This dancing buddy encourages learning through natural sounds and music. Children play by stacking three musical rings onto the character pole. Once the combination is stacked, children rotate the rings to change the rhythm, melody and sound of the music each creates. The fun continues when the Music Maker comes to life, playing a unique mix of music and light patterns while dancing around and swinging his arms to the beat. The Sound Beginnings line was “developed based on research that showed that exclusive use of vocal and natural sounds help accelerate the learning process in children,” Lauren Grande of Southard Communications told TDmonthly. Launch date: Fall 2007.

This guitar-shaped wagon on wheels doubles as musical instrument. More than 50 activities help to teach ABC’s, 123’s and musical notes. Groove ‘N Go encourages active play.