MARCH 10, 2008     Fashion Afloat The stylish Spring Duck is just one of more than three dozen uniquely patterned Luxury Ducks ($8.99) swimming into retail this year from Aussie designer brand BudProduct. Each 4- by 4-inch collectible quacker comes in an individual domed window box printed in the same pattern and is crafted from phthalate-free plastic. Designroom Group, Sante Fe Springs, Ca. www.designroomgroup.com         Amazing Ming “This is Serious” Ming-Ming ($34.99) is a key driver in the new line of toys licensed from the popular Wonder Pets preschool series. Through two play modes, this electronic yet fuzzy version of Ming-Ming spouts signature phrases, dances to the show’s theme song, and invites kids on a heroic rescue adventure. Requires 4 AA batteries, included. Fisher-Price, East Aurora, N.Y. www.fisherprice.com     Newborn to Nurture Newborn Duckling ($12.99) for ages 4 and up joins the Furreal Friends line this spring in both white (pictured) and yellow. It features flapping wings and “real” duckling sounds, and will raise its head and open its beak as kids “feed” it a bottle. Other new Furreal Friends babies for kids to care for include two baby birds, a pink piglet and a white lamb. Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I. www.hasbro.com       Toddler Time Floor play with the 5- by 4-inch Pushalong Duck ($14.99) is designed to help kids ages 1 and up develop their balance and motor skills. It’s smoothly crafted from a single piece of rubberwood; hand painted with child-safe, lead-free paints; and features rubber wheels to protect floors. The line also includes a Pushalong Cat, Dog, Fox and Hybrid Car. Imagiplay, Boulder, Colo. www.imagiplay.com     Baby Love Splash ($6.95) is one of four die-cut titles (along with Eat, Play and Sleep) in Priddy Books new Natural Baby Series, which is printed with soy ink on board that’s made from a combination of recycled paper and paper sourced from sustainable forests. Each title in the line also features tough, sturdy pages that can withstand baby’s affections. Priddy Books (Macmillan/Holtzbrinck Publishers), New York www.priddybooks.com       Fold-Out Fun Five Noisy Ducks ($12.99)—one of several new interactive offerings from U.K.-based publisher Make Believe Ideas—is an 18-page board book for ages 3 and up. It’s filled with fun features, including cut-through holes, fold-out flaps, a sound button and touch-and-feel googly eyes. Also new: five Carry-Me board book titles with built-in handles. Penton Overseas, Carlsbad, Calif. www.pentonoverseas.com     Duck Walk Delight The soft yet sturdy Polliwalks foam clogs ($24.99)—available in duck theme in fuchsia (pictured), lemon yellow and orange—are waterproof and machine washable. Best of all, each shoe bottom leaves behind the footprints of the animal that it represents when kids step in mud, sand, dirt or water. Other unique themes are alligator, ladybug and frog. Polliwalks, Newburyport, Mass. www.polliwalks.com     Plucky Pals Ducks in a Row ($11.99) is a wacky new strategy board game for two players ages 5 to 7. After deciding whether they want to be the duck that surfs or the duck that water skis, the two players aim to be the first to line up four of their ducks in a row. Includes beach-themed game board, 12 plastic duck tokens and complete instructions. ThinkFun, Alexandria, Va. www.thinkfun.com        THE NEXT PRODUCT WATCH COMES TO YOU ON MARCH 24, 2008. Cliff Annicelli, Editor Karyn Peterson, Managing Editor Retailers: If you see something you like and contact the manufacturer, please say you saw it in Playthings Product Watch! Manufacturers: If you would like to be considered for the Product Watch newsletter, please email product images (out of packaging) and descriptions to karyn.peterson@reedbusiness.com. Please include targeted age range, suggested retail price and date of availability.   You are currently registered to receive Playthings Product Watch at: [#EmailAddr#]. Unsubscribe from Playthings Product Watch: Click Here If you received this newsletter second-hand, you can get your own FREE subscription here. QUESTIONS If you have questions or need further assistance, contact our Online Support Team at mailto:GiftSupport@reedbusiness.com?Subject=Playthings-Extra--#emailaddr#. For advertising questions, contact Betsy Komes. PRIVACY POLICY: Click Here NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS To activate a new FREE email newsletter subscription: Click Here To order a PRINT MAGAZINE subscription to Playthings: Click here. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. All rights reserved.