July 2010 Notable Toys — All

This ramp features performance-packed play with toddler-appropriate activities. The set is over 2' tall, anchored by two rolling ramps with places to play on both sides. Included are two Little People mini-vehicles - a sports car and a Formula One racer. The cars can also be loaded onto the clicking elevator to bring it to the top all over again.

This colorful laptop with LCD screen comes with 30 engaging activities. A detachable mouse with mouse pad is included.
 —  As of 1.10.2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars on Target.com from 37 reviews and was listed as a top 30 bestselling toy. Pros: Interactive; portable; educational. Cons: Lower quality graphics; some reports of trouble with the mouse.

This 104" x 56" raft comfortably fits two people. It has a mesh bottom and built-in backrests and comes with a spacious cooler.

This 53" River Run inflatable tube has a mesh bottom and built-in backrests for easy cruising. It also includes a cup holder, rope and repair patch.

This 21-piece set includes all the Yo Gabba Gabba characters. Bath Buddies are foam "stickers" that stick to the bath tub and can be used again and again.

This play set transforms into a rock concert with a stage. It comes with buildable dancing figurines of the characters Muno and Plex. Designed for first-time builders, this set aims to help children develop fine motor skills and distinguish colors and shapes.

Each Mega Bloks Yo Gabba Gabba set comes with a buildable figurine that also dances and swings its arms up and down. Designed for first-time builders, this set aims to help children develop fine motor skills and distinguish colors and shapes.

This 23-piece set comes with built-in music and sounds. Included are dancing figures of the characters Brobee and Foofa. Designed for first-time builders, this set aims to help children develop fine motor skills and distinguish colors and shapes.

This 18" ladybug is made of soft red and black plush. Open the velcro closure to use the bug as a pillow, then close the velcro to create a soft pet.
— According to Cynthia Wyatt, president of Totally Thomas Toy Depot in San Diego, My Pillow Pets were on the store’s top-10 best-seller list in July 2010. “Soft and cuddly!” she told TDmonthly. “They are the perfect pal for naptime and nighttime. They sell well … when we can get them, that is!”
— As of 8.03.2010, this product had 3.5 out of 5 stars from 23 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 11 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Soft, cuddly and kids respond well to it. CONS: Some parents questioned whether it is actually washable.
— Want this? As of 05/06/2011, this product was available for purchase at Toys & Co.

Six full-sized wooden game boards are fashioned into a box roughly the size of an end table. The box is simply turned over until the desired game is on top ready to play. All game pieces are stored inside the box in heavy-duty drawstring pouches. The inside of the box is accessed through a "magic door." Pete's Box is available with many different game boards. The customer chooses which six to include.

Tours of the Eames House and Studio require a sizable donation to the Eames Foundation, but with this toy kids can bring the Case Study No. 8 house to the convenience of a coffee table or playroom. Each set of 36 replenishable Michigan-grown basswood blocks represents 29 separate hand-pulled screen passes. The set is made in the USA with non-toxic, lead-free, child-safe inks.

Archeologist Dr. S needs players' help to decipher and uncover secret words. He needs assistance sifting through ancient tiles and linking them together to gain clues to a message. Dr. S has started a Log Book detailing the links between the tiles. According to the legend, when the messages are recovered using the ancient tiles, clues to a secret words will be uncovered. Players find the tiles, build the links, read the writings and claim their reward of wisdom, one word at a time. "The game board is whatever you make it! The tiles will be laid out different each time you play. The game also creates discussions about the books, chapters and verses of the Bible you are trying to create," Todd Jacobs, Vice President of Talicor Inc., told TDmonthly.

Players can join characters Bromley and Cotica on a bilingual journey through the Amazon, learning the names of exotic animals along the way. The game is designed to encourage the development of multi-language, critical thinking and memory skills. The first to reach the ocean wins. "The game board is actually a floor puzzle that you put together before playing the game. This joins the activity of a puzzle and beginner game; both are great for kids just starting to play board games," Todd Jacobs, vice president of Talicor Inc., told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award

From the hit Showtime original series comes the Dexter Board Game. The first player to hunt down a suspect that has slipped through the cracks of the justice system wins the game. "This board game follows the story line of the actual Dexter Show," Todd Jacobs, vice president of Talicor Inc., told TDmonthly.

These licensed items include products from three lines: Adventures in Duckport, Little Suzy's Zoo, and Wags and Whiskers. They feature an array of beautifully drawn and endearing animal characters that have endured for more than 40 years, including Witzy the Duck, Lulla the Rabbit, Boof the Bear, Patches the Giraffe, Corky the Turtle and others.

WaterBlocks brings classic block play into a new watery environment. The bathtub and pool are the perfect places to create floating towns, bridges, waterslides, ball runs, towers and more. The "sticky" viscosity of water creates a helpful cling between blocks, and the movement, buoyancy and flow of water add an engaging twist to classic block play.

WaterBlocks brings classic block play into a watery environment. The bath tub and pool are the perfect places to create floating towns, bridges, waterslides, ball runs, towers and more. The "sticky" viscosity of water creates a helpful cling between blocks, and the movement, buoyancy and flow of water add an engaging twist to classic block play. The set includes 20 pieces.
— Laura Turman, owner of One Two Kangaroo in Shepherdstown, W.Va., told TDmonthly in an April 2012 survey that Waterblocks are their best selling bath toy.
— Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in an April 2015 survey that floating playsets from Just Think Toys are their best-selling bath toys.

This 18" cuddly Unicorn is made of soft lavender plush. Open the velcro closure and use as a pillow, then close it for a soft pet.
— As of 1.06.2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 51 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 17 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games. Pros:Very soft; appeals to girls of all ages. Good quality and multi-purpose. Cons: Difficult to wash and gets dirty easily.

As of 1.06.2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 51 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 17 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games. Pros:Very soft; appeals to girls of all ages. Good quality and multi-purpose. Cons: Difficult to wash and gets dirty easily.

This remote plays over 35 silly sounds and fun phrases as children press buttons just like those on a real remote. Fast forward and rewind sound effects and a real working volume control are included. Elmo’s eyes also open & close.
— As of 7.26.2010, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 72 reviews on Amazon.com, and was listed No. 22 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Humorous, durable and keeps children busy. CONS: Some parents did not feel it was educational enough.

Ten bright blocks are ready for baby to drop into the open bucket or through the shape-sorting lid. This toy is designed for developing eye-hand coordination and other early skills. Then children can move on to sorting, stacking and learning about identifying and matching shapes. This set includes a plastic shape-sorting box with a handle and ten colorful blocks.
Awards: 1995 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Classic Award Winner.
— As of 05/21/2012 this product had 4.1 out of 5 stars from 314 reviews on Amazon.com. PROS: Basic, durable baby toy that keeps children entertained. CONS: Lid does not snap on; May contain carcinogens.

This Lego starter kit lets younger children build a house, car, dog, helicopter and more. The set features 405 pieces stored in a durable plastic box with a see-through top. Included are minifigure, a building plate and a wide mix of standard bricks in various colors, as well as house and wheel elements.
— As of 12/17/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 293 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 19 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games. Pros: 405 pieces and one figurine included; packaged in durable storage container. Cons: Younger children may need help with construction; pieces do not fill up bucket all the way.

Equipped with gyroscope technology, this helicopter can fly up, down, left, right, forward and backward. It measures 7.5" x 3.8" x 7.5," and can be charged by transmitter or USB cable.
— As of 7.26.2010, this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 44 reviews on Amazon.com, and was listed No. 15 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Moves in multiple directions and is durable and stable. Comes with LED lights and a USB charger. CONS: Moves somewhat slowly. USB charger can mean a longer recharge time.

In this tactical card game, players are monarchs who rule small peasant kingdoms. The players compete to enlarge their kingdoms by claiming as much land as possible. The game is for two to four players and can be played in approximately 30 minutes.
— As of 1.06.2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 128 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 29 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games. PROS: Variety keeps players entertained. CONS: Cards are easy to lose.

The WaterWheel play table includes boats, a waterwheel and a cup for pouring, all in an elevated design that keeps children as clean as possible while still encouraging creative water play.
— As of 4/18/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 429 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to assemble; appeals to a wide age range; Lightweight; a good value for the price. Cons: No plug makes it harder to drain; no cover is included.