August 2009 Notable Toys — All

This haunting ogre is a 3' x 5', full-color, high-quality plastic window decoration that lights up at night with back lighting from everyday household lamps for the enjoyment of passersby on the street. It comes with corner stick adhesive squares. Reusable WOWindow Posters are made in the USA. The are "not sold in national big-box or national chain discount party stores," Robert Schott, director of National Sales for WOWindows, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2007.

This porcelain night light features a distinctive submarine design. Launch date: July 15, 2009.

This detailed night light includes a 4-watt bulb and swivel plug. Launch date: July 15, 2009.

Ideal for a growing 2- to 7-year-old who may have a nap/rest time at preschool, kindergarten or day care, the Nap Pack is now available in Monkeys, Pink Dots and Daisy Allover prints. Durable, warm and cozy fleece is used for this blanket with attached pillow. It is designed to fit on a standard preschool cot, kindermat or carpet, and fits snuggly into a cubby or hangs on a hook. When rest time is over, the child simply rolls up his/her nap mat, Velcros the straps and grabs the handle to go. This product is made in the USA. It received a Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award and a Toy Man Award of Excellence in 2008. Launch date: December 2002.

One night, a big storm hits the farm. High winds and rain sweep through the tree where a mother and father owl are caring for their babies. During the storm, the mother owl disappears. The father owl doesn’t know what to do. Can Farmer Samuel and his wife save them? Launch date: September 2009.

Farmer Samuel’s nephew Mossy discovers a dirty, smelly, and very sick puppy hidden in a box of rags. There is no time to spare. Will they be able to save him? They have to act fast! This tale is part of a four-book series of real stories from a California pet sanctuary, in which author Samuel Lopez records the rescue and restoration of unwanted animals. Launch date: September 2009.

Farmer Samuel can hear a little kitten calling for help. He searches everywhere but he can’t find him. Just when he’s about given up hope of finding the kitten, here comes his dog Stinky Little Scroungy. Scroungy has something gray and furry in his mouth. Is it the kitten? This story is one in a series of real-life tales from a northern California pet sanctuary. Launch date: September 2009.

A kitten flies out of the window of a speeding car and bounces across the road. The kitten is badly injured. Can Farmer Samuel find her in time? Even if he does, would the little kitten let him help her? "In these four inspiring, real-life stories from a pet sanctuary in northern California, young readers will achieve a deeper understanding of the need to care for and about all animals. Author Samuel Lopez writes about taking in unwanted and abandoned animals, restoring them to health and finding them new homes," Sue Defabis, project manager for Five Star Publications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

This planner is designed to help young adults set short- and long-term goals and demystifies the world of banking, investing and credit. It features a 36-page handbook, four sturdy, zippered pouches for saving, spending, donating and investing, convenient storage pockets, and a privacy padlock. It is available in durable ballistic silver nylon. "This personal finance organizer is simple and easy-to-use. ... A perfect product for the current economic environment," Melinda Voelcker, director of operations and marketing for Money Savvy Generation, told TDmonthly in summer 2009. This product has received the following awards: 2004 Parents' Choice Silver Award, 2008 NAPPA Gold Award, and 2008 Product of the Year (Creative Toy Awards) from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: March 2004.

This distinctive bank has a patented, four-chambered design created to help kids (ages 4-11) and their parents or grandparents begin a conversation about money. It helps teach basic money skills (Fiscal Fitness Training for Money - Smart Kids™) by introducing four choices: SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST. It is available in brown with white stripes and laces. The Money Savvy Football Bank received a 2008 NAPPA Gold Award and a 2008 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: December 2006.

A cousin to the award-winning Money Savvy Pig® piggy bank, this four-chambered bank is designed to help kids (ages 4-11) and their parents or grandparents begin a conversation about money. It helps teach basic money skills by introducing four choices: SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST. It is available in clear with black cow spots. "Its unique four-chambered design allows children to deposit their money through four separate slots on the top of the bank — one slot for each money choice — and empty each money chamber individually through the feet on the bank," Melinda Voelcker, director of operations and marketing for Money Savvy Generation, told TDmonthly. It has received the following awards: 2004 Parents' Choice Gold Award and 2008 NAPPA Gold Award (National Parenting Publications Awards). Launch date: November 2004.

This smaller-sized diaper bag is specially designed for everyday city outings. It is available in three styles and features insulated, zippered compartments, a padded, reinforced bottom, 10 interior pockets and exterior clips, a padded, adjustable strap, and a changing pad. Launch date: September 2009.

The Recyclable "Over 100 Projects" kit contains materials that can be used to make more than 100 projects. The Show Box contains 120 Feet of Plastic Lacing, Craft Foam, EZ Gimper TM, 50 Poms (Assorted sizes and colors), 20 Craft Straws, 120 Plastic Beads and many other items. It also comes with an instruction/idea booklet plus a bonus Wacky Whirly. The box measures 13.5" Long x 6.5" Wide x 5.5". It's made in the USA.

This Limited Edition Air Force One features a silk screen portrait of President Elect Barack Obama. Made in the USA from High Quality Pennsylvania Hardwood, it is constructed to last a lifetime. It measures  7-7/8" long x 5-1/2" wide x 4" high.

Little girls shake the tube and then try to find the objects listed on the tube's top. The Glitz and Glamour game contains objects such as a diary and tiara to make the search appeal to tween girls. Launch date: 2009.

Past videos: ASTRA 2009

These slot cars let kids feel they are reliving scenes from the Disney flick "Cars." This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. Launch date: 2009

Kids can build various models of wooden cars and vehicles using this kit. Included are wooden tools, such as wrenches and screwdrivers, to aid in the assembly. Also included are rubber tires. Baufix is distributec by Carrera of America in the U.S.

Kids simply remove the top and unzip this storage bin to reveal a mat designed for play and themed for LEGO City sets. Launch date: Fall 2009.

Complete with 20 interchangeable parts, this Bike Shop set features two frames, two sets of wheels, various other parts needed to successfully assemble a bicycle, a storage case for the pieces, and a set of stickers to deck out the bikes.

Designed to encourage open-ended, creative play, colorful Smooshies plush feature mix-and-match parts — arms, legs, facial features, horns and more — that can be connected using the product's hook-n-loop tabs. Smooshies have received the following awards: 2009 Top Toy of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine and 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products Award.

This hippo is handcrafted out of hardwood and features non-toxic, watercolor paints and a clear watercolor sealant.

This New Vestroia Bakugan pack comes with a Bakugan Trap, an ability card and a metal gate card. The distinctively shaped trap is designed to be used alongside regular Bakugan for strategic and powerful battles. Rules for Bakugan Trap are available online at the Bakugan website.

This wind-up character is designed to dance for 15 seconds and comes in "try me" packaging. It does not require batteries.

This deluxe set includes a colorful Paperoni cutter that allows kids to create their own lengths for designs, 600, 0.5" Paperoni pieces, 32, 9.5" Paperoni pieces, one 2-D template, one 3-D template, one 2-D self-adhesive template, one tweezer, eight gems and assorted embellishments.