October 2008 Notable Toys — All

No one will doubt an individual's support for his or her favorite team when they're wearing this plush mascot backpack, outfitted with a zippered compartment and adjustable straps. It is available for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and various other collegiate teams. Launch date: July 2008.

This mascot backpack invites the ultimate in team spirit for the Georgia Bulldogs. It is made of quality plush and features adjustable nylon straps plus a zippered center compartment. It can be displayed with other collegiate gear, on a rack or on a mannequin. Launch date: July 2008.

Ideal for creating a full room for toddlers, this set includes easy-to-assemble pieces that form a bed with a sturdy steel frame and removable bedrails, a toy organizer and table and chairs. It is recommended for children ages 18 months to 5 years. The weight limit is 50 lbs. The toy organizer includes nine storage bins and is easy to clean. The table and chairs set is made of wood and MDF.

Build 28 important molecules using atoms as your building blocks.  Life is composed chiefly of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen, use the enclosed molecule cards as your guide to build water, carbon dioxide and a lot more.

The Adventurer kit now comes in a tough, part-sorting case. You can even customize it for special parts like Colored Balls, Greens, Half Blues, or Super-Short Reds. 236 Parts: 50 white nodes, 30 each of 3 lengths blue struts, 20 each of 3 lengths yellow struts, and 12 each of 3 lengths red struts. Concise color instruction booklet, with models, bubble recipe, and more.

This structure is the form of a virus, but it's been flattened by the extreme gravity of another world. Don't worry, it's harmless to humans. FYI: The shape's official geometrical name is "Squashed Fractal Icosahedron". 123 parts: 33 white nodes, 30 blue struts, 30 yellow struts, 30 red struts each in 3 different sizes.

A great way to introduce young minds to Zome, already used successfully in thousands of schools worldwide! Includes 388 Zome components, Zome Learning Adventures Volume 1, an interactive DVD (or Video cassette) full of “funstructional” activities, and the Bubble Adventures activity book (3 volumes in one).

In this book, a brawny bear is captured and put in a cage to entertain people because he has an ear for the sounds and music of nature. It's not until he's "wild and unrestrained," however, that he can truly dance. The 32-page book is written by Jan Wahl and illustrated by Monique Felix.

This 32-page book written by Rita Marshall and illustrated by Etienne Delessert tells the story of Victor Dickens, who tells his teacher and his parents that he can't stand to read, but one night discovers the life in simple words on a page.

Now even the tinest Baby can have a Zoobie. The Baby Mashaka plush toy  un-Velcroes to become a comfy pillow, then unzips to transform into an infant-sized blanket. The blanket even features fuzzy "comfort corners" to stimulate Baby's interest in textures. Release date: 2008.

Journey to Ancient Egypt's sacred Nile valley! Great kings compete to forge mighty kingdoms in a struggle to control the land of "Kemet." Along the banks of the great river they expand their influence and explore new territory. And they hope to earn the favor of the great falconheaded god Horus. Are you the one to unite the valley into one great kingdom? With clever use of card and tile play, you guide the course of the sacred river, and the lands that surround it! You determine where the desert will give way to the green marshes, red hills, and rich black farmlands of this ancient land. Using your influence, you gain control of valuable regions. You may even build a holy necropolis to thwart the expansion plans of your foes. If true and noble, you might even earn the blessings of the Horus temple!

Descend deep into the interior of the earth, as you lead the three adventurers from Jules Verne’s classic novel: Professor Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel and their guide Hans. Begin your amazing journey with entry through the crater of the dormant Icelandic volcano Snaefells. Explore a dense forest of giant mushrooms, traverse a turbulent underground ocean, before you are hurled out of an Italian volcano to return to the earth's surface.  On your journey, collect fossils both small and large, collect gold and overcome obstacles through the prudent acquisition and use of select equipment. Explore the many parts of the subterranean cavern, using equipment and luck are critical to overcoming the obstacles within your path. The player who can escape with the best collection of artifacts is the winner. Will you direct our heroes on a journey of danger, discovery and fortune?

What does a proud snowman do when he discovers that winter may come to an end? Can he prolong the winter season? Find out in this delightful story told in rhyme that children and adults will both enjoy! By Sharon Debowski.

Enjoy this l-o-n-g tale of a sailer and a crocodile based on the folk song. As a young girl, Eunice Siefker’s father would sing the song to her with an Australian accent. A musical CD is included with the book. Australian, “Uncle Pete”,Peter Brusachi, brings to life this folk song made complete with sound effects children will love! Adapted by Eunice Siefker. Available mid-November.

Discover what happens to Alex when he sneaks a jump on the trampoline after his parents gave him instructions not to jump from the tree branch. See the physical journey that he takes and the growing pains of learning that it really is better to trust and listen to your parents even if you don’t understand the reasons for their instructions. By Pasqualino Tamburri.

See what pandemonium ensues when the animals on Mrs. Sarducci's farm hear that her award-winning grapes want to escape. Lots of laughs and a great lesson learned by the end of this 'fruitful' tale. By Sharon Debowski. Available Spring 2009.

Each colorful set features a 52-card playing card deck and an illustrated booklet of biographical essays. The historic portraits and engaging stories feature lesser-known, 19th-century Native Americans as well as some of the most important American Indian leaders. These sets are entertaining as well as educational. Set One includes Red Cloud, Sitting Bull and Cochise. Set Two includes Geronimo, Tecumseh and Ten Bears. Launch date: October 1, 2008.

Made of 100-percent lambswool, this cap bears an official crest and is available in four color combinations. The company offers matching scarves. Launch date: 2008.

Designed by artist Kari Makoutz, this handmade kaleidoscope entraps the Aberrant Quadrator, a friendly boggart known to reside in closets, ruining fine clothing by creating stains, wrinkles and tears. The kaleidoscope is 6.5" long, and the glass globe has diameter of 1.75".

This kit allows kids of all ages to design their own works of art that can then be displayed in a fun-to-see light. Children can simply design and/or color their picture with any markers and then place it into the night light. Each kit comes with four blank coloring sheets plus a promotional, preprinted butterfly design coloring sheet. Replacement insert pages for the GLOWTASTIC! U-Draw Light Kit are also available.

Given the proper name of Cheerful McBliss when born, Bliss Bliss quickly earned his nickname because he was always so...well. blissful; even when inappropriate. Like the time when his Grandfather passed away. Bliss' eulogy was comprised of a string of off-color jokes followed by hysterical laughter; or during his first job interview when he cracked jokes about the owner's toupee. While sometimes outlandish, Bliss has something that many people strive for...to always have a smile on his face...but then again, that's probably because he's laughing at you.

Developed from the ROBOTIX Parts Catalog exclusively from www.roboticsandthings.com is a replica of the Mars Spirit and Mars Opportunity Rovers. Based upon the actual designs with schematics and diagrams from NASA, an instruction Manual and other collateral materials have been created for this set.

The Robot Inventor's Workshop Kit was originally marketed in a 4-Color Box that has been replaced with a kid-friendly Heavy-Duty PVC Zipper Bag for easy storage of the ROBOTIX Motor, Controller and Parts.  The Handbook is professionally printed with a 4-Color Cover and Black & White Pages full of diagrams and robotic instructional programs.  The 23-Parts include a Low-Speed Motor, a Black 1-Switch Controller with Easy-Opening Clip, ROBOTIX Arms in both 50mm and 100mm length in 2-different colors and ROBOTIX Connectors in Black.

Jumbo-sized and child friendly wildlife wonders of the world. Designed to be lightweight and soft to the touch. This series consists of a hippopotamus, tiger, elephant, lion, zebra, rhinoceros, gorilla and a giraffe. Meticulously painted by hand, phthalate free and safety tested. Each comes with an educational hang tag in 5 languages. Size: 10.75”L x 5” H. Ages: 3+. View our entire collection at safariltd.com.