December 2010 Notable Toys — All

This handheld device uses x-ray flourescence technology features software that is simple to navigate and offers real-time results on its touchscreen PDA. When the user gets back to the laboratory, those results can easily be transferred to a desktop computer for long-term storage, analysis and report generation. The initial application that this system was developed for is hazardous substance analysis and it exceeds the requirements of RoHS and CPSIA regulations with detection limits down to ten parts-per-million (ppm).

This portable play mat is eco-friendly, and made in Canada. Play mat is available in three chic two-tone combinations of pink/brown, blue/brown, and natural/brown.
Awards: 2010 Parent Tested Parent Approved Award; 2010 Parent Tested Parent Approved Environmental Award; 2010 Pediatrician Approved - Dr. Natalie Geary

This lot of Red & White Stripes feature "relaxed cuffs" which are slightly looser and longer, making for a better fitting outfit for infants with chunkier thighs.

Fan Stamp's Disney Face Art takes dress-up and playtime invites for increased imaginative options. For parties or everyday fun, Fan Stamp allows children to enhance their role-play experience with Disney characters they love. Designs are 100% mineral make-up, hypo allergenic and sweat and water resistant. Designs are reusable, include glitter, apply in seconds and wipe off easily.
Awards: National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2010

Baby Bubadoo's Diaper Changing Wrap features a water-resistant outer shell and protects baby's clothes from accidents and secures little one's arms for a quick and clean diaper change.

The D-FLY XL Alloy with Gyro Helicopter, is an extra large sized remote control helicopter, approximately 1.5 feet long. It comes with LED Rockets, easy to fly, and very stable for indoor and outdoor flight. Features a Li-Po battery for longer flying time.

The Darkhawk Defender XL Helicopter, is an extra large sized military RC helicopter with 3 channels, Gyroscope and LED Lights, and with action figures. The Darkhawk Defender XL Helicopter is fabricated with high impact plastic materials. It is completely stable and can be flown indoors and outdoors. It comes with Li-Po battery for longer flying time.

The Micro X Copter E-agle Metal with Gyro and LED lights, is a mini Infrared 3 channels helicopter and it is one of our upgrade versions of the Micro X Copter. It comes in 4 assorted colors and includes a USB cable. There are 3 different infrared frequency bands available. The Micro X Copter E-agle Metal with Gyro is fabricated with high impact alloy materials. It is infrared controlled. The three frequencies makes possible to fly three Micro X Copter E-agle Metal with Gyro at the same time with no interference. The Micro X Copter E-agle Metal with Gyro is an indoors helicopter.

The Bannister family – including former K-9 police hero Zeus (voiced by Mario López) – is back, and this time they’re spending their holidays at a beautiful Rocky Mountain resort. But toss in an unexpected visit from cocky Uncle Randy (Casper Van Dien of “Watch Over Me” and The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb) and his foxy poodle Bella (voiced by Paris Hilton) and a familiar pair of bumbling jewel thieves (led by Dean Cain of “Lois & Clark: The New Adventure of Superman” and The Dog Who Saved Christmas) and this holiday may be headed downhill fast! Can Zeus solve the crime, save Bella and hit the slopes, all in time for Christmas Day? Gary Valentine (“King of Queens”) and Elisa Donovan (“Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and Clueless) co-star in the all-new four-legged family adventure!

A great whimsical gift and it's educational too: each doll comes with a multilingual hangtag with phrases you say after someone sneezes in 5 different languages.

In many parts of the world, it's still a time of Cholera. Learn why there's no love lost for this infamous character.

This sensation can lead to desperation, so make some preparation for this situation, or else you'll face dehydration destructive to your reputation!

You are what you eat, even if it's contaminated. So be careful - food poisoning can b. cereus!

This doll's soft vinyl face is infused with a delightfully gentle vanilla fragrance, and its soft round body is perfect for hugging and cuddling.  Following the Waldorf tradition, this doll's minimal facial features allow the child to image their own faces and feelings for the dolls.  Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 7.7 x 10.4 inches ; 1.2 pounds.

This second series of figures features two alternate versions of your favorite nuclear family and 15 new characters including extended family members and loveable barflies, including Mariachi Homer, Mariachi Marge, Zombie Homer, Zombie Bart, Sideshow Mel, Carl Carlson, Selma Bouvier and many more. Each vinyl figure stands 3-inches tall, includes a character sticker, and comes blind boxed to preserve its identity.
— Tom Levin from Tom's Toys Inc in Great Barrington, Mass., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that minifigures from Kid Robot are a popular choice for tween customers.

This fun, sprawling floor puzzle (2 feet X 3 feet) has large, rugged pieces made from 98% recycled materials. Like all innovativeKids' Green Start series products, this puzzle is not only good for the earth, it also helps kids see their connection to
it, in this case with a wonderfully illustrated garden scene showing kids busily working and playing in and around the garden. Once assembled, the puzzle becomes a hunt-and-find adventure in which kids count objects hidden in the garden. Numerals and matching illustrated quantities (chicks, apples, bees, flowers, etc.) along the top and bottom borders of the puzzle show kids what, and how many of each, to look for. When finished, pack it back up into the very attractive carrying case package it came in, also made from recycled materials.
Awards:  Bright Eyes Autumn 2010 Tillywig Award

Written by Nora Gaydos and illustrated by Akemi Gutierre, these two companion books are sure to help both parents and new siblings face the challenges and changes that come with having a new baby brother or sister. The text is simple and straightforward and the illustrations are whimsical and endearing. This is the perfect book for the sibling with a new baby brother or sister.
Awards:  2010 NAPPA Honors Award.

Ten chunky little books, each with a very short rhyming story about the featured creature. These are non-fiction books for babies--young science books with each of the animals shown in their habitat. Illustrations show a parent and baby pair. The set includes a mini book about an alligator, elephant, giraffe, kangaroo, koala, lion, monkey, panda, penguin, or turtle. Made of recycled materials they have a craft brown eco look that goes along with the subject matter. Each small book will easily fit in a little hand and their thick pages are easy to turn for solo ‘reading.’ The sturdy tall box has a handle so toddlers can carry their library from room to room. Their Little Learning Books tower is also nice and includes small books about colors, shapes, opposites, and other basics. Good for talking as well as independent reading.
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal.

There are four different storybooks and four matching plush animals in this series. Each storybook tells a story about the featured animal -- where it lives and how.  These are little science books told in simple fashion with clear illustrations. Each is packaged with a small huggable plush animal that fits in a little hand. There's one about Little Gorilla, Little Polar Bear, Little Elephant, and Little Panda. You can't go wrong with any of them.
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal.

Available in 20 colors, create colorful paitings, sand mosaics, and sand projects. Can also serve to add extra decorative dimension to paper mache, jewelry, baskets, plaques, or other arts and crafts projects.

LI-QUA-CHÉ is a paper-fiber reinforced, polymer based compound that is air-cured, not fire hardened. Designed to be used with plaster ceramic molds, it dries to a hard, durable, break resistant product.

This exclusive variant set features Nohell dressed for the season in a festive blood red, velvet touch holiday dress with white faux fur trim and real jingling bells on her boots. This variant also features coal black hair and "frozen" blue lips.  Also included is a luxurious raven black stocking decorated with a festive crossbones of a skull and candy canes. The stocking features festive faux fur that coordinates with that on Nohell's dress, and a hidden loop for hanging on the mantle with care.  Nohell is 10inches tall, and is packaged, with the stocking, in a special snow white colored coffin.  Limited edition of 666 pieces.

Poo~Pourri’s formula of essential oils such as a fresh evergreen and holly scents should be sprayed into the toilet water before you go and no one else will ever know. A couple of drops of this spray creates a film along the water’s surface that traps odor at its source. This solution to embarrassing bathroom emergencies is also safe for the planet.  The 2 oz retails for $9.95 and the 4 oz retails for $14.95.

This guide to the guts-and-glory of G.I. Joe identifies every figure with all its weapons and gear, every vehicle with all the easy-to-lose pieces and every accessory related to Hasbro's stellar team of soldiers. Use it to expand your knowledge about Joe and the team, or Cobra and his cronies, and to identify and assess the value of any of the series' 350 action figures and 240 vehicles and accessories.