October 2008 Notable Toys — Books

During a weekend road trip up the California coast, the girls new car (a totally tricked-out, gadget-filled gift from Jerry to celebrate their newfound super-spiedom) breaks down in a seemingly idyllic gated coastal town called Ocean Palisades or the O.P. for short. Until they meet the teens who seem too perfect to be true.

Collected from the first three Hardy Boys comics, here's the complete saga of Frank and Joe's adventure in the war-torn Middle Eastern land of Osyria! After rescuing Jackpot, a kidnapped prize-winning racehorse, Frank and Joe are stunned to return to Bayport and discover that the Department of International Security has arrested their best friend, Chet Morton, for stealing a priceless art treasure! The Hardy Boys decide the only way to clear the friend is to journey to the Middle East and find the Ocean of Osyria themselves. Plus: a preview of "Identity Theft", their next adventure. By Scott Lobdell & Lea Hernandez.

Manga-style mystery and suspense with everyone’s favorite Girl Detective! Nancy, and her BFFs Bess and George, encounter lions, tigers, and scares when they investigate a missing cat mystery. But when the authorities learn exactly how many cats eccentric old Mrs. Eartha keeps in her house, they are forced to remove most of them because of the health code violations. But Hell hath no fury as a cat-woman scorned! That’s when Nancy, Bess, and George run into escaped lions and tigers in the woods and a deadly cat and mouse game ensues. By Stefan Petrucha and Sarah Kinney. Illustrated by Sho Murase.

Based on the Best-Selling constructible Action Figure from LEGO! Six mighty heroes — the Toa — arrive on a tropical island to find a land under siege. The Great Spirit Mata Nui has been cast into an unending sleep by the evil Makuta. Now Makuta is attacking the island's Matoran villagers with vicious Rahi beasts. The Toa must combine their skills and elemental and mask powers to defeat Makuta and restore peace to the island. By writer Greg Farshtey. Illustrated by Randy Elliott and Richard Bennett.

Will this fish get his wish?  Join Theo on an amazing underwater adventure. Bonus features: Read-A-Long CD, read by the author, over 20 mouth-watering illustrations, a matching game, 15 ways to get your kids to eat more fruit, and green smoothie recipes using fruits and veggies. Hardbound. 36 pgs.

After reading this book, kids will want to have their own fruit flies’ picnic. Join these bug buddies as they gather a feast of fruit. Kids will learn the importance of eating fruit in all sizes and shapes. Bonus features: Read-A-Long CD, read by the author, filled with music, sound effects and 30 mouth-watering illustrations. Reviewed in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Hardbound, 32 pgs. This product has received the following awards: 2007 Best New Product of the Year Finalist- Stevie’ Awards for Women in Business, 2007 Best Book Award Finalist - USA Book Awards, 2005 iParenting Media Award, and the 2005 Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Children's Product

This 20-page book offers ideas for crafts using Puff Beadz, which are poms that have a hole through their middle so that they can be attached via pipe cleaners without glue. Kids can make playmates, trees and tree houses.

Gus loves being a turkey, that is, until his friends tell him about Thanksgiving. So Gus heads south, the way birds do, to escape being part of someone’s dinner. He’s surprised to see where he ends up, but most of all he’s surprised to find he’s a Pilgrim, too! Teresa Bateman’s spunky Gus is perfectly captured by Ellen Sasaki’s sassy pictures. Children will laugh at loud at this new turkey tale, perfect for Thanksgiving and story hours year-round.

Lucy is good at drawing and making things at school. But there’s a bully at school, and he’s very mean to Lucy. She can’t tell anyone the bully rips her books and breaks her things, because he told her not to—or else! Now every day she comes home scared and sad. What can Lucy do? And who can Lucy tell? Claire Alexander’s simple story and bright illustrations will help young children talk openly about bullying. Best of all, it will reassure them that bullies can be stopped.

In The Mystery of the Singing Ghost, the Aldens fix up the house that their cousins are moving into. There’s just one problem--it seems to be haunted by a ghost who sings! A mysterious mansion alive with skeletons is the setting for The Mystery at Skeleton Point. And finally, in The Mystery of the Mummy’s Curse, the Aldens start to believe in the power of the 4,000-year-old sarcophagus on exhibit at Greenfield Museum. Boo!

One night, under a full moon, four orphaned children set out on their own and turned an abandoned boxcar into their home. So begins the story of the Boxcar Children, a series of unforgettable, now classic favorites. Originally, Gertrude Chandler Warner wrote 19 stories about the Alden children. As the series grew in popularity after paperback publication, children wanted more books. Now there are many titles for children to enjoy. The paperback editions of The Boxcar Children Mysteries: #1, The Boxcar Children; #2, Surprise Island; #3, The Yellow House Mystery; and #4, Mystery Ranch are offered together in a cardboard case.

This fantasy story is about 12-year old Sophie’s adventures during her summer vacation while visiting her archeologist grandparents in Greece. They are in the middle of an exciting dig, resurrecting an ancient goddess temple. When she meets a new friend, Tena, the two girls find themselves in trouble as they venture into explorations of their own. The experiences and challenges Sophie and Tena go through teach them the importance of self-love. This hardcover adventure book contains 192 pages, 10 full-color illustrations, a parent workbook and guide. "This book is geared for women and girls," said Bridgette Nofer, Executive Administrator, Nea Matia Inc. Home of SophiaDolls. Launch date: 7/21/2008.

This journal includes a light-up pen that attaches securely to the cover, making it perfect to keep on a bed-stand to record dreams or late-night inspirations, or just settle down for some quiet time before catching some shut-eye. The kit includes a pen, a 100-page journal and a small information booklet on dreams and creative inspiration.
— Lauren Obenour, manager of Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., noted in fall 2008 that her top sellers to tweens tend to be “diaries and kits from Creativity for Kids.”
—  “Arts and crafts have consistently been one of the three best departments in the store since we opened,” said Gregory Sahagian, owner of Learning Express of Beverly in Beverly, Mass. “This age [tweens] also favors journals.”
— Eight percent of 51 storeowners said they consider diaries and journals to be top sellers for tween-aged children.

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.

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.

This book starts out traditionally, but after that...watch out! There’s nothing usual about what happens when favorite fairy tales are put together in a book, and the reader is asked to decide what happens next. It’s an entertaining and exciting adventure through the intermingled paths of a fairy tale maze. And when Little Red Riding Hood (who later becomes Snow White) meets up with Hansel (who later turns into the Handsome Prince), well, anything can happen – maybe even 1001 NEW stories.

A book about a pill bug … plain and simple, written by Yukihisa Tokuda and illustrated by Kiyoshi Takahashi. It’s kind of a day-in-the-life of a pill bug: what they eat, what they do, why they curl up into little balls. The pictures are stylized and beautiful. The words are a little beyond the very beginning readers, but not much. This book won a Booklist Editors' Choice Award.

Written and illustrated by Aaron Blabey, this book explores the friendship of Pearl and Charlie, who are so different in just about every single way that it's surprising they are such good buddies. Launch date: September 1, 2008.

This wonderfully illustrated book includes the words to the famous poem, “Twas the Night before Christmas.” Written by Clement C. Moore in 1822,  the poem remains a holiday classic. Parents will enjoy rediscovering it with their kids. Launch date: September 26, 2005.
— This book is popular with customers at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, according to Operations Manager Susan Miller.

“Z” stands for zero temperatures in this book that teaches children the ABCs using ice worms, glaciers, goats and more. It is written by Charlene Kreeger and illustrated by Shannon Cartwright. Launch date: 1993.
— Alaska-themed children's books published by Sasquatch Books are top sellers at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, Operations Manager Susan Miller told TDmonthly in summer 2008.