Bella Sara 2nd Series – 12 Card Packs by HIDDEN CITY ENTERTAINMENT
These cards allow girls to collect their favorite Bella Sara horses, play fun card games with their friends, and read each horse’s special message. The series includes “wise warriors,” swimming, flying and fantasy horses. It also features rare, extra-special foil horse cards. Girls can even visit the Bella Sara website to care for and play with their horses online.
This system allows users to create four different pictures with the same six pieces by sliding the pieces into, over and under each other in different ways. This MOZANIAC set forms “Madame Matisse” by Henri Matisse, “Woman in a Large Hat” by Amadeo Modigliani, “Portrait of Dora Maar” by Pablo Picasso and “Self-Portrait With Monkey” by Frida Kahlo.
The Black '34 Classic Hot Rod is built with heavy-gauge steel, solid rubber, and 9.5"-diameter tires for easy pedaling with three adjustable pedal positions. It is Toy Safety tested and approved, resistant to rust, child safe, and has non-toxic powder coating paint. Adult assembly and supervision are required.
Little magicians can show off their best hocus pocus skills while looking as stunning as Harry Blackstone, Jr. The costume comes complete with a fancy silk cape, a button-down vest, a top hat, white gloves, a bow tie and a magic wand. The cape and hat both feature secret pockets, perfect for many wonderful magic tricks. The outfit comes in sizes for kids age two to twelve. Launch date: June 2007.
No matter whether kids slap it, tap it or bang on it, the Woodstock Conga Drum has a great tone. Children can get their salsa going and drum away. This musical instrument features authentic wood construction, chrome-plated steel hardware and a durable drumhead. A drum key is included. “The Woodstock Conga Drum is a professional-quality instrument that is scaled down to a size suitable for children. It's got an authentic conga drum look, but even more importantly, it has authentic conga drum sound,” Web Development Director Peggy Daniel of Woodstock Percussion told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2007.
This bear is part of a collection designed to celebrate popular occasions and sentiments. Each bear comes with a heart-shaped tag "greeting." Tillie Twinkletoes wears a ballerina outfit and headband and holds a star-shaped wand. Her hangtag reads, “A Star is Born.” There are 14 styles. Launch date: June 1, 2007.
Puff the Pop-Up Dragon by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC
In this game for two or more players, the oldest player pushes Puff down into the castle and turns the top of the castle three times. Then, participants take turns placing flags into the slots around the castle — until Puff jumps out. The player whose flag reveals Puff wins. Launch date: January 2007.
This miniature ceramic lion is completely hand-made. Hagen-Renaker started in 1945 and has been producing collectible ceramics for more than 60 years, becoming a line that has been shared by three generations of kids. More than 200 different ceramic miniatures are available. Orders must be made in minimum purchases of $100. Launch date: January 2007.
Intended for two to four players, this game challenges children to use their eyes to quickly spot objects. No reading is required. The game comes with 48 cards, one action die, four picture dice and instructions. “Beloved and well-known imagery from the I Spy license comes together with a fast-moving card game that requires no reading,” Lisa Orman, public relations representative for Briarpatch Inc., told TDmonthly. “[It also] hones quick eye-hand coordination and recognition skills.” This game is a winner of the Spring 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Award. Launch date: March 2007.
To help meet the demand for Webkinz sweeping the continent, Ganz has come out with a new line of Lil'Kinz. Like their larger counterparts, Lil'Kinz characters come with their own codes that are revealed after purchase. Kids adopt the little guys as their own and take them into an online world of fun and KinzKash. Kids can now make Lil'Kinz Gorilla their best buddy, play some games at the Arcade and stop by the W shop to pick up a bowl of crunch shoots n' roots. The Gorilla is 6” long. — "It's really going to be interesting because we've carried Webkinz for a couple of years and they were really slow and hard to move. But then, just this year, the popularity has gotten crazy and everybody has been coming in and asking for them. Nobody has them or they can't find the ones they want. I just got in a major shipment," said Mary Duncan, manager of Tinkerz Toy Shop in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. — About a quarter of the 62 retailers TDmonthly spoke with in spring 2007 said Webkinz were the hottest selling plush in their stores. When asked to provide monthly sales figures for Webkinz, retailers told TDmonthly they sold hundreds — sometimes thousands — of units per month, or simply couldn't keep up with the demand. — Seven of 32 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2007 that Webkinz are the best-selling collectibles in their stores.
Clayton + Carol Cattle (Holstein) by Caboodle! Toys LLC (Noah's Pals)
Holstein bulls and cows are the most popular breed of cattle in the world. They were first bred in The Netherlands and then were brought to America in 1857. Holsteins are immediately recognizable by their black and white coloring — the stereotypical farm bull and cow. Today farmers raise Holsteins for their amazing milk-producing ability: The average cow produces 3,250 gallons of milk a year. They live three to four years, but some have been known to live much longer. Cattle have four stomachs. This “common” pair is available in unlimited editions. Launch date: April 2007.
This 13” vinyl doll was inspired by collector Jill Jackson during a 2004 story-writing contest. She comes complete with a storybook titled “Princess Berdina and Her Magic Tears,” written by Jackson. Featuring carrot curly mohair and brown eyes, she also comes with a tiara and a beautiful ball gown with matching shoes. Princess Berdina is a limited edition of only 130 pieces. Launch date: 2007.
This Poodle Cafe bookcase serves as a Parisian storefront to any little girl's imagination. Girls just pull on the heart knob to open the doors and enter Paris in all its grandeur. A colorful addition to any room, this whimsically detailed dollhouse bookcase features multiple tiers and shelf dividers that not only create decorative storage for books and toys, but also transform the bookcase into the perfect dollhouse. It includes doors that close, so the room will always look neat and tidy. Launch date: August 2007.
Press 'n Dress Doll & Outfit Set - Heather (Blonde) by POCKETS OF LEARNING LLC
This set includes one blond doll and two cloth outfits. Each of the outfits features a Velcro backing, which allows kids to dress the dolls with ease. Other dolls in this line include a brunette, an Asian, an African-American and a bride. “Press ‘n Dress Doll & Outfit sets are proven winners, with awards from such parenting and toy watch groups as Dr. Toy and [the] National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA),” May Grant of Pockets of Learning Communications told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2007.
This well-designed game is simple, yet challenging. Rapelli, a game made of bamboo, is a game of chance. Children pick their favorite color caterpillar and roll the color and arrow dice to see whether they move a caterpillar in or out. The last one not to fall out is the winner. Launch date: 2007.
Thanks to its cuddly soft beanbag body, Calin Cheerful Bright can be posed just like a real baby. The 12" doll has blue sleeping eyes, can wear fashion from the Mon Premier collection, and can have a number of accessories added to it from the Corolle line. — "Probably any of my Calin from Corolle" serve as the best-selling items in dolls, according to Mary Sisson, owner of Kazoodles in Vancouver, Wash. — “We sell different styles [of Calin]. About 30 a month,” Marilyn Walker, owner of PlayFair Toys in Boulder, Colo., told TDmonthly in January 2008.
Children can ride on this plush horse, holding the handles and trampling the footplates. It can move forward and slightly turn left or right. Different sizes and designs are available.
Eyela, the sublime one, is the last in the dynasty of the kings of the elves. She alone can save the land of the elves from doom. Launch date: May 2007. — “Schleich historical and mythical figures do very well for us,” Tye Steinbach of Thinker Toys in Portland, Ore., told TDmonthly in May 2008. — Over one-fifth of 55 retailers surveyed by TDmonthly in May 2008 named mythical action figures as a top seller. — More than 23 percent of retailers named action figures by Schleich as best-sellers in their stores.
Jon Bon Jovi is one of the latest musicians to join McFarlane Toys’ expanding collection of music action figures. The figure stands 6" tall and features Bon Jovi singing into the microphone on the stand, with his black acoustic guitar slung behind him. Launch date: August 2007.
This handmade oak tool box contains all the tools a young carpenter needs to help with the building and repair jobs around the house. The toolbox includes a hammer, a screwdriver, a saw, a square, an old-fashioned hand drill and 6" ruler. The box and tools are made of walnut, maple and oak, with a natural oil finish. The set makes a perfect collector's gift for any carpenter, woodworker or builder. Launch date: January 2007.
Part of the Schleich Horses Collection, the Pinto Stallion is not only a toy but also an educational series of replicas revealing life on the farm. Manufactured from high-quality vinyl rubber, this extremely realistic figure is hand painted with nontoxic paint for a natural finish. The Pinto Stallion is 162 mm x 38 mm x 10 mm in dimension. Launch date: January 2007. — "Horses" from "Schleich" were among customer favorites in the spring of 2007, according to Diane Robinson, owner of Silly Goose in Essex, Mass.
With this game, two to six players can energize all seven chakra centers in their bodies by doing yoga poses. Participants learn the name, location, color and symbol of each chakra and how it relates to life. A portion of all Spiraling Hearts proceeds is donated to children's charities. This product is a 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Award winner.
Writer's Bio: ALISON MAREK is an award-winning writer, director and cartoonist whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks, and viewed worldwide in film festivals. See her short films and print work on www.alisonmarek.com. Watch her nefarious villains in the web series www.MuggsMovers.com. Get inspired by her cartoons "Daily ARFFirmations to Unleash Your Inner Fido" at www.ARFFirmations.com. Phew! And then ... Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: ALISON MAREK is an award-winning writer, director and cartoonist whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks, and viewed worldwide in film festivals. See her short films and print work on www.alisonmarek.com. Watch her nefarious villains in the web series www.MuggsMovers.com. Get inspired by her cartoons "Daily ARFFirmations to Unleash Your Inner Fido" at www.ARFFirmations.com. Phew! And then ... Read more articles by this author
