As we walked through Javits today, we came across a gentleman who was demonstrating an interesting science kit that involves Mentos and a can of soda.
Every time the toy worked, he got sprayed with a bottle’s worth of soda.
Each year there are certain concepts that just seem to be in the air at toy fair. This year we are already seeing certain themes emerging for 2011.
Banana Splits, Taxis and Toilets…
From Learning Resources
Banana Split from Earlyears (International Playthings)
Step 2's New Taxi Ride In
Viking Toys Taxi (from International Playthings)
All wood...from Maxim
Even the new Disney Princess Castle comes with a royal throne
Faux Wooden Toilet Seat from Calico Critters
Cookie Monster
We moved! Did you notice last year that there was no new Tickle Me Elmo? That’s because the Sesame Street license moved from Fisher-Price/Mattel to Hasbro, but not in time for Hasbro to roll out a new collection. In the absence of an Elmo novelty doll, last year Fisher-Price introduced Dance Star Mickey. He made our Platinum List. Our testers loved how he danced not to mention his ability to moonwalk!
This year, here’s what you’ll need to know:
1. It will be a battle of the Rock Star Mickey and Rock Star Elmo. We previewed both today.
Rock Star Mickey is pretty snazzy! 
He moves, he sings, he dances…and he can even do a Rock Star split (guitar in hand). Move over Mick Jagger! He is also interactive…teaching kids how to rock on! The demonstrator would not play along when it got to the split.
Rock Star Elmo is cute, although he doesn’t move the way Mickey does. But I think fans of Elmo will be happy to see him back. In his favor, he plays the drums, a tambourine and he also sings into a mic (all come with Elmo). 
There are also musical toys for your child that also magically sync with Elmo–so that your child can play a small guitar, a small keyboard or sing into a mic — and Elmo will be able to sing along. Rock Star Elmo will retail for $69.99 (the add on toys are $19.99 each).
We look forward to testing both. Both are planned for fall 2011 release.
2. Cookie Monster. Ok, I have to admit it…I LOVE Cookie Monster. I don’t really know too many people that don’t put Cookie Monster into the favorites category. This new interactive version, eats cookies. They disappear into his mouth and then the cookies will reappear in his backpack. He sometimes counts the cookies…that’s fun, but I have a sense just feeding him will be the big pay off.
Watch our video of both at http://www.youtube.com/user/toyportfolio.
So every year we kick off Toy Fair with a sneak preview at Mattel and Hasbro. The fair officially starts on Sunday at the Javits Center in NYC. So we’re all good…we’re catching up with the pr folks for Mattel. We were discussing how big our kids are (how did that happen?) …all is going very well. There is press event with Jeremy Piven for a new Hot Wheels launch. We are told to be quiet since there were lots of crews filming the event. We opted not to watch the event, but get straight to the toys!
So we start on our tour and then I for some unknown reason BASH into an easel with a sign on it. The sign falls. Yes, it was one of those moments that you wish you could take back…but you’re there…you just have to laugh it off. I know my brother has a photo of me –probably looking horrified and laughing. Oh well.
Tomorrow we begin Toy Fair with visits to both Mattel and Hasbro. This week our mail boxes are FULL of new toys vying for attention at this year’s fair.
This one got my attention: Ravensburger’s largest commercially available puzzle (according to the Guinness Book of World Records). Complete with 32, 256 pieces. It will measure 17′ x 6′ –so the family dining room table will be out of the question!
The puzzle features the artwork of the late Keith Haring. It weighs 42 pounds and comes with it’s own hand truck!
The puzzle will retail for $299.
For more info, visit Ravensburger.com
For me it was clearly a combo of hating practicing asbestos litigation and my mother having a really great time writing about toys and play. I left her after a segment she did at the Today Show to go back to my office and thought–that just seems like a better way to spend the day. I’m always curious how other people find their way to the toy industry. It is a business — and not all warm and fuzzy as you might think–but still it is different.
So I started a series called Meet the Toymakers. This gave me an opportunity to find out how other people joined the ranks of toy industry insiders. And since most people seem to have a desire to also be in toys, I thought it would be interesting to hear how other people fulfilled their dreams.
This week- we have an interview with Robert Pasin of Radio Flyer. Unlike most of the people I’ve interviewed, Robert is third generation in his family’s toy business. That’s hard core and brings it’s own set of challenges even when you are in charge of an established and iconic American brand.
I also interview Chris and Will Haughey of TEGU. These brothers both left their Wall Street jobs to start TEGU. Besides making a lovely product (wooden blocks with built in magnets) they are also finding a way for their business to give back to the people of Honduras by creating jobs. 
Both interviews are posted on our website at www.toyportfolio.com
Read Joanne’s new article about now babies learn and the five basic toys your baby should have. Click here.
This press release just came in…makes you wonder what they will tell us about all of these devices that we live with and expose our kids to…
Contact:
Gail McDonnell
Advisory Board, ElectromagneticHealth.org <http://electromagnetichealth.org/>
Phone: 212-289-7824
Email: Mommygail@gmail.com (preferred)
Emily Roberson
ElectromagneticHealth.org <http://electromagnetichealth.org/>
Phone: 610-707-1602
Email: Emily@ElectromagneticHealth.org (preferred)
Patti Woods of Grass Roots Environmental Education <http://www.grassrootsinfo.org/about.html> in Port Washington, NY, will be presenting a program in Manhattan, “Is Wi-Fi Safe for Kids?” <http://tinyurl.com/4anbwr5> on Thursday evening, February 10th. The event will be at All Souls Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue (at 80th) on from 7-9 p.m.
ElectromagneticHealth.org <http://electromagnetichealth.org/> and Campaign for Radiation Free Schools <http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110896245588878> (Facebook) strongly urge all members of the media interested in children’s health to attend.
See presentation by Dr. Magda Havas from Trent University in Canada on risks to children in schools from wireless technologies <http://vimeo.com/17263893> , including cell towers, Wi-Fi and dirty electricity, given at a forum at the Commonwealth Club of California, November 18, 2010.
Another presentation of interest from that program, “The Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields” <http://tinyurl.com/298yzdg> , is that of Martin Blank, PhD of Columbia University who speaks about the cellular and DNA impacts from wireless radiation and the risks from these technologies to future generations <http://vimeo.com/17266941> . Dr. Blank is Associate Professor, Columbia University, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics; Editor of the journal Pathophysiology’s special issue on Electromagnetic Fields in March 2009; and Past President, Bioelectromagnetics Society <http://www.bioelectromagnetics.org/> . He holds a PhD from Columbia University in Physical Chemistry and a PhD from Cambridge University in Colloid Science, an interdisciplinary (biology, physics and chemistry) department.
It is important the media understand the biological effects from electromagnetic fields, and the long-term consequences of these exposures to children. In schools, the radiation emitted by wireless technologies is not conducive to optimal learning environments and the genetic damage from wireless radiation is irresponsible and unjustified.
More information on radiation effects on children can be found in the BRAG Antenna Ranking of Schools Report <http://tinyurl.com/4j96bvw> Instructions for schools on how to minimize microwave radiation within the school and from outside sources are provided at the back of the BRAG report, where there are also references to the science showing the known biological effects. These effects range from mild cognitive impairment, impacting memory and attention, to irreversible DNA damage and cancer.
ElectromagneticHealth.org <http://electromagnetichealth.org/> , a leading national and international advocacy organization focused on EMF & Health, urges Manhattan journalists to attend the program “Is Wi-Fi Safe for Kids?” <http://tinyurl.com/4anbwr5> on February 10th from 7-9 p.m. Gail McDonnell, Senior Advisor to ElectromagneticHealth.org, will be in attendance.
Just got an advance copy of a book titled…Putting Makeup on Dead People. I’m not making this stuff up.
I’ve been saving this book by my computer for weeks. I’m always on the look out for books about difficult topics…illness, divorce, death, etc.
Ricky takes a walk in the woods. On the first page–we see a little squirrel hiding behind a tree as Ricky walks down the road. Two pages later, Ricky comes across a squirrel (lying on it’s back with a smile). Not sure if it’s the squirrel we saw on page one. I thought at this point that the squirrel is sleeping or playing — about to jump up and play with Ricky. (Look at the image on the cover–does he look dead to you?) BUT NO–the squirrel is DEAD. Ricky is joined by Annie (another Rabbit) and they take the dead squirrel home and talk about it.
Ricky’s daddy comes home–and explains that the squirrel doesn’t look good and he’s going to Squirrel Paradise..but “first we will bury him.” I was alittle disturbed by the lack of clarity about the whole sequence of events. You don’t look good–so we bury you then? The reference to Squirrel Paradise kind of skips an important step–you know, dying and all. But then it gets even more confusing. They bury the squirrel and then on the last page they see a squirrel very much alive way above in a tree. This squirrel looks just like the dead squirrel. So did he come back to life? Is it another squirrel? The one we saw at first? Circle of life? In the end this book just doesn’t work and I believe really add to the confusion of explaining death to young children.
One of my favorite movies, The Princess Bride, includes a hilarious scene with Billy Crystal and Carol Kane…talking about whether Westley is really dead or only “mostly dead”….seems like the squirrel has the same issue.