February 2013 Notable Toys — All

Paint By Numbers appeal to kids who are interested in art and want to create a "masterpiece". These guided art activities with whimsical graphics and premium quality components create an exceptional experience. Set includes 8 Faber-Castell Color Grip Watercolor EcoPencils, real artist canvas (9" square), Numbered Color Guide, paintbrush, foam mounting board, and mounting tape.

Rip, wrap and wear trendy duct tape bangles. It's easy to make funky stripes with 5 skinny rolls of duct tape in bright colors and prints. Includes 5 rolls of duct tape, 6 plastic bangles in 3 widths and easy instructions.

With this kit, kids can design their own bag out of duct tape. Take the pre-sewn bag from plain to fab. It's so easy. Includes pre-sewn tote bag, 6 rolls of duct tape, non-stick paper, stencil and easy instructions.
— In a January 2014 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Duct Tape Totes were a best-selling arts & crafts toy.

The Duct Tape Party craft kit from Alex Toys includes 108 feet of brightly colored duct tape and all the supplies and instructions needed to make jewelry, bags, headbands and more.
— In a December 2012 survey about bestselling toys, four out of 12 retailers said that Duct tape kits from Alex were their bestselling Arts & Crafts toy. Kathy Mabry, owner of The Village Toy Shop in North Easton, Mass., told TDmonthly that they sell more than 36 units of Duct Tape Party each month.
— In a May 2013 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Alex Duct Tape products were their best-selling activity kits.

Based on the popular TV series Chuggington™ that airs weekdays on Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming block for kids and their families, and daily on the new 24-hour Disney Junior basic cable and satellite channel, HO Scale Chuggington electric Locomotives, Rolling Stock, and Accessories are arriving from Bachmann Trains in 2013. Kids can join their favorite "trainees" —Brewster, Wilson, and Koko— as they ride the rails pulling Chuggington cars that include a Box Car, Low-Sided Wagon, Flat Wagon, Hopper, and Passenger Carriage. Vee, the depot dispatcher, will be there to keep all the Chuggers on schedule.

Shen is Zylie the Bear's panda friend from her Adventure across China. Shen met Zylie and her silly little brother Theo in Chengdu, where he's from, and they had great fun journeying east across the country to Beijing. Shen loves rock & roll music, and is a drummer in a band about to go on tour. Shen practices martial arts, and is fascinated by other cultures, particularly their native music and instruments. Shen's Adventure Kit includes a leather jacket, cargo pants and cool t-shirt. He also has a backpack with drum sticks and a Chinese Passport, and the second book in Zylie's Adventure Series, "Zylie's Silk Road Adventure."

The Kiki the Koala Adventure Kit includes 18" jointed plush Kiki the Koala character, fashionable signature outfit, accessories, Australian passport and the third book in the Zylie Adventure Series, Zylie's Adventure Down Under. Part of The Adventures of Zylie & Friends collection. Marking the third chapter in Zylie's exciting adventure around the world, Kiki the Koala and the Adventure Down Under collection continues the awesome journey of a few unlikely animal explorers: Zylie the Bear, a young bear from Manhattan; her little brother Theo; their friend Shen the Panda from China.

Connect 4 Launchers is a fast-flying checkers game that gives players three different checker challenges to prove they can connect em up and win. Includes 21 red checkers, 21 yellow checkers, 4 pillar pieces, 2 clear grid trays, 1 red checker launcher, 1 yellow checker launcher and instructions. For 2 or more players. Ages 5 and up.

The ghouls of Monster High are hitting the skies for their first trip abroad together in monster style. Their destination is Scaris, the city of lights and hometown for Rochelle Goyle. A popular destination for jet-setting ghouls, Clawdeen Wolf, Frankie Stein and Rochelle Goyle meet two new friends while traveling the city: Skelita Calaveras and Jinafire Long. With their funky fashions and journaling ways, they fit right in with the Monster High crew. Each doll wears a new travel outfit complete with jewelry and comes with a rolling suitcase and travel journal or sketchbook to capture those memorable moments. Also includes hair brush and doll stand for picture perfect snapshot poses. Dolls cannot stand alone.
— As of 1/2/2013 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 28 reviews on Amazon.com.

Let your little ones imagination run wild with our New Cotton Canvas 8ft Tee Pee. This ginormous 8 foot tall Tee Pee is large enough for the entire tribe. Made of durable 100% Cotton Canvas, the easy to set-up Tee Pee can be used indoors. The 8ft Tee Pee features wooden poles for easy assembly and extra durability. The tie back dual front doors add to the hours of fun for your little ones.  The Tee Pee comes in its very own carry bag for easy storage.

HDXRF analyzers are the only instruments compliant with ASTM F2853-10, the CPSIA-approved method. HDXRF provides fast, accurate detection of lead and several other potentially toxic elements at levels well-below mandates.  As a result, HDXRF is also well-suited for ASTM F963, EN 71, Prop 65, and RoHS testing. HDXRF analyzers are designed with a 1-mm analysis area for small and irregular shapes, and the technology allows for separate and simultaneous analysis of coating and substrate. Available in portable (shown here) and bench top units, HDXRF analyzers provide the accuracy of “wet chemistry” analysis anywhere along the supply chain, without destroying samples and without long, costly turnaround times. 

HDXRF technology is used by CPSC and CPSC-certified testing labs. Don’t be the weak link in the supply chain. Use what the experts use for true CPSIA compliance, and peace of mind.

Tooby Loops™ Fashion & Fun allows kids to turn colorful mesh tubing into creative crafts. Use the kit to create headbands, bracelets and more with Tooby Loops, chenille stems, beads, rhinestones and more – all included.
— Barb Stine, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly in a January 2014 survey that Tooby Loops were a best-selling arts & crafts item.
— Joe Berardoni Jr., owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that Creativity for Kids is one of his store's top activity toy brands

Creature Bots combines the timeless popularity of monsters and robots into a clever craft. Build and customize the three movable Creature Bots that chomp, flap and grab. They’re named GrabBot, FlapBot and ChompBot and utilize TechCard Technology™ – simple push-fit components – for building. Technology, engineering and physics add an educational element to the kit.
— In a May 2013 survey, 3 out of 10 retailers surveyed said Creativity For Kids was their best-selling brand of activity kit.

The Black Light Message Board is a double-sided, dry-erase message board with a lighted station. The kit includes more than 50 glow-in-the-dark stickers for decorating the message board, 70+traceable designs and two neon markers for enhancing messages and drawings. After creating a message, place the board on the station, flip the light switch and watch the message glow. The Black Light Message Board operates on three AA batteries.

Fashion Macramé includes cord, belt rings, carabineers, a key ring, hair elastic, scissors, glue, pony beads and project instructions.

Glitter Glam Watch Bands let kids decorate five interchangeable watch bands with rhinestones and sticker accents. With the pop-in watch dial kids can change the look to fit their personal style or mood. Kit also includes three boldly colored watch faces.
— Mark Rosenblum, owner of Hobbytown in Fairfield, Conn., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that Glitter Glam Watch Bands is one of their best-selling activity kits.

Duct Tape Doggie Fashions is the newest addition to the duct tape trend. This kit includes a stuffed dog and puppy, five rolls of duct tape, duct tape stickers, scissors, patterns and printed paper. Six-year and older crafters can transform rolls of colorful and printed duct tape and printed paper patterns to create pet fashion and accessories.
— Mark Rosenblum, owner of Hobbytown in Fairfield, Conn., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that Duct Tape Fashion is one of their best-selling activity kits.

These Sidekix Toys are just like the pets kids have at home — only they can take them anywhere and they're a lot easier to clean up after. When these little furry friends are zipped into a ball they are ready for action. They can be tossed, kicked, thrown or anything a ball can do. By pulling on the custom made Sidekix Toys zipper pull kids can transform their sidekix back and forth from the ball to their lovable and furry friends.

Makes real mechanical sounds. Includes10 Jeep-colored blocks. Storage under the seat. Ride along or use as push toy. Can also be used as a walker. Launch date: Fall 2013.

Sounds just like a real piano with transparent keys that light up. Moves and dances to the beat. Removable cap to store blocks. Launch date: Fall 2013.

The Mega Bloks® Hot Wheels® collection brings the world's most famous car brand to building toys, featuring speed, action and performance. Boys can build and collect their favorite Hot Wheels vehicles, and even customize their own creations. The product line also includes cool launchers and each set features a collectible Team Hot Wheels micro action figure to further enhance the play. Build, customize & play with Mega Bloks Hot Wheels. Launch date: Fall 2013.

Challenge kids' powers of deduction and their ability to think on their feet with this giant box of brainteasers. Made to be played at home, on the road, or on a family vacation, this set-up-free game is chock-full of cards that each contain 5 tantalizing clues that lead the player to just one correct answer. The opposing team or player draws a card and reads the 5 clues one at a time (starting at the fifth one), giving the guesser just 10 seconds to answer before reading the next fact. Clues progress in order of difficulty, where each factoid is easier to decipher than the previous one read. Sure to challenge your pint-sized competitor, this fast-paced game puts the pressure on the guesser since the number of points received for a correct answer decreases as he or she progresses through the clues. The player or team with the most points wins.

Kwizniac 2 is a trivia countdown game designed to test knowledge under pressure. The object of the game it for players to accumulate as many points as possible by correctly answering as many trivia questions as possible. To help players correctly identify the answer to each question, a set of 10 clues is provided in decreasing order of difficulty, where each clue is easier to decipher than the previous clue in sequence. The number of points a player receives for a correct answer decreases as he or she progresses through the sequence of clues. The player with the highest score wins the game.

The Heartlake City Pool is the hottest spot to spend a long summer day in the sun. Put on some swim shorts in the double-door changing room and rinse off in the shower before heading to the big blue pool to hang out with Andrea and her friend Isabella. Climb the ladder up to the spiral pink water slide or diving board to make a splash. Play basketball in the pool or go grab an ice cream cone at the snack bar with a cool umbrella table and chairs. Then wind down on the lounge chairs or soak in the bubbly hot tub. Lots of realistic accessories include: shady palm tree leaves, an ice cream cone, money, a cash register and drinks. End a perfect day at Heartlake City Pool by splashing around under the waterfall. Includes Andrea and Isabella mini-doll figures.