November 2010 Notable Toys — All

The Ooze Tube is a bright colored, slow-moving desk top toy. Part kinetic sculpture, part decoration, the Ooze Tube is filled with a clear, viscous liquid that flows from one half of the tube to the other through a small hole in the middle while bubbles form in the liquid above.  When all of the ooze has run out, simply flip it over and start again.
— “We do really well on ... things that flip over, like Ooze Tubes. With oozie things like that, that there's a degree of mesmerization,” said Anna Barr, owner of Anna's Toy Depot in Austin, Texas, when asked about her best-selling novelty items in September 2010.

Ready for the jump with his parachute folded safely to his back, this little plastic skydiver (or soldier, or rescue worker) comes in four neon colors that are easy to find in the grass. Simply unwind the lines and toss him into the air or from a high place. The plastic parachute opens and he floats safely to the ground.
— After naming Toysmith's Mini Parachuter as a top-selling novelty item in her Columbus, Ga., store, Gladys Griffin, owner of Main Street Toy Shop told TDmonthly,“The reaction to the impulse buy is 'Oh, wow, I haven't seen this in years.'”
— Three out of 49 retailers listed Toysmith products as their best-selling novelty items during a September 2010 survey.

“You can be a super star every day!” says the illustrated blister card from Schylling. In assorted shapes, sizes, and colors, Schylling's Self-Adhesive Mustaches are instant personality. Whether for a disguise, fancy occasion, costume, or day-to-day fun, each of the seven mustaches is great for a laugh.
— “We sell a ton of those. I'm always amazed at the number of those we sell!” said Greg Larson, owner of Larson's Toys and Games in Columbus, Ohio, of Schylling's Self-Adhesive Mustaches during a September 2010 survey of 49 retailers.
— Two of 49 retailers listed Self-Adhesive Mustaches by Schylling as a best-seller in September 2010.
— In a late Summer 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers said that mustaches were their bestselling novelty item.

Available in a wide variety of flavors and vivid colors, Rock Crystal Candy is made of sugar crystalized onto a wooden stick. The crunchy candy sparkles like real rock crystal formations.
— John Blair, owner of Science Safari in Cary, N.C., told TDmonthly in a late Summer 2012 survey that Rock Candy was one of his bestselling edible treats.

Where to buy:
SOUTH

Individually packaged, these gecko-shaped lizards are made of brightly swirled gummy candy in pastel colors and covered with a sour coating.

This construction set is made of a foam material called "Kid Wood" that is designed to resemble real wood. Safe and easy-to-use, the line lets kids "saw" and "nail" the materials. The starter tool set includes a hammer, saw, nails, Kid Wood material and an instructional project book featuring six different projects.

Kids can watch Chuck the Dump Truck as he zooms and flips through this stunt park play set. This stunt set features lights, sounds, moveable track pieces, and a hand-crank elevator. The toy also comes with a Tonka Chuck & Friends storybook.

This game is made up of five moveable electronic screens, each showing a letter. The screens contain a technology that recognizes words when placed side by side. Players move the screens to create words in 75 seconds, using only the letters given. The screens light up and beep when a word is formed, and they also keep time and score.
— As of 1.06.2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 121 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 7 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games. Pros: Lightweight; portable; three game options. Cons: Game allows some errors in spelling/recognizes words that do not exist.

Air Hogs MotoFrenzy is designed to be the world's smallest remote-control motorbike. Measuring 3.25" x 2.25", it comes with an action figure and can do jumps and sharp turns without losing its balance.

In this game for 2-4 players, children try to complete a "Wanted" poster by solving simple math problems. Each player chooses a poster board, then draws from the pile of "sum" cards. The player looks for the matching "answer" card, using the "magic spy glass" to determine if the correct card was chosen. If the cards match, the player can place a sticker on his or her "Wanted" poster, and the first player to collect one of each of four types of stickers wins. This game is designed to teach elementary math skills and encourage problem solving.

These building blocks move into action with wheels and ball tracks. The 26-piece Basic Vehicle Pack includes blocks, clutches and clamps, and is designed to teach motor skills and basic physics principles. An instruction booklet is included.

This memory game for 2-4 players comes with 20 wooden pieces illustrated with images of favorite childhood toys, including dolls, blocks and teddy bears. Players lay the blocks out, then turn them over and try to match picture pairs by memory.

DINGaRING characters like Betty Butterfly feature old-school craftsmanship and good quality materials. All are safe and non-toxic, with wooden rings and internal rattles, designed to serve as an interactive toy for ages 0 and up. Each toy comes with its own introduction swing tag and unique backer card which allows it to be free-stand, hung or laid flat, for various display options.

In this game for 2 to 4 players, kids help Farmer Bert find his lost animals. Awards: 2010 iParenting Media Award for Outstanding Product; Parents’ Choice Approved Award, Fall 2010 Games.

This collection includes four scenes including County Roads, Hot Pursuit, Hitchin’ a Ride and new to the bunch, Road Racers. These replicas feature opening hoods, detailed engines, real rubber tires, metal body and chassis, detailed graphics and custom license plates, and are officially licensed.

Racing has never been furrier than in Hot Rod Hamster by author Cynthia Lord and illustrator Derek Anderson. The rhythmic text tells the story of an enthusiastic hamster as he works to build his own racing machine and show off his lead foot. The beautiful illustrations bring to life sizzling hot rods and the hamster’s adorable animal friends.
— At Jama Rattigan’s Alphabet Soup, Jama was positively ecstatic over the main character of Hot Rod Hamster, who “oozes personality and kid appeal from every pore.” Jama especially liked the fact that the “characters talk in speech balloons, which keep the narrative humming along like a finely tuned, well-oiled machine.”
— Middle-school librarians Lynn Rutan and Cindy Dobrez of Bookends praised “Lord’s child-centered fun text and Anderson’s perfectly jaunty illustrations.” “This big picture book with its bright colors and bold shapes has our focus group’s name written all over it. Hamsters, race cars, building stuff — I knew they would love this and I wasn’t wrong,” stated Lynn.

This dramatic play wooden workbench is designed to be the right size for young children, right down to the nuts and bolts. The set includes a functioning vise, a tool rack, wooden tools, hardware and a storage shelf. A booklet with creative play ideas is included.
— In a February 2012 survey about wooden toys, Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly that they sell six of this item each month.

Wheely Bugs are hand-crafted ride-on toys that go backwards, forwards, sideways and in circles. They provide free movement so children can be entertained while developing gross motor skills.

This multicolored magnetic building toy is a 30-piece set that includes 18 squares and 12 triangles with 108 magnets. Kids can create 2-D or 3-D objects for open-ended building possibilities.
— Lynda Blankenship, owner of Smart Toys & Books in Knoxville, Tenn. told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011 that Magformers were a best-selling construction toy.
— Want this? As of 05/10/2011, this product was available for purchase at Smart Toys & Books

This monkey slingshot's strong elastic arms can propel him far distances. Users simply put two fingers in the hand pockets, pull back and let go. He comes complete with a cape and mask, and lets out a loud monkey call when released.
— In autumn 2010, Christine Osborne, co-owner of Wonder Works in Charleston, S.C., said she was still selling about 30 soaring simians per month.

One of 12 styles of Douglas "Fuzzles." They are floppy, soft and cuddly, come in fresh distinctive hues and ready to play, be a gift, or stand brightly in any room decor.

This mini baby "blankie" comes in five pure hues: Blue Dog, Pink Dog, Orange Dog, Hot Pink Horse, and Green Frog. All are trimmed in satin and have embroidered eyes. Safety tested and machine washable. Blanket measures 13"x13".

The Fli Mobile from Boon Inc. features a stylized dragonfly with adjustable wings. Available in pink or blue, Fli is designed to gracefully hang above baby’s crib using the included mounting hardware.
— “I can attest as to how very easy these are to install!” exclaimed Alexandra of design {for} baby. She suggested that the mobile is “perfect for floating above cribs, or adding a modern flair to your child's room or playroom.”
— Baby Gear Today’s reviewer described the Fli Mobile as “Super easy to install and oh so cute!” She installed the pink version in her daughters’ playroom, much to their delight.

The Guidecraft Feel & Find mixes visual and tactile stimuli via 20 printed tiles and wooden shapes. The set challenges kids to match the shapes, building their sensory skills.
— Nicole of Tired, Need Sleep reported that her son “was very, very excited about playing the game and eager to get everything perfect. However, with 20 fairly unfamiliar shapes in the bag, it was a pretty challenging game for him (which is a good thing, since it means we will get a lot of use out of this as his skills develop!).” She adored the bright, well-constructed pieces and the limitless possibilities for play and learning they offer.
— Renee of What Mommies Need called Feel and Find “a great learning tool for children.” After a few rounds, her son “learned to take his time and find what he was looking for” and “how to feel for a specific shape.” Renee noted that the $25 MSRP “is a great price for an all-wood product.”