November 2010 Notable Toys — Play Sets

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.

The Tri-County Landfill, based on the scene in the movie "Toy Story 3," allows kids to open the furnace, spin the sorter, and levitate objects with a crane, then drop them on a conveyor belt.

It's a beautiful day in Cloverleaf Corners, so Zach and Sandy decide to go for a bike ride. This play set includes Babblebrook Beavers Zach and Sandy, two colorful trikes, two tennis rackets and tennis balls.
— Dave Campbell of Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., sells about 30 Calico Critters per month.
— Five of 43 specialty retailers cited Calico Critters as a top-selling toy in a late summer 2010 TDmonthly survey.

Playmobil Eggs open to reveal surprise play sets. This 13” egg contains a zookeeper figure, two panda figures, a basket and food for the pandas.
— In August 2010, 14 percent of 43 specialty toy retailers named Playmobil products an overall best seller.
— Clyde Walton, owner of The Toy Shoppe of London in London, Ont., Canada, told TDmonthly in summer 2010 that when it comes to Playmobil, “The only two responses (he receives) are “’I've never heard of it' and 'That's my child's favorite toy.’  If they like Playmobil they like it all.”

This playhouse looks and works like a real gumball machine, and opens to a themed environment inside. The gumball machine holds up to 15 bubbles and the set includes nine bubbles with themed Squinkies inside.

The Squinkies™ Surprize Inside Bubble Pack includes 16 collectible “squooshy” friend and pet mini-dolls individually encased in signature plastic toy bubbles. Adding fun and intrigue, four bubbles are frosted to hide their content offering more fun surprises. Pop the bubble open and find a Squinkies surprise inside. With hundreds to collect, trade and share, Squinkies offers kids endless hours of imaginative play as they create their very own Squinkies world. This pack comes with 16 Squinkies, including kittens, puppies, babies and ponies.
Awards: 2010 Toys R Us Fab 15 Hot Toy List; 2010 Time To Play Magazine 2010 Most Wanted List; 2010 Dr. Toy
― As of 9.21.2010, this product was listed No. 2 on Amazon's top 100 best-selling toys and games.

As though stepping straight out of an ocean-themed animal park, Playmobil's smiling Dolphin Trainer comes ready for a sunny day's work with these cute, intelligent marine mammals. Featuring a sun visor and sandals, the trainer comes with a bucket of fish and two friendly dolphins. This set can be fully integrated with many other sets in the Playmobil line.
— “I sell a lot of Playmobil,” said Jude Larene, owner of Izilla Toys in Seattle, Wash., of his best-selling action figures in July 2010.
— During a survey of 38 retailers, five listed Playmobil as their top-selling action figure.

Thomas and Mavis pick up cargo, then and ascend and descend step climbs in this play set. The trains follow the rails through the gates, up over the bridge and to the tug boat that just came for a visit.
— In a February 2012 survey about bestselling wooden toys, Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston's Child's Play in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly that Thomas the Tank Engine toys were among their bestsellers.
— In a May 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Thomas the Tank Engine was their best selling licensed brand.

With this play set, kids can pressa button for takeoff sounds and blinking lights, turn a figure to open doors, open the solar panels, activate the stairs or rotate the crane. The set includes a tower with elevator, a shuttle with crane, a moon vehicle, two figures, two helmets, a console and three AA alkaline batteries.
 — As of 8.12.10, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from two reviews on ToysRUs.com and was listed No. 17 in best-selling toys and games. PROS: Easy to assemble and use; well-made.

A combination of quality wood and durable molded parts, this barn has a removable roof for easy access, two large sliding stall doors with stalls to keep farm and horse animals in.

This play set includes a king figure, a scepter, a carriage with space for five seahorses, and one seahorse capable of pulling the carriage on its own.
— In July 2010, eight percent of 38 specialty retailers named Playmobil products overall best sellers.
— “Playmobil still is a really good seller for us,” Gary Green of Toy Box of Asheville Inc. in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly in summer 2010.

Salsa comes in a fully packed set that highlights her Singing Sensation personality. The box set comes with pet Salsa, purse, blanket, guitar and sparkling dress, trading card, and an 8.5" x 11" Pet Poster. The entire packaging also doubles as a playstage to further increase the play value and collectibility of these Little Pets Living Big Lives.

Cooper comes in a fully packed set that highlights his Surfer Dude personality. The box set comes with pet Cooper, purse, blanket, surfboard and board shorts, trading card, and an 8.5" x 11" Pet Poster. The entire packaging also doubles as a playstage to further increase the play value and collectibility of these Little Pets Living Big Lives.

Karma comes in a fully packed set that highlights her Yoga Master personality. The box set comes with pet Karma, purse, blanket, yoga mat, toga top and pants, trading card, and an 8.5" x 11" Pet Poster. The entire packaging also doubles as a playstage to further increase the play value and collectibility of these Little Pets Living Big Lives.

Woofgang comes in a fully packed set that highlights his Celebrity Chef personality. The box set comes with pet Woofgang, purse, blanket, chef hat and scarf, frying pan, cleaver, trading card, and an 8.5" x 11" Pet Poster. The entire packaging also doubles as a playstage to further increase the play value and collectibility of these Little Pets Living Big Lives.