August 2009 Notable Toys — All

Everything about this toy is fake. We admit it. From the faux Black Ebony handle to the fake bow string. It's all fake. All fake except the performance. The Faux Bow was designed with only one goal: To be the best performing toy bow on the market. We beat all the competition by miles. Every Nerf® enthusiast's jaw will drop at the distance and accuracy of this beast. It out shoots and out distances everything in the class. My mom always told me not to judge a book by its cover. No truer words could be said about the Faux Bow™. Under its fake exterior lies the heart of a dragon (here comes the segue). So, if dragons are on the menu... Faux Bow™ is ready to do some slaying. Comes with 3 perfectly balanced Faux titanium arrows and one 3 arrow quiver.
— "This Bow an Arrow is new from Marky Sparky - creators of the popular 'Doink It Darts.' The bow shoots 'arrows,' which are more-or-less the same missles sold in Marky Sparky's popular 'Blast Pad' rockets. The rockets worked well and seem to be a good addition to a strong line," Joe Mitchell, owner of YoYo Joe's Toys & Fun, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.
— “Those things fly out of here,” unintentionally punned Christine Osborne, co-owner of Wonder Works in Charleston, S.C., in Fall 2010.

Coat hangers and twigs are a thing of the past now that the Spinmallow has been invented. Just stick a marshmallow on the telescoping skewer, hold over the fire and let the roasting begin. It includes a flashlight on top to help easily locate the graham crackers and chocolate. Launch date: 2009.
― John Naisbitt, owner of Thinker Things in Solana Beach, Calif., told TDmonthly in June 2010 that Spinmallow is one of his top-selling electronic items.
― “Marky Sparky is the best company for the older boy,” remarked Diana Gisolfu, owner of Sister's Kids in Springfield, Mass., about what makes Marky Sparky her best-selling line of electronic toys.
― Two of 40 retailers said in summer 2010 that Marky Sparky supplies their top-selling electronics.

Kids who want more action than traditional dominos can provide can use the Domino Express loops, ramps and bridges to set up exciting domino knock-downs. Launch date: June 2009.

These bilingual puzzles teach children words in both English and Spanish. Varieties include "ABCs," "Addition and Subtraction" and "My Body." Launch date: 2009.

These jumping balls come in either 18" or 22" sizes. Colors include pink, blue, red and yellow and the balls can come with single or double grips. Launch date: 2009.

This pretty dress-up will make any girl feel queenliike.

These charmingly illustrated picture books guarantee first watching and reading fun. Children will discover lots of familiar objects and go on to name them. Cardboard with soft padded cover includes 20 beautifully illustrated pages. Launch date: 2009.

This versatile wagon features patented, five-way flip-and-fold seats for multiple riding options, padded seat cushions for comfort and an extra-large, expandable rear storage compartment to tote a family’s worth of necessities. The UV protection canopy allows for all-day adventures, and storage for water bottles, gadgets and other must-haves keeps everything within reach. It can offer a practical alternative to a double stroller for parents of small children. Launch date: July 2009.
— This update on the traditional red wagon retains its slick red, black and white coloring but adds padded seats, a large canopy for shade, and a storage area. Candace Lindemann of Mamanista likens the wagon to a “mobile base,” perfect for a long day of outdoor activities with room to spare for tired kids, their possessions, and the day’s purchases. Experimental Mommy loved the versatility, adjustability and heat protection offered by the wagon.

Made for intermediate-level riders and designed to help younger children master balance while allowing them to keep pace with older siblings or more accomplished riders, this scooter is available in red or pink. It features extra-wide wheels, an ultra-low deck, a rear foot brake and limited steering to ensure maximum safety and offer parents peace of mind without sacrificing style. It comes fully assembled with minimal packaging and folds for storage and travel. "The scooter helps children maintain their balance while learning to ride a two-wheel scooter," Blessly Thomas, marketing coordinator for Radio Flyer, told TDmonthly. It has received an iParenting Media Award. Launch date: July 2009.

The Radio Flyer Push, Pull & Ride offers three interchangeable modes: stroller, ride-on and pull wagon. The large, easily removable bucket encourages children to build cognitive skills by loading and unloading objects, while the free-rolling wheels permit easy forward and backward motion and encourage active play. Toddlers can push their favorite toy in the stroller mode, scoot across the floor on the back in foot-to-floor mode, or pull their favorite treasures in wagon mode. It is a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval winner. Launch date: July 2009.

Designed to make a little girl's birthday a touch more special, these tees features cupcake appliques made with soft, fuzzy fabric. They are available in a variety of colors and patterns. The company also offers designs for boy birthdays. "All of our appliques are cut and sewn in our offices in Fountain Valley, [Calif.]," Chis Jannuzzi, co-owner of Jannuzzi, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

Ticket to Ride - USA 1910 is a card expansion for the original Ticket to Ride board game. It consists of 181 new large-format cards that include 35 new Destination Tickets, a new GlobeTrotter bonus card for completing the most tickets, and a complete replacement deck of all the cards from the original game. Also included is a new rulebook that gives Ticket to Ride players three new ways to play: games using only the new Destination Tickets; the Mega Game, featuring all the tickets; and Big Cities, which uses only tickets to certain large cities. Launch date: 2001.

The Ticket to Ride Europa 1912 expansion for the Ticket to Ride series includes 101 Destination Tickets — the 46 original tickets, plus 55 new ones that enable three new variants to the Ticket to Ride Europe map. This expansion also introduces Warehouses & Depots — new game rules and pieces that create an additional strategic layer and can be played with any of the Ticket to Ride maps. "Wooden Train Depots are placed on cities selected by each player. Throughout the game, each player's Warehouse will accumulate Train cards and those who have the foresight, clever timing, or just plain good fortune to build a route to a Depot can make off with a fistful of Train cards. Depot placement and skillful Warehouse tactics become a key part of a winning Ticket to Ride strategy!" Elizabeth Case, marketing assistant for Days of Wonder, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 6, 2009.

In Small World, players vie for conquest and control of a world that is simply too small to accommodate them all. Picking the right combination from the 14 different fantasy races and 20 unique special powers, players rush to expand their empires — often at the expense of weaker neighbors. Yet they must also know when to push their own over-extended civilization into decline and ride a new one to victory. "Designer Philip Keyaerts has expertly interwoven the fantasy worlds with competitive game play to create a game that appeals to casual players of all ages and experience while simultaneously maintaining a complexity that draws in the more serious crowd," Elizabeth Case, marketing assistant for Days of Wonder, told TDmonthly. The game has received the following awards: 2009 Bruno Faidutti's Game of the Year; 2009 Finalist for the International Gamer's Award; and 2009 Spiele Hit (Vienna Game Academy). Launch date: January 26, 2009.

This kit includes 24, 18" x 18" square, 100-percent nylon scarves in a variety of colors, an instructional/informational insert, and a reusable plastic bag for storage. Launch date: 2008.

For little linebackers who can’t wait to hit the fields, the nine-piece Touchdown Football Set includes a kid-sized football with “laces” for proper holding technique, an adjustable goal post and a kicking tee. "This play set encourages outdoor, active play for children. It also develops hand-eye (foot-eye) coordination," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

The iPlay Six Pin Bowling Set includes flat-bottomed pins and a weighted foam ball for indoor or outdoor play. The set comes stored in a study zippered bag for both portability and storage. "Weighted pins allow for easier set up. Children love this age-old game for indoor and outdoor play, featuring parts in fun and stimulating colors," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Available in red, white, royal blue or medium blue, this 100-percent nylon scarf canopy measures 9' x 9' and comes with an nstructional/informational insert and reusable plastic bag for storage. Launch date: 2008.

This set icludes three 9' x 9' square, 100-percent washable nylon scarf canopies, one each in red, white and blue, along with an instructional/informational insert and a reusable plastic hanging storage bag. Launch date: 1996.

This pack includes six, 27" square, 100-percent washable nylon scarves — two each of red, white and blue. It comes with an instructional/informational insert and the IDEAS Primary Music CD along with a reusable plastic hanging storage bag. Launch date: 2008.

In this game, players are Gypsies trying to earn as much gold as they can and bring it to the Big Gypsy Gathering. They need to finance the various festivities of weddings, baptisms, meetings, feasts and entertainment before border checkpoints are closed, preventing them from traveling and earning a living. Players have only two rounds of events to accomplish their goal of raising money for the Gathering. The game includes a 17" x 22" board, four movers and matching caravan cards, 26 colored wagons, 24 trades, 24 gold payments for trades, 56 events, and rules for regular and advanced games. In this cooperative game, individuals play together, not against one another. Launch date: August 2009.

Sankore Mosque is one of three ancient mud mosques composing the famous University of Timbuktu in West Africa. This 1/150 scale model measures 10" x 8.7" x 4" when assembled. Launch date: August 2007.

The painted wooden Torii Gateway, built in the traditional Shinto style, is a classic and beloved icon of Japanese architecture. This model is 1/100 scale and measures 9.4" x 5.1" x 6.7" when assembled. Launch date: July 15, 2003.

This wand is a whimsical, floaty medley of brilliant multi-colored, 36", 100-percent nylon streamers attached to a 12" wooden handle. It can be used to add graceful, flowing movements to explorations of water, air or wind, or move with any flowing music. The wands come in a reusable plastic cylinder for easy storage. Launch date: 2008.