sensor detects room brightness and turns off the projector to conserve energy.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal, 2010.

An affordable collection of 18" multicultural dolls that budget minded shoppers will appreciate. These do not have soft bodies and their joints are a little weird, but mostly covered with jeans and such. They come packaged with extra sports clothing and a book/journal that gives the reader background on the doll as well as space to write about themselves. There are plenty of accessories sold separately and an online site where there are games.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal, 2010.