July 2010 Notable Toys — All

Designed by artist Andrew Bell and produced in association with Google, this cute "Android" figure is left blank for drawing or painting on. The figure is made of vinyl and measures 3" tall.

This series includes Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Snow White, Ariel and Cinderella. Each doll stands about 11" tall.

This Belle doll's enchanting features include lights, music and "magical" blooming roses. Three AAA batteries are included.

Randy Kaplan’s third not-just-for-kids music release, "The Kids Are All Id," offers a Woody Guthrie-esque style that blends a chatty kind of storytelling with an eclectic range of rootsy music. Highlights include his takes on Gershwin's “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’” and Bob Dylan's "Forever Young."

This line of DVDs is designed to teach early sign language skills to preschool-age children. Featuring beautiful video productions of some of the most recognizable children’s books of all time, this series offers a unique approach to learning sign language and helping kids of all hearing abilities to gain literacy and pre-reading skills. "A Pocket For Corduroy...and More Stories About Friendship" is adapted from the beloved book by Don Freeman.

This line of DVDs is designed to teach early sign language skills to preschool-age children. Featuring beautiful video productions of some of the most recognizable children’s books of all time, this series offers a unique approach to learning sign language and helping kids of all hearing abilities to gain literacy and pre-reading skills. "Goodnight Moon…and More Great Bedtime Stories" is adapted from the 1947 storybook by Margaret Wise Brown that has sold tens of millions of units worldwide.

Made from heat-attracting "Absorba" plastic, this giant solar airship needs only a small amount of sunlight to cause the air inside to expand and thus lift the airship into the sky. It measures 26' long. Awards: Tillywig Toy Awards Sterling Fun Winner

An inflatable base holds the bubble liquid around the perimeter, allowing people to stand inside while the bubble wand is moved up over their heads. This product aims to teach the physics behind bubbles. Full instructions for use, plus instructions on how to make bubble solution, are included. Awards: Tillywig Toy Awards Sterling Fun Winner

Kids can touch the wire to hear a buzz, and if unlucky, a very loud bang. Patented gearing means the balloon could burst on the first or 21st contact with the wire. Awards: Tillywig Toy Awards Sterling Fun Winner

These bright tropical fish swim around their bowl all day long while requiring none of the feeding, cleaning, or careful temperature monitoring of a real aquarium. The round bowl and simulated rock base offer an attractive and realistic appearance.
― When asked about her top-selling electronic or battery-operated toys in June 2010, Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Colo., said “this whole line” from Fascinations, including the Magic Fish Bowl.

A die-cast model of Sodor's cheerful green engine, Learning Curve's Battery-Powered Percy brings life to a child's wooden railway. With an easy start button and glowing headlights, the four-wheel-drive engine powers itself around the track and can even pull other cars. It requires one AA battery (not included).
― “There's quite a bit [of growth] in the battery powered engine category with … the Learning Curve items,” said Keith Schumacker, manager of Talbot's Toyland in San Mateo, Calif., when asked about his best-selling battery-operated toys during a summer 2010 survey.

At the pool, on the pond, or on the shores of a small lake, Kid Galaxy's Barracuda is a fun, refreshing water toy. Durable, fast and easy to steer, the boat is designed with a distinctive hull for stability on the water's surface and a steerable prop for responsive handling. The boat comes in two colors: bold red and white, and bright yellow. The two designs are 49MHz and 27MHz respectively, allowing for two boats to race and play together without crossing the signals from the controllers. The vehicle requires one 9V and 6 AA batteries, which do not come with the set.
— In a Summer 2011 survey, 2 out of 12 retailers said that R/C vehicles from Kid Galaxy were their best-selling electronic or battery-operated product.
― Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston's Child's Play in Baltimore, Md., said in June 2010 she sells three Kid Galaxy Barracudas per month, and listed this item as her best-selling electronic toy.
― “They're really good and sturdy. [Kid Galaxy] is a great company to work with,” said Sarah Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., after telling TDmonthly Kid Galaxy is her top-selling electronics line during a summer 2010 survey.
— Though Pun’s Toys is not a hobby store, “we sell dozens [of Kid Galaxy products] in total each month,'' said Owner Joe Beradoni, whose store is located in Bryn Mawr, Penn.

Beyond the basic motion detector or potato clock, Elenco's Snap-Micro I Standard kit allows children to learn about the theory and application of micro-controllers while building their own complex projects. A variety of components and software included in the kit guide children through the basic commands and flow charts required to assemble and operate the micro-controller, which can then program more than 25 different projects. 
― “Snap Circuits do well,” said Sherry Phipps, owner of School Crossing in Williamsburg, Va., during a summer 2010 survey of top-selling electronic toys.
― Two of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in June 2010 that Snap Circuits are their best-selling electronic item.

The R/C Tarantula from Uncle Milton puts control of this large, realistic spider in the palms of kids' hands. The flocked texture and detailed coloring of its legs and body give it a lifelike texture, and all eight legs move as it rolls along on wheels concealed under its abdomen, for a convincing scurry. Even the remote control is a creepy spider egg. The Tarantula works best on smooth, flat surfaces and requires two AAA and two AA batteries (not included).
― “[We carry] some battery operated R/C toys. The most popular is the [Tarantula] from Uncle Milton,” Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys in Oklahoma City, Okla., told TDmonthly about her best-selling electronic toys in June 2010.

The ferocious Morphibian Killer Whale packs a lot of features into one durable, adventure-seeking package. This full-function, radio-controlled vehicle performs on land and in the water. Whether pond-side, pool-side, in the house or in the yard, the Morphibian tackles all kinds of terrain. The Killer Whale works on a 27MHz frequency, allowing it to coexist with another of Kid Galaxy's 49MHz vehicles without controller confusion, and requires two AAA and three AA batteries (not included).
― “Kid Galaxy's Morphibian does great,” said Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, in June 2010.
― “[The] Morphibians are popular items,” said Sandy Challinor, owner of Owl's Nest Toy Store in Southlake, Texas. In Summer 2010, Challinor reported sales of 30 to 40 Morphibians per month.
― Sixteen of 40 retailers surveyed in June 2010 told TDmonthly Kid Galaxy is their best-selling electronic line.

Small World Toys' USA Map is a bright, durable wooden puzzle featuring all 50 states. Each piece is shaped like its corresponding state and fits into the carefully shaped outline. In addition to the geography of the nation, pieces feature a state's major cities and industries on the front, with the capital listed underneath the piece.
― James Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., said in June 2010 that his store sells 35 USA Map Puzzles per month.
― Two of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2010 that their best-selling puzzle is the USA Map Puzzle.

A limited edition released for the Rubik's Cube's 2010 30th anniversary, this cube is an original-sized, fully functional Rubik's Cube made of wood. Five of the six sides are painted in different colors, while one is left natural. 
― “Rubik's Cubes. The wooden ones that just came out … were gone in a week,” said Shana Hack, owner of Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M., when TDmonthly asked about her best-selling puzzles in summer 2010.
― Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston's Child's Play in Baltimore, Md., said in June 2010 that she sells 68 Rubik's Cubes per month. Of 40 retailers, two said Rubik's Cubes are their top-selling puzzle.

Assembled to a finished size of 18” x 12”, this 100-piece puzzle is home to a host of silly, grinning monsters. The puzzle is printed with non-toxic, soy-based ink on 90-percent recycled board, and comes in a reusable storage tin illustrated with the featured image.
― “Mudpuppy is a strong brand for us,” Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly during a summer 2010 survey on best-selling puzzles.
― During a June 2010 survey of 40 retailers, two retailers said Mudpuppy is their top-selling puzzle brand.

A great beginner's puzzle in a 9” x 12” frame, Melissa & Doug's Safari Chunky Puzzle presents kids with eight whimsical African animals. Each thick wood piece fits neatly into its corresponding place on the panel and sticks up far enough for small fingers to easily grip and pull out. Each animal has its picture in full color underneath to keep matching easy, and the pieces are thick enough to stand up on their own for pretend play outside of the puzzle frame. 
― “Melissa & Doug [puzzles] sell two to three a day,” said Sandy Challinor, owner of Owl's Nest Toy Store in Southlake, Texas, in summer 2010.
― “[Melissa & Doug] is an excellent quality product,” said Diane Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 2010.
― Ten percent of 40 retailers told TDmonthly during a summer 2010 survey that chunky puzzles from Melissa & Doug are their top-selling puzzles.

Measuring 48” x 18” when assembled, this expansive, 100-piece floor puzzle from Melissa & Doug features an illustrated cross-section of ocean life from the sea floor to the water's sunny surface. Fish, vegetation and bottom-dwelling creatures mingle in vivid colors. The extra-thick pieces are designed to be durable and easy to handle.
― “The Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzles. You can't go wrong with those,” said Genevieve Collonge, manager of The Wooden Horse in Los Gatos, Calif., of her top-selling puzzles in June 2010.
― “[Our top seller] has been the floor puzzles from Melissa & Doug. [It's] always done really well, and we keep a nice big selection,” said Jason Curtis, owner of Funtopia in Middletown, Calif., in summer 2010.
― Nine of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2010 that Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzles are some of their best-selling puzzles.

Teenagers, adults and families can assemble this challenging 2,000-piece puzzle to a finished size of 38.5” x 29.5”. The picture is a richly colored montage of the world's great wonders, from ancient Stonehenge to the majestic Statue of Liberty. The photos are clustered around an image of the globe.
― “Ravensburger is my top brand,” said Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, during a summer 2010 survey.
― “For the most part, our business is under 12, but we sell a surprising amount of the adult [Ravensburger] puzzles,” remarked John Naisbitt, owner of Thinker Things in Solana Beach, Calif., in June 2010.
― Nine of 40 retailers listed Ravensburger 1,000-piece puzzles as top-selling puzzles in summer 2010.

This durable, 35-piece puzzle measures 11.5” x 8.25” when complete. Assembled, it features a softly watercolored illustration of two happy little ones roleplaying a sword-fighting princess and a mighty dragon in a room full of toys and dress-up accessories.
― “We always do well with Ravensburger because of the quality,” said Diane Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 2010.
― Sandy Jones, owner of The Learning Faire in Napa, Calif., said in summer 2010 that “anything less than 65 pieces” from Ravensburger makes up her best-selling puzzles.
― Fifteen of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in June 2010 that Ravensburger is their best-selling puzzle brand.

Each box set includes a huggable, earth-friendly organic cotton animal stuffed with recycled soda bottles, along with a storybook featuring the 3" plush character. These sets are available in Little Polar Bear, Little Gorilla and Little Elephant versions.

Packaged in a reusable tote box, these 35 oversized pieces are easy for little fingers to assemble. When all the pieces are put together, a dazzling underwater scene is uncovered.