March 2012 Notable Toys — All

Light the way to early writing with Scribble & Write Children trace the lights to get practice drawing simple shapes and pictures, then graduate to learning upper- and lowercase letters with step-by-step guidance. Fun learning games help reinforce letter knowledge.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 212 reviews on Amazon.com.

Quad-style 4-wheel Barbie roller skates make learning to skate as easy as 1, 2 and 3. Wheels lock for Stage 1, so beginners can “skate-walk” on wheels that don’t roll. As confidence, ability and balance increase, advance to Stage 2, where a quick and easy adjustment allows the wheels to roll forward, but not back. Then it’s on to Stage 3 for “freewheeling” fun, forward and back. Size adjustable to fit child shoe sizes 6-12.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 13 reviews on Amazon.com.

Kids draw on the coloring pad as usual, but can select from 60 sound effect and add them anywhere on the Color Wonder coloring page.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 3.1 out of 5 stars from 46 reviews on Amazon.com.

Baby can learn so much through basic play, and these stackable, nestable, fit-together-and-roll-around cups offer endless versatility for lots of enriching discoveries. Includes 10 colorful cups to grasp, stack or nest, with grooved surfaces for a snug fit and easy stacking. Different colors, sizes and numbers help build early identification skills. A smiling jingle ball nests inside any cup, or fits on top of a whole stack.

The Sassy sensory ball set has three unique balls inspire all of baby's senses. One ball engages baby's sense of touch with its fabric textures and baby's vision with its bold colors and patterns. The next ball captures baby's sense of hearing with an easy-to-grasp hard plastic ball with a chime ball inside. The third ball is made of squeezable BPA-free plastic that has been scented to smell like vanilla, a calming scent that appeals to the baby's sense of taste.
Awards: 2011 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award; Snap Award.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 10 reviews on Amazon.com.

Stack and tumble, build and crumble with these soft fabric blocks. This set of four blocks, each featuring different patterns and characters, are sure to make playtime a blast for babies 3 months and up.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com

Baby's first teeth a new adventure. To make things easier, the MAM designers have developed a new teether that not only soothes, but also cleans baby's first teeth.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 60 reviews on Amazon.com

Teething is tough for parents and their babies. So soothe their tender gums with our incredibly cool teether. Place from freezer to gums and in no time babies will be chewing and cooing their way to happiness.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 4.2 out of 5 stars from 20 reviews on Amazon.com

From the original My Pillow Pets, this Extra Cuddly, Friendly Butterfly is made of soft pink plush fabric. Open the Velcro closure and use as a pillow. Close the Velcro closure and to have a soft plush friend.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com

A rainbow of five rings fits over a cone with rocking base. Stacking toys help baby develop fine motor skills while encouraging cognitive abilities. Made of teethable material.
— As of 12/13/2011 this product had 4.2 out of 5 stars from 164 reviews on Amazon.com.

Drawing inspirations from cards illustrated with whimsical characters and situations, players weave fanciful stories ranging from the romantic to the preposterous. Whether making up their own fairy tale or creating a story together, Tell Tale Fairy Tales revs up kids' imaginations.

Search the seas for matching shrimp in this fun family game. The shrimp may share any of 4 characteristics—quantity, origin, size, and color. When players catch a matching shrimp trait between the 3 fishing zones, they squeeze the starfish to haul in their catch and collect their cards. The slickest shrimp spotter will be crowned King of the Prawns.

Armed with a stack of Ingredient Cards and a given Food Challenge, create the yummiest or yuckiest meals with Chef Cuckoo. The best—or the worst—chefs will emerge from the kitchen with the stars to prove it.

Spot It NHL edition is great for die-hard hockey fans. Hockey themed symbols give Spot It its cool edge. The logo of every NHL team appears on the cards.

What happens when America’s favorite pastime and the best-selling card game in the country collide? The official MLB™ edition of Spot It! Whether the logo of a favorite team, a bitter rival, or another baseball related image, spot it and players will be running the bases to victory.
— In a May 2012 survey about licensed products, Elmer  Carranza, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., named Spot It as their best seller. They sell 24 copies each month.

Finally, a Spot It for little ones. With a scaled down card deck and 6 symbols instead of 8, Spot It Jr. Animals is accessible for kids under 6. Adorable animals appear on all the cards, with one big animal centered on each card for easier spotting.
Awards: 2014 TDmonthly Top Toy Debut Award, 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Everyone’s favorite travel-size game has officially hit the open road. Each colorful symbol is something one would see on a typical road trip. This edition has a new way to play: One card is turned over, and all players scan the scenery for things that match the symbols from the card. Spot it to win.
— Karl Steinbach, owner of Rainbow Toys in Falmouth, Maine, told TDmonthly in an April 2013 survey that this version of Spot It! is a best-selling travel toy.

Harry, Ron and Hermione often visit Hagrid in his hut on the Hogwarts grounds. Sometimes their visits are uneventful – but other times, a visit to Hagrid can lead to adventure. Includes 6 characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Hagrid, Norbert and Aragog. Hagrid's Hut features light up fire place. Furnishings, such as chairs, a table, a stove, and pots and pans also included. 442 LEGO pieces.
— As of 12/16/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 28 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Lots of great details inside the hut; a great selection of mini-figs; detailed instructions. Cons: Not very durable once it is built; a bit small.

A successor to the classic three-wheeler of the 1970s, the RipRider 360 rides like no other—thanks to dual inclined caster wheels. The casters allow resistance-free drifting and spinning action. Includes: Front wheel with pneumatic tire; MX-style handlebar; Rubber grips; Welded steel frame and fork; 3-piece crank; Double crown fork design.
— As of 12/16/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 206 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; very fun; a smooth ride. Cons: A couple reviewers said the assembly was difficult and there were missing parts; may be slightly too tall for kids who are shorter than average.

Feed the Woozle is a cooperative game that focuses on developmental skills of children ages 3-6 in an active, fun game. The object of the game is for all players together to "feed" the Woozle 12 silly snacks. Players roll a die and then place the indicated number of snacks on a spoon. Then they spin a spinner that directs them to walk to the Woozle performing a gross motor movement like Bunny Hop or Walk Backwards. It's not so easy to keep those snacks from sliding off the spoon while hopping across the room. If everyone together can feed the Woozle 12 snacks, then everyone wins. "This game is cooperative - either the game wins or the players win. It encourages group participation and habits of cooperation. The game is leveled - meaning it focuses on specific preschool developmental skills in a fun way that is age-appropriate and grows with the child," Donna Jaffe, president of Peaceable Kingdom Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2012.

Wearing a familiar cap and armed with his trusty snowplow, Thomas hauls two festively decorated cars to deliver BIG winter fun to one and all. Our new Large Scale Thomas’ Christmas Delivery ready-to-run electric train set includes Thomas the Tank Engine™ (with hat, snowplow and moving eyes), cargo car, coach, track, speed controller, power pack, and DVD video instructions. "This is the only Large Scale Thomas & Friends ready-to-run electric train set with a holiday theme," Debra Schiff, mommunications manager for Bachmann Trains, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2012.

Now, Baby Stella can talk. Features three sounds: pacifier sucking noise when pacifier is attached, giggling when foot is squeezed, and saying "mama" when hand is squeezed. Doll comes with pink ruffled onesie with Velcro-like closures in back and magnetic pacifier. Comes with 2 replaceable AA batteries. Launch date: January 2012.

Loopdedoo is a new spinning tool that makes fabulous twisted bracelets in just a few minutes. It's fast, easy and fun. Just wrap the threads around the Loopdedoo device, turn the knob, guide the thread and minutes later the bracelet is done. Kids can even make necklaces, anklets, belts and more. There's no pattern to follow so each accessory is completely different and unique. Kids can use as many threads and color combinations as they like, and can make them thick, thin or anywhere in between. Launch date: November 2011.
— In a January 2012 survey, Barbara Finblum, owner of Barston's Child's Play in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly that Loopdedoo is their best selling arts and crafts toy. "They came in in December and we sold 194 out of 5 stores - 163 out of 3 stores alone. We sold out and couldn't get them back," she said.
— As of 10/5/2012 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 8 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to use; promotes creativity; fun. Cons: One user couldn't figure out how to start.
— In a Fall 2012 survey, Dean Smith, owner of Jazams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that they sell 15 of this item each month, making it one of their top-2 sellers in the Hobby category.

Finally, a well-designed play mat that lasts through the developmental stages of your child!  Our play mats have been designed to cushion and delight babies during tummy time, entertain toddlers for play time, and encourage young learners of all ages to engage and explore.  Search for the hidden characters, count the creatures, sound out letters, or master the road rules: the only limit is their imagination. Reversible: engaging art on both sides; Water-resistant, wipes clean; Soft & cushiony ; Non-toxic. "The play mat lasts through multiple developmental stages of a child - from baby to kindergarten," Lea Janowicz, marketing director for Prince Lionheart, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.