July 2012 Notable Toys — General Toys

21" Baby Loves Playtime doll. Soft baby doll comes with soft building blocks and soft stacking rings. Launch date: February 2011.
Awards: 2012 Creative Child Magazine Toy of the Year Award

Like a piece of Op Art, this arrangement by Lewis Johnson is sure to make kids smile. Artist: Lewis Johnson. Finished size 18" X 24".

Pack the ice so that every puzzle tile can fit on the game board and all the penguins are in the right spot. A super cool game of logic with 5 unique shape-shifting pentomino playing pieces. 60 challenges from easy to difficult.

This 100 piece glow in the dark puzzle was designed by Schim Schimmel. Features a snowy baby seal and his little penguin friend. Puzzle Size: 15" x 11".
— In July 2014 Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va. told TDmonthly, "We love Ceaco puzzles; they sell very quickly."

This large format jigsaw puzzle features a photograph by Brian Lawrence of Big Ben in London, England. The puzzle contains 300 pieces and measures 21.25 by 15 inches. Large format puzzles feature over-sized pieces that are easier to handle than regular puzzles, making them easier for children.

Enjoy an outdoor Christmas with Santa and his forest friends. The Playmobil Advent Calendar - Forest Winter Wonderland contains twenty four surprise items for each day of Advent. Includes a backdrop, Santa, girl figure, sleigh, mother and baby fox, mother and baby dear, raccoons, rabbits, birds, and other accessories to help complete this woodland Christmas scene.

Inspired by the design of a lacrosse stick head combined with the functionality of a baseball glove, when wearing a Myachi Battle Paddle on the back of one’s hand, players will be able to catch a hand sack thrown from much greater distances and heights as well as successfully perform more difficult tricks rather than when attempting the same feat bare handed. Now, players can compete harder, faster, and longer. Battle Paddles can be worn on both hands and used by one player while performing tricks alone or play with 2 or more players and battle it out 1 on 1 or make teams. Compete at any of the numerous games developed to play with a Myachi Hand Sack and Battle Paddles: Myachi Pong, Myachi Football, Myachi Lax, Myachi Golf, and many others.
Awards: 2012 Creative Child Magazine Product of the Year Award

Black Forest chocolate cake can be "sliced" into 6 scrumptious pieces. Dimensions: 7.8 x 8.08 x 2.8 inches.

This pretend play set encourages healthy eating. Includes: basket with 1 leek, 2 carrots, 1 banana, and 2 tomatoes. Basket 18 x 12 x 9 cm.

Brain twisting game of 40 challenges. Four challenge levels accommodate the skills of everyone in the family. Develops reasoning abilities and fine motor skills. Tactile, dual-colored design. Includes folding hexagon puzzle, booklet with 40 challenges.

Make carnival rides with Magformers. 144 magnets included in 46 magformers. Twelve triangles and twenty-four squares, two hexagons and eight additional triangles.
— As of 08/06/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 4 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Well made, durable; encourages creativity.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

108 magnets included in 30 Magformers. Twelve triangles and eighteen squares. Two different shapes - triangles, and squares. Blue, orange, red, purple, green and blue colored pieces. Includes 30 Magformers and detailed instruction guide.
— Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo Toys in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that Magformers are one of her top-2 overall best selling toys.
— Gary Green, owner of Toy Box of Asheville Inc in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that Magformers were the best-selling construction toy in the store.

Ten fun origami brainteasers with solutions. Created by famed puzzle inventor Ivan Moscovich. Build mathematical thinking, logic abilities, fine motor skills and patience. Heavy-duty laminated puzzles designed for repeated folding and multiple uses.

Kids can get in the driver's seat with the Inflatable Sports Car for iPad and enjoy turning the steering wheel tablet mount as they race around corners in their favorite racing games. The super bouncy and comfortable seat covered with images of playful Nickelodeon characters is designed for children of all ages supporting up to 230 lbs. The car is very easy to set up, just pull out and pop open the air valves around the car and inflate with the included foot pump. This model not only is compatible with the iPad, but sports design choices between 3 different beloved Nickelodeon characters that you won't find on our previous versions of the kart: SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Launch date: September 2012.

The Universay Activity Tray for iPad safely brings tablet technology to toddlers and young children while entertaining them with playful images of popular Nickelodeon characters. The tablet tray can also be easily fitted and securely attached to a car seat, stroller or high chair. Made with soft spongy padding, a sealed waterproof top layer and cushioned bottom, this special tray is comfortable and protects the iPad from bumps, spills, or falls. Launch date: September 2012.

Kids will love receiving temporary tattoos of their favorite characters. These 3-D, interactive packs each include 50 temporary tattoos in a wide variety of designs. Choose from Hello Kitty, Disney Princesses, Minnie Bowtique, Scooby-Doo, Batman, and Spider-Man. Temporary tattoos apply easily with water, and are made with FDA-approved inks in the USA. Launch date: September 2012.

Players spin the spinner on their turn, then roll the dice. Players have 3 rolls or less to match the rummy hand on the spinner – but look out for a bonus or penalty that can help or hurt. Win the most points and win the game. When players are done, they can use the dice to play a different game. Game Contents: 9 Square Shooters® dice, spinner, dice cup, and scorepad.
Awards: 2012 Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year Award; Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

The BILD line offers a stimulating opportunity for constructive play and imaginative exploration. Leap always knew it was destined for fun. Inspired by a rocket, this Bit redesigned itself to fly. With a well placed propeller and a powerful spring, Leap is always ready to leap into action. Crank is the go-to BIT. Whether he's scooping sand, clutching parts, or fixing the other Bits, Crank is the one for the job.Set Contains: 1 OGOBILD BITS Leap character and 1 OGOBILD BITS Crank character.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Defeat the Great Devourer in the epic battle between good versus evil.  The Great Devourer has been awakened and threatens to devour the world of Ninjago. Can the legendary green ninja, riding the awesome 4-headed Ultra Dragon, overpower this evil adversary? Can Lord Garmadon harness the power of the 4 golden weapons of Spinjitzu to destroy the mighty snake and what about Sensei Wu? Can Jay defeat the evil snake Generals Acidicus, Skalidor and snake soldier Chokun to release his master from the impenetrable snake prison? Includes 7 minifigures: Lloyd ZX, Jay ZX, Sensei Wu, Lord Garmadon, Acidicus, Skalidor and Chokun. Set features 4-headed Ultra Dragon, The Great Devourer, snake prison, Hypnobrai fang blade with blue anti-venom capsule, 4 golden weapons and 7 regular weapons.
— As of 07/16/2012 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Very large set with many pieces; dragon's jaw can open and close. Cons: One user said that when they tried to play with the product after it was built, the blocks fell apart.

With a bounce of up to 75 feet, Sky Ball is the World’s Highest Bouncing Ball. Imagine how high it can bounce if it's hit with a bat. 100 feet? 200 feet? Try up to 300 feet. That’s right, kids can hit Sky Ball out of the park with Sky Bouncin’ Baseball, the farthest hitting plastic bat. And the extreme bounce of Sky Ball takes the game of baseball to a whole new level. Practice hits? No problem, just bounce Sky Ball on the ground and kids’ve got bouncing T-Ball. Sky Bouncin’ Baseball bats come in bright Blue, sporty Green, hi-tech Silver, and glowing Red with matching Sky Balls. Launch date: January 2010.
Awards: 2010 CNBC Sports Toy of the Year

Look, see, play and score...a lot. Add cards to a grid, making sure that color, shape, and number are either all the same or all different across the line. Sounds easy but as the grid expands, so do the possibilities. Whoever sees the opportunities will seize the win. Iota – The pocket-sized game that’s big time fun. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: 2012 Mensa Select
— In a Fall 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Iota was their best-selling card game.

A toy chest that will be treasured as much as the treasures it holds. A lizard and dragonfly accent this playful toy chest, made of birch veneer and finished in colorful lime green and orange stains. Wave-shaped lid is made of solid hardwood finished in green stain. Safety hinges and gap under the lid prevent little fingers from getting pinched. Larger than most toy boxes, this sturdy chest measures 32”L x 18”W x 17”H. Launch date: June 2000.
Awards: 2002 Pinnacle Award, ASFD "Best Children's Furniture Design"

Designing Star Magnetic all in one Locker Wallpaper kit comes with: 1 magnetic laser zebra printed pencil cup, 3 sheets of our fully magnetic laser zebra printed locker wallpaper, 1 Round Magnetic Gem Mirror, and 4 magnetic heart shaped clips. Our kit comes in 3 different laser printed colors — pink, purple, and silver.  Available in 3 color combinations: Purple zebra, Pink zebra, and Silver zebra designs. Launch date: June 2012.

Putty Peeps is a new kind of putty which has unique properties no other putty has. When the putty is played and heated from the warmth of your hands, it will act as a solid and can be stretched, shaped, squished, snapped and bounced. When the putty is left to rest it will immediately begin to take on a liquid form and will seem to melt like ice cream however the putty will not be wet or sticky.    In addition to the unique properties of the putty, Putty Peeps adds extra play value by providing high quality realistic color eyes. Children can insert the eyes into the putty to make the product come alive. Kids can now create countless Putty Peep friends to shape and twist them in their own unique ways, strengthening a child’s imagination  Putty Peeps include the following lines; Metallic color line (Red, Blue, Green, Purple and Silver). Glow in the Dark line (Glow Blue, Glow Green, and Glow Yellow). Heat Sensitive Color Changing line (Green to Yellow, Purple to Blue, Orange to Yellow, Purple to Pink). Launch date: February 2012.