July 2011 Notable Toys — Creative Activities

20 large-format bilingual coloring and activity pages printed on heavy art paper and a colorful kid-friendly glossary invite children to discover their artistic talents and explore the diverse cultures, landscapes, animals and musical instruments of Latin America. "The Latin America Coloring Book is bilingual English and Spanish. This aspect along with its beautiful aesthetic sets it apart from other coloring books on the market," Ava Mostefaoui, co-manager of Putamayo Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.

This pine bird feeder kit includes four paint pots, 5" brush and a chain for hanging. Birdseed not included. When kids have completed their creation, they can fill it with seed and set it outside for bird-watching fun.
— Michelle Bears, owner of The Toy Store in Highlands, N.C., told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011 that she sells 30 of these bird feeders each month.
— As of 05/20/2011 this product had 2 out of 5 stars from 1 review on Amazon.com. Pros: Fun to paint. Cons: The opening at the bottom of the feeder is too large, so too much seed spills out of the tray.

Slick Sand will not get wet. Slick sand is saturated with silicon vapors. Silicon is a very slippery substance and these vapors reverse the way Slick Sand interacts with water. When kids pour water on it, the water will stay on top and flow, instead of wetting the sand and sinking down as happens with ordinary play sand. Paired with the fun experiments, the science behind Slick Sand is explained.  Kids will be introduced or further versed to terms and concepts like hydrophobe, hydrophile, conservation of mass, the biological composition of sand, and surface tension. Non-toxic. Slick Sand Includes: 1lb each of Red, Yellow, Blue, Green & Purple Slick Sand; Instructions and Information on Slick Sand.

Kbeau Mom has a baby in her womb who is ready to come out and play. Kids must find Kbeu Baby and help her be born. After, they need to cut her umbilical cord. Kbeu Mom can be fed colorful stones from the Silly Creature food bag. After a meal, kids can push the food through her stomach and guts, all the way to the rear end. Kids can help Kbeu Baby nurse from Kbeu Mom's teat. Kbeu Baby can also eat stones.

In this quick-draw classic, the sketches draw loads of laughs- but the guesses can be even more hilarious. Roll the six-sided challenge die for extra-silly scenarios; no two games will ever be alike. Play in teams, large or small. Game includes game board, one-minute timer, 4 pencil pawns, 4 pencils, 4 pads of paper, card box, card deck, standard die and challenge die, and instructions.
— As of 05/20/2011 this product had 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com from 9 reviews. Pros: Helps improve vocabulary; fun for the whole family. Cons: Some players didn't like the new updates to the game; One person said it was too hard.

52 count bucket of sidewalk chalk in assorted colors. Sidewalk chalk features new crayon shape, embossed with Crayola logo and serpentine design. Clear storage bucket with purple handle for take along fun. To reduce breakage & dust, sticks will be shrink wrapped in 4 sets of 9 and 2 sets of 8.
— As of 05/20/2011 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com from 12 reviews. Cons: Breaks easily; the blue chalk can stain concrete. Pros: Great value; the chalk lasts a really long time as long as it doesn't get wet.

This magnetic board allows kids to draw designs using a plastic stylus that is attached to the board, making it an ideal travel toy. There is no paper or art supplies to clean up, and the attached stylus stays with the board at all times. This mini scribbler comes with thick and thin chunky pen, two pattern stamps and a "magic" wiper.

Kids can draw on this magnetic board with no big messes. The magnetic stylus reveals bright colors when used to draw on the magnet board. Board comes with stylus and two shaped stamps. Frame is 12 x 9 inches and features a 7.5 x 5.25 inch drawing surface.

Filled with premium artist quality Faber-Castell materials, this portable art studio is the perfect gift for young artists on the go. This 34 piece set includes Faber-Castell pastels, markers, chalk, a white board marker, colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, a sponge and a drawing pad. Multi-functional surfaces include: a chalkboard, white board and a drawing easel. Designed with storage in mind, all of the materials fit neatly inside when not in use.
Awards: Dr. Toy Best Product Winner; National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2009

Kids can play games, create art, or just keep gear within easy reach with a portable, adjustable, mobile play center and organizer. Attaches to the rear of the car's front seat and folds down for easy access to supplies. Fold and zip up when finished. The perfect bag for travel. Measures 14'W x 12'H x 3'D.

These pencils are designed for children to use at home and in school: 33% thicker leads than regular colored pencils; 4mm lead is encased in a standard size barrel. Thicker lead means longer lasting pencils and smooth, rich color lay down. Leads are 20% more break resistant. New formula is stronger and has more pigment for brighter colors and easier blending. Leads will not fall out - SV-bonding means leads are glued the entire length of the barrel and glue is double applied for further reinforcement. 40% easier to sharpen - New radial cutting of wood slats aligns the wood grain for easier sharpening. Ergonomic - Triangular shape is easier to hold and gives better control and pencils will not roll. Eco-Friendly and Non-toxic - Pencils are made from reforested wood preserving natural forests and conforms to ASTM D-4236.

A World of Beautiful Colors comes alive as players choose commission cards picturing 34 of the finest European art works of the past six centuries. Players score their commissions by mixing primary colors through clever tile placement, and recreating the palette of colors used by the masters who created these works. Explore the paintings, palettes and pasts of the artists in this unique and challenging game for the whole family. While placing hexagonal pieces to gain palette (color) cards, players become familiar with the different color combinations that produce the many hues of an artist’s palette... all listed on the Player Reference Card. Players also learn to recognize many great artists and their works as they complete commissions.

This larger size measures 6 inches wide for bigger hands and rolls out to 30 feet of blank paper. Like its smaller version, each roll comes with two end caps to keep the paper in place until it's time to unroll. High quality non-toxic crayons are included with each kit.

Just 4 inches wide but 15 feet long, the packaging is designed to be easy for kids to open and close, with a finger-hole to make opening the crayon compartment a snap. The 4” roll is the ideal size for smaller hands. The roll curls downward toward the table, so a child will not have any trouble with paper curling up while he/she draws. When done doodling, the specially shaped well for each crayon will be a reminder to put them back in.