September 2009 Notable Toys — All

Soft and light, the 7.5” Cosmidoux Hang Up Rattle is a snuggly that can be hung on the stroller, on the cradle or simply manipulated in baby's hands. It jingles softy and is machine washable.

This soft wagon carries a load of sensory toys for baby.

This heavy duty, textured ball is great for indoor or outdoor play. The ball is 7" diameter. It is made of rubber and contains no PVC, latex or vinyl. The product conforms to or exceeds U.S. and European safety standards.
— During a March 2010 survey of top-selling sports and outdoor products, three out of 37 retailers told TDmonthly play balls are their best seller.

The Dinosaur Dish Set includes a plate, bowl, cup, fork and spoon. The melamine is BPA free and the set conforms to or exceeds U.S. and European safety standards. Gifts sets are 15"w x 11"H x 3"D. It is top-rack dishwasher safe or can be  handwashed in warm water.

This 9.5" soft and cuddly frog with removable clothing is based on the beloved characters from Arnold Lobel's classic books. NOTE: THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED.

This three-piece set — part dinnertime, part storytime — is a fun take on classic children’s tableware. Made of keepsake-quality ceramic and designed for older kids (4-6) who’ve mastered table manners, each piece depicts a different scene and caption from one of three original, Piggy Story tales. The entire set is microwave and dishwasher safe, and comes nestled in a tin box with matching placemat and a small storybook. The tin box measures 7” x 7” x 4.75”.

The Only Hearts Club dolls are wholesome playthings meant to foster healthy self-images in young girls. Karina Grace comes decked out for a day of healthy fun at the beach.

This mermaid doll is soft and cuddly enough for a young child, but carries detail to foster the imagination of older girls.

The Mermaid Cookbook by Barbara Beery is filled with delicious, nutrious recipes that get kids thinking about healthy eating while engaging their imaginations. This spiral-bound book is perfect as a gift or for creating themed parties.

What kind of mermaid can’t swim? These mermaids are fully submersible for bathtub or swimming pool fun. They come with either magenta or purple hair that can be combed.

The Pinx line includes birthday and greeting cards with whimsical watercolor designs. This company is no longer in business.

This set includes a week’s worth of graphic socks with dots and comes in a gift box.

The Tootsie Roll Metal Lunch Box is printed and embossed with “delicious” graphics. It measures approximately 8” x 7”.

This pretty infant dress can later be worn as a top. The dress is made by a Long Beach, Calif., mompreneur.

These colorful car seat covers are removable for washing and can also be transferred to shopping carts to keep baby clean. The covers are made by a Long Beach, Calif., mompreneur.

These mom and baby bovines are tethered together. When the string is pulled, they make music.

This 8” velour cow is soft and cuddly for infants.

This elegant 12” knitted butteryfly is musical, too. When his tail is pulled, he plays a Brahms lullaby.

With 24 sticks in a rainbow of colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple), kids can construct shapes and figures without the use of glue or other materials. Each Wikki Stix is 8” long.
- Sallie Kashiwa, owner of Timbuk Toys in Denver, told TDmonthly in late summer 2009 that her store sells about 80 Wikki Stix sets per month.
— Wikki Stix have been consistent best sellers for the last two years at The Parent-Teacher Store & Toys Too in Louisville, Ky., Owner Kimberly Kopatz told TDmonthly in fall 2009.

This bookmark features a colorful palette of the world under the sea, with an eye-catching three-dimensional effect.
— Gary Green of Toy Box of Asheville in North Carolina told TDmonthly in summer 2009 that his store sells 60 to 70 of these bookmarks per month. “It seems to me we do a reorder once a month with them. It's not something people come to the store for, but it's so eye-catching that it stands out,” he said.

This classic noise-making prank measures 7.25” in diameter and becomes quite the shocker when sat on after inflated.
— Two of 38 retailers told TDmonthly in late summer 2009 that whoopee cushions are a favorite novelty item among their customers. “They’re always very popular,” commented Karen Leppmann, owner of Finnegan’s Toys & Gifts in Portland, Ore.

This wooden storage box with a sliding lid holds 41 colorful wood pick-up sticks that each measure 9.75” long.
— Two of 38 specialty retailers said in late summer 2009 that this long-loved classic game is a best-selling novelty at their stores.

The mirascope utilizes concave mirrors to project 3-D images of an item placed inside. Kids can stick their finger right through the illusional image that appears.
— The 3-D Mirascope “always attracts people’s attention,” Mike Lane, manager of Hobbytown in Cumming, Ga., said in late summer 2009.
— The Wooden Toy in Wethersfield, Conn., sells about 20 per month of this item, David Ekwall told TDmonthly in 2009.

These small cupcake erasers with removable parts are available as a trio and in single packs.
— Three of 38 specialty retailers named Iwako erasers as a best-selling novelty item in late summer 2009. Going into the holiday season 2009 (late fall), two of 44 retailers named the erasers among their absolute best sellers.