September 2009 Notable Toys — All

Each of these question-and-answer games includes 60 question-and-answer cards. As each correct answer is given, players perform a fun task, such as giving the closest person a high-five or hitting an imaginary baseball and shouting, "Home Run!" There are 10 different games: America, American Revolution, Animals, Black History, Conservation, Solar System, U.S. Civil War, U.S. Constitution, U.S. Presidents and Weather. Launch date: January 2009.

Kids can learn state facts fast in this card game that's available for 11 states: California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Six fun ways to play include matching, trivia, and rummy-style games. The card facts and graphics include more than 40 state facts including state map, symbols, trivia, spelling and true-or-false. Launch date: January 2008.

The Trikke T67 Three-Wheeled Carving Scooter lets the rider "surf the street" and exercises the whole body as a side-to-side motion propels it forward. This model is adjustable for anyone 4'6" to 5'4" and up to 200 lbs. "There is a trick to making them go, which must be learned, but children seem to have an easier time than adults. Though it is not necessary, Trikke can provide an instructional DVD to loop in the store," a company representative told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 1, 2003.

"Global Wonders: Mexico" is an interactive DVD that's part of a series introducing children to vibrant and varied cultures around the world. Animation meets live-action footage as children learn about the Mexican culture while sharing and comparing their own cultures. It includes Language Jams, which are participation-based musical segments introducing a culturally rich vocabulary, and WonderVision, interactive adventure with secret content and surprises. Launch date: October 21, 2008.

The Amazing Mushroom is a three-stage activity toy that allows achild to progress through the phases of crawling, sitting and standing. The Mushroom is equipped with fun features and learning activities, including light effects, music, a color rainbow and a ball-drop surprise. Launch date: January 10, 2009.

This butterfly character design toy comes in a book style with each page of the butterfly wings featuring a different activity. Children can explore all the activities as the butterfly head lights up. Launch date: January 10, 2009.

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.

Hair Noodles feature a spiral design in multiple colors that create many different looks. Launch date: July 2009.

These “stick-in-place” toilet seat covers protect children (and the whole family) from germs on public toilet seats. They are designed to stay on seats with adhesive strips, creating a reliable barrier between little bottoms and big germs. A soft and absorbent top exists for comfort, and a plastic liner underneath eliminates wet seats from soaking through. Resealable, zip-close travel packs with 10 covers fit conveniently in a diaper bag. Launch date: April 2009.

The Table Topper disposable “stick-in-place” placemats with adhesive strips are designed to protect baby from germs on restaurant tables. The designs aim to keep baby occupied so everyone else can eat, too. The product comes in resealable, zip-close travel packs with 18 mats that each fit conveniently into a diaper bag. Launch date: April 2009.

The Safe Sizer, a colorful child’s plate with a distinctive safety feature, is designed to help parents reduce the risk of their young child choking on food. It incorporates a half-inch diameter raised ring that reminds parents and caregivers of the recommended maximum bite size for kids under 4 who are eating solid foods, and helps them measure it properly. Launch date: 2009.

This kit challenges kids in a fun and colorful format by teaching them to identify shapes and colors by completing tasks, to recognize shapes and colors of objects in their environment, and to develop grouping and classifying skills through game play. It's all packaged in a storage box. Launch date: 2009.

Children can make moving figures of a dozen world-changing individuals from thousands of years ago. Cut-and-color or pre-colored action figures really move as they play out the lives of Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, King David, Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi (builder of the Great Wall of China), Hannibal (and his elephant!) and others. Their stories are right in the book — or kids can make up their own stories about these historic figures. Launch date: April 15, 2009.

WhisperPhone® Reader’s Theater includes 10 scripts, 10 scene setters and 10 coordinating exercises written by literacy experts and teachers. The scripts feature two characters in a telephone conversation about “How Things Are Made.” Students practice reading with expression in pairs. Launch date: March 2009.

The Soft Caterpillar in the Taggies Colours from Mary Meyer collection features Taggies patented looped ribbon tags that babies can explore and rub. The caterpillar is soft and easy for little hands to grasp and hold. Launch date: February 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.

"Zoey and the Yok-Yok Man" is a musical journey with a positive message. Aimed at children 3 to 10, this entertaining story is designed to nurture children's imagination through upbeat and catchy songs. Launch date: April 30, 2009.

Pedoodles shoes are manufactured using environmentally friendly processes. Carefully selected quality remnant leather is used in construction of Pedoodles in order to reduce waste. Recycled materials are also used for the manufacturing of the soles, and the “green” packaging for Pedoodles is made from recycled materials. Designed to be developmentally correct for little feet, the shoes have PedFlex Soles that are lightweight and flexible to offer protection, durability and traction. Launch date: June 2008.

The Guardian Angel Bracelet is a secure lock bracelet that can be easily adjusted to fit children of all ages. The bracelet includes a space for parents or caregivers to write the cell phone number of the child’s caregiver. They can teach their children that if they get lost or separated from their group, they should find a mommy and ask her to call the number on the bracelet. Launch date: June 2009.

Intended for infants, the DreamSwaddle uses a double-wrap system and offers a double-ended zip-up pouch that gives easy access for diaper changing. "The DreamSwaddle is a unique new concept in swaddleing babies; it's every parent's dream — sleeping made easy," Brenda Anderson, president of Bluebird Sales & Distribution, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

This 7/8"- square glass pendant comes with a 24" color-coordinated ball chain, a silver-plated bail, paper, acrylic sealer, a cello hanging bag, and a color-coordinated card with interpretive information on the back. Water resistant only. Launch date: August 2009.

This Silver Ion HEPA Air Filter is designed for homes with kids seeking to reduce airborne viruses that cause the flu. The HEPA air filter is coated with silver, an eco-friendly and non-toxic substance naturally occurring in nature that provides anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral protection. The Silver Ion HEPA filter is more affordable than other air sterilization methods and is designed to be extremely efficient when compared to ultraviolet technology alone. The Silver Ion HEPA filter reduces up to 50 percent of airborne viruses that cause the flu after 24 hours of use, and eliminates 99 percent of airborne allergens, 98 percent of bacteria, and up to 50 percent of the viruses that cause influenza. It's "perfect for a child's room or common high-traffic areas in the home," Akiko Tanaka, PR coordinator for Alen Corp., told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 15, 2009.

Ficklets interchangeable eyewear charm huggers are designed to provide an innovative and affordable way to update kids' eyewear and help them feel more comfortable in their glasses. "Ficklets are the first eyewear charm hugger in the marketplace specifically targeted for kids at an affordable price," Ros Guerrero, president of Ficklets, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2007.