October 2008 Notable Toys — All

For infant and toddlers, this soft black beanie hat is decorated with a bright orange Celina flower.

For infant and toddlers, this soft and cutered beanie has a bright Cesilia apple red flower.

For the little princess in one's life. This custom made pettidress has a large decorative flower with swarovski stone, and soft and feather-light layers. A V-strap is available for 12-18 month year old sizes, and a regular strap for small and medium sizes.

The Undee Bandz™ collection includes tie-dye bags, tie dye clothing line, fashion accessories, hair accessories and more. Undee Bandz fashion accessories and apparel come in different sizes, colors, and fabrics.

These chokers and bracelets are made on a NYLONZ band that is very stretchable on the neck, wrist or ankle. There are over 100 styles of charms and many assorted colors of nylonz bandz including tie dye.

Make your own locket necklace, bracelets or keychains by customizing it however you like with separately sold initials, birthstones, and over 80 assorted charms such as crystal hearts, peace, stars, and soccer balls. Lockets are available in hearts, peace sign or circle with or without crystals.

Everything about this version of Connect Four is decked out for the football field — Chicago Bears checkers, scoreboard and flags, and a stadium and field design for the playing surface. There are even new rules. Various NFL teams are available.

This 6" Dallas Cowboys Mr. Potato Head comes with 10 mix-and-match components, including a jersey, foam finger and several different "game faces." Launch date: September 2008.

"Bitty Fish" is an easy-to-read book that combines phonics and rhyme in a lively, entertaining story for young readers. It is one of 15 books in the "Let's Read Together" series. Each book includes an artful blend of familiar vocabulary and easy-to-sound-out words, along with amusing characters. The storylines stress positive character traits such as sharing, friendship and responsibility. An audio component — CD or audiocassette — is available for each book in the series. "Bitty Fish offers a complete story with endearing characters and a humorous plot line," Margo Gunsser, marketing director for Kane Press, told TDmonthly. "Many books written for this age group offer rhyming words in unrealistic, uninteresting context. Bitty and her friends in the 'Let's Read Together' series offer stories that kids can 'sink their teeth into.'" Launch date: September 29, 2008.

With this collection of children’s CDs and read-along stories, kids can join the Little Mermaid, the Three Pigs, the Gingerbread Man and the Three Bears as they ring in the season. Each charming Christmas adventure is told in delightful original verse, telling tales with holiday humor and celebrating the joys of family. Included with every book is a CD with a captivating read-along narration by the legendary Nigel Lambert that is jam-packed with exciting bonus features, including all-new Christmas songs, a bouncy music video and a fully animated mini-movie with highlighted words that let kids follow along and learn to read as the story comes to life before their eyes. The Night Before Christmas series will create merry Christmas memories for years to come. "The included 'Stories Come Alive' CD is full of enormous value that is unrivaled in the children's book marketplace," Brian Austin, president of PC Treasures, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 8, 2008.

Media Chest Bear has a soulful face and removable pillow head (approx. size 12" H X 9" L) with an enormous pocket inside. The soft foam body has three compartments to store CDs/DVDs, speakers/cables, and an MP3 player (approx. size 6" H x 11" L with legs 6" W). The shaggy, rust-colored fur also stores accessories (not included). "Our patented pets are all uniquely designed to organize accessories on the outside and store treasures in the secret compartments on the inside," Lisa Lloyd, president of Treasure Chest Pets, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 15, 2008.

Accessory Chest Dog has five secret compartments. The soulful face and removable pillow also have secret pockets inside both ears (approx. size 12" H x 9" L). The soft foam body has a hidden drawer and two pockets on the body to store even more treasures (approx. size 6" H X 11" L with legs 6" W). Accessories not included. Launch date: November 15, 2008.

Treasure Chest Monkey features a soulful face and a removable pillow head with a pocket that spans the entire inside of the head. The head attaches magnetically like magic (approx. size 12" H x 9" L). The soft foam body opens like a treasure chest to hide treasures (approx. size 6" H x 11" L x 6" W), and the shaggy brown fur helps store hair accessories (not included). Launch date: November 15, 2008.

These super funky Huggers are made in Australia and will keep little legs and arms covered, protecting them from the elements and hard surfaces. They are also the perfect accessories for helping little ones learn to dress themselves. Children are able to pull Huggers on all by themselves, even over shoes, one at a time without the hassle of pulling up bottoms or pulling a shirt over their heads. Huggers also fit over clothing. "Our top is wider than the bottom cuff, allowing for varied fit," Owner Carol Lavinthal of Huggalugs North America told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 30, 2008.

The HEXBUG Inchworm is the first Micro Robotic Creature in the HEXBUG line to feature a full-function IR remote control. Users drive the Inchworm forward, back, left and right. A and B control bands allow users to control two Inchworms at once or multiple Inchworms on the same band. The product features a unique crawling and pirouette motion around its center pod foot. "This unique HEXBUG Micro Robotic impulse item is offered in a five-pack impulse counter display with five-color variety assortment," Joel Carter, VP of marketing for Innovation First, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 15, 2008.
— The Inchworm has been a top seller at Pufferbellies in Staunton, Va., for at least a year, according to co-owner Susan Blanton in fall 2009.
— The Hexbug Inchworm is a popular item at the Toy Shop of Concord in Concord, Mass., Owner David Hesel told TDmonthly in late 2009.

Tiny crankshaft metal music boxes from Kikkerland feature songs such as “Sound of Music,” “Imagine,” “If I Only Had a Brain” and “Yellow Submarine.” The product measures 3" x 1.5" x 7/8" H.
— Michele and Ken Gietz of Where’d You Get That!? in Williamstown, Mass., listed this item as a top-10 best seller in fall 2008. “Kids to adults love to fidget with these,” they said. “It’s a product that is age-blind. We sell these on our front counter, so we see it’s appealing to tweeners on up.”

This custom-made replacement canopy for Bugaboo strollers adds a little bit of luxury and discerning taste to the "oh-so-boring" world of strollers. Several styles are available. "Our BonneBonnet canopy is a customized product, allowing moms and dads to add their own taste and uniqueness to the ever-growing world of strollers.  We offer styles to match every taste.  BonneBonnets is bringing back style to the cradle one bonnet at a time," Ronit Schwartz, CEO of BonneBonnets, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 1, 2008.

This resin creation comes with chrome or gold plating. It is a bank cast from a pig that died a natural death and will hold more than $10,000 in bills Dimensions: 5.25" x 10" x 18". Allie Shartle of Areaware told TDmonthly the  product is "a modern interpretation of a classic piggy bank."

This combo garden and playset gives girls the opportunity to grow a Lilly Bloom and Jasmine Fern while also utilizing the main flower as an enchanting doll house. The set comes with two dolls, two seed packets and 20 accessories.

This sleek, wooden airplane is also available in shiny red and black.

This origami kit comes with 16 sheets of metallic gold paper and 16 sheets of red- and gold-toned, multicolor paper. When completed, the star has 20 points and measures approximately 6" in diameter.

This spinning top, with a diameter of 4 cm, is available in pear, maple, cherry, walnut and plum woods.

This decorative construction toy consists of nine pieces and is designed to symbolize the smallest unit within a cell. It measures 10 cm cubed.

Part of the Discovery Deglingos line, this rattle features all the character and softness of Ratos the Rat, downsized into a toy that babies can enjoy.