TDmonthly's April Staff Picks

Created for ages 6 months and up, Boss, the blue dinosaur with 60 colorful balls in his tummy, is just waiting for babies to give him a big hug. Babies can sit inside Boss’s tummy (ball pool) for hours of fun. When Boss is zipped up, there are other activities for kids to discover. Launch date: June 2007.

Detailed in design, these erasers can be taken apart by each color and can be assembled and played with in many ways. The parts are individually molded color by color and not painted. They don't just look like erasers; they actually do erase. There are more than 300 designs available, ranging from food to animal characters.

With the Maze Mat Block, children first remove the cross puzzle of the mats and assemble them. They then create a maze by plugging the castle blocks from the inside after building a square wall by inserting blocks into horizontal slots. Once the tunnel blocks are plugged, kids can play the maze game with the ball, creating new mazes by adding or removing blocks. The product helps with intelligence development, IQ improvement and emotional stabilization.

This game of strategy, creation and destruction challenges players to be the first to build the most molecules and score the most points to win. Science geeks and regular folk alike will enjoy Reaction’s fast pace and competitive spirit, along with the high-quality materials. It includes 100 cards, a dry-erase marker to “multiply” elements, instructions and a chart of common molecules.

Elmer the Patchwork Elephant has been a nursery favorite since the first book was published in 1989. Now a modern classic, Elmer is known to millions. Elmer is not like the rest of the elephants in the jungle — he is always joking and making the other elephants laugh. Oh, and he’s a multi-colored patchwork elephant, too. In David McKee’s vibrant, colorful story, Elmer discovers that his elephant friends don’t laugh at him because he is different; they laugh because he’s the most happy-go-lucky and ever-so-appealing, loveable elephant in the world. David McKee, through Elmer, subtly indicates that it’s OK to be different.

In this adventure game for two to 12 players, four areas in the park are reserved for exploration — a lake with an island, desert conditions, mountainous trails and forest paths. Stormy weather comes along and a child, a young woman, an older man and a family of five are missing. The Search & Rescue team must share equipment, develop strategies and contend with mounting storm centers in order to save them. The company requires a $100 wholesale minimum, and the game can be mixed with other titles. This game made Dr. Toy's Spring 2007 Best Products List. Launch date: March 2007.

At the dawn of the global age, six continents — North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia — clash for economic dominance in the global marketplace. Players have been chosen by their country to do business around the world, buying all the countries they can while defending their home country’s sovereignty from hostile takeovers. The game teaches international business, geography and mathematics. It is suitable for two to six players.

Once played by pirates, this game has been reinvented and redesigned for all to play. Made of cast aluminum, Sling a Ring™ has a patented ring release, comes in many color combinations, and provides hours of fun for today’s “pirates.” It develops hand-eye coordination, needs no batteries, and becomes a permanent installation indoors or out. “We consider [Sling a Ring] to be the toy/game with the most mass sales possibilities presented at Toy Fair this year. It can be used in educational and therapeutic applications, as well as a means to pass the time and socialize,” Norman Smith of Sling a Ring told TDmonthly. "We're very much in favor of getting kids away from their electronic items ... back to basics." Launch date: Summer 2007. 

Mandy & Pandy Say "Ni Hao Ma?" is a stimulating children's book that teaches kids Chinese in a fun and easy way. Mandy and Pandy teach their audience how to say the popular phrase "Ni Hao Ma?" = "How are you?" and then share stories about Mandy's personality with the things that she likes. This book features 18 beautifully illustrated pages and is the first in a series of 12 books.

This soft jeep can decorate any child's space as both a functional toy box and fun toy. Made of wipe-clean canvas, it also comes in a Pink/Green Camouflage variety. Picking up toys has never been so much fun. The toy box measures 12"H x 25"L x 14"W. Launch date: June 2007.

These high-end dress-up designs are durable, modest and made with play in mind. Cordelia's costumes are perfect for toy stores, tea shops, dance companies and photographers. The quality is such that they can also be worn as flower girl and pageant dresses. “The number one thing that sets us apart is our phenomenal quality. These dress-up clothes are built to survive enthusiastic play!” Owner Rebecca Blake told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2007.

Each tri-fold Masquerade card holds a themed mask inside. “Taking faces to fantasy places,” the patent-pending cards feature masks that can be torn from a perforation and worn with an included elastic string. The series of 36 Happy Birthday designs includes princess, firefighter dog, pirate and unicorn masks. “Masquerade is truly unique in the marketplace as a birthday card and toy mask all in one, making fantasy play only a moment away!” Art Director Catie Pearson of Pinx told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2007.

Horsman’s 50th Anniversary Cindy wears a reproduction of her most desirable black and white flocked vintage dress. She keeps her vintage charm, updated with the new Rini body with 17 points of articulation so that she can share clothes with her new friends. She comes as a dressed boxed doll with shoes, hat, pantyhose and panties, a numbered certificate of authenticity, a hang tag and an adjustable stand. Three-hundred-fifty pieces of this limited edition doll will be made. “Cindy has all her vintage charm but with a modern 'twist,'” Designer and Art Director Dorinda Balanecki of Horsman told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2007.

The next generation of Zogo, the Zomgo features colorful and durable plastic housing that covers the underside mechanism, replacing the metal housing of the original. It is also restyled and slightly lighter than the Zogo. Riders simply stand or sit on the board and pull the ropes to propel the skateboard forward, leaning to turn. Single- and double-kick models are available. “With its unique patent-pending propulsion system of ropes and pulleys, it is simple and easy to ride on, even for beginners. ... It provides kids with plenty of exercise, especially for the upper body, and improves balance and coordination,” President Hong Prodnuk of ACT International told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2007.

This junior version of the award-winning Bilibo can be just about anything children want it to be — a racing beetle, a spinning top, a boat in a bathtub, a game piece, a sliding puck, a designer’s seat for Barbie and more. It is 100 percent recyclable and comes in red/yellow, pink/orange and blue/green color combos.

The Deluxe Sailor Boy Set includes a shirt with scarf, pants, belt and sailor hat. It is made of polyester with flame retardant and is machine washable. Everything is in one reusable, easy-to-handle, beautiful package.

Part of a line inspired by renowned children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle, this large huggable plush toy is a true cuddly friend. Children can pretend to follow the caterpillar as it grows, and may want to bring it along for story time with the popular book by the same name. A hand puppet, pen and finger puppet are also available. Launch date: February 11, 2007. 

This wonderful 22-1/2" scale Juba Clownfish guitar with a built-in speaker and volume control knob requires a 9-volt battery.  It also can be plugged into an amplifier (sold separately).  Perfect for children and adults alike, it has 20 frets, a rosewood fretboard and quality tuners.  Goldfish kids’ guitars are twice the quality of toy-store guitars at the same price.  This guitar may also be enjoyed by teens and adults as a travel instrument.

Castle Blocks are the second in a series of architecturally themed building blocks created for kids (and adults) of all ages. This set of blocks was designed with unique castle/fortress detailing, allowing the builder to create his or her own Camelot. Castle Blocks come without a set of instructions, and that’s by design. Each set includes seven different shapes, 120 pieces and multiple plan configurations.

This park takes a fun spin on the traditional train set with elements of an amusement park that include a motorized track, a merry-go-round that spins the horses and plays a song, and a musical Ferris wheel. It is compatible with other fine wooden railway sets. This set “has multiple accessories that come with the set rather than having to be purchased at a later date,” Kris Millington, vice president of marketing and development for Maxim Enterprise, told TDmonthly. Also, “it has a self-feeding motorized track that allows the coaster cars to be brought up the track to start their ride down.” Launch date: June 1, 2007.

This building blocks set includes everything kids need to construct a complete section of Brickadoo City: building bricks, water-soluble cement, wooden building elements (doors and frames), a trowel, a mixing bin, a base plate and a foam card with press-out figures and materials. The white bricks and water-soluble cement are made of natural raw materials that don't contain any harmful substances. The bricks are paintable, and each box contains several sacks of cement, enough for four to five playing sessions. Launch date: May/June 2007.