February 2012 Notable Toys — Creative Activities

This Christmas inspired kit includes: 6 washable, durable nylon 27" square IDEAScarves in Christmas colors. 2 of each of the following colors: Santa suit red, holly green and snow ball white. The Nutcracker (Peter IIyich Tchaikovsky) Music CD with 7 music selections instructional/informational insert. The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet - Paperback by Diane Goode. Nutcracker Activity Book - by Victoria Fremont, a fun candy cane pencil and a sturdy, self-closing, reusable carrying bag with handle. Made in the USA. Launch date: October 2011.

This Enchanting Activity Kit Includes: The Multi-Award Winning Hardcover book The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. IDEAS Music CD.  Eight - 27" square 100% nylon scarves, two of each of the following colors: ocean bottom blue, purple anemone, wave break blue and deep sea swirl.  Recommended for children ages 4-8.  All products made and constructed in the USA. Launch date: October 2011.

Earth—friendly reusable drawing and magnet kits. Contains everything neessary for everlasting fun, learning, and creativity! Each kit includes a magnetic dry erase board, over 30 magnetic play pieces, five dry erase markers in assorted colors and a write on/wipe off activity book filled with lots reusable activities and games. Kids will create rough—and—tumble trucks and make up their own on—the—go adventures. Launch date: February 2011.

The Hub features new attachments, including the wheel and more imagination pieces, allowing kids to invent more complex structures. Build a go—cart, a rover, or a roaming character on a secret mission. Comes with over 60 attachments. Set Contains: 2 flexible OGOBILD balls, 4 wheels, 16 connectors, 11 joints, 5 wings, 25 imagination pieces.

Coloring meets crafting in the innovative, patent-pending COLORGAMI. It debuts with several thematic sets, including "Space Adventure," "The Red Carpet Collection" and the "Puppet Maker Activity Kit."  Each COLORGAMI kit includes markers, giant COLORGAMI design sheets with characters, accessories, themed environments and more. When the coloring is finished, the illustrations can be popped out, folded and constructed into a three-dimensional scene. Launch date: February 2012.

The Crayola Glow Book lets kids create glowing, moving, animated art. Six glow marker colors and four removable drawing surfaces allow kids to draw, layer, and arrange images, and then light them in sequence so that the images appear to move. And since glow marker drawing surfaces wipe clean with a damp cloth, kids can create new images as often as they like. Variable lighting effect options maximize the glowing contents.
— As of 11/16/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 17 customer reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Helps develop fine motor skills; easy clean up; versatile. Cons: Only comes with one sample template to trace; hard to find refills for the markers; the plastic sheets can be difficult to put in place or remove.

Crayola Model Magic Jewelry Studio lets kids fashion fun and fabulous handmade trinkets, bracelets, necklaces and much more. The bead spinner mashes small amounts of Model Magic into marbled beads and baubles. Kids can make handmade gifts for friends and family, host a jewelry—making party or create their own line of colorful accessories. Includes: Crayola Model Magic Jewelry Boutique workstation, 8 packs Model Magic, 5 bracelet charms, 18 sticky gems, 3 pendant charms, 5 toggle sets, 2 48—inch necklace cords, 2 shape cutters, 4 earring posts and ear wires, 1 36—inch elastic cord, Peacock dryer rack, bead bunch, bead glaze, and instructions.
— As of 11/16/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Comes with lots of modeling dough; easy; nice gift idea. Cons: the dough can stain; only 4 storage compartments for 8 colors of dough.

Creating fun scenes with Disney characters is easy. Light Up surface makes tracing a snap. Comes with 20 tracing sheets, 10 scenes stickers and coloring pencils.