First Day of Toy Fair Draws Various Opinions

The Chalet Dollhouse With Furniture offers kids the full package in dollhouse play. It comes in two units that can be manipulated to form numerous dollhouse layouts. It also comes with furniture, so that nothing's missing when dolls come to visit. The Chalet Dollhouse includes three stories, slanting chalet roof and creative stairs, as well as an innovative floor plan. It is 32" x 24" x 14", is made from recycled rubber wood, is coated with a non-toxic finish, and all colors are made from vegetable dye.
— When asked about best-selling play houses and furniture, Teri Soelter, owner of Teri's Toybox in Edmonds, Wash., said "Plan Toys. People will buy the furniture by itself and the dollhouses later."
— Four of 62 retailers TDmonthly spoke with in spring 2007 said Plan Toys makes some of the most popular furniture and play houses in their stores. They sell about three Plan Toys dollhouses per month. Seven percent of 56 retailers surveyed in January 2009 said doll houses and accessories are among their top sellers.
— “These products are so beautiful,” Teneen Dobbs, owner of Kits & Kaboodle in Carmel, Ind. told TDmonthly. “They display well. People just love wooden items.”

You simply add a few drops of water to the paints and the kids can paint-by-numbers four pictures related to the popular Farm Friends theme. It's easy to use, as are all paint-by-numbers made by Alex.
— "We sell quite a few Alex Paint by Number [kits]. These are popular for younger kids," was the response to this kit observed by Holly Reay, owner of Kid’s Corner in Carmel, Ind.
— "Paint by Number from Alex is very popular," remarked Samuel Cox, owner of My Favorite Toys in Carbondale, Ill.
— The kit includes 2 color-coordinated picture frames in which to display finished “masterpieces.”

Lions roam the African savannah in families called prides that are made up of related females, their children and a single male. When a male reaches adulthood he gets kicked out of the pride and has to go seek his own group. Female lions hunt as a team. Together they can overpower large prey like zebras, buffalo, giraffes, hippopotamuses and even young elephants, but they’re not above scavenging other animals’ leftovers. Lions sleep as much as 20 hours a day and both males and females defend their pride from any intruders. Lions’ roars are really loud and can be heard up to five miles away. Lance is 2.6” tall x 1.2” wide x 4.0” long. Linda is 2.0” tall x 1.0” wide x 3.8” long. As “vulnerable” animals, the lions are limited to 20,000 editions. Noah's Pals are lovingly sculpted and beautifully handpainted animal figures. It's a fun and educational collection that’s perfect for both children and adults. "Each male and female pair of animals includes an educational ID Card that allows collectors to register Noah’s Pals on our interactive website where they can learn more about wildlife conservation," Co-founder Steve King of Caboodle! Toys told TDmonthly. This product received a Spring 2007 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center. Launch date: January 1, 2007.