TDmonthly's June Staff Picks

Each card in this geography themed deck sports a detailed custom map of one of the fifty states. The cards deliver facts about the states, including flags, important cities and towns, rivers, lakes, mountain peaks, national parks, historic sites, and other fun features. All of this information is displayed on the delicately shaded relief maps that are the heart of TerraCarta. The District of Columbia and U.S. territories are included in the playing card coverage. A two-sided map and playing card index, an informational key card, and a wild card that shows the entire United States in striking global perspective fill out the complete deck of 55 cards. With a full set of traditional suits and ranks, TerraCarta can replace standard playing cards for popular games, such as gin rummy, hearts, and crazy eights. It can also be used as a set of quiz and flash cards.

This iBaby Float Along set includes a book that teaches early-learning concepts and include three floatable turtle toys to serve as bath toys. The bath book teaches children all about opposites as the turtles float in the tub during bathtime. By Ana Martin Larranaga (illustrator).

These pre-walker baby shoes featuring the Deglingos characters have soft, varied fabrics and Velcro adjustments in the front and back for a snug fit. They are available in four designs (Ronronos the Cat, Lapinos the Bunny, Milkos the Cow and BigBos the Wolf) and three sizes (6-12 months, 12-18 months, and 18-24 months). Each pair of shoes comes with a jute gift bag that says "Original Deglingos." Launch date: 2009.

Complete with a cow head and matching cow shirt, this two-piece set may be used for storytelling, dramatic play, school plays, costume parties and dress-up centers. The washable fabric is made from flame-retardant material and features easy-to-use Velcro® fasteners to make dressing up simple. It is designed as a one-size-fits-all costume.

Going green takes a whole new hands-on approach with new Simply Natural plush.  Made using 100% all natural cotton, 100% recycled paper hangtag and vegetable dyes for coloring, what could be more eco-friendly... or fun! The Elephant is 7" tall.

Based on the best-selling book, "The Sneaky Chef," by Jessica Seinfeld (wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld) these kits help kids have fun with food. Children who dream of ice cream for breakfast will especially appreciate this kit. Launch date: 2009.

Gather a herd of dinosaurs to win points. Be careful, though — if you roll a T Rex, he might eat your dinos and you'll lose a turn.

The Salus Numbus just made waterplay safer for children and more relaxing for adults. Designed for comfort, the Salus Nimbus is soft to the touch, encouraging children to wear it for hours at a time. All PFD's float but they can't save lives when kids won't keep them on.

Sold in the following sizes: Infant (20-30 lbs), Child (30-60 lbs), Youth (60-90 lbs).

This set of five includes crocheted Teapot, two cups and two saucers. Launch date: February 2009.

The chickens are hanging out on their colorful wooden perch. But if one of them decides to leave, the whole perch will teeter. The goal is to collect as many chickens, hay bales and wagon wheels before the rocking perch topples. The chickens, hay bales and wagon wheels have different weights, meaning different point values. The player with the highest score wins the game. Selecting a heavier piece receives more points but entails more risk of making the perch topple. If a player causes the perch to topple, five points will be deducted from his or her total. "Two trees are planted for every tree used in the creation of this game," Adeline Bertrix, sales manager at Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— Chickyboom is a top seller at Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., Owner John MacDougall told TDmonthly in summer 2009.
— Three of 44 retailers named this game as an overall best seller in late fall 2009.

This soft ladybug warms up after just two minutes in the microwave to provide a cozy bedtime companion. It is filled with 100-percent natural wheat and dried lavender. Launch date: June 2009.

The spleen keeps the blood tidy and fresh. This queen of clean serves as the primary blood filter and largest lymph organ. It brings blood into contact with lymphocytes, which happily attack foreign bodies, and cleans worn-out red and white blood cells. "This adorable 6" x 6" plushie is perfect for the lymph enthusiast lurking within us all," Wendy Bryan, founder of I Heart Guts, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 5, 2009.

This 400-ml, 7" bottle is made from 100-percent recyclable, high-quality, food-grade stainless steel so it doesn’t need a synthetic lining like aluminum bottles. It’s BPA-free and designed so it won’t leach chemicals, toxins or funky flavors into beverages. The removable hinged dome lid (an aerated sport lid) is designed to ensure that the leak-resistant pull-up top stays clean. It can be scrubbed with soap and water to clean. Launch date: April 25, 2009.

Knit from natural fibers by Peruvian artists, Mini Kaya comes complete with braids and a smile.

Made from all-natural wood and watercolor-based paints, and packaged in recycled material, this cute wooden dog wags his tail as he's pulled along. "No other wooden pull toy is taking the same measures with recycled packaging materials, watercolor-based paints, and the use of sustainable forestries for raw materials," Kris Millington, VP of marketing and development for Maxim Enterprise, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Each one of these collectible plush dolls has a heartbeat that can be heard when the doll's right hand is placed on its chest. The line is designed to teach kids life lessons through an interactive website. Launch date: September 2009.

American Ody-see is a strategic educational game designed to teach American geography and history by using competitive fun and stunning images. It can be played by children and adults alike. It includes reference to all 50 states plus the territories of the USA. "American Ody-see boasts two versions in each game (Time Limit and Home City), as well as being able to be played by children as young as 8 who can outplay adults, so it has an extraordinarily wide market appeal from schools, homeschooling, families and adults, even to 'serious' gamers," Len Wicks, chief executive of ody-see.com ltd, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Each handcrafted box is shaped like a cupcake and embellished with sequins and pink jewels. "The Jewel Cupcake Boxes are unique in style and design and have a broad age appeal from 3 years old to mature women," Veesha Knight, sales and marketing manager for Creative Education of Canada, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This soft, pliable, moldable dough is made from water, flour, salt, cream of tartar, canola oil and citric acid. The company uses colors that are made using only all-natural plant and vegetable extracts; no artificial colors or chemicals are used. The Super Mega Fun Pack contains one 4-oz. container of each of the colors (natural, brown, green, orange, pink and yellow) and a little rolling pin in a reusuable cotton bag. "When Happy Fun Dough has come to the end of its long and fruitful life, just put it on your compost pile and reuse or recycle the cute tin container," Christine Stewart, owner of For My Kids, told TDmonthly. This product received Dr. Toy's Best Classic Toys of 2009 award. Launch date: November 2008.

Playful, fun and cute! Casey is from the new Seasons of Cannon Falls Monkeying Around sock monkey collection. Children will enjoy the mischievous nature of these delightful characters. Magnets are hidden in their hands and feet for hugging and playing. Perfect for birthdays, holidays or start a fun collection!

Casey is 21" tall, blue and made of acrylic yarn.

Other colors and styles available.

A graceful mother duck and her duckling are the perfect size for little fingers to stack together. Out of the tub, they gently rock together. A modern twist on a classic bath toy.

“Dinosaur Days” takes you back to the Jurassic period.  Help the Brachiosaurus reach the leaves of a tall tree.  Swim in ocean with the Plesiosaurus.  Hunt the Triceratops with the Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Can you name the rest of dinosaurs?

14 ¾ x 11 ¾ -inch feltboard with a collection of over 20 themed felt pieces.

In comic-book format, this hardback book has 32 pages that chronicle the adventures of brother and sister Benny and Penny as they go snooping in someone's backyard and end up with a new friend.  It is written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes. Launch date: May 5, 2009.

This ergonomically engineered, visor-like guard is designed to keep water, shampoo and conditioner residues out of the eyes and ears of little kids during bath time, in order to eliminate tears due to stinging, soapy eyes. It has a soft-grip handle and soft contours to fit gently against a child's head, plus a rim  that directs water away from the face. This distinctive bath tool comes in four colors: yellow, purple, sky blue, and green.

This Jacabee Code Satchel is 10.5" x 9" x 4" and can be used to store one's Membership Card, Trade Book, Sketch Book, Pencil, Pouch, and Whistle-Compass.