February 2012 Notable Toys — All

As kids help Emmet pack his trunks, they’ll reinforce such valuable early learning skills as color identification, pattern recognition, and fine motor development. Also, with every roll of the die, they’ll get a little taste of the anticipation they feel before leaving on vacation. Will players get a color and be able to pack their trunks, or will that pesky mouse mess up the plans? 2-4 players, playing time 15 minutes. Includes instructions in English and Spanish.

The Scrambled States of America Game is based on the book "The Scrambled States of America" by Laurie Keller. Kids learn learn the names, capitals, nicknames, shapes and positions of the states through a myriad of visual teasers, language riddles and geography challenges. Collect state cards by matching them to a Scramble challenge. Or “Go the Distance” and find a state’s closest neighbor. Collect the most cards to win. New deluxe edition features new art, new challenges, and a copy of The Scrambled States of America book.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20
— In a February 2014 survey, Mark Rosenblum from Hobbytown in Fairfield, C.T., told TDmonthly that Scrambled States was one of their best-selling games.

Pharaoh is worried. His tomb at Giza is behind schedule and he fears it will not be done in time for his funeral. He is offering great rewards to the faction that contributes the most work on his pyramid in the next 10 years. The people who work the hardest and work the smartest shall earn Pharaoh’s favor. In Giza, the Great Pyramid™ players are the leader of one of four factions vying for Pharaoh’s favor. They have 10 years to outperform the other factions and contribute the most to his great pyramid, earning eternal gratitude and glory. But players shall need to balance their labor. Farm and fish to feed the people. Sweat and struggle with the back-breaking labor of moving the giant stone blocks into place. Task the local folk with the creation of exquisite artworks to beautify Pharaoh’s eternal rest. 3-4 players, 90+ minute playing time.

Grow dozens of dazzling crystals and conduct 15 illuminating experiments with this classic science kit. Experiment with four chemically different crystals each with different properties, including potassium alum crystals that form regular octahedrons, rapidly growing sodium sulfate crystals, long needle-shaped sodium acetate crystals, and plaster which is made from gypsum crystals. Mold fun plaster shapes and mix the dyes to grow a rainbow of custom colored crystals. Measure how the crystallization of solids out of a solution, and the dissolution of crystals back into solution, affect the temperature of the solution. Learn about the energy of crystallization. Investigate solutions, crystallization, and the chemistry of crystal growing. Learn about the structures and geometries of different crystal shapes. This kit is thoroughly tested and safe: Over one million units of this kit have sold worldwide. A full-color, 32-page experiment manual guides your experiments in crystal chemistry and Earth science. Launch date: Summer 2012.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that kits from Thames & Kosmos are one of their top-2 bestselling educational products. They sell dozens each month.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a March 2014 survey that crystal growing kits were a best-selling products.

Blast off on a mission to explore outer space and the objects in it with a wide array of cosmic experiments. Launch three types of rockets, using balloons and chemical reactions to learn about rocket propulsion. Build a telescope and star map to investigate the stars and constellations. Assemble a model of the solar system, and learn about the planets that share it. Find out how Earth's rotation creates day and night, how Earth's axis and revolution around the sun cause the seasons, and how the moon's rotation around Earth gives us the phases of the moon. Kis will see for themselves how meteorites formed the craters on the moon. Make a moon flip book and a moon calendar, and find the "man in the moon." Model lunar and solar eclipses. Build a sundial and a solar collector to experiment with the sun. Grasp a comet's tail, and learn how meteoroids become falling stars. See how the universe is expanding with a simple model. A full-color, 48-page experiment book guides the exploration. Launch date: Summer 2012.

Earth is constantly changing. Massive pieces of its outer layer are slowly sliding under, over, away from, or past each other. Earthquakes shake the continents and oceans, and volcanoes spew out the molten insides of our planet. By studying these awe-inspiring and devastating natural phenomena, kids can learn more about the inner workings of Earth. Build and erupt a model volcano with plaster-based "lava" that hardens after each eruption. The volcano can be erupted multiple times, and the volcanic cone builds up with each eruption, like a real volcano. Kids will learn about the different types of volcanoes, build a working seismograph, and fake some 'quakes to see for themselves how scientists measure earthquake forces. Discover plate tectonics, and see how volcanoes and earthquakes are caused by the constant movement of the planet's parts. Assemble a plate tectonics puzzle and a geological globe. Play a volcano quiz game to learn about well-known volcanoes. A full-color, 48-page experiment manual is included. Launch date: Summer 2012.

Kids experiment with fascinating soap bubbles to learn physical science fundamentals in a fun way. For countless generations, people have been captivated by the unique properties of soap bubbles. Now kids can see for themselves why these elegantly simple structures of soap, water, and air are still studied by scientists, modeled by mathematicians, emulated by architects, and immortalized by artists and writers. Blow giant bubbles, mini-bubbles, bubbles within bubbles, chains of bubbles, and bubble blankets. Mix the perfect bubble solution. Learn about the love-hate relationship between soap and water, and the scientific phenomenon of surface tension. Observe the subtle colors of bubbles, and discover how a bubble's color can reveal when it will pop. Make geometric bubble shapes and build soap film domes, roofs, and bridges. Kids can also learn some tricks and games that they can play with bubbles. The full-color, 48-page book guides you through 29 experiments. Launch date: Summer 2012.

Kids can explore chemistry as they cook up candies and chocolates in the kitchen. Users will perform a number of sweet experiments and learn important physical science principles related to candy and cooking. Discover why sugar crystallizes to make rock candy. Learn about specific heat and the phases of matter by molding chocolates. Use a thermometer and learn about heat and temperature while boiling sugar. Gain experience with measurements and conversions, volumes, and weights. Investigate the chemistry of gummy bears. Learn about the mysterious phenomenon of triboluminescence with wintergreen candies. Make gummy candies, chocolate shapes, and hard sugar candy using the special tools included: plastic and metal molds, candy thermometer, spatula, dipping fork, and more. Finish them with foils, paper cups, sticks, and wrappers. The 48-page, full-color manual provides instructions and explanations. Does not contain hazardous chemicals or food items; users supply the safe ingredients from their kitchen. Launch date: Summer 2012.

The Borris plush Toy is a chew-safe soft toy designed in a way that acknowledges the needs of children with Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism. Many children with unique sensory needs desire mouth and chew objects for oral motor input. Most plush toys are unsafe to chew on--and as a result, many parents are reluctant to give them to their sensory seeking children. Borris is made of chew safe, non-toxic materials, constructed with reinforced seaming, and a double layer of canvas and bonded plush. Having a favorite plush toy is an important part of childhood. Soft® is committed to a balance between a durable, chew safe toy, and a product that is still soft, endearing,and cuddly.

CLICS box has 195 pieces including accessories + 4 soft wheels. Includes instructions to build GT, racer, transporter, and truck.

4oz Durable Single Hulled Stainless Steel Baby Bottle - Designed with a colored ring and stripe, this unique bottle design allows for easy heating and cooling of liquids. The lid is a 2oz, durable stainless steel design providing a built in measuring cup. BPA , PVC and Phthalate free. Compatible with most narrow necked nipples. Includes 1 Slow Flow organicKidz Nipple. Colors available include yellow, dark blue, green, light blue, pink stripes, and raspberry. 
Awards: Disney iParenting Media; Mom's Best award.

Welcome to the buzzing world of Speedeebee!

Are you the speediest bee in the hive? Then join in the fun with this ultimate word game! With 150 fun challenges and four alphabet dice, players race to find words containing or excluding the letters shown on the dice.

The variety of creative challenges and dice combinations make Speedeebee excitingly different every time you play. Launch date: May 2012.

Flapz is a pocket-sized game packed with giant-sized fun! With its 96 original challenges, Flapz has kids playing at what they love the most: storytelling, blinking contests, rhyming, memory challenges, goofy dancing. As the challenges change with the situations and the players, no two games of Flapz will ever be the same. Flapz is the perfect pocket game that will last forever! Its eco-friendly material is strong, light and waterproof. Launch date: May 2012.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys

Featuring the same great play as The Original LCR Left Center Right Dice Game, players flip over three LCR cards that are labeled with L's, C's, R's and dots, which determine where the flipper's chips will go. The last player with chips, wins the game. It's that simple!.Fast-paced, exciting and fun, it's a great game for kids to play along with adults providing hours of entertainment for the whole family. LCR Left Center Right Card Game includes 110 Playing Cards, 24 playing chips and Instructions. For 3 or more players.

12" BRACHIOSAURUS is made of high quality material in a light and dark blue,with a light blue pattern and a light blue under belly. Its toes are white. This stuffed brachiosaurus is a perfect gift for a little dinosuar lover.

12" T-REX is made of high quality material in multi shades of brown. His tummy is white. He has white fabric teeth. This plush stuffed dinosaur is very soft, cute and adorable. This plush T-rex is a perfect gift for a little dinosaur lover.

12" STEGOSAURUS this stuffed stegosaurus is made high quality material in a green fabric with spikes. This plush stuffed dinosaur is very soft.

12" PTERANODON. Pteranodon is a cool stuffed dinosaur. His head, body, legs and wings are combination of orange, brown, white and shade of yellow. Pteranodon wings have wires in them so they hold their shape and can be posed as you like. This is a perfect gift for a little dinosaur lover.

12" TRICERATOPS this stuffed dinosaur is made of high quality material and realistic design is very soft , cute and adorable. This is a perfect gift for a little dinosaur lover.

Twinkle Tunes features a 1-octave (8-note) keyboard that electronically produces lovely piano sounds, enhanced with a beautifully illustrated interchangeable songbook containing a collection of 12 familiar tunes. This instrument, designed for the child who has no previous piano study, is paired with Schoenhut’s patented Tri-Play Learning System. Easily portable for young children, this unique toy provides hours of musical fun. Battery included. Additional books sold separately.

Little rock star swill take center stage playing Schoenhut's “next generation” guitar. Schoenhut's innovative design incorporating a molded composite body with dual curves greatly enhances sound and durability. The birch soundboard which offers excellent tone and resonance, hardwood neck (for rigidity), and molded composite fretboard ensure proper height and spacing of the frets. Six steel strings permit a wide range of rich sounds. Available in several vibrant designs. Includes: Pick and Extra String.

Schoenhut's beautiful Pineapple Ukulele with four nylon strings provides clear, authentic Hawaiian tones. The innovative design incorporating a molded composite body with dual curves greatly enhances sound and durability. A birch soundboard which offers excellent tone and resonance, hardwood neck (for rigidity), and molded composite fretboard ensure proper height and spacing of the frets. Available in several vibrant designs. Includes: Pick & Extra String.

Schoenhut's Thumb Pianos are sure to be a hit with the young set. These percussion instruments, also known as Marimbas, emit warm, resonant tones by striking the ends of the tines with your thumbs. Simple tunes are easily tapped out, with unlimited possibilities for creating complex melodies. The new design incorporates a durable molded composite back, resulting in enhanced sound and durability. Easily portable and fun to play, a Schoenhut Thumb Piano is the perfect choice for encouraging children to enjoy music. Available in several vibrant designs.

This coiled Snake is made of iridescent fabric and features a tail that rattles. All glove puppets are made of polyester and cotton and are machine washable in cold water. Launch date: 2012.
— Grafton Stine, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly in a June 2013 survey that Beleduc hand puppets are their best-selling puppet. "We sell tons of them," he said.