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Next Stop: Toy Fair
(Playthings Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) A Broader ViewDrawing is positively magnetic with Magno Markers ($8.99), traditional
magic markers with magnets on both ends by A Broader View, Atlanta. For more
hands- on (and feet-on) fun, the Make Your Mark temperature-sensitive,
color-changing floor mats ($24.99) offer hours of mess-free play. ABC-123
($25.99) and USA ($19.99) interlocking floor mats are also available for kids,
as are safety mats ($14.99) just for infants and preschoolers. Little ones will
also love the Zoo Crew line of spill-free animal-shaped sippy cups ($7.99). And
debuting this year for older kids are The Perfect Skipping Stones ($3.49) plus
the new line of World View Vertical Puzzles ($12.99), each featuring one of the
earth's natural or man-made wonders.
AccoutrementsAs a party favor or an impulse gift, the Box O Fun pack ($12.99) from
Accoutrements, Seattle, conceals 25 tiny plastic toys, games and puzzles sealed
in paper wrappers, while an old standbythe cork gungets an overhaul with
the Pirate Pop Gun ($2.99). For a truly bizarre gift, the company also offers
its new remote control Hopping, Yodeling Lederhosen ($19.50), plastic Bavarian
trousers activated by an infrared remote control in the shape of a knockwurst.
And for bibliophiles, The Illustrated Librarian
Temporary Tattoos
hardcover book includes 12 non-toxic temporary
tattoos ($7.50).
Action ProductsAction Products International, Orlando, Fla., provides young
paleontologists and adventurers all the tools of the trade with the newest kits
in its I Dig line. Kids can uncover replicas of Spinosaurus, Velociraptors and
T-Rex dinosaurs with the Predator Claw kit ($4.99), find hidden treasure inside
the Davey Jones Locker ($13.99) kit, or unearth shark teeth in the Prehistoric
Shark Excavation Adventure ($13.99) kit.
On the creative side, the company's new, expanded line of Curiosity
Kits include all the glitz and glamour needed to make tween fashion with the
Savvy Sash & Jeweled Jeans, My Personal Pendant and Hip Hop Chain kits.
Meanwhile, the Pirate Treasure Hunt kit lets kids create their own messages in
a bottle.
An assortment of wooden toys based on Lina, the newest character in the
Jay Jay the Jet Plane
TV series, will also
debut.
AdoraAdora, the Edison, N.J.-based designer of collector and play dolls,
introduces 17 new dolls in its 2007 Limited Edition Collection ($140 to $160)
featuring designs from cultures around the world, including a Native
American.
The Name Your Own Baby Collection features 20-inch and 22-inch dolls
($70 to $90) made from a unique vinyl that produces a porcelain look at an
affordable price. A wide selection of hair colors and styles, eye colors,
genders, skin tones and face designs give children the chance to own a baby
doll in their own likeness. The dolls, which are identified by number, arrive
with a birth certificate for kids to complete. Adora also will debut the
Playground Pals, six sports-themed dolls, and expansions to its Cradle Baby
line.
AeromaxAeromax is getting warm and fuzzy with its latest line of dress-up
products thanks to a deal making the Lake Barrington, Ill.-based company the
exclusive U.S. distributor of animal costumes from Australia's Kids'
Safari. The line includes 16 animal costumes ($44.95) for kids ages 3 to 5 in
styles ranging from household pets like Dalmatians and poodles to wild animals
(lions, tigers, sharks) to fantasy favorites like the unicorn and dragon
(pictured)
.
The company is also debuting 20 Wrap-n-Rides ($39.95), stuffed animals
that wrap around a child's waist; animal capes in Dalmatian, ladybug and wolf
designs ($34.95); and six hoodie-style sleeveless animal jackets ($34.95).
Aleken GamesIt's only rock and roll that counts in Tick-Tock Rock! ($24.95) from
Aleken Games, Genesee Depot, Wis. Players ages 12 and up race against the clock
to arrange rock and roll trivia in chronological order, with a speed version
that can be played in 30 minutes. The new title joins the company's popular
Rock and Roll Triviologies game, which was introduced in 2006.
Alex To get kids' creative juices flowing in 2007, Northvale, N.J.-based
Alex will debut its new Deluxe Painting & Easel Set ($24.99) in flower or
jungle themes, along with a host of new creativity kits, including Paint A
Wooden Sculpture ($14.99), which features either a preprinted wooden peacock,
flower vase or fish sculpture (pictured)
that can be decorated with acrylic paints; the Happy Camper Chair ($23.99),
which can be decorated with permanent markers and stored in its own pouch; and
the Color & Carry Messenger Bag ($19.99), with which kids can decorate
their own book pouches. For more fashion-conscious kid crafters, Knot-A-Poncho
($15.99) uses a knot and lace technique to make a fleecy fringed poncho; Flip
'em Flops ($14.99) lets kids make seven different versions of sandals by
changing the colored ribbons; the EZ Weavy Totebag ($14.99) kit makes a
super-easy strappy bag, and the Fab Felt Bracelets ($14.99) kit makes five
bracelets with layered fabric and beads. The two largest kits in the line are
Happily Ever Crafter and Jewelry Design Studio (each $39.99); the first
includes materials for nine crocheting, embroidering and sewing projects, while
the latter includes tools, thousands of beads, claps, ribbons and more.
Young scrapbookers will like Me By Me ($29.99), a gift box packed with
projects including a 15-page memory album, 10 printed activity pages, markers,
a glue stick, a growth chart and punch outs.
For bath time, the 3-in-1 Musical Island ($24.99) has a drum, xylophone
and jingle shaker attached to a floating fish, while the Water Tambourine
($11.99) is shaped like a floating turtle. New playsets include the Princess in
the Tub and Pirates of the Tub ($17.99), with Tools for the Tub and Tooting
Tugboat ($9.99) sets also available.
And for drier play adventures, the company will debut the Pirate Pop-Up
Play Set ($59.99) tent with role-play accessories and the folding wooden/metal
three-piece My Cafe Set ($119.99).
Alexander Doll Co.New York-based Alexander Doll Co. is celebrating an important occasion
this yearthe 50th anniversary of Cissettewith two new versions, including
a Roaring Twenties-themed fashion doll (pictured)
. The company will also release 8-inch
Madeline
and Eloise
dolls based on the popular children's book
characters, as well as cuddly, 18-inch cloth versions of both. Each character,
in both versions, comes dressed in a detailed costume designed to closely match
those seen in their source books.
American Classic Toy Los Angeles-based American Classic Toy will re-introduce 31 products in
2007including Mighty Mo, Skittle Pool and Lots of Dotsthat haven't been
on toy store shelves in ages. Two games being re-released for their 40th
anniversaries are Green Ghost, the first glow-in-the-dark board game ever, and
Kaboom, which forces players to pump their balloons to the finish line without
bursting them. The thoroughbred-inspired America Classic Derby arcade game will
be relaunched in a 35th Anniversary Edition, along with another classic: 2Q,
the strategy game of Hi-Q where players must jump pegs around a board until no
more moves can be made. And for the first time since 1968, the Super City
construction set, with which kids can build commercial and residential real
estate as well as vehicle and robots, will be released.
AquaStruct
Dubbed the anti rubber ducky, AquaStruct is a shower toy system
designed for tweens by AquaStruct, Montclair, Va., that doesn't require major
plumbing. The easy-release, no-twist connectors enable kids to elaborately
plumb shower walls with suction-cup mounted pipes, hoses, sprayers, valves,
nozzles and squirting devices, and to convert shower curtains and mats into
water-delivery systems. Basic ($35), Plus ($65) and Deluxe ($95) kits are
available, along with additional attachments.
AuroraInfant scallywags can plunder and pillage the playpen with the Pirate
Max Treasure Chest ($19.99) by Aurora World, Pico Rivera, Calif. The plush
6-inch treasure chest carries 4-inch noise-making Captain Max, Mate Max, Chump
the Monkey and Parrot.
Aurora's Baby Talk line adds playsets ($19.99) with on-the-go plush
carriers. My Photo Safari includes a camouflage truck with giraffe, elephant,
hippo and tiger; My Aquarium features a blue aquarium with sea horse, whale,
dolphin and fish. Other sound-activated sets are My Fire Truck Friends, My
Fruits and Veggies and My Garden Friends. Also for infants in 2007 are new
Nature Babies, 12-inch, realistic-looking pups, kittens and baby jungle animals
($11.99) in 24 styles.
Backpack ToysTeddy Ruxpin is not only animated, the storytelling bear is hitting the
Internet with online software called The Airship, designed to help children
navigate the Web safely by BackPack Toys, Milford, N.H. Preschoolers use a
personal login that gets them into a controlled environment of kid-friendly
educational Web sites that parents can monitor. Children can also set up an
e-mail account to send and retrieve messages. Objectionable material is waylaid
to a parent's computer before reaching The Airship, and pop-ups are blocked.
Parents can also add and delete sites. The Airship is Windows XP compatible and
available for a 30-day free trial. A one-year subscription is $29.95.
Bandai AmericaTamagotchi Connection V4 is the next step for the virtual pet by Bandai
America, Cypress, Calif. Owners can now control the destiny of their Tamagotchi
characters. The V4 series ($14.99) includes 20 games, 21 new characters and
collectible items and souvenirs. Owners can choose between a boy or girl
character and can utilize the Gotchi Post, a means by which the character can
receive messages during each stage of its growth. Design styles include Blue
Wave, Yellow Circles, Pink Stripes, Rising Sun, Sunflower and the Great
Tamagotchi Shellection Glow in the Dark. Later in the year, Bandai will
debut V4.5, with all new mini games and design styles plus a PC Accessory pack
packaged with an exclusive pet.
Bandai will also expand its electronics brands with Girlz Connect; the
first two offerings in the line will be the LocketPal for girls ages 5 to 8, a
PDA-styled activity toy, and Destiny for tweens, which features personality
quizzes that link to the destinygirlz.com community.
And as Power Rangers
celebrates 15
years on TV with the new Operation Overdrive
series next month, Bandai debuts a deluxe Megazord ($39.99); plus a
Tracker Morpher ($16.99), a high-tech gadget used in every episode to decipher
clues to find missing treasures; and a Mega Mission Helmet, which has lights,
sounds and a USB port with which kids can download new missions from
Bandai.com.
New items from the Ben 10
TV series
also debut this year, including 12-inch Epic Alien Figures, an Alien Voice
Changer (pictured)
with glasses ($24.99) and
Sumo Slammer Battle Sets ($7.99).
And for Team Galaxy
, new master toy
licensee Bandai will be releasing 5-inch character figures, miniature and
transforming vehicles, playsets, interactive gadgets and other role-play
toys.
Basic FunJust in time for this summer's Transformers
, Basic Fun, Southampton, Pa., will debut
keychains, novelty items like Magic Washcloths and adventure toys tied to the
film, including transforming robot/vehicle character keychains and the Infra
Red Motion Sensor, Night Scope and Listening Device working carabiner toys.
Dora the Explorer
gets new Clip-On
Name Tags with a detailed figure and tag pendant, a Say It With Me
talking clip-on and a Take Along Slideshow keychain, plus a mini disk of eight
images.
Thomas & Friends
also will get
new Clip-On Name Tags and Take Along Slideshow keychains, while the
Pokmon
line
will be expanded with three new keychain series of four characters, each
removable from its own Pokeball. New Slide Puzzle and Take Along Slideshow
keychains will also be available for Pokmon
, along
with Projector Pens, Magic Washcloths and Magic Mitts for the bath.
Meanwhile,SpongeBob SquarePants
products get a makeover, with re-designed Pontiki and Gigglator keychains.
New themes in the Talking Keychains line include American Idol
, WWE
,
Elvis, My Name Is Earl, Transformers, Dora the
Explorer, Dirty Dancing
and ThePrincess Bride
.
New Talking Pen styles are WWE
, Elvis,
Nintendo game sounds and Dirty Dancing;
while new Talking Bottle Opener styles are WWE
, Elvis and My Name Is
Earl
. American Idol
will also get
cell phone charms in 2007.
And also in 2007, Basic Fun will go buggy with miniature working
versions of the Bug Vacuum keychain with suction and Bug Solarium keychain with
a mini magnifying glass to study creepy crawlers.
B-BelWinnipeg, Canada-based B-Bel will introduce its Kids in the Kitchen
No-Bake Chef ($24.95), a complete cooking kit for kids ages 5 and up that
features color-coded cooking utensils and ingredient stickers so that even the
youngest kids can cook the 15 recipes. The Party Cake Chef kit ($24.95) also
includes color-coded cups and a three-step stenciling system so kids can
decorate their own confectionery creations. B-Bel has also teamed with
Kellogg's to develop a line of themed cooking kits that require minimal adult
supervision, such as Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispy or Fruit Loops recipes.
Separately, B-Bel also will debut its Safe-2-Go ($19.99) character
backpacks; each features a retractable safety harness that can hold children up
to 50 pounds in themes like Lady Bug and Baby Bug, Dog with Bone, Sunflower and
Bee, and Frog and Fly designs.
B.DazzleIrish Heritage and a teacher-themed title (pictured)
are the first puzzles to debut in the new
American Cultural Diversity series of Scramble Squares ($10) by B. Dazzle,
Redondo Beach, Calif. Each nine-piece puzzle features 4-inch-square pieces in a
package that includes a panel of facts and trivia questions, with hidden
answers in a resealable, clear vinyl pouch that can be stored in a three-ring
binder. The Scramble Squares puzzle displays also come with an in-store
5-Minute Challenge for customers.
BestEverSpherical Bubble Buddies plush offer eight inches of huggable
funeither as a toy or as a carry-along purse for preschoolers, new from
BestEver, Torrance, Calif. The company will also debut its Hugga Pet Pillows
($16), a collection that includes dragon, elephant, tiger and cocker spaniel
versions, along with four soft toy vehicles ($9)a race car, a train, a
motorcycle and a truckwith built-in sounds in its preschool Toys For Boys
line. In wearable plush, BestEver highlights a western theme this year,
featuring a horse duffle bag, backpack, sling bag and messenger bag ($10 to
$32), each embellished in denim and red bandanna print fabrics. Soft toy horses
complement the collection.
Birdcage PressPalo Alto, Calif.-based Birdcage Press combines art and animals in 2007
to create the Go Fish For Wildlife ($9.95) card decks, with which Rummy, Crazy
Eights and Snap! games can all be played. Each of the Mammals, Sea Creatures
and Reptiles sets highlight 36 wild creatures with names in both English and
Spanish, and include background information, fun facts and images bynoted
wildlife photographers. The company will also be promoting its other new
releases: the Hello Rousseau!
art activity
book ($9.95); the Art Ditto ($24.95) multilingual memory game; American Art
Ditto ($24.95); Close Up, a card-deck search game featuring great works of art
($9.95), and the Art Shark strategy game ($24.95).
BlueStorm ProductionsBlueStorm Productions, Redondo Beach, Calif., lets kids explore space
using the world's most powerful professional telescopes without leaving home.
With the Slooh Explore Space Live Telescope Card ($10), kids ages 6 and up get
50 minutes of live access to high-powered observatory telescopes (located in
the Canary Islands) through any Internet-linked computer. Live audio broadcasts
and expert moderators guide kids through each session, where they can snap and
store photos of the universe with zoom and display controls. For longer
viewing, BlueStorm has also created a series of Slooh Explore Space Live
activity books ($19.95), which each contain missions and a 100-minute Telescope
Card. With the books, users will be tasked to find celestial objects live and
then take pictures to print out and paste into their books, where they can also
note important information about their search, such as sky conditions during
the viewing, viewing date and an object's distance from earth.
BNLLaQuinta, Calif.-based BNL's new tween-oriented Sock It Away Change
Purses ($4.99) are small enough to stash coins and candy and just big enough
for lip gloss and jewelry.
Brainy BabyMultimedia producer The Brainy Baby Co., Atlanta, unveils the first in a
new DVD series created under an adoption program that opens the infant
learning brand to outside content producers. Produced in association with
Britain's National Literacy Trust, the first series, Baby IQ
($16.99),
debuts with four titles: The
World Around Us, Baby's First Word, Colors
and
Counting.
Each DVD is free of narration and
designed for parents and babies to watch together and communicate with each
other about what they're seeing. The videos were filmed in high definition
and feature musical accompaniment by the London Symphony Orchestra. The four
titles will be available for pre-order at Toy Fair and then released nationwide
on March 13. Also offered will be 30-minute CD soundtracks ($12.99) of each
DVD.
BrainytoysPorchlight Entertainment has granted Brainytoys Ltd., O'Connor,
Australia, a license for a line of tech toys and electronic products based
on Jay Jay the Jet Plane.
Brainytoys' agreement allows it to market a range of electronic and
remote control toys, computer games, plug-and-play games and electronic
products based on the property in the U.S. and Canada.
BriarpatchAgent Jack Bauer and his CTU team try to play their cards right in
24: Countdown
($5.99) and
24: CTU Undercover
($15.99) by Briarpatch,
Milburn, N.J. Both card games feature the twists and turns familiar to those
who watch the nail-biting TV series as players acting as federal agents try to
uncover the next terrorist plot.
Briarpatch will also debut Do You Look Like Your Dog? ($19.99), a game
based on the titular premise, in which players match owners to dogs and vice
versa while trying to earn bones. And for younger kids, Briarpatch adds I Spy
3-D ($24.99) and I Spy Seeing Doubles ($12.99), along with the
Thomas
Making Tracks Game ($24.99) and the
Thomas & Friends
Mix & Match Bingo
Game ($12.99).
When Spider-Man 3
hits theatres in
May, Briarpatch will introduce limited edition games that have story lines from
the movie: the Spider-Man 3
Crime Stopper
($5.99) card game; the Spider-Man
Web
Slinger Game ($9.99) and Spider-Man
Ultimate
Power ($15.99).
Coinciding with the theatrical release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
next month, the
TMNT
Movie Game ($15.99) unfolds to reveal
the sewers and manholes of Manhattan as players try to capture the Aliens,
while the TMNT
Card Game ($5.99) is
travel-sized for players ages six and up who join forces to defeat Max Winter
and his Alien army.
Gamblers at heart can play Jackpot! ($12.99) with its fruit-tiled game
board. Each player must try to match a fruit pattern in as few moves as
possible using logic, memory and a little luck.
Some mental maneuvering is required to play Newton's Apples ($24.99),
in which players place red and green apples on crates in one of eight rows at
the top of an elevated game board. Apples fall by strategically moving the
cratesand by gravity! The winner gets all of his or her apples on the bottom
row.
B*Tween ProductionsThe Beacon Street Girls
, stars of
their own tween-targeted book series and interactive Web world, are all about
sleepovers in 2007, says B*Tween Productions, Lexington, Mass. Sleepover-themed
product will include the Super-fabulous Beacon Street
Girls
Sleepover Kit, which offers a sleepover activity book,
toiletry case and an assortment of BSG personal care products like body wash,
lotion and sprays.
Card GolfGolf season has been extended with a card game by Card Golf, San Diego.
Card Golf ($8.95) playing cards include descriptions of various clubs and
courses condensed into an easy-to-play educational game for both avid golfers
and those card-game fans just trying to pick up the sport without walking 18
holes.
Cardinal IndustriesFrom preschool to high school, Cardinal Industries, New York, is in the
game. For ages 3 and up, Sesame
Street
-themed games include Elmo's Giggling Hot Tomato Game
($14.99), which has Elmo giggling and shaking when his nose is pressed; Don't
Tickle Elmo ($14.99), in which players try to touch Elmo with feathers without
making him laugh; the Elmo Take-Along Card Pack ($9.99), which packages
Sesame
-specific versions of Go Fish, Crazy
Eights, Snap and Memory Match; and Sesame
Street
Game Place ($19.99), a wood game compendium that includes
Cookie Monster and Elmo as checker pieces along with bingo, four
Sesame Street
card games, Tic-Tac-Toe and
dominoes.
Spider-Man
gets the same treatment
with a classic set ($19.99) in a wooden carrying case with eight games,
including Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin checkers, bingo, card games, Tic-Tac-Toe
and dominoes, while Spider-Man
Ball Darts
($3.99) lets players toss sticky balls at a target, trying to hit the bad guys
and save the day!
Other licenses include SpongeBob
SquarePants
, which Cardinal debuts with a SpongeBob
Dominoes & Bingo ($12.99) game, all in
one box.
In the LeapFrog Games line, early elementary school kids use picture
cues with 480 word cards in the My First Spelling Bee Game ($14.99), while
younger tikes can learn geography with The Explorer Globe Game or just have
some plain old fun with License Plate Bingo ($14.99). Additional LeapFrog DVDs,
such as Memory Mate ($5) and LeapFrog Bingo ($10) will also be available this
year.
High School Musical
makes an encore
performance with a second board game ($15.99), for ages 7 and up, based on the
Disney Channel movie sequel.
And for ages 8 and up, Cardinal is introducing the
1 Vs. 100
Card Game ($9.99), featuring
challenging questions and a carrying case.
Carrera of America Carrera of America, Cranbury, N.J., will debut its own line of model car
concepts as well as NASCAR and Nintendo licensed replicas in 2007. Replicas of
the autos driven by NASCAR's Richard Petty and Bobby Lamonte are detailed
stock cars available in both classic and car-of-the-future designs in both 1:32
Evolution and PRO-X Plus scales. NASCAR racing champions Kevin Harvick and Jeff
Burton are featured in NASCAR Childress Racing's 1:43 scale cars for the
GO!!! action sets and 1:32 Evolution slot cars.
And collectors will appreciate that a Mario
Kart
1:43 slot car for the GO!!! series is molded to the exact
standards of the images for Nintendo's game.
Ceaco After 20 years of traditional jigsaw puzzles, Ceaco, Watertown, Mass.,
this year introduces brain-teasing fun to the category. Available in three
difficulty levels for ages 4 and up, 8 and up, and 12 and up, Pieceless Puzzles
($10 to $20) come as one long piece that must be riddled back together using
critical thinking, dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Ceaco also will expand
its Thomas Kinkade-licensed collection with three styles of 500-piece, 3-D
lenticular puzzles ($12) designed for those ages 12 and up.
Character DirectMickey Mouse takes center stage with the Mickey Mouse Talkin'
Bobbin' Clubhouse Playset ($39.99) by Character Direct, Long Beach, Calif.,
featuring members of Mickey's gang and gadgets from the
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
TV show
(pictured)
. Each set includes a Talkin'
Bobbin' figure ($9.99), also sold separately. The troupe can climb into
Mickey's Talkin' Bobbin' Counting Car ($14.99) that counts forward and
backward when Drive Mickey is plugged in. Mickey's Talkin' Bobbin' Which
Way Airplane (14.99) has motion sensor capabilities that recognize in which
direction the plane is flying.
Kids can listen to Mickey's Talkin' Bobbin' Jamstand ($24.99) with
classic songs and tunes from the TV show or create their own tunes by pressing
the instruments. Two Talkin' Bobbin' figures are included.
CharismaGrand Rapids-Mich.-based Marie Osmond Dolls (which are produced by
Charisma, a Lake Forest, Calif.-based designer) will debut the 5-inch-tall
Babies a Bloom Tiny Tot ($39.95), its newest sculpted porcelain collector doll.
ChiccoLancaster, Pa.-based Chicco's new battery-operated Sing with Me Kitty
($27.99) introduces young children to nursery rhymes and songs, while a
bilingual book is designed for kids to experience basic word recognition and
some social skills development at the same time. The infant book bursts into
song by pressing buttons on each page that activate the nursery rhymes. The
company will also debut in 2007 the Ducati Monster ($59.99), a child's
ride-on motorcycle with training wheels that adjust to fit size and skills.
This preschool means of transportation has accelerator sounds, colored
headlights, blinkers and a working horn to warn riders on the road.
Clay-MatesClay-Mates collectors ages 6 and up can display up to 100 of the
hand-crafted porcelain clay animals, birds and sea life in the new starter set
by Clay-Mates USA, Elliot, Maine. The Collector's House ($49.99) wooden
shadow box includes 20 assorted Clay-Mates, a velvet carrying bag, and a
magnifying glass and plastic tweezers for gentle handling of the delicate
characters.
Corgi USA Corgi USA, Chicago will debut a wide range of die-cast replicas in
2007eveerything from aviation classics to action heroes. Joining its limited
edition Aviation Archive line are the World War I-era S.E.5a, Albatros DV and
French SPAD XIII, all in 1:48 scale ($47.99); and the WWII P-51B-5 Mustang
Shangri-La, the HP Halifax and the Junker Ju52 in 1:72 scale ($149.99). Postwar
fare includes the 1950s Royal Air Force DH Vampire ($47.99), plus the Warthog
of the Afghanistan Operation Enduring Freedom mission, the German MIG 29
Fulcrum-A and the Sikorsky CH-34 Choctaw helicopter, all in 1:72 scale
($59.99).
In the superhero category, Corgi has taken six of its 1:43 scale
Batmobile vehicles and paired them with 4-inch Batman
characters (heroes and villains) in limited
edition sets ($37.99) complete with certificates. Marvel Comics characters,
meanwhile, get the star treatment as hand-painted metal statuesGhost Rider
($79.99), Punisher ($69.99), and Venom ($69.99)as well as two-piece figure
sets ($149.99) of Electra vs. Daredevil and Captain America vs. Wolverine. Only
2,500 pieces of each figure or set will be available, with a limited edition
certificate and a collector card.
The Star Trek
line of collectibles
includes detailed replicas of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 and the Klingon
Bird of Prey (pictured)
, each offered in
both a completed, fully-decorated and limited edition as well as an unpainted
Sights and Sounds edition.
In its Heroes Under Fire line, Corgi celebrates Wisconsin's Peter
Pirsch & Sons' renowned rugged water pumpers of years past with 1:50
scale replicas from the Memphis, Tenn., Milwaukee and Waukesha, Wis., fire
departments ($59.99). Also set for 2007 release are three new fire vehicles
honoring the Boston Fire Department at 1:50 scale ($59.99), as well as a rig
honoring the Firehouse Expo. This year's expo piece is an American LeFrance
700 Open Cab Pumper ($59.99) from the Annandale Fire Department in Fairfax
County, Va.
Corgi's Vintage Bus and Heavy Haulers collectible lines will also
expand in 2007. Buses include a Kansas City PCC Streetcar ($65.99) at 1:50
scale, a Chicago Surface Line Birney Safety Car ($55.99) at 1:48, a second
Greyhound version of the Fxible Clipper ($55.99) at 1:50, the Trailways
Crescent Clipper ($55.99) at 1:50, and the GM Fishbowl ($65.99) at 1:50.
Haulers include the Mack LJ with Box Trailer ($69.99) and B Box Van A&W
Root Beer ($63.99), both at 1:50.
For the smallest collectors, Corgi's GoGo Rollers have no sharp edges
or small parts. The 6-inch-diameter police and fire cars stay upright as they
roll encased in a clear plastic sphere ($9.99), while the GoGo Push 'n'
Pull train ($9.99) and GoGo Parking Garage ($24.99) with elevator, lights and
sound, are also available. And for customizable kid fun, the new Paint My Ride
($19.99) line of vehicles and characters lets kids paint their own cars
using ultraviolet light.
CraniumFor 2007, Seattle-based Cranium adds two new product categories to its
repertoire of games and other playthings: puzzles and electronic card games.
The Puzzles Plus Mix & Match Memory line for kids ages 3 and up ($9.99)
offer a puzzle on one side and a mix-and-match memory game on the other,
designed to help young players strengthen their letter identification, ability
to sound-out words and matching skills. Available in Follow Me to the Sea and
Come On Down to the Country versions. There is also a new Puzzles Plus Seek
& Find ($9.99) series, which adds a Where's Waldo? style search in
which players circle objects on the completed puzzle using a dry-erase marker.
Versions are Let's Go to the City and Take Me to the Carnival.
Putting a new spin on card games is Cranium's new Squawkbox Cards
series ($19.99) for ages 7 and up, in which players race to complete activities
prompted by the electronic box. The first available titles are Bug Hunt, Lunch
Munch and Pirate's Passage.
And in traditional games, the company adds the Jam Pack Jam ($19.99), a
high-energy game where players ages 6 and up race the clock to pack the trunk
of their Cranium car with as many objects as possible before pieces go
flying.
New role-play items include the Turbo Rocketpack and Fancy Flutterpack
($14.99), backpacks for ages 4 to 8 that feature 19-inch pop-out wings and
accessories, such as astro whistle, alien glasses and a bouncing meteorite for
the Turbo Rocketpack and pixie rings, fairy glasses and a bouncy gem for the
Fancy Flutterpack. Also new is the Galactic Communicator
(pictured)
.
Cranium will also be promoting two 40-piece Adventure Forts in jungle
and ocean themes ($29.99).
Creativity for KidsCleveland-based Creativity for Kids will introduce some expansions to
many of its project-kit lines in 2007, including the new Shrinky Dinks kits
Friends, Fashion and Fun ($14.99) and the sports-themed Cool Gear ($14.99); as
well as the 2 Square Glass Plates ($19.99) kit for kids to try reverse glass
painting; the Cardboard Buddies ($14.99) kit, with which kids can create
corrugated characters (pictured)
; and the
Racer Bikes ($17.99) kit, which offers two toy motorcycles and riders that kids
can customize with paint and stickers.
For fashion-oriented tweens, new crafting kits include the Fashion Sack
($17.99), the Fashion Design Studio ($29.99), the Gel Gems Jewelry ($15.99) kit
and the Make Your Own Lip Balm ($17.99) kit; while new room decor items include
the Picture Pillow ($19.99), the Vinyl Vase ($14.99), the Sweet Satin Music Box
($17.99), the Butterfly Mobil ($19.99) and the Beautiful Butterflies ($17.99)
kits.
The company will also debut its Foam Craft Workshop ($29.99), which
offers woodworking-type projects using foam patterns. Paint, glue and craft
accessories complete the set, with refills ($7.99) available in Zoo Animals,
Flowers and Butterflies, and Motor Mania themes.
Also new are five mini-kits ($5.99): 4 Foam Fliers, the Mini Mod Locker
Set with foam frames, and three painting-on-wood sets (Make Your Own Pirate
Ship, Make Your Own Train and the Dinosaur Pencil Holder).
For family crafting, the company will introduce the Holiday Memories
Ornaments Frames ($19.99) kit, which includes glitter, beads and bangles for
decorating wooden frame ornaments, and a Keepsake Plate ($17.99) that can be
decorated for good or washed off and redecorated again and again however kids
wish.
In the role-play category, Creativity for Kids offers Pirate Treasure
and More ($17.99), a set of dress-up gear that includes a paintable treasure
chest, and Deluxe Tea Party ($19.99), a set with paintable table items. Little
girls will also love the Wee Enchanted Fairy Garden ($24.99), which includes
kid-sized gardening items, soil and seeds.
Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics, Milwaukie, Ore., will debut classic
Peanuts
characters Linus, Schroeder and
Pigpen as limited edition and hand-numbered sculptures inspired by the
syroco style of the 1930s and 1940s. The fully painted, 5-inch statuettes
($39.95) come in a litho-printed tin box with booklet and button.
Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman will also get their own vintage-style
statuettes ($49.99) in a limited collection of 5-inch figures featuring
costumes and details consistent with the Golden Age look of each
character's original comics from the 1930s and 1940s.
For the Hellboy
animated series,
Dark Horse will introduce PVC figures ($17.99), magnets ($7.99), stationery
sets ($4.99), journals ($9.99), statues ($150) and mini-busts ($39.99) for
adult collectors.
The younger collectible enthusiast can enjoy an 8-inch vinyl version of
the classic Mary Jane candy advertising icon ($17.99), who comes packaged in a
full-color window box.
Also in 2007, Roald Dahl's The
Gremlins
will be re-introduced by Dark Horse with new stories plus
toys, dolls and collectibles from Disney Consumer Products and Gentle Giant.
The first offerings7-inch vinyl figures for ages 8 and up ($34.99)will be
of the book's primary characters, Gremlin Gus and Fifinella.
Other new additions include Serenity
PVC figures ($17.99), based on the Mal, Jane and River characters, plus a
variant ship (pictured)
available in May;
Mutts
bookends ($99.99) inspired by Patrick
McDonnell's popular newspaper comic strip; a Skullboy vinyl figure ($17.99)
and a Devilish Dolly vinyl pin-up figure ($19.99).
Diamond Select ToysOffice Space
heroes and villains
Peter, Bill Lumbergh and Milton take their words of wisdom from the film to the
masses as electronic bobble-heads ($19.99) by Diamond Select Toys, Timonium,
Md.
And in celebration of Star Trek
's
40th anniversary this year, a two-pack set of action figures ($29.99) will
feature Captain James T. Kirk and rival Khan Noonian Singh, based on the
classic Space Seed
episode. The articulated
figures were sculpted by Art Asylum. Marvel Select Alien Legends two-pack
($19.99) scare up Brood and Skrull action figures this year, while
Battlestar Galactica
will see its first
Minimate two-packs ($8.99) available, in the Admiral Cain/Starbuck,
Apollo/Dualla, Cylon/Six and Shelley Godfrey characters (pictured on previous page)
.
DigginEmeryville, Calif.-based Diggin will debut the ShootOut Challenge
($24.99) outdoor game in 2007. An electronic speed basketball game for ages 8
and up that is designed to work on any court, the ShootOut Challenge features
five pads on which players can bounce a ball to start the game, then dribble to
the musical beat and follow the random audio call-outs on where to shoot.
Digital BlueDigital Blue, Atlanta, forays into the growing children's electronics
market with digital cameras and MP3 players featuring some of Disney's
best-known characters and properties. The cameras come in three versions and
price points and feature photo editing software designed to let kids creatively
manipulate their images with Disney characters, themed graphics, stamps or
frames. Leading the line is the Disney Mix Pix Digital Camera, which resembles
a silvercolored adult camera and features 3.0 megapixel resolution, a
16MB memory and ancillary memory slot, a 1.5-inch color LCD screen, 4x digital
zoom, autoflash, TV output, and direct printing capabilities.
The Disney Pix-Click Digital Camera and the Disney Pix Micro Digital
Camera offer Disney-themed skins like Pirates of the
Caribbean, The Little Mermaid
and Cars.
The Pix-Click features 16MB of memory, 640 x 480
pixel VGA resolution, fixed focus and digital zoom, 1-inch color LCD, and
autoflash. The Pix Micro is a digital camera small enough to clip on a
backpack. It can take up to 40 photos, has a fixed focus and an old school
viewing sight. Other digital offerings in 2007 include the Disney Mix Max
personal media player that plays music, video or digital photos using a
2.2-inch color display. The company will offer a series of Disney Mix Clips
full-length albums from Disney-associated artists and Disney Max Clips
full-length animated and live action Disney movies and television programs
separately.
DisguiseThe Kakashi character from Japanese anime series Naruto
is now featured in a costume by Disguise,
Poway, Calif. The Kakashi jumpsuit ($19.99) for kids ages 4 to 12 includes a
vest, gloves, fabric mask and headband.
DouglasKeene, N.H.-based Douglas Co. heads into its 51st year with several new
plush product lines in 2007, including 10-inch Western Horses and English
Horses ($13), which come bridled with either a soft faux suede saddle or a
designer blanket and feature a brushable mane; the Rodeo Bulls ($9), with
authentic-looking horns and cowboy-specific details; and a line of Prehistoric
Plush ($9) ranging from 9 to 11 inches. Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Woolly
Mammoth, Triceratops, Brachiosaurus and a Pteradon with a 14-inch wingspan make
up the assortment of ancient animals.
For tweens, Douglas is introducing new Boot Purses ($12). Each stands 8
inches tall and comes with a clip-on pony key ring. Douglas will also debut a
new gecko, a chameleon, two mooses, a baby unicorn, camels, an owl, a kangaroo,
an eagle and a baby buffalon plush ($5 to $9 each), a new pirate-themed
Adventure Pak ($22) and additions to its Nautical plush line ($8 to $9) in
different patterns and textures: a hermit crab, an Atlantic Puffin, a
pirate-friendly red parrot and a mermaid plush.
In the Sassy Pet Sak line ($24), four new bags will be available, along
with five new Lil' Nugget Saks ($12) for younger girls.
Douglas is also adding a 7.5-inch-wide tote style ($13) in five versions
to the line Sassy Pet Sake assortment.
Dunecraft
Chagrin Falls, Ohio-based Dunecraft has several new additions in 2007 to
its popular lines of kid-friendly plant kits. In the Rock Garden line ($19.99),
new offerings include Soothing Aloe, Rainforest, Bonsai and Desert plant
versions, as well as a rapid-growing Enchanted Ivy version. New
Micro-Terrariums ($4.99) include Aromatic Eucalyptus, the
hummingbird-attracting Fairies' Favorite Flower (Lobelia, or the Cardinal
Flower) and Prehistoric Fern (Asparagus Ferns). In the Fast-Acting Plants line
($7.99), new for 2007 is the Resurrection Plant, an evergreen.
Dynatech Action
Toronto-based Dynatech Action is launching several products in 2007,
including the Story-Pod, an innovative night-light that includes a projector
and story-time theater featuring characters like Winnie the Pooh; and the
H-Bot, a tiny robot powered by a real hydrogen fuel cell. Snow Nation is a ine
of sleds that features licensed artwork from Pokmon,
Nintendo and X-Games. The company's
X-Games toys, meanwhile, will include Rip Riderz, zip-cord racers featuring
skateboarders, Moto X riders and Surfers.
eeBooWith the Polite Pigs Card Game ($8) from New York-based eeBoo, kids can
learn good behavior while they are having fun as they try to earn the situation
cards with appropriately polite responses. The company will also debut its
Spanish, French and Classic Bingo games ($14), which aim to teach language,
math and memory skills; and the Once Upon a Time Matching Game ($14), featuring
characters from classic tales. The new Paper a Doll Game ($10) lets players
ages 5 and up choose their own clothing pieces to complete outfits and win the
game.
Effanbee Doll Co.Mrs. Willowby's First Grade Class Collection welcomes Lexi, a limited
edition Princess in Pink doll ($79.99) by Effanbee Doll, Hurley, N.Y. Only 300
of the 12-inch vinyl doll will be available.
From the Brenda Starr Reporter Collection comes rival Daphne Dimples
($199.99), a limited-edition, 16-inch vinyl/plastic doll with a 1940s look and
13 points of articulation (pictured)
. And
American Beauty Toni makes her debut as a 13-inch vinyl doll in 2007, inspired
by the 1950s doll that was originally called Sweet Sue Sophisticate ($99.99).
Endless GamesMatch Game
's continued popularity
on the Game Show Network makes it a perfect fit for Endless Games, New York,
whose Match Game
DVD Edition ($24.99)
challenges players ages 12 and up to match television personalities like
Charles Nelson Reilly, Nipsey Russell and Betty White on their TV screens.
A little more brain power is needed for the company's Squeeze Play DVD
game ($24.99), featuring mazes, word scrambles and other visual clues designed
to baffle players as they try to squeeze out the right answer first.
Enginuity GamesTongue Tanglers ($24.95) is the new game from Enginuity Games, San Jose,
Calif., in which players ages 6 to adult try to create tongue-twisting words to
trip up their opponents.
Tongue Tanglers includes 900 words (appropriate for kids and adults),
word pads, scoring markers and an electronic timer. Up to 12 players can play
at one time.
Family GamesYou'll be far from clueless with Sacred Myths and Legends puzzles
($24.99 to $29.99) by Family Games, Quebec, which each offer enough clues and
codes for players to decipher a complete mystery and create a puzzle.
Using Sacred Scrolls, coded engravings and picture fragments, parts of
the mystery are revealed with each puzzle. The first three puzzles in the line
are Davinci's Secret, The Equation and Legend of the King.
More mysteries will unravel with Wizard's Workshop ($39.99), which
features brain teasers, ring and rope riddle and a concealed maze that young
sorcerers must solve. The company will also debut Flippit ($9.99), a
word-spelling card game for ages 6 and up, and will promote its new Quirky
($29.99) and Triplexity ($9.99) strategy games for ages 8 and up.
Fashion Angel EnterprisesFashion Angels Enterprises, Milwaukee, is debuting 100% Cool, a new line
of packaging that offers smaller counts of the company's tween craft items in
wall displays with a dedicated planogram. The line includes the Badgemaker
($6.99) kit, which makes 10 badges (refills sold separately); Barefoot Sandals
($6.99), a series of eight kits; JellLoopdeloop ($12), a series of 10 kits
packaged in make-it-take-it totes; and the Electro Bling Bracelets ($12) kit,
which includes the makings of 24 beaded bracelets packed in a tote. Brand new
items will debut in traditional packaging.
Fat Brain Toy Historical events are depicted for each day of the year in the 2007
Learning Calendar ($10.95) by Fat Brain Toy, Elkhorn, Neb., The 365 events are
shown on the days they actually occurred, along with activity ideas and
questions. Fat Brain will also promote its newly launched Dado interlocking
cubes ($24.95) designed to introduce art and science to preschoolers along with
architectural principles. Each 10-cube set is made of plastic and can be
interlocked to create three-dimensional structures.
Fibre-CraftHow cool is it to make a bracelet or lanyard that hides a secret message
only friends can decipher? Tube-A-Loop by Fibre-Craft, Niles, Ill., is a kit of
round laces with code words attached to the colors, so kids can make
personalized creations that only they can figure out.
Part of the company's Creative Hands brand, Tube-A-Loop comes in a
jumbo kit with different colored and shaped beads and jump rings and an All
God's Children kit that has supplies to make 30 cross and fish keychains.
Creative Hands also adds new Xtreme Glitter Glue in primary and bright colors;
glue tubes, decorating tips and key ring included
Fiesta ToyThe High Society dogs ($15 to $25) from Fiesta Toy, Vernon, Calif., are
a series of 10 plush pooches with pedigree, each adorned in the newest boutique
wear. Fiesta also will introduce new 18-inch donkey plush ($20), made of soft
fur and dressed in a serape blanket or in faux-suede saddlebags.
In licensed products, Naughty Naughty
Pets
, 6-inch ($6) and 10-inch ($8) plush collectibles of the quirky
New York City dogs from the Cartoon Network series, will debut, as will the
humorous Get Wise With Vimrod
6-inch plush
line ($5) modeled after the U.K. characters' distinctive cartoon style and
facial expressions
For younger plush fans, little ones can cozy up with the Cuddly Blanket
and Plush set ($20), available with a frog, duck, bunny or jungle animal theme.
Jungle animals also adorn Fiesta's new line of plush keepsake photo albums
($6.50), which are available in 12 styles including tiger, leopard, lion,
giraffe, zebra, monkey, elephant and puppy.
Another key product category in 2007 will be all things penguin. Fiesta
will offer kids a penguin backpack on wheels ($19.99), new 8-inch plush hugging
penguins ($10), a line of realistic plush penguins (pictured)
in six styles ($3.50), three penguin mother
and baby sets ($10), and a 6.5-inch shimmery glitter penguin ($5) series.
FIKI SportsFIKI Sports, Gardenia, Calif., is going pro with a new license to create
an NFL edition of its popular tabletop FIKI Football game that represents all
32 NFL teams' logos. The triangular game football is made of leather with a
pebble surface indicative of NFL pigskin, complete with laces and woven
stitching. NFL FIKI will retail for less than $10. The company is further
expanding its line of Flick It & Kick It games this year with the
introduction of FIKI Hockey and FIKI Soccer, which both feature leather game
pieces, a goal and net, and a base depicting either a soccer field or hockey
rink.
Firefly MobileChicago-based Firefly Mobile will debut a new line of kid's mobile
phones featuring Warner Brothers' characters such as Tweety and DC Comics'
Superman and Supergirl for kids ages 6 to 12.
First ActFirst Act, Boston, will unveil the colorful new Designer Acoustic Guitar
($39.99) and Fun In A Drum percussion set for kids. The all-wood, 30-inch
acoustic guitar features low steel strings for easy playing and Learn-A-Chord
cards to help young musicians get started, while the wooden Fun In A Drum shell
holds a tambourine, harmonica and wooden mini maraca. An adjustable carry sling
is also included, along with a tuning key and drumsticks.
Fisher-PricePlanet Heroes, a new planet-themed superhero line by Fisher-Price, East
Aurora, N.Y., will include chunky character figures like Saturn Rings, Jupiter
Gustus and Mars Digger ($7.99 to $12.99) made just for little hands. A special
DVD introducing the characters to preschoolers will also debut, plus a Turbo
Shuttle ($29.99) with lights, sound and a special flame feature when the
engine revs up.
Also for preschoolers, the Natures Newborns Sparkling Moves Nursery
($39.99) has a baby monkey, panda, cheetah and tiger that kids can take care
of. A Musical Stroller and Carrier are also available.
The Little People line will get big changes in 2007 with the addition of
figures that can actually sit, stand, twist and hold things in their hands.
Eddie & His Boulder Worksite ($19.99) comes with a dump truck, gas pump and
shovel; while Sarah Lynn & Her Camping Adventure ($19.99) has a two-seater
convertible and pop-up camper stocked with sleeping bags, camping chairs and a
cooler.
The King Car-nivore ($39.99) truck has some mighty power with the
ability to transform into a gorilla with a press of the Go Ape button.
Includes pre-programmed driving patterns and the option for kids to create and
program their own. Four basic cars ($7.99) in the set transform into a snake,
shark, tiger and T-Rex.
The GeoTrax Grand Central Station ($49.99) features the Aero remote
control train with sound effects, two cars and a DVD explaining the ins and
outs of running a train system.
Kids never have to leave the living room to ride with the Smart Cycle
($99.99), a stationary bike that can be plugged into TV A/V jacks for a unique
arcade experience. Smart Cycle (pictured)
comes with a learning software title with three ways to play: driving, learning
encounters/arcade games and The Big Race. Additional titles include
Dora's Friendship Adventure
,
Hot Wheels
, Barbie
Fairytopia
, Diego's Animal
Rescue,SpongeBob's Ocean Adventure
($19.99) and Discover the
Dinosaurs
.
Other electronic offerings include the Easy-Link Internet Launchpad
($29.99), with which kids can plug in figures of their favorite characters
(Elmo, Wiggles and Fisher-Price) and be taken directly into the game section of
that character's Web site. Eight additional figures ($6.99 for a pack of two)
are sold separately. The Digital Arts & Crafts Studio ($49.99) lets kids
use the stylus to create, save and print their own artwork or customize craft
projects such as coloring pages, greeting cards and stationery. Pet ownership
is made simple with the electronic Puppy Grows & Knows Your Name ($49.99).
Within a week of ownership this pooch grows to its full size, when it can learn
to speak phrases and sing songs. And for musicians, the I Can Play Guitar
System ($99) includes a specially designed plug-and-play guitar with
color-coded finger positions.
In the Power Wheels vehicle line, a new Ford F-150 ($350) will be added,
along with the Artic Cat ($240) utility two-seater featuring a rear storage bed
and working tailgate, glove box and headlights.
In licensed products, Dora the
Explorer
fans will have their share of fun with new Dora Let's Get
Ready Vanity ($79.99); My Talking Friend Dora ($119.99); Magical Mermaid Dora
($29.99) doll and a Dora Saves the Mermaids doll assortment ($12.99).
Diego fans,
meanwhile, get a Mobile Rescue
Unit for animal rescue missions ($39.99); a Rescue A Friend assortment with
Baby Jaguar, Elephant, Spider Monkey, Lion and Speckled Bear ($19.99); and a
means to communicate like the animals with the Go,
Diego, Go!
Animal Caller ($14.99) whereby speech is translated into
animal sounds.
Sesame Street
offers babies Singing
Pizza Elmo ($24.99) and a Singing Abby plush doll with DVD ($14.99) for the
fairy-in-training.
Snook from It's a Big Big World
also has a song in his heart, Snook's Bongo Boogie ($29.99) will have kids
playing along with him.
And for infants, Fisher-Price will debut the Sing-along Stage ($39.99)
interactive music toy, the Go Baby Go Stride to Ride Lion ($34.99) walker and
ride-on, and the Laugh & Learn Learning Kitchen ($64.99) set, which offers
two-sided role play and developmental activities.
FolkmanisAll the world's a stage, and Folkmanis, Emeryville, Calif., will offer
its own Stage Puppets styled after hand puppets of yesteryear in giraffe, wolf,
sheep, zebra, crocodile and lion for under $20.
The company will also debut a classic 19-inch chocolate brown plush
Teddy Bear puppet ($26); a 20-inch Galapagos Tortoise ($40) puppet made of
sculpted fabric with a soft vinyl shell in which the puppet can entirely
retract; and Ragdoll Cat ($38), a floppy feline of brown and tan plush with
white paws and face and a fluffy tail.
In its plush dragon line, Folkmanis adds the seated Earth Dragon ($56),
who features an imposing 2-foot wingspan, brown, scaly micro-fiber plush and
gold spines (pictured)
.
Front Porch ClassicsWorld War II Axis and Allied pilots are put to the test in Sortie
($49.95), the latest adventure game from Front Porch Classics, Seattle. This
Bookshelf Edition for ages 8 and up includes cast metal planes, a wooden
playing surface and more than 100 playing cards packed in a wooden box. The
Bookshelf line will also add Valley of the Pharaohs ($54.95), an adventure game
that leads players to a legendary scepter while fighting bandits and
sandstorms.
Also in 2007, the company will introduce State Fair Bingo ($49.99),
which attempts to replicate the classic game the way it was played at carnivals
in years past with shutter-style bingo cards, a metal ball spinner, wooden
bingo balls and a wood bingo board (pictured)
.
And in the Discovery Edition line for ages 8 and up, Front Porch is
introducing a new version of its WordSpot game ($27.95) along with
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
($27.95), based
on the popular books.
Also in 2007, the company will debut nine distinct titles in its new
Front Porch Kids line, which features games made with natural materials packed
in wooden boxes, tubes or in cloth bags.
FunBrandzFunBrandz, Santa Monica, Calif., the new parent company for Specialty
Board Games (SBG), b EQUAL and Rumba Games, debuts in 2007 with a host of
licensed DVD games ($9.99). Among the four titles based on
Shrek the Third
that will coincide with the
movie's release is Shrek
Swamp Party; four
collectible figurines will also be released. A DVD game based on
Curious George
will come with collectible
blocks that are designed to interact with the game. A game based on the
Discovery Channel's Mythbusters
and a
Snoopy-themed DVD game for families will round out the mix.
Fundex GamesLet it rip! is the mantra of Gassy Gus ($24.99), a new
children's game in the Rule Breakers series by Fundex Games, Indianapolis.
The three-dimensional Gus sits in an easy chair while players take turns
feeding him food cardslike chili dogs or macaroni and cheese. Each food card
has a value that corresponds with the amount of times players can pump Gus's
head and expand his belly. For two to four players ages 5 and up, Gassy Gus
also comes with healthy food cards and extra pump cards to add to the
gastronomical fun.
In Booby Trap ($14.99), preschoolers take turns removing colored pieces
from the board without setting off the spring-loaded bar. High Five Tournament
Domino Set ($39.99) is based on the Professional Domino Association game on TV.
The set, for two players ages 8 and up, includes 28 Double 6 Dominoes and 40
scoring chips.
FunhouseDisney's High School Musica
l jazzes
up kids' rooms with decor and accessories, including a glow-in-the-dark bed
canopy and stage light desktop lamp by Funhouse, New York. The Disney movie
that's all the rage also embellishes pillows, wall scrolls, chairs, light-up
memory boards, a mini locker and a 3-D poster ($7.99 to 24.99).
Funhouse will also introduce new sports themes to its Pillow Pods
($19.99 to$29.99). A hidden pocket holds the iPod jack cord when not in use.
Styles include Football Field Lounger, Basketball Jersey Neckroll, Soccer Ball
and Basketball. New Flower Pods (pictured)
include Daffodil, Rose and Fuzzy Flower styles ($12.99). And Spider Pods
($9.99) have a piggy back jack to connect several pods together for
surround sound.
Funhouse also debuts the Neutron, Electron and Proton ($29.99 to $39.99)
chairs in its Ozone Inflatable Furniture line. Each chair, which comes in white
vinyl with red, blue or lime flocking, includes a pump for inflating and a side
pocket to store electronic musical devices.
FunkoBobblehead-makers Funko, Bothell, Wash., will release several new items
in the Bobblehead and other toy lines this year, including retro characters
Toucan Sam, the A&W Rootbeer Bear, Riff Raff, Underdog and Simon
Barsinister join the Wacky Wobbler line. A double-pack Speed Racer
will also be available
(pictured)
as well as a bank that plays the
show's theme song. Limited-edition Funkovision sets are 1,500-count, 7-inch
vinyl TV set figures that include character figures inside, accessible via a
flap on the back of the sets. Figures will be available from March
through June include characters Yosemite Sam and Dragon; Scooby-Doo and Shaggy
with Phantom; Abonimable Snowman and Daffy Duck; and Witch Hazel and Bugs Bunny
Funrise Toy Corp.Bubbles by the Gazillion are on tap from Funrise Toy Corp., Woodland
Hills, Calif., plus new games, playsets and vehicles.
The company's flagship bubble brand, Gazillion Bubbles, will expand
this year to include several new motorized bubble blowers, including: Gazillion
Gazooper ($5.99), which blows bubbles inside of other bubbles; Adjusta Bubble
Gun ($9.99), which blows either big or small bubbles at the switch of a button;
Bubble Gazooka ($12.99), which creates a stream of large, colorful bubbles
(pictured)
; Bubble Go Round ($19.99), a
spinning blower that sends colored bubbles in 360-degree circles; JumBubbler
($19.99), which blows mega bubbles; and the Bubbles In A Bubble Machine
($19.99).
New items in the Gazillion Bubbles Splash line, bubble-enhanced water
toys for ages 3 and up, are the Bubble Sprinkler ($9.99), Bubble Bucket Beach
Playset ($9.99), and Beach Bubble Party ($5.99)
The Fetch A Bubble line of specially scented bubble solution formulated
for pet play will debut a Micro Bubble Blaster ($5.99), Big Bubble Blaster
($7.99), Bubble Machine ($9.99), Jumbo Bubble Machine ($19.99),
1-ounce-bottle-with-lanyard sets ($2.99) and 4-ounce bottles with character
wands shaped like paw prints ($2.99).
In licensed products, Funrise will offer bubble blowers featuring
characters from Disney's Finding Nemo
,
The Little Mermaid
, Winnie the Pooh
, The
Incredibles
, Lilo & Stitch
,
Cinderella
and Dumbo
; Sesame
Street
; and Marvel's The Amazing
Spider-Man.
Funrise will also expand its vehicle line with fire engine, tow truck,
and dump Truck styles in the Tonka Flashlight Force line ($9.99);
Mini-Motorized Dirt Stompers ($9.99) in Bronco and MaxiMog styles; a Tonka Wood
assortment marking the brand's 60th anniversary with a wooden tow truck, fire
engine and dump truck plus smaller wood cargo trucks in tanker and tractor
trailer styles ($6.99) and a Wood Construction 3-Pack ($12.99) of construction
vehicles that include plastic accents and free-rolling wheels. Funrise also
offers a Tonka ride-on, the Tonka Sit and Dig ($129.99), a six-wheeled digging
shovel with dual action levers packaged with a construction helmet.
In the creativity area, the company introduces Magna Forms ($14.99),
magnetic playset, for ages 5 and up, with characters that can be attached to
themed, lunchbox-style tin cases. Three sets are offered in the initial
assortment: Fashion Show, Dinosaur and Sassy Stables; additional styles come
with smaller cases, including Auto Shop and Fashion Show. There's also a
travel Magna Forms Card ($4.99) series.
For sports fans, there's the All-Star Pitchers Challenge ($24.99)
interactive, electronic baseball game, new to the company's Home Arcade line,
along with the Head Bangers Big Kick Finger Football ($4.99), a 10 inch tall
football figure with kicking action strong enough to send the toy ball more
than 20 yards.
Gamers can choose from six versions of Hedbanz ($9.99), a twist on the
game of 20 questions wherein players place a card on their forehead. Kids,
Teen/College, Adult and '80s versions are available, along with a travel
edition ($4.99).
Hungry princesses will like Disney Princess Cool Cookin' Oven
($24.99), a cooking center for kids ages 3 and up that uses only air to cook
real snacks and desserts. It includes pans, food packets, a spatula, spoon and
measuring cup. Refills ($5.99) will include cake mix with frosting and
sprinkles.
Games for All ReasonsIn celebration of the 10th anniversary of Finish Lines ($29.95), Games
for All Reasons, Arlington, Mass., has redesigned the board game for a June
release. The game challenges teens and adults to complete recognizable quotes
and phrases from pop culture, movies, nursery rhymes, sports and famous works
of literature.
GamewrightGamewright, Watertown, Mass., will introduce Step to It! ($11.99), a
board game for the floor in which players ages 5 and up take steps around the
house to reach certain objects. The trick is to reach your destination in the
exact number of steps. Also for kids ages 5 and up is The Curse of the Ruby
Rhino ($11.99), a dice game for adventurers.
For kids ages 6 and up, new titles are Duck, Duck, Bruce ($9.99), a card
game featuring ducks waddling all over to get away from Bruce the dog, and Hats
Off ($5.99), a frenzied hat-matching card game.
For kids ages 8 and up, Gamewright will debut Thataway! ($5.99), in
which players follows the trail of Priscilla the gorilla; Toss Your Cookies
($11.99), a cookie-collecting card game; and Three of a Crime ($9.99), a
sleuthing game for budding detectives.
And for those ages 10 to adult, Aunt Millie's Millions ($14.99) will
have players vying for the family fortune; Hit or Miss ($19.99) is a party word
game of intuition and quick-thinking; and Ka-Ching ($9.99) is the high-stakes
card game where players buy low and sell high.0
Goodreau DollGoodreau Doll, Cypress, Texas, will debut its Baby Nummie cloth doll for
infants, in addition to its contemporary line of NONO ($14.99) soft dolls and
the Snappy line ($19.99 to $24.99) of brightly-colored, 8-inch vinyl dolls with
interchangable parts, wigs and accessories. Baby Nummie is stuffed for softness
and comes as a small doll ($19.99) and in a larger version ($34.99). Snappy
(pictured)
also expands in 2007 with the
fashion assistance of the Snappy Boutiques. Two additional doll lines in May
will have ball joints and electronic features.
Go WirelessUsing new point-and-play infrared technology, Go Wireless, Hong Kong, is
launching remote control vehicles with controllers that generate a spot on the
floor that the vehicle automatically chases, making directional maneuvers
easier for little hands. Having sold exclusively to Disney in 2006 for its
The Little Mermaid, Cars, The Incredibles
and Toy Story
brands, this year
Go Wireless is bringing its generic version to the U.S. and South America.
Great American Puzzle FactoryJelly Belly jelly beans are a sweet addition for Great American Puzzle
Factory, South Norwalk, Conn., which will debut a 1000-piece puzzle and a Jelly
Belly preschool game. Also new for 2007 is A Box of Chocolates, a tantalizing
750-piece puzzle (pictured)
and the new
Heartland Puzzles line of 550-piece graphic puzzles, each featuring images from
the 1950s and 1960s in themes of The Warming House, The Apple Pond Farm, Main
Street and Home Sweet Home.
The company will also debut Embellishments, craft kitsin Kitty
Litter, Young Maiden, Grandma's Attic or Get Away themesthat combine
scrapbooking and puzzles into one project. Each kit contains finishing
materials, a 550-piece puzzle and an idea booklet.
GundGund, Edison, N.J., has a number of plush animals ready to be hugged
this year, including The Twirly Girly Bunny in pink tutu and ballerina slippers
($10); Arnold the Snoring Pig with oversized snout and pink tail ($30); Bobbidi
the bear with honey-colored fur and large snout ($28); and the Snugapuff
Elephant ($25), a pillow-like plush with a satin back and fluffy front.
For infants, teeny hands can wrap around the new Tinkle, Crinkle, Rattle
& Squeak Loop Toy ($20) with a tinkling snail, crinkling flower, rattling
bee and a squeaky heart hanging from the multi-colored caterpillar's coils
(pictured)
.
In licensed products, new room decor items tied to
Pinky Dinky Doo
include colorful picture
frames ($7.50), trinket boxes ($10), switch plates ($7.50), textured door
hangers ($10) and a photo album ($10).
Also in room decor, Gund will debut the Twirly Girly Frames ($25),
musical pink ceramic frames speckled with white, green and rose polka dots and
inscribed with Feeling Happy and Twirly.
HABA USARattles are all the rage at Haba USA, the Skaneateles, N.Y.-based
distributor of Germany-based Habermaass. Several new rattle versions will debut
in 2007, including Stella, a plush star; Vroom Vroom, a beetle-like car; My
Little World, a plush picture book; My Ben Bear and Flowerall of which can
be attached to baby's wrist or ankle ($14). Also new for infants is Flip Flap
($25), a flower cube that unfolds into attached triangles and is held together
with concealed magnets; Animal Den ($18), a plush ball that contains five
concealed critters; and Casalino ($25), a plush block set with internal magnets
so they can be put together by infant hands; each block offers an interactive
feature like a peek-a-boo clown and a tuck-away bear.
The company's puzzle and game lines will come together in 2007 with
the debut of Max and Mia Above the Clouds ($10), At the Zoo with Alex ($10),
and A Great Day on the Farm ($19), each one a storybook, puzzle and game in
one.
Additional framed, magnetic wooden puzzles ($15) will be introduced in
knight, princess and construction site themes.
New games for ages 3 and up include Mobilo Placement ($38), in which
kids create different travel-themed patterns (pictured)
, and Flower Paradise ($50), a triangle
patterning game.
Little girls will zip away their baubles in the Little Jewelry Cases
($15) in Flower Treasure, Pia and Cheery Blossom styles, or stash their
valuables in the Flower Purse ($19) or Coin Purse ($13). Rounding out the
collection will be a note set ($9) and 20-pencil set ($2.50), each with a
flower pendant.
For rainy days, kids can sport Pirate and Princess Umbrellas ($30),
while pirates are also the theme of Melamine plates ($4) and glasses ($4),
available in six different styles.
In soft dolls, Haba welcomes Phil ($45) and Lilli ($35); as well as the
Dress Set Amelie, Dress Set Lotta and Dress Set Bella clothing/accessory kits
($20).
And for the role-play category, cooking up a great meal was never so
simple than with Biofino Magnetic Food, which can be taken apart then put back
together. The gourmet line offers delicacies around the world, from Wiener
Schnitzel to Farfalle Noodles to French fries ($8 to $20).
HaPeSwiss toymaker HaPe, Alberta, not only expands its existing brands this
year but offers North American retailers a brand new line to attract its
growing audience. Designed in Australia, the new Animalz assortment features 12
wooden, poseable animals with life-like characteristics for ages 3 and up in
both farm and safari themes. Preschoolers will also get new role-play items
from the Educo brand, including wooden toys and playsets like My Giant Beauty
Parlor, a dressing table and stool with royal motifs for girls with a penchant
for princess fantasies. Two commercial bead-and-wire mazesthe standout of
which is the Lighthouse of Fun, a large, multi-activity maze suitable for large
groups of kidswill also be available.
The company's Bamboo series adds four new games for 2007, led by
Pallina, which challenges players ages 4 and up to remove colored sticks from a
basket filled with colored balls, so that only the balls of the opposing player
fall to the bottom of the basket (pictured)
.
In the Beleduc brand, 11 new hand-glove puppets will debut, including an
ostrich and a pink flamingo, along with the new 5-Layer Season Puzzle for ages
3 and up, and four new gamesCandy, Pomela, Castello del Dragon and Schmetti
Coloretti. The brand's Shapes and Patterns Wall Panels and Soft Cubo
educational toys, suitable for daycare centers, also debut.
The Quadrilla system grows in 2007 with the availability of new Basic
and Advanced Expansion Sets.
The Happy Kid Co.Easier to build than to say, Fortamajig ($40-$100) from The Happy Kid
Co., Princeton, Mass., is a system of colorful fabric panels that can be made
into a four-sided fort, learn-to-play space, room divider or anything else a
child can imagine. Open-ended play is the idea behind the product, which
features a mesh window, flap door and corner pockets. When fully open, a
child's creation can measure 8 square feet. Loops attached to the panel ends
can be attached to furniture or door jambs for stability. Add-on panels in
varied sizes, colors and themes will also be added to the line.
Harcourt Trade PublishingNew-York based Harcourt is releasing dozens of 2007 titles for kids,
including novelty books like the fuzzy, interactive Hi,
Blueberry!
from Barney Saltzberg, creator of the popular
Kisses
series of touch-and-feel books,
and Charlie Chick,
a huge new pop-up. Dozens
more backlist picture books will also be available in either new paperback,
Spanish, big-format or board-book editions, such as On
the Day You Were Born
, whose new board book edition will join the
more than a million copies already in print. For older readers, the publisher
is offering an omnibus edition of Mary Poppins
and Mary Poppins Comes Back,
a
combination of the two classic books that inspired both the 1964 movie and the
Broadway musical currently in production.
HarperCollinsNew York-based HarperCollins Children's Books has numerous stand-alone
picture book titles out in 2007, including Bad Dog,
Marley!
and Go To Sleep, Russell the
Sheep
, though the publisher also offers collections tied to some key
kid licenses. Look for a Chronicles of Narnia Pop
Up
, created by pop-up master engineer Robert Sabuda, as well as a
Prince Caspian
picture book. The
Goodnight Moon 123
counting book and a
reissue of Paddington
will also be out in
2007. Meanwhile, movie tie-in books in multiple formats for Shrek the Third, Transformers
, and
Spider-Man 3
will also be released this
spring.
HasbroMarvel's movie-bound comic book properties light up the latest lines
from Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I., for 2007.
In advance of the May 4 release of Spider-Man
3
, the company will unleash a line of basic action figures ($7.99)
targeted to kids ages 4 and up looking to recreate key scenes from the movie.
Also planned is a Deluxe Spinning Web Blaster ($24.99, refills $5.99), which
gives kids ages 5 and up the ability to spin spiral webs; and the Spi-Dog
Interactive Music Companion ($29.99), a version of Tiger Electronics' I-Dog
light-up and motion-enhanced music player for ages 8 and up that looks like
Spider-Man.
Last month, Hasbro began shipping its detailed action figures ($7.99)
for kids ages 5 and up based on this month's Sony Pictures feature film
Ghost Rider
. The toymaker has also created
the Turbo Screen Flame Cycle; the sound-enhanced replica of the iconic
motorcycle features a throttle that revs the engine, a clutch that lets the
bike perform wheelies, and an included figure.
Hasbro's Marvel Legends action figures, for ages 4 and up, are
targeted to Marvel enthusiasts. The line's 6-inch figures ($9.99) are highly
detailed, have premium articulation and include an additional piece that
lets collectors build a larger-scale figure once the entire series has been
purchased. Additional SKUs will reach retail throughout the year. For
preschoolers, the Marvel Superhero Squad Figures ($5.99), sized for smaller
hands, features popular characters like Captain America and Hulk, packaged in
pairs.
The Attacktix miniatures game continues this year with additional
Star Wars
Tournament Sets ($19.99), Booster
Packs ($4.99) and Starter Sets ($9.99), plus versions based on
Spider-Man 3
and on Marvel's larger
universe, both due this spring, and a recently released Transformers
version.
Hasbro's Titanium Series of die-cast collectibles expands with new
3-inch vehicles ($4.99) and figures based on Transformers
and Spider-Man
3
. New Star Wars
vehicles will
also be introduced this year, plus vehicles and figures based on other Marvel
properties.
Star Wars
products include basic
figures packed with 30th Anniversary coins, coin album (pictured)
and spring-activated light saber.
In the world of non-licensed products, Hasbro's venerable Play-Doh
brand is giving kids ages 3 and up the chance to show-off their creations in
style this year with the Make 'n' Display Domes ($1.99) and the Make
'n' Display Stage Show ($9.99). Each Dome comes with three Play-Doh colors
and directions for making two creations; available in Butterfly/Snail,
Parrot/Penguin, Dalmatian/Cat, Tea-Party/Ice Cream, Race Car/Truck and
Sailboat/Airplane themes. The Stage Show ($9.99) is a dome large enough to
include a creation plus a background scene, and it features a light-up
stage.
Heilbron Sante Fe, N.M.-based Heilbron Associates will introduce Sparkle Magic, a
new fiber optic technology that makes toys sparkle. The design and licensing
group is working on two licensing deals for toys with lighted designs and color
changes made possible by new uses of the fiber optic cable technology.
HIT ToyThomas the Tank Engine
has it all
under control with the Thomas at Tidmouth Sheds R/C train set ($49.99) by HIT
Toy Co., New York. Thomas can travel forward and back on the Island of Sodor
with just a touch of a remote control that features show-specific sound
effects, like the hiss of Thomas's steam pipe when he comes to a stop or the
Thomas & Friends
theme song. Harold the
Helicopter is included as part of the set.
Hong Kong Trade Development Council The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, New York, once again hosts a
score of Hong Kong-area toy suppliers offering the latest in just about any
product category at Toy Fair.
Advanced General Group
, Kowloon,
will show plush, hand puppets, puppet and storybook sets, educational toys,
electronics, an MP3-playing bear, a camera bear, infant toys, soft dolls, doll
clothes and accessories, golf covers and gifts.
Benjamin Toys (HK)
, Kowloon, will
show toys in the following categories: preschool, educational, young explorer
and science, action/flying, dinosaur, battery-operated, outdoor and pet. R/C
vehicles and puzzles will also be exhibited this year.
Delicate Toys
, Chaiwan, will
preview plush toys.
East Asia Ornament Industrial
Co
., Kowloon, shows off holiday decorations for Christmas, Halloween
and Easter.
Eastcolight (HK)
, Kowloon, will
preview educational toys such as telescopes and microscopes, spy items,
preschool products, and do-it-yourself and electronic products in its
Tele-Science, Micro-Science and Master-of-Spy brands.
Gloso HK Industries
will offers
Novacell and Nova batteries.
Henfair R/C Technology Research &
Development
, Wanchai, will show R/C toys, electronics and other
hobby merchandise, as well as licensed toys under its Hen-Tech brand.
Interglobal Manufactory
, Kowloon,
will show new wooden toys and games in its Joey Joe, Rita and Nicky's Toy
Collection brands.
Maxitronix Enterprise (HK)
, New
Territories has electronic toys in the following categories: instruments and
other musical toys, educational plastic toys and lab kits.
Nicer Holdings
, Kowloon, will
exhibit ride-on toys and safety gear, including kick and electric scooters, go
karts, pogo sticks, trampolines and sporting goods.
Ontex Industries International
,
New Territories, will preview its latest Charlie-branded toys and games.
Out of the Blue (HK)
, Wanchai,
offers toys and games, giftware, costume jewelry and hair ornaments.
Silver Dragon Asia
, Kowloon, will
debut new Canal Toys- branded arts and crafts products and modeling dough
items.
South China Development (HK)
,
Kowloon, will spotlight its playing cards, game cards, paper game sets and gift
boxes.
Success Vast International
,
Quarry Bay, will show walkie-talkies, sing-along cassette and CD players and
clock radios.
Timber Ocean Industrial
, Kowloon,
introduces the latest R/C cars from its Big Head Racing World brand.
Turrence Products
, Kowloon, rolls
out tricycles, pedal and electric bicycles, ride-on toys and pedal cars.
Wuston Manufacturing
, Kowloon,
offers plastic candles, Christmas decorations, gift items and artificial
flowers.
Yip's (Harbour) Toys
Manufacturing
, New Territories, previews soft vinyl toys and junior
sporting goods.
HorsmanHorsman, New York, welcomes Rini, a 14 inch fashion doll with 17 joints
and a redesigned upper torso (pictured)
, and
her African-American friend Ren, with three new outfits for both dolls
to share. Horseman will also be celebrating the 50th birthday of its Cindy doll
in 2007; the company will debut a new 14-inch size and an articulated body that
aims to modernize her but still retain her orginal look.
Household Name ProductsFor babies suffering from tummy aches and colic, Household Name
Products, Carlsbad, Calif., is introducing a flannel belt called Happi Tummi
($19.99) with a natural herb pouch that emits warmth and aromatherapeutic
scents to help soothe and relax little abdomens.
HQ Kites & DesignsHQ Kites & Designs, Chesapeake, Va., has updated its Airglider kite
line with new graphics and technical advancements, such as extra strong
rip-stop fabric for the wings and a fiberglass and carbon composite frame. They
can be adjusted to alter flight characteristics. Ground launches can be
achieved by using a rubber band groundlauncher. The Side Arm Launch, a new
technique, lets kite fliers catapult the largest Airglider in the air like a
discus. The new line will include the Airglider 40 ($19.99) in flame or
red/yellow, for ages 6 and up, and the Airglider 60 ($29.99) in fire or ice;
plus the Airglider 90 Pro ($39.99) in black/white and fire design, for ages 8
and up. The Pro comes up with an undivided wing that simplifies assembly and an
adjustable rudder that allows straight flights or vast spiraling.
Also part of the company's 2007 line-up is the Garden Kite, available
Rainbow (pictured)
, Sunrise and Cool
versions, that can be used for decoration in a garden or as a single-line kite
for ages 10 and up.
ImagAbilityImagAbility, El Dorado, Calif., will re-introduce WEDGiTS ($36.99), a
30-piece set of translucent building blocks for ages 3 and up. Each Translucent
Deluxe set of the blockswhich appear to be crystalline and three-dimensional
when a light is shined on themis packaged with two product design booklets
and two storage racks.
Imagination GamesNew offerings from Los Angeles-based Imagination Games include some
highly-interactive additions to the traditional game board format. Snipe It!
($34.99) is an audio-based game featuring the voice of Jack FM's Howard
Cogan. As he calls out each question, players ages 8 and up have to be the
first to hit their button and snipe the answer before the timer runs out.
In the Family Feud
DVD Game 3rd Edition
($19.99), for ages 8 and up, host John O'Hurley asks all-new questions based
on the long-running TV game show. The challenging Backwords ($24.99) game for
ages 12 and up, in which players try to figure out reversed words from given
clues, will also debut.
ImagiPlayThis year, ImagiPlay, Boulder, Colo., is releasing 40 new items in its
wooden PuzzleMeUp, Counting & Alphabet, North American Animals ($10.99 to
$12.99), Wild Animals, Sea Life ($9.99 to $14.99) and Trees ($23.99 to $29.99)
lines of puzzles, as well as adding new selections to its Giant Building
Blocks, Little ReaderBlocks, Wondrous Wilderness and Play Sets blocks series.
The company will also introduce 16 new AniMates ($4.99 to $5.99), male
and female animal sets of African (zebras, giraffes, elephants and lions) and
North American (deer, wolves, moose and bears) animals, and three new playsets
($27.99): A Day at the Rodeo, which includes a bucking bull, horse, rodeo
clown, barrel, fencing and a start gate; African Safari, which includes a
baobab tree, rolling jeep, baboon, antelope, zebra, lion and several other
animals; and the Vision Quest, which includes a Native American family, horse,
tipi, fire with pot, buffalo and more.
Imagiplay will also introduce in 2007 a new Southwest-themed series of
puzzles ($11.99), which includes Kokopelli, Gecko, Bison, Midnight Coyote and
more.
Imperial ToyA full roster of licensed toys is on the agenda for Imperial Toy, Los
Angeles, including four new SpongeBob SquarePants
items: 4-inch SpongeBob and Patrick Hula bobble figurines; a 4-inch
Pirate Treasure Holder that contains a figurine and SpongeBob money;
SpongeBob's Plenty O' Plankton Tank, which comes with two figures and brine
shrimp plankton mix; and the SpongeBob's Grow Crystal Magic Do', which lets
kids grow hair on an included figurine.
To the world of Dora the Explorer
comes the 5-inch musical Dora Light and Sound Pixie, featuring a
light-up wand; a handheld Dora Matching Maze, with which kids can create a
special Dora picture scene by sliding the correct pieces into place; and a Dora
Make A Splash Sprinkler, which cools kids off as it spins 360 degrees.
Go, Diego, Go!
will also see a lot of
new product in 2007, including the Diego Kicking Soccer tabletop game, which
includes a figure, a soccer goal and three soccer balls; Diego Rescue
Binoculars (pictured)
; the Diego Projector
Helmet, with which kids can spot animals to help; the Diego Animal Rescue View
Finder Field Journal, a animal-habitat matching game; and the Diego JetSplash
Sprinkler.
From Avatar: The Last Airbender
come
the Appa Launch Glider and two action figures, Flaming Dagger Zuko and Light Up
Aang.
The Backyardigans
will also get some
love in 2007 with a new Surfer Pablo, who assumes his position in the grass as
a 360 degree-spinning sprinkler that squirts water from his surfboard.
Innovative Kids Norwalk, Conn.-based Innovative Kids will launch three new books-plus
series in the spring: Fairy Friends Collection,
Puzzles-to-Go
and Little Pirate.
The first four titles in the $9.99 Fairy
serieswhich each include a collectible plush fairy doll and fold-out play
scenewill be available immediately, and four more titles (with charm
necklaces) will debut in the fall. Other 2007 highlights include
The Ultimate Chocolate Kit
($9.99), new
additions to both the iBaby (pictured)
and
the iPreschool lines, and a trio of game-board books for $19.99 each. Later in
the year, new titles in the Groovy Tube
series, Magical Creatures
and
Mythical Beasts,
will also debut.
Insect LoreShafter, Calif.-based Insect Lore brings kids inside a butterfly's
world with its new Butterfly Bungalow ($39.99), a 4-foot tent-like environment
for kids ages 4 and up. Kids can simply send away for 10 live caterpillars (and
food), watch as they cocoon and transform themselves into butterflies, and then
enter the kid-sized habitat to view them close up. Afterwards, kids can release
the grown butterflies back into the environment.
Intellinitiative GameAs a follow-up to its flagship Word Sweep board game, Intellinitiative
Game of Boston is introducing a junior edition ($24.99) of language-building
game based on the Merriam-Webster
Dictionary
. In this version for kids ages 8 and up, one player reads
a card that contains three definitions of words that appear consecutively in
the dictionary. Another player tries to guess all three words to make a Word
Sweep before the timer runs out. If the turn isn't solved completely,
opponents can steal the remaining words. The more words guessed
correctly, the faster players advance towards winning the game.
International PlaythingsInternational Playthings, Parsippany, N.J., will expand its vast product
line with even more age-appropriate offerings. Under its Earlyears brand, the
Baby Rocking Horse ($99.99) features a soft padded plush horse with lots of
textures and crinkles to explore as well as a jingle bell that chimes as baby
rocks. The company has also updated its Sweet Baby Blocks ($14.99) with
patterns for matching along with pictures for teaching first words and early
letter and number recognition.
In the preschool realm, iPlay's Barnyard Blast ($64.99) is a large
farm that plays seven songs and features four smiling vegeta-balls that
race down the ramp from the barn and spin about. The barn doors open to reveal
four removable animals that speak when they are placed into their correct
stalls. In addition, toddlers can turn the rooster to hear him crow, slide the
ducks to hear them quack and spin the sun to see the moon and hear more sounds.
Preschoolers can also soar into space with the Lift Off Rocket ($39.99)
electronic playset, which features two astronauts, a space dog, alien, dune
buggy and moon crater. The rocket itself features three separate areas of
playa cockpit, living quarters and cargo area.
The Calico Critters of Cloverleaf Corners line also expands in 2007 with
the Nursery School ($49.99) and Main Street Toy Shop ($41.99) play sets. The
school is a two-story building with two critter twins, desks, toy accessories
and an outdoor baby pool, while the toy shop9) is based on a classic specialty
toy shop with a variety of toys that critters can purchase.
In the Mighty World collection, four new playsets will debut as part of
a new armed forces theme: Captain Cliff the ATV Scout ($9.99), Major Mac the
Recon Ranger ($9.99), Marine Special Forces Unit ($16.99), and Special
Operations Unit ($16.99). Each set features a hero figure that volunteers to
serve both their country and community, along with a variety of accessories
and/or vehicles.
And in the game category, the latest family-friendly title in the iPlay
Games brand begs the question, Which Came First Chicken or Egg? ($19.99). Aimed
at ages 8 and up, the game features over 300 trivia questions with detailed
answers that make it educational and fun.
iToysiToys of Toronto is releasing a four-player tabletop version of
1 vs. 100,
based on the TV show in which one
player faces off against 100 competitors in a trivia challenge. To stay in the
game, a player must answer every question correctly, though he or she also
accumulates prize money for every wrong answer from the other party. If the
solo contestant eliminates the competition, he or she earns a $1 million prize;
if he or she misses a question, the 100 players split the prize.
iToys will also introduce Baby So Real, a lifelike doll that aims to
look and feel like a real baby through a newly invented technology that gives
the doll soft skin with subtle blue veining. The doll also features detailed
fingers, toes and nails.
Jada ToysAs a follow-up to its Chub City 4.5-inch radio control vehicles, Jada
Toys, City of Industry, Calif., will extend the line with 9-inch models
($22.99), including the VW Bus, VW Beetle, Chevy Camaro Concept and Hummer H2.
The Chub City 4.5-inch line ($9.99 will include vehicles such as the Nissan
350Z, Lincoln Navigator and the VW Beetle and Bus. Both are available in 27 MHz
and 49 MHz version for simultaneous racing.
Jakks PacificJakks Pacific, Malibu, Calif., has a line-up of new licensed offerings
in 2007, including an extensive collection of TV Games titles ($19.99) that
includes Deal or No Deal
,
Spider-Man 3
: The Movie Edition,
Dora the Explorer
Around the World,
Jeopardy!,Pokmon
Trials of the Master, Dreamworks II,
1 vs. 100
and Wheel
of Fortune
2.
Pokmon
will also have a
presence in the boys' action category this year with deluxe figures ($9.99),
a mini plush series ($5.99) and a Pokmon
World playset.
New Surf's Up
toys will include
figures, mini plush and a Cody 11-inch plush.
The Rocky
figure line continues with
Series IV and V figures ($7.99).
The WWE
series is also jam-packed
with new releases: Unmatched Fury non-articulated figures ($14.99,
pictured
); Classic Superstars Series 13
($11.99) figures centered on big names from the '70s, '80s and '90s; and
Deluxe Figures Assortment Series 7 ($9.99), that perform signature moves.
Dora the Explorer
rules the roost in
the art activities category for Jakks, with an On-the-Go Fashion Studio ($4.99)
and a Travel Doodle Rolldesk ($4.99). The company's Child Guidance line will
also expand in 2007 with the extension of its Barney
ensemble to include the Barney Dance & Play Guitar and Barney
Musical Cell Phone.
Jasman ToysJasman Toys, San Diego, Calif., will concentrate its 2007 offerings on
two licensed properties, Spider-Man 3
and
Jurassic Park
, and add to its core Command
Force and Wild West Gunslinger lines. Among the latter collections'
highlights are: Command Force Chopper Countdown, a tethered helicopter game
that challenges boys to beat the clock; Command Force Mission Critical which
prompts players ages 6 and up to executive a rescue mission; and Wild West
Gunslinger County Fair Shootout, a version of the classic carnival game of
sharp-shooting skills.
With the Spiderman 3
Chopper Patrol,
kids can help pick up pieces of rescue cargo to return to the helicopter's
landing platform. Similarly, the Jurassic
Park
Chopper Patrol picks up injured dinosaurs and returns them to
safety. Other toys under this license include Jurassic
Park
R/C Walking Dinosaurs and the Park Raptor Battle set
(pictured)
. All featured toys are aimed at
boys ages 6 and up.
Jax GamesTo mark the 25th anniversary of its Sequence strategy game, Jax Games,
Minneapolis, is releasing an official anniversary edition that features custom
chips, game board, playing cards and carrying case, though the game play
remains the sameplay a card, place a chip on a corresponding space on the
game board and try to get five chips in a row while blocking others from doing
the same.
Sequence will also debut in a States & Capitals edition in 2007. For
ages 5 and up, the game challenges players to match cards with state capitals
as well as states' shapes or colors on the game board. The first player to
get four chips in a row wins.
JoovyDallas-based Joovy will be introducing new role-play items in the form
of doll car seats, created to help children understand the importance of safety
while driving. The Just-Like-Mine Toy Car Seat is rear-facing, locks securely
into a vehicle, and features an infant doll carrier that can be removed from
its base and converted to a rocker. It also can be incorporated into the
Caboose Stand-On Tandem Stroller, which comes with its own car seat attachment
system. Meanwhile, the Just-Like-Mine Toy Booster Car Seat is forward-facing,
and features a fully functional and adjustable five-point harness with chest
clip and kid-friendly latch connector.
Kane/Miller Book PublishingLa Jolla, Calif.-based Kane/Miller will release picture books from
England, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany and Taiwan, including numerous
stand-alone titles for older kids as well as the latest in its the popular
board-book Duck
series by Jez Alborough. New
titles in the The Little Princess
series by
Tony Ross and the non-fiction My Body
Science
series for preschoolers will also be available.
KaplaKapla, Savannah, Ga., distinguishes its building blocks from competitors
by using a lightweight French marine pine. The small planks are sized for
little builders' fingers and are easy to grasp and stack. Kapla blocks do not
require any glue, snaps or interlocking parts.
The Kapla 200 natural tone wooden planks ($68) boxed kit, new this year,
includes an illustrated instruction manual with basic building techniques. Also
available are the 40-piece Kapla Color Squares ($30) boxed kits, each packaged
by individual color for customized building.
Kthe Kruse German-based Kthe Kruse will add several new dolls to its lineup,
including the fleece-filled Toni Maroni Labellies Towel Doll, which features
multicolored tags for babies to explore, available in a version for newborns
($25.95) and one older infants ($51.95). Also for infants is the new Magic Baby
Snail ($38.95), a mini snail doll hidden in a box to help teach about opening
and closing, and the snuggly 7-inch Pamperine Lamb Mh ($28.85), which
doubles as a heating or cooling pad to soothe and comfort.
For kids ages 3 and up, additional soft dolls include the 7-inch Pirate
Boy (pictured)
and Pirate Girl, each of whom
come dressed in their best buccaneer garb and retail for $45.45; the 7-inch
Mermaid Annemone ($45.45), who comes stuffed with 100 percent sheep's wool;
and a collector-worth, 17-inch Waldorf Mermaid ($156) with a hand-embroidered
face and changeable outfits.
Kid GalaxyTake flight with new flyer toys from Kid Galaxy, Manchester, N.H.,
including the Hyper Flyer ($70), a radio-controlled stunt plane for kids ages 8
and up that can perform aerial tricks like loops, barrel rolls and spins. The
Backyard Flyer 3-pack ($40) includes three planes, each with different wings
and design.
For land-based maneuvers, the Mega-X Komodo Dragon ($80) for ages 5 and
up is a 4x4 R/C vehicle (pictured)
that can
take on rugged terrain with claw tires that can even move through water.
The My First R/C GoGo Autos line ($5) for ages 3 years and up features a
fire truck, school bus and a recycling truck; each big and chunky vehicle is
sized for small hands and made of soft PVC vinyl. Also for preschoolers, the
mini R/C Morphibians series ($5) for water or ground play includes Gator and
Shark styles.
KidsGiveLos Angeles-based KidsGive will launch a new Karito Kids ($96.50) line
of dolls for girls ages 6 to 11 that give something back. Each doll represents
an 11-year-old girl from a diverse background, including Wan Ling (Shanghai,
China), Gia Valentina Russo (Florence, Italy), Lulu Rehema Kibwana (Nairobi,
Kenya) and Zoe Nicole (New Jersey, U.S.) Each of the 18-inch, soft vinyl dolls
comes with her own lifestyle bookwhich explains her cultural customs, the
issues challenging her country and its geographyto help teach children about
different cultures, plus a t-shirt. Books are also sold separately for $10.95.
KidsGive will contribute 3 percent of the proceeds of sales to Plan USA, a
non-profit organization that assists more than 10 million poor families in over
60 countries. Doll apparel, accessories and additional children and adult
apparel is are also available.
Kids Juke Box
Kids Juke Box, Carlsbad, Calif., will introduce customizable music
products for kids, like a personalized CD ($19.99) that includes a child's
name in each of the eight songs, alarm clocks ($24.99), which use a child's
name in eight different lyrics and a personalized teddy bear ($29.99), which
sings a personalized song. Each item is available in seven different languages,
with more than 8,000 different names in any spelling and themed options like
Marvel, Disney and Care Bears characters. All the products can be customized at
home without special equipment.
Kids PreferredAdhering to the motto Growing Up Can Wait comes Bacladi, the Dutch
line of plush from Kids Preferred. The Dayton, N.J.-based company will
introduce this collection of colorful characters, including Chick the chicken,
Dunk the duck (pictured)
, Flo the dolphin
and Rabbit the frog (think Rrbit, Rrbit). Each plush animal comes in two
sizes: 7-inch ($12) and 14-inch ($25), and is designed for ages 6 months and
up.
Additional products in the Bacladi line include The Apple
picture book ($20); a series of cotton
letters and numbers ($5) for decorating kids' rooms or clothing; and plush
doorbells in the likeness of the animal characters ($8 to $10).
KlutzPalo Alto, Calif.-based Klutz turns 30 this year, kicking off the
celebration at Toy Fair with six new book-plus titles for the spring:
Made You Look, Scoubidou: A Book of Lanyard and Lacing,
Window Art
and Stencil Art
for
older kids, and Paper Purses
and
Tree House Bugs
from its younger Chicken
Socks line. Additional activity books will be released later in the year in
both lines.
K'NexHatfield, Pa.-based K'Nex will debut two new building sets for kids
ages 3 and up, Country Friends ($9.99) and Undersea Pals ($9.99); each includes
rods, connectors and accessories for kids to build their own farm or sea
creatures. For kids ages 5 to 7, the company will introduce the new Fun Rides
10 Model Building Set ($9.99) , along with similar kits in Speed Machines and
Wheel Action verions.
K'Nex will also introduce new 4X Speeders ($3.99) in go-kart and
chopper-bike inspired models for ages 6 and up; plus, for ages 8 and up, the
motorized Swing Ride ($29.99) set and the XBattlers collection ($4.99) of
build-your-own warrior sets.
And for ages 9 and up, look for the new battery-operated Double Ferris
Wheel ($29.99), which measures over 3 feet tall (pictured)
, and the Serpent's Spiral Coaster
($59.99), which is over 5 feet tall.
KokomaKokomo O'Global, Los Angeles, is debuting a doll line under its Hulala
Girls brand. Aimed at girls ages 6 to 12, each plush doll in the collection has
long, wavy hair and comes with a 3-D identity tag, an extra outfit and a
comforting blankie. The entire product line of dolls, hair products and party
favors ($1.99 to $29.99) is based on the online island community,
HulalaGirls.com, which features games, music videos and other adventures set on
the mythical Island of Cowlanai. Book one of the series is scheduled for a
summer 2007 release, while a direct-to-video/television series is in
development.
Late for the SkyMakers of Beeropoly and other quirky opoly games, Late for the
Sky, Cincinnati, is now launching Ice Cream-opoly ($24.95) for ages 8 and up,
featuring all the traditional play patterns of an opoly game in its
one-hour version. All real estate properties are based on famous ice
cream treats like Banana Split Your Pants and Chip, Chip Hooray!
Lauri ToysPaint by numbers or make a mosaic the easy way with the Peel & Stick
By Number craft kits ($9.99) for ages 5 and up from Lauri Toys, Smethport, Pa.
The new linewhich comes in Dinosaurs, Wild Animals, Things with Wings and
Under the Sea themesincludes enough colorful peel-and-stick foam tiles and
numbered pattern boards for four kids to use.
LeapFrogLeapFrog, Arlington Heights, Ill., has signed on to produce San
Francisco-based Viz Media's Sonic X
for
the Leapster Learning Game System ($24.99). The system's games let children
ages 5 to 7 help Sonic
save his friends from
the evil Dr. Eggman. Kids can jump, run, spin, dash and soar through different
play zones as they learn kindergarten and first-grade math skills. They can
also collect gold rings to rescue characters Amy Rose and Knuckles.
LearningCentsIt takes good sense to save your two cents, so Atlanta-based
LearningCents has created the perfect toy to help teach kids the value of
saving their dollars, even if it's a few cents at a time. The LearningCents
bank ($21.99)in either Classic Give, GirlSense Give and Classic Tzedakah
themesfeatures three large, color-coded compartments labeled Spend, Save and
Give, so kids can see where they are putting their coins, bills and even gift
cards.
Learning ResourcesLearning Resources, Vernon Hills, Ill. is introducing new toys for 2007
especially designed to promote healthy habits like eating right and exercising
regularly. The Healthy Hurdles Fitness Game ($21.95) for ages 6 and up combines
the USDA My Pyramid Food Guidance System with an exercise component, while kids
ages 3 and up will get the Pretend & Play Gym Bag ($34.94) and Pretend
& Play Healthy Meals ($19.95) sets of nutritious role-play foods.
Additional new preschool toys include the Jump 'n' Jam Jungle
($34.95), an electronic dance mat; the Smart Safari Piano Pal Hippo ($21.95);
and two new sets in the floating Smart Splash line ($15.95), Color Clay
Penguins (pictured)
and Sail Away Shapes. In
the Smart Snacks line ($15.95), new offerings for 2007 include Hide 'N'
Peek Chocolates, Sweet Heart Sayings, and Animal Crack Ups.
For older kids, Learning Resources will introduce the Alphaball
Scrambled Word Game ($36.95), an arcade-style trackball game for kids ages 6
and up, and the Pretend & Play World Traveler role play set ($32.95) for
kids ages 5 and up.
LegoLego, Enfield, Conn., is unveiling dozens of new products across several
product lines in 2007.
The Duplo line welcomes a new My First Lego Duplo Set ($14.99) and the
Ultimate Lego Duplo Building Set ($24.99) for ages 1 to 5, plus new
Thomas & Friends
sets for ages 2 to 5
like Salty the Dockyard Diesel ($12.99), Gordon's Express ($19.99) and
Spencer and Sir Topham Hatt ($29.99).
New sets for ages 4 and up in the Creative Building and Mosaic lines
include the My First Lego Set ($14.99), the Ultimate Lego Building Set
($24.99), Building Fun with Lego Mosaics ($9.99) and A World of Lego Mosaics
($19.99).
The Creator line features several new sets for builders ages 6 to 12,
including Mini Construction ($4.99), Mini Animal ($4.99), Mini Robots ($4.99),
Mini Flyers ($4.99) and Cool Cars ($9.99) sets.
Several City sets for ages 5 to 12 will also debut, including a Fire
Station ($59.99), a Fire Pick-Up Truck ($9.99), a Fire Hovercraft ($29.99) a
Fire Boat ($34.99), a Port of Lego City ($89.99) set; and transportation sets
such as the Heavy Hauler ($34.99), Container Stacker ($19.99) and Recycle Truck
($14.99).
Additional items for this age group are expansions to the Tiny Turbos
line, including a Terrain Crusher ($4.99), a Raceway Rider ($4.99), a Night
Driver ($4.99), a Rally Runner ($4.99), a Bridge Chase ($39.99) and a Bullet
Run ($49.99) set, while the build and smash Pull Back Crashers ($9.99) include
the Fire Crusher, Booster Beast, Phantom Crusher and Night Blazer plus the Tow
Trasher ($19.99) and Off Road Power ($19.99) set.
Knights are still as popular as ever and Lego will help keep them so
with its new King's Castle Siege ($99.99), which features working catapults,
moveable walls, a constructible dragon and six mini-figures. Crossbow Attack
($7.99), Final Joust ($7.99), Knights' Catapult Attack ($9.99), Skeleton
Prison Carriage ($19.99) and Skeleton's Tower ($49.99) are also
available.
For Lego builders ages 7 to 12, new sets include the Fast Flyers
($19.99), Big Rig ($29.99), House ($49.99), Model Townhouse ($69.99) and Ferris
Wheel ($69.99), along with the impressive Monster Dino ($89.99) set, which
which kids can create a walking spider or dino.
Other hot new products for tweens and teens can be found in the new Mars
Mission and AquaRaiders lines. Mars offerings include the MX-11 Astro Fighter
($4.99), MT-31 Trike ($9.99), EXT Alien Strike ($19.99), MT-51 Claw-tank Ambush
($29.99), MX-71 Recon Dropship ($39.99); EXT Alien Mothership Assault ($49.99);
and the MB-01 Command Base ($89.99) sets. New Aqua sets include Deep Sea
Treasure Hunter ($4.99), Angler Ambush ($9.99), Lobster Strike ($19.99), Tiger
Shark ($29.99), Crab Crusher ($49.99) and the Aquabase Invasion ($69.99)
playset with giant squid (pictured)
.
Exo-Force is also back with new sets like Cyclone Defender ($7.99), Claw
Crusher ($7.99), Blade Titan ($14.99), Sky Guardian ($14.99), Shadow Crawler
($14.99), Iron Condor ($14.99), Aero Blaster ($29.99) and Sentai Golden
Fortress ($49.99), plus the Mobile Devastor ($89.99) set of more than 1,000
pieces.
Bionicle's ranks are also swelling in 2007 to include Squids ($1.99),
Defilak ($4.99), Dekar ($4.99), Thulox $4.99, Morak ($4.99), Tao Kongu ($9.99),
Toa Jaller ($9.99), Toa Matora ($9.99), Toa Hahli ($9.99), Toa Nuparu ($9.99),
Toa Hewkii ($9.99), Takadox ($9.99), Kalmah ($9.99), Carapar ($9.99), Mantax
($9.99), Ehlek ($9.99) and Pridak ($9.99). The line also includes the mighty
sea creatures Gadunka ($19.99), Hydraxon ($19.99), Maxilos & Spinaz
($29.99); and the Barraki Deepsea Patrol ($29.99), Toa Undersea Attack ($49.99)
and Toa Terrain Crawler ($69.99) sets.
In Lego's licensed lines, upcoming Batman
sets include The Batcopter: The Chase for Scarecrow ($29.99) and The
Bat Tank ($49.99), while new Stars Wars
sets
will include the Droids Battle Pack ($9.99), Clone Trooper Battle Pack ($9.99),
AT-ST ($19.99), General Grievious Starfighter ($19.99), Nabbo N-1 Starfighter
& Vulture Droid ($29.99), Y Wing Fighter ($39.99), Imperial Landing Craft
($49.99), Jedi Starfighter with Hyper Drive Ring ($49.99), and the MTT
($99.99), a massive vehicle set with 16 Battle Droids, two red security Battle
Droids, two pilot Battle Droids and a Droideka destroyer.
Fun loving SpongeBob SquarePants
is
also back, with a new The Chum Bucket ($34.99) and Mrs. Puff's Boating School
($49.99) sets.
And something wondrous is in the air with Hogwarts Castle ($89.99),
where Harry Potter and friends return for a fifth magical year. The set
features 943 pieces, including nine mini character figures.
Three new offerings are part of the 2007 Ferrari line, including the
Ferrari F1 ($19.99), complete with sponsor logs and mini driver; the Ferrari
F430 Challenge ($49.99); and the Ferrari Fiorano F1 Test Team ($69.99), which
features two cars, eight mini-figures and a garage with two bays.
The 2007 Technic line for teens and tweens includes a Terrain Crane
($9.99); a Wheel Loader ($19.99); a Snowmobile ($29.99); an Off-Road Truck
($49.99); a Dragster ($69.99) and a Motorized Bulldozer ($149.99), which
features a working piston engine, two motors, a battery box, two infrared
receivers and a remote control.
And the most advanced Lego builders will want the redesigned Mindstorms
NXT ($249.99) for ages 10 and up, which features a 32-bit processor with 8-bit
memory, three interactive servo motors, four sensors and an easy-to-use
software interface.
Matter GroupThe Seattle-based Matter Group will launch the latest version of its
Xeko environmental and educational trading card game, Mission: Costa Rica
($29.99), in a starter set for two players that includes two decks of cards, an
oversized game mat/eco-map poster, a bonus CD, play guides and a heavy-duty
storage box. Booster Packs ($3.99) of nine cards each will also be available.
In addition, the company will introduce the Xeko Eco-Pals ($16.99), a new line
of eco-friendly soysilk plush toys based on endangered species. Matter Group
donates 4 percent of net sales of all toys in the Xeko line to Conservation
International.
McNeill DesignsSomething's fishy with Twisted Fish, a humorous new card game from
McNeill Designs, Wilmington, Del. Fishy character cards parody the good and bad
in human behavior and the ups and downs of life under the sea, spurred by
Zinger Cards such as Divine Intervention, Glass Bottom Boat, Two-Fisted
Fisherman and Dead Scuba Diver.
Mega BrandsMontreal-based Mega Brands will debut several new products in 2007 in
each of its key brands for both preschoolers and older kids, plus a new line of
interactive games and dozens of new offerings in the Esphera brand of spherical
puzzles.
New Dragons items include the medieval Tower and Vehicle Assortment
($7.99), while a new Series IV assortment of Plasma Dragons ($4.99) and a new
assortment of Plasma Dinosaurs ($4.99, pictured
) are also being released for ages 6 and up.
The new Speed Rally ProBuilder car sets ($14.99) are designed for kids ages 5
and up, though each comes in a collectible, embossed tin for storage and
display.
In the Magnetix line, Mega Brands is launching iCoaster ($79.99), a
build-your-own-roller-coaster set for ages 6 and up. Other releases in the line
include a Magna Formers assortment ($14.99), an 85-count bonus pack ($14.99), a
180-count bonus pack ($19.99) and a new Magnetix Hedrons super adhesive
60-count set ($19.99).
For preschoolers, look for the Magtastic starter set ($19.99) and deluxe
set ($29.99), as well as the Fill & Dump Wagon ($24.99) and Cinderella's
Magic Bucket set as part of the Maxi block system. In the Mini Block system,
the company is launching the Spider-Man &
Friends
Skatepark Bucket ($19.99), featuring a storage case with
carrying handles that can also be used as a play piece.
In the company's newest product line, skill and action games for kids
include Bobbin' Bumblebee for ages 3 to 6 ($19.99) and the monkey-themed Coco
Loco for ages 5 to 8 ($19.99). For little girls ages 4 to 7, the Fairy Princess
Dress-Up Game ($19.99) invites players to collect fairy items with the roll of
a fairy die. For kids ages 7 to 10, the Pyrates board game ($14.99) has players
hunting for treasure; an advanced version challenges players to decode
maps.
Megatech InternationalA seriously small plane will be landing at Toy Fair this year. North
Bergen, N.J.-based Megatech International's Fly-Pod ($79.99) will touch down
for R/C pilots ages 10 and up. For indoor and outdoor play, it features a
less-than-8-inch wingspan and MegaFlex Foam construction so it weighs only
27-gramsand, with two different radio frequencies and a flight time of 10
minutes per battery charge, fliers can engage in dogfights then recharge for
another go.
Megatech will also introduce the HydroFly ($99.99), for ages 12 and up
(pictured)
, a lightweight, easy-to-manuever
vehicle for land, sea and air.
MerryMakersMerryMakers of Oakland, Calif., is introducing several new dolls for
2007, including Lissy ($15), based on Grace Lin's book
Lissy's Friends
; and Jeremy Jacob, based
on Melinda Long and David Shannon's bestselling book How I Became a Pirate
($12). A plush Chester raccoon
($14) will also debut based on Audrey Wood's bestselling book
The Kissing Hand
.
MGA EntertainmentA large array of new offerings will be on tap in 2007 from MGA
Entertainment, Van Nuys, Calif.
The Bratz Babyz Mermaidz line features dolls with color-changing hair
and a waterfall playset, while the Magic Hair Bratz ($25.99) feature
ankle-length brushable locks (pictured)
.
Meanwhile, the Bratz Fun in the Sun kit for ages 6 and up includes a designer
tote bag, towel, beach ball, sunglasses and a spray fan. Also new for 2007 are
the R/C-enabled Bratz Play Sportz X-Treme Skate Boarding dolls, featuring
skater versions of Yasmin, Cloe and Sasha, which can be removed from their
skateboards.
New in the Yummi Land world for ages 4 and up is an assortment of
Flower-Pop Girl scented mini dolls, which come packaged with scented pets. A
Bow-Wow Wedding Vow pet set will also debut.
In the Zapf Creations brand, new products for 2007 include the19-inch
Chou ChouMommy, Make Me Better doll for ages 3 and up.
For the electronics category comes the new Fuse Box Micro Rocker MP3
player, which features an expandable SD memory slot, 512MB memory, wrist strap,
ear buds and a USB cable; and the Fuse Box Text and Call Mobile Handsets, which
let kids text up to 52 messages and chat with friends within a 2-mile radius.
MGA's Shrek
line will expand in
2007 to include Shrek
Princess Dolls, which
feature kung fu outfits under their gowns; the Shrek
Bug Bounce game, in which players launch slugs
into Shrek's mouth; the 3-D Memory Match-Up Game with 10 mini characters and
20 character cups; a Shrek
Bowling set; and
the Operation-style Shrek
Surgery Game, in
which players try removing items from Shrek's head.
Monogram InternationalPirates
, Cars
and superheroes will be arriving from Pinellas
Park, Fla.-based Monogram International in 2007. The company's new licensed
Disney, Marvel, Warner Brothers and Nickelodeon products will span all its
brands. Highlights include Pirates of the Caribbean
2
items like the pewter Ghost Key, other themed keychains and a
Ship's Wheel paperweight; as well as a series of Marvel-licensed
busts/paperweights (Spider-Man
movie
version), busts/banks (Spider-Man in black, Spider-Man
movie version, The Thing); figural resin
paperweights (Spider-Man, pictured,
and
Venom); figural banks (Captain America) and bookends (Spider-Man
villains).
MoonjarSeattle-based Moonjar will reintroduce the award-winning book
Noom & Raj Start a Business: the ABC's of
Money
in several new versions in 2007, including an animated CD-ROM
($9.95), an E-Book ($9.95); and two new CD-ROM sets (Standard $15.95 or Classic
$34.95), which package the tale with one of two variations of the Moonjar
Moneybox, a piggy bank for kids that offers compartments for saving, spending
and sharing. The CD-ROM is also available with the hardbound version of
Noom & Raj Start a Business
($22.95).
Morning Star GamesSanta Monica, Calif.-based Morning Star Games will be introducing three
of its recently released family games to the world market this year: Slap
Wacky! ($11.99), in which players rush to assemble wacky shape patterns; Pet
Detective ($18.99 in tin, $14.99 in box), a lost pet-themed matching game; and
JabberJot ($29.99), in which players rush to create a wild, wacky story in both
words and pictures.
Mr. ChristmasMr. Christmas, New York, brings a touch of turn-of-the-20th-century
charm to Toy Fair with its latest precision music boxes, including the
World's Fair Carriage Race ($114.99), which features teams of horse-drawn
carriages racing around a track before an appreciative crowd, 15 Christmas
carols and 15 non-holiday songs (pictured)
;
The Light and Sounds Carousel ($194.99), a spinning music box adorned with tiny
lights synchronized to 10 Siberian and 10 rock 'n' roll songs; and The
Grand Concertina ($174.99), which features an animated Victorian ballroom scene
housed in a burled wood box.
The Digital Photo Display Ornament, a digital photo frame with built-in
LCD screen, will also debut this year.
Mudpuppy (Galison)MudPuppy, New York, will be showcasing several new products for 2007,
including new Playscenes sets in Pirates, Happy Camper, Airport and Horse
Friends themes ($11) for ages 3 and up; each set includes more than 50 reusable
vinyl stickers for kids to arrange and display on fold-up background
boards.
Other offerings include a Goodnight
Moon
Mini-Cube Puzzle ($10); Ring Flash Cards ($12) for teaching the
ABCs plus basic words in Spanish and French (pictured)
; new Spanish, French, German and Italian
sets in the Around & About Learning Wheel line ($10); a Happy Camper Fun on
the Go Interactive Journal ($10); Magnetic Dress Up Dolls ($14) in Ballerina,
City Girls, Princess and World Traveler themes; and Portfolio Stationery Sets
($9).
New Tech KitesNew Tech Kites, Austin, Texas, introduces several new designs in 2007,
including the easy-to-fly Tye Dye Opie Octopus ($15) with eight moving
tentacles; the 3-D Painted Pony ($40) with legs that trot in the sky; and Mini
Bird & Insect Kites ($6), which come in three versions: Mini Dragonfly and
Mini Bee/Mini Butterfly (pictured)
.
For college sports fans, the company will offer the licensed NCAA
Collegiate Diamonds ($20), a series of kites with graphics from popular college
teams. And beginner performance kite flyers will appreciate the two-line
Ignitor ($20) and Detonator ($30), designed for sport kit enthusiasts ages 8
and up. Both feature rip stop nylon sails, durable fiberglass frames and bold
graphics.
New York Game FactoryGames shouldn't cause you to hold a grunge, but the latest from New
York Game Factory might just kick off a round of vengeance. Gazootch ($12.95)
features 10 dice, four dice cups and a casino-style felt playing cloth. The
company is also introducing a line of sports card games ($9.95), including the
Drive 'n' Dunk basketball game; the Double Play baseball game; and Red
Zone, an action-packed football game.
NikkoPlano, Texas-based Nikko will introduce a 1:14 scale Ferrari FI ($99)
for the specialty market in 2007. It will feature a flexible, lightweight body
capable of moving at speeds of up to 17 miles per hour.
NomacoZebulon, N.C.-based Nomaco is launching Dream Builders ($70), a new toy
building system for children ages 4 and up marketed by its Planet Foam
division. The sets (each has 22 foam tubes, 14 plastic connectors and nine
printed fabric panels) let kids create the playspaces of their dreams,
including a Pirate Ship (pictured)
, a
Princess Castle and a Clubhouse.
Norscot Scale ModelsNorscot Scale Models, Mequon, Wis., will debut Construction Minis
($1.97), tiny collectible die-casts with multiple moving parts and clear
plastic display cases that replicate real-world Caterpillar construction
equipment: the Cat 420E Backhoe Loader, the Cat 906 Compact Wheel Loader, the
Cat 315C L Excavator and the Cat D5G Xl Track-Type Tractor. The company will
also introduce its Machines at Work replicas (pictured)
with weathered finishes and mud splashes in
the following models: Cat D11R Track-Type Tractor, Cat 315C Hydraulic
Excavator, Cat 140H Motor Grader, Cat 226B Skid Steer Loader, Cat 623G
Elevating Scraper and Cat 730 Articulated Dump Truck.
North American BearA new collection of six funny, baby-safe fuzzy fiends is on the way from
Chicago-based North American Bear. The My Own Monster ($16) line, based on
children's actual creature designs, includes lovable and huggable creatures
that are machine-washable (pictured),
and a
portion of the sales proceeds will go to Global Action for Children.
N.A. Bear is also introducing a zippy gift idea for high-octane boys:
Zoooom-Around Race Car ($50), a 24-inch by 15-inch soft plush car that straps
around a child's waist; it features a steering wheel and engaging car engine
sounds.
The works of Lewis Carroll will be brought to life with the Alice in
Wonderland/Queen of Hearts Topsy Turvy Doll ($25), which features the heroine
on one side and her nemesis underneath. It's just one of many offerings in
the company's reversible, 11-inch soft doll line. Additional soft dolls for
girls and new classic and contemporary plush for babies and toddlers will also
be available this year.
Odyssey ToysA world of adventure awaits in 2007 from Westport, Conn.-based Odyssey
Toys, whose Animal Adventures line features wooden playsets in themes like
Dinosaur Dig (pictured)
, Ice Age, Jungle
Trek, African Safari, Polar Freeze and Ocean Discovery. Each set features
colorful nature scenes, movable creatures and magnetic puzzle play. The company
will also debut new nature figures and playsets ($20), including Jungle
Explorer, Shark Cage, Caveman and Safari Jeep sets.
The Ohio Art Co.The Ohio Art Co., Bryan, Ohio, will introduce a new Betty Spaghetty doll
for ages 4 to 11; Betty will get a complete makeover and will be available in a
variety of themes and price points for 2007.
Other new items in the K's Kids line of developmental toys for babies
and toddlers include a Floating Whale bath toy, a Block 'n' Learn soft
blocks set and an I am the Boss dinosaur ball pool
(pictured)
that can hold 60 balls zipped
inside it.
For older kids, the company will debut the Joolz Magic Gems brand of
make-your-own jewelry and Doodle Daisy, the female companion to the Doodle Doug
drawing buddy.
Ohio Art's flagship drawing toy, Etch A Sketch, will also be available
in new themes, including SpongeBob
SquarePants
; Dora the
Explorer;Go, Diego, Go!
and
The Backyardigans
.
Only Hearts ClubCamarillo, Calif.-based Only Hearts Club will be releasing a new line of
Only Hearts Pets for kids and tweens that feature sticky paws and clips that
allow them to be used as hair clips, bracelets and keychains. The line of
2-inch plush pets ($2.99) include Smokey the Pig, Hop-Hop the Frog, Howie the
Cow, Tiny the Elephant, T.T. the Monkey and Wags the Dog.
Out of the Box PublishingDodgeville, Wis.-based game maker Out of the Box Publishing will
introduce Cineplexity ($24.99), a game for players ages 12 and up that
chalenges players to name movies based on descriptions split between two cards.
Pamela DrakeBerkeley, Calif.-based Pamela Drake will introduce a repackaging of Kit
in the Can for ages 5 and up. The 2007 version comes in a see-through tube and
will include three ready-to-wear pieces of jewelry plus enough beads, wire and
other materials for 20 projects (pictured)
.
The company will also unveil new Groovy Girls-themed Woodkins ($14), and a
Chinese Ling Ling doll Woodkins set ($10).
Patch ProductsPatch Products, Beloit, Wis., will debut Can-Do Roo, a motivational
preschool game that features a soft kangaroo with a pouch full of activities
that can teach numbers, letters, colors and shapes.
For ages 7 and up, stacking is part of the game in Shakedown ($17.99),
while two versions of Roll-It Tic-Tac-Toe add dice into the mix. Patch Products
will also be rolling the dice with Farkle, a game said to have originated in
Iceland more than 500 years ago. In Patch's version for ages 8 and up,
players roll six dice and score with certain numbers and number combinations.
For ages 10 and up, What's Yours Like? ($24.99) puts party guests in
the hot seat. And for ages 12 and up, Loose Lips mixes a drawing game, acting
game and a talking game into one.
Play Along ToysThe popular Care Bears will have an all-new look in 2007, based on the
upcoming Oopsy Does It
movie; the
corresponding line of plush ($3.99 to $19.99) from Deerfield Beach, Fla.-based
Play Along will feature the Bears' distinct and unique personalities. The
company will also introduce the Care Bears Sing-Along Friends ($29.99) and a
Commemorative 25th Anniversary Bear ($19.99), which comes in a special
collector's box packaged with a DVD of The Land
Without Feelings,
the first ever TV special for the brand.
Other new products include the Cabbage Patch Kids Li'l Sprouts line
($9.99 to $19.99); Sweet Secrets ($4.99 to $24.99), a line of small fashion
dolls; Puppy/Kitty In My Pocket ($3.99 to $14.99), a line of collectible (and
wearable) pocket-sized pets; and new themes and licensed characters in the
Snugglers ($19.99) line of washable plush.
Play Along will also introduce new product in the Doodle line,
including: Color by Number Doodle Puppy ($14.99); the Doodle Girl Sparkle Fairy
Makeover ($19.99) set with tiara, colorful hair extensions, glitter glue and
stick-on gems; and Doodle Droids ($14.99), a robotic-themed, fluorescent
playset.
Even more luminescent fun can be had with the Glow-In-The-Dark Speed
Stacks StackPack ($44.99), an after-dark version of the fast-paced skill game
(pictured, page 87)
. Other new items in the
line are Speed Stacks Wild Cups with Practice Timer ($19.99) and the metallic
Speed Stacks Pro Series StackPack ($79.99) for serious stackers.
PlayhutThings will get lively in 2007 with new GoLive items from Playhut, City
of Industry, Calif. The GoLive MystiKats fashion dolls will get new themes and
new characters, including the Mystik Krystal and the new MystiKats online dream
world, Virtual Zynia, accessible through the GoLive Gate. A line of GoLive
Friends interactive toys will also arrive, while the GoLive Globe lets kids
travel the world. Playhut will also debut the new EZ Twist Playhut Home line of
outdoor play environments, and the EZ Twist Linx line, which will let kids
build their own playspaces using soft links, connecting panels, character
graphics and other accessories. Licensed versions include Disney Princesses,
Marvel Heroes and Dora the Explorer
.
Playmates ToysPlaymates Toys, Costa Mesa, Calif., will expand its Amazing Love 'n'
Blush Puppies line with four new 8-inch breeds: Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund,
Schnauzer and Maltese; and will add both a Siamese and Calico kitten to its
Love 'n' Lick Kittens line in the fall.
In the interative toy category, Playmates' will debut Amazing Lexie
($99.99), a fashionable Papillion Purse Puppy that expresses real emotions,
with a Shop Til You Drop play pack ($19.99) also available; and Amazing McKayla
($79.99), a doll that expresses emotions, learns to speak and loves to play
baby games, with a Time to Play play pack ($19.99) also available.
Strawberry Shortcake and her friends return in 2007 with several lines
of 6-inch dolls and accessories. The doll line includes Berries to
Blossom, Berry Beautiful and Beach Sweeties dolls; a Splashin' Surf Runner
with Pupcake and watermelon raft figure set; and Sweet Ride Along, a
free-wheeling convertible figure set. There will also be a line of 15-inch
dolls featuring spring party outfits. Deluxe mini doll sets include a
6-inch Strawberry Shortcake and 4-inch little sister Apple Dumplin';
a Crepes Suzette/Cherry Cuddler Berry Ballet for Two set will also arrive in
2007. Other Strawberry Shortcake toys will include the Beauty to Blossom
Playset, which can convert from va anity beauty salon to berrylicious tea
party; the Berry Pets; and the Berry Pretty Ponies series.
And the new Popples line will include 14-inch Popples and the mini
4-inch Pufflings, plus Pop 'n' Giggle Popples, Pop 'n' Mini Message
Popples, Pop 'n' Fun Baby Poppples and Pop 'n' Music Popples.
The year will also get revved up with the introduction of 14 new
Radically Engineered Vehicles and 13 new characters, including the Roaring
Thunder 5-inch robots; Marauders, customizable armored vehicles; the
freewheeling robot Street Strikers; Aresenal Attack; and Auto Titan, a car
carrier for up to four Marauders and Street Strikers. There will also be a
R.E.V. Bots invasion set.
Playmates Toys will also be releasing its own version of a PDA. But in
this case, PDA stands for Piata
Digital Assistant, designed to help fans of the Viva
Piata
game for the Microsoft Xbox 360. It connects to an
Xbox 360 game console for ownloading special content. Playmates also plans a
line of 6-inch Viva Piata
figures.
Playmobil Cranbury, N.J.-based Playmobil comes to the rescue with the new Fire
Rescue Boat ($29.99) and other similarly-themed playsets like the Ambulance
($34.99), Medical Copter ($34.99) and Emergency Vehicle ($24.99). A Deep Sea
Submarine set ($17.99) will also debut, along with the company's new Airport
sets, which includes a Jet ($49.99), which has room for cargo and passengers;
an Airline Terminal ($54.99), which features check-in counter, luggage
transport and other accessories; an Airport Control Tower ($24.99); and the
Airport Cargo Zone ($44.99) with forklift, cargo and holding pen.
New Playmobil Hospital toys include a full Hospital ($159.99) with seven
figures, operating table, reception area and accessories, as well as a
Pediatrician ($6.99) to watch over the little patients, and a Child with
Wheelchair ($5.99), who will need just a bit of care.
The glory that was Rome lives on in Playmobil Romans, including a new
Arena ($89.99), which includes eight figurines, two lions, a double harness
chariot, audience seating and trap doors to engage the gladiators
(pictured)
. Other sets include a Chariot
($16.99) and Roman Galley ($44.99), a ship that floats or rolls on wheel.
In the fantasy realm, look for the new Fairy Tale Castle ($8.99),
Pirate ($8.99), Knight's Castle ($8.99) and Noah's Ark ($8.99) sets.
And in the 1-2-3 line for ages 18 months and up, the company will
introduce Zoo ($10.99), Safari Truck ($9.99), Zoo Veterinarian ($6.99), Farm
Puzzle Board ($14.99) and Circus Puzzle Board ($14.99) sets.
Playroom EntertainmentThe living room will do double duty as game room this year, thanks to
Playroom Entertainment, North Hollywood, Calif., whose lineup for 2007 includes
several titles for the whole family.
For the youngest players in the family comes M is for Mouse ($8), a
letter-learning game; Hop To It ($8), a quick-response memory game; and
Cowabunga ($20), a surfing-inspired game.
For ages 8 and up, there's Limits ($10), a discard-your-card game;
Reality Check ($10), in which players come up with the wackiest reality TV show
they can imagine; Limbo ($10), a strategy game in which players play good
against evil to win points; Bull in China Shop ($10), a hilarious strategy
game; and Mother Sheep ($20), a fence-building, sheep-coralling strategy game.
Additional games for ages 10 and up include Temple of the Monkey ($20),
an intriguing adventure card game; Unspeakable Words: The Call of Cthulhu Word
Game ($20) based on the famous character; and Travel to Little Italy, a
gangland game set in the 1950s.
Playroom will also introduce the final expansion for its popular Killer
Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot game for ages 12 and up. The Ominous
Onyx Booster Pack ($20) will add 110 cards, including 12 Mysterious Place
cards, into the mix.
Play VisionsWoodinville, Wash.-based Play Visions will add to its Zibbies plush line
with Mini Zibbies ($4.99), keychains for ages 5 and up. New Zibbies animal
designs in 4-inch and 6-inch sizes will also debut in 2007.
PoppoThe newest addition to pop culture this year is Poppo! ($24.95), from
Poppo Brands, Beverly, Mass. A lively children's game that can actually be
learned in less than five minutes, Poppo is fun for the whole family. Each game
includes eight colorful poppers with an eight-sided letter die, a 60-second
timer, and 100 charmingly illustrated picture/word cards. It requires memory
and literacy skills in order to be successful.
Pressman ToyThink you could do better than the game show contestants on TV? In 2007,
kids ages 12 and up can try their luck at trivia with the board game version of
1 vs. 100
from New York-based Pressman
Toy.
Other 2007 offerings include the Ben
10
DVD Game and the Ben 10
Total
Transformation Game, both for ages 7 and up.
Cartoon Network's The Land Before
Time
inspires a DVD game and the Escape from Red Claw board game,
while Columbia Pictures' Surf's Up
leads
to board games and puzzles.
Scooby-Doo, where are you? He's in the upcoming
Scooby-Doo
Haunted House 3-D board game, for
ages 5 and up!
Based on the virtual pets from Bandai, the Tamagotchi Electronic Grow
Your Pet Game for ages 7 and up features an electronic Tama-screen for
players to select meals, toys, snacks and more. A new line of Tamagotchi-themed
puzzles (pictured)
will also debut.
And for grown-ups, Pressman will unveil its new 30 Seconds game, in
which players rush to name the five people, places and things that are on their
teammate's card; and Matchmate, a game for two to four couples that offers
more than 1,000 provocative and intimate questions designed to prove how well
the couples really know each other.
Pretty UglyPretty Ugly, Edison, N.J., will roll out new styles and sizes of its
unusual plush dolls in 2007, including Black Ice-Bat, Big Toe
(pictured)
and TooDee in 24-inch, 12-inch,
Little Ugly and keychain sizes. A Little Sailor Babo doll will also debut in
Little Ugly size only. Prices range from $6 to $50.
Putumayo KidsPutumayo Kids, New York, will be promoting two CDs at Toy Fair.
Asian Dreamland
is a collection of soft
lullabies and soothing songs from various Asian cultures, while
Animal Playground
features international
animal-themed tunes.
PyramatSurround sound typically uses speakers around the room to project noise
from all directions, but Pyramat's upcoming G-Flex Game Booster ($59.95) for
ages 8 and up puts audio immersion in the listener's chair. The chair
features two-direction speakers, volume control and RCA audio inputs, plus it
folds up for easy storage or transportation and can work with game consoles,
DVD players, iPods and MP3 players.
R&R GamesNew York-based R&R Games will introduce its new Hide & Seek
Safari ($34.95) game for ages 4 and up, a selection of electronic animals that
can be hidden indoors or out and then located by using the company's
exclusive tree branch-shaped Seeker wand (pictured)
. Available in tiger, monkey and T-Rex.
R&R will also add to its card and board game lines with Take Your
Best Shot ($24.95), a kinetic secret-word game; and Disorder ($15.95), a word
game that relies on wit, strategy and bluffing.
Radica GamesRadica Games, Dallas is expanding its Cube World line with Town Square,
Circle Tours and Series 3 set ($22.99).
A number of new games will also debut in 2007, including Pop Scramble
($24.99), where players race the clock to unscramble more than 300 famous
phrases from movies, music, TV, history, proverbs and nursery rhymes
(pictured)
; and Tetris 3-D Stax ($19.99), an
update of the classic video game. Meanwhile, the 20Q line of family games will
expand to include the plug-and-play 20Q Party ($34.99), plus the electronic 20Q
Movies ($14.99) and 20Q People ($14.99).
Radica will also introduce the Video Journal ($29.99), which lets users
download photos and videos to create customized journals; and IM Me ($64.99), a
wireless messaging system that's portable and private, allowing chat only
with other pre-approved users.
And for collectors and gamers alike, Radica's Funkeys ($19.99 starter
kit, $4.99 singles) are an interactive toy line that's part vinyl
collectibles, part connection device; the more you collect, the more zones you
can explore and games you can play.
RainbowBrushWith just a few minutes of practice, creative types of all ages can be
transformed into artists with the interlocking markers from RainbowBrush, Key
West, Fla. Five of the non-toxic, washable markers come packaged together along
with an Inspiring Ideas
guide book to help
teach novices some new artistic techniques.
RavensburgerGermany's Ravensburger will be the exclusive distributor for WOW
preschool toys, designed in the U.K. New products in the line for little hands
include ambulance, fire engine, car/horse trailer and helicopter
(pictured)
sets with figures ($14.99 to
$49.99).
Additional products include the Thomas
Alphabet Train, a 14-piece floor puzzle that is
more than 6-feet long; Bob the Builder
jigsaw puzzles; and a line of On the Go! Travel Puzzle Cards, the first of
which is in a Thomas & Friends
theme
that helps kids ages 1 and up build vocabulary as they try to fit the
10 train engines into the correct frames.
Also new for 2007 is Painting by Numbers Junior ($16.99) for ages 5 to
7, available in Ocean Life, Princess and Jungle Friends themes. Each
easy-to-use kit comes complete with two pre-printed painting panels, five
non-toxic paints and a sturdy paintbrush.
And for infants, Ravensburger will introduce the Bathtub Fun Center
($19.99), which features a friendly whale that doubles as a water scoop; and My
Picture Phone ($14.99), which features bear, lamb and duck images that sing
along to three different classical melodies.
Razor USAAfter success with its popular line of scooters and other ride-ons,
Razor USA, Cerritos, Calif., will be introducing a new line of boards for 2007
with the RipStik ($129.99) for ages 8 and up. The board replicates the
experience of surfing or snowboarding on dry land, with two plastic end
platforms connected by a metal torsion beam, and a concave design complete with
kicktail and raised nose. An instructional DVD, How to
Ride
, is included with the RipStik to show novice users how to
master tricks.
RBI Toys To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Raritan, N.J.-based RBI Toys will be
introducing a line of toys created specifically for younger kids. The Puppets
and Li'l Ones with Sound ($15.99) series are soft, baby safe puppets that are
completely machine washable and feature embroidered eyes and a removable sound
pouch.
RC ArtRC Art, New York, has created a new category in creativity products:
radio-controlled art. The company invites children ages 4 and up to create
designs using its interactive RC Art Color Bug ($24.99), a ladybug shaped
vehicle that draws on various surfaces using markers, crayons and chalk. The
Color Bug features color schemes tailored to appeal to both boys (hot rod
flames) and girls (purple shell with stars). A customizable scribble shell will
also be available.
RC2 BrandsRC2 Brands, Oak Brook, Ill., will re-launch its flagship Lamaze infant
development line for 2007 with several products, including the Spin &
Explore Garden Gym, a new Link 'n' Snack Turtle, and the Balancing Bug
Stackers. Toddlers, meanwhile, will see new Play Town sets of collectible wood
characters, including character assortments like the standard mom and dad, plus
popular characters from Sesame Street
,
Marvel and Nickelodeon properties. Wooden vehicles like a firetruck (pictured),
tow truck and garbage truck, and
structures like offices and pirate ships will round out the selection.
For preschoolers, the Take Along line will include new sets such as the
Thomas & Percy Carnival Set; a Bob the
Builder
Power Dough Construction Site; a Take Along Meteor based on
the BigFoot Presents Meteor and the Mighty Monster
Trucks
TV show; and a Take Along Nick Jr. Dora
Adventure Set. In addition, new engines, vehicles
and destination sets for the Thomas &
Friends
Wooden Railway will also debut in 2007.
In the company's R/C product division, new offerings for the year
include a Bob the Builder
Wheelie Scrambler
and John Deere Mighty Movers for preschoolers, and the Battlewheel Warriors
line for ages 6 and up.
RealLiveSportsRealLiveSports, Atlanta, will be in the game in 2007 with ESPN Play by
Play Plus ($99.95) for ages 8 and up. This portable sports audio system lets
kids provide their own commentary with a handheld microphone, and features ESPN
theme music and sound bites, a built-in MP3 player, the ability to record up to
60 minutes of calls, and an SD card slot and USB port to let future
commentators download music directly onto the device. The company will also
debut the ESPN Mini E ($6.95) keychain shaped like the Play by Play
system; with the push of a button it plays the theme from ESPN
SportsCenter
.
Reeves International (Breyer)Reeves International, Pequannock, N.J., increases the stock of its
Breyer model horse brand with several additions for 2007, led by the Nokota
Horse ($50). Proceeds from the model go towards preserving the wild horse breed
that roamed southwestern North Dakota.
Other new offerings include the Stablemates Grooming Center and Cafe
playset ($35), and the Stablemates Dually Truck and Gooseneck Trailer ($35)
with drop-down ramp and hinged tailgate (pictured)
.
Budding breeders can keep tabs on their Breyer model horse collection
with the 36-page Passport to Model Horse Collecting, which resembles real
passports used by horse owners for overseas travel.
The Breyer plush assortment adds Tucker with musical teddy bear ($25),
Buddy the Snoozy horse with bunny slippers ($16), and Tex in cowboy pajamas
($16).
Artistic-types will get the Mini Whinnies Fantasy Paint Kit ($7), which
features shimmer paints for completing a cantering Tennessee Walking Horse
gelding, a Morgan Mare or a prancing foal.
Horses and accessories based on the book and TV series
The Stable Club
are also planned.
RevellRevell, Northbrook, Ill., is appealing to hobbyists with two new
offerings this year.
The company's entry in the hobby robotics arena is VEXplorer
($249.99), an extension of the original VEX system, targeted at ages 10 and up
(pictured)
. With grasping claw, reaching
arm, multiple servo motors and a camera that transmits to either a TV or
computer screen, VEXplorer boasts over 300 parts for a variety of
configurations.
Revell's RPMz ($69.99) R/C racing system is a complete kit with all
the necessary accessories: extra motors, springs, gears and tires. It will be
available in NASCAR and Concept Cars themes.
Rex GamesRex Games, San Francisco, invites players ages 7 and up to challenge
themselves with the new 3-D board game Idol QuestThe Strategy Game of
Capture and Escape ($24.99). Incorporating jungle, survival and treasure-hunt
themes, it prompts players to devise different strategies to help them retrieve
the priceless idol and make a clean getaway.
RokenbokTen years after introducing its ground-breaking radio-control
construction toy system, Rokenbok, Solana Beach, Calif., refreshes the line
with product for an expanded age range, updated vehicles, new colors and
greater detailing. A highlight will be the Conveyor Company
(pictured)
, a set of more than 190 pieces
that includes an R/C loader vehicle and a motorized conveyor.
And to appeal to younger children, Rokenbok's Rok Jr. Beginning
Builder Start Set includes a new building block designed to make it easier to
assemble ramps and roadways, yet is still fully compatible with traditional
Rokenbok sets. It also includes a new, easier-to-drive Loader operated by a
newly designed controller created especially for smaller hands.
Rounder RecordsRounder Records, Cambridge, Mass., recently signed singer Peter
Himmelman, whose first music title, My Green
Kite
($14.98), will be out this month. The CD offers 12 quirky,
pop-influenced tunes geared for kids ages 3 and up, including the whimsical
Have You Ever Really Looked at an Egg?, My Father's an
Accountant, and Maybe Is a Bad Word.
RoylcoInsects and fashion are two key themes for Anderson, S.C.-based Roylco
in 2007. The Insect X-rays and Picture Card set ($14.99) for ages 4 and up
includes 36 different image cards of insects seen from both top and bottom,
with additional cards showing actual X-rays that can be viewed with a light
table (pictured)
. A teacher's guide is
also available. Also in Roylco's offerings this year are three new art kits
($19.95) for ages 8 and up: the Fashion Designer Portfolio, which includes doll
silhouettes, stencils, fabrics and more; the Interior Design Portfolio; and the
Visual Artist Design Kit, which includes sponges, mosaics, food coloring and
more for budding artists.
Russ BerrieRuss Berrie & Co., Oakland, N.J., will enhance its plush collection
in 2007 with new Marvel character offerings for ages 3 and up. The
Spider-Man
Beanbag assortment ($7) features
soft, 8-inch versions of Spidey and Venom (pictured)
.
A Dancin' Macho Man Homer ($25) is a 14-inch version of Homer Simpson
donning a bath towel and slippers as he dances and sings along to '70s disco
hit Macho Man.
Footnotes Bears ($25) will feature light-up speakers in their feet that
attach to an MP3 player for some foot tappin' fun.
Sababa ToysNew York-based Sababa Toys will re-launch the Snoopy Sno-Cone Maker,
first introduced in 1978, this spring. The Sno-Cone Maker will include the
original Snoopy doghouse and Sno Man syrup bottle.
Additional new games, playsets and other playthings will be launched in
2007 around other licensed properties like Happy
Feet
, the American Kennel Club, Hello Kitty, Wizard of Oz
and Shrek
.
SAS GamesPreviously only available to educators, TiVitz ($29.95), from SAS Games,
Oklahoma City, is a checkers-like math and strategy game that's available in
several different themes for kids ages 8 to 14, including space, aqua,
baseball, soccer and hockey. Each game includes 30 different sheets and one
blank laminate so that players can create and customize their own game
boards.
ScholasticNew York-based children's book imprint Scholastic will release new
stand-alone and series books in 2007 such as The Time
Traveler's Journal
and the latest in the the
How Do Dinosaurs...
series by Jane Yolen and
Mark Teague. In addition, numerous tie-in books will debut for
Star Wars
notably Star Wars Holocron: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy
by paper
engineer Matthew Reinhartas well for Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix
and The Golden
Compass
.
Additional key licenses for tie-in books include: Littlest Pet Shop,
Lego Bionicle, TEENick, Doodlebops
, Taggies
and 2007 feature film Mr. Magorium's Wonder
Emporium
. Several audio books for book series titles and stand-alone
picture books will also debut, along with additional storybook game/doll
books-plus offerings.
In the video category, Scholastic's Weston Woods division will release
the Diary of a Worm DVD
based on the popular
book, with three additional animal tales due out later in the year on DVD.
SchyllingStep right up and see the new circus-themed preschool toys ($4.99 to
$29.99), available in 2007 from Schylling, Rowley, Mass. Turning the handle on
the Circus Jack in the Box will cause a clown to pop out, while the Circus Top
tin toy makes a gentle humming sound as a menagerie of animals spin round and
round. Precious trinkets can be stored inside the Circus Treasure Box,
featuring a dancing elephant that twirls to the sound of circus music when the
lid is open. The Circus Tin Drum has an adjustable strap, two wooden drum
sticks and bouncing colored balls, while a tin Circus Bank has wheels plus a
lock and key. A tin Circus Pail with wooden handle is decorated with animals
performing tricks.
ScreenlifeSeattle-based Screenlife will be releasing several new Scene It? DVD
games, including: Movie 2nd Edition ($39.99), movie trivia for ages 13 and up;
Random Tandem, where you guess what you think everyone else knows ($29.99);
Disney 2nd Edition ($39.99), an updated version with added properties
Cars
, Ratatouille
, Pirates of the
Caribbean
, Meet the Robinsons
and
more for ages 6 and up; Harry Potter
2nd
Edition ($39.99), which includes new questions plus clips from the fifth film,
for 8 ages and up; and Scene It? movie, TV and Jr. travel games. Also on tap
for 2007 are Spider-Man
Blast ($19.99), for
Spidey fans ages 8 and up to test their knowledge of the films; and
Thomas & Friends
DVD Bingo ($24.99),
which will debut for ages 4 and up.
Selecta SpielzeugGermany's Selecta Spielzeug adds two new toys to its collection this
year. Constructi ($29) for ages 2 and up is a small wooden car that can be
reassembled and pulled along by its attached cord (pictured)
. It was developed to help toddlers practice
creativity, motor functions, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. Curvino
is a wooden push toy for ages 1 and up that doubles as a steerable vehicle when
the handlebar is removed ($39).
ShelcoreShelcore, Somerset, N.J., rolls out a wealth of new toys for the infant
and toddler crowd in 2007, including an extension to its interactive Sound
Beginnings line. The Groove 'n' Go Music Maker (pictured)
lets kids mix their own musical numbers by
stacking and turning musical rings to combine beats, melodies and sounds.
Additional toddler toys include new releases in the Shake 'n' Bobbles
series of vehicles and figures: a Cement Mixer, a Dump Truck and a Railroad
playset. And the company's existing line of NASCAR preschool vehicles will
get new drivers for its Shakin' Race Car and Remote Control Racer.
Shelcore will also unveil the Loonie Goonie Monsters, a line of weird
furry characters that wiggle, giggle and laugh, such as Whozi-Whatzit-Willie,
which has its own handheld remote control.
Shocker ToysAction figure firm Shocker Toys, Buffalo, N.Y., brings a selection of
mini and larger figures to market this year. Shocker's Indie Spotlight
series, for example, will feature 6-inch figures based on Independent comic
books, the designs for which were created with input from their respective
comic book artists. Series 1, to be shown at Toy Fair, will consist of Jimmy
Valentino's ShadowHawk, David Mack's Kabuki, Rob Schrab's Scud the
Disposable Assassin and Terry Moore's Katchoo, sculpted by Christopher
Gawrych. A fifth character will soon be announced, as will figures for Series 2
and a new format line for Shocker's licensed Indie properties.
The company's Shockinis series of 3-inch block figures will also
include an Indie Spotlight assortment this year. Each packaged set will come
with two figures from the lineup and a mini comic book. Series 1 will feature
Classic Media's Dick Tracy and Solar Man of the Atom, Mike Allred's Madman,
Jimmy Valentino's ShadowHawk, David Mack's Kabuki, Rob Schrab's Scud the
Disposable Assassin and Terry Moore's Katchoo. Shocker will also show off its
non-licensed Shockinis at the show.
Meanwhile, GWAR, the 20-year-old shock rock band, is being featured as
7-inch and 8-inch action figures. Wave 1 consists of versions of Oderus,
Beefcake and Techno with accessories and bases.
Signing TimeSalt Lake City-based Signing Time is introducing several new DVDs, books
and flashcards, including the Baby Signing
Time
DVD, designed to help infants begin to learn sign language for
basic day-to-day events like washing up, good manners, transportation, common
objects and getting ready for bed. There are two DVDs and CDs in this line. The
entire set retails for $54.99.
Three additional 30-minute DVDs will also be available for older
children in 2007: My Day, My Neighborhood
;
Time to Eat
and Welcome to My School
($21.99).
My First Signs
,
Playtime Signs
and Everyday Signs
are three of the books in the Signing
Time book series ($12.99) designed to reinforce or introduce what is taught on
the Signing Time videos.
The company will also launch Practice Time Flash Card sets.
Silver Dolphin BooksSan Diego-based Silver Dolphin Books will relaunch its
Let's Start!
art books-plus series in 2007
with upgraded versions featuring new activities and redesigned packaging to
make each kit travel-friendly for kids. Drawing
and Painting
, each $16.95, will be the first two titles.
Other new offerings will include Fashion Design Studio:
Denim
($16.95); Fashion Design Studio:
T-Shirts
($16.95); Fine Art Studio:
Watercolor
; and Art Academy: Sculpt
It
($16.95, pictured, page 95
).
Also for older kids, there's the new Human
Body: The Ultimate Guide to How the Body Works
($16.95) interactive
book.
Younger girls, meanwhile, will enjoy the new Cover Girls
series ($14.95) of kits that include a
storybook, stickers and a frame; and the latest additions to the company's
Be a Little...
series for ages 5 and up
($12.95), such as Be a Little Fairy
and
Be a Little Princess
.
For babies and the youngest kids, the publisher will debut its
Let's Make Noise
series and the
Amazing Baby
lenticular series, which
includes the titles Amazing Baby Spots and
Dots!
and Amazing Baby Picture
Pairs!
($5.95), while the Sing-Along
Series
under the same name has Clap and
Sing!
and Rock-a-bye Baby!
($12.95). All books in these collections are appropriate for newborns through
3-year-olds.
Simtec Co.Irwin, Pa.-based Simitec Co. brings sports indoors for ages 4 and up
with a trio of toys under its Fun Slides Carpet Skates brand. Mini Carpet
Hockey features the carpet puck that glides across rugs and two mini hockey
sticks, while Carpet Bocce (pictured)
combines the skill and strategy of bocce with the puck. No batteries
are required with Airless Carpet Hockey, which also utilizes the carpet
puck.
Sleeping Bear PressChelsea, Mich.-based Sleeping Bearwhich recently completed its
multi-book publishing project, the Discover America
State by State
serieswill release several new titles in its
$17.95 alphabet series in 2007, including M is for
Meow: A Cat Alphabet
, P is for Princess: A
Royal Alphabet
and Eve Bunting's S is for
Shamrock: An Ireland Alphabet
..
Small World ToysSmall World Toys, Los Angeles, has several new products in its Eric
Carle, Dr. Seuss, Karen Katz and Ryan's Room lines.
New to the Eric Carle line are Touch 'n' Read Blocks ($23.99),
interactive learning blocks for ages 2 and up; Wild Animal Magic Sound Blocks
($15.99), which feature animals by Eric Carle; The Very
Hungry Caterpillar
Book and Magnetic Puzzle set ($22.99,
pictured
); and Brown
Bear
Puzzle Tiles ($19.99), featuring nine different animals. In the
Dr. Seuss line are: Rhyme Time Cat in the
Hat
($24.99), a soft, plush book for first-time
Hat
readers; several Cat in the Hat
puzzles; a memory game and more. There
will also be several new additions in the line of baby toys designed by Karen
Katz, including soft blocks, puzzles with storage boxes and a Travel Activity
Quilt ($14.99 to $39.99).
Joining the Ryan's Room line this year is a Carry 'n' Play
Dollhouse ($79.99), along with several additional accessory sets like a laundry
room, a bathroom and a camping set ($5.99 to $21.99).
Snap TVSnap TV, Santa Monica, Calif., has several new DVD games out this year,
including the Guess How Much I Love You
Storybook Game ($24.99) for kids ages 3 and up.
And for players ages 12 and up, Snap TV will debut the MLB Grand Slam
Trivia: Red Sox Edition & Yankees Edition ($24.99), which use video footage
and trivia questions to zero in the histories of these baseball teams; Trivia
Arcade ($24.99), which tests knowledge of pop, sports, science, art and more
via hundreds of video clips and questions; The Bible Game ($24.99), a
Tic-Tac-Toe style trivia challenge; and MLB Trade Up ($24.99), the first-ever
DVD trading card board game. Also ideal for this age group are the
travel-friendly GameSnacks: Family Showdown ($9.99) and GameSnacks: Kids Trivia
editions, each featuring over 800 questions for kids and parents.
Tag A TagHong Kong-based Tag A Tag is launching a Tag Starter set for ages 5 to
12 ($34.99), which features two TagaVests and four TagaBalls
(pictured)
. The unique vests allow balls to
hook to them when players throw them at other players. To increase the play
value, 10 Impact Starsmarkers that players use to keep track of hitsare
included with the set. The Stars can be applied to the balls and will stick to
vests upon impact.
The new TagBlaster set ($14.99) lets players blow small foam pellets at
distances up to 50 feet away to try to hook them to the Tagatag vests. The set
includes one TagBlaster and 10 foam pellets.
TaggiesNew blankies and fabric shapes will be available from Taggies, Spencer,
Mass., this year.
Additions include Touchdown Taggies ($24.95), a football-shaped blanket
trimmed with multi-colored, multi-textured tags; the Taggies Football ($19.95),
a soft plush ball toy; and a Fun Shapes mini football ($12.95) with an attached
teether ring.
For girls, there's a Flower Me Fun series, which includes a blanket
($24.95, pictured
); a fabric flower toy
($19.95); and a Fun Shapes mini flower ($12.95) with teether ring.
Debuting in the Little Taggies line in 2007 are mini blanket designs
($21.95) inspired by the popular books produced by Taggies and Scholastic: a
Sweet Dreams
sleepy bunny blanket, an
I Love You
bear family print blanket, a
Princess
blanket and a generic book-themed
blanket. All retail for $21.95.
TalicorPlainwell, Mich.-based Talicor will unveil Out Of Control ($11.99) this
year, a fast-paced sequence card game in the tradition of Rummy for ages 12 and
up. Picture This ($24.99), a picture-word guessing game for ages 6 and up, will
also debut, along with The Great Word Race ($24.99), which tests spelling
skills; and the Veggie Tales
Seek &
Match Game ($19.99), both of which are recommended for players 4 and up.
TanArtTanArt, Wheaton, Ill., is releasing Cool 2-in-1 Body Art, temporary
tattoos that feature a self-tanning ingredient that, when the sticker is
removed, gradually creates a dark tanned image on the skin. Available in eight
different packages (including hearts, crosses, clover and barbed wire) to
appeal to both boys and girls.
Techno SourceNew York-based Techno Source will showcase some new licensed products
with a number of technical bells and whistles in 2007.
In preschool electronics, the company will debut its interactive
Sesame Street
Exploring Numbers With Elmo
and Sesame Street
Where's Elmo? games for
teaching numbers and shapes, respectively.
Meanwhile, the NASCAR Drop the Hammer game lets racers feel vibrations
when their car hits a wall or another car, while the NASCAR 3-D Color V.I.E.W.
immerses players right into the race.
Other new handhelds include Illuminated 3 in 1 Dominoes; Bicycle
Tri-Peak Solitaire; Bicycle Blackjack & Deuces Wild; and the Circular
Sudoku games.
The company will also be unveiling its Rubik's Revolution cube
(pictured)
, the first electronic version of
the classic brainteaser.
ThinkFunThinkFun, Alexandria, Va., will offer lots more ways for game players
ages 8 and up to test their strategic skills in 2007, including Treasure Quest
($20), an adventure strategy game; Cover Your Tracks ($16), a game of spatial
development skills; Pete's Pike ($16), a wilderness-themed teamwork and
problem-solving game; and Hot Spot ($16), a robot-themed problem-solving game
(pictured)
.
Thinkway ToysOntario-based Thinkway Toys will debut a new line based on DIC's
Horseland
television series, including mini
collectible horses ($3.99), Interactive Talking Horse and Rider sets ($14.99),
a Stable Play Set ($19.99), an 11-inch jump horse ($12.99) and fashion dolls
with apparel ($12.99).
The company will also introduce five bobble heads ($11.99) based on
vintage McDonald's characters in their trademark costumes.
Tiny LoveInfant and toddler developmental toy maker Tiny Love, Garden Grove,
Calif., has several new early development toys debuting in 2007.
The ActiviTot Stroller Trio features hanging animal toys, a bottle
holder and a pacifier strap, while the Musical Stack & Ball
Gameavailable in two designs, chicken and penguin (pictured)
includes easy-to-grab texture rings, a
teething ring and special effects to stimulate baby's hearing, vision and
touch. The Rain Ball Stacker is a soft ball that can be stacked by color and
rolled around. All three items retail for $19.95. The company will also debut a
series of new 360 3-D Storybooks
($19.95),
soft pop-up books for babies.
Tonner DollTonner Doll Co., Hurley, N.Y., adds to its Harry
Potter
collection with Draco Malfoy ($134.99) dressed in Slytherin
House robes, while Mystery fans will get new Frank and Joe dolls from
The Hardy Boys
($149.99). Meanwhile, wedding
bells are ringing for Cinderella Bride ($199.99) and Prince Charming Groom
($149.99), both highly articulated.
Collectors will also love the new dolls inspired by the New York City
Ballet, each of which is sculpted with stationary en pointe feet, and developed
under the guidance of the ballet company. They will retail for $174.99.
And in time for the March 2007 release of New Line Cinema's
The Last Mimzy
comes the Emma and Mimzy doll
set ($149.99, pictured
).
Toy CollectionToy Collection, Santa Barbara, Calif., a company producing promotional
catalogs and flyers for independent toy stores, announces the re-launch of its
Web site, toycollection.com. Toy Collection also uses e-mail newsletter
campaigns to build traffic and sales for individual stores.
ToyQuestToyQuest, Los Angeles, introduces a slew of licensed and proprietary
products for 2007.
In conjunction with Mad Science, ToyQuest will debut products for ages 6
to 10 such as electronic microscopes, car activity sets and hands-on science
activity sets. Another key product line for the year will be I-Que, a robot
that combines text-to-speech technology and voice recognition and comes
equipped with a Merriam-Webster Student Edition
Dictionary
and Encyclopedia-Britannica
.
In outdoor toys, the Banzai Color Stream Water Gun will keep kids cool
this summer, as will new additions to the Banzai Falls line of waterslides,
including the Double Drop Raceway (pictured)
, a dual-lane, blower-powered slide with a
cascading waterfall and soft-bottom landing pad; the Cannonball Splash, an
inflatable waterslide and pool combination; and Sidewinder Falls, a curving
waterslide, tunnel slide and splash pool in one.
TriopsTriops, Pensacola, Fla., presents Bath Bomb Factory ($15.99). Kids ages
8 and up can learn about the science of Fizz by making haunted balloons
or Phunny Foam, making bathtime simultaneously educational and fun.
Ty's Toy BoxTy's Toy Box, Erlanger, Ky., will introduce over 40 Domo products,
including plush, pens, notepads and keychains, as the animated cave-dweller
will make his debut in a series of Nickelodeon shorts.
Uncle MiltonUncle Milton Industries, Westlake Village, Calif., is set to take on the
science and educational market with a slew of new toys and gadgets, including
the Flying Bat; the Digital World Cam, which features night vision, motion
sensors and a time-lapse function; the Pterodactyl Egg Rescue set; Deep Sea
Jellyfish, a series of realistic-looking creatures that pulse and float; the
Space Projector Clock, which includes a CD audio tour of the heavens and star,
comet and moon projection slides; the Solar Robots; and Rainbow in My Room.
Joining the Jet Hawks brand is the Uncle Milton Roto Rocket.
In the Farm Fresh division, the new Lightcast interactive music light
show will sync to the beat of anyone's favorite tunes.
University GamesUniversity Games, San Francisco, is expanding its Eric Carle line to
include a trio of new board games tied to Brown
Bear-Panda Bear, What Do You See?;The
Grouchy Ladybug
and The Very Quiet
Cricket.
The first two titles will also be available in puzzle
versions, as will the Dr. Seuss titles The Cat in the
Hat
and Hop on Pop
.
Other preschooler offerings for 2007 include an electronic version of
Five Little Monkeys (pictured)
; Gobble,
Gobble; and Polly the Porcupine. For family play, University Games will launch
Perplex City, a race-the-clock game populated with riddles, brainteasers and
anagrams.
Meanwhile, the Colorforms brand will debut several new SKUs in 2007,
including bilingual Dora The Explorer
and
Go, Diego, Go!
Treasure Quests and
Dora the Explorer;Go, Diego, Go!
and Thomas
& Friends
4-in-1 Colorfoams Playsets. Kids will also enjoy a new
line of puzzles-plus from the BePuzzled brand; the first titles are The Twenty
Questions for Kids Puzzle Activity and What's in a Word? Puzzle Activity.
In the Great Explorations division, the company will release a newly
updated 3-D Solar System and 3-D Planets In A Tube set, necessitated by
Pluto's banishment from the list of official planets.
In the adult party game arena, the company will debut the Argue! board
game, in whch players debate topics from the silly to the serious and earn
points by winning and judging arguments; Grateful Dead The Game, the first
authorized game about the famous jam band; the Who
Wants to Be a Millionaire
DVD Board Game; and What's Cookin'?, a
trivia game about food's history and more.
University will also expand its upscale Bookshelf Games line in 2007
with the relaunch of two classic game titles popular in decades past: Facts in
Five and Executive Decision.
Upper DeckCarlsbad, Calif.-based trading card company Upper Deck returns with a
new Yu-Gi-Oh!
Trading Card Game (TCG). For
2007, the game, for ages 8 and up, boasts new characters, monsters and powers.
The card game features several new series of specialty booster packs and other
special-edition cards.
Based on the popular online game, the World of
Warcraft
TCG continues its reign in 2007 with new features. This
April, Through the Dark Portal Starter sets ($14.99) and booster packs ($3.99)
will be available as well as Molten Core Raid Decks ($29.99) in May.
Both the Marvel TCG and DC Comics TCG, featuring the Vs. System, let
players combine Marvel and DC comic book characters together into one game. The
DC Comics TCG and Marvel TCG Marvel Legends Booster Packs ($3.99) and Starter
Decks will all be available at retail later in the year.
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. All Rights Reserved.
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