TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Creative Activities Product Category

Picture your Pet in a Shadow Box Frame by BOWWOWMEOW

Decorate a shadow box picture frame to display treasured photos and small mementos of your favorite furry friend. Kit comes with a white wooden frame with glass window, magnetic closure, and easel back. Frame measures 5.5"x 7.5" x 1.75" deep. Personalizing materials also included: paint, brush, alphabet stickers, push pins, glue and wood heart and star shapes. 8/28/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

I Love Horses Scrapbook by BOWWOWMEOW

Create a treasured memory album to celebrate the horses that you love. Keep photos and memories together in one special place. The scrapbook is an 8" x 8" fabric covered durable book with vinyl sleeves. All of the materials needed to get started are included: a variety of colorful papers, horse stickers, glue stick, double sided tape, deckled edge scissors, a set of markers and pages for you to fill in the blanks and tell fun facts about the horses you love. All of the materials are acid free to ensure that the scrapbook lasts for years to come. 8/28/2008 (Price: $21.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Color a Purse by ALEX BRANDS

With this kit, kids can color a dragon and butterflies on purse that measures 10” W x 7.5” H x 3.5” D. It comes with six permanent markers in a pouch.
—  The “Color a Purse and Backpack by Alex,” are popular girls’ gifts at Pun’s Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Owner Joe Berardoni told TDmonthly in July 2008.
— Four retailers of our 68 mentioned Alex craft kits as a best-selling product. 8/28/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Crayola 16 Ct. Trianglular Crayons by CRAYOLA LLC

Crayola 16 Ct. Triangular crayons combine anti-roll design and a writing grip that is developmentally appropriate for students ages 5 to 7. Launch date: 03/03/2008 8/25/2008 (Price: $3.99)

Bumblebee Scissors by RICH FROG INDUSTRIES

These scissors come in two adorable varieties. One cuts zig-zags and the other cuts waves. They are distinctive in the market because they're "durable and in very bright colors," Manager John Gallagher of Rich Frog Industries told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2004. 8/25/2008 (Price: $5.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Crayola Dry-Erase Activity Center by CRAYOLA LLC

The Crayola Dry-Erase Activity Center is a unique, dry-erase board designed for individual use by students. Students can slide blank or pre-printed template cards underneath the window and practice printing, cursive, math, dot-to-dots, etc., by tracing or following the guides with a Crayola Dry-Erase fine line marker. With one quick wipe, the board is clean to practice on again. "This is the only dry-erase board desingned for individual use by students at their desks that allows them to practice fine motor skills - such as handwritting development - with the ablility to easily erase mistakes and practice again without creating any waste," said Susan Tucker, PR specialist for Crayola. Launch date: 2008 8/25/2008 (Price: $14.99)

I Like Holidays! An Interactive Book About Me by BOYS TOWN PRESS

Children record their favorite holiday traditions by describing the people they share the holiday with and the colors, decorations, food, and stories they use to celebrate it. Completing this book with their own words, drawings, and photos helps children learn the meaning of holiday, cultural, and family customs and traditions. Creating a personal story motivates kids to read and write. "More educational than a scrapbook, more personal than a picture book, each copy of this book will capture an individual story that its young owner will return to read and enjoy many times," promised Barbara Lonnborg, director of Boys Town Press. Launch date: 08/01/2008 8/25/2008 (Price: $13.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Colorful Garden - A Feelings Coloring Book by BRIGHT SPARX

"Colorful Garden - A Feelings Coloring Book" takes the reader through several garden scenes with bugs and flowers displaying a variety of emotions to which children can relate. The rhyming verse and fun illustrations make the coloring book an entertaining product, but it also has great value in its ability to increase emotional intelligence and enhance a child's ability to express different feelings. It is ideal for developing communication skills, emotional vocabulary, creative expression, self esteem, and social skills in a fun and child-friendly manner. "This fun and engaging coloring book will help children recognize, identify, and talk about their feelings," said Lisa-Marie Arneson, Owner and Creator of Bright Spots. This product is a Dr Toy Best Vacation Children's Products Winner. Launch date: 09/18/2005 8/25/2008 (Price: $6.99)

Pet Ornaments by BOWWOWMEOW

Kids can create miniature works of art that celebrate their four-legged family members. The kit contains four papier-maché shapes (star, rectangle, square and circle) and lots of colorful and shiny decorating materials (paint, brush, glitter glue, gem stones, gloss varnish, alphabet stickers). Kids can add their own photos and creativity to the included materials to personalize their pet ornaments. It is a fun and easy project that provides a creative way for kids to express their love for their pets. "Pet Ornaments are perfect for holidays or anytime," Co-President Mike Greenwald of BowWowMeow told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 20, 2008. 8/21/2008 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cat & Dog, Kumon 3-D Paper Crafts by KUMON PUBLISHING NORTH AMERICA INC.

With this craft, children can have fun cutting, pasting and assembling their own personal pet (potty training not required). "Kumon 3-D Paper Craft workbooks are designed to help children develop problem-solving and spatial reasoning abilities, as well as fine motor skills," Adam Hennessy, in marketing and account management for Kumon Publishing, told TDmonthly. "Their extra-thick paper and colorful, engaging illustrations ensure that children will be able to create a sturdy and engaging paper toy that will provide an educational and entertaining experience." Launch date: January 10, 2006. 8/21/2008 (Price: $5.95)

NoteWorks by NOTELOGIC LLC

This fun, interest-holding, tactile and visual tool allows any parent or teacher to teach music reading/playing to any student. The teacher needs no music training. NoteBlocks included in NoteWorks combine the principals of simple math and the basics of building blocks, allowing students to understand the essentials of music easily. A step-by-step, illustrated book is included. "This teaches actual reading and writing of music beginning at a very elementary level," Darlene Hanington, managing partner for NoteLogic LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 15, 2006. 8/21/2008 (Price: $145) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

I Like Birthdays! An Interactive Book About Me by BOYS TOWN PRESS

Candles on the cake, friends and family, special foods and clothing, favorite presents ... children recount what makes their birthday so happy. Even very young children, with their parents' help, can create a wonderful book of personal memories and experiences using their own words, photos and drawings. They can have fun while practicing reading, writing and counting skills. 8/21/2008 (Price: $13.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Visiting My Grandmother: An Interactive Book About Me by BOYS TOWN PRESS

Children write and illustrate a story about their visit with Grandmother — what she looks like, where she lives, how they play, what they eat together, and how they feel about each other. Whimsical mice guide children through the book. Kids practice reading, writing and drawing skills while creating a special keepsake they will read again and again. "The book's interactivity allows parents, grandparents and children to share an engaging activity together, while showing children how much fun reading and writing their own story can be," Barbara Lonnborg, director of Boys Town Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 1, 2008. 8/21/2008 (Price: $13.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Trip to the Zoo: An Interactive Book About Me by BOYS TOWN PRESS

Children create a book about their trip to the zoo by describing the short, tall, noisy, quiet, friendly and scary animals they encountered. Completing sentences with their own words, and illustrating the book with their own drawings or photographs, children relive the fun of their special day. Kids can improve reading, writing, comparing, and measuring skills. Parents enjoy helping, too. "By engaging the child as the writer and illustrator of his or her own personal story, this interactive book increases the child's motivation and enjoyment in reading," Barbara Lonnborg, director of Boys Town Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 1, 2008. 8/21/2008 (Price: $13.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tell The Tale Thumball by ANSWERS IN MOTION

Tell The Tale Thumball has 32 Multi-colored panels, and is 4 inches in diameter. Each panel contains a story and an author, encouraging participants to retell familiar fairy tales, fables and modern classics to develop sequencing skills and oral expression. Inspires dramatic play, improvisation and cooperative team building. An ideal companion to Parts of A Story Thumball. 8/5/2008 (Price: $10.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Design-a-Purse Activity Kit by Design-a-Purse™

This activity kit from Laurali Collections was created to allow girls to bead their own straps, design their own trims and color their own jewels. The kit includes a pouch with velcro strip sewn on, beads for long or short straps, extra beads for bracelet or anklet to match the purse, findings to complete straps, 2 ribbons for trim, one ribbon for beading, beads for the trim, findings to complete trims, and rhinestone jewel. No sewing or gluing is required. Purse takes approximately one hour to complete. 7/31/2008 (Price: $19.95)

Super Funny Faces by AM Productions

A set of 4 sticker books for making and remaking a hilarious variety of funny faces. These books are not just a random collection of heads with blank faces. Every book has a theme and every page is rich in content, ideas and cartoonish fantasies that little ones can at once understand. 7/24/2008

Pyramid Puzzle by EVERRICH INDUSTRIES, INC

This puzzle is great for stimulating and training the brain. Each game includes: 1 plastic playing board , 12 color building blocks, a 16 pages guidebook , and one portable card. The product meets CE, ST En 71 and ASTM standard. 7/18/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

doodlebugz™ Crayola Doodlebag by PRINCESS LINENS

This set includes a zip-up bag, 10 Crayola washable crayons, five pieces of Crayola chalk, a pad of paper, a chalkboard and a mini chalkboard eraser. It is also available in pink stripe, pink camo, solid pink and green camo. 6/19/2008 (Price: $25.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

doodlebugz™ Crayola Chalk Talk Table Mate by PRINCESS LINENS

Made of oilcloth fabric, this reusable chalk mat holds two pieces of Crayola chalk and a sponge eraser (all included). It comes in blue, green camo, pink camo, red, hot pink, light pink and pink striped. 6/19/2008 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Play Art - Window Jewelry by BOJEUX INC.

This carft kit contains translucent butterfly templates that girls can color in and decorate with the included markers, jewels and wires. The kit contains one line-art acetate sheet, five colors of dimensional paint, three suction cups, wires, beads and instructions. 6/19/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Chicken Socks - The Cootie Catcher Book by KLUTZ

This activity book contains 20 pre-printed pages that can be torn out and folded into cootie catchers. It also provides instructions on how to make the craft as well as the fortunes that lie inside it.
—  “I’m continually impressed by the quality of products coming out from this company even after 30 years,” Paul Faustine of Red Dragon Toys in Brunswick, Maine, said in reference to Klutz books, which are a best-selling gift for girls in his store.
— Renee Nordhus, owner of ABC & Toy Zone in Rochester, Minn., noted that Klutz crafts are the top-selling gift item for girls in her store.
—Three of 66 retailers cited Klutz as a top seller for girls’ gifts in a summer 2008 TDmonthly poll. 6/18/2008 (Price: $9.95)

Families of Costa Rica by MASTER COMMUNICATIONS

Part of the Families of the World DVD series, this title follows the lives of two families, one rural and one urban, as they go about their daily activities. The DVD demonstrates that kids living thousands of miles away in other countries lead everyday lives and participate in daily activities very similar to American children. The series offers a documentary-style “day in the life” glimpse into how people in different countries live from a child’s point of view. Launch date: August 19, 2008. 6/16/2008 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hip Hop for Kids: School House Hop by JUMPING FISH PRODUCTIONS

The series introduces kids to a fun and fantastic new way to get in shape, featuring the latest Hip Hop moves, broken down into easy-to-follow instructions and repeated verbally and visually.The DVD also includes a bonus “My Style” section encourages freestyle dancing and a “Nutrition Segment” on how to eat right. The DVD has an approximate running time of 45 minutes. Launch date: July 15, 2008. 6/16/2008 (Price: $19.50)

Pet Fashion Design Sketchbook by FASHION ANGELS

The Pet Fashion Design Sketchbook has a design guide, two pet sketchpads, markers, pencils and a design guide. Girls can create any style of pet clothes they can imagine. 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.
— “Anything in Fashion Angels makeup and book line is moving pretty well for us,” Linda Hanzelko of Timmy’s Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthly in summer 2008. ”We sell at least a dozen a month from the arts and craft line.”
— “We sell a lot” of the design books by Fashion Angels, said Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles in Norman, Okla.
— Four of 66 retailers named Fashion Angels as a top-selling girl gift in August 2008. 6/16/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]