November 2008 New Specialty Toys — Puzzles & Skill

This wooden puzzle consists of 16 cubes that can be arranged to feature colorful images of six different farm animals. Each puzzle includes a border designed to help kids as they're assembling each puzzle.
— Four of 32 retailers mentioned Melissa & Doug when asked by TDmonthly about their anticipated best-selling toys for the holiday season in October 2008.

The Kanoodle case holds two solitaire games that challenge the player to build colorful 2D puzzles and 3D pyramids. Once a child picks a design from the included puzzle book, he or she puts some of the pieces into place as shown, then fills the empty spots with the remaining pieces. Only one of hundreds of possible combinations actually completes the puzzle.
— Three of 68 specialty retailers named Kanoodle when asked about their top-selling toy or game in October 2008.
— Dean Smith, co-owner of JaZams in Pennington, N.J., told TDmonthly in October 2008 his store sells about 24 units of Kanoodle each month.

All of the NHL action packed into one puzzle.  You build, you score!  The assortment features popular NHL players. Finished puzzle measures 24” x 36”.

Suitable for children ages 1 1/2 and up, this wooden puzzle made in Taiwan is designed to improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills. The different puzzle pieces — items found in dad's suitcase — are labeled underneath: tie, watch, electric razor, wallet and more.

Large size classic wooden jigsaw puzzle, measuring 13" x 18.5"; 496 pieces.  Heirloom quality puzzle featuring dozens of winter-related and other figural pieces.  Vintage Swiss Alps ski poster.  Liberty Puzzles offers over 200 different puzzle images, from fine art to vintage prints and posters.

Children's classic wooden jigsaw puzzle, measuring 9" x 12"; 104 pieces.  Heirloom quality puzzle featuring numerous figural pieces.  Part of our Little Liberty puzzle line, designed with larger pieces for children's skill level.

This large-size, classic wooden jigsaw puzzle, measuring 13" x 19", includes 479 pieces.  Heirloom quality puzzle featuring dozens of circus-related and other figural pieces. Box cover image is taken from an early 20th Century toy set.  Hours of fun for the entire family!

Small sized classic wooden jigsaw puzzle, measuring 5.5" x 9"; 104 pieces.  Heirloom quality puzzle featuring holiday-themed figural pieces (Santa, toys, reindeer, etc.).  Comes in small craft box, perfect stocking stuffer size.

Set imaginative gears in motion with this colorful and durable puzzle. Children can challenge themselves by setting interlocking gears into different logical and creative patterns on the puzzle board. Includes 48 gears and 30 interlocking gear pegs. Helps develop logic and creative thinking skills for 3 dimensional systems and geometric patterns.

This "cruise edition" of the quick-play, easy-to-learn strategy game Pentago is ideal for portability and travel. Launch date: 2007.
Awards: May 2012 TDmonthly Top Toy Award. Why it won: Not only is this game a proven best seller; it also earned a high rating from TDmonthly's panel of reviewers, as well as users on Amazon.com.
— Brooke Andrews, owner of Millers Toy Store in Mamoroneck, N.Y., told TDmonthly in late fall 2009 that her store sells about 12 Pentago games per week. Erika Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., estimated sales of about 8 to 12 units per month.
— As of 4/12/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 24 reviews on Amazon.com.

Designed to aid fine-motor, hand-eye and creative skills, this wooden puzzle has seven bug-shaped pieces that are easy to grasp and can be placed upright for play. There’s a picture underneath each piece. It measures 1” x 9” x 12” when assembled.
— “These are traditional toys. Every kid needs some basics," Catherine Higgins, owner of Stone Soup in Bar Harbor, Maine, told TDmonthly in July of 2008.
— Kathy Yuri, manager of Hammond Toys in Orem, Utah, told TDmonthly her Melissa & Doug puzzles are educational favorites: “Because they're made out of wood, they're more sturdy for the kids.” 
— Almost 15 percent of retailers surveyed in summer 2008 named Melissa & Doug puzzles as one of their best-selling educational toys.