June 2009 Notable Toys — All

Simply fill the vase 3/4 full with water, add Vase-Over powder and stir. After thirty seconds, add the fun, themed foam and glitter accents, and voila — a decorated, multi-dimensional container. All that's left to do is add flowers. "There is no need to change the solution, and most cut flowers will last longer in our patent-pending formulation than water! This is the only product on the market that revolutionizes vases and how they look, as well as being made in the United States," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Kids can make three free-standing snowmen with this kit, which includes four types of polymers, a tray, whimsical instructions and information, and more. "This kit contains everything needed to make multitudes of snow-related items, and is completely made in the United States," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Stevia is known to produce a sweetener twenty to thirty times sweeter than sugar. The Sweet Leaf Plant is a sub-tropical plant that will grow 2' to 3' tall. "This product contains a plant that actually works! It is made in the United States and is guaranteed to grow," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Individuals can grow ingredients to make their own herbal teas. Plants include Lemon Balm, German Chamomile and Spearmint. These three herbs have many medicinal qualities, including promoting sleep, encouraging relaxation and lifting spirits. All make light, refreshing, aromatic teas. Decorative accents include natural gravel, decals, planting stakes, an instructions and recipe booklet and more. "The Tea House is completely manufactured in the United States, contains three types of herbal teas that can be harvested right from the terrarium, and has great educational value," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. It received a 2009 iParenting Media Award. Launch date: February 2009.

With this ready-to-use pocket chart, children are able to apply word-study skills to a shared reading text, engaging in shared reading with an instructional purpose. The activities target punctuation, letter combinations, letter patterns and word endings. It includes a pocket chart and 84 printed cards. Launch date: 2009.

Short and Long Vowel Pals are phonics flip-ups of rhyming words. They are designed to assist in learning the short and long vowel sounds and discriminating between them with visual reinforcement — consonants in black and vowels in red. Each set includes five Short and Long Vowel Pals and a Teacher's Guide. Launch date: 2008.

Teachers may usse this visual aid to help children learn and identify letter combinations that make the same sound. Sound Buddies can also be used to make word sorts and makes an excellent bulletin board display. Each set includes 25 Sound Buddies organized in groups of two, three and four by sound. A Teacher's Guide is included. Launch date: 2008.

This hands-on way to help students identify beginning, middle and ending sounds in words can be played with an entire class, an individual student or a small group of students. The set includes six double-sided boards, six race cars and an activity guide. Launch date: 2009.

This TV-based gaming system for preschoolers combines full-body movement, music, education and fun. Combining LeapFrog’s learning products expertise with Disney’s storytelling heritage and preschool TV programs, the system lets kids bring the fun of Playhouse Disney to life at their house. As they groove and play, kids can gain a greater understanding of core preschool skills such as math, language and music. The Zippity system leads kids through eight lively learning games that use an interactive mat for lower-body movement, such as running, dancing, jumping and marching, and a tummy-high joystick, or “bopper,” for upper-body action, such as moving left, right, forward and back. The easy-to-use system with eight learning activities pre-loaded—comes with a foldable mat and bopper, which interacts wirelessly with the Zippity console. Launch date: August 2009.

Packaged in a hexagonal shaped box, these award-winning illustrations by Melissa Sweet are designed to help kids learn about phylum in the world that surrounds us. With the names indicated on the inside of the lid, Life On Earth Bingo offers a way for children to identify plants and animals. This game is made using 90-percent recycled grey board and non-toxic inks. Launch date: June 20, 2009.

The Alphabet Race Track offers a hands-on way to help students learn to recognize the letters of the alphabet. It can be played by the whole class, in small groups, or by individuals who need help identifying upper and lower case letters. The set includes six double-sided boards, six wooden race cars and an activity guide. Launch date: 2009.

This tower features 10 sturdy blocks to nest, stack and tumble down. Kevin Hawkes provided the realistic animal depictions for eeBoo's latest set of award-winning nesting blocks. Launch date: June 25, 2009.

This game comes with 10 three-piece spelling puzzles using three letter animals illustrations — pig, fox, hen, etc. The eco-friendly product uses 90-percent recycled grey board and non-toxic inks. Its old-fashioned look is designed to be appealing to every generation of toy buyers. In this pre-reading game, the puzzle also spells its name. Launch date: June 30, 2009.

The Early Learning Center Colors & Shapes kit is made to challenge kids in a fun and colorful format. Kids can learn to identify shapes and colors by completing tasks, to sort using more than one attribute, to recognize shapes and colors of objects in their environment, and to develop grouping and classifying skills through game play. "Children especially love the color and shape bingo, combining shapes and colors and the picture search activity mats," Jessica Wineke, PR coordinator for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Lauri Caterpillar Crepe Rubber Puzzles for Wood Puzzle Graduates are made in the United States and have soft, bright, durable and washable pieces that won't curl, crease or tear. The puzzle has two skill levels. Kids first follow the pattern, and then they can take it away to increase the challenge. It's designed for kids to feel special achievement when each piece fits snugly. "The best thing about the Lauri Caterpillar Crepe Rubber Puzzle is that it's latex-free, washable and completely safe! Parents also appreciate the educational value of the puzzles, which encourage concentration, patience and quiet play," Jessica Wineke, PR coordinator for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.
— Lauri puzzles are best sellers at Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M., Owner Shana Hack told TDmonthly in June 2009.

Built in 3-D, the collectible, space-age ant colony modules and connecting tubes are made in daylight and night colors for a cool look. Each sphere features three lenses to easily observe the ants: one clear, one that magnifies and one fisheye. "The Wild Science kits are constructed of the highest quality materials and designed for extended play use. Each individual kit can be designed, customized and modified to an individual child’s liking," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

Using the included molds and plaster of Paris, kids create their own reproduction of a complex leafcutter ant colony and rivet the special window to the casting for observation. Children can watch their ants as they organize the many intricate tunnels and chambers for different purposes, and take food and water around the colony. Launch date: June 2009.

With the Worm Farm, kids can discover the abilities of worms and their importance in the ecosystem through a series of safe and humane experiences using real worms. This kit features a high-quality, large-volume worm colony that allows children to plant seeds and grow vegetation in soil strata that is separated by colored sand horizons — great for tracking worm activity. The farm also contains removable privacy screens to bring worm tunnels into closer view. "The Wild Science kits are constructed of the highest quality materials and designed for extended play use. Each individual kit can be designed, customized and modified to an individual child’s liking. In addition, all of the kits within the system are designed to be interconnected, providing kids and creatures with endless possibilities to explore, learn and grow," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

Ecotronic toys were developed to function just like regular electronic toys but with a different kind of energy. Dynamo technology inside of each toy converts a shake, squeeze or crank into energy that powers lights and sounds and other electronic functions. The crank-powered Eco Mic helps kids become eco-pop stars. Using four different buttons to activate voice amplification, music to sing along to, and two different drum sounds, the Eco Mic is an all-in-one music band with a color-changing light show. "Since kid-powered energy is a highly renewable energy source, Ecotronic toys will never run out of juice. Also, all Ecotronic toys are packaged in their specially developed Gekopak™ packaging, which is made of recycled paper and is completely bio-degradable," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Ecotronic toys were developed to function like regular electronic toys, but they use a different kind of energy. Dynamo technology inside of each toy converts a shake, squeeze or crank into energy that powers lights, sounds and other electronic functions. The Ecotronic Farm Flashlights, featuring four assorted animals, are squeeze-powered, kid-sized flashlights. Using the side lever that stores inside the body, kids can release and squeeze to charge up the light. Also, when switched on, each animal’s nose lights up. "Also, all Ecotronic toys are packaged in their specially developed Gekopak™ packaging, which is made of recycled paper and is completely bio-degradable. It’s easy to open and free from ties, wires or other packing materials," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

My SportBEAR line-up features handmade 15" jointed bears dressed in authentic sport apparel and accessories. ChalkTalkSPORTS offers add-ons that can make this special gift ideal for players, coaches and fans. Customization is also available. "With millions of childrens and their parents involved in organized sports, the My SportBEAR line is a perfect gift to celebrate the sport they love and are dedicated to," the marketing director for ChalkTalkSPORTS told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 20, 2008.

The sporty, sturdy Bamboo Hot Rod, has hot-rod graphics with rugged wheels and curved bamboo to offer a sleek design for children. "[It] combines modern design with a highly sustainable material: bamboo," Robin Lehnert, marketing manager for Hape Intl., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Horizon's iconic H-racer refuelable fuel cell car has entered the second generation, with infrared remote control and steering capability, as well as faster driving speed due to a new generation of miniature PEM fuel cell. Launch date: October 2008.

Nelly Dragon is a 10" plush educational pal. She includes 1/2 life-size dentition with four flossible locations, bendable extremities to hold toothbrushes. The product includes two children's toothbrushes and one plush toothbrush, designed to serve as a great way to teach the proper way to bruch and floss. Launch date: 2009.