February 2013 Notable Toys — All

Zingo! Sight Words is a fun, interactive game that teaches reading skills through fast-paced play. Designed for players ages 4-6, this game teaches early readers to recognize and read some of the most common words in the English language. The sight words featured in this game were identified by leading educators as the most fundamental. Learning and mastering them is key to becoming a successful, fluent reader - doing it through play makes learning fun. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, Play On Words (PAL) Award
— As of 11/15/2012 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 17 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Helps kids learn to read; Easy to learn, but still challenging and fun.

PathWords Jr. is a clever word search puzzle with a twist. To complete each themed challenge, place colorful Tetris-style puzzle pieces over letters to spell a word forward or backwards. With its unique design and tactile appeal, PathWords Jr. builds spatial reasoning and strengthens vocabulary with clever graphic hints and funny word play. An ideal game for children ages 6 and  up, PathWords Jr. instills a lifelong love of word puzzles and logic games.
Awards: Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Product Award; ASTRA Best Toys winner in 2011; Creative Child Puzzle of the Year; Parents' Choice (Gold); Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (Platinum); Teachers' Choice; National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA).
— As of 11/15/2012 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 17 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Helps build logic and spacial skills; helps kids develop literacy skills.

Featuring cool transparent cards, Swish is an innovative spatial game for children ages 8 and up that challenges mental muscles to the extreme. Players must examine cards, mentally flipping & rotating to make matches, or “Swishes.” Swishes are made by layering cards so that every ball swishes into a hoop of the same color. Players must prepare their brain for a seriously fun workout during this fast-paced challenge that’s fun for the whole family.
Awards: Parents’ Choice Silver Honors award; TOTY Nominee for Educational Toy of the Year 2012.
— As of 11/15/2012 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 56 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Helps develop spatial relation skills; Well designed; innovative gameplay. Cons: Might be difficult for younger kids.

The Hot Dots pen works with dozens of Hot Dots card sets, providing instantaneous visual and audio feedback. Simply press the pen to choose an answer on any Hot Dots or Hot Dots Jr. card for an immediate response—cool, kid-friendly phrases for correct answers and gentle redirection for incorrect responses.

First Grade Activities Homework Helper provides children in first grade with extra help in learning important skills. Packed full of fun-to-do activities and appealing art, children will have fun completing the reproducible pages while learning first grade skills at the same time. Answer keys are also included where needed. These workbooks provide help for students who need extra practice with basic skills, for the accelerated student who enjoys an extra challenge, and for the young learner who is developing basic concepts and readiness skills. They also help boost self-confidence and reinforce basic skills with activities that are geared to the specific grade level.
— Gregory Sahagian, owner of Learning Express of Beverly in Beverly, Mass., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that they sell 4-5 dozen Kumon Homework Helpers each month, making them a top-2 best selling educational products.

A rich vocabulary is critical for successful test-taking, particularly in reading comprehension. Hot Dots Laugh It Up! Vocabulary Card sets are a fun and interactive way to grow kids’ vocabularies. Includes 6 Interactive vocabulary card sets in all, including synonyms (2730), antonyms (2731), multiple-meaning words (shown here), prefixes and suffixes (2735), context clues (2733), and homophones (2732). 50 double-sided, illustrated cards per set (100 questions), featuring jokes, riddles, cartoons, and kid-friendly questions.
— In a Fall 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Hot Dots were their best selling educational toy.

Men of Iron relates the thrilling adventures of a young man seeking justice for himself and his family in fifteenth-century England. With his father unfairly outlawed by King Henry IV, Myles Falworth faces enormous odds before he can become a knight and champion his family’s cause against powerful foes. With the help of loyal friends, Myles demonstrates courage and persistence as he confronts his opponents one by one, winning self-understanding and love along the way. In addition to being a classic adventure, Men of Iron offers fascinating details of castle life and of the long road to knighthood. This book is sure to become a favorite of any boy or girl who loves adventure, and will turn anyone new to the medieval era into a lifelong devotee. Written by Howard Pyle, unabridged reading by Jim Weiss.

Plants vs. Zombies - 7" Plush Assortment (2-92831 Regular Zombie, 2-92832 Squash Plush, 2-92833 Peashooter Plush, 2-92834 Sunflower Plush)

Plants vs. Zombies - 2" Multi Pack Assortment (Regular Zombie, Imp Zombie, Football Zombie, Peashooter, Cherry Bomb and Squash)

Plants vs. Zombies - 3" Figure Assortment  (3-92801 Ducky Zombie with Peashooter, 3-92802 Disco Zombie with Walnut, 3-Conehead Zombie with Sunflower)

HB Flintstones and Jetsons - 7" Plush  (4-71061 Pebbles, 4-71062, Bam Bam, 4-71066 Elroy and 4-71067 Astro)

HB Flintstones - 2" Collector  6 Pack (Includes Fred, Dino, Barney, Pebbles, Bam Bam and the Flintstones Car)

The rotors allow for flex, so should there be a crash (an R/C heli nightmare), LitehHawk is tough enough to stand up to impacts that others simply cannot. Gyro stabilization allows LiteHawk to fly effortlessly, no "twitch", no headaches...just stable flight. The 2 in 1 Remote Control is a charger for the LiteHawk too. Simply plug the Remote into the helicopter and the on-board Lithium batteries take care of the rest.
— Marc Holcomb, owner of Toys & Co. in Greensboro, N.C., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that they sell about 12 of these helicopters each month, making them a best selling aircraft/flying toy in the store.
— In a July 2013 survey Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that LightHawk Helicopters are his store's best-selling electronic or battery-operated toy. "I'm selling about 12 a month," he said.

A collection of 6 colorful foam gliders that assemble in minutes without glue or scissors. With the catapult launchers, there beauties fly up to 150 feet.
— Dean Smith, owner of Jazams in Princeton, N.J. told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that they sell about 24 of these each month, making them a best selling aircraft/flying toy.

This little flying Astronaut has twin rotor propulsion, Bright diode lights and ultrafine micro components. The Rapid Battery Charging Unit requires 8 AA batteries, Not Included. The Infrared Remote Controller requires 3 AG13 batteries (included). The 3.5-inch spaceman has an on-off switch. Recommended for indoor use only.
— Joe Berardoni Jr., owner of Puns Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that they sell about 6 of this item each month.

The Flash Flyer is truly the modern boomerang. The flexible round disc is capable of flying a whopping 40 feet and returning exactly from where it is launched. It is easy to launch and can stay aloft for long periods of time. Makes for a fun game of flying catch. The Alien Flyer can even spin and hang on a ceiling or wall. Plus, it lights up. The Flash Flyer has smart-sensor technology that automatically turns on super-bright LED lights when launched, creating a rainbow of color in the dark.
Awards: 2011 Good Housekeeping’s Best Toy Award
— Deborah Smith from Toys That Teach in Richmond, Va. told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that AFO Flash Flyers were one of her top-2 best selling aircraft/flying toys.

Unique Hand Powered Launcher Sends Planes Soaring Up to 30 Feet. Perfect for indoor and outdoor flight. Adjustable wing flaps for incredible aerodynamic stunts. Realistic jet engine sounds at take off. Set includes launcher and three planes. Batteries needed for sound only.
— In a Fall 2012 survey, 2 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Snap'n'Soar was the best selling aircraft/flying toy in their store.
— In a November 2013 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Kid Galaxy Snap and Soar is a best-selling flying toy.

The all-new 2012-13 NFL Sticker Collection from Panini is back and better than ever. Get a head start on the competition with the all-new Super Combo that includes 18 sticker packets. On the back of every sticker is the number that will tell kids where it goes in their album. Includes 18 Sticker Packets (total of 126 NBA stickers).
— Gregory Sahagian, owner of Learning Express in Beverly, Mass., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that they sell a few hundred Panini America sport stickers each month, making them a best selling hobby item in the store.

Award winning! The start  of many a story begins right here!

Robin Hood, Magician, Royalty, Wizard, Superhero - All need a great cape like this! Fairy Finery believes capes are the versatile start of imaginative playtime. Made of washable, soft poly suede, closes with Velcro at neck for easy wear and safety. The full hood has a tassel to finish it in style.
Colors: Forest Green, Brown, Black, Red.

With five favorite mini microbes dressed up for Christmas: a Stomach Ache Gingerbread Man, a caroling Sore Throat, Frosty the White Blood Cell Snowman, an angelic Nerve Cell, and an exclusive Amoeba in sparkly gold lamé, only available in this set.

Each petri dish of orange putty in the company’s new line of product, GIANTmicrobes® Primordial Putty, includes a different collectible figure. Choose from Flesh Eating Disease, Black Death, Ebola Virus or Anthrax. Perfect for Halloween parties and stocking stuffers. Launch date: 2012.

The kazoo measures 4.75” in overall length and comes individually boxed in a pegable four-color window gift box. The kazoos are sold as a 24-piece, four-color point-of-purchase display. The kazoo is handmade in a small Western New York factory which has made kazoos since 1916 and uses similar tools from that time. The packaging, also produced in the Western New York area, proudly features the U.S. Flag on the box and display.

This awesome Spider-Man Stunt City playset is the perfect home for the amazing wall-crawling hero. Kids' Spider-Man figure will do his most heroic stunts when he takes on his enemies in the Spider-Man Stunt City playset. Will he climb down the wall or spin down the pole? He can swing on his web line, slide down the lizard tail ramp or cling upside down to escape his enemies, and he can dodge their lunges and drive right through the door on his speedy motorcycle. Press the button for lights and sounds and cool Spider-Man phrases. When playtime is over, kids can read the special value storybook "The Lizard’s Lost Treasure."
— As of 11/5/2012 this product had 3.9 out of 5 stars from Amazon.com. Pros: Spiderman can climb up the side;lots of different sections on the play set offer different types of play. Cons: A few users reported that the electronic functions in the toy stopped working shortly after purchase.