December 2010 Notable Toys — Play Sets

The PLAYMOBIL House has colorful, larger, rounded pieces specially designed for toddlers, and it is the perfect set for children who love to play house. The set includes a two-story house with furnishings, five figures, baby stroller, and slide. The sides of the house can be folded up.

Load the PLAYMOBIL passengers onto the 1.2.3 Animals Train. The set’s adorable, rounded pieces are perfect for toddlers. The train carts, which can be separated or linked together, come in the shapes of a chicken, cat, and dog. The set also includes three figures.

Hurry to help the animals board the My Take Along 1.2.3 Noah’s Ark. The set’s colorful, larger, rounded pieces are specially designed for toddlers. The deck of the ark is removable and the hull has plenty of space for storage. The set comes with a handle so it can be taken anywhere, and the ark can float on water. The set includes two figures, lion and lioness, and pairs of giraffes, zebras, elephants, and birds. It measures 12.2 x 7.1 x 7.1 inches (L x W x H).  

With four interactive function keys and six different animals, the PLAYMOBIL Interactive Play and Learn 1.2.3 Farm is ideal for toddlers. The set’s interactive features help children to learn colors, to identify animals and the sounds they make, and to learn numbers. The roof of the farm also comes with a sorting function to help identify shapes. The set includes a figure, cow, chicken, sheep, horse, pig, puppy, and other accessories. Select between eight language choices. It measures 14.6 x 10.6 x 8.3 inches (L x W x H).

This playset comes with Lauren (dressed in her embroidered ladybug costume), flower pots, a watering pail, a wheelbarrow, a garden fence, a fold-out play scene and much more.
— Paula of Frosted Fingers described Lauren as one of the “cutest little positionable figurines.” She found herself playing with the “adorable” playset even without her daughter.
— At Shop with Me Mama, Kim “really liked” the “tough and strong feeling” durable plastic used for the doll and her accessories. With so many pieces, the “cute and fun” set was “reasonably priced” in Kim’s opinion.

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.