Month of February, 2009 | G.Willikers Toy Shop

Feb 24, 2009

The Touch

Hands On!

One of the best things about going to Toy Fair is being able to see the toys up close and in action. Most companies are demonstating their products, and encouraging you to jump right in and play! The Touch "The Touch" is a geat new game for kids ages 5 and up. It's "hands on" in the true sense of the word! Players use their sensory,memory and matching skills to locate objects. It can be played competitively or cooperatively! This multi-award winning game will sure to be one of our new favorites!

Feb 23, 2009

"Gather 'Round Dinner Game" by Family Time Fun

Let the conversations begin!

Some of our favorite products come from the conversations we have with our customers. This is definitely a great recommendation! "Gather 'Round Dinner Game" is a new game is from a company called Family Time Fun. We had the wonderful opportunity to meet the owners of this MassachDinner Gameusetts based business! They have added a new game with each new year of their growing business, and we thought we'd give this one a try! "Spice" up the dinner family meals with this inventive conversation starter! This great new game should be on our shelves in no time!

Feb 23, 2009

Green Toys

Green Toys Recycling TruckGreenToys!

One of our priorities at Toy Fair was to look for Eco-Friendly Toys. "Going Green" has been a positive trend in the toy indusrty, and many companies are finding creative and resourceful ways to make new product lines that are good for kids and good for the Earth.

Green Toys is one of our most exciting discoveries at Toy Fair this year. Their Plan, Product and Packaging are all "Green", and they are also made int the USA!

Green Toys uses recycled milk bottles to create an ever-growing line of products. You will be seeing almost all of their products on our shelves, adding to our ever-growing collection of innovative toys that are "Eco-Friendly"

Green Toys Tea Set

Feb 23, 2009

Toy Fair '09!

Toy Fair '09! Running a toy store takes a lot of hard work and a lot of hard play! Sometimes our work and our play look a lot alike!

One of the fun things we get to do for our work as toy store owners is to visit NYC each year to take part in the New York Toy Fair! The New York Toy Fair is held at the Javitt's Center, and over 100,000 products from over 1200 exhibitors are on display! Talk about sensory overload! It took us 2-1/2 days to walk the aisles, and we could have used even more time!

One of the most exciting parts of the Toy Fair is meeting the people who develop the toys we carry on our shelves. We get to hear how they came up with such great ideas, and how they took their ideas and made them into reality! Their stories are fascinating and inspiring!

Our next couple of blogs will give you a glimpse at some of the cool new toys that we found on our visit to the New York Toy Fair!

If you want to see some live coverage of the Toy Fair from the Toy Fair TV, Click Here!

Feb 04, 2009

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

CoralineCheck out Coraline by Neil Gaiman! (We always recommend reading the book first of course) Coraline is now a major motion picture being released this February 6, 2009

"When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous.

But there's another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.

Coraline will have to fight with all her wits and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life."

Check out this interview with Neil Gaiman on one of my favorite podcasts: Just One More Book! Neil Gaiman

Feb 04, 2009

The Bobby Bucket Show!

The Bobby Bucket ShowCheck out the "Bobby Bucket Show!

A love for children's books seems to run in the G.Willikers! family... Story telling and reading has always been a central part of our lives. Children's books give us the opportunity to laugh, cry, wonder and wander through life's journey...Here is a great link for those who love children's books and all they have to offer both young and old.

G.Willikers! blog is the place for parents and kids to go for all the latest news and events happening at our toy store in Portsmouth, NH and around the Seacoast area.