TDmonthly's July Staff Picks

The Blues are the first addition to the award-winning Dado Cubes line. Dado Cubes combine art and science as players explore architectural principles — proportion, balance, structure and color. A new twist on classic building blocks, Dado Cubes engage the imagination as the slits on each cube are interlocked to create an unlimited number of three-dimensional structures. Each set features 10 cubes, scaled from 1” to 5”, capable of building structures over 32” high. They are made of durable, heavy-gauge plastic and were developed, manufactured and assembled in the U.S.A. Dado Cubes have been honored with numerous awards, including Dr. Toy's Spring 2007 Best Product Award and a Spring 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. Launch date: May 2007.

Sigikid's organic line, the Natural Friends, has received new additions this year. Meet the frog family, comprising snugglies, music boxes, rattles and play figures. They are made of organic cotton and are filled with organic lamb's wool. The plush are suitable for newborns and up.

This mobile is perfect for a child's room, for a bathroom or for the summer cottage or even for a study. Hang the mobile out of reach of children. It measures 35x40 cm, 14”x16”.

The historically accurate western figures are aimed at both boys and girls.

Once made by grandfathers and grandmothers to welcome a new grandchild, this approximately 9" Motherly Love doll expresses the love and affection between a mother and her child. Inside each beautifully illustrated doll is an array of authentic, hand-carved, hand-painted ornament figurines. The figurines depict the infant’s new home, extended family and even a miniature Matroyshka doll of its very own. This heirloom-quality doll will provide countless hours of imaginary play for a young child and a lifetime of enjoyment. It’s entirely hand painted in Russia. Launch Date: January 2007.
— “With this Matroyshka Ornament Doll, a child has the opportunity to imagine the interaction [within] an entire family and not only her role as the baby,” Brenda Morace, national account relations manager for G.DeBrekht Artistic Studios explained to TDmonthly. “This allows the child to relate to many generations in the family circle and she learns to consider how each member might think, feel or act.”

Beaver Machine Corporation has been producing quality commercial bulk vending equipment for more than 40 years and currently exports to more than 100 countries. They have just introduced the Beaver Gumball Machine, the first of their new retail products. The Beaver Gumball Machine is a unique product, unlike the imported gumball machines on the market. This high-quality North American-made machine, with a shatterproof polycarbonate globe and coin acceptor for all coins, is now available for home use. Launch date: January 1, 2007.
— “This is the only gumball machine on the market that is made to the same specs as the commercial machines,” pointed out Heidi Schwarzli of the Beaver Machine Corporation. “It is the same machine that has been commercially in use for almost 45 years. It features die-cast metal components and will last a lifetime.”

Assembling a top-notch zoo in the playroom just got a little easier. These well-crafted, realistic looking, humorously named animals are packaged as a pair — a male and female of each species. The cards that accompany the animals detail information about the habitat and size of each species. All animals are built to a consistent scale of 1:24. “Each animal pair is packaged with an educational ID Card that contains a unique secret scratch code, similar to Webkinz. When collectors gather and register the entire series, Caboodle! Toys rewards their diligence by sending a Caboodle! — a box of special, exclusive rewards,” Co-founder Steve King of Caboodle! Toys told TDmonthly. Noah's Pals was a spring 2007 Parents' Choice Approved award winner. Launch date: February 2007.

On this CD, two versions of each song are included: practice with the guide vocalists and sing-along with the accompaniment track. It’s an entertaining CD for young vocalists and a great rehearsal tool for performers in the school musical. Sixteen songs from the Disney stage show are included, and each features fully-orchestrated background tracks that follow the Broadway score. "Beauty & the Beast is now available for school shows, [and] this disc is a great rehearsal tool for local performers,” Malinda Boothe of Stage Star Records told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2007.

This cuddly bulldog measures 5” x 8”.

This quirky 96-page journal features an embroidered plush cover and Uglydoll Ox. It measures 6 3/8” x 7 1/8”. Launch date: April 2007.

In this adventure by JoAnne Pastel and Kakie Fitzsimmons with Bill Dunlap, Bur Bur learns about fishing during a day out on the water with his dad. The story is illustrated by Lindsay VanDeWeghe. The Bur Bur books by Farmer's Hat were created to remedy the lack of stories about biracial kids,  founders Pastel and Fitzsimmons told TDmonthly. This product is a 2007 iParenting Media Award winner. Launch date: July 2007.

Mugwaz Beltz are easy and mess-free. Each kit comes with a leather thong and enough flowerz and beadz for making this super-stylish waist cincher. Also available in a five-piece party pack.

Hog Wild's already distinctive and innovative Faucet Light is new and improved. It now changes color when the water changes temperature. When the water is hot, the light turns red. When the water is cold, the light turns blue. The magic point at which the change occurs is 89º F. The Faucet Light is fun and functional. It's also ideal for the kids’ bathroom, and a smart gift for older people, too. It works on most faucets and includes universal adaptors for 95 percent coverage across the U.S.
— "Little fun pick-me-ups, like the Faucet Light from Hog Wild, do well," said Kate Tanner, owner of Kidstop Toy & Book Store in Scottsdale, Ariz.
— This version of Hog Wild’s Faucet Light brings extra visual appeal and utility by warning users if the sink water is hot or cold. It’s both fun and functional, and makes for an innovative extra nightlight for late trips to the bathroom or kitchen. It might even encourage kids to wash their hands more often! Therefore, it was awarded a TDmonthly Innovations 2007 award.

Where to Buy: Escapade Direct

This is a truly adorable flipbook featuring an American classic — The Sock Monkey. You’ll see him leap onto his trusty Stick Horse and circle a cactus, and you might even see him wave and wink before he rides into the sunset . . . Giddy Up.

“Bully 911” is a one-of-a-kind DVD that addresses a variety of bullying issues, threats and concerns with easy-to-learn self-defense techniques for the times when "using your words" or running away does not work. With step-by-step instructions on defense against chokeholds and arm grabs, Johnny and Noel Gyro demonstrate techniques that allow children of all ages to escape bully abuse and stop becoming a victim in order regain their confidence and self-esteem. “It reaches both parents and children and helps them to combat a heart-breaking issue,” Fawn Vu of The Illusion Factory told TDmonthly. This product received a spring 2007 Parents' Choice Approved Award. Launch date: November 2006.

The Sorceress is one of six figures in Safari’s imaginative Once Upon a Time Collection. This figure measures 3.75” long by 4.5” high. Pieces in the collection are superbly sculpted by masters for hours of imaginative play. Launch date: May 2007.

Great book when we need a child to learn about buckles, buttons, zippers, laces, shapes and textures, all in French.

This boutique set is fun, portable and includes all props for your doll's shopping experience. It's great for play and storage of your dolls' wardrobe. Light-up Boutique includes mirror, sound player, garment rack, mannequin, cash register, counter, changing screen, sign, shopping bag, five credit Cards, play money, sale receipts, three hangers and instructions. Doll and clothing not included. Dimensions: 12.25" W x 16.5" H x 6" D.