TDmonthly Magazine’s Review Scout scours the Web weekly for reviews of new and hot products so you don’t have to spend your time searching. Out of thousands of blog, retail and other sites, his research uncovers toys, games and other gifts that are worthy of your attention now. Check this space for briefs on reviews and ratings from across the nation and even the globe.
Pierre the Penguin: A True Story by Sleeping Bear Press
Author Jean Marzollo and illustrator Laura Regan put to page the real-life story of Pierre the Penguin, an African penguin at the California Academy of Sciences. After Pierre loses his feathers, he is too cold to swim — until aquatic biologist Pam Schaller decides to try a penguin-sized wetsuit. Children will love learning about Pierre the Penguin’s unique tale through the rhyming text and realistic illustrations. — On The Garden Island, Terri Schlichenmeyer praised the book’s catchy rhymes, gentle teaching and penguin Q&A page. She explained, “Kids who have a problem with teasing will be able to identify with Pierre” and his struggle to fit in without feathers. — The Lemonade Stand’s Jessica read the inspiring story with her kids several times as soon as they got the book. According to Jessica, Pierre’s story was such a big hit that “it will be in a favorite in our library for a long, long time!”
Encouraging kids to reuse, recycle and be creative, makedo kits include connectors that help fashion masterpieces out of cardboard and other objects. The Kit for One houses 69 pieces, including 30 pins, 30 clips, eight hinges, a construction tool and an inspiration poster. Watch makedo: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010 — John MacDougall, owner of Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., thought the makedo line "clever" at Toy Fair 2010. — Susan Stephenson, The Book Chook, called Makedo “beautifully thought out.” Although she found the cutting tool less effective than scissors, she loved the value and limitless possibilities of a set that uses what would otherwise be junk. — Makedo was a Readers’ Choice Winner for TreeHugger’s Best of Green Awards.
Beary was inspired by the Spirit Bear of British Columbia, and comes with a removable inner heat pack that can be warmed in the microwave. Beary comes in two sizes with three color options. Baby Beary, the smaller, has an MSRP of $24.95. Proceeds from the sale of all Beary the Bears go to bear rehabilitation centers. Launch date: August 2007. — At Canadian Parents, Joyce reported that Beary the Bear has become a bonding tool for her daughter and granddaughter. Cuddling the warm bear helps her fussy granddaughter quiet down for bedtime. — Lena of Listen to Lena highlighted the bear’s fine sewing detail, natural heat/cool pack and soft snuggliness even with the pack inserted. Her testing revealed that when heated, the bear “cooled off completely in less than one hour, thereby eliminating the fear of child overheating.”
Writer's Bio: Peter Aoun is a communications professional focused on the toy industry. He has conducted research on the impact of music on learning, as well as the convergence of toys and technology to create new forms of play. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Peter Aoun is a communications professional focused on the toy industry. He has conducted research on the impact of music on learning, as well as the convergence of toys and technology to create new forms of play. Read more articles by this author
