TDmonthly's April Staff Picks

Lion Lubie sports a cute and peaceful face. Have this Lubie be the king of the plush jungle. The Lubies collection received a 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: 2009.

From the sustainably-minded Plan Toys company comes a dollhouse built with many of the latest advances in green engineering in mind. The house itself is made out of recycled rubberwood accented with safe vegetable dyes for color. It includes a retractable canopy wall made from organic cotton, a wind turbine, solar panels and recycling bins. The house is available furnished and unfurnished. Launch date: 2009.
— Plan products were named as best sellers at Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., in March 2009. “They’re eco-friendly and beautifully designed and made,” Owner Patricia Fiedler told TDmonthly.

ArtiSands Mini Dinosaur kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Brontosaurus, T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

This two-pair collection features a cowboy boot design as well as a classic saddle shoe baby bootie. They come in a gift box fashioned after a boy's dresser.

This handmade bookend features a faux leather exterior and is heavily weighted with a filling of natural cotton and iron filings. It measures about 8" x 10" and comes in a non-woven drawstring bag.

This machine-washable, neoprene lunch bag has two interior mesh pockets and is designed to both cushion and insulate its contents. It stands upright and features wide zipper openings and an easy-to-grip, cushioned handle.

Drop the 3" turtle egg into water, and watch the gradual hatching process of a baby turtle. Great educational fun. Each egg comes in its own box. 9"x9" display box.

This set comes with bricks and materials to create a miniature version of the Yellow House as portrayed in one of artist Vincent van Gogh's famous paintings.

Featuring forest characters and available in three designs (Jean-Pierre, shown; Droolie; and Fei-Fei), this backpack has faux-fur straps and sides, plus one interior pocket. It measures 9" x 12" x 5.5".

This glass bottle features a silicone nipple and comes with a nipple cover. Brightly colored, neoprene bottle covers are available.

The adorable, washable, water-safe Scrub-A-Dub Doggies come in two styles: Cocker Spaniel and Dalmatian. The washable ears, matching bathrobe and squirter accessory will have children "begging" for bathtime. "Children can pretend what it would be like to give a real dog a bath, and afterward, can slide the lever from side to side to see the puppy shake the water off its head," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

This tent features four large, closeable windows and door for ventilation and easy viewing by parents, a 58”x45” floor size that easily accommodates several children and their toys, an attached porch that shades the door and gives a little one somewhere to kick back and relax after a hard day, and fiberglass poles that go together easily to make set-up quick. It is designed to be used inside or outside and can keep children busy for hours. The floorless design makes clean up easy, and the home comes with carry bags for the poles and tent and stakes. It is made from durable and fire-retardant coated polyester to last for years. "We design each tent, tunnel and play house to be large enough for more than one child to play in. All of our products are evaluated and tested by seasoned professionals before hitting the open market," CEO Joe Robey of Gigatent told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

These are cuckoo clocks with a delightful twist. On the hour, a wacky farm or jungle character pops out of the doors and sounds with a "moo," "neigh," "bawk," etc. These funny clocks are ideal as children’s clocks or for young-at-heart adults. Coo clocks are usable as wall clocks or mantle clocks. The product was named Gift of the Year 2004 - Best Gift for Kids from the UK Giftware Association. Launch date: September 2002.

This soft, cuddly robot has escaped from a factory with a bunch of his other robot friends. Stepper is known for his assembly skill, and even helped construct Bunk Bots themselves.

Part of the Wild Creations eco-aquarium line, this balanced ecosystem offers a low-maintenance way for children or adults to enjoy an aquarium environment. This starter kit comes with the Jewel Water Garden, a snail, two little frogs, food and care pack, and choice of base.
—  Nine percent of 43 specialty retailers told TDmonthly Wild Creations’ Eco-Aquarium was a best seller in late spring 2010.

The Urban Classic now in a beautiful display box! This colorful counter piece contains twenty-four Sky Bounce Balls in an assortment of colors. Games listed on the side of the box are: Handball, Stickball, Stoopball, and Off the wall.

This deluxe game set come with seven monter-themed games. The three-tiered box includes Moody Monsters matching game, a 56-card deck of playing cards with four different game instructions, and a Mix & Match puzzle game. Moody Monsters features 15 different monsters, each addressing the social and emotional needs of children.

Doodles™ are small wooden starter toys that are designed based on the vehicles as a child would imagine them. There are 8 models available including a plane, copter, tractor, pickup, road grader, bulldozer, car and a train engine. All moving parts are glued and pressure fit for durability and child safety.

This no-stress optical illusion coloring activity captivates all ages, has global appeal, and is ideal for mixed boy and girl groups. The activity is easy to assemble, totally child safe, and made in the USA. Each Party Fun Pack for 8 Children contains eight morphed placemat coloring pages with colorable borders, eight Morph-O-Scope mirror decoders, and eight bonus morph activities. Activity time is about 30 to 45 minutes. Retail cost per child is about $2. The Princess Pony Party Fun Pack meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards. Pirate and Halloween themes are also available.