August 2010 Notable Toys — Play Sets

Hazel likes to make a lot of noise. She loves banging on the cymbals of her father's drum set. Honey really likes playing in his father's mail bags and throwing envelopes in the air. He tends to make a big mess. This pair is part of the Calico Critters of Cloverleaf Corners collection.
— Mary Sisson, owner of Kazoodles in Vancouver, Wash., named the Pickleweeds family among her top-30 best sellers in early June 2010.

AquaPlay is a Swedish line of educational water products for indoors and outdoors that allows all children, young and old, to find joy in playing with water. The system is modular and provides endless opportunities for expansion and rebuilding. It stimulates imagination and role-play.

Lock & Harbour World includes:

• 1 lock (including 3 lock gates & 1 water pump)
• 1 paddlewheel
• 1 harbor world (including 1 water gate, 1 crane with bucket & 2 stickers)
• 1 barge
• 2 fasteners with sealing strips

With this 40-piece restaurant playset, little ones can design their pretend menus with many different pretend food items, and step into fully into their roles with a guest check pad, a waitress's apron and a hat. The table is set with menus, cloth napkins, cups, plates and flatware. The set, which packs into a carrying case, even comes packaged with two play credit cards.
― “The Sweetheart Cafe from Alex does very well,” said Lori Hershman, owner of Evan's Toy Shoppe in Camden, Conn., in spring 2010.
― Five out of 43 retailers who took part in an April 2010 survey of best-selling activity kits and playsets named Alex as their top supplier for this category.

Baseball Guys packs an entire stadium into a handy plastic storage bin. Each box contains 26 2 1/2" players from red and blue teams, an umpire, a felt field and an adjustable scoreboard.
Awards: iParenting Media
— Katie from Katie’s Nesting Spot felt that the Baseball Guys made a great way for fathers and grandfathers to bond with their kids over baseball. She appreciated the comparatively large size of the figures and the included stackable carry case, though she remarked that the container lid did not stay shut when moved.
— Rhea of Mommy23Monkeys reported that her eldest son disliked having to switch between figures posed in “hitting” and “running” poses while acting out games. Her more imaginative sons thoroughly enjoyed playing with the figures, both in baseball and non-baseball themed play.
— In a May 2012 survey about best selling toys, Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toy Center in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly that they sell 10 of this item each month.

This realistic kitchen and dining counter has a dual-sided design for multi-child use. Its modern features include a "stainless steel” oven, refrigerator and serving utensils. Also included are a 39-piece accessory set, lots of storage, two electronic sound features, and a deep sink.

This sleek European-influenced styling uses gender-neutral colors to appeal to both boys and girls. “Stainless steel” appliances and accents add to the clean, modern look. A special frying pan and boiling pot with lid activate electronic frying and boiling water sounds in the stove’s cook top burner. Additional electronic sounds in the oven, microwave and phone add to realistic play. The set also includes a refrigerator, coffee maker, faucet and sink.

Teddy Bear Picnic is designed to provide everything kids need for picnicking fun in an easy-to-carry tote. It unfolds to a 41" x 44" Picnic Blanket and comes complete with a classic positionable Vermont Teddy Bear dressed in a coordinating dress and ready for countless picnicking adventures. Launch date: July 2010.

Girls can fill the pool and whirlpool area with water and press down on the sunflower leaf for a real shower, or glide Strawberry Shortcake doll down the pink waterslide into the pool with the Strawberry Shortcake Splashin' Petal Pool Playset. The set also includes a fabric towel, sun bonnet, and removable umbrella. Some assembly required. Launch date: Spring 2010.