ToyDirectory
April 18, 2024

TDmonthly Magazine

February 2009 | Vol. VIII - No. 2


Find Out What Other Retailers Looked at in 2008

The Top-30 Most-Viewed Products in TDmonthly

By Alison Marek
February 2009

Are you curious about what new products other retailers and consumers were looking at on TDmonthly Magazine in 2008? Following is a list of the 30 most-viewed 2008 products.* Do you have them in your store?

*Some manufacturers received high views of multiple products, owing to their ToyShow Preview or other ToyDirectory service; only their top-rated product is listed here.

David and Goliath Read-Along Storybook with included CD-ROM by PC Treasures, Inc.

David and Goliath Read-Along Storybook with included CD-ROM by PC Treasures, Inc.Brave young David faces the fiercest warrior of his time, the wicked giant Goliath, armed with a simple slingshot and his unyielding faith in God.

Audio CD Features:


PC CD-ROM Features:

 3/11/2008 (MSRP: $4.95)


Squirmles The Magical Pet by Nowstalgic Toys, Inc.

Squirmles are incredible toy puppets who'll wiggle, jump, and squirm their way into everyone's hearts. All Squirmles Pets are packed in their own colorful sealed packages and come with their own storage/carrying cases for when not in use. Packaged, Tied, and Ready to Play.
— Marc Holcomb, owner of Toys & Co. in Greensboro, N.C., told TDmonthly in a September 2011 survey that they sell about 120 Squirmles each month. They have a display that features a video of the product. (Watch the Squirmles The Magical Pet Video Watch Video) 1/28/2008 (Age: 3 and Up)


Vanange Dolls by VANNUZZA LLC

Vanange Dolls by VANNUZZA LLCVanange dolls are beautiful and wholesome seven-year old girls who come from different parts of the world. They are learning about each other and they are developing very special friendships with one another from across the globe. They are extremely courageous and loving little girls who are ready to do what they can for other children in need. Their books are educational, inspirational, motivational and empowering! (Watch the Vanange Dolls Video Watch Video) 2/1/2008 (MSRP: $98.00; Age: 5 and Up)


HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creature by INNOVATION FIRST LABS, INC.

HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creature by INNOVATION FIRST LABS, INC.

The micro-robotic HEXBUG is a tiny, obedient insect that features bump-sensor feelers that help it avoid objects in its path. It responds to clapping or other loud noise by backing up or changing direction. The HEXBUG is small enough to fit in the hand and comes in five different body types and colors including pink, blue, green, yellow and orange. Awards: TDmonthly Innovations 2008.
— According to more than 60 reviews on Amazon.com and Radioshack.com, this fun, durable toy has been rated 4 out of 5 stars due to its entertaining and educational features. It is portable for any occasion and appropriate for any age. Consumers should be careful though, as they have been known to be flimsy and easily breakable, like real bugs! (09.12.08)
— "Everyone wants one, from adults to kids," Charles Bonner, owner of Heights Toy Center in Little Rock, Ark., told TDmonthly of this best seller in April 2009. "I sell 200 to 250 a month." Three of 44 retailers tagged Hexbugs as an overall best seller in late fall 2009.

— During a September 2010 survey, two of 44 retailers listed Hexbugs as their top-seller for tweens.


(Watch the HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creature Video Watch Video) 2/12/2008 (MSRP: $9.99; Age: 8 and Up)


Bella Sara™ Native Lights by HIDDEN CITY ENTERTAINMENT

Land, sea, and sky - we are all a part of our great, beautiful world. The breathtaking horses of Bella Sara™ Native Lights have arrived, reminding us of our connection to nature and to those who live in harmony with it. Along with the special animal friends who teach them the wisdom of land, sea, and sky, these magical new horses will delight and inspire you - much like the beauty of nature itself. New with Native Lights, each card and corresponding virtual horse also feature an animal companion - a guide and friend linked to the spirit of nature and to the horse - that will join the horse in their online stables and users' cottages. Bella Sara Native Lights includes 72 new cards: 45 regular horse cards (each with a distinctive animal companion), 10 rare energy cards that can be activated for decorating users online-cottages (new Native American digital items include a dreamcatcher, a headdress, moccasins and other artifacts) and 17 extra-rare "shiny" horse cards. Each Bella Sara foil flow-wrapped card pack (MSRP $2.99) contains seven random horse and/or energy cards that can be collected and traded or used to play Bella Sara card games. Launch Date: March 2008. 2/15/2008 (MSRP: $2.99)


The Phoenix Mint™ 1:24 Scale 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible Die-Cast Replica by PHOENIX TOYS

The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is considered by many to be one of the most Beautiful cars ever built. With it's sleek lines, in your face grille and with first of its kind tail-fins. It's been stealing hearts ever since the first one Rolled off the assembly line. 2/5/2008


DeLuxe Snap Rover SCROV-10 by ELENCO

DeLuxe Snap Rover  SCROV-10 by ELENCOThe DeLuxe Snap Rover kit comes with a remote control and features over 20 projects and has 30 parts. This exciting DeLuxe Snap Rover go forward and backward, turns right and left, and has side lights ,headlight and horn. With added features as a Disk Shooter, Digital Voice Recorder and Music sounds. All parts snap together with ease and no soldering is required. A full colored manual is included. 1/16/2008


Rose Bowl Electric Football Game by MIGGLE TOYS INC

Rose Bowl Electric Football Game by MIGGLE TOYS INCA game of strategy and skill for all players, ages 8 to 88, and its fun for the entire family! You’re the coach, quarterback and the team owner. Complete with everything you need to play the game. Rose Bowl teams in their official hand-painted uniforms are included. 1/3/2008 (MSRP: $79.95)


Yuletool by YULETOOL

Yuletool is a handy gadget for parents.  It is a wire and tie cutter for those very annoying wires that tie the toys into the display packages.  Just reach behind the toy and snip the wires and ties and the toy is free. 2/11/2008 (Age: 18 and Up)


Wild Safari® Jungle Lioness with Cub by SAFARI LTD.®

Wild Safari® Jungle Lioness with Cub by SAFARI LTD.®Our Wild Safari Jungle lioness with cub is authentically sculpted, hand painted and phthalate free. Developed with leading animal experts, these replicas are just like the real thing, only smaller. Safari's jungle series has more than 80 realistic replicas. All animals include five-language educational information to educate children about our planet¹s endangered wild kingdom. Size: 6" L x 3" H. 1/16/2008 (MSRP: $7.00; Age: 3 and Up)


Red and Blue Wooden Guitars by COLORI USA/TATIRI

Red and Blue Wooden Guitars by COLORI USA/TATIRITatiri's wooden Guitar comes in 2 nice colors...It's a nice piece to have for beginners to learn to appreciate music! 4/8/2008


Anne Geddes Eliza sculpted by Laura Tuzio-Ross by MASTERPIECE DOLLS

Based on the photo by Anne Geddes of the three real babies seated in decorated tin cans with their heads popping out dressed in hats decoratively detailed with pansies, Laura Tuzio-Ross has once again, under Anne's direction, created three incredible new sculpts, Eliza, Chloe, and Grace.

Eliza is dressed in a French blue romper with a petaled sleeve detailing and pretty embroidered pansies on her bodice. Each baby in the pansy group has a different position of the pansies on its bodice. She also wears a diaper and an adorable soft hat covered with over 52 individual pansies to duplicate the original look from the Anne Geddes image.

A papier-mâché container decorated with the original design is applied in the same artistic manner as the original tins. The container is lined in brown felt to protect the body as you place her in the container.

Comes with the Anne Geddes Logo packaging with a hand-numbered certificate and hang tag. The decal is sewn into the cloth body with the edition number on it. 2/25/2008 (MSRP: $229.00)


Tonka Mighty Motorized Street Sweeper by FUNRISE INC.

The hands-on, free-wheeling vehicle features lights and sounds, motorized, sweeping brushes, a motorized waste conveyor belt and a scissor-lifting waste disposal. Three AA batteries are included. Launch date: Fall 2008. 4/17/2008 (MSRP: $29.99)


Conservation Critters™ by WILDLIFE ARTISTS, INC.

Conservation Critters™ by WILDLIFE ARTISTS, INC.A brand new line called CONSERVATION CRITTERS™ (avg size 9”, MSRP $4.99) is being debuted for 2008. Cats, Primates, Bears, Wolves, Frogs, Otters, Rays, Gators, Sealife in super soft material all with a floppy, beany feel to make these Critters all the more playable and loveable. 1/8/2008 (MSRP: $4.99)


Snowskates by SPORT TECHNOLOGY INC

Snowskates by SPORT TECHNOLOGY INCThe Snowskates that "actually" skate. Easy to ride, just like a skateboard. Solid construction with stainless steel hardware, for durability and has adjustable ski suspension to customize the feel. Don't get caught on the slopes with out it. 2/11/2008


Schoenhut® 25-Key Piano Pals™ by SCHOENHUT PIANO COMPANY

Schoenhut® 25-Key Piano Pals™ by SCHOENHUT PIANO COMPANYThis versatile little piano grows with the child. The main unit, decorated with a whimsical animal's head, is perfect for toddlers because it sits safely and squarely on the floor within easy reach of little hands. Later on, the sides with the animal's body can be attached, conveniently raising the piano to a comfortable height for an older child seated at the bench. Included is Schoenhut's® Learning System, with a removable color-coordinated strip that fits behind the keys to guide small fingers from chord to chord. The accompanying songbook contains a collection of familiar tunes. Schoenhut toy pianos are famous for their lovely chime-like tones. The keys are spaced correctly for a full-sized piano, which teaches proper finger placement and affords an easy transition to a large piano.The piano is 19-3/4" H x 16" W x 10-3/4" D and the bench measures 8" H x 8" D x 11" W. This product weighs 17 lbs. Launch date: February 2008. 2/25/2008 (MSRP: $129.99; Age: 3 and Up)


T-Brace Game Stand by BOLABALL INC.

Introducing the next innovation in Bolaball.

We've taken into consideration that our city dwelling friends wanna play too! Great for setting up in the driveway, patio or on really hard ground!

Product Description: T-Braces for the game of Bolaball to be attached to the bottom of the vertical post to convert it to a freestanding game. 2 T-Braces per bag. 1/29/2008


KYDZ Building Table by JONTI-CRAFT INC.

Table size is large enough to accommodate several children but small enough to fit in activity area. One base plate is permanently mounted to tabletop, colors will vary. Choose either Duplo® or Lego® compatible base plate. Store bricks in four optional tubs. 25" wide x 28" long x 19" high. Features KYDZSafe® edges, KYDZTuff® finish and KYDZStrong® construction. Backed by a lifetime warranty. Made in the USA. 1/3/2008


Garden Fairy Dress by FAIRY FINERY

Garden Fairy Dress by FAIRY FINERYA Photographer’s Dream! A Child’s Delight! Stretch velvet bodice and yards of tulle feature sweet velvet pansies. This enchanting outfit has matching streamer headband with a hidden band inside for easy wear. Add matching velvet wings for the total look. The outfit is washable and available in sizes for ages 18 months to 10 years. 3/3/2008


Destruct 3© by UNCLE SKUNKLE TOYS, INC.

Destruct 3© by UNCLE SKUNKLE TOYS, INC.Players build the tower, roll the dice to determine the destructive device and then knock down the tower with the Catapult, the Pendulum or the Ramp. The entire set is made from beautiful, sustainable rubber-tree wood. This game received a 2007-2008 Informal Education Products Award. Launch date: June 2008. 1/29/2008 (MSRP: $69.99; Age: 8 and Up)


i-Fly Hawk by INTERACTIVE TOY CONCEPTS LTD.

i-Fly Hawk by INTERACTIVE TOY CONCEPTS LTD.The i-Fly Hawk continues in the iFly series. Based off of the similiarities of the i-Fly Vamp, this flier has a bird theme design with feather illustrations on the wings. 5/19/2008 (MSRP: $39.99; Age: 8 and Up)


Polar Glacier by TOP SHELF HOLDINGS LLC

Polar Glacier by TOP SHELF HOLDINGS LLCKids can "break-the-ice" with this beautiful arctic play set, the first of Top Shelf Holdings’ Natural Habitat Series. The set includes two flexible wooden Inuit figures, a papoose, an igloo, ice slides, an ice-fishing hole and six realistic polar animals. "Long have we lamented, in the educational toy business, playsets and other products constantly pairing the dapper penguin family with the friendly neighborhood polar bear. This collection features fauna from both the arctic and antarctic regions of the globe, as well as informational materials about the animals themselves," said TDmonthly reporter and toy-store buyer Marie Raven at Toy Fair 2008. Launch date: June 15, 2008. (Watch the Polar Glacier Video Watch Video) 2/13/2008 (MSRP: $89.95; Age: 3 and Up)


Lemon Loves Lime Apparel by LEMON LOVES LIME INC.

Lemon Loves Lime Apparel by LEMON LOVES LIME INC.Each piece from Lemon Loves Lime collection is wonderfully unique and resembles cherished memories of our daughters' childhood that we hold dear in our hearts; their exuberant smiles and laughs of happiness, their tears of sadness and fright, their innocent curiosity and wonder of the world before them, as well as their playful mischief. 2/4/2008


Planet Earth 100PC Jigsaw Puzzle by THE CANADIAN GROUP

Planet Earth 100PC Jigsaw Puzzle by THE CANADIAN GROUPPhotographic Images from BBC Landmark TV series. Each image telling a story of the most spectacular natural events and animals on Earth piece by piece. 3/11/2008


Friend Trading Cards by CHATTERCHIX INC.

Friend Trading Cards by CHATTERCHIX INC.Every ChatterChik™ represents a different U.S. state and comes to life through her distinctive bio, appearance, personality and lifestyle. Girls can collect all 50 cards in the series and even trade-out with their friends. (Watch the Friend Trading Cards Video Watch Video) 2/1/2008


EcoDolls™ - Tanya by EcoDolls

EcoDolls™ - Tanya by EcoDollsEco Dolls are 11” fashion dolls constructed with 80-percent cotton and natural fibers and minimal plastic on the head and hands. The dolls inspire play and support the innovative and curious nature of girls. Tanya encourages young girls’ interest in science and environmental responsibility through a beautifully illustrated storybook, a learning adventure about how trees help make air quality better. “The ‘eco’ focus of the Eco Dolls truly sets this product apart — from the environmentally friendly construction to the dolls’ environmental learning adventures,” Kelli Matthews of E-Innovative Ideas told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2008. 1/17/2008 (MSRP: $49.95; Age: 3 to 8)


Design a Heavenly Pet Wardrobe by FASHION ANGELS

Design a Heavenly Pet Wardrobe by FASHION ANGELSThe set is a modern day paper doll style activity where girls can dress their dogs again and again with their own one-of-a-kind creations. The kit includes five “paper doll” dogs, clothing patterns, fabric, glitter glue, sequins and more. A portion of the proceeds from sales of their two new dog design kits to SPCA International (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International). Launch date: May 2008. 6/16/2008 (Age: 6 and Up)


Ruin by BUFFALO GAMES INC.

Ruin by BUFFALO GAMES INC.Ruin is a ruthless race for fortune and glory toward the center of an ancient Mayan ruin. Players move through and around an unpredictable and interchangeable game board. The distinctive 3-D game board allows you to change the path on every turn as game cards actually insert directly into the board. A perfect game for the entire family, this light-strategy game offers elements of skill, chance, luck and imaginative adventure. Launch date: April 1, 2008.
— "I appreciated that this toy was linked to an ancient culture, opening the door for discussion and history exploration," said TDmonthly Roundtable reviewer Teresa Wilson, whose four children, along with other kid-reviewers, enjoyed the strategic options the game affords. 1/8/2008 (MSRP: $29.99; Age: 8 and Up)








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