May 2010 Notable Toys — Interactive

The doll-sized toy buggies are styled in varying fabrics with true-to-life details and functionality. The toys are suitable for a doll sized 15" to 19."

Thse doll-sized toy buggies are styled in varying fabrics with true-to-life details and functionality. Toys are suitable for a doll sized 1" to 19".

These doll-sized toy buggies are styled in varying fabrics with true-to-life details and functionality. The toys are suitable for a doll sized 15" to 19."

Lotso Huggin' Bear features film-accurate details and is sculpted using Disney/Pixar’s digital data. When his hands are pressed, he speaks, responding to tone and volume of voice.

The Alphabet Pal can giggle, sing, walk and flash its antennae. Four learning modes are designed to introduce letter names, letter sounds, colors and music.

The pencil grasp trainer is designed to target and activate the proper muscles for writing. It's created for both left- and right-handed writers to improve handwriting and decrease hand fatigue. The patented ergonomic grip was designed and tested by an occupational therapist with finger guard and unique angles to place and hold fingers in the proper position. It is non toxic and latex free.

Junior paleontologists will delight in the engaging text and cool illustrations of Viewfinder: Fossils. Featuring a unique removable magnifier, readers can take a close-up look at extraordinary photos and eye-popping digital illustrations of the fossils of the Velociraptor, Sauropod and more. Interactive elements include flaps to lift, slider panels and comparative exercises. Silver Dolphin Publicist Julie Serra told TDmonthly, "Kids will explore like never before in this fascinating fossil book!"

The Glowberry Bears are interactive plush bears that are also a night light. Each bear talks, giggles and glows when its tummy is tickled or paw is squeezed, and when two Glowberry Bears are in the same proximity they can talk to each other. The bears are available in five colors. Robert Burgess, President of Burgess Toys, told TDmonthly in April 2010, "The Glowberry Bears can talk to the child or to each other. They also glow and giggle, and a virtual world is being constructed."

The Jumbieland Mooscow is one of twelve mixed-breed Jumbies plush toys. This moose/cow mix is named Yuri and he and his fellow Jumbies have an interactive website full of games and downloadable content.  Launch date: 2008.

Jessie comes packaged with a USB key that provides access to Hub City and to Nuna, a magical, natural forest off the mainland in KizPlanet. Jessie is the steward of the "green" island of Nuna. She loves nature and animals, doesn't mind getting dirty, and is a mix of a tomboy spirit and a compassionate nature. With Nuna KizPals Jessie or Takoda, kids gain additional interaction points in Nuna and Hub City, unique areas for their avatar to check out, and new quests, games and adventures. Launch date: 2010.

The Webkinz Peace Puppy comes with a code allowing him to join his friends in the online  Webkinz World. This velvety soft pet is about 10” and is covered with peace signs. Launch date: March 2010.
— Webkinz continued to be popular items with tween girls into 2010, and My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., was no exception. The Peace Puppy was a best seller at My Club Tabby in spring 2010, Owner Natalie Comeaux told TDmonthly.

Approximately 14”, this soft doll is cozy in a sweatshirt, boots and stylish shorts. She’s part of the Ty Girlz collection and comes with a code to an online world.
— Ty Girlz were popular items at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., in spring 2010, Owner Natalie Comeaux told TDmonthly.

The Summer Infant 3-Stage Super Seat from Summer Infant offers 360 degrees of floor time activity fun and a booster combined. Growing infants can experience play while also sitting up. All stages have a 3-point crotch restraint for baby's safety and there are 2 sets of chair straps for added security in Booster Seat Mode.
STAGE 1: Infant Support Seat- Support Seat aids baby when learning to sit up
STAGE 2: Floortime Activity Seat- 360 degree rotating tray, removable snack tray, includes 5 playful toys
STAGE 3: Booster Seat- includes removable soft foam insert for growing child

LOOPZ™ takes the timeless play pattern of memory games to a new level by adding light, music and motion. This interactive game is a test in rhythm and coordination consisting of four semi-circular rings with infrared sensors that light up to create challenging patterns players must follow. Seven different game modes allow players to play solo, head-to-head, host up to 4 players or even turn LOOPZ™ into a musical instrument.
—As of 1.07.2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars on Walmart.com and was the #2 bestselling item in the Games & Puzzles category. Pros: Seven different games; single player and multi-player options. Cons: Some levels are not challenging enough for older children.

This day-at-a-glance calendar with plenty of space for the reusable static cling chores, money and happy/sad pieces is designed to make allowance fun for kids and easy for parents. It includes a dry-erase pen and more than 60 chores to choose from. Launch date: April 2010.

With talkatoo™ parents can share a little love with their kids whenever they're apart and wherever they go. Talkatoo™ voice recordable pendants let kids and their parents record and share sweet notes, helpful reminders or encouraging words so they can feel more connected when they’re not together. They come with six different fun designs — some for boys, some for girls and even some for moms. They can be worn as a necklace or clipped to a backpack, lunchbox, belt loop, etc. Launch date: May 31, 2010.

This interactive baby will move, talk, giggle, and sing like a real-life playful baby when her left hand is squeezed. Playful Baby is all soft stuffed and cuddly with vinyl hands and feet and go-to-sleep eyes. She is dressed in a removable romper. Uses 2 AA batteries, included. Launch date: August 2010.

Musical Circles is a game where players compete to stay in the game and be the last one standing. Players move around the outside of the mat as music plays and scramble for a spot when the music stop. The mat is 96" x 36". There are six blue circles labeled "NOT SAFE", six green circles labeled "SAFE," and one red circle in the center labeled "SAFEST." Players line up on the outside and move in the direction of the arrows as music plays. For 2-14 players.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Excellence Award

Challenge oneself and each other to spell words. Use adjacent letters on the mat to move about by spelling words. This game consists of a mat that is 96” x 72” that you lay out on the floor. There are 14 columns and 13 rows containing 182-letter circles. There is one letter per circle. Players compete to spell words moving from the “START/END” points (stepping on the letter circles) while moving to the far side and then return to the “START/END” points. The first one to return is the winner. Level I has the easiest level of difficulty.

This game consists of a mat that is 96” x 72” that you lay out on the floor. There are 14 columns and 13 rows containing 182-letter circles. There are two letters per circle. Players must spell words consisting of four or more letters using any letter combination from the circles they choose. Players compete to spell words moving from the “START/END” points [stepping on letter circles] while moving to the far side and then return to the “START/END” points. The first one to return is the winner. This is the moderate level of difficulty. This game can be played indoors or outdoors. The fabric is washable. For 2-4 players.

This game consists of a mat that is 96” x 72” that you lay out on the floor. There are 14 columns and 13 rows containing 182-letter circles. There are three letters per circle. Players must spell words consisting of six or more letters using any letter combination from the circles they choose. Players compete to spell words moving from the “START/END” points [stepping on the letter circles] while moving to the far side and then return to the “START/END” points. The first one to return is the winner. This is the most difficult level. This game can be played indoors or outdoors. The fabric is washable. For 2-4 players.

Terrordactyl® is a fast-snapping, grub-spitting, interactive dinosaur! When his sensors are triggered, he'll snap at anything that moves but, rest-assured, boys can tame him by feeding him his disgusting, sticky grub. Beware – if he doesn’t like who approaching, he'll spit it out for gooey fun!

The latest realistic dinosaur pet kids will love. Continuing the interactive robotic dino DNA CRUNCHER™ takes a big bite out of fun with his cantankerous carnivorous ways as he dances, plays catch, begs for food, comes when called and purrs happily when he’s petted. If sent into attack mode though, he’ll rear up on his hind legs and charge forward with startling speed while snapping his massive jaws.

The intelligent 612-piece NXT Lego brick features 32-bit microprocessor, a large matrix display, 4 input and 3 output ports, and Bluetooth and USB communication link; batteries not included. This set includes interactive servo motors and four sensors (Ultrasonic Sensor, 2 Touch Sensors and the all-new Color Sensor). The Color Sensor has triple functionality; it distinguishes colors and light settings, and functions as a lamp. This product comes with easy-to-use software (PC and Mac) with icon-based drag-and-drop programming and 16 fun building and programming challenges, along with building instructions for 4 new amazing robots. Awards: 2010 TOTY Award
— As of 7.27.2010, this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 46 reviews on Amazon.com, and was listed No. 44 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Teaches simple programming with well-designed, easy-to-use software. Encourages creative play. CONS: Not innovative enough; doesn't allow for open-ended play; one customer received two defective sets before receiving one that worked.
— In late Spring 2011, 25% of retailers surveyed said LEGO was their best-selling brand of construction toys.