Travel Toys: Leave the Fun to Us

Noodle Head Inc., manufacturer of toys and activity kits for children, has introduced the first of several new travel accessories for children. Travel Buddies is a series of plush neck pillows especially made to accommodate sleepy little heads in cars, on planes or anywhere else. Irresistibly soft and cuddly, these pillows are perfect for naptime on the go. There are six adorable animals to choose from: bear, frog, giraffe, dog, cat or lion.

My Vacation is a 10-page board book with a handle for little hands and six built-in frames in which children can insert vacation pictures. The book is colorful and includes a poem that tells a story about the accompanying pictures. Each insert contains a suggestion about what kind of picture to include to create viable narrative flow.

Preschool and kindergarten teachers will appreciate these songs and fingerplays, including familiar favorites and new selections, perfect for circle time. This album has already won an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award for 2005, Parents´ Choice Silver Award, NAPPA Award and iParenting Media Award. Booklist says, "This welcome pick-and-choose compilation will keep kids interested - and wondering." - Aire Norell

Preschoolers can recreate their favorite Bob the Builder adventures on-the-go with three all new Take Along Bob the Builder Playsets. When closed, the playsets (shaped like different tools) offer children countless role play possibilities. When opened, each “tool” invites young builders to “step inside” a Bob the Builder construction site featuring cause and effect action.

According to the John Hopkins University´s Center for Summer Learning, all young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer months. Parents looking to keep learning alive at home during summer vacation can turn to Daily Summer Activities, a series of resource books for grades PreK-5 from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers, a leading publisher of learning materials for kindergarten through sixth grade. Developed by educators, Daily Summer Activities is designed to help children make a successful transition from one grade to the next. Using these books, children can practice age-appropriate activities in the major subject areas by completing 10 weekly units. Each unit provides two pages of short, focused practice for every day of the week.

Reeves International’s Breyer Animal Creations brand has unveiled Mini Whinnies, a new line of micro-mini horses. Mini Whinnies horses measure just 1” to 2” tall and are offered in single sets, backpack travel sets and play sets. Capturing all the glamor and fun of exotic equine vacation destinations around the world, Mini Whinnies travel play sets are packaged in vinyl back packs for jet-setting horse lovers. Exotic equestrian vacations captured in these fun play sets are the annual Chincoteague Island Pony Round Up, horse racing on snow at posh St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps, wilderness trekking in the Land Down Under, and cross-country gallops across the Irish Countryside. Breyer also pays homage to its own annual collector and horse festival BreyerFest, held annually at the Kentucky Horse Park, with the Deluxe BreyerFest Play Set.  “Those are really popular,” said Mike King, toy buyer for Palo Alto Sport Shop and Toy World in Calif. Prices range from $7.00 to $25.00.

Baku the Travel Bug is a groundbreaking new DVD series that takes children 3 to 8 on cultural adventures around the world. With the help of his travel partner Aunt Sydney, his trusty Compass, the wise old Scrapbook and the Big Globe, Baku teaches children from the neighborhood about life in faraway places. In episode 1, titled “Making Friends around the World,” children learn to make Mexican tostadas, wrap an Indian sari, and get up and dance - Lebanese style.

Need something to occupy your child at the dinner table? Bring out the artist in every child with unique thematic mats. Winner of Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Toys, new mats have been added, such as “Butterflies” and “Fire Engine.” These mats are made of washable vinyl, so they can be used again and again. Also great as a travel activity. - Aire Norell