January 2009 Notable Toys — Play Sets

The ZipBin® Airport looks like an airport hangar and when unzipped, reveals an operating airport with runway, control tower, heliport and hanger.  When play is done, capture all the toys inside. This play set includes a die cast, propellered plane.

DinoPack™ is a backpack that looks like a dinosaur’s head when worn on the back and opens to reveal a prehistoric adventureland play surface for imaginative fun. Included with the DinoPack™ is a T-Rex figure.

This ZipBin, shaped and decorated like an ice cream truck, zips open to reveal a colorful ice cream parlor outfitted with serving utensils and ice cream dough in four flavors. Launch date: November 1, 2009.

2 assorted wild animal playsets. One set includes a 5.5" elephant, 3.5" zebra, & 3" chimpanzee. The other assortment includes a 5" rhino, 3.5" gorilla, & 4.5" alligator. Solid pieces. Museum quality detail. 8"x4.75" open window gift box.

6pc moon landing play set, includes 5" moon rover, two 2" astronauts, satellite receiver, and U.S. flag with base. 7"x11" blister card.

This sleepover kit comes with friends Flora (baby panda) and Berry (baby squirrel), a bathtub and accessories, a high chair and utensils for snack time, and more.

These colorfully outfitted fairies are available in eight designs: Daisy, Rose, Honeysuckle, Bluebell, Damsel-fly, Lily, Tulip and Sweet Pea. Each comes with a wooden stand and has iridescent wings and limbs that are poseable.
— “Despite their recent difficulties, they stand by their product and maintain their commitment to small business,” Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toy Store in Anchorage, Alaska, told TDmonthly in late 2008, when more than 7 percent of 52 retailers named Small World as one of their favorite companies.

God saved Noah and his family from a great flood by giving him a very special assignment. He told Noah to build a BIG ark, with room for two of every kind of creature, one male and one female (Genesis 6-9). Children can make the story come to life with this interactive Noah's Ark playset that includes Noah, 14 animals and an ark. Launch date: December 2008.

The Horse Farm Stable features three horseboxes, a section for refreshments and an area for grooming. It includes three figures, three ponies, a kitten, a wheel barrel, hay, a ladder, fences and many other accessories. Dimensions are 21” L x 11” D x 10” H.
— "Playmobil is selling really well for us," Erika Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., told TDmonthly in early 2009.

Peek-a-boo! Only Hearts Li’l Kid Kristy loves bath time! Now you can use the enclosed bathtub with shower curtain and little ducky to give Kristy a pretend bath as her yellow Lab puppy, Sniff, tries to jump in the tub too!

This 550-piece set includes a transformable castle and features MicroMotion technology stunt sticks that allow kids to battle their figurines and explore the grand castle. There's a cannon launcher, underground jail, the round table, several knights, and a drawbridge that lowers.

Handy Manny's truck comes with several tools for fixing broken parts, along with blueprints to aid kids as they make the repairs. The back of the truck opens up into a toolbench for extra play value, and the toy includes a Manny button that offers helpful phrases and plays the "We Work Together" song from the "Handy Manny" television show.

Straight out of Caring Corners, this house includes 12 rooms and features more than 400 songs, words, sounds and activities, plus a girl, baby and dog figurine. It is designed to encourage positive behavior and requires three AA batteries.

The Disney Fairies Tink's Talking Café boasts 13 accessories and various sound effects, including the sound of running water from the flower-shaped faucet and bubbling and whistling sounds when the teapot is placed on a burner. It is a Toys "R" Us exclusive. Launch date: Fall 2008.

This training ring, an add-on set for Playmobil’s Circus Ring, comes with a lion, leopard, tiger and trainer, as well as other fun accessories. It even includes an access tunnel for the animals.
—  In October 2008, seven of 68 retailers told TDmonthly Playmobil is a best seller in their stores.
—  “Right now, Playmobil is taking a nice upward climb,” remarked Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Books & Games in Oklahoma City.
—    Paul Faustine of Red Dragon Toys in Brunswick, Maine, said he sells hundreds of pieces of Playmobil per month.

This wooden castle includes 26 pieces, featuring three knights, a king and queen, a working drawbridge and rope ladders. Launch date: 2008.

This colorful construction kit comes in a plastic carrying case that snaps closed and has a handle on the top. It includes more than 650 pieces, including wheels and connectors to build moveable models. Projects include a water mill house, a merry-go-round, a car, a helicopter and a sports car. The pieces make a click sound when connected or pulled apart.

This is the first minigolf course to take away and play anywhere, indoor or outdoor. It was a finalist for the Golf Europe product award in 2008. The set includes 13 obstacles, one club, two balls and a scorepad. The game can be played on grass, tarmac, carpet, wood floors or ice. Launch date: 2008.

For a preschooler’s first foray into gardening, Sprig offers Honey Bee’s Garden Home. “Plantable” packaging grows into  wildflowers and herbs in the flower pot and beehive that double as a sand strainer and water bucket. Kids can help the included Honey Bee character grow a beautiful garden for the Sprig Hollow community.

Dune Bug’s Farm Truck is a durable vehicle that cleverly transforms into a sturdy sand tool. Sized for 
“take along” fun, this water resistant, five-in-one play set includes a Sprig Hollow insect character with interchangeable wings. Dune Bug’s Farm Truck has a sand bucket, a snap-on shovel and  rake that doubles as the truck’s cab.  Launch date: 2008.

Dragonfly’s Heli-Scoopter is a durable vehicle that cleverly transforms into a sturdy sand tool. Sized for 
“take along” fun, this water resistant, five-in-one play set includes a Sprig Hollow insect character with interchangeable wings.Dragonfly’s Heli-Scoopter is also a shovel and the helipad is a sand strainer.  Launch date: 2008.

Butterfly’s Farm features a water-resistant “farmhouse” with four play/garden shelves.  When assembled by an adult, a large funnel and chute fit into slots on the shelves, ready to be filled with sand or water for plenty of flowing fun. The two insect characters—Bee and Butterfly—have chunky bodies with soft, interchangeable wings and a simple slot that allows them to “sit” on the shelves and in the sturdy Farm Truck.  The hood of the truck doubles as a sand rake or plow. “We want parents to get outside and spend time with their kids,” says  Sprig Toys co-founder and toy industry veteran Chris Clemmer. “And, 
since Sprig Hollow is made from recycled materials, the toys provide an opportunity to talk about caring for the earth.” Launch date: 2008.

Past videos: Toy Fair 2009

This combo garden and playset gives girls the opportunity to grow a Lilly Bloom and Jasmine Fern while also utilizing the main flower as an enchanting doll house. The set comes with two dolls, two seed packets and 20 accessories.

This simple A-frame offers a loft and basic playspace marked by geometric elements.