July 2012 Notable Toys — Preschool

The Yoga Motion Bundle contains a Yoga Motion DVD, a Shining Star stainless steel water bottle, and an apple green child-sized yoga mat. Yoga Motion engages children in active play, while they exercise their bodies and expand their imaginations. The DVD contains 10 chapters, each is a complete 3-4 minute yoga routine. Children can play Yoga Motion from beginning to end as a long yoga workout, or mix-and-match chapters for a unique yoga experience. Product designs are clean and modern. Launch date: October 2011.
Awards: 2012 Parents Choice Award

Bizzy Bear is helping out at the building site, so he puts on his hard hat and gets to work. Help him drive a digger, a bulldozer, and a truck. With chunky sliders to push and pull, this robust little board book is perfect for active toddlers. Launch date: February 2012.

Maisy has put her sun hat, pajamas, toothbrush, and camera into a bag, and she's off to the train station with Panda and Cyril. They're headed for the seashore, but getting there is only half the fun. Coloring and snacks help pass the time on the ride to the beach, where Maisy can't wait to swim, collect seashells, build sand castles, and lots more. At nighttime it feels special to go to bed in a hotel knowing that tomorrow another vacation day awaits. Launch date: April 2012.

Help Maisy and company collect shells, build a sand castle, and feast on tasty treats as they spend a day by the seaside. Launch date: April 2012.

Tuck this in an Easter basket. Maisy is making and hiding treats for a backyard hunt- and needs kids to lend a hand. Maisy's beloved sticker books - now with fresh new cover designs - are sure to keep fans busy through the holidays and highlights of the seasons. Launch date: February 2012.

Old twins, new twins, famous twins, not-at-all-alike twins, side-byside twins, let's play twins, not-yet twins, mirror twins - all kinds of twins! - come together in a collection of original poems by two of our most celebrated authors for young people: J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen. From a wave and a wink to a twin switcheroo, from a rocket to the moon to the old woman who lived in a shoe, these poems and mini facts, whimsically illustrated by Sophie Blackall, will leave even singletons with a twinkle in their eyes. J. Patrick Lewis is the current Children's Poet Laureate. A twin himself, he has written more than seventy children's books. Jane Yolen, not a twin herself - but with multiple sets in her family - has written or edited more than three hundred books.

Bizzy Bear's going on vacation, but he has to take a taxi, then a train, then a plane before he arrives at the beach and can set sail on his boat. With chunky sliders to push and pull, this robust little board book is perfect for active toddlers. Illustrated by Benji Davies.

A day at the park. A ride on Daddy's back. Run, Daddy! Faster! Faster! How fast can Daddy go? Faster than a dog? A horse? How about a cheetah? Must his feet even touch the ground? Leslie Patricelli reprises the duo from Higher! Higher! in another humorous riff on a favorite pastime - a laugh-out-loud-funny tale of few words about doting dads and high-energy kids whose imaginations know no bounds.

With touch and feels for little paws. Noodle loves to eat all sorts of things. With bumpy peas and shiny cheese, this is sure to encourage even the fussiest of eaters. 10 pages. Illustated by Marion Billet.

A small papery bundle hangs under a leaf by a silken thread. Can you guess what it will be one day? Butterflies, polar bears, turtles, frogs, birds - they all have a fascinating life journey to follow. Peek under each large flap and look at colorful spreads to find out how each animal develops. A final spread invites readers to match each full grown creature with its beginning stage. Illustrated by Marc Boutavant. 24 pages.

A bunny is furry and breathes air. Who else is like that - a pigeon, a fish, a chameleon, or a fox? Some animals have fins to swim with, some have feathers and a beak, some have skin that is scaly, or smooth and wet. But whatever features a creature has, someone else has them, too. Can you guess who? Big flaps and a matching spread at the end make animal classification fun. Illustrated by Marc Boutavant. 24 pages.

How do you feel? Sometimes you feel happy, sometimes sad. At times you feel curious, but that may be followed by feeling...surprised. And of course you feel bored or lonely once in a while as well. With spare words and simple, graphic illustrations, quintessential chimp renderer Anthony Browne draws on insight and humor to reassure children with an exploration of the varied emotions they experience. What better feeling than opening a new book from Anthony Browne? A simple look at familiar emotions for the very young. 32 pages.

Tallulah is having a sleepover, and Maisy is invited. So is Tallulah's new friend, Ella. Every moment is packed with fun as the friends talk, dance, giggle, and play together. After a tasty supper and lots of games, all three get ready for bed, and Maisy reads a story. Is everyone finally tired? With this anything-but-sleepy storybook, children new to sleepovers and seasoned pros alike can enjoy an overnight visit with Maisy and her pals. Good night, Maisy. Good night, everyone. Join Maisy on her very first sleepover. Friends and games, yummy food and funny dancing - it's hard to feel anything but wide awake.

The new Super Miracle Bubbles Bubble Turbine is guaranteed to provide kids and adults with the seamless ability to create humongous bubbles and a variety of spectacular bubble tricks. Includes Instructional Booklet and Super Miracle Bubbles Premium Plus Solution in 100% recyclable bottle.

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.

The Sights N Sounds Splash Table is great entertainment for toddlers 18 months and older. Lights, sounds and plenty of action are in store on this light-weight table that lets kids scoop, strain and spin. This kids water table is great for warm summer days, or can be used inside as well.

The all-in-one pillow, comforter and attached fleece blanket just for kids who take naps. Can be monogrammed.

What should we buy today? Transport whatever fits in this pint-size carrier. Shopping Cart is from the Playfully Delicious range of the Hape Collection.  Measuring 16.85”L x 11.81“W x 19.84”H, Shopping Cart is age graded for children 3 Years +. The toy is beautifully crafted of FSC certified wood from sustainable forests and colored with safe water based paint. Launch date: July 2012.

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

The fun of matching and the challenge of puzzles. There are puzzles and there are memory games...but only Puzzle Match™ combines these two timeless play patterns in one unique, patent-pending game designed for kids ages 3 to 6. Puzzle Match offers a unique challenge unlike any traditional memory game: Rather than searching for two identical images, kids have to find two halves of a whole image, such as the bottom and top of a seahorse. Once the interlocking pieces are found, they can be assembled into a giant, beautifully illustrated scene. Launch date: May 2012.

Made of 70 denier flame retardant polyester taffeta. Has eight sturdy handles so kids can get a good grip. Parachutes clean easily with a damp cloth and mild soap; carry bag included.

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.

Mr. Bubble Foam Soap will whip up bath time fun. Kids can use their imagination to make all kinds of fun shapes with silly floating foam. Safe and gentle, it washes thoroughly and leaves skin soft and smooth.
— Katie Roo, manager of Be Beep A Toy Shop in Columbia, S.C., told TDmonthly in an April 2012 survey about bath toys that they sell about a dozen units of Mr. Bubble Foam Soap each month.
— In an April 2013 survey about best-selling bath toys Kate Noreen, manager of MudPuddles Toys & Books in Sherwood, Ore., told TDmonthly that "Mr. Bubble stuff has sold really well. It's that classic name, but it's thick foam so it's really fun to play with."

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