February 2011 Notable Toys — Novelties

This water cannon stands on a tripod. It can be connected to a garden hose directly for an endless supply of "ammo." Launch date: June 2011.

This multi-color gummy snake is 2.5 feet, chewy and sweet. There are 3 flavors available: Apple Attack, Blue Raspberry Bite and Cherry Chase.

All picks contain guitar riffs of three iconic rock songs that play with the flick of the pick. Each pick has a whammy bar button and an attached carabiner clip. Assortment includes Rolling Stones, Classic Rock and Rebel Rock picks. Peg-ready, footed clamshell package.

The Executive Marshmallow Shooter holds 25 miniature marshmallows in its magazine chamber and fires up to 30 feet accurately.

This pump-action device fires miniature marshmallows approximately 30 feet on a line. This shooter has two magazines that hold 25 marshmallows each and is top-rack, dishwasher safe to clean. The shooter, like all Marshmallow Fun Company products, is designed to shoot nothing but soft, safe marshmallows.

Where to buy:
SOUTH

The Double Barrel Crossbow fires mini marshmallows from two magazines.

Based on characters from the cult classic movie, these plastic and resin figures will be released in two lines, one in Spring 2011 and one in the summer. They include a moving eye feature which enables the user to roll their eyes.

This spider has realistic fully functioning articulated legs, glowing red eyes and can move over any smooth surface. Having 360 degrees of spin motion it will move on floors, walls and even upside-down. Its advanced air suction technology allows the spider to cling onto walls. The spider is completely controlled wirelessly via its combination remote control and charging station (6 AA batteries not included). Each spider comes with its own limited edition collector’s comic book as well as a lifelike spider bite temporary tattoo.

Gridiron Fanatic screams “Touchdown!” and “Boooo!” on command with the press of a button on his foot. Gridiron Fanatic is also packed with several offensive and defensive sound effects and phrases (“Tackle somebody!  Anybody!” and “Bears have an amazing sense of smell, and I smell a TOUCHDOWN!”), activated with a pat on his paws. Launch date: Fall 2011.

These miniature ice cream makers take three minutes to turn ingredients (sugar, milk cream, water, and anything else like to add like nuts, raisins, or candy) into an iced confection. There's no motor or batteries...the only energy required is a little vigorous shaking. Simply place ice cubes and salt into the lower part of the cup, and fill the top with sweetened juice, milk or cream. Fasten the lid and shake. The salt quickly melts the ice, which makes the aluminum plate super-cold, turning the liquid into ice cream, ice milk, or sorbet. Available in assorted animal characters (polar bear, cat, seal, dog, penguin)

There are 10 Gomu erasers for each of Spin Master's 10 themes. These little erasers come in singles and in packs. The erasers vary in rarity, and you can track how many Gomu points you have on their website (the more rare the Gomu, the higher the point value).

These erasers from TY are tiny animals that can be taken apart and reassembled. The first release of Beanie Eraserz included 14 characters.

This ghostly marshmallow plays the main theme from the movie “Ghostbusters” when you press his tummy. Choose between happy or sad.

These cute eggs come in a variety of characters. You can switch around their heads to let them have a chance to experience a different costume. They also wind up and walk.

These helium-filled clownfish balloons are remote controlled to "swim" through the air. The infrared remote functions include climb, descend, and tail fin control. Up to a 40 ft range. 57 inches long, 36 inches high. Launch date: 2011.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 3.3 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Entertaining. Cons: Flimsy; hard to balance; does not work well in areas with AC, fans, or open doors or windows.

This microphone was developed in conjunction with the eponymous hip-hop artist, notorious for his auto-tuned jams. The hand-held wireless microphone plays three different beats to sing over, and records your voice. It features pitch-correction. Launch date: Fall 2011.

Everything you need to build your own Hexbug Nano Habitat that glows in the dark. Batteries included.

The regular Hexbugs and the HEXBUG Nano Hive Habitat Set won the Specialty Toy of the Year Award at the 2012 American International Toy Fair. This glow in the dark version features the same motion sensors and scuttling capabilities that made the original version so popular. Glow in the dark habitats are also available. Batteries included.
— Jamie Merlavage of Tree House Toy Shop in Cumberland, Md., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that they sell about a dozen HEXBUG Nanos each month.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone  in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey about best-selling toys that she sells a dozen HEXBUGS each month.
— In a March 2012 survey, 2 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Hexbugs were their best selling product. Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., said that they sell dozens of different styles of Hexbugs each month, and that the line has been a best seller for more than a year now.

Tupac Shakur has sold over seventy five million albums worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. Naturally, the next step was to become a bobblehead. Launch date: Early 2011.

Biggie is celebrated as one of the greatest rap artists and is described as "the savior of East Coast hip-hop." That’s why he has his own bobblehead. Launch date: Early 2011.

These sparkling silicone bands can be stretched out to fit around a child's wrist, but they always go back to their original shape. The 24-Pack Baby Boy Series includes: Pacifier, Baby Boy, Safety Pin, Rabbit, Stroller, Rocking Horse.

Among the sand and glitter in the I Spy Wonder Tubes are I Spy pictures. Find the floating pictures in the tube to answer the I Spy riddle/rhymes. There are three different sets of riddles and five different colors to collect. "The I Spy Wonder Tubes are unique because they feature the I Spy images AND I Spy riddles," Carol Comes, senior product manager at Briarpatch Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2011.

Kids can create and customize their own stickers online and print them at home with StickerYou.com's new product, Make Your Own Stickers.  Kids go on the StickerYou website, design the stickers, and print them on the special sticker paper. Using a code they will find inside their purchase, sticker-lovers can access popular licensed characters and the StickerYou's art bank of images, apply text, backgrounds and color tools, or use special effects and image upload features to create their own personalized stickers. "Stickers have been around for over 100 years, but the industry has always been about providing a readymade product,” said Andrew Witkin, president of StickerYou. “However, today’s consumer - particularly youth - expect to be able to customize their images, something they haven’t been able to do with stickers... until now.” The Make Your Own Stickers line offers consumers their choice of packs of stickers and labels in an assortment of shapes, including Make Your Own Photo Stickers and Make Your Own Sticker Albums. Launch date: June 2011

Fruitominoes, is a domino game for players aged 5 and up featuring fruit connections rather than dots. "With Fruitominoes, we put our fruity new spin on a classic!" said Rena Nathanson, CEO of Bananagrams. The game comes in a portable pouch so that it can be played at home or on the go.