Let the New Year's Eve games begin!

Let the New Year's Eve games begin!

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Zhu Zhu pets hot for wish lists

From my National Children's Toys Examiner page:

When Toys “R” Us announced their 2009 Hot Holiday Toy List last week, one toy on the list was not a surprise. Zhu Zhu Pets by Cepia (formerly called Go Go Pets) were first released this past May with a launch in Phoenix AZ. I loved the video. I loved the idea. I wanted a Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster!

From a mom’s perspective, Zhu Zhu hamsters are great because:

• Zhu Zhu’s don’t bite. One story that will go down in Lewis family history is the year #1 son had to have a hamster. Begging, pleading, crying ensued for months. “I promise to take care of the hamster.” “It will show how responsible I can be.” Thinking back, I remember that the obsession started when son became fascinated by a hamster named Hamtaro. He had  Hamtaro children’s books and loved the Hamtaro TV show. Who wouldn’t want a little friend to play with? But the first time my son took his new best friend out of his cage, “Butterfinger” bit him.
• Zhu Zhu hamsters don’t need to have their cages cleaned out. Yes, because “Butterfinger” was a biter, he didn’t get his cage cleaned out on a regular basis. Which led to the next reason Zhu Zhu’s are great.
• Zhu Zhu hamsters don’t die. Within three months, Butterfinger got tail rot or wet tail and eventually died. The average life span of a hamster is two years.
• Zhu Zhu hamsters are not too expensive.
  

From a toy inventor’s perspective, Zhu Zhu hamsters are great because:

• They appeal to both girls and boys.
• They have a long age span appeal. I see four year olds and 14 year olds loving this toy.
• They have a wide-open play pattern for creative play.

AT THIS MOMENT (10 am October 3, 2009)
Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters hold all but one the top 15 spots on the Amazon Toys & Games Sales Rank. That’s amazing!
#1 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Pipsqueek - Yellow
#2 Zu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles - Light Brown
#3 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster NumNums
#4 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Chunk - White
#5 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Funhouse
#6 Zhu Zhu Pets Adventure Ball
#7 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster 2 Pack
#8 Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Garage
#9 Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Hamster Wheel
#11 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Accessory Kit Carrier & Blanket
#12 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster 2 Pack
#13 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Deluxe Accessory Kit Surfboard & Sleep Dome
#14 Zhu Zhu Pets Add On Ramp and Slide
#15 Zhu Zhu Ppets Hamster Blanket & Bed
Curious which toy is the only non-Zhu Zhu toy on the top 15 list?
#10 Bananagrams
I love Bananagrams!

The word on the street is that many stores are sold out of this toy and there are long lines at stores as the delivery truck pulls up. Looks like a few children won’t be getting Zhu Zhu Hamsters for Christmas.

For the rest of this article, go to my National Children's Toys Examiner page.

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Don't forget the beach toys

In the crazed madness to pack for summer vacation, why is it that the one thing we forget to pack is the beach toys? There’s a reason why beachside restaurants sell the kiddie lunches in a pail with a shovel. Parents forgot to pack the beach toys and now have to collect all the buckets they can find.

So, let’s get inspired now before the last minute packing whirlwind begins.

Grandparent Hint: if you live near the beach, wouldn’t some of these beach toys make the perfect surprise for a grandchild after a long trip? Especially since they were probably accidently left behind.

From iPlay:

Beach Builder Create-A-Castle

Beach Builder Construct-A-Kingdom

Beach Builder Sculptor Set

Comes altogether in a nice handled bag. Easy to throw in car and tote down to the beach. All the tools you need to use your imagination in the sand.

Green Toys Sand Play Set
I love the design and quality of the entire line of Green Toys.
Made in the U.S.A. from recycled plastic milk containers.

Sandcastle In A Box (Hardcover)
by Ted Siebert
For serious castlebuilders:
Book explains how to build towers, windows, stairs, moats, and other classic sandcastle features-even a dragon! Kit includes skewer stick for detailed outlining, small shovel, window template, cylinder mold for tube shapes, palette knife with rounded tip, funnel for tower's top, turret flags, a brush and straw for whisking away loose sand, and a plastic tool bag.

Sandcastles Made Simple:

Step-by-Step Instructions, Tips, and Tricks for Building Sensational Sand Creations (Paperback)
by Lucinda Wierenga
Stewart, Tabori & Chang May 2009
If this doesn’t inspire, I don’t know what will.
I’ve been waiting for this book to come out in paperback!

Some websites for more information:
From Today’s Parent:
How to Make a Sandcastle
Essential skills for a summer of fun
Jeffrey Lee (adapted from his book "Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite: 21 Timeless Skills Every Child Should Know")

Kid’s Turn Central
Sand Castle Building Online for more links

And, of course, the first item packed is the sunscreen, so you’ll have plenty of protection on hand for fun in the sun!

A Very Hungry Caterpillar Celebration

This year we celebrate two fantastic events around the award-winning classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. First, on June 24th was Eric Carle’s 80th birthday! Lori Calabrese, the fabulous Children’s Book Examiner, wrote the perfect article last week all about the celebration, complete with links on how to wish Mr. Carle a great birthday. Second, The Very Hungry Caterpillar celebrates 40 years since it was first published!

There are several The Very Hungry Caterpillar celebrations around the world this year. The wonderful Eric Carle website is full of everything you would want to know - with loads of fun things for kids to do, too!

Fun facts about Eric Carle and The Very Hungry Caterpillar:

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been translated into more than 47 languages and sold over 29 million copies, that’s one book every 30 seconds.
• Carle graduated from the prestigious art school, the Akademie der bildenden Künste, in Stuttgart.
• Carle’s first book was Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
• Carle has published more than 70 children’s books, so far.
• Carle got the idea for The Very Hungry Caterpiller from a hole puncher.
• "One day I was punching holes with a hole puncher into a stack of paper, and I thought of a bookworm and so I created a story called "A Week with Willi the Worm". Then my editor suggested a caterpillar instead and I said "Butterfly!" That's how it began," he said.
• To celebrate the first day of spring 2009, Google changed it’s main page logo to a cool The Very Hungry Caterpillar logo. All the Google holiday-themed logos.
• The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art was created in 2002 by Mr. Carle and his wife, Bobbie, and is located in Amhearst MA. The museum showcases the work of several national and international picture book artists. Check out their fun site for lots of information and resources.
• Eric Carle products based on his books and art: Greeting cards, fabrics, stickers, games, dinnerware, activities, stationary, toys, plush, and many, many more products. The toy category includes bath toys, games, activities, plush, puppets, baby toys, blocks, puzzles, and more.

Ty’s Toy Box: (From the Eric Carle website)

An online shop for licensed Eric Carle merchandise including: books, stationery, plush, puppets, games, décor, and more. Shop for your favorite Eric Carle characters, such as Brown Bear, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Grouchy Lady Bug, and Panda Bear.

The perfect gift for a baby, toddler, or preschooler is a combination of classic children’s book paired with a toy. The connections made by the book with the toy increase the entire story experience. Also, the time shared by parent and child with the toy is priceless, and older siblings can also interact to make the experience an entire family affair.

Here are just a few of the many Eric Carle children’s toys available.

Eric Carle Stacking Ring

The World of Eric Carle Butterfly Pullstring Musical Crib Toy

Eric Carle Caterpillar Puppet

This article also appeared on my National Children's Toys Examiner page. More information can be located there.

Outdoor toys with Stephanie Oppenheim on Today Show

Great toys, great show!
Let the summer begin!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Children's Toys Examiner: Raggedy Ann Museum to close

Children's Toys Examiner: Raggedy Ann Museum to close

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Children's Toys Examiner: Barbie's 50th birthday party!

Children's Toys Examiner: Barbie's 50th birthday party!

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Mitch Resnick DV

VERY Hungry Caterpiller

Great article!

Make Van Gogh’s Bed » AbbysDaddy.com

Make Van Gogh’s Bed » AbbysDaddy.com

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Abby's reading:
Make Van Gogh's Bed
Julie Appel (author)
Amy Guglielmo (author)
Sterling October 2006

Sweet Abby will forever remember all these wonderful paintings. And, the memory will be extra special because it was quality time with her daddy.
So touching to see! Thanks, Abby's Dad!

Little People Turn 50!

EAST AURORA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 1959, Fisher-Price^®, the largest infant and preschool toy manufacturer and a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT), introduced the Safety School Bus and in turn gave birth to one of the longest running and most beloved iconic toy brands known today as the Little People^® brand. Since then, more than one and a half billion Little People figures have delighted millions of children worldwide and have evolved from wooden figures into poseable figures that can sit, stand and even hold things in their hands. On the eve of the brand’s 50^th birthday, officially marked on March 21, Fisher-Price is planning a year-long celebration including commemorative playsets, birthday parties, in-store demonstrations and even the first-ever traveling Little People^® Live musical show.

“Parents and children alike have been playing with Little People toys for half a century,” said Bruce Fox, Fisher-Price toy historian and author. “Toys with longevity that bridge the generational gap are rare these days. We’re very proud of the fact that the Little People brand has stood the test of time for 50 years and foresee that the brand will continue to inspire creative, imaginative play for generations to come.”

It all began in 1950 when two of Herm Fisher’s key toy designers created the Looky Fire Truck, with three little round-headed wooden firemen permanently attached to the toy. Nine years later, the little wooden figures gained their independence with the introduction of the Safety School Bus; thus the Little People figures that we know and love today were born.

Throughout the past five decades, Little People figures have helped preschoolers discover a whole world of imagination and fun in a world that’s “just their size” – from timeless playsets like the farm, house and garage to DVDs, CDs, books, games and more!

One of my very first toys I can remember is the Fisher-Price Circus.












Just looking at the giraffe or elephant brings back a flood of memories lying on the floor in my parents' house. Mr. Ringmaster, monkey, and pony were my friends. And, eventually, all the animals were Barbie's friends, too!
Thank you, Fisher-Price!

Dolls With Disabilties Selling Well (Yes!)

New Dolls on the Block

By William Lee Adams Thursday, Mar. 19, 2009

Very interesting TIME article about Dolls with disabilities:
Link HERE.

News: Kids Make Parents Buy Stuff (Duh!)

"Mum, buy me that chocolate, pleeeease!" New study shows the pervasive influence of children on their parents' in-store

The influence children wield over their parents' purchase decisions at the point of sale is grossly underestimated by parents. This was shown in a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Vienna, Austria. According to the study by consumer researchers Claus Ebster and Udo Wagner, twice as many purchases in supermarkets are triggered by children than their parents are aware of. The study was published in the internationally renowned Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services.

Oh, the power of the word ---- NO
Maybe there is no word for "No" in Austria?

Sesame Street Explains the Madoff Scandal

This is GREAT!

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Chronicle Books)

Twitter Mosaic

The ultimate in procrastination:

Are you here? Do you see yourself?

Get your twitter mosaic here.