October 2008 Notable Toys — Wooden Toys

Strategy skills get stepped up a notch when space runs out on the board. The game continues on top of the previously played pieces. Following specific layering laws, each player tries to cover up their opponent's pieces. In the end, the more exposed player comes out the winner. It's "a strategy game that's fun for the whole family," Jackie Aubut, director of sales for Family Games, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 20, 2008.

This set includes 16 hard maple blocks that measure 1.75" and can collectively be used to spell more than 350 words. Each unfinished block features a letter, and its background has a detailed, laser-designed image of an object that begins with that letter — S for snowflake, for example. Launch date: 2008.

This natural wooden bench includes 12 maple blocks in four shapes — circle, square, rectangle, triangle — that fit into the labeled cutouts of the bench, which measures 4" H x 4" W  x 6 3/4" L. The bench is made of hard maple and comes unfinished. Launch date: 2008.

Munipals' first train and track set is a great starter set for any subway fan. The set comprises two 42 Street Shuttle cars and 19 track pieces, enough to build ovals, loops, and straight shuttle runs over 6' long. Being the only IRT shuttle in the system, the real 42 Street Shuttle carries nearly a quarter million people every week. It runs on tracks only 20' beneath the street, with each of the three shuttle trains making an average of 360 runs each day.

The 1-Train runs from Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, all the way to the South Ferry at the southern tip of Manhattan. This Broadway/7 Av Local 1-Train is based on the R-62 model. Features a solid hardwood upper body with magnetic connectors to play on all standard wooden railway tracks. 4-inches long. Safe, sturdy and fun for ages 3 and older.

The A-Train runs from Inwood at the top of Manhattan, to Far Rockaway in Queens; more than 31 miles, the longest line in the system. This A-Train 8 Avenue Express is based on the R-143 model. Features a solid hardwood upper body with magnetic connectors to play on all standard wooden railway tracks. Realistic signage--just like current in-service subway cars. 5-inches long. Safe, sturdy and fun for ages 3 and older.

The F-Train runs from 179 St. in Jamaica, Queens into Manhattan, and then down to Coney Island in Brooklyn. This F-Train 6 Avenue Local train is based on the R-64 model. Features a solid hardwood upper body with magnetic connectors to play on all standard wooden railway tracks. Realistic signage--just like current in-service subway cars. 5-inches long. Safe, sturdy and fun for ages 3 and older.

This sleek, wooden airplane is also available in shiny red and black.

This spinning top, with a diameter of 4 cm, is available in pear, maple, cherry, walnut and plum woods.

This decorative construction toy consists of nine pieces and is designed to symbolize the smallest unit within a cell. It measures 10 cm cubed.

Ultimate Spinner consists of 12 games, some of which help children learn alphabets and letter recognition, numbers, math, and how to tell time. Others promote active play, such as running or dancing.
— TDmonthly's Roundtable appreciated the fun, quality and educational appeal of this game. "It was fun to see them folding paper into shapes, drawing, acting things out, and interacting with each other," reviewer Sue Christensen said of her 7- and 11-year-old sons.

Past Videos: Toy Fair 2009

The object of this game is to toss -- or lob -- the most Lobster Bags into the Lobster Pot Target being the player or team of players to score the most points.  Be sure to catch the Rare Blue Lobster to score additional points. Each player or team of players starts with 3 bags -- 2 of the same color and 1 rare colored lobster.  Determine and measure the distance away from the target that is appropriate to the players age and ability and mark the toss line.  Take turns tossing 1 lobster at a time behind the toss line.  Collect lobsters and determine the points scored until a player or team reaches the winning score.

From the Simple Machines Series, this natural wood cherry-picker mimics the principles used to work the real thing, but uses water in place of hydraulic fluid. It teaches kids about levels and parallel linkages and is easy to construct (glue included).

Suitable for children ages 1 1/2 and up, this wooden puzzle made in Taiwan is designed to improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills. The different puzzle pieces — items found in dad's suitcase — are labeled underneath: tie, watch, electric razor, wallet and more.

Large size classic wooden jigsaw puzzle, measuring 13" x 18.5"; 496 pieces.  Heirloom quality puzzle featuring dozens of winter-related and other figural pieces.  Vintage Swiss Alps ski poster.  Liberty Puzzles offers over 200 different puzzle images, from fine art to vintage prints and posters.

Children's classic wooden jigsaw puzzle, measuring 9" x 12"; 104 pieces.  Heirloom quality puzzle featuring numerous figural pieces.  Part of our Little Liberty puzzle line, designed with larger pieces for children's skill level.

This large-size, classic wooden jigsaw puzzle, measuring 13" x 19", includes 479 pieces.  Heirloom quality puzzle featuring dozens of circus-related and other figural pieces. Box cover image is taken from an early 20th Century toy set.  Hours of fun for the entire family!

Small sized classic wooden jigsaw puzzle, measuring 5.5" x 9"; 104 pieces.  Heirloom quality puzzle featuring holiday-themed figural pieces (Santa, toys, reindeer, etc.).  Comes in small craft box, perfect stocking stuffer size.

Tatutina's Olympic-style wooden medals are hand painted and come with a matching ribbon and Velcro on top for easy removal. The "winner" can put his or her name on the back of the medal. Designs include Grandma Loves Me, Good Citizen, New Big Brother, Funniest Kid and more. Launch date: 2008.

Melissa and Doug’s wooden ducky flaps its wings while it’s pushed and rolled along. A large wooden knob helps small hands grasp the handle and it’s brightly painted with non-toxic paint. It measures 21.5” x 7” x 5” when assembled.
— “We sell the most of Melissa & Doug’s push-and-quack Flapping Duck Toy,” Laurel Marvin Jacobs of Science to Go in Tampa, Fla., told TDmonthly in July 2008.
— Science to Go sells an average of five Flapping Duck Push Toys per month, Marvin said.
— Two of 66 retailers polled in a summer 2008 survey cited Melissa & Doug as a top-selling manufacturer of baby gifts.

Kids can turn the knob of this spinning toy and watch the Spinny go round and round. The simple design is available in a variety of colors and can provide hours of fun. Aside from toddler use, it also has application for adults in physical therapy rehab (grasp handle and turning action), stroke victims and alzheimer patients. Launch date: July 2008. Display Ideas: It should be featured with other Holgate toys. The clear acrylic toy box provides for maximum visibility for consumers and keeps toys well protected.

Set imaginative gears in motion with this colorful and durable puzzle. Children can challenge themselves by setting interlocking gears into different logical and creative patterns on the puzzle board. Includes 48 gears and 30 interlocking gear pegs. Helps develop logic and creative thinking skills for 3 dimensional systems and geometric patterns.

Measuring is more fun than ever with these brightly painted wooden rulers. Six styles available: Monkeys Rule!, Ladybugs Rule!, Poodles Rule!, Dinos Rule!, Kids Rule! and Teachers Rule! "The colors are great and the measurements are easy to see," said John Gallagher, manager of Rich Frog. Launch date: 2007

These 12” wooden rulers have inches on one side and chronologies of famous people on the other. Twenty six styles are available, and all are made in the USA. Launch date: May 1994.