March 2009 Notable Toys — Construction

The LaQ Free Style Series includes all seven types of snap-and-click-together blocks in various color themes. LaQ Free Style Colors is a 400-piece kit of blocks in red, blue, yellow and green. "The innovative construction toy block LaQ has been shown to aid the growth of a child's mind. A child's mind shows activity in both the right and left hemisphere of the brain," Mo Saeki, manager of the Overseas Division for YOSHIRITSU CO., LTD., told TDmonthly. "All LaQ blocks materials, assembly and packing are handled in Japan." Launch date: December 2008.

The LaQ Free Style Series includes all seven types of LaQ snap-and-click-together blocks in various color themes. The 400-piece Free Style Pastel kit features the blocks in pink, orange, sky blue and yellow green. "The intellectual construction toy block LaQ makes a fun snap! and click! noise when piecing the parts together. This encourages the child that the pieces are firmly connected. The basic square and triangle parts connect together with angled joint pieces. The joint parts make possible the creation of flat, two-dimensional, three-dimensional and spherical models," Mo Saeki, manager of the Overseas Division for YOSHIRITSU CO., LTD., told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 2008.

The 16" x 16" polymer panels are designed so that kids can safely build three-dimensional structures kids. Launch date: March 2009.
— Dave Taylor of The Attachment Parenting Blog said Brik-A-Blok was a huge hit with his kids (ages 6 and 9). He noted that his kids’ constructions took up a great deal of space, with Brik-A-Blok tunnels stretching throughout their home. Taylor called the building system “fabulously cool,” though he lamented the high price tag.
— Brik-A-blok was the "most funnest review ever!" for She Scribes’ Kimberley and her son. Her kids enjoyed creating new structures with the versatile panels. However, Kimberley also pointed out the large amount of space needed for the toy as well as the panels’ inability to support much weight.

These colorful wooden blocks, featuring all sorts of creatures from both land and sea, stack up to almost 3'. Package size is 5.75" x 5.75" x 5.7".
— “Melissa & Doug are phenomenal. They have great margins for volumes and are supportive. I wish we had five more of them,” Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer’s Toy World in Battle Creek, Mich., told TDmonthly in late 2008 when naming the company one of his favorite vendors. Forty-eight percent of 52 retailers surveyed praised Melissa & Doug as a favorite supplier.

LiveCubes are to cube puzzles as genes are to living organisms. . Just as genes are combined to form unique individuals, LiveCube cubes can be used to make all manner of puzzles by simply  snapping the cubes together. The puzzles  come apart after assembly and, thus, are  reusable. A LiveCube package includes play manuals and a total of 120 cubes (1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm) comprising 24 white two-stud cubes; and six red, six blue, six green, six yellow and 72 white four-stud cubes.

It is a new concept of construction toy that can have endless possibilities. It is a teaching tool that will teach kids about colored shape matching, structure, and spatial skills. With livecube manual it is an intelligent toy that can guide kids to use their analytical, logical and motor skills through playing. It comes with four different packages – Lion, Rhino, Goat and Elephant version. Each package includes: 6 red, 6 blue, 6 green, 6 yellow and 24 blocks; a total of 48 blocks (2x2x2 cm) and play manuals.

In livecube classic, we offer our puzzle lover a unique puzzle set. Each set of the livecube has a different color combination so your set of livecube is personalized and has a unique ID number to only your set. In addition, we introduce the cube 3X4X5 play cards, this shape can form about 4000 different combinations itself and with our play card system, it’s a never-ending puzzle game. Includes 1 unique puzzle color puzzle (12 pieces), 90 classic play cards, and carrying bag.

Livecube for Kids & Parents is a proud winner of the Parents’ Choice Award, The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval and The Best Toy Winner from Dr. Toy. This is an exciting 3D adventure for the entire family developing visual, logical and problem solving skills. The package includes: 1 sets of 2 color mix puzzle(12 pieces); 30 Kids & Parents play cards (from 2D to 3D); 5 advance play cards; one carrying bag.