August 2009 Notable Toys — Gifts

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 custom-designed, toddler-sized backpack is fully lined, machine washable, and contains a mix of toys designed to keep toddlers entertained. Launch date: August 15, 2009.

This jacket and toy in one is made of pre-washed, blue denim with attractive pink stitching and a silky pink satin lining. Embroidered on the back of each denim jacket is a fabric doll. Kids can dress up the doll by applying the hair, dresses and various accessories to the doll's body with easy to use Velcro backings. Dress Me Jackets aims to make getting dressed an enjoyable activity for kids as they use their imagination, fine-motor and decision-making skills to create new looks with their jacket. Each jacket includes a denim purse to carry the 14 interchangeable accessories that create the two "Princess" and "Ballerina" characters. Launch date: November 2008.

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With 52 questions, this game is designed to let players know how well they you know their BFF, and how well their best friend knows them. Launch date: September 15, 2009.

This giraffe-shaped growth chart doubles as a wall mirror to indulge little ones' fascination with their own reflection and record their height as they grow. Made of sturdy mirrored acrylic, this growth chart is shatterproof and light. It comes in two pieces (head and body) and records heights from 1" to 3.5". Launch date: August 2009.

The simple shapes of this mobile are laser-cut to showcase the natural beauty of bamboo. "Our product features laser-cut, sustainably harvested bamboo. It is 100-percent made in the USA. We hired a non-profit employing adults with disabilities to package our products," Lorena Siminovich, owner of Petit Collage, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

A festive red pouch unveils a set of Piggy Paint nail polishes in red, green and clear sparkle topcoat. "Piggy Paint is a natural, eco-friendly nail polish designed for fancy girls. Not only is it made in the USA, but all of our raw materials come from here as well," Melanie Hurley, CEO of Piggy Paint, told TDmonthly. This ideal stocking stuffer was Safbaby's Mom Approved and received a Child Tested Excellence Award. Launch date: August 2008.

For Sleepy Seaside Piano, Raimond Lap composed 27 new instrumental tracks that include the relaxing sounds of the sea along with his special piano melodies and improvisations. This set of three CDs is suitable for babies and designed for relaxation and aiding with sleep. "Lovely Baby is the first and only original music series in the world specifically created for the emotional, intellectual and social development of babies, prenatal - 3+ years. Our new grown-up titles are also suitable for the same infants and babies that listen to the regular Lovely Baby CD series," Gary Brody, president of Lovely Baby Music, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 17, 2009.

In as little as 10 minutes, the Music For Brains collection is designed to rejuvenate one's mental wellbeing by providing a serene and relaxing environment in which to unwind, relieving stress and tension and enabling one to make it through the rest of the day. This music may be shared with children for a happier, peaceful home. This set includes three CDs packaged in an Amaray (DVD) box. Launch date: August 17, 2009.

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

This jet-setting suitcase for kids of all ages is made of heavy-duty nylon on a sturdy metal frame. The wheelie bag has an adjustable handle with multiple lock settings to size to every traveler, even grown-ups. The exterior has a large zipped pocket for quick access to toys, coloring books and snacks. An additional zip pocket can be found in the roomy interior. It features "extremely high-quality construction. [The] dual-lock handle allows for two settings so grown-up can take over if kiddo gets tired," Claire Theobald, partner at Dante Beatrix, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 15, 2009.

These sturdy backpacks are constructed with nylon made entirely from recycled plastic water bottles and trimmed with naturally biodegradable canvas. Each pack removes seven, 16-oz. plastic bottles from the environment. Each features a large front zipped pocket, two side pockets and an interior zipped pocket. The packs are sized for kids ages 5 to 10. "[They] help your child do something to help the environment while carrying their books to school," Claire Theobald, partner at Dante Beatrix, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 15, 2009.

The creatures of Maakun Forest are available on these big backpacks designed for ages 5 to 10. The packs are large enough to hold textbooks, a laptop, sneakers, lunch and more. Constructed from durable, easy-to-clean nylon, they have a large front pocket and two side pockets, plus a large interior space with a smaller interior pocket. There are padded shoulder straps and a back panel with a name tag. "[It's a] mod design that both parents and kids love," Claire Theobald, partner at Dante Beatrix, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 15, 2009.

These sturdy backpacks are constructed with nylon made entirely from recycled plastic water bottles and are trimmed with naturally biodegradable canvas. Each pack removes four, 16-oz. plastic bottles from the environment. The large interior space contains a smaller zipped pocket, and the back panel and straps are padded. The backpack is sized for children ages 2 to 5. It "helps your child do something to help the environment while carrying around his or her favorite toys," Claire Theobald, partner at Dante Beatrix, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

Inhabited by the creatures of Maakun Forest, these little packs are designed to hold everything a tot needs for a busy day. Constructed from durable nylon and laminated canvas to make them extra easy to clean, they feature roomy interior space with a smaller zipped pocket. There's a padded back panel with a name tag and padded shoulder straps. The backpacks are sized for kids ages 2 to 5. Launch date: June 15, 2009.

The Kangaroo Zak facilitates skin-to-skin contact and is designed to assure safety and comfort of parents and baby (baby will not fall and lines will stay put), maximize the area of contact between the baby and the adult, assures proper positioning, provide containment and sense of security, allow mom or dad to kangaroo "hands free" to read a book or and even fall asleep while kangarooing. It is created to support and complement all the benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care (constant natural temperature, breathing, stable blood pressure, increase of the mother's milk supply) and is made so that moms and dads can hold their babies safely and for longer periods of time. Kangaroo Zak is adjustable and each fits three sizes. It also gives moms coverage so they are not "exposed" when holding their babies. "Kangaroo Zak helps parents show how much they love their babies and it provides a nice and safe transition between womb and world," Yamile Jackson, president and founder of Zakeez, Inc., told TDmonthly. Zakeez received a 2009 Outstanding Women-Owned Business of the Year Award (Small Business Administration - SCORE Foundation). Launch date: September 13, 2009.

This standing 14" bear wears a velour hoodie embroidered with the team name and logo. The bear's color is the NFL team's primary color and the hoodie is the team's accent color. It is available for all NFL teams. Launch date: December 2008.

Fifty years ago, Billboard launched a revolutionary music chart called the Hot 100. Billboard's Hot 100 Trivia Game captures 50 years of music facts, designed to appeal to both passionate and casual music lovers. Played in a fast-paced team format, Billboard's Hot 100 Trvia Game creates a party atmosphere. It has 2,880 questions in four categories: Who Sang It?, Finish The Lyrics, Who Am I?, and Grab Bag. Launch date: March 15, 2009.

This wind-up musical doll rolls her head in time with the music. She's "Jo" in the "Little Women" collection.

Tynies are glass collectibles, introduced in 2008 with 40 different styles. New styles are released three times per year. Each Tynies has a name — each name is three letters. First edition Tynies come on a cardboard base that can be removed by soaking in water for about one minute. Because Tynies are handmade, they vary in color and shape.
— Christine Osborne, co-owner of Wonder Works in Charleston, S.C., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that Tynies are her best selling keepsake item. They sell about 200 per month in each store.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly Tynies were their best selling collectibles. Elmer Carranza, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly that they sell 8-10 Tynies each month.
— In an August 2013 survey Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that Tynies are one of the store's best-selling collectible lines.

This set of four 8" melamine plates features a different robot on each against a bright, patterned background. The plates are dishwasher safe and coordinate with the company's robot juice cup and bowl set for kids.

Best friends can be celebrated with the "Best Friends Forever" Mini Brush, which is lighter and shorter than the original, making it ideal for smaller hands or on-the-go use. Launch date: April 2009.

The "Figure 8" brush features a girl gliding on the ice, with a little bunny friend in the background. Launch date: June 10, 2009.

Mary Meyer’s Fuzz that Wuzz collection is made from plastic bottles. The outer fabric and stuffing are high-quality polyester made from 100-percent recycled plastic bottles. There are six Mini Zzzzoo animals. Launch date: June 2009.