May 2012 Notable Toys — Play Sets

With a detachable roof and changeable transparencies in the command canter. The balance Racer can be turned into a propeller or a jet-car racer. Launch date: August 2012.

Get to the airport on time with the 1.2.3 Airport Shuttle Bus. Equipped with a luggage compartment, this shuttle can accommodate three passengers and one driver, all included. This set, with its colorful and rounded pieces, is perfect for toddlers who love toys on wheels. Recommended for ages 18 months and up.
— David Stelzer, owner of Shananigans in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly in an October 2014 survey that Playmobil 123 was one of his store's best-selling line of preschool toys.

With a simple click, wheels, cockpits, wings and panels attach to the magnetic bars. 48 magnetic pieces provide building variation and fun that reaches the finish. 18 medium bars, four long bars, two cockpits, four pairs of wheels, ten metal balls, two ramps, two containers, and four panels. Giant, non-swallowable 1.8 inch diameter metal balls.

Stop by the Harbor Cafe for a little snack while strolling along the waterfront. Enjoy tasty treats and wonderful views from the dock. Includes Cafe building; Playmobil characters: Mother, Child, & Waiter; Table with umbrella & chairs; Beverages & food; Menu sign; and Birds & plant.

This kayak really floats in the water. Accessory for the Playmobil Harbor play sets.

Girls can help Polly doll tend her garden with this adorable play set, which includes lattice, flowers, and watering can. Each play piece incorporates a suction cup so kids can arrange them any way they want.
— Danny Givens, owner of Little Dickens Toys in Lynchburg, Va., told TDmonthly that their best selling licensed brand is Polly Pocket.

The mid-sized police station and airport hangar clamp onto a table, door or other surface to create the ultimate adventure, featuring multiple levels, working elevators and clamps. Not for use with some Matchbox vehicles. Each set sold separately.

Complete with secret hiding place for storing buried treasure, the Super Set Pirates Cove is the perfect set for young swashbucklers looking for the next adventure. Set includes two figures, a fortress with secret compartment, a working cannon, dinghy and oars, and additional accessories.
— In an April 2012 survey, Ming Yang co-owner of Richard's Variety Store in Atlanta, Ga., told TDmonthly that Playmobil is "always a stable item" in the construction category.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, Cynthia Phillips Strinich, owner of Phillip's Toy Mart in Nashville, Tenn., told TDmonthly that Playmobil was an overall bestselling brand at her store.

The Power Rangers iconic Megazord comes in a sleek Samurai look. Three ways to play: 1) Morph as Megazord mode; 2) Morph as Zord mode; 3) Morph with items in the ZordBuilder collection. The ZordBuilder collection takes Deluxe Megazords to an ultimate level. Collect and combine with: Cycles or Zord Vehicles (#31550 or #31565, each sold separately). Collect all the Megazords and Zord Vehicles to create the Samurai GigaZord.
— As of 4/11/2012 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 11 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; has three modes of play. Cons: Difficult for kids to maneuver and connect.

On a dangerous journey aboard Destiny's Bounty, an ancient shipwreck, Sensei Wu and the ninja have located the powerful golden Hypnobrai staff deep inside of the secret snake shrine. As they land the flying ship in the water to seize the staff, Zane and Jay get a scaly surprise from Hynobrai General Skales and his accomplice warrior, Slithraa. Sensei Wu fires the ship's cannon into the battle until his ancient enemy, Lord Garmadon, appears. Can Sensei Wu protect the Ninjago treasures onboard without the help of the ninjas? Choose the battle in an epic showdown where the fate of the Ninjago world hangs in the balance. Includes 6 minifigures: Sensei Wu, Kendo Zane, Kendo Jay, Lord Garmadon, Skales and Slithraa; Destiny's Bounty ninja ship, snake staff shrine, golden Hypnobrai staff and 16 weapons.
— As of 4/11/2012 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 9 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Lots of minifigs; sets are sturdy enough to play with after building.
— In an April 2012 survey, five of 13 retailers said that LEGO is their best selling construction brand. Melissa McCollum, owner of Learning Express in Hoover, Ala., told TDmonthly that they sell about 150 LEGO sets each month, especially from the Ninjago and DC Universe lines.

Return to yesteryear with this festive holiday scene. It's a winter wonderland in this snow-covered little town. A special-delivery evergreen, all ready for decorating, arrives at the tree-sellers stand by horse-drawn cart, while ice skaters frolic on the frozen pond with colorful lights and a curious owl perched overhead. Just look out for the freshly-shoveled snow piles one skater has already tumbled in head-first. At the bakery nearby, the friendly baker prepares delicious holiday treats in his oven and rings up sales at the cash register. Push the glowing LEGO Power Functions brick to fill the building with warm interior light. Includes 7 minifigures, snow owl, horse and lots of winter accessories.

This ZipBin® Dinosaur Explorer Day Tote Playset has an has an earthy tone to it with beautiful artwork and prehistoric creatures all over. With softs sides and a handle on top, the tote is convenient to carry anywhere. It is ideal for exploring like an archeologist and for storing favorite collection of dinosaurs. It also holds lunches or school supplies and is great for field trips or camp. When unzipped it becomes a Playmat or placemat that can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Weighs less than one pound. Includes 2 dinosaurs.

This is the first line of construction toys designed for preschool girls ages 1 and up. Features sparkly translucent blocks,  princesses with sparkling tiaras, ponies, and more. This tub includes sparkly and regular blocks, two princesses, and a little pony. Launch date: Fall 2012.

Resting in the ancient fortress ruins of Weathertop, Aragorn, Frodo and Merry are suddenly attacked by the Ringwraiths. Will they take The One Ring from Frodo or can Aragorn stop them in time? Includes 5 minifigures: Aragorn, Frodo, Merry and 2 Ringwraiths. 430 pieces. Available June 2012.

Plotting to reclaim The One Ring, Gollum lures Frodo into the lair of the ancient giant spider, Shelob. Will Shelob cast her web and capture Frodo or can Samwise Gamgee rescue him in time? Includes 3 minifigures: Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, Gollum. 227 pieces. Launch date: June 2012.

Under attack by the evil Uruk-hai Army, the ancient fortress of helm's Deep is the last refund for the people of Rohan. As the Uruk-hai draw near, they fire hooks from the armored hook shooter and try to scale the fortress walls. Can Éomer and the Rohan soldier hold back the Uruk-hai and save the day? Includes 6 minifigures: Éomer, Rohan soldier and 4 Uruk-hai.  257 pieces. Launch date: June 2012.

The walled fortress of Helm's Deep is under attack by the mighty Uruk-hai army and the forces of men, elves, and a dwarf must do everything they can to stop them from breaching the fortress walls. Includes 8 minifigures: Aragorn, Gimli, Haldir, King Théoden, Berserker Uruk-hai and 3 Uruk-hai.1368 pieces. Launch date: June 2012.

On their epic journey across the lands of Middle-earth, the heroic Fellowship of the Ring travels through the abandoned Mines of Moria. Pursued by the evil Moria orcs and a giant Cave Troll, Pippin, Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas make a stand in Balin's Tomb. Includes 6 minifigures: Pippin, Boromir, Gimli, Legolas, and 2 Moria orcs along with a giant cave troll and 2 skeletons. 776 pieces. Launch date: June 2012.

Angry Birds fans will be able to build obstacles from the app and knock them down with these construction toys. Sets will include the most popular Angry Birds characters, launchers and other recognizable elements from the game. Launch date: Fall 2012.

The set contains a ghost train with three ghosts, and a red plane with four flick-fire missiles for the two Monster Fighters. When the train moves, the ghost train wings move too. All the ghosts glow in the dark. 422 Pieces. Launch date: 2012.

The Build-a-Bear experience in an all new mini format. A dozen BABW favorites come packed with T-shirt, customizer sticker set, heart and ceremony, trading cards and collector's activity guide with online code for items on bearville.com.

The HEXBUG Nano Zip Line Starter Set unlocks new possibilities and nearly endless heights for the Nano to explore. Once the set is built, each daredevil Nano bug can bravely scurry up the curvy spiral ramp where it will connect to the zip line with the help of its custom-fit “backpack”, and soar down to the lower-level cul-de-sac where it preps to do it all over again. In addition to serving as the perfect starter kit for first time Nano owners, this set makes a great connecting piece that can bridge the gap between any other existing habitat sets, enabling children to customize and create the ultimate playground for their HEXBUG Nano to traverse. The HEXBUG Nano Zip Line Starter Set includes 23 easy-connect pieces and one extremely rare Nano mutation with removable zip line backpack. Launch date: 2012.

Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters House allows the ultimate collector to scurry their Moshlings home and cultivate their ever-growing gardens. Each Bobble Bots Moshi House comes with the ultra-rare Oddie #88 Moshling, four cobblestone building tiles, ten brick borders, nine grass pieces, one garden patch, one Scarecrow, one small bush, three flowers, two mushrooms, three weeds and two rocks. The house also includes one foundation building tile, one door, one roof, one shelf accessory, three different house walls featuring three wallpaper designs, and secret codes that unlock fresh, new content in the online virtual world of www.moshimonsters.com. Launch date: Spring 2012.

The Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters Large Starter Set comes with one Moshling, two cobblestone building tiles, six brick borders, three grass pieces, one garden patch, one small bush, three flowers, one mushroom, one weed, and one rock. Each set also contains secret codes that unlock fresh, new content in the online virtual world of www.moshimonsters.com. Launch date: Spring 2012.