August 2010 Notable Toys — Construction

With over 194 pieces, Teifoc’s Beginner Brick Construction Set incorporates real, reusable miniature bricks for building, encouraging imaginative play for children interested in constructing up to three of their own designs. Safe and soluble sand and corn extract-based mortar holds the bricks together. To build a new model, simply soak in water, dry the bricks and start again.

With over 394 pieces, this set encourages imaginative play for children interested in constructing up to three of their own building designs. A safe and soluble sand and corn-extract based mortar holds reusable bricks together. To build a new model, simply soak in water, dry the bricks and start again.

Standing 4' tall, the Eitech Eiffel Tower metal building kit lets builders re-create an impressive replica of this famous Parisian structure. The kit can be brightened with the attachable lights combo. Over hundreds of parts and tools are included in each construction set.

The C31 Mega Model Train is a sleek locomotive that features more than 2,560 parts. Step by step illustrated instructions are included for easy-to-follow directions.

Timberworks Toys are heirloom quality, large-scale construction sets made from hard maple. 52 pieces of high quality timbers, widgets, gable ends (triangles) and more are included to spark a child's imagination. Builders can start by making a small house, and then transform it into a bridge or a tree house.

Timberworks Toys are heirloom-quality, large-scale construction sets made from hard maple. The wheeled vehicle set features 48 pieces including four wheels to create endless possibilities to engage a child's imagination. Builders can make anything from a simple car to a dragster or an airplane with this large-scale construction set.

71 pieces of timbers, widgets, gables (triangles), and more make a creative building set that allows children to use their imagination to make a number of different structures such as a house or a bridge. This set is designed to be ideal for a busy, high-traffic play area.

This 98-piece innovative building set includes timbers, widgets, gable ends (triangles), wheels, and more. The set features timbers up to 24" in length, providing children the ability to create anything from a car to a house, a bridge or a plane. This set aims to provide the flexibility to engage true beginners as well as to challenge "future engineers."

Kids can build up to three crane models with the Deluxe Motorized Crane. Each set includes over 960 pieces, a three-way cable control, three gear motors, and a ball bearing joint for ultimate control and function. Step-by-step illustrated instructions are included for easy to follow directions.

This set includes 19 pieces for building this member of the Lego Hero Factory Alpha Team. The finished figure stands 6" tall and comes equipped with a removable hero core, high-tech air armor, a camera helmet and a communications headset.

This kit lets children build Jeff Gordon's 24 DuPont/Pepsi Car. Included are 106 K'NEX bricks, rods and connectors, as well as wheels for push play and a Jeff Gordon K'NEXman figure. Once built, the car measures 7" in length, and features custom parts, sponsor logos and a realistic color scheme.

This portable table acts as both a building platform and a practical storage container. Stickers for creating scenery, plus a figurine and toy car, are included.
  — As of 8.16.10, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 12 reviews on ToysRUs.com and was listed No. 34 in best-selling toys and games. PROS: Easy to assemble, promotes imaginative play. CONS: Some parents questioned its durability.

With this army pack, children can lead the attack on planet Hoth by launching flick fire missiles from a battle station. This pack, designed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "The Empire Strikes Back" includes two snowtroopers, one Imperial officer and one AT-AT driver.
— As of 05/12/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 34 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Pieces are small and hard to put together for younger kids; smaller than depicted.
— As of 8.12.10, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from eight reviews on ToysRUs.com and was listed No. 20 in best-selling toys and games. PROS: Colorful, sturdy and easy to assemble.
— Dave Campbell, owner of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont.,  said he sells about 24 LEGO Star Wars toys per month.

Jedi Master Plo Koon scours the space lanes for General Grievous’ ship, Malevolence, in  "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." This set includes 175 building pieces, a Plo Koon minifigure, an Astromech Droid minifigure and a cockpit ejection seat for ejecting minifigures from the finished 10" Starfighter.
— Karen Park, owner of Zaks Gifts in Manchester-By-the-Sea, Mass., told TDmonthly in Summer 2010 that her store sells about 20 to 30 LEGO Star Wars sets each week.
— Six of 38 specialty retailers named LEGO products an overall best seller in July 2010. Two of the six cited LEGO Star Wars as a popular product line.

Light Up Marble Racers brighten the world of mini cars. Each Light Up Marble Racer contains a rolling and flashing LED marble. The exterior of the cars can be customized with the slick racing decals included with the cars.
— Bonggamom Finds declared, “Move over, Matchbox! Take a hike, Hot Wheels! There's a new kid in town.” She loved that the Racers offer girl-friendly varieties to “spark their imaginations” and are compatible with similar toy cars.
—“The Light Up Marble Racers are nothing like I have seen before” raved Shop with Me Mama Kim Delatorre. The stickers make the cars “super cool looking” and piqued the interest of both her son and daughter.
— In a summer 2011 survey, Rebecca Goblish, owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly that Marble Racers are her best-selling die-cast toys. She sold 3 dozen of their race tracks last Christmas season.
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal.

Lockrobots are brightly hued interlocking plastic robot-shaped blocks designed for building, stacking, balancing and creating puzzles. Made in the USA, the Lockrobot 30-Piece Medium Bucket includes six each of green, red, yellow, blue and orange Lockrobots.
— Brandi of Living Solo Gratia tried Lockrobots with her kids, who “had a ball playing with these little guys,” stacking the Lockrobots and making pyramids. However, Brandi recommended buying a larger Lockrobots set: “The 15-piece set is fun but we would have been able to be more creative with a larger set.”

This Star Wars LEGO set includes Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, R2-D2, C-3PO and a sandtrooper. The landspeeder vehicle conceals a secret lightsaber compartment and measures 6" x 2" x 2".
— “We sell an amazing amount of LEGO,” Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston’s Child’s Play in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly in June 2010. Shanna Frieling, owner of Giggles Toy & More in Bozeman, Mont., agreed: “Legos are still the best sellers.”
— In a June 2010 survey of 40 retailers, six named LEGO a top seller for boys ages 4 to 12.
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller (entire LEGO line)

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.

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 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.

This minifigure features a magic wand, a book of spells on a tilting pedestal, a desk, two beakers to hold magic potions and a little green dragon mascot.
— In late summer 2010, four of 43 specialty retailers surveyed told TDmonthly that LEGO products are an overall top seller.
— Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that  LEGO minifigures are a best-seller: "LEGO minifigures have been one of our top sellers this month. We've sold about 2 a day, or about 65 in a month." Erika Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., agreed, saying that they sell "about 8 a day" at her store.

This Court Jester minifigure comes with three juggling balls, a stage and a flag. The stage measures over 2" high.

This collectible series one minifigure is detailed to resemble a costumed wrestler and comes loose in a blind package.