February Peeks

The TDmonthly Staff Choose Their Favorite New Toys

By TDmonthly Staff
February 2006

With all eyes on Toy Fair this month, the TDmonthly staff has discovered a few amazing toys that should not be overlooked. Some toys are from manufacturers that will have a booth at the show, others are from manufacturers that won't make an appearance. Either way, staff found the following products exciting and delighting.

Moon in My Room by UNCLE MILTON INDUSTRIES INC.

Moon in My Room by UNCLE MILTON INDUSTRIES INC. This authentically sculpted and detailed moon hemisphere attaches to any wall and lights up internally to illuminate any room. A remote control allows the user to display 12 different realistic moon phases (full moon, crescent, etc.). Also included is a 15-minute CD Audio Tour so kids can learn about the moon, its effect on the Earth, where humans landed and all of the age-old myths and legends about it. It works great as a sophisticated nightlight, too.
— As of 8.03.2010, this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 162 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 49 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Engaging for all ages. Turns off automatically. CONS: LED lights are not replaceable, and batteries wear out quickly. 1/10/2006 (Age: 6 and Up)

Bootysuits by URBAN SMALLS

Bootysuits by URBAN SMALLS Dedicated to liberating youngsters from the confines of “cutesy,” Urban Smalls offers a fun line of infant giftwear that caters to a new generation of parents and gift-givers. A great complement to toys and other baby gift items found at specialty toy retailers, their Retro-Ringer Bootysuits come in brightly colored, stackable PVC boxes, perfect for displaying and wrapping. They also make tees, coordinating track pants and bibs. ( Watch Video) 1/11/2006 (MSRP: $22.00)

A Thief in the House of Memory by FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX

Written by Tim Wynne-Jones, this is the story of 16-year-old Declan Steeple who has great grades, a loyal best friend, an adoring little sister, a stepmother who keeps her distance and an independently wealthy father. If it seems a little too perfect, that's because it probably is. He begins to unravel the mystery of his mother's leaving him when he was 10 and why his father turned the family mansion into a kind of museum, the House of Memory, after Declan hitches a ride home from school one fateful day. 1/9/2006

Quelf by WIGGITY BANG GAMES

Quelf by WIGGITY BANG GAMES Bearing the slogan, "The unpredictible party game that gives random a new name," this unusual game for families and friends challenges players to escape from the off-beat land of Quelf. But it's not easy. As characters move down a topsy-turvy, colorful brick road surrounded by pink blimps and peculiar creatures, they must answer bizarre questions and meet peculiar demands in order to advance. One player may be asked, "How many fingers and toes combined do four one-legged weathermen and three blind, armless, retired submarine commanders have?" Another may be told, "For the remainder of the game, every sentence that you speak must end with the words: 'Hear me, for I have spoken.' If you forget, pay the penalty." The game has 550 cards, eight game pieces, a game board, two pencils and a pad of paper, one die and one timer, as well as a giant invisible harpoon. ( Watch Video) 1/9/2006 (Age: 6 and Up)

Take-Out Baby Moo Cow by BUMKINS FINER BABY PRODUCTS

Take-Out Baby Moo Cow by BUMKINS FINER BABY PRODUCTS Packaged in a plastic Chinese take-out carton, this set of two baby bibs and one washcloth is perfect for hungry, messy babies. Parents can easily rinse, wipe or clean the baby bibs. The colors and patterns in the bibs stay bright and fresh and any crumbs are caught in the front crumb-catching pocket. The bibs have convenient Velcro closures, and are 10" by 9". ( Watch Video) 1/9/2006 (Age: 0 to 3)

Mythmatical Battles: Norse/Egyptian by 4R INC.

This card game teaches multiplication while educating kids and adults on the gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, minions, weapons and magic of Norse and Egyptian ancient cultures. Players compete, each using a different deck, to plunder each other’s spoils using the strengths of each character card in their deck. Hidden within each deck is a mysterious adventure card that players can use to solve a special secret. Great for schools, this game would also work well for anyone who's inquisitive about ancient legends and mythology. Mythmatical Battles was called the "flashcards of the future" by Scholastic Magazine and has won multiple Educational Toy Awards. 1/9/2006 (Age: 8 to 12)

Conejito by AUGUST HOUSE INC.

Conejito by AUGUST HOUSE INC. This children's folktale from Panama tells the story of Conejito (little rabbit) who is headed to Tía Mónica's house to get gordito, gordito, gordito from all of her cakes and sweets. Along the way he runs into a tiger, a lion and a fox who all want to eat him, but he explains that he is too flaquito to be any good for eating. He promises that he will be more gordito after he returns from eating yummy food at Tía Mónica's house. Told by Margaret Read MacDonald and illustrated in swooping bright colors by Geraldo Valério, this story introduces kids to Spanish in a flowing, lyrical manner. 1/9/2006 (MSRP: $16.95; Age: All Ages)

Darkness Falls on Sevinpold by SEVINPOLD CASTLES INC.

Darkness Falls on Sevinpold by SEVINPOLD CASTLES INC. Darkness Falls on Sevinpold is a revolutionary new board game that's fun for the entire family. Sevinpold is a world where every castle is filled with secrets, perils, powers and magical creatures; where the heroes, known as the Valiant, must play as a team against the menacing Darkness in order to win; where victory cannot be declared until the very last roll of the dice when the Scepter is reunited with the Living Throne. With excitement at every turn, Sevinpold is a game that never plays the same twice. It challenges players every step of the way and maintains their interest so they want to play again and again. With two patents pending for its distinctive movement and innovative "team play" concepts, Sevinpold has changed the way board games are played.
— “Sevinpold hits that demographic of 8 to 14,” said Darren Turbeville, owner of Toy Chest in Healdsburg, Calif. “We average a piece every 10 to 14 days.”
— Sevinpold does “very well” at Thinker Toys in Carmel, Calif., said owner Mark Phillips. “I’ve sold through two or three re-orders. It’s selling without even being demonstrated. Knights and dragons and pirates are the biggest category in the world.”
— “I love it!” enthused 11-year-old Sara Seagle. “I think it has beautiful illustrations on it.” TDmonthly's Homeschooling Roundtables families played with Sevinpold an average of seven times each from January to July 2006. VIEW ARTICLE, VIEW CHART ( Watch Video) 12/9/2005