June 2009 Notable Toys — All

Unzipped, the ZipBIn Mini Mansion becomes a fashion doll paradise, where dolls can sleep, cook, entertain, dance, or throw a garden party by the pool. Storage pockets are built in for doll accessories such as clothes and shoes. When play is done, kids can capture all the toys inside. This mini play set includes a mini doll and is sized for travel. "We make it fun to be neat!" Dee Farrell, VP of sales for Neat-Oh! International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

In this fast-paced word game for two to five players, players trade two-sided letter cards between elegant wood racks, to create words, or steal them from each other. It may be used for family game nights as well as in educational settings. Game play takes 30 to 45 minutes. "PatchWord employs a unique game mechanic using cards with different letters on the inside vs. the outside, which trains logic, memory and sequencing skills, as well as spelling and vocabulary skills," Daniel Weaver, founder of Knightweaver Games, told TDmonthly. This product has won the following awards: 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products; and 2009 Game of the Year for Educational Word Game from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: January 29, 2009.

Patchwork is a fast-paced logic game for two to five players designed to build logic, memory and patterning skills in a fun setting. Players trade colorful, two-sided cards between elegant wood racks to create sets, or steal them from each other. Game play takes 20 to 30 minutes. "The game employs a totally unique game mechanic that is easy to learn, fun to play and teach[es] logic, memory and sequencing skills," Daniel Weaver, founder of Knightweaver Games, told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: 2009 Oppenheim Gold Seal; 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products; 2009 Seal of Excellence for Kid's Strategy Game from Creative Child Magazine; and 2009 Outstanding Products iParenting Media Award. Launch date: January 29, 2009.
— "It is an engaging game that encourages player to think logically while trading card with other players.  You have to use logic, memory and create pattern sets to win the game," said Angel Stahl of Angel's Toy Barn in Greensburg, Pa., who especially liked this game at the 2009 ASTRA Marketplace.
Editor's Note: Gamewright announced May 25, 2010, that it signed an agreement for the worldwide publishing rights to Patchwork. Play will remain the same; however, Gamewright will re-launch the game as FlipOut in late 2010 or early 2011.

Dozy Dolphin On The Go helps re-create sleep time routines by bringing familiar soothing sounds while away from home. Dozy Dolphin’s peaceful, water-based sounds are designed to take a child on a tranquil journey while effortlessly transforming unknown surroundings to a more familiar environment. Tucked inside Dozy Dolphin is a removable sound machine that plays fun sounds for play time and soothing sounds for sleep time. Dozy Dolphin On The Go is made from eco-friendly bamboo fabric. "It needs no plugs and comes with multiple soothing sounds with two timer options. All Cloud B products are made in consultation with our advisory board made up of pediatricians, sleep specialists and child experts," Emily Chae, marketing associate for Cloud B, told TDmonthly. This product received a a 2009 NAPPA Honors award. Launch date: May 2009.

This chic, croco full wallet/wristlet has a front photo window that holds one photo. The interior has 12 accordian compartments for credit cards, and the back wall has an elastic compartment for a check book or bills, a full zipper, and an exterior detachable wristlet. It also features a back gusseted zipper coin purse with a self tab. Launch date: March 2009.

Three-dimensional anaglyphic glasses are used for viewing print, movies, Web sites, games and computer applications in 3-D, defined as two views of the same subject (either moving or still) in contrasting colors and slightly offset for two different perspectives. These IYF (In Your Face) 3-D anaglyphic glasses are re-formulated and supercharged with red and cyan filters, designed to punch full four-color 3-D with depth-defying clarity without compromising colors, flesh tones and light. "With the phenomenon of 3-D movies and with all the new movies planned to be released in the next two years, you need to be prepared for the rush. More and more children are having 3-D movie-watching parties. Most DVD rentals only come with two glasses and only four are packed in a DVD when you purchase them," Mark Nidzgorski, director of retail for American Paper Optics, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

Butterfly Puzzles are Consumer Product Safety Commission 2009 tested and approved. All Wee Organics products are hand rubbed with natural oil that is FDA approved. Designed for early learning, the 7" x 5" puzzles measure are 1" thick, and each of the four to five pieces is 2" to 3" high. Wee Organics recommends that parents help their child initially and then let them progress on their own. "Wee Organics hand rubs each wood piece for a smooth, tactile experience. Each puzzle can also stand up on its own," Ed Bogosian, president of Wee Organics, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2004.

This word search race game includes 20 different word search puzzles. The object is to find the words and mark them with your color tile. Whoever has the most tiles when the puzzle is complete is the winner. Launch date: 2008.

In Loop It, players connect their tiles to any of the twisting lines on the board and score points based on the point value of the tile they played, the place they played it and other neighboring tiles. "This international sensation is new to the U.S. but a great new twist on an old favorite," David Norman, president of Goliath Games, told TDmonthly. "[The] game combines logic, spacial reasoning, math and fun in a great game that is really easy to learn." Launch date: July 2009.

NobleWorks is a company that produces outrageous greeting cards. "Always pushing the envelope, these cards redefine the edge of sophisticated, sassy and downright silly fun," Morgan Gertler, in administration at NobleWorks, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 1999.

Designed for use with traditional drum sets or with drum console gaming systems, Rock Stix LED drumsticks pulse with every beat. The user taps the Rock Stix to activate the ultra-bright LED, which illuminates the entire stick. Batteries are included and replaceable. The Stix are constructed with Lexan professional-grade plastic for superior durability and optical clarity. There are no switches, wires or controls, and the product is available with red, blue or rainbow LEDs. The packaging features a "try me" option so customers can see the functionality of the product and the LED brightness and color before they buy. Launch date: July 2009.

Kids can add safety and style to their bikes. The motion-activated Stix Sparx screw onto a bicycle tire’s valve stem, and the rainbow LEDs create a lighting effect around the bike’s wheels. Each sustainable package has "try me" packaging that allows customers to see the LED brightness and color before they buy. The package includes batteries and an extra set of replaceable batteries. Launch date: July 2009.

Kids can add safety and style to their bike while riding. The Blue or Rainbow LED Skull Sparx screw onto a bicycle tire’s valve stem. When riding, the LEDs create a rainbow lighting effect around the bike’s wheels. Each sustainable package has “try me” so customers can see the LED function, brightness and color before they buy. The package comes complete with batteries and an extra set of replaceable batteries. "[The] patented rainbow LED also offers safety and fun to riders at a low price point," Karlie, in marketing at Buztronics, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

The Riff-Rocker is a portable, personal USB guitar game that can be plugged in and played anytime, anywhere. The pocket-sized guitar functions like the widely popular, interactive guitar game but costs a fraction of the price. The Riff-Rocker is portable and designed to be easy to use. It requires a one-time, free software download. The software comes with an assortment of preprogrammed songs and allows players to import their own purchased music from the Web or their MP3player. The Riff-Rocker’s frets are used to play notes that appear on the computer screen. Players earn points by hitting the notes, and additional points are awarded when the fret keys are held down for long notes. It includes easy, medium and hard levels of play, as well as a multiplayer option. "The Riff-Rocker was designed as an inexpensive gaming alternative to all the accessories, games and consoles required to play other musical video games," Karlie,in marketing at Buztronics, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Astro Disc has four motion-activated, rainbow LEDs built into the outer rim. Batteries are included and replaceable, and it has an auto on/off switch. The sustainable packaging features a "try me" switch so customers can see functionality of the product, the LED brightness and the rainbow effect before they buy. "[The] patented rainbow LED looks amazing at night," Karlie, in marketing at Buztronics, told TDmonthly. "[The] disc throws great and extends the play time into the night by lighting up." Launch date: July 2009.

This yo-yo LEDs lights up with movement, creating a neat lighting in low-light conditions. The Light-Up LED Yo-Yo is available in red, blue, green, purple and clear, with two ultra-bright LEDs. It comes in sustainable, "try me" packaging. Launch date: July 2009.

Designed for use with traditional drum sets or with drum console gaming systems, Rock Stix LED drumsticks pulse with every beat. The user taps the Rock Stix to activate the ultra-bright LED, which illuminates the entire stick to create incredible lighting effects in low-light conditions. Batteries are included and replaceable. Rock Stix are constructed with Lexan professional-grade plastic for superior durability and optical clarity. There are no switches, wires or controls to get in the way. They are available with red, blue or rainbow LEDs. The packaging features a "try me" option so customers can see the functionality of the product and LED brightness and color before they buy. Launch date: July 2009.

The Bounce Back Ball is a game in itself. The user secures the nylon band around his wrist with the elastic strap, then tosses or throws the ball to activate the ultra-bright LEDs. He must prepare to catch the ball as it returns to his hand. The Bounce Back Ball is available in blue with impact-activated blue LEDs. “Try me” packaging feature allows customers to see the ball’s LED brightness and color before they buy. Launch date: July 2009.

These super-bounce balls light up and make a "boing" noise with every bounce. Boing balls are available in clear, red or blue with two ultra-bright LEDs — one red and one blue — that create a lighting effect when the ball is bounced. “Try Me” packaging allows customer to see LED brightness and colors before they buy. Launch date: July 2009.

Each Body Dazzler is secured to a nylon lanyard with a safety break-away cord. Body Dazzlers come in a variety of shapes and colors and may be worn day or night as a necklace or used as a keychain. The product helps to increase safety by enhancing visibility in low-light conditions. Body Dazzlers can also be clipped to backpacks, bags or even attached as zipper pulls. Shapes include Alien, Skull, Whistle and Ballistics, and colors include Pink with red LED, Blue with blue LED, and Green with green LED. Launch date: July 2009.

The Light-Up Airglow Ball is designed as the ultimate super bounce ball. The special aerodynamic design allows the ball to bounce high as the LEDs create a cool lighting effect. Soft rubber makes the ball easy to throw and catch. Each ball has one red and one blue ultra-bright LED that is activated upon impact. “Try Me” packaging allows customers to see the LED brightness and color before they buy. Launch date: July 2009.

This collection of hand-crafted Nutcracker ornaments is limited to 1,000 pieces worldwide. It includes a G.DeBrekht-branded, satin-lined wooden keepsake box. Launch date: 2006.

Elegantly-shaped keepsakes are ornamented in a wintry palette with gold accents. The hand-painted childhood scene captures the character of the G.DeBrekht style. It includes a G.DeBrekht-branded, satin-lined presentation box. Launch date: 2009.

This mask Christmas ornament is hand-cast from wood and freehand painted. It includes a G.DeBrekht-branded, satin-lined presentation box. Launch date: 2009.