Looking to get away from the big box retail toys
stores this Holiday season and find some truly
unique children's products? Here are some
recommendations from Toy Directory Monthly
Magazine - the trade magazine for specialty toy
retailers.
Some of these products may be hard to find
online and you certainly won't find them at the
big stores, so be sure to stop in at your local
toy store to shop this season.
When possible we have provided links to the
mentioned products where they are available
online. Many are not available at large
online retailers but can be found on
Amazon.com
or eBay Stores
By
Alison Marek
November 2007
Howdy by TRUMPETTE
This
ride-on toy is made of 100-percent PVC and
measures 22” x 17.5”. The box measures 14.75” H
x 8.5” W x 50.5” D. It is made in China. Launch
date: Summer 2007. 9/19/2007 (Price: $34.00;
Age: 3 and Up)
Deglingos - Pikos
the Hedgehog by
ALL NEW MATERIALS
“Deglingos
(deh-GLING-goes): common noun. Animalos
molto
funnios and muy crazios. A unique species of
contagiously quirky animals, the Deglingos speak
their own language which consists of finishing
many words with ‘os.’ Found living at the best
shops in town.” Designed in France, these
machine-washable characters stand from 8.5” to
11” tall and are European (CE) safety tested.
“The Deglingos are uniquely created from 48
different fabrics, which gives them a stunning
visual and tactile appeal. Specialty retailers
will see repeat purchases on these items because
of their collectibility, and they will be sold
in no mass-market retailers,” Ryan Hamilton of
distributor All New Materials told TDmonthly.
Launch date: July 2007. (
Watch Video) 9/19/2007 (Price:
$40.00; Age: 0 and Up)
Cathedral™
by
FAMILY GAMES INC.
Within
a Medieval walled city, rivals strategically
battle to place all of their buildings on the
gaming field and lay claim to their territory.
Skilled players position their structures to
create inner territories and block their
opponent from gaining ground. Surround your
adversary’s building and reclaim that land.
Victory is your goal. 9/19/2007 (Price: $39.99;
Age: 8 and Up)
Rocketball (also
known as Launchball) by
PROBALL INC.
Rocketbal,
the toy, is a fun, 2-1/8-inch slingshot-action
playball that combines a firm rubber ball with
lively surgical tubing. It is a good size for
all ages and activities. The ball launches up to
150 feet. Great for individual and team sports.
Rocketbal is used in physical education classes
in schools across the US and
Canada. 9/18/2007 (Price: $8.95; Age: 5 and Up)
Bur Bur and
Friends™ Bur Bur Plush Doll by
FARMER'S HAT PRODUCTIONS
Come
out and play with Bur Bur. Whether at home or
exploring the world, this super-soft doll is
sure to become your child’s favorite.
9/28/2007 (Age: 2 and Up)
Classic
Neighbohood Trolley by
PEPPERELL BRAIDING / HOLGATE TOYS
It's
a beautiful day in the neighborhood... a
beautifully crafted replica of Mister Rogers'
Neighborhood Trolley. A full 11" long and 6-1/2"
high, this finely detailed trolley comes with
four wooden play pieces to help extend
children's play. This collectible toy has our
lifetime guarantee. The Classic Trolley brings
memories to parents and grandparents, it makes a
great desktop conversation piece about the
Neighborhood and all the good things it stands
for. Guess what? (...as children say) it can be
personalized! Holgate has been the exclusive
maker of the Neighborhood Trolley since
1990. 9/27/2007 (Price: $60.00; Age: 2 and Up)
The Little Engine
That Could™ Set by
WHITTLE TOY COMPANY
The
Little Engine That Could ™ Set: It’s the train
that’s kept rolling since 1930. The train that
made the phrase “I Think I Can, I Think I Can” a
permanent part of our American lexicon and
continues to teach us all the power of positive
thinking. This set consists of five cars: The
Little Blue Engine, Yellow Gondola, Red Toy Car,
White Milk Car, and Red Caboose. (Price:
$34.99) 9/27/2007 (Age: 3 and Up)
Budclicks
are the latest rage for tech-lovers. They are
clickable decorations for your earbuds. They
work on both old and new earbuds made for iPods. 10/11/2007 (Price:
$14.99)
Child's Harp
by
SCHOENHUT PIANO CO. INC.
At
25 inches high, this beautifully constructed,
lightweight instrument is an excellent choice
for a child's first harp. The design of its
curved sides and spacious box, along with a
range of 15 notes (from C to C), permits playing
a wide variety of music in haunting, melodic
tones. Fully tunable by way of zither pins and a
zither pin wrench (included). 8/29/2007
Authentic Fire
Pedal Truck by
FEENIX LLC
Real
flashing lights and siren with a push button
on/off switch. Integrated water tank with
pressure pump and removable sprayer.
Approximately eight feet of hose in two
four-foot sections. Microphone PA system. Play
axe. Play ladder. Hand brake. Adjustable
steering wheel. Adjustable seat back. Rubber
treading wheels. Chain and sprocket pedal drive
with forward and reverse. Removable chain guard.
Steel chassis. 8/29/2007 (Age: 3 to 6)
The
Mini Micro is the high-quality scooter designed
for kids age 3-6. Its three-wheel design and
distinctive lean-and-steer mechanism has kids
"surfing" the sidewalk, as they curve from left
to right. The large urethane wheels create a
smooth glide and a quiet ride, a joy for parents
and children alike. The Mini Micro’s kickboard
is stable and large, with room for both feet, so
kids can easily hop on and off, and switch from
pushing with one foot to just enjoying the ride.
It’s both durable and light weight (only 1.5kg),
so it’s easy to carry, when required, making it
a favourite mode of modern mobility for parents
with young children. 9/26/2007 (Price: $69.90;
Age: 3 to 6)
Ideal
for babies 0 to 9 months, Pacimals is a
detachable silicone pacifier that connects to an
adorable stuffed animal. It allows babies to
hold onto and control their own pacifier. And
keeping it clean is a snap — just pop the
pacifier off the base and toss it in the
dishwasher, and throw the stuffed animal in the
washing machine. The line includes seven
different Pacimals. “The detachability of the
pacifier is unique. It makes cleaning easy and
makes weaning more fun,” Founder Monica Smith of
Love Kub told TDmonthly.
Launch date: January 7, 2008.
(
Watch Video) 9/25/2007 (Price:
$19.99; Age: 0 to 1)
KAPLA Dual Color
40-Piece Building Set by
KAPLA USA
The
Dual Color Kapla 40-piece Building Set comes
with a special Artbook Instruction Book for
extra Kapla building pleasure. This set is also
a great gift with extra play value for building
beautiful Kapla constructions. Kapla is
guaranteed SAFE, NON-TOXIC and GREEN. Kapla
planks are distinctive in shape and conception
for extra special building
fun. 9/24/2007 (Price: $40.00; Age: 3 and Up)
Artistic
Borders/Murals by
ETHNIC INSPIRATIONS BY MARSHAE, LLC
Shown
here is one of our Artistic Borders/Murals
titled “Fairy Wonderland.” Bring a little magic
to your little girls room with her fairy friends
all around. Sweet Dreams in Fairy Wonderland.
This mural is 36" (3 ft) x 60" (5 ft) and
manufactured on pre-pasted wallpaper or the
border is 6” high by 15’ long. Also available in
other designs. 9/24/2007 (Price: $80.00; Age:
All Ages)
Disney - Jack
Sparrow's Pirate Gear by ZIZZLE
Any
child can turn himself into a pirate with this
10-piece Jack Sparrow outfit set. The set
includes an adjustable headband with beads and
dreadlocks, an extending telescope, a dagger, a
tri-corner pirate hat, an ancient navigational
chart, three adjustable rings and two temporary
tattoos. 9/18/2007 (Price: $29.95; Age: 4 and
Up)
Each
one-of-a-kind character in this collectible art
toy line is derived from handmade foam
sculptures. Each piece stands between 1-3/4” to
2-1/4” tall and has its own special name and
story. Launch date: August
2007. 9/18/2007 (Price: $6.95; Age: 5 and Up)
You've Been
Sentenced! Add-On Decks by
McNEILL DESIGNS FOR BRIGHTER MINDS LLC
The
add-on decks are 80-card expansions that
enhance, personalize and modify the original
game. Available add-on decks include the
Reader’s Digest Word Power Challenge Pack, the
Gourmet/Cuisine Deck, the Pop Culture Deck, the
Sci-fi/Fantasy Deck and the Sports Highlights
Deck. Launch date: October 2007. 9/18/2007
This
cuddly, hairy friend is a pillow, blanket and
stuffed animal all in one, designed to serve as
the perfect travel companion. “We at Zoobies
continue to be on the curve of innovation for
plush and for children's products, and we have
some great new products debuting at the Toy Fair
[2008],” Owner J.C. Smoot of Zoobies told
TDmonthly. Launch:
March 1, 2008. (
Watch Video) 9/17/2007 (Price:
$35.00; Age: 3 and Up)
All
Mixis™ dolls celebrate the beauty and richness
of multiracial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
To allow for the broadest interpretation, the
dolls are not identified by race or ethnicity,
but capture a multihued palette of skin tones,
eye colors, facial features, clothing and
accessories. (
Watch Video) 9/17/2007 (Age: 6 and
Up)
Baby Cuddles
Hearts-a-Flutter – African-American by
ALEXANDER DOLL CO. INC.
Part
of the Sweet Baby Nursery line, 14” Baby Cuddles
comes pretty in pink in heart-print overalls.
The soft-bodied doll is surface washable.
“Madame Alexander has always been so well known
for our quality as well as many firsts in the
industry. We are extremely proud to bring all of
those attributes to the Sweet Baby Nursery
Collection for such an affordable price, making
this line a great starter collection for your
little ones,” Glenda Beltran in marketing for
Alexander Doll Co. told TDmonthly.
Launch date: May 2007. (
Watch Video) 9/17/2007 (Price:
$19.95; Age: 3 and Up)
Create Your Own
Pop-Up Books by
FABER-CASTELL
The
newest edition to our Create Your Own Books
series. Set includes two high-quality hardcover
pop-up books 8.5" x 8.5" and 6.25" x 6.25",
stickers, eight markers, and pop-up designs.
Just add drawings, photographs and your own
imagination. Illustrated instructions include
story-starter ideas and step-by-step pop-up
ideas. 9/17/2007 (Price: $16.00; Age: 5 to 95)
Zoco the Parrot™
and Muga the Elephant™ by
PLAJA INTERNATIONAL LLC
PlajaPets
are designed with children of all ages in mind.
With their lighthearted look and undeniably
delightful style, PlajaPets definitely stand out
in a crowd. The ability to interchange,
rearrange, mix, match and reattach the
magnetically connectable heads and tails of each
pet is what makes this sensational stuffed toy
so special. 9/14/2007 (Age: 3 and Up)
Guitars Scramble
Squares® 9-Piece Puzzle by
b. dazzle, inc.
Both
classical and pop culture are honored by the
beautiful Guitars Scramble Squares®
Nine-piece educational puzzle. Scramble
Squares puzzles teach patience,
perseverance, fine motor and critical thinking
skills and help maintain mental agility while
providing stimulating entertainment as either a
solitaire game or a cooperative
activity. 9/14/2007 (Price: $8.95; Age: 4 and
Up)
SILKE Line: Dwarf
by
KOESEN USA INC.
This
rag doll in the Waldorf style with wool hair was
hand-made in Germany of cotton and was filled
with soft sheep’s wool, as was traditionally
done. It is hand-washable. All clothes are made
of cotton and are machine-washable up to 104°F.
As with the other dolls of the Silke Collection,
all materials used are of superior quality and
have the Oeco-Tex certificate 100, which
indicates tested safety of a skin-friendly
product. This little dwarf is designed to
stimulate a child’s
imagination. 9/12/2007 (Price: $56.50; Age: 2
and Up)
Crazy Bracelets
by
SENTOSPHERE USA
What
fun to paint bracelets and match them with all
your favorite dresses! This kit offers three
wonderful Plexiglas bracelets with different
fashionable designs. They are embossed to help
the young creator paint with the desired colors.
The paint becomes transparent when dry and gives
a beautiful stained-glass
effect. 9/10/2007 (Price: $17.00; Age: 8 and Up)
WePlay - Twin
Walker by
INTEGRATED GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
This
is fun way for a parent and child to work as a
team or for two children to learn cooperation!
Large platform pedals alternate up and down to
move forward and backwards. Great fun for the
whole family. 9/10/2007 (Age: 3 and Up)
Little Lion
Wooden Puzzle by
PUZZLED
Assembling
size: 8.75"L x 2.5"W x 4.5"H 9/7/2007
GeekMan Action
Figure by
HAPPY WORKER INC.
The
plastic superhero GeekMan stands 6” tall and can
be posed in lots of nerdy positions. He comes
equipped with a Visual Input Device (removable
glasses), a Cerebral I/O and Trusty Sidekick
(laptop), a Geek Battery Charger (coffee mug)
and more. GeekMan comes with a manual detailing
his superpowers, vulnerabilities and
catchphrases. 9/4/2007 (Price: $14.99; Age: 15
and Up)
PEM Trucks
Western Star Log Truck by
TONKIN REPLICAS INC.
This
replica of the Western Star Log Truck features
opening doors, rolled-down windows, a full
timber load, a pickaxe, a shovel and a stacking
trailer with removable gun barrels. Launch date:
August 2007. 9/4/2007 (Price: $54.95; Age: 11
and Up)
Kyle by
KIDS WITH POSSIBILITIES
Kyle
happens to be deaf, but that doesn't stop him
from going camping, playing baseball at the park
and teaching his teammates sign language. His
friend Wendy uses the Braille alphabet to read
and has a spunky seeing-eye dog named Liam.
“These plush dolls with their positive message
have arrived to inspire action through play and
thus to seek out the rising star within each
child,” Kids With Possibilities Founder Laurie
DesRosier told TDmonthly.
Launch date: September 2007. 9/4/2007 (Price:
$35.00; Age: 3 and Up)
or
This
ride-on toy is made of 100-percent PVC and
measures 22” x 17.5”. The box measures 14.75” H
x 8.5” W x 50.5” D. It is made in China. Launch
date: Summer 2007. 9/19/2007 (Price: $34.00;
Age: 3 and Up) 
“Deglingos
(deh-GLING-goes): common noun. Animalos
molto
funnios and muy crazios. A unique species of
contagiously quirky animals, the Deglingos speak
their own language which consists of finishing
many words with ‘os.’ Found living at the best
shops in town.” Designed in France, these
machine-washable characters stand from 8.5” to
11” tall and are European (CE) safety tested.
“The Deglingos are uniquely created from 48
different fabrics, which gives them a stunning
visual and tactile appeal. Specialty retailers
will see repeat purchases on these items because
of their collectibility, and they will be sold
in no mass-market retailers,” Ryan Hamilton of
distributor All New Materials told TDmonthly.
Launch date: July 2007. 
Within
a Medieval walled city, rivals strategically
battle to place all of their buildings on the
gaming field and lay claim to their territory.
Skilled players position their structures to
create inner territories and block their
opponent from gaining ground. Surround your
adversary’s building and reclaim that land.
Victory is your goal. 9/19/2007 (Price: $39.99;
Age: 8 and Up) 
Rocketbal,
the toy, is a fun, 2-1/8-inch slingshot-action
playball that combines a firm rubber ball with
lively surgical tubing. It is a good size for
all ages and activities. The ball launches up to
150 feet. Great for individual and team sports.
Rocketbal is used in physical education classes
in schools across the US and
Canada. 9/18/2007 (Price: $8.95; Age: 5 and Up)
Come
out and play with Bur Bur. Whether at home or
exploring the world, this super-soft doll is
sure to become your child’s favorite.
9/28/2007 (Age: 2 and Up) 
The
Little Engine That Could ™ Set: It’s the train
that’s kept rolling since 1930. The train that
made the phrase “I Think I Can, I Think I Can” a
permanent part of our American lexicon and
continues to teach us all the power of positive
thinking. This set consists of five cars: The
Little Blue Engine, Yellow Gondola, Red Toy Car,
White Milk Car, and Red Caboose. (Price:
$34.99) 9/27/2007 (Age: 3 and Up) 
Budclicks
are the latest rage for tech-lovers. They are
clickable decorations for your earbuds. They
work on both old and new earbuds made for iPods. 10/11/2007 (Price:
$14.99)
At
25 inches high, this beautifully constructed,
lightweight instrument is an excellent choice
for a child's first harp. The design of its
curved sides and spacious box, along with a
range of 15 notes (from C to C), permits playing
a wide variety of music in haunting, melodic
tones. Fully tunable by way of zither pins and a
zither pin wrench (included). 8/29/2007 
Real
flashing lights and siren with a push button
on/off switch. Integrated water tank with
pressure pump and removable sprayer.
Approximately eight feet of hose in two
four-foot sections. Microphone PA system. Play
axe. Play ladder. Hand brake. Adjustable
steering wheel. Adjustable seat back. Rubber
treading wheels. Chain and sprocket pedal drive
with forward and reverse. Removable chain guard.
Steel chassis. 8/29/2007 (Age: 3 to 6) 
The
Mini Micro is the high-quality scooter designed
for kids age 3-6. Its three-wheel design and
distinctive lean-and-steer mechanism has kids
"surfing" the sidewalk, as they curve from left
to right. The large urethane wheels create a
smooth glide and a quiet ride, a joy for parents
and children alike. The Mini Micro’s kickboard
is stable and large, with room for both feet, so
kids can easily hop on and off, and switch from
pushing with one foot to just enjoying the ride.
It’s both durable and light weight (only 1.5kg),
so it’s easy to carry, when required, making it
a favourite mode of modern mobility for parents
with young children. 9/26/2007 (Price: $69.90;
Age: 3 to 6)
Ideal
for babies 0 to 9 months, Pacimals is a
detachable silicone pacifier that connects to an
adorable stuffed animal. It allows babies to
hold onto and control their own pacifier. And
keeping it clean is a snap — just pop the
pacifier off the base and toss it in the
dishwasher, and throw the stuffed animal in the
washing machine. The line includes seven
different Pacimals. “The detachability of the
pacifier is unique. It makes cleaning easy and
makes weaning more fun,” Founder Monica Smith of
Love Kub told TDmonthly.
Launch date: January 7, 2008.
The
Dual Color Kapla 40-piece Building Set comes
with a special Artbook Instruction Book for
extra Kapla building pleasure. This set is also
a great gift with extra play value for building
beautiful Kapla constructions. Kapla is
guaranteed SAFE, NON-TOXIC and GREEN. Kapla
planks are distinctive in shape and conception
for extra special building
fun. 9/24/2007 (Price: $40.00; Age: 3 and Up)
Shown
here is one of our Artistic Borders/Murals
titled “Fairy Wonderland.” Bring a little magic
to your little girls room with her fairy friends
all around. Sweet Dreams in Fairy Wonderland.
This mural is 36" (3 ft) x 60" (5 ft) and
manufactured on pre-pasted wallpaper or the
border is 6” high by 15’ long. Also available in
other designs. 9/24/2007 (Price: $80.00; Age:
All Ages) 
Any
child can turn himself into a pirate with this
10-piece Jack Sparrow outfit set. The set
includes an adjustable headband with beads and
dreadlocks, an extending telescope, a dagger, a
tri-corner pirate hat, an ancient navigational
chart, three adjustable rings and two temporary
tattoos. 9/18/2007 (Price: $29.95; Age: 4 and
Up) 
Each
one-of-a-kind character in this collectible art
toy line is derived from handmade foam
sculptures. Each piece stands between 1-3/4” to
2-1/4” tall and has its own special name and
story. Launch date: August
2007. 9/18/2007 (Price: $6.95; Age: 5 and Up)
The
add-on decks are 80-card expansions that
enhance, personalize and modify the original
game. Available add-on decks include the
Reader’s Digest Word Power Challenge Pack, the
Gourmet/Cuisine Deck, the Pop Culture Deck, the
Sci-fi/Fantasy Deck and the Sports Highlights
Deck. Launch date: October 2007. 9/18/2007
This
cuddly, hairy friend is a pillow, blanket and
stuffed animal all in one, designed to serve as
the perfect travel companion. “We at Zoobies
continue to be on the curve of innovation for
plush and for children's products, and we have
some great new products debuting at the Toy Fair
[2008],” Owner J.C. Smoot of Zoobies told
TDmonthly. Launch:
March 1, 2008. 
All
Mixis™ dolls celebrate the beauty and richness
of multiracial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
To allow for the broadest interpretation, the
dolls are not identified by race or ethnicity,
but capture a multihued palette of skin tones,
eye colors, facial features, clothing and
accessories. 
Part
of the Sweet Baby Nursery line, 14” Baby Cuddles
comes pretty in pink in heart-print overalls.
The soft-bodied doll is surface washable.
“Madame Alexander has always been so well known
for our quality as well as many firsts in the
industry. We are extremely proud to bring all of
those attributes to the Sweet Baby Nursery
Collection for such an affordable price, making
this line a great starter collection for your
little ones,” Glenda Beltran in marketing for
Alexander Doll Co. told TDmonthly.
Launch date: May 2007. 
The
newest edition to our Create Your Own Books
series. Set includes two high-quality hardcover
pop-up books 8.5" x 8.5" and 6.25" x 6.25",
stickers, eight markers, and pop-up designs.
Just add drawings, photographs and your own
imagination. Illustrated instructions include
story-starter ideas and step-by-step pop-up
ideas. 9/17/2007 (Price: $16.00; Age: 5 to 95)
Kyle
happens to be deaf, but that doesn't stop him
from going camping, playing baseball at the park
and teaching his teammates sign language. His
friend Wendy uses the Braille alphabet to read
and has a spunky seeing-eye dog named Liam.
“These plush dolls with their positive message
have arrived to inspire action through play and
thus to seek out the rising star within each
child,” Kids With Possibilities Founder Laurie
DesRosier told TDmonthly.
Launch date: September 2007. 9/4/2007 (Price:
$35.00; Age: 3 and Up)