Toy Parade

The bolts are tightened, the paint is dry and the glue successfully adhered—hopefully. It's time for American International Toy Fair and that means manufacturers and retailers are doing their annual dance best titled "How much, how many and when?"

This year's event comes as our industry is, as usual, undergoing change. First off, we welcome FAO Schwarz back into the fold. The venerable retailer tossed its hat back into the ring on Thanksgiving, serving notice that it's looking to reclaim a piece of the specialty toy market pie. If early returns are a harbinger of future business, FAO looks like it's on solid ground.

And of course we always seem to be in the midst of some reorganization or other. Currently we sit and watch as the future of Toys R Us plays out. After the number two toy retailer announced this summer that it would separate Babies R Us and Toys R Us into two entities, the rumor mill spun into action with yarns from putting TRU in the real estate business, to a bidding war for the toy business, to a sale to overseas interests. As of deadline, the jury is still out.

And speaking of real estate and juries, the future of the International Toy Center is still up in the air; as is the location of American International Toy Fair 2007.

On the sidelines: the Sears and Kmart merger, proffered as creating the third largest U.S. retailer with $55 billion in sales. This new retail entity, Sears Holdings, is expected to close next month and all eyes will be cast toward the outcome.

In the meantime, prepare to cast your eyes on a toy feats in the pages that follow. Welcome to the 2005 PLAYTHINGS Toy Parade!

Action Products International, based in Orlando, Fla., unveils its latest Curiosity Kits aiming at the room decorating craze. Cool Things Clothes Tree allows children to paint their own wooden clothes tree, complete with an attached stool. Cool Things Racks includes two white wooden racks for personalizing with paints.

Other new items in the arts and crafts line include: QuicKits, Goo Refill, Glitter Goo Refill and Air-Dry Clay Refill kits. Action Products International also will display the latest additions of Jay Jay, I DIG, Space Voyagers, Kidz Workshop, and Play and Store.

Three 25-inch toddler dolls from Adora, Edison, N.J., compose the All-American Girls collection new for 2005. Two of the dolls, Lauren and Emma, feature a new face sculpt. Both dolls display a smile that shows upper and lower baby teeth. Only 950 limited edition dolls are available for each design. Heather, the third 25-inch doll, is limited to 600. Each doll has a retail price of $170.

As part of the company’s limited edition collections, the International Series is comprised of seven new 22-inch dolls hailing from all over the world. They don clothing specific to their country of origin and range in price from $130 to $190. Finally, Adora’s Name Your Own Baby Collection boasts 34 new dolls and range from $100–$118.

Houston-based ADV Films’ toys division is creating a line of anime merchandise from the company’s extensive library, including Excel Saga, Noir, Kaleido Star, Cromartie High School and more. Character-based Cosplay Caps are a way for the average anime fan to display love for anime. The products target consumers who love Japanese animation and younger age groups and will be sold at both specialty and mass retailers.

ADV will also introduce lunch boxes, plush toys, backpacks, T-shirts, playing cards and antenna toppers.

Aeromax, Lake Barrington, Ill., is taking to the skies with space travel-themed items. The Jr. Astronaut Helmet ($44.95) features a push-button retractable tinted visor and recorded communications from mission control, including countdown and blastoff sounds. It also has a working speaker with sound chip and mock microphone, as well as air hoses and official NASA logo. There is also an Inflatable Space Shuttle ($33.95) which has opening cargo doors that reveal a control panel. This item works indoors or in the pool.

Art Asylum, New York, is offering a Minimates line featuring collectable mini Marvel heroes and villains, including Spider-Man and Venom, each of which has 14 points of articulation and interchangeable parts. Minimates are compatible with other building block and figure systems.

AthleticBaby, Dallas, All-Star, and AthleticBaby Golf use upbeat music and incorporate colorful footage of balls, puppets and young children engaged in energetic play to help introduce physically active lifestyles to the young and to promote that lifestyle throughout childhood and into adulthood.

If Reese Witherspoon, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie think it’s cool to carry their pets along with them in their purses, then it must be cool. Aurora World Inc., Pico Rivera, Calif., has available its Pet Carriers to carry a plush pet wherever you go. The price of $14.99 includes both purse and pet. These fully lined and functional purses are available in three citrus colors with 12 pet choices.

Automoblox, Roseland, N.J., has three new models in its lineup of wooden, car-based construction sets: a sport van, an SUV and a compact car inspired by Daimler-Chrysler’s Smart Car. Automoblox’s design combines wooden pieces, translucent roofs and rubber tires.

Balitono, Princeton, N.J., expands its Paint the Wild wooden painting kits with four new additions. Included in each kit are acrylic paints, paintbrushes and stencil and painting guides.

My Star Box Kit ($17) lets kids personalize a star-shaped box with paints, gems, beads and other decorations, as well as their own photos. They can also brush on a glow-in-the-dark finish to create interesting gifts.

There is also the Pinball Game Kit ($20), which comes with built-in scoring and pins and steel balls, so once the paint has dried, the game can begin. Then there is My Dog House Kit ($20) for mini a plush pooch and the Four Frog Friends Kit ($17) makes it easy to be green. Once painted, these hand-carved wooden amphibians can be hung for display. Gift cards and frog facts are also included.

Bandai America, Cypress, Calif., offers a new line of toys to support the new police-themed Power Rangers spin-off series—Power Rangers S.P.D.—set to debut on television this month. Toys like the 6 1/2-inch Mega Morphin Power Rangers ($10.99), the Deluxe Megazords ($39.99), Uni-Force Cycles ($10.99), the Deluxe Super Cannon ($29.99), and others will run the gamut of toy categories like action figures, vehicles, and role play to inspire play for Power Rangers enthusiasts.

The Strawberry Shortcake scented doll and toy line is heading to Seaberry Beach, a new tropical inspired theme. There will be play sets like Berry Tropical Places ($9.99) that come with a 2 1/2-inch doll and bunches of accessories from fashion and hair play toys like Berry Best Friends ($8.99) to plush Berry Soft Friends ($9.99).

Environmental stewardship is the theme in all Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Banana Slug String Band recordings and its latest by NewSound Kids, Wings of Slumber, proves no exception. The 14 original lullabies in varied musical styles, ranging from reggae rhythms to soothing Celtic sounds, and all re-emphasizing the importance of taking care of the earth by touching on ecological and scientific concepts in a way children can understand.

Basic Fun, Southampton, Pa., is expanding its product line in a whole new direction for 2005, with new licensed product and as master toy licensee for Jim Benton’s Franny K. Stein book series.

The products for Franny K. Stein’s 10 book series include a plush doll featuring Franny’s pet snake. Other items in the product line include a vinyl doll, Franny’s Oozy Goo, bookmarks, door placards, stickers, a flashlight keychain, Franny Pontiki and more. Future products will include magnetic playsets, Freaky food and drink labs, water wigglers, and magnetic bookmarks.

Additionally, Basic Fun is taking XTS, the Expandable Train System, to the next level with new parts that allow expansion upward and outward. The Double-E Express Set includes the XTS Turbo Train with aerodynamic styling and a power system that pushes speeds to ultimate levels. The Multi-Level Transit Set includes unique ramps that allow expansion upward as well as outward.

Basic Fun will continue to expand its holiday ornament line with the addition of new licenses and is joining the Build-A-Bear phenomenon with two items: Build-A-Bear Key and Stuff and Clip Kit.

B-Bel Inc., St. Adolphe, Canada, has a new line of action figures appropriately named Wild Ones Adventure Crew. The collection consists of eight thrill-seeking characters with unique identities. These risk-takers include a BMX racer, scuba diver, hang glider, ATV rider, skateboarder, rock climber, deep-sea diver and skier. All figures have 17-point articulation, realistic clothing and authentic accessories. There are also detailed vehicles and play sets with real working parts.

Family game night takes an interesting twist with DVD-based games from bEQUAL, Palo Alto, Calif. The newest title, Show Me The Wild-Presented by National Geographic ($39.99), quizzes players on all things animal via a whopping 1,600 questions. Players will be kept entertained by clips and footage courtesy of National Geographic as they try to answer as many questions correctly as possible.

Best-Lock of Minneapolis has building sets that include the new HUMMER H2 and Humvee vehicles, and two 500-piece pirate ships—a ghost ship and traditional pirate ship. The HUMMER comes with three family figurines and is available in three colors: bright yellow, silver and black. The well-known Humvee is an all-terrain military vehicle equipped with artillery and three soldier figurines. In keeping with the popularity of the pirate theme, Best Lock is offering pirate ships that are more than two feet long when fully assembled.

Big Kids Video’s, Thinkeroo brand, Austin, Texas, launches The Monkeydoos Movement and Learning Series to encourage kids to get up off the sofa and move to the music. Recommended for ages 2 and up, the initial titles, “Gallop, Hop & Stomp” and “Pedal, Paddle and Twirl” will be available at a suggested retail price of $14.95 for VHS or DVD. DVD Bonus extras include healthy nutritious snacks, backyard games and easy-to-do, hands-on craft projects based on the program theme.

The Shushybye toy line from Blue Box Toys, New York, is based on a book series by the same name. A cast of characters hailing from sleepy towns like Nap Valley, Snore Shore and Yawn Island aim to help parents prepare their preschoolers for bedtime. Toys bearing their likeness include plush playsets based on the Shushybye Lands and the Shushybye King’s Castle, the Shushybye Train and a Snoozles musical.

Bobtail USA, has four items in the 10-inch line and include Otis the pig, Chester the teddy bear ($15), Tucker the dog, and Mason the ambitious elephant ($17). They are also available in 4-inch versions ($4) with a string loop so they can be attached to a backpack or zipper pulls, or removed for a more traditional stuffed animal look.

In addition, Zephyr, the winged horse, measures close to 23-inch from hoof to hoof and is priced at ($25). Ten-inch pieces are sold in minimums of three each, the 23-inch horse is available in pairs, and the 4-inch animals are sold in 6-packs, and include a free display with each 24-unit purchase.

Brainy Baby, Alpharetta, Ga., unveils three new lines of interactive DVDs. Brainy Kids aims to teach kids about a variety of subjects, from math to manners, via fast-paced short segments. The three titles in the series are: We’ve Got Your Number–Lots of Fun With Lots of Numbers, Mind Your Manners–Learning to be Polite, and That Makes Sense–Learning About Our Five Senses.

Emphasizing sportsmanship and skills like coordination and concentration is the focus of the Sporty Baby series. The line launches with Baby Golf, Baby Soccer and Baby Baseball.

A two-part DVD collection, Signs & Wonders features Growing in Faith, which concentrates on universal values like kindness, obedience and patience, and Growing in Knowledge, a primer on basics like the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colors. Finally, Mustard Seeds is two-part series with each DVD/VHS focused on different but critical aspects of childhood based on biblical principles. There will also be the new Infant Learning Pack, a specially designed four-pack of Right Brain, Left Brain, Peek-a-Boo and Laugh & Learn.

For horse fanciers, Breyer Animal Creations introduces Wind Dancers, a line of butterfly horses, and Mini Whinnies micro mini horses. Breyer. Located in Pequannock, N.J., offers Mini Whinnies various equestrian adventure play sets: Chincoteague Island Play Set, BreyerFest Deluxe Play Set and Irish Countryside Play Set. Other animals such as the Search and Rescue Dog, are also available from Breyer.

Trivia buffs are able to experience the fun of head-to-head trivia competition with a fully integrated plug-and-play video game system for the home. Chicago-based Cadaco and Buzztime Entertainment Inc., Carlsbad, Calif., a subsidiary of NTN Communications Inc., have teamed up for Buzztime Trivia. Consumers can play it on their TV the same way they do in their local restaurant and sports bar. Cadaco will initially launch this line with easy to carry and use Buzztime Trivia Card Packs, and will expand with a home game system in fall 2005. The Trivia Card Packs will retail for $4.99 each while the home game system will retail for $59.99.

Cadaco has also designed a new line of multi-colored character plush sheep. Each sheep belongs to one of four family flocks that consist of 12 sheep for an initial line of 48 sheep, including Bumble, Angus, Dolly and Baa-Bee. A branded number patch with its name, personality traits, origin of birth and birthday identifies each sheep. Countin’ Sheep is expected to appeal to collectors of all ages. The sheep retail for $5.99 each.

In addition, Cadaco is introducing Tripoley Dominoes and Tripoley Criss-Cross Poker, an extension to the 70-year-old classic game Tripoley.

Game producers Cardinal Industries, Long Island City, N.Y., capitalizes on hot shows and gaming trends for its new 2005 games. Topping the list are games based on NBC’s critically acclaimed Law and Order series, NBC/FOX Sports Net’s popular Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, Warner Bros.’ Batman, and Scholastic’s Maya & Miguel series.

For the Scholastic brand Maya and Miguel, Cardinal is also producing a line of children’s games including dominoes, bingo and hide and seek.

Young car enthusiasts and Fantastic Four fans can enjoy the battle between good and evil on the Carrerra GO! Track with the new Corvette C5R “Doctor Doom” and Dodge Viper GTS-R Fantastic Four slot car set. The San Diego-based company offers an 18.7-foot-long basic track set that has two lane changing sections and a double loop for racing on the easy-to-assemble track.

Also Spider-Man squares off against his arch enemy, Doctor Octopus, on the road with the Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Viper slot. The 1:43 scale Spider-Man set comes with the same track configuration.

Charisma Brands, Lake Forest, Calif., offers a Lavender Rose doll ($169.95)—the latest addition to Marie Osmond’s Coming Up Roses collection—that sits atop a garden bench adorned with purple and lavender roses. Her dress features a lavender rose print on a light flowing voile, embellished with a dozen rosettes. The doll plays the tune Paper Roses.

A child can drive to five different “destinations” using Chicco’s Bilingual Smart Driver ($24.99) using words, sound effects and short sentences. The Pennsylvania-based company’s interactive dashboard offers all the fun in both English and Spanish. Likewise, Chicco’s Bilingual Talking Cube ($24.99) is an educational, interactive toy that teaches children how to recognize letters, shapes, sounds, colors and numbers in both English and Spanish.

There is also the 4-in-1 Ride-On Car ($59.99). Its versatility includes: an electronic panel for the very young, rocker, push and walk and sit and ride features. The Deluxe Play Gym ($34.99) is both an electronic play gym and an activity table. Adding to the mix is the Ducati Superbike ($29.99), intended to be a child’s first remote control motorcycle, and Child’s First Radio Controlled Jeep ($24.99).

If given the choice of being beautiful but having to serve five years in prison or living with plain looks but no prison time, which would it be? So asks If You Had To Choose…? a fantasy game about priorities for teens ages 16 and up by Choose Games Inc., Toronto.

When a fresh coating of the white stuff falls, kids will be ready to break out the inflatable snow sleds from CoopSport, Carlsbad, Calif. Each sled features heavyweight outer shells and four easy-to-grip handles so riders can hang on safely. The line includes a delta-shaped Air Rocket ($59.95), a more traditionally shaped Air Sled ($39.95), and an old fashioned Air Tube ($49.95).

Corgi USA, Chicago, takes things to a new level with its authentic replica vehicles. The Heroes Under Fire collection is finely detailed, authentically rendered and loaded with accessories. These emergency vehicle replicas focus on equipment that helps firefighters handle dangerous situations. Included in this line are The Florida Division of Forestry Cobra Helicopter ($47.99) and New Jersey Forest Fire Service M35 2.5 Ton Brush Truck ($36.99).

Corolle, Grantsville, Md., introduces Doucette, its newest addition to the My First Doll ($24.95) line. Donning dresses in stripes, polka dots and flowers, these dolls feature a soft cloth body, sculpted vinyl face and, of course, Corolle’s signature vanilla scent. They come with blonde, brunette and black hair and Caucasian, African-American, and Asian faces. Girls who like the original Doucettes have an option in Mini Doucette dolls ($9.95), 8-inch miniature versions of the larger counterparts.

Creativity for Kids, Cleveland, inspires young designers to delve into interior design with new room décor kits. With Words for your Walls ($17.99), designed so kids can embellish a dozen wooden letters to spell dozens of heartfelt words. There are also other design kits such as the Ribbon Memo Board ($19.99), Window Whimsy ($14.99), Beaded Dresser Set ($14.99), Room Light ($19.99), Fiber Fashion Studio ($24.99) and bobblehead poodles in Oodles of Poodles ($15.99), along with Princess Poodle ($15.99) that can be stuffed and decorated.

Lastly, the Puzz-A-Model, a series of woodcraft construction kits, combines the challenge of a puzzle with a model. The series launches with Legendary Dragon ($19.99) and Enchanted Unicorn ($14.99).

Trollz and Strawberry Shortcake are making their own respective comebacks, thanks to DIC Entertainment, Burbank, Calif. The company is also planning to re-launch the classic Trollz doll as a collector item.

In the meantime, Strawberry is busy with the forthcoming release of six new VHS/DVDs from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and a CD from Koch Entertainment entitled Seaberry Beach Party Music. DIC will also team up with American Greetings for the introduction of Baby Strawberry Shortcake. The program scheduled to launch in 2006, will target infants and 2-year olds.

Cinderella will be leading the Disney Princess franchise this year in anticipation of the first-ever release of the original classic film Cinderella on DVD this October. This will also be the first time that Disney has created a comprehensive consumer products program for a DVD release with major integrated support from across the company’s divisions, namely Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE).

The new Cinderella products are scheduled to hit the market in the third quarter and play up key elements of the film such as the “light up theme” when Cinderella becomes a princess—from light up shoes, to a gown adorned with magical lights, to a life-size doll as well as bedding and home furnishings. Part of the integrated effort with BVHE gives Disney the opportunity to get “creative.” The DVD, for example, has a special interactive feature where viewers can create their own Cinderella room with products that are on the market.

Key toys include:

• Mattel (doll, horse and carriage and castle)
• CDI (interactive light up vanity)
• Toy Quest (musical instruments such as a piano with light up moving dancers)
• Playmates (large dolls)
• Spin Master (Bella Cinderella)
• Disguise (new Cinderella costume)

Another first for Disney will be a new character introduced to the Hundred Acre Wood with the February 2005 animated feature film release of Pooh’s Heffalump the Movie. The film will be supported by one of the largest licensing programs ever behind a Winnie the Pooh feature film. Key toys for the Winnie the Pooh franchise include Tumble Time Tigger from Fisher Price—this plush Tigger jumps and does cartwheels, as well as plush for new character Lumpy.

Get submerged in an alien ocean while learning about space exploration when playing Cogno: Deep Worlds ($29.99) by DoubleStar, LLC, St. Louis. The game includes Cogno’s Book of Y, which explains the science behind the game’s hundreds of answers in laymen’s terms.

Papillon Kohair Softie Pup and Kohair Softie Horses are new at Douglas Cuddle Toys, Keene, N.H. The 9-inch Kohair Papillon is just one of the breeds offered by Douglas. As always, the distinctive features of the breed are there alongside a special gesture or expression that labels it a Douglas Dog. The suggested retail is $8.99.

There are five new breeds of 9-inch Kohair horses. The horses retail for $8.99 each.

Dr. O’s Outstanding Educational Products, Alpharetta, Ga., a division of Fabricolor, LLC, offers its new Interactive Fabric Chart product line, featuring the solar system. This double-sided, full–color fabric chart and fabric manipulatives attach with double-hook strips, similar to Velcro, for fun with planets, phases of the moon and seasons of the Earth. The charts are available in both classroom size and a smaller home version. An activity guide is included.

DuneCraft, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, offers Carnivorous Creations ($24.99)—a kit to grow more that 10 kinds of Carnivorous Plants that actually eat bugs and meat. The deluxe seed mixture contains Venus Fly Traps, Sundew Plants, Cobra Plants, Hooded Pitcher Plants, and more. The complete kit contains everything needed to create their own bog gardens with real meat-eating plant seeds, special planting mix, three Bog Buddies, a bag of Swamp Rocks, and three color decals of Carnivorous Plants.

There is also the Biblical Garden ($24.99), which features greenery from the Good Book. And lastly, Super Snow ($7.99) lets kids make snow instantly with this amazing polymer.

From wrestling to slot car racing, Dynatech Action, Mississauga, Canada, is ready to knock toy buyers socks off with a slew of new items.

Wubber Wrestlers ($3.99–$5.99), a popular action toy in Australia, is in the center ring. These 12 fighting characters are all vying to be the grand champion. A basic pack comes with two wrestlers, while the deluxe version also includes a wrestling ring.

Also hailing from Down Under are Power Flix characters ($3.99–$6.99), brought to life by pressing down on their backs. Atomic BloX is built on a conductor block (powered by batteries) that illuminates the construction. Fly by Wire ($59.99) places a track above a slot car, so racers can design their own track, via infrared technology. Micro Flight brand toys includes a helicopter, plane and UFO ($24.99) that can be charged and thrown it in the air.

Echo Toys is releasing Sound Bouncer, a fully functional radio control SUV with bouncing action. The Sound Bouncer has a built in boom box that features a light show and plays hip hop music.

Educational Insights of Rancho Dominguez, Calif., offers new perspectives on playing and learning. The Let’s Pretend Appliances line gives preschoolers food for thought. Products in this lights-and-sounds assortment include the Let’s Pretend Blender ($19.99), Coffee Maker ($19.99) and Teapot ($17.99).

Offering a fun twist on building is Chameleon. Players build towers with special blocks that have “hidden” color strips, which are only revealed when the blocks are stacked. The object is to get rid of all the blocks, while sharpening memory skills.

Also Blokus helps kids develop logic, spatial perception and tactical skills. Players must take turns placing pieces on the board, but each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color. The game ends when all players are blocked from laying down any more pieces, the one with the fewest pieces left wins.

Kids can perfect their hopping, skipping and jumping skills—on a game board, that is—with ZigZag. Players must build roads that bridge two holes that only they can use in order to maneuver pegs in a row of four.

Elenco Electronics, based in Wheeling, Ill., offers Snap Circuits, which makes learning electronics a “snap.” By following the visuals in the product manual, kids can build a variety of projects, such as FM and AM radios, digital voice recorders, burglar alarms, doorbells, and more. All parts are mounted on plastic modules that snap together.

Come on down and play The Price Is Right DVD Edition ($29.99) by Endless Games, Hoboken, N.J., where, from the opening bid to the showcase showdown, the player with the best knowledge of market prices wins.

For the older players, LINQ ($19.99) is a game of strategy, bluffing and word-play. Four to 8 players try to figure out who is “LINQ-ed” in only two rounds of play.

Endless Games also acquired the rights to create board games using the Professional Bull Riders license. The company will debut new games that feature the sport of bull riding including: 8 Second Madness, Bullies, Bull Spit and Liar’s Poker.

Children’s entertainment company Entara Ltd., London, has teamed up with Martin Yaffe to develop a new line of toys based on the popular TV series Born to Play. Yaffe has created a collection of toys based on the series’ characters. The line will feature plush and beanies as well an interactive farm set, articulated figurines and vehicles, bath toys, outdoor toys and role play toys.

Evan-Moor Educational Publishers, Monterey, Calif., makes available The Never-Bored Kid Book series. The series features books on three different levels of difficulties and is designed to help parents reinforce their child’s education at home. Each volume features age-appropriate educational activities including puzzles, art projects, and word games.

Fantasma Magic, a division of Fantasma Toys, New York, introduces the “World’s Greatest Magic Set” ($45). The set features a large production box that can also be used as a table; a special deck of cards that allows kids to do tricks just like a professional; a top hat with a secret compartment and an instructional DVD featuring rare footage of the Masters of Magic such as Houdini, and more. An illustrated instruction book allows kids and adults, too, to perform more over 200 tricks.

Fantasma Toys also introduces a new range of practical jokes enhanced by cartoon characters called “Little Jokers” ($6). There are four sets in the initial series: Bathroom, Party, Classic and Gross Practical Jokes. Each set comes packed with practical jokes and 25 joke routines.

Fibre-Craft, Niles, Ill., is debuting a variety of craft sets featuring the hit cartoon “The Koala Brothers.” Items will include Suncatcher kit, Windchime kit, Cool Foam Art kit, Mini Cool Foam Art kit, Foam Sticker Buckets, Door Hanger kit, Frame kit, Memory Book, Rolling Art Desk, Foam Message Board Kit and Foam Journal Kit.

Fiesta Toys, Santa Monica, Calif., is introducing Tug-a-Lugs—its new line of plush that features “continuous” arms and legs. Each of the three main Tug-a-Lug characters have Velcro feet and hands and are available in two sizes. Tug-a-Lugs will retail between $9.99 and $19.99.

Under the Major League Baseball Properties licenses Tug-a-Lugs are wearing team logos or bearing MLB team names. Keychains, autograph dogs and more will also be available ($3.99–$14.99).

Fiesta also carries Gooshies—a “squishy” collection of 16 plush animals constructed with a spandex-like material and filled with tiny powder beads that make them “squeezable.” Included in the Gooshies group are Chirpy the Chick, Ribbit the Frog and Delilah the Dolphin ($7.99 each).

Fisher-Price, East Aurora, N.Y., comes to the table with plenty of playthings for boys and girls of all ages.

In the infant realm comes the Baby Gymtastics line: Play Wall encourages babies’ physical activity, from sitting and crawling to standing and cruising. Each of its three panels is brimming with things to check out, like a hanging, inflatable ball to hit, and fabric curtains to play peek-a-boo. Other toys under this brand include Activity Tunnel, Ball Toss and Monkey Chase.

Expanding on last year’s introduction of the Pop-Onz construction system of blocks and figures, Pop-Onz Pro lets preschoolers build structures with walls, roofs and more. The Pop-Onz Pro Pop 'n’ Build Village includes 30 building pieces and two articulated Pop-Onz characters.

Kids will be riding in style with the Power Wheels Cadillac Escalade. This vehicle features two working doors, rear storage, detailed dashboard, a working FM radio, digital clock and pretend CD player with 10 minutes of music. Chrome wheels and tires and tinted red taillights complete the look.

The folks at Folkmanis, Emeryville, Calif., are back with a collection of puppets that brings the magic of make-believe to life.

A snow-white Bichon Frise ($20) has a movable mouth, custom molded nose and pellet-weighted features. A 13-inch Brown Tabby Cat ($22) was crafted in an upright sitting position to enable little puppeteers to reach up into the movable mouth while being able to swish the tail with their other hand. This cat can chase after the company’s Hooded Rat ($16).

Moving over to the exotic side of the barnyard, the Llama ($38) features a removable harness, movable mouth and vinyl hooves. A goat ($28) with floppy ears has a similar design, minus the harness.

Down on the farm are finger puppet versions of the Mini Cow, Mini Lamb, Mini Pig and Mini Rooster, as well as the Chick in Egg ($6).

A Badger ($26) with movable mouth, clawed front legs and striped back along with the Jeweled Snail ($16)—which can be pulled into its shell—round out the new offerings.

Children’s songwriter Ella Jenkins is paid tribute in cELLAbration!: A Tribute to Ella Jenkins, a CD from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Washington, DC. Artists like Pete Seeger, Tom Chapin and Riders in the Sky sing new arrangements of some of Jenkins’ songs that represent a number of musical styles including folk, salsa, Dixieland, ragtime, mariachi and country. Children’s voices can also be heard throughout the recording.

Through a licensing agreement with Major League Baseball, Front Porch Classics, Seattle, Wash., is offering team-specific versions of its pinball-style coffee table game, Old Century Baseball ($119.95). Players launch the pinball and swing the bat to hit a home run for the Yankees or other teams. Then, they can record each batter’s performance on actual scorecards, while turning movable scoreboard knobs to keep track of the game.

Front Porch Classics is on the fast track with its Raceway 57 game ($75). Players roll the dice or play a card to move their cast-metal race car around the track while managing fuel, suspension and tires. A metal dashboard with magnetized markers helps keep track of each car along the way.

Fundex Games, Indianapolis, Ind., is offering Jump Rope Jam, which goes beyond the traditional rope, playing music and calling out moves. Jumpers can jump in four different modes: jump practice, jump challenge, jump super challenge, and jump jam.

Jumping rope goes high-tech with Fundex’s new Jump Rope Rewind, which lets jumpers customize the length with the push of a button with the retractable handle.

Also from Fundex is the Poker for Dummies Portfolio, which teaches anyone to play a number of card games. The set includes Texas Hold ’em for Dummies, 7 Card Stud for Dummies, and Omaha 8 for Dummies, three 48-page guidebooks, 150 poker chips in three different colors, and a zippered storage and travel case.

Funrise Toy, Woodland Hills, Calif., makes available Passport Friends fashion dolls from around the world. Each package contains fun and educational facts about each location. People to See nine-inch dolls carry a Personal Passport and collectible Stamper ($12.99). This spring My World of Treasures miniature furniture sets will house little girls’ precious possessions.

Also from the company are CARtoons motorized Chevrolet vehicles ($17.99) and 1958 and 1963 Chevy Impala Low Rider vehicles with lights and sounds ($19.99); the Dr. Dreadful line with the Freaky Food Lab and Demented Drink Lab for kids to make gruesome goodies; Gazillion Bubbles, which makes bubble blowing even more fun with seasonal bottle toppers ($2.99); and bubble play with the Gazillion Bubblator and Buzz Lightyear Bubble Blaster.

Games for all Reasons, Arlington, Mass., has developed a new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory board game. Designed for ages seven and older, the game enables kids to travel through Willy Wonka’s factory. Players move ahead by reciting Oompa-Loompa riddles or by choosing to switch places with another player upon drawing a “Wild” card. Players receive a “Golden Ticket” by landing on a designated space. The first player to reach the “Up and Out” space on the game board and have five tickets wins the game.

Scratch 'n’ Sniff Trading cards, the 1,000-plus interactive trading card sets for players and collectors of all ages by Gimme Gimme Toys & Games, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, are scented with double silk-screened spots for longer smell time. Players help Hero (Apple) Core and his Light Forces of Sweetness to battle El Taco, Stogie, Dr. Onion and their evil-smelling gang.

The Gund Kids brand joins the Edison, N.J.-based Gund family in 2005. The Gund Kids brand encompasses a variety of styles including backpacks, purses, magnetic plush, clippie-zips as well as sports, cheerleader and dance themes. Gund is also introducing social expression plush En Español. The Spanish line represents translations of Gund’s popular social expression offerings and baby Gund plush. Gund has also expanded its popular Spunky collection and is introducing new kittens to the Baby Gund line.

With more than 250 items to debut at this year’s show, Haba, Skaneateles, N.Y., is concentrating on playthings in wood and plush. Highlights include The Indian Summer ($35) playset, which comes with 88 wooden pieces and 10 motifs, so budding artists can create an array of patterns and designs.

Also in the mix of games is The Sleepy Princess and the Pea Game ($24) that invites players to determine whether the princess is who she says she is. They can discover the answer by piling up the cushions, blankets and mattresses for a special “princess test.”

Also new: little fingers will be able to fashion decorative necklaces with the Bambini Beads—Aqua Zoo collection ($15). Available in seven aquatic shapes and colors, kids can string the cord through the animals to assemble a menagerie of sea creatures.

Rapunzel would have appreciated these accommodations: the Blossom Tower ($150) stands 33-inch high, providing plenty of space for both play and storage. Pockets on the sides and inside can house dolls, books and more.

HaPe International—a Swiss company with offices in Mequon, Wis.—is bringing its line of toys to the United States. Among the toys under the HaPe brand are: Construction Bulldozer from Woody Click, a wooden bulldozer that can scoop, lift and tote heavy loads; Ice Cream Delight by Hot & Cool Days, which lets kids make real ice cream and serve it in cones or dishes; and Caterpillar by Bamboo, a game that’s played by a roll the die to see how many caterpillars you can remove from the green bamboo tree.

Now kids can fire glowing darts and watch them fly in the dark. Nerf-n-Strike Firefly Rev-8 by Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I., features an internal charger—simply load the eight glow-in-the-dark darts into the blaster and pull the trigger. The flashing light powers up the glowing darts. Watch as the darts fly across the sky. The toy comes with eight darts and retails for $19.99.

Just in time for Star Wars Episode III, Hasbro introduces four preview figures, each sold separately, including: General Grievous; Medon, R4-G9; and a Wookie Warrior ($6.99 each).

Hasbro’s Yomega Power Brain: The Yo-Yo with a Brain has a synchronized clutch system that opens to prolong spin time and tightens to deliver a super-smooth automatic return. It is available in four colors and retails for $9.99.

Hasbro’s Playskool line introduces Chompin’ Mike The Mower. Preschoolers can push him along the grass and he “comes to life” with 25 phrases—pretend grass clippings even swirl inside the dome. The snap-on handle folds down for compact storage ($19.99).

HIT Entertainment, Allen, Texas, celebrates its extensive portfolio of children’s properties with a host of broadcast announcements for Bob the Builder, Barney and Thomas & Friends.

Bob and his crew can “do it”—and they have. As of January the crew began appearing on PBS Kids and is gearing up for its new series, Bob the Builder—Project: Build It, set to debut this fall. New toys from RC2 Corp. and Lego will be tied into this promotion.

And there’s an engine that shows no signs of slowing down: 60 years young, Thomas & Friends will be making station stops throughout the year via its live tour, “Day Out With Thomas 2005: The Celebration Tour.” Limited edition products, new episodes on PBS Kids and new DVDs will also commemorate this occasion.

That purple dinosaur is at it again. This August, Barney will star in a full-length feature The Land of Make Believe, which will launch with themed product.

More wiggling and giggling will be the order of the day for 2005. The Wiggles will headline a live show, as well as a home entertainment release, The Wiggles Live Hot Potatoes! New merchandise from Spin Master includes the Wiggling Dancing Guitar and Rock and Roll Drum.

Finally, Angelina Ballerina will dance her grand finale in the third installment of the Big Performance home entertainment DVD trilogy. Act III will be released in May and will be packaged with a pink tutu for aspiring prima ballerinas.

Hooray!, White Plains, N.Y., is producing two UPS-themed vehicles as the latest additions to its Huggy Buggy line of products. The products will each be reproductions of the UPS package truck and will come in different sizes. Both products will feature the UPS name, logo, and signature brown color and will be covered in traditional Huggy Buggy flocking.

Award-winning i-TOP by iToy, Toronto, has a whirlwind assortment lined up. The new debuts include the i-TOP carrying case in three colors and an i-TOP sports trivia game.

Also new are Color Lite Writer featuring magnetic markers with colors that glow; i-Brite the light up color change puzzler and i-KIX Electronic Footbag/Solar Active Footbag, Doodle Tunes as well as i-See It is a puzzling fast action game for four players.

Imagiix, Cincinnati, is releasing a new line of colorful plush that is perfect for play in or out of the water. SCUSHIES the Originals ($12.99) come in a variety of characters—Angel Fish, Floppy Dog, Big Round Pig, Zany Penguin and more—and measure between 8 to 14 inches.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Fact or Fishy DVD game, produced by Imagination Entertainment, Australia, and Nickelodeon, New York—lets players interact with the cast of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and relive all their favorite moments from the renowned television series at home using a DVD player and remote. Fact or Fishy puts players’ nautical knowledge of Bikini Bottom and friends to the test as they battle to collect as many Krabby Patty Tokens possible.

Imaginative Mind’s new Comfy Easy PC can be plugged into any PC with a USB connection.

Designed to encourage young children to get acquainted with using a computer, the software uses animated characters, music and stories in varying degrees of difficulty to aid in the development of the child’s motor, sensory, cognitive, emotional, and social skills.

A bit of nostalgia is offered up with Von Dutch collectible diecast American V-twin Choppers, Diggers, Cruisers and accessories by Jada Toys, City of Industry, Calif. Two new Von Dutch Kustom cycles, Dragnut and Cruel World, are authentic designs associated with the greaser lifestyle, along with the Big Time Muscle 1:18 scale diecast vehicles.

Jax Ltd., Minneapolis, Minn., is putting all its cards on the table. In Poker’s Wild, players have to create the best poker hand possible by laying cards down on the game board, whoever has the most points wins. With Rock, Paper, Scissors each player lays down a card which ever card is best gets them both. The person who collects the most cards wins and lastly in Kazink, play a card from in hand and place a chip on the board. Stack up three chips and it’s a crown get two rows of three crowns and win.

Joy Stories, East Hanover, N.J., will release two new titles in January: Lucky Goes To The Hospital and Koda’s New Neighborhood. The books feature a cat and squirrel as the central characters that provide insight about how it feels to go to the doctor or the hospital and what moving to a new neighborhood or school is like.

The guys from Orange County Choppers have introduced the world to the behind-the-scenes, metal-bending action found only in their garage. The OCC team has intrigued millions by building one-of-a-kind customized bikes and has created a die-hard fan base.

For Orange County Choppers fans who just can’t get enough of the customized designs, K’nex, Hatfield, Pa., offers a line of one-of-a kind officially licensed K’nex Orange County Choppers building sets. Gearheads across America can choose the building set that replicates their favorite.

Kathe Kruse, Troy, N.Y., is introducing a new pair of dolls designed especially for the occasion of its 100-year anniversary. Both dolls belong to the “Child of Fortune” family and are 15-inches tall. The boy and girl dolls are blonde and look like a classic image of two German children, with the traditional clothing to match. Kathe Kruse is also introducing its special anniversary Bath Baby.

KIDdesigns, Rahway, N.J., introduces the release of its Codename: Kids Next Door line of action figures and accessories inspired by the Cartoon Network series. The line includes both 2-½-inch and 4-½-inch action figures based on the show’s most popular characters ($7.99–$9.99).

The line also includes R.O.A.D.S.T.A.R. ($14.99), an electronic car-plane vehicle that features lights and sound, concealed wings, and a snap-on extra seat with a detachable weapon that fits into an action figure’s hand.

KidKraft, Dallas, is best known for its line of role-play toys and is releasing a wide variety of new products for 2005.

Catering to railroad enthusiasts will be the launch of the Military Train Set and the Transportation City Train Set; dollies will be sitting pretty in one of KidKrafts new dollhouses, which include the Deluxe Dollhouse, the Swivel Dollhouse, or the Modern Dollhouse; sticking to its role-play roots a new Island Kitchen and Grocery Stand is available.

Also, future bankers can keep their treasures in the Purse Money Box, Locomotive Money Box, or the TV Money Box, while those with visions of royalty will likely get a kick out of the Medieval Castle Set or the Princess Castle Set.

Active kids will likely go for the Activity Cube or perhaps the Farm or Pirate Ship Activity Sets. Holiday toys include the Christmas Activity Set, Nativity Puzzle and The Shabbat Dinner for 2 set.

Kidz Delight, Westchester, Ill., is taking its Handz On! line into the kitchen with two new products for 2005: Jammin’ Josh, the Talking Toaster with Bread ($14.99) and Magic Mike, the Talking Microwave ($16.99). Each item features funny, googly eyes and appropriate sound effects for imaginative role-playing.

Animal Party ($21.99) includes 15 illustrated animal tiles with eight activities including: pull and identify, find the animal, and identify sounds and features 15 animal songs and is self-contained with a take-along handle.

Sound N Light Phonics ($24.99) uses lights and sounds to direct children.

Kidz Delight is introducing a smaller version of its popular Datamax—Datamax Junior ($24.99) and includes 20 educational activities in five categories including Vocabulary, Logic, Math, Arts and Games as well as 10 tools like an alarm and clock.

Klutz, Palo Alto, Calif., is introducing How to Make Monstrous, Huge, Unbelievably Big Bubbles ($16.95). It comes with the original Bubble Thing, along with techniques for making 20-foot soap bubbles.

The Klutz Book of Ball Games explains more than 25 games and activities with a tennis ball, perforated plastic ball and a pink rubber high-bounce ball included ($14.95). In Suction Cup Critters, the children are shown how pipe cleaners, punch-outs and suction cups can be turned into colorful characters to adhere to any nonporous surface ($14.95.)

Dial with Style gives a preteen girl’s cell phone personality with stickers and sticky-back jewels, removable Cell Gel paint and bead and wooden decorations ($12.95).

The new collection from Kushies Baby, Stony Creek, Canada, includes Boa, four stackable squishy fabric rings that incorporate sound as well as texture. Its giggling head congratulates the child when the stack of the rings is complete and each sound has been located.

Another product, Stacrobats, allows the child to create a circus with magnetic multicultural figures and three colorful magnetic balls.

Young Hee, created by Language Littles, New York, is the newest addition to its doll lineup. Young Hee makes her debut this spring and she’ll be able to chat about her favorite activities in English as well as Korean. Language Littles are plush bilingual dolls and retail for $39.99.

Adult gamers will raise their glasses to the new game from Late for the Sky Production Co., Cincinnati. Brew-opoly is a property-based game that lets players own their favorite brands and trade their “cases” for “brew houses.” This game is for age 21 plus and retails for $24.95.

LeapFrog, Emeryville, Calif., is trying to take its next massive step into the future, creating a new industry segment that will extend LeapFrog’s appeal into new markets, new technologies and new customer bases: pen- and paper-based computing. The FLY pentop computer ($99.00) is based on a variety of technologies including optical scanning, finely dotted paper media, ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), character recognition software and a phoneme-to-speech engine.

Learning Resources, Vernon Hills, Ill., has a lot of items to get kids moving. The Alpha-Bug Step 'n’ Spell ($39.95). Interactive, talking floor mat is designed to help teach the alphabet, letter sounds, vowel recognition and spelling of three- and four-letter words to kids ages 3 and up. The latest addition to Gears! Gears! Gears! Movin’ Monkeys building set ($34.95). In this jungle-themed 136-piece set, monkeys fly through the palm trees by their tails, then spin, twist and turn.

The Smart Snacks Piece-A-Pizza Fractions ($14.95) features three pizzas: 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8, which teach kids beginning fraction concepts. Smart Splash ($14.95) line of three different water toys teach numbers, counting, shapes, size and colors. The Pretend & Play Count & Click Camera ($19.95) is another teaching toy.

Levels of Discovery, Deerfield, Ill., is taking its children’s furniture line to the playroom. The All Star Sports Collection includes the All Star Sports Table & Four Stool Set, featuring spinning balls and a soccer game with soccer net ($300), as well as the Toy Box Bench ($170), which incorporates four spinning balls, a hockey puck and a chalkboard scoreboard.

A new addition to the Rock-A-My-Baby Collection is the Rock-A-My-Baby Table ($140) with a child’s chair and doll’s chair ($65) completing the line.

In the Rock-A-Builder Collection there is a rocker ($135) designed in a workbench motif, Tool Table and Two Stool Set ($270), and Toy Box Bench ($170), and Musical Rocker ($135).

The Schoolhouse Rocker ($135) is decorated in a chalkboard design on the seat and backrest and there is also the Schoolhouse Storage Unit ($170).

Little Kids, Providence, R.I., has a new Junk Ball radically redesigned line of plastic backyard baseball bats and balls. Junk Ball features a ball with Dial-A-Pitch advanced technology. The bat’s high tech aerodynamic styling features a thinner handle and wider bat head along with a textured grip and sweet spot for greater hitting power. The Junk Ball is an official sized plastic baseball with a twist.

Also, Olivia has new toys being introduced. The line features six collectible figures: Olivia & Her Outfits, Olivia Take-Along Bedroom Playset and Olivia and No-Spill Bubble Tumbler Minis & 2 oz. bubbles.

Girls everywhere may want to “get their groove on” once they get a hold of, Minneapolis, Minn.-based Manhattan Toys’ newest addition to its Groovy Girls line, Groovy Girls Minis ($4.99–$5.99). These posable, portable, and collectible toys are miniature replicas of the six original Groovy Girls dolls. Manhattan Toy is also releasing a line of accessories specially designed just for the Minis to complement any Groovy collection.

Whether a child likes flowers or fire trucks, the new Designers Collection from wooden toy maker Maple Landmark, Middlebury, Vt., makes decorating a snap. Mirrors, coat racks, picture frames, growth sticks and even the child’s name can be created to accent any room of the house in 10 different themes. New to Maple Landmark’s Classic line is the Montgomery Schoolhouse Moving Company truck. The 9-inch moving van has two removable people and a large box with removable cover. The traditional bi-plane and helicopter have also been updated. Maple Landmark’s new line of Classic trucks includes six designs: a school bus, tic-tac-toe truck, moving truck, race team, log truck and fire truck. A work of art MasterPieces Puzzle Company, Tucson, Ariz., aims to take crafting to the next level with its 3D MasterPieces product. To assemble, pop out the pre-cut shapes and borders from the enclosed sheets, place a sticky foam pad on the back of each of the popped out pieces and start creating 3D art by stacking each piece on top of each other. 3D MasterPieces come in three sizes and four different images. Each comes with its own framed border.

Ahoy Matchbox collectors! Cruise the Caribbean courtesy of El Segundo, Calif.-based Mattel’s Matchbox. A pirate-themed diecast vehicle joins the 1-75 Collection with “Instant Win” stickers for a chance to score the grand prize: a Caribbean cruise. The pirate-themed vehicle complements the Buried Treasure Playset.

Collectors might also appreciate the authentic body styling and colors of the latest Matchbox Superfast cars ($1.99). Planes and tanks from the early jet era and World War I are new to the Military Land and Air Vehicles Assortment. The detailed diecast appear in multi-dimensional dioramas depicting a specific battle scene and are protected by a removable acrylic cover and stand ($11.99).

Other wheeled newcomers include SpongeBob SquarePants diecast trucks for preschoolers ($4.99). New Lights 'n’ Sounds Playset features interactive play with jungle sounds ($8.99).

Other licensed product includes Batman offerings. Batman Begins Deluxe Batmobile and Batman Begins Gotham Glider figure, which comes with a launcher.

Mattel’s Tyco R/C brand is introducing a line of cars, trucks and cycles that replicate the high performance vehicles. The line includes the Drift Kings Assortment ($42.99) and Big Rides Assortment ($5.99).

Dolls and fashion

That classic blonde is ready to face Simon and the rest of the judges: Barbie is auditioning for American Idol. At the try-outs, she befriends two other girls, Simone and Tori, Each doll is dressed to perform and comes with a pretend karaoke machine that plays a popular pop song.

To complete the scene is Show Stage Playset, a carry case that opens up to reveal a dressing room and performance area. It also includes a vanity, chair and extra outfit.

The Fashion Fever Barbie line—launched in 2004—is expanding with a whole new line of dolls, outfits, and accessories. The Fashion Fever with Mannequin Assortment allows kids to create their own fashion shop, with fashions and accessories displayed on three-dimensional figures, so they can be mixed and matched. The Closet Collection includes a selection of fashions to mix and match. The Accessory Minipacks include scarves, hats and “shades.”

The Winx Club dolls also focus on fashion. Each doll comes with an extra outfit, a character profile card and a bracelet for girls to wear. The brand will also include Winx Club Fairy Magic Fashion Clothes the Fairy Cool Lounge.

Meanwhile, the Fairytopia line will include Elina, a doll that lights with fiber-optic wings; Dandelion and Dahlia dolls; Flower Fairy and Elves assortment; Hue, the butterfly; Bibble, a plush character that accompanies Elina; Little Lands Playset assortment; Wildering Wood and Magical Meadow playsets; Little Lands Azura’s Cottage Playset; Fairy Guardian Azura; Little Lands Peony Flower House; Playset and Fairytopia Styling Head, which lets kids wear and share the flower hair clips, or borrow the Bibble mirror and fairy hairbrush.

Another brand popular with girls—Little Mommy—has new offerings including baby dolls and accessories inspired by real Fisher-Price products.

Other new themed playsets, including Dreamhouse Nursery with Honey and Bathtime with Beau dog-centered, rather than doll-centric.

Furry nice

This spring Mattel will launch its Furryville Family Events Assortment. Each family—the Bearyweathers, Monkeymeyers and Pigbys— feature an animal family of four characters from the town of Furryville sharing time together. Also included in the new brand: Furryville Family Moments Assortment, and Furryville Collectibles Assortment Each figure is sold separately.

And in the animal theme, the Pound Puppies brand Pick-Me Pups will feature a motion-sensitive mode that makes the dogs automatically start barking and looking appealingly.

Each of the five pups has a collar with a tag and adoption certificate for personalization and comes in a reusable doghouse.

Fun and games

This year, Mattel Games is launching a new user-friendly system the company hopes will take the guesswork out of buying games. A visually driven symbol coding system will be represented seamlessly in all forms of communication including on packaging, in ads and on the web at www.mattelgamefinder.com. Codes will include the following: categories: Familes: Fun for Everyone; Preschool: Fun and Growing; On The Go; Kids: Friends & Heroes; Kids: Playing and Giving; and Adults: Party Time.

New spring 2005 games will include “On The Go” collectible game, the Puck HedzSlammer Starter Set; “Friends & Heroes” the Robots, Sweeper Escape Game, and Hot Wheels AcceleRacers Collectible Card Game.

Mattel Games is also launching an assortment of puzzles and games inspired by The Koala Brothers, which will be available in fall 2005. The lead item from the initial products is electronic Bingo, featuring removable Frank and Buster figures. Additionally in fall ’05, the following items will debut: Large Inlay Puzzle, Two 24-Piece Puzzles and Woodboard Puzzle. Items launching in Spring ’05 include: Matcheroos Game, Large Inlay Puzzle, two 24-Piece Puzzles, Pegboard Puzzle and Woodboard Puzzle.

McFarlane Toys, Tempe, Ariz., as master toy licensee for Tim Burton’s latest stop-motion, animated feature film, Corpse Bride—scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures this fall—will produce a full product line inspired by the upcoming feature film. The line will include collectible action figures, bendable figures, PVC and plush toys. This agreement marks the first time McFarlane Toys will be expanding its categories to include fashion dolls, bobbleheads, novelties and gifts like candles, glassware, pewter pieces and ornaments. McFarlane will also be offering licensed products based on The Simpsons and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

The new Simpsons action figures will be released this fall in two separate multi-figure boxed sets with a full product line hitting shelves in 2006. The figures based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula are scheduled to be released later this year.

Mega Bloks, Montreal, has expanded its Disney construction toys line to include Ariel and Friends Building Bucket ($9.99) and Winnie the Pooh Boat ($14.99). Preschoolers take building exploration to infinity and beyond with Buzz Lightyear Buildable Spaceship ($19.99). Children can build scenes from favorite story classics with the introduction of Block Buddies Stories and Rhymes ($12.99). Mega Bloks new Radix Knights offers a team of Radix Knight heroes for the older preschooler. Mega Bloks’ evolutionary Nano Bloks are enhanced to take construction to the next level with high-definition vehicles in 1:64 scale. Mega Bloks Dragons travel to the 'Metal Ages’ with a new line of product. Mega Bloks has secured licenses for Spider-Man, Spidey and Friends, X-Men, the new Fantastic Four and Pokémon.

Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa, is releasing four 22-page hardcover Sound Storybooks for 2005. The books are based on upcoming films like a Batman Begins, Fantastic Four, and Madagascar, and the popular TV series Koala Brothers ($15.95).

In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Five Little Monkey’s Jumping On The Bed, MerryMakers, Oakland, Calif., is releasing a collection of five finger puppet monkeys. They stand alone as toys, but when used along with the books, open a world of possibilities for making reading fun through creative play. The Five Little Monkeys Finger Puppet Play Set retails for $20.

The four new Bratz Babyz ($7.99) from MGA Entertainment, Van Nuys, Calif., come with one outfit, a blanket, a diaper bag purse and a cute little pet. There are also two mini playsets for Bratz Babyz for this spring, and a larger, themed playset will be introduced in this fall.

Taking a bath is more fun than ever with Sing & Splash activity line from Miracles 4 Fun, Boca Raton, Fla. All products are battery operated utilizing waterproof technology so young kids can safely play for hours in the bathtub. Sing & Splash Activity Bath Center features touch pad technology that incorporates creativity, music and learning. Rocking Ducky is sure to be a hit with sing along and squirting features. Fountain Friends spray water for maximum fun. With Miracles 4 Fun’s Musical Scrub Brushes, kids can scrub clean with a brush shaped like a shark or a mermaid.

Purr-Fection by MJC, Tualatin, Ore., is launching a line of bouncing plush toys called Bouncy Buddies ($5.99 each). Each character in Purr-Fection’s Bouncy Buddies collection is fitted with hard rubber balls inside their fleece-like fabric tummy. There are currently 17 Bouncy Buddies in the line.

Moto Concepts, Inc., Glenmore Park, NSW, Australia, is jumping on the virtual pets bandwagon with the launch of Dreamables ($29.99), animatronic talking plush pets that interconnect to a handheld virtual pet that can make its owner aware of its “needs” through barks, meows, whimpers, and growls.

It will also launch the 50 Anniversary Chevy Bel Air series of 55, 56 and 57 radio control cars ($15 to $99.99) in 1:6 scale with realistic motor sounds and in collectible 1:64 scale.

There is also a relaunch of Bow Biters ($4.99). The line of shoelace locking devices feature faces of popular licensed characters from Sesame Street, “Shrek 2, Shark Tale, and even the upcoming film Madagascar.

Parents looking to protect their little ones from harmful germs found in public places may jump at the chance to invest in a line of sanitary disposable products from Neat Solution, Huntersville, N.C. The line includes Table Topper Stay-in-Place Mat, ($8.99 for a pack of 20), Potty Toppers ($4.99 for a 10-pack), The Floor Topper Mess & Toss Mat ($4.99 for 4), and The Shopper Topper ($8.99 for 20). All of the products are disposable and feature various themes and patterns including licensed Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants.

NKOK, Los Angeles, in an agreement with the Singer Co., is introducing HomePlay, a series of toy sewing and knitting machines so little seamstresses can stitch their own creations. The first models will include a HomePlay Singer sewing machine, Lockstitch, Chainstitch and Singer Knitting Machine.

The next adventure for Scapes series is Fire Scapes, comprised of three wooden play sets and vehicles from Odyssey Toys, Westport, Conn. Featuring reversible backdrops and decorated with fire station imagery, these playsets ($14.95–$29.95) boast an alarm bell, fire station pole, moving ladder and fire hose. Poseable firefighter figures—included in each set—don uniforms in different colors and removable helmets and their hands are able to grip hoses and other firefighting equipment. Other new accessories in the line include a police car and police officers.

The Ohio Art Company, Bryan, Ohio, is introducing a new Making Creativity Fun line of drawing products. Highlighting the new line is Etch A Sketch Crazy Finger Painter ($19.99), which features a crazy finger stylus with a foam tip, four brightly colored paints, and a supply of drawing paper with which kids can create endless low-mess artwork.

The company has also unveiled a new line of frames and designs to its Classic Etch A Sketch product line. This year’s new products include: the new Mini Etch A Sketch in an Easter Egg ($2.99) and the Pocket Etch A Sketch ($4.99).

Oregon Scientific, Fairfield, Conn., is debuting its Batman Cuff ($29.99)—a wearable wrist unit that allows Batman fans to play 15 different activities and games involving memory, logic and mathematics. The new Oregon Scientific Batman Laptop ($49.99), includes 26 Batman activities involving math, grammar, memory, logic, spelling and music.

Otero Games, San Diego, is releasing Roundabout, which, despite its name, gets to the point. Roundabout ($19.95) features a circular game board on which players roll the dice and move their game pieces in two opposite directions at a time. Along the way, players can use the game’s defensive maneuvers to prevent opponents from advancing. With the proper roll of the dice, players can take advantage of the game’s offensive moves to help score points. The first player to remove all of his pieces from the board is the winner.

Overbreak, Sun Valley, Calif., signed with Hasbro to produce new products in its Hover family featuring Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Overbreak will develop HoverDiscs in 36-inch and 26-inch versions, as well as the all new HoverSphere. The HoverSphere is the newest member of the Hover family. The mylar sphere measures over 20-inches in diameter, and can hover, float and spin in gravity-defying motion.

HoverBlimp is also new. It is an inflatable radio-controlled blimp that measures over 42-inches in length and has translucent windows that emit colorful beams of light.

Pacific Play Tents, Los Angeles, is unveliing the latest additions to its line of durable, light weight playhouses and are geared to make any child’s imagination soar. The new tents include The Fire House Tent ($28.95) and the Giant Tee-Pee ($32.40). In addition to the traditional playhouses, Pacific Play Tents is also adding to its line of Bed Tents with the new Rad Racer Bed Tent ($35.95.)

The latest line from Pamela Drake, Berkeley, Calif.—Lemon Meringue Toys—will feature six push toys for toddlers. Items in the collection include an airplane, fire truck, dump truck and circus train, among others, each designed to wiggle with movement. The fire truck’s ladder can be raised and lowered. Each hand painted toy in the line features a magnetic device that enables little ones to attach the vehicles together.

Animal Dominoes by Patch Products, Beloit, Wis., teaches matching skills to little animal lovers. Players take turns playing dominoes face up, trying to match the pictures on their own dominoes to those that have already been played.

For the more advanced dominos player comes Domination: The Conquer and Claim Dominoes Game. The objective is to dominate the game board by conquering and claiming the most territory.

Hearts & Spades for the tween card player utilizes 162 hearts and spades cards, numbered one through five, and wild cards. Two to four players can work as partners or go solo to try and strategically exhaust a 20-card stockpile that each player starts with while simultaneously building two hearts and spades community piles.

Family game night will take even more fun with Such & Such. One team member reads five clues to his teammates who have 40 seconds to solve them. When time expires, the opposing team has the chance to steal the clues. The first team to reach 25 points wins.

Italy-based PlastWood enhances its Supermag line of construction toys with the introduction of a new concept: the Supermag building set. Now, flexible rods can be screwed onto perforated and threaded spheres.

The starter set features two sizes of rods, while the Glow line includes fluorescent rods. A step up from these is the Discover range, which contains a variety of spheres and rods and is packaged with instructions on building solids and flat shapes. Finally, the Unibar range has a single size rod, enabling the creation of numerous simple shapes.

Play Along, Deerfield Beach, Fla., is introducing new friends from Xavier Roberts’ Cabbage Patch—Style N’ Care Ponies ($19.99). They are the perfect companions for Cabbage Patch Kids and little girls alike. The 12-1/2-inch soft plush ponies come complete with fashion saddle, hair accessories and grooming brush. The ponies’ long manes and tails can be groomed and braided, providing hours of styling fun for their adoptive parents. Adopting parents can also log on to www.mycpk.com to give their pony a special name.

There is also a new crop of Cabbage Patch Kids ($29.99) sporting new faces, fashions … and freckles. Cornsilk Kids—featuring soft hair that’s brushable—also make the scene. Each Kid comes with Share & Wear accessories: butterfly hair bands, bikini headscarves and real hair extensions.

Crafty kids will “bearly” be able to keep their hands off the Doodle Bear with Accessories ($14.99). Each one has its own personality and fashions, and comes with washable color markers, stampers, a carry bag, and an “Oodles of Doodles Helpful Hints” poster. The Doodle Bears are both machine- and hand-washable.

The three new Care Bear collections called The Magical Circle of Fun Care Bears, Care Bear Cubs, and Care Bears Celebration include an assortment of classic styles.

A new line of educational Teletubbies, Tubby Talk & Learn ($14.99), will include a bonus with each doll: a 30-minute episode of the show on VHS.

Cyclops, from Play Ltd., Hong Kong, may be the first RC car to transmit both video and audio back to the controller via the TV set in real time. Cyclops is equipped with a programmed infrared laser feature for disabling other enemy Cyclops vehicles. With its high resolution camera, the car sends real-time (30 fps) video wirelessly to a color LCD screen built into the ergonomically designed controller, while the on-board microphone lets kids listen in on the action from your “driver’s eye” perspective.

Playmates Toys, Costa Mesa, Calif., now has Air Ninjas and BattleNexus figures and vehicles for its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line, including The Turtle Zanramon Space Cruiser ($19.99), Turbo Bashers, and Crashin’ Thrashin’ Mikey ($19.99).

Fast forward to the Speedeez 2005 Ford Mustang GT replica that opens up into a movie set filled with props, ramps and jumps. New Speedeez playsets include N-Sane and Mini Cooper Race City Playset.

On the gentler side, Disney Sing Along Princess dolls feature Little Cinderella, Little Ariel and Little Belle singing a personalized song ($15). New 15-inch Disney Read Along Princess dolls with a 24-page storybook ($12.50) include Tinker Bell and Alice in Wonderland.

The newest My Baby Princesses consists of Baby Sleeping Beauty and Baby Mulan. Each of the six My Baby Princess dolls is 12-inches tall and fully articulated. They come dressed in a princess-themed outfit and include an array of nurturing accessories inspired by classic princess styling.

Playmates Toys is also introducing a wide selection of Atomic Betty dolls, figures and playsets this year. The new line includes figures of key characters from the show and includes a transformation assortment with which kids can change Betty from her everyday persona into the savior of the universe, a playset that transforms from Betty’s classroom into her spaceship and a talking Betty doll. The toys range from $5.99–$19.99.

WEBZ and SKROOZ are the latest members of the Progressive Trading, Glendale, Calif., magnetic construction toy family. WEBZ ($25.00–$50.00) come in 54- and 108- piece sets that contain a variety of arms and plates that allow builders to have flexibility with curves, angles, and overall structure stability.

SKROOZ ($15.00–$56.00) come with bars in two different sizes, that can be adjusted by a simple twist. SKROOZ come in three primary color sets (42, 84, and 168 pieces) and in a metallic set with 84 pieces.

Pro-Motions Novelty Co., San Jose, Calif., the manufacturers of the Mr. Wonderful novelty doll and his family, introduces everyone’s favorite boss—Chief Executive Officer. The opinionated C.E.O. ($29.99) utters such endearing phrases as: “ I can’t promote you … who would do all the work?,” Trust me, you don’t really want a window office. The sun, the view … it’s all very distracting,” “When will you get that promotion … How about never, does never work for you?” and more.

Among the new electronic book offerings from Publications International, Ltd., Lincolnwood, Ill., are: Scooby-Doo! Cash Register and SpongeBob SquarePants Cash Register, Disney Princess and Dora the Explorer Puppet Theater ($19.99); three Sight and Sound Math and three Sight and Sound Word titles ($12.99–$14.99); three Magic Wand titles ($12.99–$13.99); and three Magic Screen/Surprise Sing-Along titles ($12.99–$13.99).

Three Sing-Along Microphone Books ($12.99–$13.99), featuring Barney, Elmo and Winnie the Pooh round out the selection.

Putumayo World Music, New York, is releasing Putumayo Presents: Swing, a happy collection of swinging, danceable tunes from artists around the world. Other Putumayo titles include: Sing Along with Putumayo and Caribbean Playground, World Playground, and African Playground. Caribbean Playground is the latest album from Putumayo Kids.

Radica Games, Dallas, has a bevy of electronic games to show for fall.

Electronic Spoons ($19.99), a bobblehead waitress presides over the gameboard as players try to get four of a kind and snap up a spoon. Along with Skannerz Racerz ($19.99) is to collect all 120 vehicles, including dragsters, hot rods, motorcycles and monster trucks, then trade, customize and race them.

Slots fans will think they are at the casino with Big Screen Slot ($19.99). The Vegas-style action includes five wheels, four games and a bonus round.

Scaled down for preteen off-road adventures, the Dirt Rocket MX350 Electric Motorcross Bike by Razor USA, Cerritos, Calif., can go more than 10 miles and up to 12 mph in controlled riding environments ($229.99).

For older riders the Super Chopper Electric Motorcycle is a souped up version of Razor’s Mini Chopper. It can go up to 17 mph with 45 minutes of drive time on a single charge ($229.99).

Experienced riders ages six and up can get their kicks with the Pro Model kick scooter, the aircraft grade aluminum scooter ($59.99).

RC2, Oak Brook, Ill., building upon the success of Bob the Builder, is launching Take Along Bob the Builder Playsets and Take Along Bob the Builder Vehicles with faces in the likeness of Scoop, Lofty, Trix and other characters from the show.

To commemorate Thomas & Friends’ 60th anniversary, there will be new characters and destinations. Featured toys include Scented Culdee & Apple Orchard Cars, a special edition Henry engine and Smelting Yard, a new place on Sodor.

Taking things outdoors, the John Deere line will see the addition of new playsets—Shearing Shed and Dairy Farm, ride-ons—Sit 'n’ Scooter Activity Tractor and All-Purpose Tricycle. A gardening line adds a kid-level planting table; Bug Exploration Gloves, for inspecting critters without having to touch them; and a gardening tool set.

Entering the fashion doll category, RC2 releases Earth 2 Jane doll and accessory collections, including a karaoke set.

Highlights in the Lamaze line include Flower Chimes and Play and Grow Giraffe.

With the acquisition of The First Years brand, RC2 offers a line of Finding Nemo bath accessories and care/safety products, such as Hug & Heal Bunny and Soothies Pacifiers.

In the collectibles arena, the Johnny Lightning brand now includes C.A.R.S. (Classic Authentic Replicas), Street Freaks and Pop Culture diecast cars. Under the JoyRide Vehicles umbrella are Trends Custom Vehicles, Orange County Choppers and an extensive James Bond diecast program.

The Memory Lane brand features an assortment of figures and playsets from classic holiday television shows, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Charlie Brown’s Christmas.

Finally, the Press Pass line of trading cards/sports memorabilia will include Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Collectible Tin, Fullmetal Alchemist card game and Yu-Gi-Oh! Orbz collectible marbles.

Rhythm Band Instruments, Fort Worth, Texas, lets kids make beautiful music with the combined 8-Note Handbells/Deskbells. A special mechanism not only lets the bells be played either by pushing the button or by hand ringing, but also helps to reduce the “double ringing” effect when playing melodies.

Safari, Miami, takes a trip back in time with the Oviraptor, a new addition to its Carnegie Institute Dinosaur Collection of replicas. Safari’s scale model is 7-inches long and is detailed with the collaboration of the paleontologists from the Carnegie Institute.

The company is also adding four new themes to its Real Life in Miniature TOOBS line. The replicas are packaged in reusable acetate tubes complete with a spinning world cap for added play value. The four new themes include: exotic birds, rainforest, pirates and Egyptian.

SaiZon, Montreal, the exclusive importers and distributors of Stikfas Action Figures in North America, will unveil several new action figures kits including a hockey player, fairy and pirate. Available in two new colors, fuchsia and teal, the Ice Hockey pack comes complete with G2 Alpha Male figure, body armor and hockey kit. The Pirate kit features a red Alpha Male figure together with a new body shape in the form of a skeleton. Accessories include a parrot, peg leg, pistol, hook hand and more. The Fairy kit features a Beta Female figure in beige and green and comes with wings, monster smashing hammer, alternative hair piece and wand.

Scratch Art Co., Avon, Mass., is introducing Scratch Magic Princess activity kits to help every little princess express her creative side. The collection includes: Princess Press & Paint Set, Princess Scratch & Sparkle Magic Drawing Kit, Princess Mini Notes, Princess Jewelry Box Kit, and Scratch & Sparkle Pink Glitter Board Kit. These products range in price from $1.39 to $14.99.

Shocker Toys, Buffalo, N.Y., is launching the toy line for its newly acquired licenses such as Toxic Avenger, a mutant from Troma Films, and Kade, a comic book character from Arcana Studio. These new licensed characters are three inches tall with a fully poseable action figure body. Shockini is a 3-inch mini block style action figure featuring 18 points of articulation and snap-together action. Mutant Mania, a separate line of Shockinis, debut with cool monsters and mutants seen on the big screen, starting with the Toxic Avenger as a Shockini mini action figure.

Silver Dolphin Books, San Diego, is adding two new titles to its Amazing Baby book series. Amazing Baby Peekaboo, Puppy includes photos of baby animals, rhyming text, and encourages interactive play and Amazing Baby Rattle, Rattle is full of colors and patterns and even features a built-in rattle for noise-making fun ($5.95).

Silver Dolphin will also release the first two installments of its new art-instruction series in Spring of 2005. Fine Studio Art Drawing ($18.95) and Fine Art Studio Painting, ($18.95) are designed to teach the techniques of famous artists like Monet and Frankenthaler. Each has a kit that includes everything needed to complete the projects in the books.

In the Robotic series, Robotic Hornet, the materials included let kids make a robotic hornet with light-up eyes and flapping wings ($17.95).

The Snappy Sounds series goes interactive with Snappy Sounds Vroom! and Snappy Sounds Woof!, Snappy Little Fairy Tales for preschoolers feature Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White in pop-up books retelling their stories in rhyme. Each Snappy book retails for $12.95.

Magic Maestro Music/Kids brand from Simon & Simon, Washington, D.C., is introducing Stories in Music: Casey at the Bat. The CD features the London Philharmonic Orchestra performing the original score composed by Stephen Simon. Magic Maestro Music/Kids will also release Stephen and Bonnie Simon’s version of Juanita the Spanish Lobster.

SKM Enterprises, City of Industry, Calif., focuses its plush offerings on farm animals and dogs this year like a horse, lamb, cow and pig. Each 9-inch mohair animal has soft colors like its living counterpart.

Tail Wagger 9-inch plush dogs join Hound plush puppies with big paws and sad eyes. Shaggy Dogs measure 12-inches and have silky fur and big round eyes.

Belly Button Softies are 9-inch terry plush animals with tiny belly buttons. Young girls will be styling with new 12-inch plush purses are designed with colorful, velvet-soft dogs in fashion-forward hues of cerise, blue, orange, purple, green and brown.

Start your engines and get ready to build new Krazy Kars kits featuring racing greats Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

Skullduggery, Tustin, Calif., unveils two stock car Cast & Paint kits. The Jeff Gordon 24 and Jimmie Johnson 48 kits include materials to build authentic looking 1:64 scale stock cars that can be raced on standardized plastic tracks. Krazy Kars kits can be constructed by children under eight years old with some adult supervision. Paints, Blopens and decals of the sponsors let the builder customize their cars ($16).

Skullduggery is also debuting Cast & Paint Hummer H2 and Corvette kits.

Puzzibilities puzzles from Small World Toys, Culver City, Calif., combine classic wooden puzzle technology with a new bilingual educational edge. Puzzibilites Level 2 Bilingual Shapes Puzzle ($14.99) gives kids a chance to learn the names of colors in both Spanish and English when the child places a piece in the correct place the puzzle electronically hears both the color and shape in both languages. The line also features puzzles that teach numbers, favorite foods, and favorite toys.

The World Living Line features a Sink and Stove Combo ($199.00), or a BBQ Grill ($139.00), which comes with a set of BBQ tools. The brightly colored wooden play stations can be complemented by one of Small World’s sets of ethnic-themed play food.

The Living Good Fortune set ($9.99) features 20 pieces including pretend chopsticks, a soy sauce bottle and a paper take-out box and more, giving kids a chance to “whip up” a Chinese feast. The line also features sushi and pasta sets.

Octogenarian children’s songwriter Ella Jenkins is paid tribute in cELLAbration!: A Tribute to Ella Jenkins, a CD from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Washington, D.C. Artists such as Pete Seeger, Tom Chapin and Riders in the Sky sing new arrangements of some of Jenkins’ songs that represent a number of musical styles including folk, salsa, Dixieland, ragtime, mariachi and country western. Children’s voices can also be heard throughout the recording.

Snap TV Games, Santa Monica, Calif., is adding to its line of DVD trivia games, which are played on a television set with a DVD player and remote control. In order to play, players watch footage and answer trivia questions. Snap has three product lines: sports, kids, and general entertainment. The company will be releasing NCAA Basketball and Trivideo: 20th Century for 2005 ($14.95–$19.99).

Slow but steady, three playful mollusks take a young boy on magical adventures with music and songs in the new Pocket Snails Letter Adventure DVD/CD series by Soaring Star Productions, LLC, Surprise, Ariz.

Each DVD introduces a topic and the companion CD features songs from the programs and other original songs related to the theme. The debut DVD retails for about $15.95; VHS, $12.95; and music CD, $14.95. Approximate running time for each is 35 minutes. Bonus extras on the DVD include interactive activities and Meet the Snails fun facts.

Future Pocket Snails topics for 2005 are Phonics, Shapes & Colors and Numbers.

Familiar faces highlight the cloth books from SoftPlay, Chicago.

SoftSounds books focus on early language skills in the Sesame Beginnings titles, What’s That Sound? and Elmo Is So Silly. Fisher Price Little People books encourage exploration of everyday places in Barnyard Sounds, Things That Go, and Circus Sounds.

SoftPlay Cloth Books are interactive with flaps for lifting and different textures for introducing independent play and imagination. Each washable book comes in a clear carrying case. New titles are Pooh’s Big Adventure: A First Words Book and Pooh Says Hello: A Manners Book.

Display & Play 3-D Felt Playset Books’ giant centerfold with 25 figures and pieces welcomes open-ended creations. Themes are Noah’s Ark and Elmo’s Big Day Playset.

Just add ice to a favorite drink, push a button and with the Slurpee Maker by Spin Master, Toronto, the 7-Eleven treat can be made at home. The Slurpee Maker debuts this fall ($24.99).

It’s no smoke screen but a new way to make bubbles with Professor Magic Smokey Bubbles. This spring kids of all ages can dip the lever into the safe smoke solution and watch as the popped bubbles emit smoke into the air. New Aquadoodle Tote-a-Doodle for toddlers comes with accessories and licensed mats for coloring.

Mom may be climbing the walls but so is Wall Racer, a climbing, full function Humvee that can navigate vertical surfaces. The Wall Racer debuts this fall ($59.99).

Follow the numbers and foam squares become art with Sticky Mosaic Kits by The Orb Factory, Nova Scotia, Canada.

By using any or all of over 5,000 sticky foam squares in 10 colors, children as young as first grade can quickly become first rate mosaic artists. Two beginner templates and six more advanced shapes, including a mermaid and dragon with colorful backgrounds, are in the kit.

A poster with information about mosaics and picture hangers for displaying the finished works of art complete the set.

Swicherz, Santa Monica, Calif., founder Tom Viscount envisioned hood ornament-like interchangeable and detachable stickers that would not be obscured by the elements for snowboards, surfboards, skateboards or any flat surface.

With a quarter of a turn, a locking system fastens the characters, flags or three-dimensional icons to a base that can be adhered to surfaces and withstand several feet of snow, crashing waves or 65 mph rides. The Swicherz line includes about 50 characters from video games and cartoons and movies like the Terminator and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

Swim Ways, Virginia Beach, Va., gets in the swim of things with an assortment of playthings for the pool.

Rainbow Reef Fish is a “school” of battery-powered toys that can add a new element of fun to swim time. The water-activated Rainbow Reef Magic-Action Trigger Fish ($15.99) starts swimming as soon as they hit the pool. The Rainbow Reef Battle Shark ($22.99) offers faster swimming action.

The Water Dancer dolls ($12.99) are able to spin and twirl in the water. The dancing action can be adjusted with a small lever on the doll’s skirt that allows the dolls to spin in small or large circles.

The new Star Lite Water Dancers ($14.99) are twirling water nymphs that light up. Similar to the Water Dancers are the Mystical Mermaids ($19.99)—Princess Elaina and Princess Amber—dolls that swim with a hinged fin.

Finally, Toypedo Underwater Gliders ($15.99) are pool toys that reportedly glide up to 40 feet underwater. Also available in two other sizes: Toypedo Flash (lights up for night swimming—$12.99) and Toypedo Bandits (a smaller version designed for kiddie pools or bath tubs—$6.99).

Treena’s Treehouse by Takara, New York, is a play set that includes Treena, her friend Peanut (a squirrel) and 20 pieces of furniture and accessories. It has ten rooms, including a balcony, fantasy garden, a special bedroom just for Peanut, and a working elevator. Fruits and vegetables “grow” on the tree and are attached with Velcro and a special non-blade scissor “cuts” the velcro connection. Carrots and other vegetables are buried in the fantasy garden and can be harvested by simply tugging the tops to pull them out of the ground. Playrooms for Treena’s friends are sold separately and include Maya’s Mushroom Restaurant, Candy’s Apple House, and more.

In the past, Tatutina Inc., Attleboro, Mass., has strictly created kid’s room accessories made from wood. For the first time, the company will be offeri