August 2009 Notable Toys — All

"Global Wonders: Around the World" is an educational entertainment brand created to inspire kids (3 to 6) to explore and appreciate the customs, music, languages and lifestyles of various cultures from around the neighborhood and world. It was created by a mom of two young girls and a veteran team of children's entertainment and developmental education experts. In a world where animation meets live-action footage, children can discover, share, and compare new cultures with their new friends from Global Wonders. "Global Wonders packaging dazzles, and the cultural content is entertaining and deep. Interactive features like WonderVision and Language Jams also set it apart," David Burchianti, VP of marketing and brand development for Global Wonders, told TDmonthly. It has received the following awards: Dr. Toy Best New Product, iParenting Media Best New DVD and Toy Tips Top 10 Back to School Toy. Launch date: October 21, 2008.

This take-a-long friend, with its moving wheels and chomping mouth, is designed to inspire kids to touch, grasp, explore and grow. It has bright colors and zig-zag stripes and is made from renewable rubberwood. Launch date: July 2009.

An electronic dice roll gives players a target number, and kids (or parents) race to add or subtract the light-up numbers one through 9 at their station. Once a player has used all of his numbers, he's scored a knockout. Players can also train for matches in solo mode. The announcer’s voice, starting bell and roaring crowd send fighters into the ring ready to rumble. It features volume control and automatic shut-off, and includes an Activity Guide. An AC adapter is available separately. Launch date: April 2, 2009.

Designed for tiny hands to handle, this vibrant bunch makes clickey-clop sounds when jumbled together. It is made from renewable rubberwood. Launch date: July 2009.

This whirly, twirly activity toy has brightly colored loops and wooden discs that spin up and down in a dizzying array of activity. It is made from renewable rubberwood. Launch date: July 2009.

Little anglers can hook the catch of the day, and an adjustable vest makes play more realistic. Kids can play a size-matching game with worms and fish. It features six pages of write-and-wipe, fishing-themed activities. Plastic pieces include a pole with magnetic hook, three magnetic fish, three worms, a net and a vest (plastic, nylon and canvas). All magnets are embedded for safety, and the plastic tackle box stores all pieces. "This fishing set is a realistic representation of fishing, allowing imaginative play, while also being able to play matching games with the various size worms and colored fish that come with the set," Nancy Davies, group account director at Salmon Borre Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— Deborah Smith from Toys That Teach in Richmond, Va., told TDmonthly in a December 2011 survey that Learning Resources Pretend & Play kits were among her best selling Halloween products.

This rattle is made from renewable rubberwood and features a clickety-clack sound with bright colorful pieces. Launch date: July 2009.

This game asks the question, "Can you keep your dinosaur alive into the 21st century?" It's a board game full of pitfalls and promotions as each player's dino works its way from the Jurassic to modern times, trying to avoid terrifying predators and extraordinary earth events in order to survive and be the winner. It comes with six free dinosaur replicas and is made in the USA. This game received an Oppenheim Gold Award. Launch date: March 31, 2008.

I Spy Colorful Kids Puzzle Assortment offers an imaginative new twist on classic I Spy fun. The assortment features six different color-themed puzzles that link hands when completed. Players do the puzzle, then solve the riddles. It comes in a durable carry-along package and includes 100 pieces. The puzzles measure 16.75" x 18". Launch date: March 31, 2009.

It takes a keen eye and a quick hand to keep up in this fast-paced matching game. Players search the colorful picture cards to find the one that matches the silhouette card in hand. The player with the most matches wins. No reading is required and there are four levels of play. The game is created to help develop visual interpretation, critical thinking and social skills. It received a 2009 Oppenheim Gold Award. Launch date: March 31, 2009.

This junior version of I Spy Eagle Eye is scaled to suit the youngest I Spy fans. No reading is required and there are four levels of play. The game is designed to help develop language skills, word association, matching like and similar objects, and social skills. It is made in the USA. "This game makes learning fun with its unique I Spy imagery and bell-ringing activity," Carol Comes, product manager for Briarpatch, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 31, 2009.

"Boarding Basics" is designed as the perfect companion DVD for the award-winning Yo Baby Kick Flipper. The easy to follow DVD offers instruction on tricks such as the 180 and 360 Spin, Ollie, Peanut Flip, Caveman and lots more. It takes kids through each move, step by step, so they can follow along and learn. "It is the only step-by-step DVD that teaches kids how to do all the cool boarding tricks on a Yo Baby Kick Flipper (think 'skateboard without wheels') in the safety of their home," Bob Ellis, president of GarageCo Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 21, 2009.

This 18" x 35" puzzle consists of 35 sturdy, wipe-off pieces. As an extra feature, the entire classic Goodnight Moon story is printed around the border. It is made in the USA. Launch date: March 31, 2009.

These counting and matching games offer seven versions of play for children at different levels of skill and experience. There's a different game for every night of the week. It encourages listening, matching, and beginning number and reading skills. The product features the endearing artwork from the classic book "Goodnight Moon" and is made in the USA. Launch date: March 31, 2009.

Block Mates build upon the foundation of unit blocks by providing children with a themed exploration set. All Block Mates are designed to fit standard unit blocks and can be built in their natural form or mixed and matched with others in the set to create new, imaginative creatures. The patented gasket design is created for a snug fit. There are five characters per set. The Safari set includes Gorilla, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Alligator and Lion. Blocks not included. There is not a toy in any market like Block Mates™. "They bring new life to a store's unit block sales and they are not marketed in big-box stores. They can be sold as an educational toy or a creative toy," Dave Ruddock, digital imaging and design for Guidecraft, told TDmonthly. This product received a Best of 2008 Instructor Teacher's Pick award and a 2008 and 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: October 20, 2008.

This product features two front teeth and "is the only 100-percent edible Christmas Candy Teeth," Colin Leier, manager of Triple Alliance LLC dba Bubbagum, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2008.

Designed to combat boring kids' golf lessons, myminigolf employs obstacles the teacher can use to motivate kids in a playful way. "There is no competitor on market. myminigolf is the only product for this application," Hannes Weber, designer for defacto.GmbH, told TDmonthly. This product was a finalist of the "Golf Europe Product Award 2008."

This bilingual laptop has 48 fun learning activities in English and Spanish. There's a switch for easy selection between the two languages. The QWERTY keyboard encourages correct typing. The product aims to help kids learn vocabulary grammar, math, trivia, logic, music and drawing. Launch date: October 2009.

This laptop has 60 educational activities in English and Spanish, and a working microphone allows kids to sing along to their favorite songs. Interactive funny games are designed by using the microphone or directional joystick. It's created to help kids learn upper and lower case letters, math, logic, music and singing. Launch date: October 2009.

This product is bilingual (English/Spanish) with a total of 140 activities. All activities are designed with a Web-browser format and user-friendly screen-scrolling function to enhance young users' computer skills. It has built-in, one-touch keys for direct access to main modes with real laptop simulated applications included. It's created to help kids learn grammar, math, drawing, logic, music, translation and personal organization. "[A] unique circular touch panel allows for quick file search," Jackie Tam, senior sales manager for Hanzawa, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2009.

This Learning Center can connect to TV or unplug for portable fun. It includes a start-up learning book, a game cartridge, and a double-side learning card. It features a large drawing area and creations can be saved or printed out, as it supports SD cards. It's designed to help kids learn vocabulary, letter and number formation, math, translation, music, drawing and trivia. "The built-in, non-touch technology allows detection of your location and movement even you are not touching the drawing area with the stylus," Jackie Tam, senior sales manager for Hanzawa, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2009.

The Monsterbooks are illustrated rhyming books for all generations. The books were created as a response to parents' desire for books to read to their children that adults can also enjoy. They draw upon themes that resonate with adults, including the Beatles, presidential politics and baseball. Launch date: June 2009.

Jacquard Products’ popular Medium Point Tee Juice Fabric Marking Pens are now offered in a boxed set which includes: Yellow, Blue, Red, Green and Black pens. Tee Juice Fabric Art Marking Pens are also available in Fineliner and Broad Tip Pens; all are available in eight vivid colors: Golden Yellow, Red, Blue, Black, Chocolate Brown, Orange, Purple and Emerald Green. The pens can be used on a wide variety of natural and synthetic fibers. Any piece of fabric, from t-shirts to lampshades can be transformed into a unique piece of art. Launch date: June 2009.

The KaZAM provides an alternative way to learn to ride a pedaled bicycle based on the concept of balance first, pedal last. It is a training bicycle that assists children to balance, increase coordination and ultimately ride a traditional bicycle for the first time with confidence. "This customized toddler bicycle has the steering and balancing challenges of a traditional bicycle but it has no pedals, chain or training wheels. Unlike all the competitors on the market, there is no more awkwardness with where to put your feet when gliding and cruising on a run bike — the KaZAM is uniquely designed with a foot rest area thereby making the transition onto a pedaled bicycle quicker and seamless! Because of its unique patented footrest and design, KaZAM appeals instantly to children and their parents," John Lugo, partner at KaZAM, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 15, 2008.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010
— "All colors are great,"Kate Tanner, owner of Kidstop Toys, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.
— Glisyn Lewis Jarrells, manager of Imaginations Toy & Furniture Colo. in Blacksburg, Va., told TDmonthly in a March 2013 survey that they sell around 10 Kazam balance bikes during the warm-weather months.
— In a July 2013 survey Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo Toys in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly that Kazam balance bikes are her store's overall best-selling toy.