TDmonthly's Toy Fair 2007 Preview
Category: Books

Imaginary Menagerie: A Book of Curious Creatures by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

In this hardcover book, mermaids, centaurs, firebirds and other mythological creatures are highlighted through Julie Larios’ poetry and paintings by Julie Paschkis. Various cultures and legends are covered in the end notes. Launch date: April 2008. 3/17/2008 (Price: $16.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Laugh-eteria by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

This paperback includes nearly 150 pages of poetry and black-and-white illustrations by Douglas Florian, including poems “Digital Dude,” “The Last Piece of Cake” and “Open Mind.” Launch date: April 2008. 3/17/2008 (Price: $8.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Handstand Kids Mexican Cookbook by HANDSTAND KIDS

Kids will learn how to cook simple, yet delicious Mexican dishes, while learning about the vibrant Mexican culture. Each book is packaged in a tortilla bag with an oven mitt. "Ingredients and utensils are translated in the intro so kid chefs get to learn Spanish," Handstand Kids Founder Yvette Garfield told TDmonthly. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2008. Launch date: May 5, 2008.

Where to Buy: Dolls Like Me

( Watch Video) 3/17/2008 (Price: $28.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Samson and Delilah Read-Along Storybook with included CD-ROM by PC Treasures, Inc.

Samson is the strongest man in Israel...as long as he doesn’t cut his hair. But with the evil Philistines closing in, should the great warrior trust the beautiful young woman to whom he’s given his heart?

 3/11/2008 (Price: $4.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Jonah and the Whale Read-Along Storybook with included CD-ROM by PC Treasures, Inc.

When God asks him to embark on an important mission, the headstrong Jonah has other ideas that lead him from the port of Tarshish to the belly of a whale. Is Jonah’s faith strong enough to get him out of this mess.

 3/11/2008 (Price: $4.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

David and Goliath Read-Along Storybook with included CD-ROM by PC Treasures, Inc.

Brave young David faces the fiercest warrior of his time, the wicked giant Goliath, armed with a simple slingshot and his unyielding faith in God.

 3/11/2008 (Price: $4.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Noah's Ark Read-Along Storybook with included CD-ROM by PC Treasures, Inc.

Ever-faithful Noah is given an important task by God—build an ark and save the animals from the impending flood. With the animals aboard and the rain beginning, Noah witnesses the awesome power of God, and the great depths of His merciful heart.

 3/11/2008 (Price: $4.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Poingo by PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL LTD.

The set consists of a pen and two books. When children touch images in the book using the pen, audio content will sound. Additional books are available for purchase separately. Launch date: August 2008. ( Watch Video) 3/10/2008 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Yoga Pose Coloring Book by SPIRALING HEARTS

Each of the 30 pages in the coloring book depicts a different yoga pose, making yoga fun for children to learn. Complete pose instructions included in the back of the book. 3/3/2008 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gymboree Play & Music - Play & Learn: 1001 Fun Activities for Your Baby and Child by KEY PORTER BOOKS

Packed with 1,001 entertaining and educational activities for children, this book is a must-have resource for parents and anyone who spends time with babies and young kids. Discover a year’s worth of creative, enriching, kid-tested, parent-friendly activities ideal for spontaneous fun (with no complicated preparation necessary) and designed to enhance children’s development in key areas, such as language, problem solving, social skills and coordination. "Gymboree’s child-development experts focus on the whole child in order to help children acquire the key ingredients — motor skills, social skills and self-esteem — they need to grow up to be confident, happy and successful adults," Deborah Sloan of Deborah Sloan and Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2008. 2/29/2008 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gymboree Play & Music - Shapes by KEY PORTER BOOKS

From a crescent moon to a teddy bear’s heart, fun illustrations teach children about shapes. Translations with pronunciation guides make it easy to name key shapes in French, German, Italian, and Spanish, too. It's "a big plus for budding linguists," Deborah Sloan of Deborah Sloan and Company told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2008. 2/29/2008 (Price: $6.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gymboree Play & Music - Alphabet by KEY PORTER BOOKS

Parents can enjoy teaching their children the ABCs using whimsical illustrations of common words that show each letter in action. Little ones will delight in learning the essential building blocks of language with them. Launch date: May 2008. 2/29/2008 (Price: $6.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Multiplication Sensation by JANDIE JAMS MUSIC LLC

The CD and book set helps kids practice their multiplication skills. The CD features catchy songs recorded by live musicians, and is accompanied by a book full of comic-book style illustrations for each of the numbers — or characters — on the CD. Launch date: July 2008. ( Watch Video) 2/21/2008 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Little Spider's First Web by KEENOWL LLC

The book can be personalized with a child’s name, gender and hometown, and even what he or she calls Mom, Dad and “Good Night.” The story follows the child as he or she (as the Little Spider) overcomes subtle challenges in spinning its first web. But with the enthusiastic support of its parents and faithful friends like a bee, a bird and a cricket, Little Spider learns to have courage, persevere and finally succeed. The storybook features 16 pages of bright, engaging colors and easy-to-read text. 2/20/2008 (Price: $18.97)

Building Thinking Skills by THE CRITICAL THINKING CO.

"Building Thinking Skills" provides highly effective verbal and nonverbal reasoning activities to improve vocabulary, reading, writing, math, logic and figural-spatial skills, as well as visual and auditory processing. This series provides a solid foundation for academic excellence and success on any assessment test. The series includes six titles for Grades PreK-12+.
— Teresa Wilson, a mother of four and participant in TDmonthly's Homeschool Roundtable, "found that the workbooks strengthened verbal and written communication skills, especially in the area of descriptive writing.” 2/19/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Vocabulary Smarts by THE CRITICAL THINKING CO.

Vocabulary Smarts builds children's vocabulary and knowledge of high-frequency words by teaching them the meanings and usage variations between high-frequency words. Children use mini dictionaries to identify word meanings, then classify relationships between words, and finally write original sentences using the words in context. These books develop stronger reading, writing, spelling, comprehension, and dictionary skills. Series includes three titles for Grades 2-7. 2/19/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Complete The Picture Math by THE CRITICAL THINKING CO.

Complete the Picture Math develops a wide variety of math, reading, visual, and spatial reasoning skills. Children solve an engaging word problem that focuses on reading comprehension and mathematical reasoning before completing and coloring an animal picture. This is an ideal product to motivate your child to improve his or her math skills. These quick, boredom-busting activities can be used in the classroom, after school, at home, and on trips to stimulate developing minds. Includes teaching suggestions and easy-to-follow directions. Just add your soon-to-be math whiz and crayons! Series includes three titles for Grades 1-3. 2/19/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure by DAWN PUBLICATIONS

The book invites children to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Costa Rica to hear howler monkeys, see algae-covered sloths and discover the strangler figs that make great hideouts. The book is available in both paperback and hardcover editions. Launch date: Spring 2008. 2/19/2008 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Going Around the Sun Some Planetary Fun by DAWN PUBLICATIONS

The book teaches young children about the solar system and the universe. Children will learn about planet orbit, planet rotation, gravity, solar radiation, seasons and space proportions. Launch date: Spring 2008. 2/19/2008 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming by DAWN PUBLICATIONS

This age-appropriate book helps children take a look at the science behind the weather: evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers and much more, gathered by scientists from all over the world. The book is written and illustrated by children’s environmentalist Lynne Cherry and award-winning photojournalist Gary Braasch. Launch date: Spring 2008. Also available in hardback ($18.95). 2/19/2008 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Come with Us! by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

The delightful board book story teaches children the concept of prepositions such as between, under, behind, next to and more. A wooden monkey shape named Jack is playing with his friend Pirate Joe on an island of treasures; the monkey is a magnet that will only stick on the page when placed is the correct position described in the sentence. The cover features an easy pullout quality, allowing for permanent storage of the magnetic monkey so he won’t get lost.  Launch date: January 1, 2008. ( Watch Video) 2/19/2008 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition™ by CCA and B LLC

This set includes an 8" vintage-style pixie elf, a keepsake storage box and a children's picture book with a rhyming story that tells how the elf helps Santa out by watching children's behavior by day and reporting it to Santa at night. The elf is designed to be placed throughout the house during the Christmas season, creating a hide-and-seek activity for the whole family. Launch date: September 2005.
— “Elf on the Shelf is doing really well since we put those out five or six weeks ago,” remarked Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toys in Anchorage, Alaska, in November 2008. “We just brought them in in November. [We] sold 24 last month, and 24 already this month,” Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, told TDmonthly.
— In a December 2011 survey about books, 2 out of 12 retailers named Elf on the Shelf their best-seller. "We sold 18 already, in just a couple weeks," Andrea Scartozzi from Hardware Toy Center in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly. William Meredith, owner of Learning Express in Cary, N.C., agreed. "Elf on a Shelf is our number one item. It has been for years!" he told TDmonthly.

Where to Buy: Smart Kids Toys; Kazoo Toys; Escapade Direct

( Watch Video) 2/18/2008 (Price: $29.95)

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

Written and illustrated by Marla Frazee, this book follows friends James and Eamon on their comical summer adventures at “Nature Camp,” as they stay at Eamon’s grandparents’ house and — for the most part — enjoy their time indoors. “Frazee’s funny illustrations, at times completely contradictory to the text, capture the very essence of summer freedom and what it means to be a kid,” Associate Director of Publicity Sarah Shealy of Harcourt Children’s Books told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2008. 2/18/2008 (Price: $16.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Paper Fashion Fancy by KLUTZ

This glamorous set includes a 58-page book, 17 sheets of patterned and shaded paper, beads, sequins, sticky jewels, glue, organza and satin ribbon and a bunch of tiny hangers for girls to hang their miniature fashion creations when completed. Launch date: March 2008.
— “Klutz books have been steady sellers for us,” Melodie Ingwersen, owner of Creative Kids Toy Shop in Columbia, S.C., told TDmonthly in March 2008. 2/18/2008

Harold and the Purple Crayon…and More Great Stories to Spark the Imagination by SCHOLASTIC

This animated adventure is part of the Scholastic Storybook Treasures collection, which offers an hour-long, kid-friendly narration and a read-along function. The story is adapted from Crockett Johnson’s original book by the same name, and is joined by six other animated stories. Launch date: March 11, 2008. 2/15/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]