February 2013 Notable Toys — All

Balloon Blast® is a new toy that makes you enjoy flying your balloon high in the sky. It is fun and open to many different activities both indoor and outdoors! Makes any balloon an instant kite. Now it also includes a MICRO - KITE !! AVAILABLE IN RED AND GREEN !

Any little host will be proud to present these three layers of "delicious" yumminess. This fabulous cake can be topped with a bride and groom for a formal pretend wedding or with a flower bouquet to celebrate any special event. Serving and assembling this confection is easy with all the wooden layers, a selection of toppings, a server and decorative cake plate included in the "bakery" box.
— As of 1/17/2013 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 36 reviews on Amazon.com.

Help each magnetic animal find its place and environment. This magnetic book with removable pieces is "bound" to amuse and educate with pet, farm, wild and undersea animal shaped magnetic pieces.
— As of 1/17/2013 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 21 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Good for travel; Easy enough for young children but challenging enough to hold their interest. Cons: Pictures begin to fade after a while.
— In a November 2013 survey, Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly that puzzles, especially from Melissa & Doug, are a best-selling education toy.

Any project is possible with the whimsical, Green Toys Pink Tool Set. Constructed from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this trendy tool kit makes any fix-it job an opportunity to go green (and pink and purple) too. The groovy 15 piece set includes a tool box, phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, hammer, saw, wrench, pliers, 2 two-hole connectors, 2 nails, 2 bolts, and 2 nuts. No BPA, phthalates, PVC, or external coatings.
— As of 1/17/2013 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 37 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Eco-friendly; durable; helps encourage interest in building.

Eight multi-colored, precision tuned metal bars give any toddler room to make bright and colorful sounds. Includes child safe mallet and attractive vinyl carry case.
— As of 1/17/2013 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 129 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: durable; clear sound; notes are on the correct scale. Cons: Some reviewers mentioned the paint scratched on the keys after a month of use.

Three dump trucks deliver important concepts related to volume, size and distance. Dumpsters are sturdy, stackable, and friction driven. Colors may vary. 7 1/2" x 3 3/4" x 8" (19 cm x 10 cm x 20 cm).

Teach sequencing and ordinal numbers. Pictures on front, words and numbers on back. Format adapts to abilities and features self-checking pieces for independent learning. Two-sided, 3-piece puzzles. 15 puzzles/45 pieces.

8 Lauri sea creatures for swimmingly good fun. Includes the much loved manatee and seahorse (7" long), and 8 laces with easy to use 1" tips. Can also be used as stencils.
— As of 1/17/2013 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com.

Train with Stephanie for the big soccer game. Dribble the soccer ball through the cone obstacle then practice guarding the goal with the goal-shooting function. Practice hard then take a quick break on the bench and refuel with the water from the cooler and a banana. After some tough training, play fetch with Scarlett. Includes Stephanie mini-doll figure and her dog, Scarlett.

Perfect for role-play, school projects, and more. Wiz Dice are top-of-the-line dice in a variety of colors and styles. With clear, easy to read numbers, these dice will transform game play into something magical.

Smart Toys and Games, Inc. has launched its first brain-building game for kids as young as two years old with Bunny Peek a Boo.  Sturdy wooden blocks and fun rabbit characters allow children to develop spatial perception skills and "pull a rabbit out of the box" with this 3D puzzle. Sixty challenges prepare children ages 2-5 for more difficult single player logic games. The four large bunny blocks can be combined in many different ways for endless fun. Launch date: 2013.

Angry Birds On Top challenges players ages 6 and up to move five transparent sliding pieces until pigs are covered with angry birds, while trying not to trap the birds in the cage. This multi-level puzzle comes with 24 challenge cards and a total of 48 challenges. Launch date: 2013.

Based on an award-winning SmartGames design, Angry Birds Under Construction challenges players ages 8 and up to solve 48 puzzles by using four playing pieces to cover the correct number and type of pigs and angry birds to match the challenge in the included booklet. Launch date: 2013.

Designed specifically for preschoolers, Tangoes Jr. includes seven large magnetic pieces, 12 double-sided puzzle cards offering two levels of play, and a large playing surface to help young children learn visual perception, problem solving and teamwork skills. Newly designed for 2013, Tangoes Jr. now includes a booklet with 100 extra puzzles to challenge children who master the puzzle cards. Launch date: 2013.

For players who love Tangoes, Smart Toys and Games, Inc. has launched the more challenging Tangoes Brainiac Edition. This game includes two sets of playing pieces in green and red providing dozens of new puzzles and solutions. Players ages 7 and up can challenge friends or play alone to test their visual perception skills as they match the puzzle pieces to images on the cards. Launch date: 2013.

The new Back 2 Back single player logic game takes puzzle building vertical with a unique grid-shaped vertical game board. Players ages 7 and up must attempt to fill both sides of the grid with the 11 colorful and varied puzzle pieces. The game features a handy travel case and a booklet with 60 challenges for testing even the sharpest mind. Launch date: 2013.

In the single player logic game Vikings, players ages 6 and up rotate a variety of puzzle pieces built into the board to navigate ships out of the storm. Contents include the game board, four Viking ships, nine rotating puzzle pieces, and a booklet with 48 challenges. Launch date: 2013.

The newest edition to SmartGames hit IQ series, IQ Link draws players 8 and up into its mesmerizing challenges as they work to fit 36 colorful and fun-shaped puzzle parts into the 24 free spaces on the game board. This compact game is perfect for traveling and comes with 120 challenges for hours of brain-building fun.Launch date: 2013.

Cool Jewels® offers a variety of bacon styles including best friends necklaces (with bacon and egg pendants), bacon and mustache necklaces, and more. The product featured in this image is one of our new bacon bracelets. At $1.30 /pc, enjoy easy retails of $3.99-$4.99.  

Creating a perfect, secure swaddle that doesn't come undone is easier than ever. The softness and breathability of our signature cotton muslin combined with an innovative shape and snaps, makes the aden + anais easy swaddle perfect for swaddling—in just 4 simple steps.

Hello Kitty, hello seasonal fun! This pair of sunny offerings depicts our favorite star and her cast of friends enjoying all that the seasons have to offer: butterflies, baseball, sand castles, ice cream cones, and more. With sparse text and irresistible original scenic art, this title is one of four in the newest series of Hello Kitty collectible board books. Launch date: March 12, 2013.

Ella Jenkins wears the title given her by many of her fans, "The First Lady of Children’s Music," with tremendous energy. Now in her ninth decade, she continues to encourage young children to hop, skip, jump, clap, dance, and be active through song. Drawn from many recordings created during her legendary career, these songs demonstrate Ella’s genius as both a music educator and children’s entertainer.

Coming off his 80th Anniversary, Babar's first full-length film is being re-released on DVD from Entertainment One with all-new artwork and a new price point, making BABAR: The Movie a must-own for all lovers of the Elephant King. With Celeste and the always-humorous monkey, Zephir, by his side, the King of Elephants is at long last ready to take on Rataxes, a rhino who's taken charge of Babar's beloved Elephantland. Launch date: February 12, 2013.

At an elementary school in Santa Fe, the bell rings for recess and kids fly out the door to check what’s happening in their garden. As the seasons turn, everyone has a part to play in making the garden flourish. From choosing and planting seeds in the spring to releasing butterflies in the summer to harvesting in the fall to protecting the beds for the winter. Even the wiggling worms have a job to do in the compost pile! On special afternoons and weekends, neighborhood folks gather to help out and savor the bounty (fresh toppings for homemade pizza, anyone?). Part celebration, part simple how-to, this close-up look at a vibrant garden and its enthusiastic gardeners is blooming with photos that will have readers ready to roll up their sleeves and dig in. Launch date: January 2013.