December 2012 New Specialty Toys — General Toys

Get the road trip started as you steer your little car around the B. town on the screen, which lights up for night driving. Shift through forward, neutral and reverse. Both the engine and the horn make actual sounds. The LED blinkers let everyone know where your little driver is headed. Your child can push the music button to hear 3 driving songs in 3 unique styles. The YouTurns also make the perfect car seat toy – flip it over and it doubles as a pillow.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best Picks

Tapeffiti Tape Art Tote Set is a fashion craft kit. Decorate the tote bag with 6 mini tape dispensers with different colors and patterns. Also has 6 replacement rolls and a style design guide with more than 2 dozen other project ideas, including tape bracelets, picture frames, pens or pencils, and pen/pencil containers. (Comes in Barbie licensed version, too). Also sold separately are 4 or 6 roll collection of Tapeffiti tapes in various designs, patterns, and colors. Color and pattern tapes for decorating is one of the hottest personal style trends for teens and tweens. Included are a full size tote bag, 6 mini tape dispensers with assorted colors and patterns.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20
— Karen Laroche, manager of Kid's Ketch in Lews, Del., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that Tapefetti is one of their best-selling tween products.
— Molly McMullin from Twirl in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., told TDmonthly in a January 2014 survey that Fashion Angels Tapeffiti was a best-selling arts & crafts toy.

Simplistic shape. Endless possibility. The only tools required are the children's imagination. Plus Plus bricks is made in Denmark of PE (polyethylene). Free of phthalates and PVC.

This collection of puzzles features the whimsical artwork of Hayley Gillespie. Inspired by her son; they conjure the feeling of what it is to be a child and how short and special that time can be. The puzzle itself has 500 pieces and the chipboard used is made of recycled materials. Design: Hobby Horse. Finished dimensions: 19x19 inches. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Imported.

With 650 elements in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes, the LEGO Creative Building Kit is the perfect supplement to any LEGO collection - includes building instructions.

This is the first book & construction toy in the GoldieBlox series. Meet Goldie, her beloved dog, Nacho, Benjamin Cranklin (the cat with an attitude), Katinka (the dolphin ballerina), Phil (the sloth) and Flavio (the bear from Brazil). Help Goldie figure out how to build a belt drive to spin everybody. Includes: (1) storybook, (1) pegboard, (5) wheels, (10) axles, (5) blocks, (1) crank, (1) ribbon, (5) washers. Launch date: April 2013.
— In a May 2014 survey Suzi McMullen, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly that Goldieblox was a best-selling construction toy in their store. "When we had it, we sold out all 24," she said.
— In a September 2014 survey, LyndaBlankenship from Smart Toys & Books in Knoxville, Tenn., told TDmonthly that Goldie Blox are one of the store's best-selling science & nature toys.

Learning about dinosaurs has never been so much fun. Expand your knowledge of dinosaurs with this 100-piece Puzzle Double! After you put the puzzle together, turn off the lights and the puzzle glows in the dark! Additionally turn the puzzle over and you have a coloring activity. The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 100-piece puzzle measures a giant 3’ X 2’. Launch date: November 2012.

This fun and colorful tray puzzle features the alphabet and will encourage children to develop letter recognition skills.  Lined text teaches uppercase and lowercase handwriting skills.  Pictures are also printed under the pieces to guide younger children. Launch date: November 2012.

The USS Enterprise is the longest aircraft carrier in the US and the oldest. It has recently taken its final voyage after more than 50 years. With over 900+ assorted size and colored pieces kids can create a 3D image of the USS Enterprise down to the tiniest detail. It is the end of an era for the US Navy, making it the perfect gift for any Navy buff or construction enthusiast. With a finished size of 3.25” x 15.25” d x 3.25” h , it would make a nice addition to any den.

The rugged and ready for action chrome detailed helicopter features motorized main and tail rotors, a set of jet propulsion turbo engines, retractable landing gear, and 3 authentic sounds for ignition, take off and fly by. The working lights include running lights that work in flash or steady mode and a set of high powered, pivoting searchlights. The see through, illuminated cargo bay has a push button release for the cargo door, which lowers as a ramp for the Rescue vehicle, a 6-door SUV style truck featuring a friction motor, real working lights, retractable emergency roof lights, and chrome detailing. Launch date: 2012.

Get on board the Sock Monkey School Bus as they go on a field trip to Banana Farm. Children will love playing with this set of eight plush sock monkeys, including one teacher, a principal and six lively students. Innovatively packaged in a box designed to look like a school bus, there are eight cut outs for the monkey's heads to pop through. Launch date: July 2012.

This sock monkey family is perfect for any child. These stylishly dressed monkeys provide classic twists on retro toys. The family consists of Mr. Coconuts, his wife, Cupcake, and their two children, Daisy May and Joey. This family enjoys a typical sock monkey lifestyle. Mr. Coconuts spends his days working at the local banana factory while Cupcake enjoys crocheting banana blankets for baby sock monkeys at the zoo. Daisy May is an active member of Banana Scouts while her younger brother, Joey, enjoys eating banana-cream pudding pies. Both children attend Banana Elementary School. The monkeys come housed in a cardboard car so your child can enjoy hours of driving them to their daily activities. Each car has four cutouts so the monkeys can see out the window. The cars also have cardboard tires that pop out for added fun. These cute sock monkeys are made from polyester fibers and are recommended for ages 3 and up. Launch date: December 2011.

This set of customizable gizmos includes a book of games, pranks, and jokes that make the most of them. The 16 different sound-and-gizmo combinations offer limitless opportunities for immature humor. Follow simple instructions to wire a door alarm, motion sensor, light sensor, or push-button device; then program it with one of four funny sounds. Comes With: circuit board, speaker, LED, battery clip, photoresistor, switches, project wires, alligator clip, gadget dock, gadget case, 4 gadget covers, 2 doorbell hangers and 2 door alarm hangers. Launch date: September 1, 2012.

The NEW midnight-black, winged Areion from Safari Ltd® has one of the fiercest spirits of all. Stare into its untamable brown eyes and let it show you the way to the mythical world. This hand painted replica measures 5.5” L x 4.25” W x 5.25” H (13.75 x 10.75 x 13.25 cm) and is suitable for ages 3 and up. All Safari Ltd® products are 100% guaranteed and lead free to ensure children’s safety. Visit www.safariltd.com to explore educational information in five languages and to view and purchase Safari Ltd® 2013 introductions and all other products. Launch date: January 2013.

Light Up dice work great with dice games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, Backgammon, and Dungeons and Dragons. These 30mm Light Up dice are transparent red plastic which glows brilliantly when rolled. The bright red LED lights dance in a rolling pattern when it is activated and remains lit for 60 seconds before going to sleep.  The display also flashes ten times giving a countdown warning to the players. This gives games an extra kick of speed and excitement. What's the secret? The secret is one of the worlds’ smallest and most inexpensive computer chips. Barely the size of the head of a pin, the computer has incredibly low power draw when the dice are asleep. Light Up Dice have an estimated shelf life of 4+ years. The sensor activated LED display is mounted to a patented double pivot, or “gimbal”, which always faces upwards due to the weight of the long lasting battery. Key chain Light up dice are also available - nothing says "hot rod" like dice hanging in your car, and ladies - never lose your keys in your purse again, just shake your purse and the dice will light up. Launch date: February 2013.

Start a garden with this Flowers TOOB® from Safari Ltd®, featuring flowers from around the world. This collection of individually hand painted miniature replicas features vibrant colors, professional sculpting, and accurate detail. Packaged in a reusable acetate tube, this set contains these lifelike flowers: rose, tulip, hibiscus, bird of paradise, daffodil, sunflower, lotus, and orchid. Hand painted figures measure 1.5” to 3” (4 to 7.5 cm) and are suitable for ages 3 and up. All Safari Ltd® products are 100% guaranteed and lead free to ensure children’s safety.

"Mord im Arosa" is a three-dimensional mystery game. The totally new game concept brings a thrilling and tense atmosphere to the gaming table. Somewhere on the eight levels of the hotel tower, two crime victims are found one after another. Any player could be the murderer. However, players cannot see where the tracks of the suspects go - they can only hear it. A unique and smartly arranged interplay of suspicion and forensics guarantees astonishing and mysterious twists and turns: tracks disappear and reappear in other places. A player who is caught too often at the wrong time and place will be found guilty through the burden of proof.

This plush boat even has a seat belt to keep the little bear safe on all of his journeys. Wheels, flag and string are detachable. Kids will loving pulling bear in his boat.

The new Dice Dude brings more excitement and fun to every game. It comes with four different dice, giving kids tons of options for game play. Choose the interchangeable die/dice that they wish to use, twist and remove Dice Dude’s clear dome hat, insert the die/dice, twist the dome hat back into place, and then start shaking away. Watch Dice Dude’s big, green eyes move side to side as he is shaken. This dude stands 5 1/2” tall and has a diameter of 3 1/4”. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Fun is the destination once kids hop on the VeggieTales bus. Sturdy enough for hours of play, it features bump-and-go action so that no matter what gets in the way, it keeps on rollin'. Honk the horn and hear the Veggies sing "The Wheels on the Bus." For ages 3 and up. Requires three AA batteries (not included). Measures 8" x 6.75".

VeggieTales' first remote control car just for little ones. Kids can have fun with Junior Asparagus & Laura Carrot in the front seats. Features easy controls for small fingers, working headlights, and controls that move car forward, backward, left and right. Remote control works within a 20 foot radius so the car never gets away. Uses 6 AA batteries (not included).
— As of 12/6/2012 this product had 2.5 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Children who like Veggie Tales will like the toy. Cons: Reviewers reported the car was of a poor quality.

Join LarryBoy and his sidekick Alfred as they whirl away to help save the day in Bumblyburg. Equipped with real helicopter sounds and the voice of LarryBoy saying "LarryCopter to the rescue," kids will love playing with their favorite Veggie hero. Features spinning propellers and actual shooting plunger.

Motorized animatronic kitty bank. Watch this super cute kitty, peek out, make a sweet meow sound, and then snatch coins and keep them safe. The box lid pops up and kitty paw snatches the coin. Battery operated. Uses 2AA batteries (not included). For ages 3 and up. Launch date: January 2011.

Big Owl Toy makes the perfect addition to your baby's toy collection. Measuring 16” tall and available in two colors, the cuddly owl will be cherished for years to come. Makes for a great pillow as well. Launch date: September 2012.