July 2010 Notable Toys — All

Designed for childcare settings, his rocker is quiet and contained on all sides. It is tip-resistant and features a roomy 20" seat design.

Celebrating the martial artist's 70th anniversary, the 1:6 scale Bruce Lee Collectible Figure is specially crafted based Lee's 1973 "Enter the Dragon" film character. The figure comes with several sets of fists and film diorama backdrops.

This linen journal captures the classic "Goldilocks" fairy tale. The book is also available with Swarovski crystal accents.

This 9" x 9" photo album, adorned with a pink tassel, captures the magic of a child's day at the beach and is accented with sparkling Swarovski crystals. The book is also available in plain classic linen.

This sweet 9" x 9" linen photo album is adorned with a gold tassel and is designed to capture children's summer memories. This book is also available with Swarovski crystal accents.

These 14.5" bean-filled monkey characters wear stylish, warm knit clothing and caps. Both feature the signature banana in tail and Velcro hands for easy hanging.

Each Fancy Pal is a purse and plush animal in one. The animals can be mixed and matched with different carriers. This assortment of Mini Fancy Pals includes two puppies and kittens in green, pink, purple or red carriers, each of which is embroidered with a holiday themed item such as candy cane or ribbon.

This Dreamy Eyes series features a moose, mouse, monkey and puppy accented with festive Holiday garb. Each 5" plush plays three different Christmas carols when squeezed.

This bean-filled brown bear is available in 12" and 18" sizes for $14.99 and $29.99 respectively. Love to Cuddle Bear sports a festive green knit cap, and matching mittens dangle from around his neck.

This Star Wars LEGO set includes Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, R2-D2, C-3PO and a sandtrooper. The landspeeder vehicle conceals a secret lightsaber compartment and measures 6" x 2" x 2".
— “We sell an amazing amount of LEGO,” Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston’s Child’s Play in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly in June 2010. Shanna Frieling, owner of Giggles Toy & More in Bozeman, Mont., agreed: “Legos are still the best sellers.”
— In a June 2010 survey of 40 retailers, six named LEGO a top seller for boys ages 4 to 12.
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller (entire LEGO line)

This dinosaur-themed Silly Bandz 24-pack includes T-Rex, Velociraptor, Brontosaurus, Triceratops and more. These bands can be collected, worn or traded with friends.
— “Rubber band bracelets … are a big hit for both boys and girls,” Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Games & Books Inc in Oklahoma City, Okla., told TDmonthly in June 2010.
— In a June 2010 survey of 40 retailers, three named rubber band bracelets a top-selling toy for boys.
— TDmonthly i first reported on kids collecting rubber band animals back in 2005.

These prescription swim goggles are available in half steps between -1.5 and -5.0 diopters, for clear-sighted underwater swimming. The goggles offer 100-percent UV protection, and have a smoke gray tinted lenses for added sun comfort. BanZ Prescription goggles are designed to fit ages 3 to adult and come with four changeable bridge pieces to get the fit right. A stylish goggle carrying case is included.

This four-wheel drive, remote-controlled vehicle can be navigated over land and on water. It has working headlights and requires two AA batteries. The controller takes an additional two AAA batteries (not included).
— Grafton Stine from Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that R/C vehicles from Kid Galaxy were their best-selling electronic toy.
— In a November 2011 survey, Elmer Carranza, assistant manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly that "The Morphibians are great. They can run through dirt, grass, puddle of water and look like sharks and frogs. We sell about 6-8 in a month."
—  As of August 2010, this product had 3.5 out of 5 stars from 40 reviews on Amazon.com. Parents liked that it is versatile and easy to use, but some complained that it required two types of batteries.

This green dragon add-on has red eyes and claws and breathes "fire." The dragon can be used with Playmobil castle and Dragon Land sets.
— Ten percent of 40 retailers cited Playmobil as a best seller for boys in early summer 2010.

Sticky Mosaics bring the fun and excitement of mosaic art home. This package includes peel-and-stick tile sheets in 12 assorted colors and styles, used to create four glow-in-the-dark bedtime projects.
— “They're good for car rides since they stick and you don't lose them, and they don't need any glue,” Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper for Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly in June 2010. Bowden estimated the store sells about 30 Sticky Mosaics sets monthly.
— Five of 40 specialty retailers cited Sticky Mosaics as a best-selling product for girls ages 4 to 12 in early summer 2010.
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller (entire Sticky Mosaics line)

Snap Caps, the interchangeable, illustrated, magnetic bottle caps, also come on fashion accessories, such as huggers that can be used on hair, boots or ankles, plus hair clips. Snap Caps hair bows are available in red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise and hot pink.
— In a June 2010 survey, Linda Hanzelko of Timmy’s Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthly her store sells 30 to 40 sets of Snap Caps each month.
— Three of 40 retailers names Snap Caps a top seller for girls in early summer 2010.
— Christine Osborne, co-owner of Wonder Works in Charleston, S.C., told TDmonthly in October 2011 that they sell 300-500 Snap Caps each month between their three stores.
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller (entire Snap Caps line)

This photographic instruction book is full of tips, techniques and hundreds of designs to paint on fingernails. The book comes with six non-toxic, peel-off nail colors.
— “We do a lot of Klutz for the 10- to 12-year-old girl,” Jason Curtis of Funtopia Toys in Middletown, Calif., told TDmonthly in June 2010.
— Eight percent of 40 retailers cited Klutz books as a top seller for girls in early summer 2010.
— Mary Holmes from Go Bananas LLC in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a December 2011 survey that books from Klutz were her best seller in that category, selling about 12 each month. Two other retailers also named Klutz books as their best sellers.

This 1" bedazzled, chocolate-covered strawberry charm adds a hint of sparkle and sweetness to any Charm It! bracelet or necklace.
— In a June 2010 TDmonthly survey, three of 40 retailers said High IntenCity charms are a best-selling product for girls.

This festival-themed Silly Bandz 24-pack includes brushes, tents, suns, dancers, ballerinas and fiddles. These rainbow-hued bands can be collected, worn or traded with friends.
— “Rubber band bracelets … are a big hit for both boys and girls,” Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Games & Books in Oklahoma City, Okla., told TDmonthly in early summer 2010.
— Three of 40 retailers cited rubber band bracelets as a top seller for girls ages 4 to 12 in June 2010.
— TDmonthly  first reported on kids collecting rubber band animals back in 2005.

This plush doll is ready for a garden party in her perfectly coordinated hair and outfit. Her jewel-toned hair is styled into a bun and echoes the bright hues of her flower-adorned dress.
— In a Summer 2011 survey, 2 out of 14 retailers told TDmonthly that Groovy Girls were their best-selling doll. Linda Laramy, owner of Crackerjacks Toys and Childrens Books in Easton, Md., told TDmonthly that she sells about 5 Groovy Girls each month.
— Five percent of 40 specialty retailers told TDmonthly in early summer 2010 that Groovy Girls dolls are a top seller for girls ages 4 to 12.
― In a May 2012 survey about dolls, 2 out of 11 retailers said that the Groovy Girls line was their best seller.

This set allows girls to take their critter babies for a fun tea cup ride again and again. The base rotates and each individual cup spins when the handle is turned. The tea pot also spins and lifts its lid. Puppy babies Chubby and Spottie are included.
— In late Spring 2011, 4 out of 12 retailers said toys from Calico Critters were their best-selling play sets. Barb Stein, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., said she sells between 30-40 Calico Critter products each month.
— “Calico Critters is one of our best sellers as a brand,” Kristen Dolle, owner of Playthings Toy Shoppe in Louisville, Ky., told TDmonthly in early summer 2010.
— In a June 2010 survey, five percent of 40 retailers named Calico Critters as a best-selling toy for girls.

Cave Troll pits bands of heroes in a contest to recover the most gold and treasure from the dangerous lair of the cave trolls. Created by designer Tom Jolly, Cave Troll is a fast-paced game of heroes, monsters and treasure for two to four players that is playable in 20 to 60 minutes. It includes a game board, 104 game cards (one deck per player), six Artifact Cards, 64 plastic hero and monster figures (16 for each player), four plastic treasure chests and four Score Counters. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "This is the second edition of Tom Jolly's classic board game. It features upgraded components, streamlined rules, and new variants."

The old dragon Drakon has captured a brave band of adventurers who have sneaked into her lair to steal her gold. In Drakon, players each control one of the heroes trapped in Drakon’s lair. The first player to collect enough coins for a total value of at least 10 gold immediately wins the game. On each turn, a player either places a tile (then draws another), or moves his of her figure one space. Rick Nauertz, Sales Associate for Fantasy Flight Games, told TDmonthly, "Drakon is cutthroat fun for the entire family. After all, you don’t have to outrun the dragon, you just have to outrun your opponents!"

Created by Nexus Games, known for War of the Ring, Moto GP, Wings of War and Age of Conan, Micro Mutants is a game of strategy and dexterity that’s fun for players of all ages and experience levels. Micro Mutants: Evolution is the first Micro Mutants game and includes everything up to four players need to do microscopic battle in 30 to 60 minutes, including the Usarthopod, Flyborg, Sovietopter and Chitinian armies. Fantasy Flight Games Sales Associate Rick Nauertz told TDmonthly, "Micro Mutants is surprisingly simple to pick up and learn."