In This Issue

More Than 120 Toy Fair Videos

By Alison Marek
February 2008

Get your new Toy Fair toys and monthly news in video form. Check out TDmonthly Magazine's February Newscast for some highlights:

TOY FAIR VIDEOS AND MORE

TDmonthly Magazine brought back more than 120 manufacturers demonstrating the best toys of Toy Fair. Our three camera teams also tracked the fortunes of brand new companies who hope to reap the rewards of toy success ... or at least recoup their initial investments. How will they do? Find out in TDmonthly Magazine's "Toy Frenzy!" documentary, coming soon.

All through Toy Fair, our editorial staff brought you daily highlights, talking to manufacturers and specialty retailers to get to the heart of the Toy Fair. So visit our special Toy Fair section so you can decide what to order for '08.

WATCH OSCARS, BUY TOYS

Unsure of how much to invest in toy stock this year? TDmonthly Magazine's Hollywood Toy Boy reports on a Tinseltown belief that a hot figure for the year's Best Picture means a hot year for toys, too — at least in the mass market. See if this "magic formula" matches your own experience in Do Oscars Predict Toy Sales?

STAFF PICKS

Almost 500 new toys were uploaded into our database since last month. Don't have time to peruse them all? Take a look at our Staff Picks to find the ones we think will do best in specialty stores. Here's a little sneak peek of our three favorites:

MINDS-i Construction System by MINDS-I

MINDS-i Construction System by MINDS-I This kit allows kids and adults alike to build creations strong enough for use and abuse in the most extreme conditions. After running the creations on a racecourse or a robot battlefield, simply dissemble the creation and build a new one using the same pieces. “The unique, patent-pending, ‘lock-together’ connection system is the key to MINDS-i,” Christy Marzetta, of MINDS-i’s operations department, told TDmonthly. Launch date: Spring 2008. 1/8/2008 (MSRP: $100.00; Age: 10 and Up)

Twist & Shout by ENDLESS GAMES

This twist on charades has players create the shapes' names on the cards provided, using any of the differently sized and differently colored pipe-cleaners. Try making a bowtie, a palm tree and even a coffee mug under time pressure. Launch date: August 15, 2008. ( Watch Video) 1/3/2008 (MSRP: $24.99; Age: 10 and Up)

Bamboo E-Racer by HAPE

Bamboo E-Racer by HAPE The E-Racer is part of the "bamboo collection", a line of fun, eco-friendly toys produced by HaPe. Children will be intrigued by the colors and design of the E-Racer while parents will appreciate the natural bamboo shape, water-based colors and sustainable materials. The E-Racer is naturally fun! Launch date: February 2008.
— “It's made of eco-friendly bamboo, a highly sustainable, replenishable material,” Robin Lehnert of HaPe International told TDmonthly. ( Watch Video) 1/3/2008 (MSRP: $17.95; Age: 2 and Up)