March 2009 Notable Toys — Eco-Friendly

This kit includes printed cotton canvas, a doll pattern, scissors, needle, thread and stuffing so that kids can make their own dolly. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2009.

Where to Buy: Creative Kidstuff

3 times award winning kit containing pre-cut wooden pieces, paint, glue and varnish to make a bird café. Even includes a splash mat to keep your surfaces clean

A great kit for children to learn to knit. With fully illustrated easy-to-follow instructions, knitting needles, yarn, stuffing and cute felt pieces to bring your elephant to life.

Brightly colored beech wood flowers bring this beautiful clutching toy to bloom. Haba's non toxic water based stain brings out the beautiful essence of this infant toy. Just the right size for any little girl's hands!

It's Springtime at Haba with this triangular clutching toys for little girls. Wooden shapes on an elastic string are sure to stimulate any youngster's senses! Made in Germany of beechwood and non toxic waterbased stain.

Let the race begin! Nicely colored clutching toy for the young car enthusiast. Made in G ermany of beechwood, this clutching toy has non toxic waterbased stain finish and is totally safefor all young drivers!

Brightly colored, simple and elegant clutching toy for infants six months and up. Made with German Beech and colored with non-toxic water based stain!

Brightly colored clutching toy for infants six months and up. Made with German Beech and colored with non-toxic water based stain!

Made out of recycled plastic bottles, this environmentally friendly moose stands 10" tall and features a dark brown coat and tan antlers. Launch date: 2009.

Made in the United States and available in pink, purple and green, this eco-friendly jump rope features 7' rope that's adjustable and made of 100-percent cotton, and handles made from recycled plastic. Launch date: 2009.

This certified, 100-percent organic cotton yoyo doll is handmade by fair trade artisans in India. This is the classic yoyo doll made for decades by grandmas, updated for the green community. "It's so difficult and time consuming to make this doll that it can only be made by hand. Yoyo dolls have been childhood favorites for generations," Jenny Krauss, president of Kinderware, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Red Bolt Cape is elegant and durable. Each satin cape is lined with supersoft velvet chamois (made from recycled plastic bottles) and adorned with a retro-cool handsewn wool felt applique. The high neckline has a one-size-fits-all snap closure. It includes a drawstring bag, perfect for tucking away secret identities. Available in various styles, and two sizes, the cape starts at $18. It is handcrafted in San Francisco. Launch date: March 2009.

Recycle Kyle™ likes to get people motivated about recycling because it is fun, easy, and something everyone can do. From Seattle, he loves to ride his skateboard, a pollution-free form of transportation. Kyle's dedication to recycling began one day while cruising through a park. He hit a soda can and fell down and hurt himself. Since then he has been spreading the word about recycling. He even started a recycling program at school. Kids can join Kyle and the other Global Green Pals on their mission. "The Global Green Pals are a unique group of dolls that highlight important environmental issues and encourage children to learn through play. They have the capability of inspiring children of all origins to take action by changing small things in their daily activities," Malini Goel, founder and president of Restoration Gallery LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

The heavy-duty Tire Time Swing Set makes a great replacement or upgrade for your existing playground set. It includes a heavy-duty plastic tire, a 4 foot double looped nylon rope, and a metal looped attachment device for connection to your playground set. With only four simple steps, the Tire Time Swing Set is assembled easily. Lead free and made of recycled materials. For ages 3-8 with maximum weight of 75 lbs. Adult supervision required.

From the sustainably-minded Plan Toys company comes a dollhouse built with many of the latest advances in green engineering in mind. The house itself is made out of recycled rubberwood accented with safe vegetable dyes for color. It includes a retractable canopy wall made from organic cotton, a wind turbine, solar panels and recycling bins. The house is available furnished and unfurnished. Launch date: 2009.
— Plan products were named as best sellers at Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., in March 2009. “They’re eco-friendly and beautifully designed and made,” Owner Patricia Fiedler told TDmonthly.

This handcrafted, wooden pull toy is made by artisans in India and features coloring provided by natural vegetable dye. The turtle's shell rotates as the toy is pulled along. It measures 5" x 5" x 4.5".

Adding to the earth-friendly series that encourages kids to recycle products through their constructions, the PirateShip comes with 112 pieces as well as a scavenger list of items children must collect to create their sailable ship. Launch date: February 2009.

This cuddly bear is made of eco-friendly materials, including hypoallergenic stuffing and sustainable toy bean fiber, and includes a heart-shaped vibration unit that offers gentle vibration at two modes: heartbeat, a soothing pulse; and continuous, a constant motion. It comes with the Polar Cuddle Cub Storybook that tells the bear's story while educating kids on endangered animals. This product received a 2009 iParenting Media Award.

A child can slip through the opening of this plane and run around holding the sides of it, pretending to fly. It can also be decorated and personalized with paints, markers and accessories. It measures 29" x 18" x 18".

Specializing in earth-friendly and organic goods for young children, Dandelion Earth Friendly Goods has created a line of whimsical rattles and teethers. This soft yellow duck has stitched features and is made with organic cotton velour. A fun first friend for teething, tugging, and snuggling. The interior stuffing is made from fluffy, natural corn fibers. Launch Date: April 2009

These eco-friendly construction toys were inspired by children's board books and come with landscape and character pieces. Each set includes flat panels printed with colorful, water-based ink and slotted building blocks made from earth-friendly Sprigwood. The Palace and Barnyard are large sets. There are also medium sets: Construction Site, Ladybug Adventure and Safari Adventure (MSRP: $19.99). Large sets are 90 pieces; the medium are 60. Launch date: Fall 2009.

Suitable for babies 6 months and up, this soft, developmental toy is made of organic cotton fabric and is machine washable. It is part of a collection that features minimal packaging made of recycled paper and printed with vegetable-based inks. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— "[I] love the organics, as new mothers are asking for them," commented Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Books & Games in Oklahoma City, following the 2009 ASTRA exhibition.

Designed to help children connect children to nature and teach them about environmental concerns, this album features the Missoula Coyote Choir, made up of children ages 7 to 12 who are building eco-awareness. The project also promotes the process of biomimicry — learning from nature itself in order to develop solutions for a more sustainable world. The CD includes 18 tracks.  “A bunch of great songs for kids, their grownups and other animals.” —Bill Harley, Grammy® Award Winner.
Awards: 2009 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award, 2009 Parents' Choice Award, 2009 iParenting Media Best Choice Award.