August 2009 Notable Toys — All

Kids can whip up a variety of fun, imaginative cupcakes as artful configurations or intriguing singles. It features custom-designed tools and skill-building techniques. In "Sweet!," author Jenna Land Free and expert Leslie Miller focus on how to make single cupcakes as well as splendid configurations. This fully illustrated, 24-page book comes with recipes, techniques and tips on how to create one-of-a kind works of edible art using creamy frosting, simple fondant and elegant ganache. Classic decorating tricks are broken down into simple step-by-step directions. The kit includes a froster designed with little hands in mind; three frosting tips: flat, star, and round; a frosting spreader (mini offset spatula); a stencil holder with four pre-cut stencils: sand dollar, snowflake, dragon face and bow; mini cutters in three shapes: circle, flower and shell; tweezers; a cake comb; and a rolling pin with raised edges for evenly rolled fondant. The pack is 10" W x 10" H x 2" D with e-flute packout. Launch date: August 2009.

The Toy Story pens come in three styles: Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Little Green Men. "Toy Story Talking Pens will be launching just in time for the re-release of 'Toy Story' 1 & 2 and the release of 'Toy Story 3' in 2010. Launch date: December 2009.

Each Splat Attack display comes with 12 splat balls in six styles: Egg, Tomato, Gold Pig, Green Pig, Purple Pig and Orange Pig. Kids can throw them on the ground to see them splat and morph back into their original shape. In addition to the six styles, the company can create customized Splat Attack to feature licensed products or specifications. Launch date: August 2009.

This 100-piece puzzle features bright artwork and three embedded gemstones. Launch date: 2009.

Fancy, fabulous and perfect for Princess dress up time! This lacy Pettiskirt is a dream come true for little girls. Made from yards of fluffy soft polyester chiffon, a gathered satin elastic waistband and tied with a deluxe satin ribbon.   Available in one size - skirt is 11 inches long with expandable waist 15”-28”.

Dress up as your own classic princess with the My Princess Academy pink satin and tulle diamond sequin dress up dress. This dress has a high scoop neck and a tea length skirt. Dress slips on easily with stretch material for easy wear. Dress is available in: 3 / 4, 5 / 6 and 7 / 8.

Dress up as your own princess with the My Princess Academy pink satin and tulle diamond glitter dress up skirt and wings. This skirt has a diamond gold glitter pattern with pink tulle leaves layered on top. Skirt slips on easily over clothes with stretch material and elastic waist for easy wear. The wings have a glittery diamond pattern and elastic straps that easily stretch over your shoulders.

Princesses will be enchanted with the 12” heart shaped rainbow light up wand with a magical charm sound. Light and sound operate with a heart shaped button. Batteries included.

From Carrera’s Evolution line of slot car racing sets, Night Racers is a two-car set blending 1:32 scale cars with innovative 1:24 scale track so that both 1:32 and 1:24 scale cars can be raced on this equipment. The Night Racers set includes two model cars, 18 track pieces, guardrails, two speed controllers, replacement contacts, instructions and other accessories.
— One retailer out of 49 told TDmonthly in July 2009 that Carrera manufactures the store's top-selling die-cast toys.

This model all-terrain SUV is fitted with opening doors, free-rolling wheels and tires with rubberized tracks. From the front grill to the rear bumper, familiar details are worked carefully in a 1:87 scale.
— “Siku is the best,” said Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston’s Child’s Play in Baltimore, Md., reporting sales of about 150 Siku die-cast per month during a July 2009 survey.

Beloved by children and farmers alike, the John Deere brand is well known for its durability and reliability. In Ertl’s 1:16 scale line of die-cast replicas, the tractor models’ details are faithfully rendered and finished with glossy paint and decals. The tractors roll freely on heavily treaded wheels ready for pretend-play or collector display.
— In July 2009, one of 49 retailers surveyed said John Deere tractors are the best-selling die-cast toys.

In eye-catching black and white, Schylling’s die-cast model of a police car is ready to respond to any emergency.  Zipping along on working wheels and a pull-back motor, the cruiser  has 9-1-1 printed on the side.
— “They're wonderful sellers,” Michelle Sahr, owner of My Little Red Wagon in Stow, Ohio, said of her Schylling die-cast vehicles in July 2009. Sahr said the police car is a favorite in the line.
— In an August 2013 survey, two out of nine retailers told TDmonthly that police cars were their best-selling type of die-cast toy.

With its glossy paint of bright red and double sets of deeply treaded tires, Case’s heavy-duty farm equipment is rendered in careful detail in Ertl’s 1:64 scale model. The interior of the tractor’s cab is sculpted faithfully and visible from the clear plastic enclosure. The chunky wheels are functional. 
— Two of 49 storeowners told TDmonthly in July 2009 that Ertl provides their best-selling die-cast toys.

An assortment of 10, 1:64 scale cars with realistic details and working wheels, this set of Matchbox cars can stand alone or accompany a collection, parking garage or road set. Familiar vehicles like family sedans, emergency vehicles, sports cars and construction equipment are cast and painted with realistic details to engage imaginative playtime.
— Of 49 retailers contacted during a July 2009 survey, three told TDmonthly Matchbox cars are their best-selling die-cast vehicles.

Color Shifters cars go through a transformation when immersed in warm or cold water. Themes include flames, city, camo, racing and color-to-color. 
— “The Hot Wheels are the best,” remarked Helen Dean, owner of Toy Safari in Alameda, Calif., when asked about her sales in die-cast vehicles in July 2009.
— Four of 49 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2009 that Hot Wheels is a top-selling brand, reporting sales of about 100 per month, on average.
― As of 9.21.2010, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 21 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 24 on the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Sturdy and entertaining. CONS: Does not work well indoors. Must be refilled often.

With swing-open doors, a working stop sign and details in crisp black, Schylling’s Die Cast Bus is an effective miniaturization of one of childhood’s most beloved and familiar vehicles.  A pull-back motor sends the bus zooming across floors or tables, and the interior is detailed with rows of seats visible through clear windows. 
— “The School Bus is always our best seller,” said Kim Emigh, VP of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., who told TDmonthly during a July 2009 survey that Schylling provides her top-selling die-cast vehicles.
— “The best seller in die-cast would be [the] school bus,” said Michelle Smith, owner of Piccolo Mondo Toys in Portland, Ore.
— Seven of 49 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2009 that school buses are their best selling die-cast vehicles.
— “Oddly enough, school buses are our best-seller,” said Terri Bracken, owner of Earth Explorers Toys in Zionsville, Ind., when asked about her best-selling die-cast items in July, 2010.
— Four out of 38 retailers specified the Schylling Die-Cast Bus as their top-selling die-cast toy in July 2010.

This apple-shaped pouched with a soft, zip-closed top includes 110 tiles with red capital letters that may be used to play three different games. In Appleletters, for two to six players ages 5 and up, players alternately add tiles to the first or last letter of a word in the middle of the table, creating a continuous "snake" of new words. Apple Turnover, for two to four players ages 7 and up, is similar to Appleletters. However, each player begins with 21 tiles instead of nine, and may actually replace an opponent's word with a longer word. The goal is to be the first player to get rid of tiles. In Applescore, for two to four players ages 7 and up, players build words as long as possible in crossword-like fashion and get bonus points for length, palindromes and going out first. Launch date: 2009.

In this episode, Billy Blue Hair loses his dog Doogie while playing fetch. As Billy searches for Doogie within the live-action video, Billy discovers Fire Station 25, where he learns fun and quirky facts about fire stations, fire engines, ladders, turnout suits, hydrants and how to safely battle a fire. "Why do fire stations have a pole?", "Why are fire hydrants different colors?" and "Why are fire trucks red?" are just a few of the many questions answered during this adventure with Billy Blue Hair. "Billy Blue Hair is a child's personal guide and educator, speaking directly to the child during the episode," Kris Olson, president of Kayo Media, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009. It received a 2009 Kids First Approved approved.

The Texan Bull is part of the Farm Life Series by Papo, featuring detailed artwork on hand-painted figurines. Launch date: April 2009.

This hand-painted Turtle Caouanne is a 2009 addition to the Papo Sea Animals Collection. "The realism, poses, movement, detail and quality that Papo offers," set these figurines apart, Brian Shackelton, operations manager for Hotaling Imports, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.

The Papo Lioness with cub is created with detail and designed to authentically display how lionesses really carry around their cubs. "[The] Papo wildlife series is easily the best-quality figure for the price," Brian Shackelton, operations manager for Hotaling Imports, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 15, 2006.

Dedicated Dads of a dozen kids, for Yosi & The Superdads, every day is Father’s Day. "Super Kids Rock!" celebrates their sentiment, message and credo. Fronted by award-winning recording artist, Yosi Levin, with a string of Sirius/XM radio hits, The Superdads ('Jammin' Joe Geisler, Gary 'G-Whiz' Hoffman and 'Super Steve' Brown) deliver "Super Kids Rock" ala Beatles, Clash, CCR, Ramones, ACDC and Buddy Holly. It's "a rock album for the whole family," Yosi Levin, owner of Yosi Music, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

Each display of these talking bookmarks comes with 24 bookmarks — six of each style: dog, cat, horse and monkey. Users simply press the bookmark to hear the respective animal sound. Launch date: 2009.

Fred Figglehorn, the first YouTube star to land 1 million subscribers, is featured on these packs of stickers that come in bundles of 36. There are 13 stickers on the Hey It’s Fred – Red Stickers, which come on a red backer card, and 14 stickers on the blue version. "Fred is the hottest licensed property of 2009," Kristin Baker, in sales admin at Kamhi World, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.