July 2010 Notable Toys — Gifts

This 9" x 9" photo album, adorned with a pink tassel, captures the magic of a child's day at the beach and is accented with sparkling Swarovski crystals. The book is also available in plain classic linen.

This sweet 9" x 9" linen photo album is adorned with a gold tassel and is designed to capture children's summer memories. This book is also available with Swarovski crystal accents.

Daisy, Violet and Sweet Pea are luxurious, weighted plush kittens designed to feel like real kittens. Made of fluffy French faux fur and satiny fabrics, they measure 6"-7" long. A portion of proceeds goes to animal rescue and children's literacy charities. Price shown is for the set of three kittens.
AWARDS: 2009 Family Choice Award, 2009 Publisher's Choice Award

Kids can find out what the future holds with these fortune tellers. The book includes 24 fortune tellers and eight sticker sheets, and features a colorful lenticular flip cover. "Not only are our activity books fun and hip, they are produced with the lenticular technology. The front covers flip from one colorful image to another," Iscream Prepress Manager Leslie Montalbano told TDmonthly.

PhotoStory includes the complete cost of a professionally produced, full-color hardback photo book. A unique kit number is provided to help kids make a book online with user-friendly website. The bonus photography guidebook will teach kids how to use their camera. "Kids are getting digital cameras at very young ages and have no outlet for thier photos besides social networking sites. While there are many photobook options, we are the only one with a focus on this young market. We have hundreds of preloaded stickers and backgrounds which can be added to layered pages and are designed around what kids are photographing," Chapelle Brunk, Marketing Specialist, Creations by You, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Kids Product of the Year

This kit includes all the art materials a child needs to create. The plain brown paper exterior allows kids to personalize all sides. The set includes 18 colored pencils, 12 oil pastels, eight watercolor cakes, a paintbrush, a sharpener and an eraser. It measures 9.75" x 5" x 1.75" and has a rope handle and closure.

This 5.5" vintage mechanical pencil has a matte charcoal finish with chrome accents, a push button that advances lead .125" at a time, and a built-in pencil sharpener at the top. The tube of "fat" leads includes one each of pink, red, blue, brown and green, along with two graphite. "Our Chubby Mechanical Pencil is the perfect gift for artists and draftsmen of any age!" Emily Meluch, Xonex art director, told TDmonthly.

This plush teddy bear measures 48cm (or roughly 19"). It comes in a tan brown color with a striped scarf around its neck.

This placemat with reversible chalk mat is durable, waterproof and easy to clean. The mat turns any table into a creative play space or clean eating area, then easily folds into the included travel pouch to hold creative essentials or eating utensils.

Features include a crinkle and squeaker for baby's listening skills, and for tactile exploration, Pooh has multiple materials, as well as knotties, ribbons and teethers.

This rainforest-themed Silly Bandz 24-pack includes geckos, tree frogs, panthers, gorillas, toucans and monkeys. These bands can be collected, worn or traded with friends.
— Thirty percent of 40 specialty retailers surveyed counted Silly Bandz as overall best sellers in June 2010.
— Linda Hanzelko of Timmy’s Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthly her store sells “about 100 packs (of Silly Bandz) a day.”

Universal Siliskin Wideneck silicone covers for glass bottles and metal containers are designed to fit a variety of large and small glass baby bottles and slide on and off for easy cleaning. These safe, silicone sleeves help prevent breakage of glass baby bottles, and are a translucent silicone which allows you to see measurements and liquid in the bottle. Siliskins are hypo allergenic, have no open pores to harbor bacteria, are dishwasher and microwave safe, and can be boiled to sterilize. Small Wideneck Siliskins come in Red, Sky Blue, Teal Green, and Yellow, and fit the Born Free 5oz glass bottle, Nuk Wideneck 120ml glass bottle, 12oz Kleen Kanteen, and 10oz Sigg. Large Wideneck Siliskins (MSRP $8.95) come in Green, Light Blue, Lilac, and Yellow, and fit the Born Free 9oz glass bottle, Nuk Wideneck 240ml glass bottle, Fogo Straw Sippy by Thermos, 13.5oz Sigg, 12oz Soda/Beer can, and even mason jars.

The Siliskin 12oz Glass is a safe alternative to plastic drink-ware. The reusable and recyclable glass drinkware comes in a four pack with two aqua and two lime glasses. The Siliskin is hypoallergenic, has no open pores to harbor bacteria, is dishwasher safe, and can be boiled to sterilize. Also comes in a smaller, six ounce version.

Kids learning to drink from a "big kid" cup will enjoy the Siliskin-Glass, a clean alternative to plastic drink-ware. BPA-free, and made from 100 percent  food grade silicone, the Siliskin 6oz Glass helps prevent slipping and adds extra protection to the glass inside. The Siliskin is hypo-allergenic, has no open pores to harbor bacteria, is dishwasher safe, and can be boiled to sterilize. Comes in a four pack with an aqua, lime, red and purple glass.

Siliskin colorful silicone baby bottle cover allows for young ones to grab hold and avoid slippage when feeding from a glass bottle. The microwave safe Siliskin keeps heat from transferring from bottle to hands and is both hypo allergenic and dishwasher safe. This translucent silicone sleeve allows you to see measurements and liquid in the glass bottle (included). Available colors: Pink, Gray, Aqua, and White.

Silibib is a stylish infant silicone bib designed to lie flat on the chest in a soft, wipe-away material. The Silibib is both hypoallergenic and dishwasher safe. Available colors: Blue/Brown, Gray/Yellow, Green/Blue, and Red/White.

This Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat four-piece set includes a bodysuit (0-3 month), bib, blanket and padded hanger. The set is available in red or white.

“Time Out To Rock," filled with up-tempo power-pop tunes, mixes songs that are “just for fun” with songs about such topics as welcoming the new kid at school or dealing with bullies. The first track, “Welcome to Our School,” sets the energy level on high with an irrepressible dance beat and clean playing that doesn’t clutter the lyrics. Rocking on from there, the pace slows at album’s end with the poetic, reflective “Hollow Tree.”

Based on the Gospel of Luke, this story brings the dramatic events of Jesus's birth to life. "With beautiful illustrations, this timeless story is told in a way that will easily introduce children to God's grace for a fallen world," Rosemary Parkinson, Corporate Communications, Concordia Publishing House, told TDmonthly.

The Hear Me Read Bible is designed to help children learn to read and learn about Jesus. This level one series is comprised of 18 complete stories that contain 25 words or less. "Each story uses colorful illustrations, limited words and repetition to help children develop reading vocabulary and skills," Rosemary Parkinson of Concordia Publishing House Corporate Communications told TDmonthly.

When the day has ended and everyone else has fallen asleep, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure with his friend the Moon. Their unusual journey is described in lyrical verse, creating a enchanting story that celebrates the serene beauty of the world at night. "The lyrical text and poetic voice adds a soothing factor to this imaginative tale," Barefoot Books Group Communications Director Leah Lesser told TDmonthly.
— The Reading Tub praised the book for its “nice combination of reality reading (seeing one's glow in the water) and fantasy (the boy and moon sharing a night-time flight) that will appeal to all readers.” The reviewer added that “the notes at the back will be wonderful for expanding the book beyond the poetry when our toddler gets a little bit older.”
— Sheela from The Joy of My Life noted that the “delightful and dreamy” illustration “evokes a magical night world in this book, and, accompanied by rhythmic verse has become a bedtime must-read over the last few weeks in our house.” Sheela liked that the book contains factual scientific information while “still preserving the imaginative and magical world personifying the moon through the motley illustrations that project the ethereal story.”

As the official symbol for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the image of the Inuksuk was everywhere. This book teaches children all about life in the Arctic and these amazing stone statues. The acrostic poem, complemented by paintings, celebrates the Arctic landscape, culture and traditions. "Words are written in both English and Inuktitut, with an Inuktitut pronunciation guide included at the back of the book, so children can sound out the words in both languages," Kendal Gerard, Marketing Associate, Owlkids, told TDmonthly.

TDmonthly Review:

Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product.

With more than 200 drawing and coloring activities, ARTastic! is designed to fuel kids' creativity, teach them drawing basics, and inspire their minds. Kids will complete pictures by adding their own creations, learn to draw simple images themselves, explore different colors and more. "High production values mean kids can use whichever scribbling or coloring medium they choose," Kendal Gerard, Marketing Associate, Owlkids, told TDmonthly.