Pick of the Day: Mary Meyer's Earthmates

show_image_in_imgtag We just received a new collection from Mary Meyer called Earthmates.  The little Organic Little Sprouts Club here is just 5″ tall, he’s made with organic cotton . There is also a small orange cat and sweet green dog.  The tag reads “They are all made without the use of any harmful pesticides, or toxic chemicals or dyes.”  What your child will love about them is that they are very sweet and soft.  Done in a soft Velour with stitched features, these are safe for infants and toddlers.  If you’re looking for something bigger, there’s    this 12″ friend Big Bear- he’s not as huggable as the smaller animals–but he is very cheery.show_image_in_imgtag-1

So many organic plush lines we’ve received this year arrived looking very washed out and sad. This  line is green and happily does  not sacrifice on play value and overall product appeal.

Pick of the Day: My Natural Collection from Hosung NY

tinylove-collectionWe LOVE this new collection of huggables from Hosung NY. They are just right (and safe) for toddlers – velour bodies with stitched features- and are really very sweet looking.  There are three different collections – all produced a round of oohs and ahhs as we went through the box.  There is the Long Leg Collection (sans clothes) – they retail for $14.99.  The ones in the photo are the Tiny Love Collection and are a very reasonable $9.99. The Tiny Tots Collections are smaller animals (fistfuls really) that have a sense of humor and joy about them.  Best yet, the entire line is made from 100% non-toxic cotton.  The coloring is from minerals and soy done with the company calls a “low eco-impact” dye process.  Unlike many “natural” collections we’ve seen, they are very vivid and don’t have that “ok, it doesn’t look great, but it’s very green and pc”.   Each are something you’d be happy sharing with the toddlers in your life….hooray!  We’re giving the entire collection an Oppenheim Toy Porfolio Gold Seal Award and they are certainly in the running for Platinum at the end of the year!

Top Trends from ToyFair 2009: Jakks Pacific Star Wars 3D Kites

I have to confess–we’re huge Star Wars fans here so we were really psyched to see Jakks Pacific’s new line of 3D kites that feature Luke’s X-Wing, Darth Vader’s Tie Fighter and Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon.  So cool!  We can’t wait to test them–each include a 15′ tail.   Suggested retail wil be $24.00.  And if you can think warm weather (the temp is dropping rapidly here in nyc)…there also promises to be Star Wars inflatables for the pool. If you’re a SW fan, these will have great appeal ($39.99).  Jakks Pacific also has a new line of collectable marbles (they’re making a come back…apparently)…they look neat. They come with little stands–at $3.99 each, not sure how these will appeal to parents.  They may find a great audience in the SW’s collectors – of course they’ll never never take them out their packaging.

Sarah Palin's Favorite Toy….

big-buck-hunter1Would probably be Jakks Pacific upcoming home edition of  Big Buck Hunter.  Just like the arcade game, you’re good to go shooting Bambi from the comfort of your sofa with your toy rifle…maybe Governor Palin would like to invite New York’s Junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand over as well.

Top Trends from Toyland 2009: Walk like an Egyptian….

4240As we walk the aisles at Javits, we quickly discovered a new trend in toyland.  All things Egyptian are big again.  Most looked really promising.  The highlight for us was the new Playmobil Egyptian themed playset complete with a Pyramid (that opens up with lots of hidden compartments inside), a Sphinx, a Royal Ship and other really wonderfully executed accessory sets.  They’ll be available for the holidays. We also saw Hieroglypics Blocks from Uncle Goose that looked right on target for kids interested in all things Egyptian. e28pic21We look forward to testing both.

Good news from Toy Fair!

I just finished covering Toy Fair 2009…and there’s lots of good news that I’ll be writing about for the next few weeks as previews of products we look forward to testing.  Maybe because we went with such low expectations…but we found lots of creative and innovative new products that are in the works for the new year.  While it’s always interesting to see what actually makes it to the toy shelves–at least we can report that there are really good choices. So as I’m now surrounded by a pile of thumbdrives…I will start making our list of the toys we’re eager to see and those that are so silly we have to share them with you!

Inventive Teen: Maddie Bradshaw

maddie-headshot

While I know a lot of grown ups looking to re-invent themselves, I was  struck by 13 year old Maddie Bradshaw, the founder of Snap Caps.  Now a million dollar plus business, these cheerfully decorated bottle caps are sold in 400 stores…with 40,000 necklaces sold each week…pretty impressive at any age.

So we asked Maddie a few questions…..

What gave you the idea to make Snap Caps?

I wanted magnets for my locker.  I used my Uncle Sam’s bottle caps from his coke machine to create my designs.  After I gave them out to friends, I decided to figure out a way to wear them.

Have you always wanted to be in the toy business?

I have wanted to own a business since the 2nd grade.   Some of my first sales were in local toy stores.  I love Learning Express.

Who inspires you the most?

Albert Einstein

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Immigration lawyer or a patent attorney.

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Pre-Toy Fair Buzz: Little Tikes Bumble Bee Buggy

little-tikes_bumble-bee-buggyThis cheerful looking Bumble Bee looks promising to us and at a suggested retail of $39.99 it’s a well-priced active toy for older toddlers and preschoolers.  One of our pet peeves at the moment is that most ride on/ride ins don’t really steer.  Kids have to literally pick up their ride on and change directions.  With four caster wheels, this one should respond well.  Stay tuned….

Pre-Toy Fair Buzz: Green Toys Ecosaucer Flying Disk

ecosaucerminiMaybe because it’s refreshingly not 10 degrees outside, but just the image of this saucer makes me think that Spring is really going to come….eventually.  We’ve requested samples to try with our testers. The Ecosaucer from Green Toys is made from recycled plastic milk containers.  Not sure why it’s green…other than the obvious green statement. We have given this company’s Indoor Gardening Kit an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award.

Notable Birthday: Fisher-Price Little People Hit 50!

41ztrqmn7xl_sl160_aa160_Move over baby boomers, the iconic Fisher-Price Little People are turning 50 this year. The Little People Farm that seems like it’s been around forever, first hit the shelves in 1968…and the School House arrived in 1971.

This year we tried the updated (there is always a new version!) of the school bus and airplane.  These classic toys got rave reviews from new parents. If you’re looking for vehicles for toddlers, this line is really a consistently strong choice. The vehicles make some sound, but not overpowering and you can use the vehicles without the sound (a plus). The openings, handles and weight also make these appropriate choices for toddlers that love moving their toys about.

We put the School Bus on our SNAP Award list (Special Needs Adaptable Product Award)– a long time ago when the company added a play figure with a wheelchair. We’re delighted that feature has continued.  The farm has been a focal point for us over the years–especially when they made the “barn” talk — so if you put the cow where the pig is supposed to go — your cow will oink…not moo.  We love technology but here’s an example of missing the way kids play with toys.   There shouldn’t be only one right place to fit an animal.  Or here’s a novel concept…your child can provide their own sounds!