February 2013 Notable Toys — Construction

Create your own version of happily ever after with this fairly tale block set. (Includes a prince too!)

Explore your imaginative side with this 35-piece castle-themed block set. Includes wooden knights , horses and a variety of colored and non – colored blocks. Made of PlanWood, a sustainable material created from recycled sawdust.

Blue Orange Games is releasing their first line of toys called Engenius, a collection of three wooden construction sets. With interchangeable parts, kids can design and build their own toy. The pieces are easy to screw, push and bolt together into dozens of models. Everything stays in place for hours of play until they're ready to disassemble and build again. Available in Airplane, Helicopter and Spaceship sets. Blue Orange plants two trees for each tree used to create their wooden products.

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.

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.

What do you get with basic geomentric shapes made of Lauri crepe rubber and 21 tall-stacker Pegs? You get toy that entertains preschoolers for hours in convenient travel case for kids on the go. They'll fill all the holes, sort the pegs by color, and see how high the pegs will stack. With to holes per shape, it's also counting toy that lays good foundation for early math skills. When finished playing, kids will have fun putting the shapes back in the puzzle frame.
— In a November 2013 survey, Richard Gibson, owner of Learning Express of Newton in Newton, Mass., told TDmonthly that they make $5,000 a year on Tall Stackers alone.

Visit LEGO Friends Olivia's House (3315) with all of the LEGO Friends. Olivia, her parents and her pet cat live in a big, bright house with lots of rooms for hanging out and having fun. Help Olivia to grill up a barbeque for the girls. Mow the lawn with the lawnmower. Write in Olivia's diary and swing in the yard. Then, host a sleepover or have a party. Olivia's House is built in sections for easy rearranging. Decorate, customize and rebuild it.

Net the pteranodon before it flies away with the bait in the LEGO Dino Tower Takedown (5883). Our hero has lured a hungry pteranodon dinosaur to the lakeside tower with a smelly fish. As the giant bird swoops from the sky to grab the bait, can our hero capture it using the net shooter or will he be forced to make a quick exit on the speedy jet boat?

Stop the raptor in its tracks with the lasso in this LEGO Dino Raptor Chase (5884) building playset. The speedy raptor is heading towards the city and must be stopped at all costs. Chase down the dashing dino in the big-wheeled off-roader, fire the tranquilliser gun and capture it with the lasso.
— In a May 2013 survey, three out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that LEGO was their best-selling brand of construction toy.

Cruise in style with LEGO Friends Stephanie’s Cool Convertible. Hop into the coolest ride in Heartlake City to pick up the LEGO Friends for a road trip full of fun and adventure! Stephanie loves cruising in her convertible. Help her wash it to a sparkle and load her puppy into the backseat. Then, take her and her LEGO Friends to the beauty shop, to the beach or on a road trip. Includes a Stephanie mini-doll figure and her dog, Coco.

Lloyd, the golden ninja, has summoned the powerful Golden Dragon into an epic stand-off against Lord Garmadon's minions. Attach Lloyd onto the Golden Dragon and soar into battle. Avoid the launching catapult attacks with the huge extending wings. Fire the dragon sphere! Harness the power of the Golden Dragon to send Lord Garmadon's soldiers back underground. Includes 3 minifigures with weapons: Golden Ninja Lloyd, scout and warrior.
— Joe Berardoini Jr, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that though they don't carry many licensed toys, LEGO Ninjago does well.
— In a Fall 2013 survey, 50% of retailers told TDmonthly that LEGO items were overall best-sellers at their stores.
— In a August 2014 survey, Sunni, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly that LEGO Ninjago is one of their best-selling lines of collectibles.

Build an authentic vintage fire station! Ding ding ding! There’s a fire in town! The fire brigade drives to the scene from this detailed and realistic 1930’s fire station. Designed to fit with other modular buildings like 10182 Café Corner and 10185 Green Grocer, the station features rare LEGO® pieces and innovative construction techniques. It includes a ‘30s-style fire truck, 4 minifigures, a fire-dog, an opening station garage door, and a removable building roof for interior access. It also includes 2 fully-furnished floors with fire-fighting tools, racks for the firemen's helmets, fire-pole, ping-pong table, kitchen with fully-stocked fridge, couch, bookshelf and a roof with a water tower and bell. Measures 14" (35 cm) high and 10" (25 cm) wide.
— As of 1/11/2013 this product has 4.4 out of 5 stars from 38 reviews on Amazon.com.

Hero, Vampire, Rocker and Pirate styles available.  Mix and match; the more kids collect, the more possibilities they have. Recycled wood, made in the USA.

Buckminster Fuller was an engineer, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor, futurist and second president of Mensa International, the high IQ society. He is best known for his many architectural designs, the best known of which is the geodesic dome, or "Bucky Ball"-Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know that talking about systems theorists is pretty boring, but without Mr. Fuller we wouldn't have the Space Chips Glom Dron set, so it all kind of evens out, don't you think? The Glom Dron is a set of 540 pentagon chips that can be used to build a Bucky Ball.

Take care of the newest arrival in the Heartlake City stables with Olivia and fun accessories. Get water from the moving pump to fill up the trough and feed the foal with the carrot. Then use the wheelbarrow to collect the hay for the foal under the buildable tree. Groom her with the accessory pack including ribbons, brushes and combs to make her very pretty. Includes Olivia mini-doll figure.

Emma's dojo is a piece of the Far East, right here in Heartlake City. Practice Emma's favorite martial arts and help her to prepare for another fantastic performance. Train hard to win the trophy by chopping the practice block in half. After a great practice, wind down in the tranquil environment with the cute bonsai tree and drink some water. Then use the mask and sword to start mastering kendo. Includes Emma mini-doll figure.

The ultimate swamp battle is on. Leonidas and Lonnex are making a jet-bike escape with the Croc tribe’s CHI, but it takes more than that to outsmart croc prince Cragger. Fire up Cragger's Command Ship and go after them. Activate the huge snapping mouth, swipe the croc tail and fire the CHI-powered missiles. Call in their Raven ally Rawzom to track them from the air or to swoop down from above and catch those CHI-nabbing cats. Then, deploy the stealthy mini boats and high-flying croc helicopter to stop them from ever leaving the swamp. Includes 6 minifigures with assorted weapons.

Soar high above the mystical world of Chima in Razcal’s Glider to help Razcal guard the CHI. Fend off other tribes with the Raven Glider’s beak and grabbing claws, or capture them with the chain. Protect the Raven tribe’s CHI. Includes Razcal minifigure and a buildable weapon. Launch date: 2013.
— Karen Park, owner of Zaks Gifts in Manchester-by-the-sea, Mass, told TDmonthly that LEGO's new Chima line is their overall best seller.
— In a May 2013 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that LEGO Legends of Chima was their best-selling construction toy line.

Alert the Eagle tribe. Razor and Rizzo have the Eagle tribe's Chi and are escaping on the winged raven glider. Launch Eris' Eagle Interceptor and go after those bird bandits. Use its realistic beak, poseable wings and legs, grabbing talons and tail to launch an aerial counter attack. Engage the cool attack pose and fire the missiles to bring these bandits down or capture them and throw them in the onboard prison. Then deploy the eject function to fly off and fight another day. Includes 3 minifigures and assorted weapons. Launch date: 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.

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.

Fishface is out looking for trouble on his ooze-launching sewer skimmer. Chase him through the city sewers in Raphael's Stealth Shell. Outmaneuver his reverse flick missiles with the Stealth Shell's tri-wheel design and dual flame exhaust. Then fire the dual flick missiles at that menacing mutant before he launches ooze all over the city.

Dogpound is speeding through the city, making special deliveries of toxic ooze in his pizza delivery van. Hit the road with Leonardo and Michelangelo in the teched-out Shellraiser to stop that angry mutt. Turn the powerful LEGO® Technic shooting cannon 360 degrees and open fire. Unfold the Shellraiser’s side panels to reveal the computer workstation, weapons rack and skateboard. Take the pursuit off the streets and onto the railroad tracks by raising the rubber tires up to reveal track wheels. Once Dogpound has been stopped, battle on the rooftop against his minions: The Kraang and a Foot Soldier.

Kick up the turtle-powered action to take on Shredder. When Shredder speeds by on his Dragon Bike with dual flame exhausts and real rubber tires, Donatello spots a map to the Turtles' lair in his claws. Crank up Donatello's motorized skateboard to stop him before he finds the secret lair. Battle the Foot Soldier with Donatello's bo staff and chase the metal-faced menace through the city streets to get that map back.