April 2011 Notable Toys — All

Celebrating it's 25th "Jubilee" year in 2011, Cuboro is a wooden block marble maze system from Switzerland. The Jubilee set, only available in 2011, features 25 blocks, including 4 completely new blocks. Precisely crafted from ecologically harvested European beechwood, the variety of Cuboro blocks allow for seemingly infinite marble run creations. Cuboro stimulates creativity and spatial sense. What sets this item apart is "The infinite creativity possible within a system where every element is a cube of the same size," Ken Kahn, owner of Oh! Toys, told TDmonthly.

DoodleMark™ allows children and parents to interact with books together. Whether practicing sight words, working on vocabulary, learning to write letters, bookmarking their progress or just doodling a funny picture, this product is designed to help build a child's confidence in their reading and writing. It can be used as a classroom tool, at home to reinforce what's being taught in school, and as an incentive for reluctant readers. "DoodleMark is the world's only bookmark and drawing pad that clips to a book," Jennifer Kendra, VP sales and marketing at ReMarkable Reading Concepts, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2010.

The Storymatic is a writing prompt, a teaching tool, a parlor game, and a toy, all in one little box. Combine a few of the 500+ cards, and watch a story take shape. Six trillion story combinations are possible. "I made the first one while teaching creative writing at a small Vermont college...my students kept asking me to make more than one so they could buy it and play with it outside of class with their family and friends. Finally, I took their advice," Brian Mooney, president of The Storymatic, told TDmonthly. Additionally, "The Storymatic is made here in the U.S., in a printing plant and box factory that have both been in continuous operation for more than 100 years." Launch date: March 2009.

Celestial Buddies, an original line of educational plush characters, is inspired by planets and other celestial bodies. Each plush planetary pal is designed to capture the unique variations of the actual object it represents through fabric, color, size and shape. "Celestial Buddies is a unique, innovative plush toy series not replicated in today’s market. While most Solar System toys are for school children interested in science, Celestial Buddies has a much wider age appeal from babies all the way up to adults," Jessica Silbert, owner and president of Celestial Buddies, told TDmonthly.

Each adorable turtle pendant hangs on an adjustable silver ball chain necklace. Each dozen comes in an assortment of pink, purple, and blue turtle pendants.

Each ying yang pendant hands on an adjustable black slider cord. Each pendant has blue and pink designs within the ying yang. Other styles within this line include butterflies, bear paws, stars, and more.

Each mood heart key pendant hangs on an adjustable silver ball chain. Each pendant hangs on a “Mood Jewelry” header tag, which will define the meaning of each color the mood material turns. 

This Iridescent Heart Necklace is part of the iridescent jewelry line from Cool Jewels®. Available in an assortment of pink (with matching cord), blue (with matching cord), purple (with matching cord), and white (with black cord) pendants.

SCRUBLE Cube is a fusion of the classic Rubik's Cube and SCRABBLE games. To play, you twist and turn the sides of the cube or rotate the individual squares to spell words. Earn extra points for spelling a word across multiple surfaces using bonus squares and building new words off ones that have already been created. SCRUBLE Cube can promote the development and exercise of key brain functions- logical deduction, analytical processing and word development skills. 1-4 players.

Includes Harmonica, Mini Chimalong, JingleBand, Kid's Accordion, Ukulele, and Mini Tambourine.  "The pieces are for children, but are created with a professional musician mentality," Garry Kvistad, CEO of Woodstock Chimes, said in a press release. Launch date: February 2011.

Includes Maracas, Triangle, Hand Drum, and Jingle Stick. "While part of our goal is to provide entertainment for children, much of our focus is on delivering instruments of the utmost quality and sound, combined with educational elements," Garry Kvistad, CEO of Woodstock Chimes, said in a press release. Launch date: February 2011.

This wooden set allows children to creatively and artistically embellish each item. Includes Tambourine, Maraca, and Train Whistle. "The pieces are for children, but are created with a professional musician mentality," Garry Kvistad, CEO of Woodstock Chimes, said in a press release.

In the third book in the popular Blues Go Birding series, the adventurous Blues are filled with amazement as they discover the world’s most extreme birds—the fastest-diving, deepest-diving, highest-flying, keenest-hearing—and many more. It’s a fast-paced romp around the world with solid information about birds to inspire a future generation of birders. Written by Carol L. Malnor and Sandy F. Fuller, illustrated by Louise Schroeder. 36 pages. Also available in hardback ($16.95).

This new picture book by Marianne Berkes introduces children to some of the unique and interesting animals of Australia.  This new book is partnered after Berkes’ award-winning books Over in the Ocean, Over in the Jungle and Over in the Arctic. Illustrated by Jill Dubin. 32 pages long. Also available in hardback ($16.95).

The Spy Camera Set includes a camera with USB port and a color monitor. The images shot from the camera are displayed on the monitor via wireless transmission. The Spy Camera Set can be added to the Playmobil Robo Gang Truck (#4878). The set also contains a bracket for mounting the monitor onto the Playmobil RC Module Set Plus (#4856). Recommended for ages eight to twelve. Suggested Retail Price: $84.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

This hi-tech Robo Gang Truck can shoot weapons that are mounted on the wing doors.  The satellite can also be launched from the fold-out satellite launch pad.  The Robo Gang Truck is compatible with the Playmobil Compact RC-Module Set (#4320) or the Playmobil RC Module Set Plus (#4856).  This vehicle can be further upgraded with the Playmobil Spy Camera Set (#4879). Recommended for ages seven to twelve. Suggested Retail Price: $34.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

The well-disguised Secret Agent Headquarters contains covert features, such as a trapdoor leading to the jail, a jet ski hiding place for an emergency escape, and a secret command center with LED board. The Secret Agent Headquarters also contains plenty of equipment for the agents. The multifunctional vehicle can be converted for deployments on land, water, and air, the speedboat can be upgraded with the Playmobil Underwater Motor (#7350), and the LED super weapon can also be used against attackers. The set comes with five figures, including a double agent with a changeable face. Another exciting feature is the functional alarm system that can be placed in rooms at home to warn of "intruders." Dimensions: 20.1 x 15.7 x 8.5 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages seven to twelve.
— Joe Beradoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that "We do not sell action figures in our store. The closest products to them are Playmobil and Papo figures."

The Children’s Zoo allows children to role-play petting and feeding animals at the zoo. This set includes four figures, piglets, goats, sheep, and lamb. Also comes with fences for the animal enclosure, rock formation with water fall, birdfeeder, and many other accessories. Recommended for ages four to ten. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
— Rebecca Goblish, owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that Playmobil is one of her top-three best-selling brands of toy.

Throw, glide, and catch. The red and yellow Hand-Launch Glider "Extreme Team" provides an opportunity to have fun while being active outdoors. Made with an ultra-light material, this stable glider can even be used to play catch. The Hand-Launch Glider also comes with a Playmobil pilot. Dimensions: 18.1 x 19.7 inches (L x Wingspan). Recommended for ages six to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $19.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
— In a November 2013 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Playmobil Gliders are a best-selling flying toy.

Kids can create and customize their own stickers online and print them at home with StickerYou.com's new product, Make Your Own Stickers.  Kids go on the StickerYou website, design the stickers, and print them on the special sticker paper. Using a code they will find inside their purchase, sticker-lovers can access popular licensed characters and the StickerYou's art bank of images, apply text, backgrounds and color tools, or use special effects and image upload features to create their own personalized stickers. "Stickers have been around for over 100 years, but the industry has always been about providing a readymade product,” said Andrew Witkin, president of StickerYou. “However, today’s consumer - particularly youth - expect to be able to customize their images, something they haven’t been able to do with stickers... until now.” The Make Your Own Stickers line offers consumers their choice of packs of stickers and labels in an assortment of shapes, including Make Your Own Photo Stickers and Make Your Own Sticker Albums. Launch date: June 2011

Transport boulders from place to place with the Skip Truck. Set includes a figure, adjustable Skip Truck, boulders, and other accessories. Recommended for ages four to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $29.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Playmobil figures in their swimming gear can have fun and enjoy a refreshing swim in the Pool with Water Slide. The pool can be filled with water and comes with a functioning shower. The set includes six figures and many other accessories. Dimensions: 22.4 x 14.2 x 7.7 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $39.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Contains a small ball and small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
— Brooke Andrews, owner of Miller's Toys in Mamaroneck, N.Y. told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011 that it doesn't matter which Playmobil items she is carrying- they are consistently her bestselling playset.

Life is carefree at the Playmobil Summer House. The house is equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, making it the perfect getaway for a family of four. The pretty terrace decorated with plants has patio furniture and a grill for barbecues. Set also comes with four figures and many other accessories. Dimensions: 14.2 x 13 x 8.8 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $59.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

The Click & Go Jet can be folded together compactly in just a few moves and snapped onto a belt clip to be taken along anywhere. The jet can be put together quickly and the fun can begin. Set also includes a figure. Recommended for ages six to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $9.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.