TDmonthly's January Staff Picks

Benjamin Banneker built a clock in the middle of the 18th century, and that clock continues to keep perfect time. The famous mathematician, astronomer and surveyor published an almanac and became a strong advocate of the emancipation of slaves. The Banneker figure is poseable and comes with a miniature telescope and almanac.

Cow goes on her second adventure in this book—this time it’s the grocery store. There are just a few items on the list, but Cow encounters simple vocabulary mix-ups that may prevent her from getting home on time. Accompanied by silly on-location photographs, this book transforms a lovable squish toy into a heroine. Launch date: March 2007.

Allergy Pals® are made for children (or anyone!) with allergies. Virtually non-allergenic, 18-inches-long, 75 percent cotton/25 percent polyester-stretch, terry-cloth fabric, premium non-allergenic quality polyester fill, 100 percent hand-made in the U.S. As of September 2008, TDmonthly has been unable to reach the executive of ALLERGY PALS LLC. 

Nola, the cuddly green Monster of Loneliness lives in a world of sunny skies and beautiful landscapes. But she’s missing one thing…a friend. Her wide-eyed stare and squooshy tummy make her an ideal candidate for hugs and kisses. She also sports a standard WorryWoo belly button made for tickles! She would love to be your best friend! Nola and "The Lonely Little Monster" won a 2009 Hot Product Award from iParenting Media and a 2009 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine.

Meet the Sweeters Pals, a new line of 100 percent cotton, hand-knit, brightly colored creations sure to bring joy to all little boys and girls. With their zany stripes and colorful clothes, these adorable friends are the perfect combination of color and imagination. So soft and cuddly, Sweeters Pals make a truly distinctive gift. Available in 12"- and 22"-sizes, pals can be customized with names, initials or favorite sports teams. Designed and created with love in the U.S. by Sweeters.

This entire guts set can be yours to cuddle or to give away (donate organs without having surgery). It includes a heart (6" x 8.5"), lungs (9" x 9"), a liver (8" x 6.5") and a kidney (5" x 6.5"). It is made in China.

These beautiful stuffed animals are perfect for babies and small children. Not only are they super-cute, but they're all natural and machine-washable. The 6" Camel is handmade by Senger Tierpuppen, Obersinn of naturally pigmented, 100 percent organic cotton. The Giraffe is also shown.

WrinkleSnitch – The Doll Family, is an innovative play doll that provides a distinctive interaction medium for grandparents with their grandkids. The doll family includes male and female versions and comes with a soft silicon head. Face and features of the dolls can be creatively formed and reformed into imaginative self-inspired sculptures indicative of all ages. Clothes are reversible and hair can be changed to make the doll appear young or old.

Using this kit, kids can create colorful sidewalk chalk in six iconic shapes: moon, heart, four-leaf clover, star, circle and triangle. Mix the chalk powder with water, add one or more colors as desired, pour into the shape molds and then draw away. Launch date: Spring 2008.

The cuddly and soft doll is dressed in a removable and washable gingham dress with a matching bow and slippers. Most of the doll’s features are embroidered, ensuring that there are no plastic parts that can fall off and harm a child. The dolls range in size from 8-1/2” to 18” in height.

Each specialty doll in the museum-quality SophiaDolls line features strong feminine role models from ancient civilizations. The original series is comprised of Greek goddesses — Athena, Demeter and Persephone — and Mary Magdalene, a woman of inspiration. Ranging in size from 14” to 19”, the dolls are designed to honor the different sizes, shapes and attributes of women and offer healthy personalized role models for women and girls. “SophiaDolls invite women and girls to make peace with who they are and how they look through whimsical fantasy and playful adventure, supported by an interactive workbook and parent guide to ensure actual learning occurs between adult and child,” Diane Estrada of Nea Matia Inc. told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2007.

Kids can build a doorbell, a telegraph system and even a catapult, all using a true electromagnet. The kit includes a disc, latch and neodymium magnets, a compass, straws, wires, sandpaper, switch plates, wood screws, nails, light bulbs, battery holders, iron filings, pre-drilled wood blocks, light-emitting diode (LED) and an experiment and project book.

For thousands of years, Senet was the most popular game in the ancient world ― until the rule book was lost. This game of Senet introduces a modern rule book, a colorful game board and 10 beautiful playing pieces. Easier than chess and more complicated than checkers, this two-player game is a combination of strategy and luck. It's simple enough for a 5-year-old to learn, yet interesting enough for adults. The hand-painted playing pieces are phthalate- and lead-free.
Awards: 2015 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Award

The pack includes the Happy Face and Body Lotion, the Bubbly Body Bar, the Sunny Days SPF 30” Natural Mineral Sunscreen, the Friendly Face Wash and the Spiffy Spearmint Lip Balm. These products are developed specially for kids, and are free of harmful chemicals like parabens and sodium lauryl sulfate. All items can also be purchased individually. This set received a 2008 iParenting Media Award.

This personalized book features the child’s full name and birth date, along with a personalized dedication from the sender. The illustrated book invites little girls into a magical garden where fairies crown her as their fairy princess. The fairies spell-out the girl’s name, while describing character traits that make her alone the perfect princess. The book is also designed to help children learn to recognize letters, spell their names and build vocabulary. Launch date: July 2006.

This special three-piece set--part dinner time, part story time-- ­ is a fun take on classic children's tableware. Made of keepsake-quality ceramic, perfect for older kids (4-6) who've mastered table manners, each piece depicts a different scene and caption from one of three original Piggy Story tales.

The entire set is microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and comes nestled in a distinctive tin box with matching placemat. Plus, a small storybook adds value and lots of fun.

For special occasions, or any occasion, the Tasty Tales Tableware Set is one your little customers will enjoy again and again, cherishing for years to come.

This book is written by four-time Academy Award-nominated actress Julianne Moore. The story revolves around a little girl who tries to get rid of her freckles. She winds up discovering, however, that the things that make her different make her herself. Launch date: October 2007.

Discover the fun of microbiology with plastic petri dishes and nutrient agar. Nutrient agar is used as a culture medium to cultivate various household bacteria. Detailed agar preparation instructions included. Three 90mm Petri dishes and one bag of nutrient agar are packaged in bright, colorful PacSci packaging.

This kit comes with a 48-page book with information on tooth care, tooth loss and the tooth fairy, as well as a satin tooth fairy pillow with a magic pouch, 15 tooth fairy note cards, four tooth charts with envelopes and a special keepsake box. “These products make a huge statement in a smaller retail environment, where their many-layered attributes (great quality, high fun factor, quick humor, rich in resources) are more readily discerned,” Lisa Hamm of FamilyStories told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 1, 2007.

The game sharpens abstract thinking and spatial-relations skills by asking players to place magnetic tiles on a board, matching as many color edges as possible. As the game progresses, the board becomes a colorful mosaic and scoring points becomes more challenging. The game includes 80 magnetic tiles. The game is “fully magnetic, including the scoring markers - no paper or pencil needed,” Andy Daniel, president of Enginuity Games LLC, told TDmonthly. This product is a 2007 Parent’s Choice Award winner. Launch date: September 15, 2007.

These new construction/craft kits from ÜberStix take the company's commitment to recycling one step further. When kids open the construction kit, they will discover that it requires more than just building it. The ÜBERSTIX LANDSAILER™ and ÜBERDRAGSTER™ are both working models that require Push Ups® ice cream pops for wheels, coffee stir sticks, straws and more. The LandSailer requires very little wind to move it across the ground. Kids can set up their own unique race courses for their working models — even build a speed ramp. "This is the first build system that rewards kids for recycling," ÜberStix founder Dane Scarborough told TDmonthly. "In doing the Scavenger Kits, we're starting a new category of toys."

Somewhere between cyberspace and Earth, a strange race of playful creatures exists. Known as Moshi Monsters, these wacky critters have somehow muscled-in on the world of mobile phone accessories..
These nifty phone charms contain a Moshi Monster that flashes and spins when a call or text comes in. So far, so nuts. And very handy when you're in a noisy place or your phone's in silent mode. You'll never miss another call. Every Moshi Monsters' MoPod contains a special secret code in-pack that gives owners the exclusive privilege to adopt a monster* online, plus they'll get a free virtual accessory not available anywhere else.

This playful wooden rendition of a convertible has a shiny, smooth finish and also comes in lightning blue and black. “With its perfect blend of practical engineering and award-winning design, Playsam product appeals to both the left and right brains of the young and the younger alike,” a Playsam representative told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2003.

The informative and fun flashcards teach kids not to take their planet for granted. Friendly animal illustrations show kids simple ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.

— AJ of Thingamababy reported mixed feelings about the flashcards. While his wife felt the cards were useful for introducing and reinforcing good environmental habits, AJ thought the cards were redundant for families that already live green.
— Teensygreen’s Stefani described the tips on the cards as “simple yet powerful” reminders. Stefani said the illustrations give the cards “a classically vintage twist that’s appealing to both kids and design-conscious adults.”