May 2009 Notable Toys — Interactive

Kids can choose an adventure and set off to a land near or far, playing with polar bears and seals in the freezing floating ice lands, or discovering tigers in the dense jungle. Four backgrounds set the arena for 26 animals to play and jump around. Launch date: 2009.

With more than 60 pieces and a lettered play board showing both upper- and lower-cased letters, this set gives kids a way to become more familiar with the alphabet. Each picture has the word on felt to go along with it. And ech vowel has an image of its long and short sound, helping to start the concept of beginning phonics. Launch date: 2009.

Kids's imaginations can splash into an underwater world where scuba divers explore the colorful creatures of the coral reef or venture out into open water and find magnificent giant mammals and fish. This play board and 28 felt pieces create a place to explore the depths of the sea. Launch date: 2009.

With this imaginative kit, kids can set a scene in which the characters fly a kite in the cool salty air, build art sculptures of sand, or go snorkeling and discover the world under the sea. A beach oasis is a playground paradise for this boy and girl. It includes more than 20 colorful felt pieces. Launch date: 2009.

Deep in the rainforest camouflaged againt dense vegetation hide unique animals. A tapir slumbers by the sleepy three-toed sloth, while toucans and monkeys sing in the trees. A lavish play board provides a dense cover for more than 20 felt animals. Launch date: 2009.

The goal of this game is to help everyone from Mom and Dad to Granny and Grandpa have a great day and not get caught by The Blues. Players can pass on a hug, make others laugh with goofy faces, tell someone what they like about them, dance, sing, share a joke, and more. Feel-Good Cards have lots of things to do to chase away The Blues, but players must be careful, as The Blues can sneak up very quickly. Participants can personalize the game's supplies by adding various books and music of their own. Suggestions are included. The games includes a 12" x 12" board, feel-good cards, a neighborhood card, people movers, the blues and dice.

Turn My Pal Scout into a true best friend by personalizing the learning online. With 14 fun activities built-in and more than 30 melodies to choose from, this snuggly custom pal is a lasting learning companion. WIth a USB cord, you can program Scout to say a child's name and refer to his or her favorite foods or colors. Launch date: 2009.
— LeapFrog informed TDmonthly in June 2009 that My Pal Scout was recalled due to potential removal of its paw decals. A redesigned My Pal Scout, available August 2009, replaces the decals with embroidered paws.

Little learners play in a grown-up way with Text and Learn. The pretend browser and play text messages with Scout the dog lead to real-life skills as children explore letters and QWERTY keyboarding in fun on-the-go games. Launch date: 2009.

Elmo loves dancing and tickling. With Elmo Tickle Hands, children wear soft, furry red gloves with Elmo's face on them. When they touch objects, they hear silly sound effects and Elmo saying several phrases and laughing. If they tickle, Elmo cracks up even more. A dance mode is activated by touching Elmo's nose. Motion sensors allow Elmo to guide kids through his latest dance. This product is suitable for ages 18 months and up. Launch date: August 2009.

Suitable for ages 18 months and up, this toy builds on the success of the 2008 Elmo Live. The encore version has new jokes, a new story and more interactive features. It will also sing the Sesame Street theme song “Sunny Days,” as well as “Somebody Come and Play” and “Elmo's World.” Launch date: October 2009.

This super-soft plush toy comes with a code that gives kids access to an online world of fun and games.

This lion's king of the jungle, both online and off. While he seems to be an adorable, snuggly plush animal, he also has a secret code that allows kids to access the Kookeys website for fun and educational games.

On the docks of Sodor Bay, Cranky keeps the ships and engines productive. Cranky the Crane unloads cargo from ships and loads it onto the train cars. The Talking Railway Series engines unlock special personalized greetings as they pass by Talking Railway Series destinations. Children will delight in hearing Sir Topham Hatt utter "Rosie, Cranky is ready to load the cargo." or "Edward, you are right on time!" The more talking Railway Series engines and destinations added, the more interactive the world becomes!This toy features engine-recognition technology and can address Talking Railway engines by name. It also works with traditional engines. Launch date: 2009.

Revnjenz are fast, sleek and sporty street racers that come to life when the owner enters online his or her personalized "Secret Code" that is hidden on the back of the collectible driver's license. In Revnjenz World, kids can race and play games to earn BoostBucks to trick out their ride. "We have developed a virtual world community of street racers that focuses on an untouched market in the retail product/virtual world tie in. We fill a new, unpaved path for boys that gives them something new and unique to play in and talk about. We also have not left out the girls, as the boys can 'trick out' but the girls can 'accessorize' their rides," Susan Ashford, of the sales and marketing division at Revnjenz, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 3, 2008.

This plush, battery operated character is motion activated to laugh and roll around when a hand is moved in front of the light sensor on its forehead. Launch date: March 2009.

A bookworm to the core, this tan Glowberry Bear always wants to know more. When he’s not reading, he yearns to explore, and see which adventure is behind the next door. The Glowberry Bears are 12-inch soft plush, adorable daytime friends; at night they are huggable, cuddly, night-lights. The Glowberry Bears glow and giggle if their tummies are rubbed. A squeeze of their left paw and they become a cuddly night-light. The Glowberry Bears can actually talk to kids and when two Glowberry Bears are in the same proximity they talk to each other!

Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, she’s always giggling and having a ball. This yellow Glowberry Bear is kind from head to toe, both her tummy and her personality glow. The Glowberry Bears are 12-inch soft plush, adorable daytime friends; at night they are huggable, cuddly, night-lights. The Glowberry Bears glow and giggle if their tummies are rubbed. A squeeze of their left paw and they become a cuddly night-light. The Glowberry Bears can actually talk to kids and when two Glowberry Bears are in the same proximity they talk to each other!

Twinkles is pink and just the kind of Glowberry Bear you’d think. She’s pretty and kind, and witty you’ll find. Besides her incredible ability to sing, the other Glowberry Bears will tell you she knows everything. The Glowberry Bears are 12-inch soft plush, adorable daytime friends; at night they are huggable, cuddly, night-lights. The Glowberry Bears glow and giggle if their tummies are rubbed. A squeeze of their left paw and they become a cuddly night-light. The Glowberry Bears can actually talk to kids and when two Glowberry Bears are in the same proximity they talk to each other!

This Glowberry Bear is green, the youngest and cutest on the scene. Smart and athletic, he has it all, and is always there to help when his best friends call. Day after day, this fastest Glowberry Bear is out, discovering what Snooky Island’s all about. The Glowberry Bears are 12-inch soft plush, adorable daytime friends; at night they are huggable, cuddly, night-lights. The Glowberry Bears glow and giggle if their tummies are rubbed. A squeeze of their left paw and they become a cuddly night-light. The Glowberry Bears can actually talk to kids and when two Glowberry Bears are in the same proximity they talk to each other!

Press a song button on the guitar and sing along to popular children’s songs. Lyrics are printed in the book. Roll the bar on the guitar to play the melody note by note. Includes five song triggers.

Kids help Thomas take photos from around Sodor. “Digital camera” module includes buttons for five spread animations with sound effects, a flash snapshot button, and a slideshow button. Kids watch the LED animation and press the snapshot button to capture a still ‘photo’ that they can then view by pressing the slideshow button. Each spread animation can have six ‘photos’ and each ‘photo’ is accompanied by a sound effect.

Children will love using the real working flashlight included with this book to cast shadows on the book and the pop-ups that are on each spread. The flashlight includes five fun sounds. 

Steering Wheel books feature a steering wheel mounted on a telescoping base that raises and locks into place. Sound triggers, including the horn button on the wheel, make realistic vehicle sounds to accompany the story. Each spread features the story with illustration on the left-hand page, while the right-hand page shows what the child sees through the “windshield” at a particular point in the story.

Trigger 25 magic moments including sound, character voice, and melodies by touching the “magic” spots on the page with the magic wand. Or wave the wand in the air to hear sparkly magic wand sounds.