June 2011 Notable Toys — All

Aurora World 10" Keep me comfy Gerome Giraffe Neckrest. This neckrest features giraffe design to wrap around neck with cute face. Aurora only uses lock washer or embroidered eyes and nose for safety.

Aurora World 10" Keep me comfy Cheeky Charlie Neckrest. This neckrest features monkey design to wrap around neck with cute face. Aurora only uses lock washer or embroidered eyes and nose for safety.

One of Disney's biggest and most fondly remembered hits, the screen version of the literary classic SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is full of South Seas scenery, hundreds of exotic animals, and treacherous pirates. This heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community. But the ultimate challenge lies ahead when a band of cutthroat pirates threaten to destroy the Robinson's Makeshift paradise. 2-Disc DVD, widescreen, closed-captioned, run time of 126 minutes.
— As of 06/14/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 120 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros:  Great scenery; offers many different genres for the whole family; special features are informative and entertaining. Cons: Not as good as the book; too much suspension of belief required for enjoyment by adults.

Laffy Laffalot is an innovative, interactive toy designed to bring laughter back into the lives of sick children. With its bright orange body and big engaging eyes, Laffy Laffalot is heart-warming and fun, but can take the tough love kids have for their favorite toys – withstanding a drop of up to 6 feet. Laffy Laffalot also can stand upright on a bedside table or desk - always a smiling companion, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  When kids touch one of the 20 pre-programmed blue buttons, they can hear a hearty belly laugh, the giggle of an infant or a silly snort. The contagious laughs will instantly put a smile on kids' faces and help distract them from the pain and challenges of medical treatment. Laffy Laffalot was created to lift the spirits of anyone who may be feeling blue or just needs a good laugh. Laffy Laffalot's unique features include: Four buttons to record and play custom, comforting messages from mom, dad, friends or loved ones; a hilarious helium effect dial that alters any laugh or custom message for endless hours of fun. Laffy Laffalot also comes with a built-in speaker, MP3 quality sound, headphones that won't hurt small ears and two AA batteries.

Trevor is one of the newest additions to the Douglas collection. He is a Bernese Mountain Dog with realistic markings of his breed. He is very soft, 16" long with a generous, solid body, and nearly the size of a live puppy.
— Lisa LeStrange, owner of Lucky Duck Toys in Wayne, Pa., said her best-selling plush was from Douglas Cuddle Toy; specifically, "All the dogs, because they carry many different breeds and people can come in and ask for a particular one, like a Bernese Mountain Dog"  she told TDmonthly when surveyed in late Spring 2011.

Made of soft huggable plush fabric, Goober has a loveable face and silky chocolate-brown fur accented with cream-colored fur on his belly and muzzle. Measures 11" tall. Surface washable.
— In late Spring 2011, 30% of retailers surveyed by TDmonthly said that plush and puppets from Gund were best-sellers in the category. Mike DiAndrea, manager of Ace Hardware & Toy Center in Paoli, Pa., said he sells about 6 Goober Bears each month.
— As of 6/10/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 20 reviews on Amazon.com.

The Bitty Buttons are rag dolls that magically come to life, taking on the personalities of the fabrics used to make them. This Bitty Button Doll lives in a colorful, silly world full of magic. Tippy Tumblelina was sewn from a Ballerina's Tutu; she's a girly girl who loves being on stage even though she falls off it every once in a while. Includes pet swan. Full articulated head arms and legs. Shoes and clothes can be removed for fashion play.

Cars 2 Siddeley the Spy Jet Transporter is Inspired by the new hit Disney/Pixar film, Cars 2. This Spy Jet that can hold up to three 1:55 scale die-cast vehicles and “secret” surprises inside. Twist the jet’s turbine to reel in the tow hook, roll it along, or prepare to aim and fire the projectile missiles.

This 152-piece set includes 4 minifigures: Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swann, Hector Barbossa and Skeleton Barbossa. Features the Black Pearl rowboat, treasure chest, gold bricks, gold coins, gems and apple. Turn the door to reveal cursed Skeleton Barbossa. Kids can flip the mast and row with the oars. Measures over 7 (17cm) wide (Rowboat measures over 4 (10cm) long and 1.5 (3cm) wide). Includes free poster.

The Step2 Naturally Playful Sandbox has four molded-in "cornerstone" seats, and a sunshine-motif lid that protects sand from weather and critters. It can also double as a large planter. Fully assembled. Sand and sand toys are not included. Step2 Naturally Playful Sandbox holds up to 200lbs of sand. It is approximately 15.5" Height x 44" Width x 32" Depth.

4ct. Washable finger paint set in primary colors. Bold colors formulated to wash esily from skin and clothing. Red, blue yellow and green.
— As of 06/08/2011 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 28 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Washes off very easily, even after dry; squeeze top bottle is good for use with younger children; No reviews below 3 stars. Cons: Smells bad; washes off hard surfaces easily but may stain some clothing.

The 12” Classic Flyer Retro Bike has vivid retro colors and is fully equipped with safety features. Removable and adjustable training wheels, padded handlebars & stems, rear coaster brakes, tough frames and an enclosed chain help kids off to a safe start in their bicycling development. The bike features air tires, a full set of reflectors and sporty chrome plated fenders. For a custom fit that ensures proper posture, the padded seat and handlebars are adjustable.

The CAT Excavator has a large resin digging shovel, and  dual action levers for easy scooping and dumping.  The sturdy blow molded resin body rotates 360 degrees, and sits on 4 rolling wheels to easily move forward and backwards.

The Kiddi-o Air Junior is a size-adjustable, tipping-resistant trike for young children.  The Kiddi-o product line from China continues the tradition of the KETTLER German made trikes sharing some of the same features at a value price. It has the patented Limited Turn Radius to reduce tipping. Patented Quik-Adjust frame to easily adjust the size to fit different aged children. Comes with Tubeless Air Tires for a smooth and quiet ride. Attached the included Push-bar and take a stroll through the park.      

The Anchors Away Pirate Ship is made of durable plastic construction and features two fun characters, a squirting shark and a constant running water fountain. Kids can keep the water moving by pumping or pouring the water into the crows nest; the spinners cause a current in the ship which moves floating objects around. Kids can aim and squirt water from the water cannon to see the steering wheel spin, and the anchor raises and lowers by cranking the handle.
— As of 6/6/2011 this product had 3.2 out of 5 stars from 39 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Interactive; keeps kids engaged. Cons: Numerous reports of the plank and the cannon squirter breaking; expensive; water flow in fountain isn't strong enough to make the wheels spin smoothly.

Hockey Guys is a boxed set of 2" plastic hockey players.  Inside each easy-to-carry plastic case are two hockey teams, one referee, one oversize puck,  two hockey goals and a white mat designed to look like a hockey rink. Each features two of the original six NHL teams: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins. Set includes: 14 2 1/2" players; 1 referee; 2 goals; 1" puck; 10 rink wall pieces that slide together to form the rink; 26" x 18" shiny, slick plastic mat that resembles "ice;" and a 10" x 6" x 5" stackable container with attached lid and handle.

This is a set of 27 interlocking Cubes arranged in a 3x3x3 cube shape.  The puzzle challenges the player to transform the arrangement of the 27 cubes from one shape to any other shape, without disengaging any of the Cubes from each other. Cubes must be shifted by sliding along their faces.  The Cubes can shift in all three dimensions: X, Y and Z, but each face slides in only one direction. There are many solutions because there are millions of shapes you can tranform from and to.  The ultimate goal is to be able to logically understand how to shift from one shape to another in the fewest number of moves.  Other games can be invented by disengaging the Cubes and re-engaging them with the colors "flipped" on one or some of the Cubes, creating a "marked" Cube. The challenge is then to shift the "marked" Cube or Cubes into a specific position in the arrangement
Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy Award, June 2011
— Why it won: This cube puzzle challenges kids to use their spacial-temporal reasoning and logic skills. It's innovative design allows for more open-ended play than similar products, and it is portable for fun on-the-go.

Have you ever heard a word that triggered you to sing a song?  If so, then YOU are Spontuneous™!  One player says a word and the race is on for the others to sing a song containing that word.  The game Spontuneous™ Challenges players to think of lyrics to songs they know and love.  It’s fun, fast paced and full of laughs!

This colorful rattle comes in a twisted barbell design. The transparent plastic ends hold colorful balls that rattle when baby shakes the toy.
— As of 05/31/2011 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 58 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Lightweight; bright colors; easy for small hand to grab; not overly loud.  Cons: The plastic is hard, and one parent complained that their child kept hitting itself in the face, and needed a softer rattle; one reviewer said her baby liked a different rattle that was easier to hold.

This kitchen set comes with 18 pieces for kids to bake, decorate and display their royal treats. The set works with all Magic Rise toys and is designed to easily fit the Disney Princess Magic Rise Oven (sold separately). The burners light up when the heart gem is pressed.

The Intex Mushroom baby pool features a built-in mushroom shade for added comfort on hot days. It has a soft, inflatable floor that allows for gentle play. Adult supervision required at all times.
— As of 06/02/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 12 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Shade keeps baby protected from sun; easy to blow up; inexpensive. Cons: One customer said one of the floats that came with the pool had a hole in it; if you aren't kneeling next to the pool when the top is on it's hard to see the baby in the pool.

BrushyBall is an interactive toothbrush holder and  timer.  A sink top 'follow-the-leader' toothbrushing game, BrushyBall, guides children through brushing their own teeth for two minutes.  BrushyBall coaches young brushers with an adorable voice and pearly white teeth which light up in six sequential sections.  BrushyBall was specifically designed to motivate young brushers, captivate short attention spans and teach complete brushing of all teeth. BrushyBall also holds up to four toothbrushes for open air drying and offers 900+ brushing sessions on two AA batteries (included). Launch date: Fall 2011.

Kids will amaze their audience by rehearsing and performing 25 awesome chemistry experiments in their own science show. Whether they’re moving particles with their magic wand, creating self-destructing bottles, sparking fireworks from an orange, or watching mystical black snakes grow from a pile of power, this kit is sure to educate and entertain friends and family of all ages. Includes lab equipment, materials, chemicals, cue cards with stage directions, and a 64-page, full-color, comic-book style manual. The kit "Provides young scientists with the tools and instruction to create their own science show instead of watching one," Kim Hammann, sales & marketing manager at Thames & Kosmos, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2011.
— In a November 2011 survey about hobby toys, Mary Porter-Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly, "We sell lots of science kits — the best selling ones are chemistry sets from Thames & Kosmos."

Produced since 1917, the gyroscope has been a classic educational toy for generations that continues to fascinate young and old alike with its mysterious force that seems to defy gravity. Gyroscope technology is used in numerous applications such as guidance and navigation systems in ships, planes and spacecraft. Instructions with several amazing enjoyable tricks available with each gyroscope. YouTube video link available to assist with selling. Manufactured in Indiana (USA Made). "Still a popular selling product after many years in the market. Our #1 selling toy out of over 450 products offered," Bob Sherman, sales associate at TEDCO Toys, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Seal of Approval from Homeschool.com; Dr Toy's Classic Toy Award