September 2009 Notable Toys — Books

Kate is thrilled when she realizes that her new home borders an enchanted forest. Nothing is more fascinating to Kate than the wonders of nature. She meets Luke Carver, a real nature geek. Together they discover a fairy house hidden in the trunk of a tree. Inside, they find a mysterious clue. Who built the fairy house, and why? What other secrets does the forest hold? As Luke and Kate investigate the mystery, they learn that the woods are in danger. They are determined to save the forest, but how? Where’s the fairy dust when you need it? 126 pages.

Fairy Houses are evolving. Discover fairy neighborhoods, villages and even art colonies! Built with natural materials and a pinch of creativity ... the possibilities are infinite. View interiors, with rich details and delightful fairy comforts. Explore the enchantment of nature through this inspiring activity, for all ages. Yet another winning creation in The Fairy Houses Series® - the second photographic book of these inspiring habitats made by families at events and workshops throughout New England. 62 pages.

Discover a world filled with whimsical habitats constructed from natural materials. The idea is to entice a fairy to stop by for a visit. From rustic dwellings to fairy mansions, these small structures are appearing in woods, parks, backyard gardens and even at the beach. But beware! Building fairy houses can be addictive for all ages. Symptoms include exploring the outdoors, being creative, sparking the imagination and discovering Nature’s enchantment. 56 pages.

Kinsey believes butterflies are really Fairies in disguise. Fascinated by the idea of caterpillars changing into butterflies, Kinsey and Sarah decide to raise their own. Many Monarchs migrate to Sarah’s home town in California. Her town celebrates their arrival every October with a Butterfly Parade. After releasing their butterflies, Kinsey and Sarah ponder the Monarch’s amazing migration down the west coast of America.  Will they arrive in time for the parade? Fairy Flight’s vibrant, enchanting illustrations reveal what the girls imagine; perhaps the fairies are the Monarchs secret? 40 pages.

Built by Chelsea and her grandparents, Fairy Boat is launched hoping the fairies will find a boat ride irresistible. Find out, as you follow Fairy Boat on an epic adventure down the perilous Big River. Can the wildlife creatures help as she faces many dangers, or will it take a pinch of Fairy magic? A Children's Booksense Pick by the American Booksellers Association. 40 pages.

In this book written by Linda Glaser and illustrated by Daniel Howarth, a lovable family of bunnies explores the traditions of Hanukkah, including the lighting of one candle on the menorah each night. Launch date: September 2009.

These charmingly illustrated picture books guarantee first watching and reading fun. Children will discover lots of familiar objects and go on to name them. Cardboard with soft padded cover includes 20 beautifully illustrated pages. Launch date: 2009.

Each display of these talking bookmarks comes with 24 bookmarks — six of each style: dog, cat, horse and monkey. Users simply press the bookmark to hear the respective animal sound. Launch date: 2009.

Take a jazzy trip through an elementary school with The Playdate Kids as they share tissues with classmates and teachers, encouraging everyone to blow it out! Use that tissue and blow it out! Sheet music and CD included.

It's never too early to start bringing up the smartest baby in the whole world. So thinks the expectant Mrs. Brains, who reads to the baby inside her tummy every night and plays music and language tapes to her baby during the day. Soon enough, Mr. and Mrs. Brains have their very own Baby Brains. He reads the paper, fixes the family car, and works as a doctor in the local hospital. Now even the space program is calling on him. Is there anything Baby Brains can't do? Candlewick Storybook Animation packages include a full-color hardcover picture book, a dual-disk DVD/CD with full animated story and two audio read-along versions of the text — one with page-turn prompts, and a full-color poster, plus a sheet of reusable stickers. Launch date: September 2008.

TDmonthly Review:

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Some days you wake up and you just gotta wokka. Wokka what? Wokka-wokka! It’s about movement. It’s about dance. It’s about shimmy-shakin’, be-boppin’, and more. It’s about gathering friends and joining the party. The creative team behind "My Father the Dog" returns with a call-and-response for preschoolers, an exuberant invitation to be part of the fun — and show your stuff. It features jazzy rhythms, silly rhymes and welcoming images that aim to entice little readers. Launch date: August 2009.

Galloping Minds Numbers, Shapes and Colors Flash Cards offer a way to teach and reinforce numbers, counting, shapes and color recognition for preschoolers. The flash cards have photographs and illustrations that offer an exciting and interactive way to acquire preschool skills. Each Flash Card is post-card size, has excellent quality photography, and is laminated to prevent damage from little fingers. Launch date: June 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.

What's more fun than a barrel of monkeys? How about a house full of 'em? Kids poke the dots and hear them pop as they learn to count down from 10 in the favorite childhood rhyme "Ten Little Monkeys." "Fun, tactile books help kids learn to count — without losing count! Raised buttons pop in on every page so kids can press them as they count," Rich Hill, director of marketing for innovativeKids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 5, 2009.

This book describes the entire MathMosis system. It is filled with short lessons outlining the I Chant, You Chant teaching methodology and gives teachers at-a-glance ideas for counting practice activities, as well as extension activity ideas that can be integrated with other subjects. It includes reproducible worksheets for fact practice as well as instructions for fact-practice games. The MathMosis book is the foundation to the MathMosis system. "MathMosis is a unique instructional approach to teaching skip counting, multiplication and division, through a variety of learning modalities," Jennifer Tuttle, CEO of Brain Party, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2008.

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.

One night, a big storm hits the farm. High winds and rain sweep through the tree where a mother and father owl are caring for their babies. During the storm, the mother owl disappears. The father owl doesn’t know what to do. Can Farmer Samuel and his wife save them? Launch date: September 2009.

Farmer Samuel’s nephew Mossy discovers a dirty, smelly, and very sick puppy hidden in a box of rags. There is no time to spare. Will they be able to save him? They have to act fast! This tale is part of a four-book series of real stories from a California pet sanctuary, in which author Samuel Lopez records the rescue and restoration of unwanted animals. Launch date: September 2009.

Farmer Samuel can hear a little kitten calling for help. He searches everywhere but he can’t find him. Just when he’s about given up hope of finding the kitten, here comes his dog Stinky Little Scroungy. Scroungy has something gray and furry in his mouth. Is it the kitten? This story is one in a series of real-life tales from a northern California pet sanctuary. Launch date: September 2009.

A kitten flies out of the window of a speeding car and bounces across the road. The kitten is badly injured. Can Farmer Samuel find her in time? Even if he does, would the little kitten let him help her? "In these four inspiring, real-life stories from a pet sanctuary in northern California, young readers will achieve a deeper understanding of the need to care for and about all animals. Author Samuel Lopez writes about taking in unwanted and abandoned animals, restoring them to health and finding them new homes," Sue Defabis, project manager for Five Star Publications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

This planner is designed to help young adults set short- and long-term goals and demystifies the world of banking, investing and credit. It features a 36-page handbook, four sturdy, zippered pouches for saving, spending, donating and investing, convenient storage pockets, and a privacy padlock. It is available in durable ballistic silver nylon. "This personal finance organizer is simple and easy-to-use. ... A perfect product for the current economic environment," Melinda Voelcker, director of operations and marketing for Money Savvy Generation, told TDmonthly in summer 2009. This product has received the following awards: 2004 Parents' Choice Silver Award, 2008 NAPPA Gold Award, and 2008 Product of the Year (Creative Toy Awards) from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: March 2004.

Written and illustrated by Sarah Dillard, this picture book welcomes readers to Arugula’s tea party. Everything’s going to be just perfect, because that’s exactly how Arugula likes things. The problem? Perfection is no fun for her guests — they’re too nervous to touch or eat anything. And when someone unexpected arrives, ready to get her party started, Arugula is horrified. Especially when everyone seems to like him better than her. The book features a hedgehog heroine, comic-book style panels, and witty thought balloons. "Arugula is an day-dreaming diva, part Martha Stewart, part Miss Piggy, and all fun," Dillard told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 3, 2009.

Created and illustrated by Simon Basher, and written by Dan Green, this 128-page, full-color paperbook dedicates individual pages to profiles of stars and other objects in outer space. It comes with a solar system poster. Launch date: May 2009.

The Gisela doll and book set is based on one of the daughters of Charlemagne, designed to teach young girls about the lives of young girls during the medieval period. The soft-bodied and vinyl doll is dressed for historical accuracy. Launch date: March 2008.