August Staff Picks

These adorable monkey slippers are quickly becoming a heart-warming (and foot-warming) staple for young and old alike.  With four new sizes this year, multiplying monkeys means more happy customers!  Ages 0+  Machine-washable and dryer-safe.

Gigis Apparel over-the-top headbands will brighten everyones face with a smile. They create positive attention and self esteem. Available in a wide variety of colors and trim from newborn to adult, all hats and headbands are presented in a keepsake box with rose petals.

Safari prides itself in being a pre-eminent manufacturer of authentic and value-packed horse collectibles. Featured here is the stunning Lusitano. Carefully hand painted for exceptional detailing. Educational information about the breed included. The horse is 5” high.

The Foundling Whale is approximately 7” long with a 100-percent organic cotton shell filled with unbleached cotton clippings and embroidered eyes for added safety. The Foundling Whale is one of the most environmentally friendly toys and makes a great gift for children and grandchildren. With nothing to fall off and choke a child, this toy is even safe for newborns, making it perfect gift for eco-conscious families. Launch date: 1992.

This 16" doll has long, wavy auburn hair with a suntanned skin tone and brown eyes that reflect infinite understanding. She wears an authentic first-century costume designed by a well-known New York doll dress artist. She wears eggplant colored laced boots, and her dress is regal and majestic with a matching purple headpiece adorned with delicate beads. She wears a red shawl. Launch date: December 2007.
Display ideas: Retailers should display Mary with a red rose and on a stand or inside a display case.

This hardcover book tells the story of Rosie, who, resenting the excitement a new baby sister has taken away from her life, decides to give little Buttercup away. In the process of doing so, she learns a valuable lesson. Launch date: 2008.

Schleich is introducing three new dinosaurs to the popular category Replica-Saurus. All the Replica-Saurus are to a scale of 1:40 and are all hand-painted. Each model comes equipped with a booklet containing the scientific data on each of the saurians and a figure of a human to the same scale to facilitate size comparison.

Inspired by the meteoric rise of Barack Obama, Jailbreak Toys has created an action figure representing the 2008 presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Considering him as the closest thing to a superhero and the stuff of legend, Jailbreak Toys decided to create this superhero action figure. The Obama Action Figure is 6" tall and has eight points of articulation. There is a John McCain action figure as well.

Travel Buddies™ neck pillows are designed to comfortably support sleepy heads on planes, trains and automobiles. Besides this Pig theme are numerous other themes including Hippo, Lion, Giraffe, Dog, Bear, Dolphin, and many more.  Kids will want to take them everywhere and won't leave them behind! Machine-washable and hypo-allergenic.

When its left ear is pressed, this interactive lion cub comes to life, moving its mouth, blinking its eyes and growling like a cub. It even purrs as it falls asleep. The cub comes with an adoption certificate and requires 4 AA batteries (included).

"I am Positive" card is part of Manifest Your Magnificence, a distinctive set of 64 Affirmation Cards and  an Audio CD designed specifically to nurture a child’s self-esteem. Beautifully illustrated, written and spoken, each affirmation carries a powerful “I am” message that connects children to their magnificence, followed by a supporting message on the backside of the card to reinforce the "I am" message.

This 14" doll features a soft body and vinyl head with curly brown hair. She has poseable arms and legs and hand-painted features. Her satin costume is topped with ladybug antennae.

This 12" doll has a soft beanbag body and eyes that close when she's "sleeping." She can wear clothing from Corolle's Mon Premier collection.
— “Our premier line is Corolle ... [it] always does best,” noted Lynn Sanchez of Wiz Bang Toys in Lake Oswego, Ore., in summer 2008.
— The 32 of 64 specialty retailers that named Corolle as a best-selling doll line in their stores said they sell between 4 and 72 Corolle dolls each month.
— “The little Calins move the best,” Jennifer Vanderish, co-owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly in summer 2008.

This 40-page science book and materials kit includes eight major activities that transform the study of central concepts of molecular biology into child's play. Kids can extract DNA from a fruit, probe and spool real DNA, build a double helix model, solve a chromosome puzzle (Is it a boy or a girl?) and play a gene construction game. A more advanced version is available for appropriate markets. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2008. Launch date: 2008.

Where to Buy: Kazoo Toys

This elegant mahjong set is made of bone and bamboo. It is uniquely packaged in a lovely wooden case with a dragon/phoenix design on the cover and Chinese calligraphy and pen and ink drawings on the interior. The compact case makes the game portable so you can take it with you anywhere -- a friend's house, the park, or a coffee shop. A great gift for anyone who enjoys playing Mahjong or wants to learn. An introductory book is included to help you learn how to play mahjong.

Circus Teethers help to alleviate teething discomfort by providing three surfaces and textures for biting.  Furthermore, they fit snugly in a stylish carrying case for staying clean while on the go.
Kids will enjoy the way the teethers feel on their sore gums as well as their interlocking play value.  The modern parent will pick the Circus Teethers because they are made in the USA with medical grade materials and feature a unique design. Launch date: August 2008.

These all-vinyl mini treasures make perfect gifts. They fit in your hand and come in an assortment of outfits and ethnicities. Launch date: 2008.

VEXplorer is the ideal robot kit for the novice builder and hobbyists. Complete with detailed step-by-step plans, this almost-ready-to-run kit comes with pre-assembled modules making it quick and easy to build. Best of all, your robot is compatible with Innovation First's VEX Motion and Structure parts allowing you to expand and grow your robot.