August 2009 Notable Toys — Interactive

Prime-8 is a fast and agile gorilla robot that does everything from play laser tag to run with your kids down hallways. He explores his own surroundings or responds to remote control. He is silly, occasionally rude, and goes crazy when disturbed in his sleep! Prime-8’s intense interactivity is powered by a battery of sensors that allow him to respond to people and to his environment. Internal sensors measure his orientation constantly, and prompt him to right himself should he fall down. Outbound sight and sound sensors help Prime-8 maneuver around obstacles, respond to questions with grunts and growls, and express himself. Finally, motion detection sensors keep Prime-8 alert so that he can chase away intruders by firing rockets!

Penbo is a lovable interactive penguin that sings, talks, dances and plays games with you and her surprise Bebe. She responds to touch and sound and communicates with her Bebe through infrared sensors. Penbo also plays five games with you and Bebe; the more you play, the happier she becomes! Penbo is an autonomous robot designed to move like a penguin and interact with you and her Bebe through an array of sensors. She is aware of her surroundings, loves to dance, plays games and talks with Bebe in Penguish, her own language. Press Penbo’s heart to reveal a surprise egg with her Bebe inside; each color Bebe interacts differently with Penbo.

The Heart Power Adventure Bracelet is one of six Magic Wishing Bracelets, each of which comes with a keycode that will open a different land online. The bracelet shown opens up Winter Land, where girls can earn valuable Princess Points that can be used to create their own virtual Princess. The game and bonus games are designed to be educational and fun. Registered users will also receive a weekly letter from Princess Renee, full of geography, good deeds and much more. Launch date: May 2009.

This soft, plush puppy in bright pastels features embroidered eyes and comes with a secret code that opens up a virtual playground for young children. Launch date: 2009.

ActionJetz minijetz are cool diecast planes that each come with a secret code card. With it, kids and parents can chat, play and learn new stuff in the online world of ActionJetz.

We Both Read books feature an interactive format designed for a child to take turns reading aloud with a parent or tutor. The left-hand pages feature more sophisticated text for the parent or tutor to read. Then, the child reads the right-hand pages, which feature text written at a specific early reading level. With beautiful illustrations and photos, the books are leveled for children in grades K-3, and the series includes a total of 45 fiction and nonfiction titles. Paperback: $4.99, Hardcover: $9.95. "Designed for shared reading, the We Both Read series brings parents and children together for a wonderful reading experience and faster reading development," Gloria L. Scott, office manager for Treasure Bay, Inc., told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: 2005 - The National Parenting Center; 2008 - Learning Magazine's Teachers' Choice Award; 2007 - Institute for Childhood Resources (1 of 10 best Educational Products); and Mom's Choice Award (finalist for Best Children's Series). Launch date: 1997.

There are six different magic wishing bracelets. Each bracelet comes with a keycode that will open a different land. Throughout the opened land, girls can earn valuable Princess Points that can be used to create their own virtual Princess. The game and bonus games are designed to be educational and fun. Registered users will also receive a weekly letter from Princess Renee, full of geography, good deeds and much more. The bracelet shown is the Star Power Adventure, which opens up the Wishing Pond. "Unlike Webkinz and Club Penguin, once a keycode is entered it doesn't expire," Robin Sydney of Zorbitz Inc. told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Dittoze™ are adorable, fun, plush pets with the unique ability to record personal messages! Each of our cuddly pets will record a personal 12 second message and play it back. Great fun for children and a great way to send personalized greeting of "Hello, I Love You, Happy Birthday" and much more. Easy to record, easy to play and your message can be changed anytime!

Dittoze™ are adorable, fun, plush pets with the unique ability to record personal messages! Each of our cuddly pets will record a personal 12 second message and play it back. Great fun for children and a great way to send personalized greeting of "Hello, I Love You, Happy Birthday" and much more. Easy to record, easy to play and your message can be changed anytime!

Dittoze™ are adorable, fun, plush pets with the unique ability to record personal messages! Each of our cuddly pets will record a personal 12 second message and play it back. Great fun for children and a great way to send personalized greeting of "Hello, I Love You, Happy Birthday" and much more. Easy to record, easy to play and your message can be changed anytime!

Dittoze™ are adorable, fun, plush pets with the unique ability to record personal messages! Each of our cuddly pets will record a personal 12 second message and play it back. Great fun for children and a great way to send personalized greeting of "Hello, I Love You, Happy Birthday" and much more. Easy to record, easy to play and your message can be changed anytime!

Dittoze™ are adorable, fun, plush pets with the unique ability to record personal messages! Each of our cuddly pets will record a personal 12 second message and play it back. Great fun for children and a great way to send personalized greeting of "Hello, I Love You, Happy Birthday" and much more. Easy to record, easy to play and your message can be changed anytime!

Dittoze™ are adorable, fun, plush pets with the unique ability to record personal messages! Each of our cuddly pets will record a personal 12 second message and play it back. Great fun for children and a great way to send personalized greeting of "Hello, I Love You, Happy Birthday" and much more. Easy to record, easy to play and your message can be changed anytime!

Kids can splash into undersea adventures with friendly creatures that engage them in early learning games. It includes a treasure hunt and plays eight children’s songs. They press the gem notes to create original tunes. The mat is designed to keep kids on the move with floor play, or for play on a table. It features high-quality audio, automatic shut-off, adjustable volume and Activity Guide. It wipes clean and is for one to three players. The mat measures 34” L x 30” H and requires 4 AA batteries, not included. Launch date: May 20, 2009.

With the Pretend & Play Birthday Set, kids can design custom invitations for special guests, and decorate the cake and three presents. The five cake pieces feature candles numbered one to five to help with counting. Also included is a birthday crown, a pretend camera, birthday cards and more. "It encourages creativity through the design of invitations and cake decorations to number play with the numbered candles and cake slices," Nancy Davies, group account director for Salmon Borre Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

Speed, smarts and reflexes get a workout in the Jitterz Fast-Paced Trivia Game that sets players on edge. Instead of buzzing in, two to four players keep their hands on pads as Jitterz reads a question, then multiple choice answers. The first player to pull her hand up after the correct answer has been read wins. More than 250 general questions about science and world geography, simple classification, and logic questions challenge children to expand their knowledge. It includes an Activity Guide, adjustable volume and automatic shut-off. An AC adapter is available separately. Launch date: April 15, 2009.

The Funny Phone Early Listening Game is created to get players of all ages giggling. Players dial a number and listen as Funny Phone tells what the next game is. With more than 300 challenges — tongue twisters, singing, drawing, acting and more — Funny Phone is full of surprises. Winners can dial a secret phone number to hear a victory message. It features automatic shut-off, adjustable volume and a break-away safety cord. It requires 3 AA batteries, not included. An AC adapter is available separately. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. Launch date: April 15, 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.

Based on the 23rd-century design seen in the original Star Trek television series, this detailed electronic instrument features silver highlights over a black finish, plus light and sound effects taken from the watershed TV show. The Tricorder features blinking lights, a spinning scanner, a light-up screen, and adjustable shoulder strap. All doors open and close. It comes in window-box packaging. "The Entertainment Earth Exclusive Medical Tricorder is the ultimate replica for any fan, collector, or 23rd-century physician. Not only does the case open to reveal the detailed interior, but this deluxe version also includes a compartment with a removable scanner accessory with lights and motion that you won't find anywhere else!" Jenna Banks, director of sales for EE Distribution, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

The horses have been running wild on the range, and the players' job to round up as many as they can and bring them back to the Ranch Corral. Some may be in the box canyons, or grazing along the trail. As players ride out, they'll have to get some lassos and binoculars and watch out for falling rocks that could block up a trail and leave a beautiful horse trapped. Players have to work together as a team, sharing equipment and talking over ideas. Because of the random setup, each game is a new adventure. It includes a 12" x 12" board, rocks, lassos, wild horses and binoculars. Launch date: April 30, 2009.

Kids can choose an adventure and set off to a land near or far, playing with polar bears and seals in the freezing floating ice lands, or discovering tigers in the dense jungle. Four backgrounds set the arena for 26 animals to play and jump around. Launch date: 2009.

With more than 60 pieces and a lettered play board showing both upper- and lower-cased letters, this set gives kids a way to become more familiar with the alphabet. Each picture has the word on felt to go along with it. And ech vowel has an image of its long and short sound, helping to start the concept of beginning phonics. Launch date: 2009.

Kids's imaginations can splash into an underwater world where scuba divers explore the colorful creatures of the coral reef or venture out into open water and find magnificent giant mammals and fish. This play board and 28 felt pieces create a place to explore the depths of the sea. Launch date: 2009.

With this imaginative kit, kids can set a scene in which the characters fly a kite in the cool salty air, build art sculptures of sand, or go snorkeling and discover the world under the sea. A beach oasis is a playground paradise for this boy and girl. It includes more than 20 colorful felt pieces. Launch date: 2009.