July 2011 Notable Toys — Novelties

Toy2R is pleased to unearth the next series of artist 2.5" Skelanimal Qees. Featuring designs by Voltaire, Lunabee, Pocket Wookie, Albert Art, Nick Z, and PO! (Patricio Oliver) and also including classic editions of the Skelanimal characters Dax, Jack and Kit. This 25 pc blind box assortment is randomly packed. Each Skelanimal Qee includes keychain attachment so the Skelanimals don't get lost. Launch date: July 2011.
Awards: 2010 HKADF Outstanding Greater China Design Award; 2010 Best SME’s Award; 2009 Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Designers by Hong Kong Communication Art Centre.

An estimated third of the world's population watched The Royal Wedding on April 29th, 2011. This puzzle shows Will & Kate, the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, on their wedding day. Piece Count: 550. Piece Jigsaw Puzzle Finished Size: 24"x18". White Mountain Puzzles are made in the U.S.A. with recycled materials.

ArtiSands Flowers Mini Kit includes nine shakers of sand and eight pre-cut Sandesigns.

The more brain cells you have, the smarter you are.

Illuminate your message with Shains Glow in the Dark Starter Kit with 30 Glow in the Dark elements. Perfect for the Halloween season. "What sets these apart is the ability to change your message whenever you want and the ability to mix, match and combine various Shains products to create new cool looks," Chris Ohama from Shainware told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2010.
Awards: 2010 Women in Toys Green Award
— Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo Toys in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that Shains bracelets are one of her top-2 best selling jewelry items. "This is a great new line," she told us.

This fox is 15 inches tall and is soft and squishy. Squishables comply with U.S. ASTM F963 safety standards. They're made out of all new materials (100% polyester fiber). Squishables can be spot-cleaned. Also available in a miniature size.
Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy Award, June 2011
— Why it won: These extra soft and plush animal/pillows include a variety of characters we don't usually see in children's toys, such as narwhals. They come in several sizes, too, which make them fun for decorating a kid's or tween's room. With a range of characters from the Google Android to a T Rex, they'll appeal to boys, too.
— "Squishables are selling really well. It's a big ball pillow in the shape of animals. We sold 20 last month," Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011.
— In a May 2012 survey, Elmer Carranza, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly that they sell six Squishables each month, making them the best seller in the plush category.

This set of Crazy bones feature four packs of three figurines from series one.

World Wrestling Entertainment Legends Figure Collection Series #5 features some of the most famous superstars in wrestling history with the Legends Collection. Featuring never-before-seen classic Superstars, the line offers extreme articulation, detail and amazing accuracy while capturing 50 years of WWE's rich and exciting heritage. This figure portrays Macho Man Randy Savage, who passed away in May 2011.

Based on the popular game for smart-phones, this pack of silicone bands includes yellow, blue, red and black birds, pig, and slingshot. Bands can be worn as bracelets or used as rubber bands.

Angry Birds is the #1 app worldwide and has been downloaded over 100 million times. Angry Birds plush bring the characters from on-screen into the real world. These soft plush Angry Birds make sounds from the game when squeezed, and are an officially licensed product.

The Silly Bandz 24-piece Justin Bieber Bracelet Set includes 6 shapes with 4 of each style; Headphones, Music Note, I Heart JB, Bieber Heart, Justin Singing and Justin's Hat. Silly Bandz are made of silicone and die molded into these Justin Bieber shapes. All can be worn as bracelets or used as a rubber band.

Tosy AFO (Aliens' Flying Object) is a boomerang flying-disc game that lights up when it's dark. uper bright LEDs automatically ignite when launched, creating a colorful rainbow through the night sky or in a darkened play space. A specially designed, hand-held launcher and thin, flexible blades allow the user to control the distance, height and flight characteristics. Pull the launch string and watch it fly; horizontally across the field to be caught by a play partner or vertically to an incredible height, then arcing back to return exactly from where it was launched. Indoors, compete to see how long the Tosy AFO can suspend from the ceiling or against the wall, seemingly defying the laws of gravity.

Dave Darinko is a natural born leader. He’s the one you want on your side when you’re about to face the music. And when you do face the music, he’s the guy who knows where the volume knob is. Does that make sense? Anyway, Dave gives you the thumbs up. He knows that you know he knows you know. Uglydoll Dave Darinko is approximately 12" tall.
— Two out of 15 retailers surveyed in late Spring 2011 said that Uglydolls were their best-selling plush.

Groody is a pretty relaxed, easy going, energetic, stressed out, moody broody mess. AAAAHHHH! Did I just close that door? It was a ghost! Did I close the garage door? Did I send that e-mail to the wrong person!!!??? You get the picture…which is exactly why Groody has chosen you to be his pal. If you are willing to help him on his quest for inner peace he will help you on your quest for whatever dealio you got going. Uglydoll Groody is approximately 12" tall.

16' Farting Monkey with sound. Velcro paws for toting. Bashful expression.

6" Sea Turtle Keychains. Plush sea turtle cuties to use as keychain or backpack decoration. Also available in flamingo, alligator, snake, and alligator.

Kids can save the planet and make a fashion statement, too, when they make sweet bracelets, headbands and belts from candy wrappers. Just fold and link. Includes over 200 precut candy wrappers, glue stick with burnishing cap, hole puncher, 9 cords, 9 beads, 4 elastic loops, 30 sticky gems and easy instructions.

Koogles are very tiny magical creatures who have been sent from Mother Nature to help those in need. They each have their own personality and talent. Each small, round fuzzy creature has four tiny paws, wings, and antenna. Each comes with an icon that demonstrates their special talent. Koogles are 6" each and come with a personality tag with their name and a description.

BrickStix are reusable, removable and re-stickable cling decals. They are compatible with most smooth plastic bricks used in construction play. Kids can use these decals to customize their brick creations- a building becomes a cafe or gas station, a play figure becomes a doctor or cowboy- allowing for hours of creative play. Each pack of BrickStix includes two sheets of cling decals, a total of 84 per style. They are made in the USA. Styles include Metro Stix, Space Stix, and Transport Stix.

These loveably freaky, ghoulishly cute zombies are the newest additions to the Creepy Cuddlers family. The trio of characters includes : Deathmittens- an undead feline with an exposed radius bone and bandaged tail; Zach and Ophelia- both feature real cloth clothing and skin that has “decayed” patches exposing the corduroy “sinew” below. Set includes all three figures. Launch date: September 2011.

If you frequent wooded areas, it’s only a matter of time until you’re bitten. Tick is the newest addition to the Critters Category. This toy is a plush, five-to-seven inch-high versions of its counterpart in nature. Like all GIANTmicrobes products, this new addition is a humorously educational toy modeled on electron micrographs, enlarged a million times actual size. Each product includes the micrograph image as well as information about the microbe it represents.

Hay Fever is the newest addition to the Maladies Category – with no argument from some of the 60 million adults and children in the USA who, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, experience Hay Fever symptoms. Hay Fever, or medically speaking, seasonal allergic rhinitis, is a physiological reaction to the courtship rituals of grasses, trees and weeds. This toy is a plush, five-to-seven inch-high versions of its counterpart in nature. Like all GIANTmicrobes® products, the new additions are humorously educational toys modeled on electron micrographs, enlarged a million times actual size. Each product includes the micrograph image as well as information about the microbe it represents.

These holiday hats come in festive colors with a white faux-fur trim. Press the trim and the hat dances about while playing the classic tune "Jingle Bells." Requires 3AA batteries.

This sock monkey is fashioned in the classic style. Dark woolen body is offset by the white of the sock ankles (arms) and the red of the heel (mouth). The monkey wears a matching hat festooned with a bright red pom.