TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Licensed Products Product Category

Take Along Thomas Morgan's Mine by LEARNING CURVE

The Lights & Sounds playset is based on the major video, “The Great Discovery.” Discover two different play patterns with this set that includes die-cast Thomas and Troublesome Truck. Launch date: June 2008. 5/21/2008 (Price: $49.99)

Dream Designer Hannah Montana by ELMER'S

The kit comes with over 500 pieces, allowing Hannah Montana fans everywhere to create her own customized tabletop versions of familiar show scenes, including Miley’s living room and Hannah’s stage and closet. The kit’s themed stickers, markers, beads and characters allow kids to design, decorate and play over and over again. Launch date: July 2008. 5/21/2008 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Carrera Go!!! Speed Racer 1:43 Scale Slot Car Race Set by CARRERA

The supercharged Mach 5 goes head to head with Racer X’s infamous #9 – Shooting Star – on a 1:43 scale. Cars can fly down the track and careen around, over and through the competition in this high-octane race set that includes almost 21’ of track, a double loop, a junction, a flyover, a lap counter, two turbo speed controllers and the Mach 5 and Shooting Star cars. “From the ‘60s generation, who grew up idolizing Speed and Trixie … to today's youth … tapped into the pop-culture release of this summer's blockbuster, to the ‘console’ generation, which can especially appreciate video-game action brought to life, Carrera Toys' slot car systems are some of the few specialty toys in the market that bring them all together around one track,” Keith Strickland, account manager at Starmark International, told TDmonthly. MSRP ranges from $69 to $89.99. Launch date: April 2008. 5/19/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Danny Dozer's Perfect Christmas Tree by RUNNING PRESS BOOK PUBLISHERS

Danny Dozer and his friends find the perfect Christmas tree for Deerfield Valley. They embellish the tree, but then realize there’s no snow. As the characters attempt to remedy this problem, readers can lift up a variety of flaps to discover materials the characters use to decorate the tree: miles of lights, piles of shiny ornaments and more. Launch date: September 24, 2007. 5/19/2008 (Price: $9.95)

Earlyears Pull N Peek Photo Fun by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

The toy’s innovative design features two permanently attached, nesting cylinders. Pulling up on the teether handle sounds a motion-activated squeaker and reveals hidden photo pockets and a shiny turtle. The toy also features space for three photos, adorable tactile friends and a put-and-take fishbowl. This item is intended for children over the age of six months. Launch date: February 2008. 5/19/2008 (Price: $16.99)

Earlyears Oliver Octopus by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

The eight-legged activity toy features a different color and texture for each crinkly, stretchy leg; a dangling, rattling fish; and a squeaking, hanging starfish. Flip the plush over and open the mirrored hatch on the bottom for additional play. Oliver also comes with a link to hang him from car seats, strollers, diaper bags and more. Launch date: February 2008. 5/19/2008 (Price: $19.99)

National Geographic Kids Elephant by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

The plush elephant comes with a collectible fun fact card featuring gorgeous National Geographic photography and amazing facts about the elephant. The elephant, part of the African and Asian Mammals collection, stands 14” tall and features plush tusks. Launch date: June 2008. 5/19/2008 (Price: $29.99)

National Geographic Kids Baby Seal by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

The plush baby seal comes with a collectible fun fact card featuring gorgeous National Geographic photography and amazing facts about the seal. The 10” soft, furry seal is part of the Ice Animals collection. Launch date: June 2008. 5/19/2008 (Price: $19.99)

John Deere Heaven, Part I by TM BOOKS AND VIDEO

See John Deere toys come alive in this fanciful, fast-paced mix of toy trains, tractors, and big machines. TM’s video magic will thrill and delight young and old alike. See O gauge and Standard gauge John Deere trains zip around elaborately detailed train layouts along with John Deere 1/16th, 1/50th and 1/64th scale tractors, cars, and trucks. Plus ten original songs from singer/songwriter James Coffey. 5/19/2008 (Price: $14.95)

HIT Favorites: Summertime Fun! by 20th CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT

The hour-long DVD 57 invites kids to join Barney, Bob The Builder, Thomas and Friends, Angelina Ballerina and Fireman Sam in five summer adventures. Launch date: May 13, 2008. 5/19/2008 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bob the Builder: The Three Musketrucks by 20th CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT

The 45-minute DVD features five new adventures following Bob the Builder and his Can-Do crew. Joining the crew are new friends Meg MacDonald, a Scottish dairy farmer, her assistand Piper and their hilarious dairy truck Dodger. Launch date: May 13, 2008. 5/19/2008 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Barney: Hi! I'm Riff! by 20th CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Kids can meet Riff the Hadrosaur, Barney’s new best friend. Riff loves music and spending time with his new pals, whom he decides starts a “Best Friends Club” with. The DVD has an approximate running time of one hour. Launch date: May 6, 2008. 5/19/2008 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Madeline Tea Set in Carry Case by SCHYLLING

The 31-piece set contains full service for four.  The set includes cups, saucers, a teapot, a sugar bowl, creamer, utensils, a tablecloth and napkins, all packed inside a convenient cardboard carry case for travel.  Each piece was uniquely designed with Madeline in mind. Launch date: December 2001. ( Watch Video) 5/19/2008 (Price: $29.99)

Bring Along Thomas by SCHYLLING

The playset includes a construction track, a wind-up Thomas train, a bell, horses, a bridge and trees. The track folds into a convenient 6-1/2” x 6” carrying case for Thomas and his accessories. Launch date: May 2007. ( Watch Video) 5/19/2008 (Price: $11.99)

Thomas Push Chime by SCHYLLING

When kids use the handle to roll the push chime along floor, musical chimes sound. The chime measures 23” x 5-1/4” and is decorated with Thomas and Friends images. This item is intended for children over the age of 18 months. Launch date: December 2007. 5/19/2008 (Price: $16.99)

Curious George Jack in the Box by SCHYLLING

Wind the crank and a plush Curious George pops out of the 5” tin box. The song “Pop Goes the Weasel” plays as the crank is activated. This item is intended for children over the age of 18 months. Launch date: December 2000.
— “I sell quite a bit of [Schylling’s] Jack-in-the-boxes,” Jeanne McCullough, owner of Children's Store Inc. in Boise, Idaho, told TDmonthly, when asked to name her store’s best-selling novelties.
— Three retailers singled out Schylling products as best sellers in the novelty category.
— Over a dozen other jack-in-the-box varieties are available in the Schylling line. 5/19/2008 (Price: $19.99)

Betty Boop Talking Bobblehead by PRECIOUS KIDS/FUN TOYS

The polyresin Betty Boop Talking Bobblehead comes with a sound chip that allows her to speak with the simple press of a button. Launch date: May 15, 2008. 5/19/2008 (Price: $24.99)

Princess 8-Pc.Going to the Ball Set by DISNEY

The set includes a fan, a jeweled clutch bag, a compact with mirror and note paper, sunglasses, a sunglass case, a lipstick pen, earrings and a play cell phone that produces light and sound effects. The set features five Disney princesses.
— Isaac Gurock, head of operations at Magic Beans in Brookline, Mass., told TDmonthly in April 2008 that Disney Princesses' is his best-selling licensed line. His store sells 12 of the products each month.
— “The Disney Princesses line — we sell at least one a day,” Scott Sloan, manager of Toys, Inc. in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., told TDmonthly in April 2008, when asked to name his best-selling licensed toy.
— In April 2008, four of 50 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly named the Disney Princesses' line as their best-selling licensed line. 5/8/2008 (Price: $19.50)

RC2 Brands Thomas Wooden Railway Oval Set by LEARNING CURVE

This 13-piece set includes 10 pieces of wooden track, a Thomas the Tank Engine Train, a passenger car and a railroad crossing sign. The set measures approximately 20-1/4" x 17-1/2" x 2-2/5".
 — “The new Thomas trains do best when they come out,” Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles Toys in Norman, Okla., told TDmonthly in April 2008. “I usually order a dozen and they sell through pretty quickly.”
— “We try not to carry anything that's in a big store … [but] we do carry Thomas the Tank, definitely,” Fran Anaya, owner of Golden Aspen Toys in Flagstaff, Ariz., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— Over one-tenth of retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in spring 2008 named Thomas trains as their best-selling licensed product. 5/8/2008 (Price: $12.99)

Hello Kitty Pop-Up Toaster by SANRIO

This pop-up toaster toasts Hello Kitty's face on every slice. It features six shade settings, a removable crumb tray, a 3-D Hello Kitty face on the toaster, two wide toast slots to accommodate bagels, a cool-touch exterior, self-adjusting bread guides and a cord storage area underneath.
— Josh Darby, manager of Toy Up in Little Rock, Ark., told TDmonthly in April 2008 that his store sells “about one [Hello Kitty] item per day.”
— Greg Bonner, owner of Heights Toy Center in Little Rock, Ark., said he averages “three pieces a day.”
— “In licensed products, we do the best with Hello Kitty. … We sell three or four … toys a day,” May Foster, a long-time sales person at The Toy Palace in Jackson, Miss., told TDmonthly in April 2008. 5/8/2008 (Price: $36.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Flytech Tinker Bell by WOWWEE GROUP LTD.

Disney Consumer Products collaborated with WowWee, a leading developer of innovative hi-tech consumer robotic and entertainment products, for the creation of an elegant flying toy wonder inspired by Tinker Bell. Disney Fairies fans will get big thrills with Tinker Bell, a vertical flyer featuring enchanting flight patterns, graceful wing design and a flower wand remote controller designed specifically for children’s hands. Users can control the height and speed of the Tinker Bell flyer with ease, allowing her to soar, dive and glide. Her light-weight, crash-resistant materials prevent her from getting into mischief. Featuring a dual-wing design to provide lift and propulsion, the Tinker Bell flyer brings the magic of flight to the hands of a younger generation of girls. The product requires 4 AA batteries. Launch date: Autumn 2008. 5/8/2008 (Price: $39.99)

Disney Ultimate WALL•E by THINKWAY

The robotic toy comes with 10 motors, allowing it to move freely and creatively. Kids can pre-program Wall•E’s moves by creating patterns on the remote control’s touch pad. The robot also features voice activation, a follow-me mode, built-in speakers for music playback, different emotional states, sensors that allow him to detect his environment and respond accordingly and much more. Launch date: Fall 2008. 5/8/2008 (Price: $189.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Children's Speed Racer Deluxe Costume by RUBIE'S COSTUME COMPANY

The licensed Speed Racer costume features a zippered blue and white vinyl jacket with the Speed Racer emblem, and a half-front face plastic helmet with a screened “M.”  Small, medium and large sizes are available. It is available in small, medium and large. Launch date: May 9, 2008. 5/8/2008 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Star Wars: Luke Skywalker, Last Hope for the Galaxy by DARK HORSE COMICS, INC.

Luke Skywalker's greatest adventures from over thirty years of comics are compiled in a single, slip-cased, deluxe edition hardcover. The 800-page volume follows Luke on his journey from the moisture farms of Tatooine to the final days of the Dark Empire. Each story has been selected from every Luke Skywalker comic ever published, from Marvel's first issue to Dark Horse's latest. Launch date: October 2008. 5/5/2008 (Price: $99.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Star Wars: Omnibus - Droids by DARK HORSE COMICS, INC.

This book features previously unpublished material about R2-D2 and C-3PO and their adventures before meeting Luke Skywalker. The two encountered pirates, bounty hunters, rock monsters, and the notorious space criminal Olag Greck. The book also contains “The Kalarba Adventures," "Rebellion," "Seasons of Revolt" and "The Protocol Offensive.” Launch date: June 18, 2008. 5/5/2008 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]