July 2012 Notable Toys — Construction

Contents: 61 colored domino blocks, 6 pieces of untreated wood, 1 ball, 1 building block clamp, 1 arched clamp with little bell. Endless building fun with abundant options for experimenting. Helps kids learn cause and effect.

100 piece GLOW IN THE DARK building block set. The building fun doesn't have to stop when the lights go off. Safe and non-toxic glow paint adds a new dimension to block building. Set includes 70 glow blocks and 30 natural color blocks. Building guide included.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Go green with a new and innovative approach to building. Don’t toss out newspapers: recycle them to build incredible geometric sculptures. Tape the included tubes to both ends of a sheet of newspaper. Roll up the newspaper and secure with tape to make a connecting paper rod. Includes durable plastic connectors that fit into the rods. Follow the step-by-step instructions in the guide to make a triangular pyramid, a square anti-prism or design kids can design their own creations in the classroom, gymnasium or playground. Includes guide. 36 connectors, 200 rod-tubes.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

The attractive colors and grinning conductor on this train set are sure to impress. Train cars connect via magnets. Toot, toot, the locomotive arrives at the station with its three wagons transporting an interesting load: two small stacking games and a drum with a little bell. The conductor and load are removable. Material: PEFC certified beech wood. Non toxic, water based stain. Made in Germany.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys
— Wooden trains and block sets were mention by two retailers surveyed by TDmonthly in February 2013 as best selling wooden toys.

With a boost, crashing and fast-paced action come to Wall Tracks sets. The booster launches cars up the ramp for anti-gravity thrills. The track works with multiple cars for mid-air madness. And the poster adds a background for the adventure and action. The set and poster can be hung with the included safe-for-walls Command strips from 3M. This set gives new meaning to climbing the walls. Includes 1 car. Not for use with some Hot Wheels vehicles.
— As of 5/10/2012 this product had 2.9 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Difficult to put together; safety button makes it confusing to turn on; the car that comes with the set has difficulty going through the tracks without flipping.

The large steering wheel and real truck sounds create an exciting ride for kids who can imagine they are working on an important construction site. The CAT 3-in-1 Ride-On allows little construction workers to attach the toolbox to the back of the truck and carry their tools around to any important construction site. It can be transformed into 3 different forms: from a car to ride in, it easily turns into a walker that can be pushed from behind, to a vehicle that can be pulled along with the tools firmly attached. The 3-in-1 Ride-On includes 3 tools and 2 screws.
— As of 04/30/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 4 reviews on Amazon.com.

Children's bloks can go anywhere with the pink Build’n Go Wagon. The Mega Bloks Wagon has a bin that loads and dumps blocks anywhere with ease, a secure handle for little hands with a block slide to transport blocks into the wagon, and four sturdy wheels. The wagon also comes with a removable building plate so children can bring their creations anywhere they want.
— As of 04/30/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 6 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; easy to use.

Builders ages 3+ can create a train, garage, bridge and more or accelerate their imagination with other ideas. The Tinkertoy Transit set includes 150 durable, plastic pieces including spools, straight rods, bendable rods, wheels, eyes, two buildable figures and more. The newly redesigned Tinkertoy pieces snap together and stay together for long-lasting play. The colorful guide provides a variety of ideas for all building skill levels. Comes in a sturdy box with lid for easy storage and portability. September 2012.

Kids can build an atomically cool coaster with dueling action, using over 850 K'NEX pieces to create a thrilling roller coaster building experience. 2 dueling cars twist, turn, and dive as they race through over 37 feet of track. The Atomic Coaster builds over 4 feet tall and includes a motorized chain lift. Color-coded, easy-to-follow building instructions are included. Go to the K'Nex website to download instructions for a 2nd coaster model. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: 2012 Best in Play at Toy Fair - Parenting Magazine

This adventure kit comes included with all the necessary tools to explore the amazing building world of Construction Machines 3D. The kit contains a 3D book, 3D cards, magic costume card, software and Popar Reader. Kids will have an unforgettable experience as they magically turn into a construction worker and watch bulldozers push trees off the page, cranes lift huge pipes, and excavators dig foundations. "Popar® Toys use Augmented Reality (AR) technology to create an immersive reading experience that will allow the user to see incredible virtually “real” 3D objects and animations that will pop off the book or card," Scott Jochim, President of Popar Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2011.
Awards: 2012 Best of the Toy Fair - The View; 2012 National Parenting Centers Seal of Approval.

Now youngsters can take pegging to a whole new level of excitement when playing with this versatile building set that combines popular Tall-Stacker Pegs with Mighty Monkey Pegs. Kids can stack colorful pegs and create different configurations for their monkeys to play. Use the included monkey figurines to swing from a vine, zoom down the slide or ride the elevator basket — with the Tall-Stacker Mighty Monkey Playset, the thrills are endless. "The Tall-Stacker Mighty Monkey Playset encourages free-form building and role-play, while fostering creativity and imagination," Mary Dolan, public relations coordinator for Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

With 10 classic Tegu blocks, a signature magnetic styling top, and 4 magnetic wooden wheels, Dart is a member of the Compact Line of Tegu Mobility. Deconstruct Dart and click the wheels on and off to create any number of mobile creations. Magnetic connections make racing and crashing as fun as building. Dart integrates seamlessly with the existing line of Tegu blocks.

Allows children to learn about cause and effect and simple principles of mechanics. Build a base by attaching the interlocking plates and attach gears to form a chain reaction. Turn the handle to set everything in motion. Soft plastic with round edges, totally unbreakable and safe. 80 pieces.

Andrea works at the City Park Cafe and loves dishing out tasty treats — when she is not singing into her broom and daydreaming of her big performance. It's the perfect place in Heartlake City for all of the Lego Friends to meet for milkshakes and burgers or to chill and have fun. Kids can bake goodies for the girls in the cafe kitchen, complete with everything needed to serve up cafe cuisine in style. Then hang in the outdoor dining area and have a milkshake in the sun. Order up a sweet snack, serve the customers and pay with Lego money bricks. Includes 2 mini-doll figures: Andrea and Marie.
— As of 4/18/2012 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 14 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Cute; fun to play with; very detailed. Cons: Too easy to put together; not as much educational or developmental value as other LEGO sets.

These big shovels are perfect for large scale sand projects at the beach. Shovels are made in the USA. Includes 40 Big Shovels.

This fun sand mold features two towers connected by a castle wall. Castles are made in the USA. Includes 80 Double Castles and 80 Shovels.

One of five unique hexagon-based pieces make up a single block piece providing versatility, variety, and extended thought. The five hexagon-based pieces include: a single hexagon; 2, 3, and 4 hexagons - joined in linear arrangement; 3 hexagons joined in a non-linear arrangement. Includes 24 Congruently cool & colorful hexagonal building blocks; 5 unique hexagon-based pieces - a single hexagon; 2, 3, and 4 hexagons - joined in linear arrangement; 3 hexagons joined a non-linear arrangement; Full-color illustrated Building Guide with 20 engaging design challenges; facts of hexagons in nature & mechanics.
Awards: 2011 Parents' Choice Recommended Award

An innovative new magnetic, crescent shaped building block. A magnet rolls through each Arx piece, giving any builder the option of building in ways that defy common thought. When the magnetic force between two Arx pieces meets, kids’ll feel the slight click as the magnets adhere. 24 Versatile magnetic pieces. Building base included (optional for building). Launch date: August 2012.

Each bit has a simple, unique function (light, sound, sensors, etc), and modules snap to make larger circuits. With a growing number of available modules, littleBits aims to put the power of engineers in the hands of artists, makers and children. Contents: coin battery (rechargeable via micro usb cable) bargraph pressure sensor. Snap and play: magnets prevent kids from putting things the wrong way. Play with light, sound, sensing and buttons without wiring, soldering or programming. Kids can make their own interactive objects, or combine with other construction toys.

The book is divided into six themed chapters—transportation, buildings, space, kingdoms, adventure, and useful makes—each with basic templates of key models and spreads to inspire kids to create their own. Hints and tips from Master Builders can help kids turn their classic car into a race car or add a bridge to their castle. Featuring all-new LEGO® building projects, tips to supplement and enhance LEGO creations, inspirational builds, and expert advice from LEGO Master Builders, The LEGO Ideas Book will keep kids of all ages creating for hours. Launch date: September 19, 2012.

Hunt down the Rebels in the iconic TIE Fighter. Equipped with dual flick missiles and opening cockpit, this instantly recognizable and hugely popular starship of the Imperial fleet returns to battle the rebel alliance once again. Includes 4 minifigures: TIE fighter pilot, Imperial officer, Death Star trooper and R5-J2 droid.
— As of 4/11/2012 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 9 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Stonger than previous sets; more representative of the Tie Fighters seen in the movies than previous sets.
— In a May 2013 survey, 50% of retailers surveyed told TDmonthly that LEGO Star Wars was their best-selling line of licensed products.
— Helen Santosuosso, owner of Village Toy Shop in North Easton, Mass., told TDmonthly in a November 2014 survey that LEGO Star Wars is one of their store's best-selling toy lines.

C-3PO and R2-D2 have the secret plans to escape the Death Star, and must avoid capture by heading to the desert planet Tatooine in their escape pod. Will they land safely and avoid being captured by the Imperial sandtroopers on their swoop bike? Includes 4 minifigures: C-3PO, R2-D2 and 2 sandtroopers.
— As of 4/11/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 3 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Design has improved from previous sets; escape pod is larger and more detailed; good assortment of useful LEGO bricks.
— In a May 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that LEGO Star Wars was their best selling licensed product.

Introducing the world-renowned Sydney Opera House. This masterpiece of expressionist architecture is the vision of young Danish architect, Jorn Utzon, whose unique interlocking vaulted ‘shell' design beat 933 competitors from 28 countries to win an international design competition held by the New South Wales Government in 1959. Combined with the beautiful setting of Sydney Harbour, the opera house has become a true symbol of late modern architecture and one of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century. This LEGO Architecture series interpretation of the Sydney Opera House was designed by US architect Adam Reed Tucker in collaboration with the LEGO design team.

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.