July 2012 Notable Toys — Pretend Play

This wooden scale with metal pans is a fun way for kids to experiment with weight and balance. A perfect pretend play item for kitchen sets.

This beech wood stove top features two black burners, two knobs, and one red knob. Made in Germany.

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.

Inspired by the new hit Disney/Pixar animated film, Brave. At the heart of Disney/Pixar’s Brave is the tender tale of a daughter and mother whose different views lead them to unexpected adventures. Now, girls can play out this special story with the Brave Story Gift Set. Featuring key characters from the film in small doll form, the gift set includes a Merida doll, wearing a beautiful MagiClip fashion and elegant Queen Elinor in regal attire, and the ability to transform Merida’s mother into her dainty mum bear character, just like in the movie. To extend play, the set also comes with a cape, an additional fashion for Merida, a cake and her beloved bow-and-arrow set.

Play Magic: The Gathering and discover why it’s the world’s premier trading card game. Start with a deck of cards filled with potent spells and fearsome creatures. Then take on the mantle of a Planeswalker, a powerful mage, and challenge friends in the ultimate battle of wits.

Join Puff and friends in the magical land of Honalee.  Act out the story with these stand-up puzzle pieces.  Story is printed on back of puzzle board for adult to read as child plays.  A classic, beautifully constructed, wood puzzle fitting of this timeless tale.  6 puzzle pieces and  board are made from premium birch ply-wood. Map of Honalee, Puff and Friends are printed directly to the wood for a nostalgic look and added durability. Launch date: August 2012.

Bring imagination to life as child and pull-along Puff frolic through Honalee. Pull and Puff frolics in an up-and-down motion with moving wings. A classic, beautifully constructed, wood pull toy fitting of this timeless tale. Quality solid wood construction; naturally. Launch date: August 2012.

Each mini figure in Safari Ltd®’s Toob® ranges from 1” to 3” and is carefully sculpted and finely hand painted. Packaged in a reusable acetate Toob®, the figures guarantee years of learning fun. Safari Ltd® introduces for 2012 highly detailed butterflies from around the world that flaunt their vibrantly colored wings. This Toob® includes a Red Glider, Green Swallowtail, Orange Barred Sulphur, White Angled Sulphur, Evenus regalis, Anaea clytemnestra and a Papilio garleppi. All figures are 100% guaranteed and lead free to ensure children’s safety. Suggested ages 3+. Launch date: January 2012.

Make a seed blossom into a beautiful flower. This set includes all the tools kids need to build a flower: seed, soil, watering can, shovel, garden shears, stackable stems, 2 leaves, and 4 interchangeable flower petals. Launch date: August 2012.

My Very Own Kitchen offers plenty of play features in a compact size. This 19-piece kitchen set includes a microwave, range, grill area, conventional oven, dish organizer and shelf space. Accessories include cups, dishes, silverware, pots, pans, cooking utensils, a pitcher, a cell phone and a colorful label sheet. Measures 19.25"L x 8.25"W x 28.75"H assembled.

Young chefs will enjoy this 9 piece play cookware set and find that it's just the right size for them to stir up some fun. Set contains oven mitt, pot holder, whisk, measuring spoon set, wooden spoon, saute pan, 4 1/2" pot with lid and sauce pan.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys

Here's everything a mini chef needs to make and serve a favorite meal. Pasta Set is from the Playfully Delicious range of the Hape Collection.  The Pasta Set is age graded for children 3 Years +. The toy is beautifully crafted of FSC certified wood from sustainable forests and colored with safe water based paint. Launch date: July 2012.
— Denise Magstadt from Imagination Station in Whitefish, Mont., told TDmonthly in a March 2015 survey that Hape is one of their best-selling lines of eco-friendly toys.

Kids can serve breakfast with this pretend play set. The set includes 2 slices of bread, a sausage, a bacon, a cheese, a mushroom, a tomato, an onion, fried egg, salt and pepper seasoning, and a 4 piece place setting.

A best-selling concept — children's dramatic play kitchens — just took a great leap forward with the addition of the Hideaway Playtime and Country Kitchens. In a few simple steps, the Hideaway Kitchen compacts to a depth of 6", allowing it to be efficiently stored when not in use. Offers plenty of features including a sink, a stove; an oven; a dishwasher; functioning knobs, clock and more. Adult assembly required. 30"W x 15.25"D x 38"H
— In a May 2012 survey, Maryalice Miner, co-owner of Miner's Doll & Toy Store in Ocean Springs, Miss., told TDmonthly that she sells 3-4 of this high-ticket item each year.

Princess Revolution! is a rocking girl-power concept album by NYC’s multiple award-winning Mommy Rocker, Moey. The songs on this 15-track CD feature subjects like sharing, body image and standing up to bullies while encouraging girls to celebrate their intelligence, confidence and style. The CD also includes musical re-tellings of Sleeping Beauty, The Princess and the Pea, and The Little Mermaid with new endings that provide an empowering twist. The album inspires girls to be helpful heroes who can slay their own dragons or wake themselves up with their own magical kiss. "Princess Revolution is not only 'sparkle-tacular' girly fun, it instills girls with a positive social message that makes them see themselves as confident leaders and achievers," Melissa Levis, president of Lemonade Productions LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products; 2012 Dr. Toy 10 Best Audio/DVD; 2012 Parent's Choice Gold Award

With sturdy metal construction and pivoting front wheels, this kid-size shopping cart is easy to maneuver, fun to fill and built to last. Dimensions: 23.25" x 15" x 11.75" Assembled.

Get to the airport on time with the 1.2.3 Airport Shuttle Bus. Equipped with a luggage compartment, this shuttle can accommodate three passengers and one driver, all included. This set, with its colorful and rounded pieces, is perfect for toddlers who love toys on wheels. Recommended for ages 18 months and up.
— David Stelzer, owner of Shananigans in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly in an October 2014 survey that Playmobil 123 was one of his store's best-selling line of preschool toys.

Chunky tools made from durable, soft plastic are perfect for encouraging imaginative play. Includes stethoscope, syringe, bandage, ear scope and thermometer. All pieces store in a vinyl doctor’s bag measuring 6.75"W x 5"H.
Awards: 2012 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Gold Seal Award.

Two complete place settings for pretend meals. Includes 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 cups, 2 sets of utensils. Made of sustainable PlanWood, a durable new material made from the sawdust leftover from rubberwood products.

Stop by the Harbor Cafe for a little snack while strolling along the waterfront. Enjoy tasty treats and wonderful views from the dock. Includes Cafe building; Playmobil characters: Mother, Child, & Waiter; Table with umbrella & chairs; Beverages & food; Menu sign; and Birds & plant.

This kayak really floats in the water. Accessory for the Playmobil Harbor play sets.

Red has an exuberant and athletic nature. She also tends to be highly cynical and sometimes teases her friends. Like Gobo, Red likes to take the lead and they sometimes butt heads. Red has a yellowish orange complexion, orange hair, and wears a red sweater.

Katrina is always the most fashionable at the party. Her colorful dress has features one of her favorite colors, purple. Not only is her dress purple, so is her hair; purple highlights are cleverly mixed in with a brownish-red color. Her appearance is striking her trendy outfit and her ultra-sweet personality. Launch date: 2012.
— In a June 2013 survey, three out of 11 retailers told TDmonthly that Groovy Girls from Manhattan toy were their best-selling dolls.
— In a June 2014 survey, three out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Groovy Girls are their best-selling doll.