December 2012 Notable Toys — All

In Patch’s new children’s card game Go Oink!, being silly will take players far. Kids’ll go oink – and they’ll also go moo and cock-a-doodle-doo. Each player must make the sound of the animal pictured on their card to ask other players if they have their matches; it’s like Go Fish but a little sillier and louder. If kids enjoy acting like an animal, they’ll go wild over this card game. And the cards come in a big pig storage case.

Heat up game night with Patch’s sizzling new dice game Shizzle. Toss the one-of-a-kind, multi-colored dice into the innovative Twist & Tumble Dice Cup, twist, and watch the dice tumble out.  Did you know: the tiny dots on a die are called pips. Each die in Shizzle has six different colors of pips, and each die has a face with each of the six ranks. This unlocks a world of color- and number-matching possibilities. The goal in Shizzle is to create a line of color or number matches that will score big or make others lose big.

This 9.5" durable play tablet features 20 colorful light-up images and 40 fun sounds and phrases that activate when children press the arrow buttons. Children will have their very own learning pad to play with, and they’ll have fun pretending to be like mommy and daddy with their tablets. Pushing each button will activate two different sounds, including phrases and sound effects. For instance, they might reveal the sound of a choo-choo train or hear the phrase, "Balls are round!" For ages 12 months and up.

Join Drake and his Thunder Dragon on electrifying adventures as they soar through the dark clouds of stormy nights. This hand painted replica measures 8” L x 6.25” W x 3.75” H (20.5 x 15.75 x 9.75 cm) and is suitable for ages 4 and up. All Safari Ltd® products are 100% guaranteed and lead free to ensure children’s safety. Visit www.safariltd.com to explore educational information in five languages and to view and purchase Safari Ltd® 2013 introductions and all other products. Launch date: 2013.

Be prepared for any medical emergency with the Fisher-Price Medical Kit - Pink. This case is just what the doctor ordered with a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, play syringe and bandage. The stethoscope really works so you can listen in amazement to your patient's real heartbeat. The blood-pressure cuff really pumps so you can fit the sleeve and watch as the spinning gauge goes around and around. The sick-to-well thermometer helps you keep track of your patient's health, and a fun, spring-loaded syringe is included for tough cases.

This collection of puzzles features the whimsical artwork of Hayley Gillespie. Inspired by her son; they conjure the feeling of what it is to be a child and how short and special that time can be. The puzzle itself has 500 pieces and the chipboard used is made of recycled materials. Design: Hobby Horse. Finished dimensions: 19x19 inches. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Imported.

Attempt to cover the pre-marked puzzle cards whit your Tantrix tiles until the puzzle in completed; it's a challenge every step-of-the-way. Twelve puzzle cards with 3 levels of difficulty and 3 different objectives fit into the wooden puzzle frame. Includes: 1 Wooden Match tray, 13 Tantrix™ tiles, 12 Puzzle cards, Instructions.

It’s a pack of stamina, defense and more defense with the Legendary Bladers: Descendants 3-pack set of spinning battle tops. In the stamina column of this trio of fierce Beyblade tops is the Scythe Kronos T12EDS top, with a Spin Track part whose Tornado design helps create a sustaining vortex. Its Eternal Defense Spike Performance Tip part is for stamina and defense. Create custom top combinations by switching parts, and may the best top win.

Detailed plush with embroidered details. Textured fabric clothing with embroidered details and glitter accents. Launch date: 2012.

With 650 elements in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes, the LEGO Creative Building Kit is the perfect supplement to any LEGO collection - includes building instructions.

Take a trip with Rory's Story Cubes. Contained within this set are 9 cubes that aim to inspire stories of epic adventure. Cast away on a deserted island. Spin tales of a faraway land. With 54 images and millions of combinations, your journeys are bound to be endless.

Crayola DigiTools Effects Pack lets children create awesome art effects on their iPad. Draw sparkly designs with the Digital Crayon or create swatches of shimmering color with the Digital Color Changer and instant, animated images with the Digital Stamper.

Using advanced, patented Air Swimmers technology, kids can bring the magic of Angry Birds to life. Air Swimmers Turbo glide through the air and fly over an hour on a single charge for long-lasting remote control indoor fun, even in the smallest rooms. The convenient Auto Swim mode makes it easy for anyone to fly and with no limit on how many can fly at once, friends and family can fly too. Angry Birds Air Swimmers Turbo need 4 AA batteries and helium (not included) to fly. Simply fill the balloon with helium at any store that sells balloons or buy a small helium tank and fill it at home. The body is made from a high quality, durable material that will stay inflated for weeks and can be refilled again and again.
— As of 12/11/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to assemble; can be refilled grocery stores/gift stores that sell balloons; Can be set to automatically glide, or can be remote controlled.

Always the faithful companion, Digger the dog digs deep to help anyone. In Digger's storybook, the kids on the playground discover the importance of including others. Ideal for reading aloud, this 33-page interactive book offers fun-filled rhymes and beautiful illustrations. Stuffies are clever, cozy toys on a mission to keep kids' treasures safe. They have top-secret pockets that are fun to discover and store all kinds of keepsakes.
Awards: 2012 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval; Parents' Choice Classic, Fun Stuff Award Winner
— As of 12/11/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Well made; Lots of pockets for kids to store their stuff; cuddly. Cons: One reviewer said the book accompanying the toy wasn't well written.

Make a wish on Prancine's golden horn and it's almost sure to come true. But this unicorn isn't the only one with magic inside. In Prancine's storybook, a little ballerina discovers how to believe in herself. Ideal for reading aloud, this 33-page interactive book offers fun-filled rhymes and beautiful illustrations. Stuffies are clever, cozy toys on a mission to keep kids' treasures safe. They have top-secret pockets that are fun to discover and store all kinds of keepsakes.
Awards: 2012 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval; Parents' Choice Classic, Fun Stuff Award Winner.

Where to buy:
SOUTH

The Playground set is composed of three units with four different functions. There are 2 function-swing and slider in one unit, a seesaw, a sandbox, and a bucket. Children will enjoy reconstructing and creating their own imaginary playground.

Inspired by the hit movie, the Carrera Go!!! Marvel - The Avengers Hero Team Chase Race Set lets kids ages eight years and up recreate the excitement of their favorite heroes at home. The starter set includes 15 easy-to-assemble bolt system track pieces, Captain America Stormer and Iron Man Tech Racer, and 2 turbo speed controllers for added racing boost. Each car features high-quality detailing and is fitted with double contact brushes for secure, powerful racing play.

The Go Series and Disney Cars 2 - the perfect combination. The Go Series is a world class starter system for kids 8 and up. All sets include "Turbo Speed" controllers for added racing boost. There is an extensive variety of accessories for thrilling action. The track system has an "Easy to Assemble" bolt system. The street curves have red and white printed shoulders. All cars are fitted with double contact brushes. The cars are high-quality original detailed and tampo printed. They are 1:43 scale. This new Cars set includes the favorite Lightening McQueen, as well as newcomer Francesco Bernoulli. The Go Series and Disney Cars 2 - the perfect combination. Track in Porto Corso style with decorative elements. Includes 1 Lightning McQueen car, 1 Francesco Bernoulli car, transformer, connection section, 2 speed-controllers, 17.71' of track and lap-counter. The ultimate in racing in scale 1:43. Layout size 5.71' x 4.85'.
— As of 12/11/2012 this product had 3.3 out of 5 stars from 19 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy set up; fun for fans of Cars. Cons: Cars slow down over time; The brushes on the bottom of the cars need to be readjusted frequently; Pressing the speed button causes the cars to fly off the track.
— Mark Rosenblum, owner of Hobbytown in Fairfield, Conn., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that Pixar's Cars was the store's hottest license.

In Co-opoly: The Game of Cooperatives, players collaborate to found and run a democratic business. In order to survive as individuals and to strive for the success of their co-op, players make tough choices regarding big and small challenges while putting their teamwork abilities to the test. This is an exciting game of skill and solidarity, where everyone wins – or everybody loses. By playing Co-opoly, players discover the unique benefits, challenges, and operations of the cooperative world – as well as the skills needed to participate in a co-op.

This is the first book & construction toy in the GoldieBlox series. Meet Goldie, her beloved dog, Nacho, Benjamin Cranklin (the cat with an attitude), Katinka (the dolphin ballerina), Phil (the sloth) and Flavio (the bear from Brazil). Help Goldie figure out how to build a belt drive to spin everybody. Includes: (1) storybook, (1) pegboard, (5) wheels, (10) axles, (5) blocks, (1) crank, (1) ribbon, (5) washers. Launch date: April 2013.
— In a May 2014 survey Suzi McMullen, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly that Goldieblox was a best-selling construction toy in their store. "When we had it, we sold out all 24," she said.
— In a September 2014 survey, LyndaBlankenship from Smart Toys & Books in Knoxville, Tenn., told TDmonthly that Goldie Blox are one of the store's best-selling science & nature toys.

Use the 4 inkpads, marker, and dual-tipped colored pencil to make thumbprint versions of your favorite Star Wars characters. Simple step-by-steps include — Clones and Battle Droids, Ewoks and Wookies, Jedi and Jabba the Hutt. Star Wars fans will love re-creating key moments from the movies and creating scenes of their own.

This book comes with all the plastic pieces, paper parts, and special pages you need to experience 25 impossible things. These objects work like magic, but there are no tricks. All this weirdness has a solid scientific basis and we tell you why — from the mathematically amazing Möbius strip (a band of paper with only one side), to cardstock acrobats with amazing balance, to a color changing spinning top.

Dot Jewelry comes with over 1,600 pre-cut paper pieces in a rainbow of luscious colors and coordinating patterns. Follow the step-by-step instructions for making everything from simple one-strand bracelets to stunning statement necklaces. Our custom dot tool lets you pick up dots with ease, while the ruler and clip measure your cord exactly and keep it taut for professional-looking designs every time.

Make Clay Charms features simple step-by-steps for more than 30 different designs — cute fruit, adorable animals, sweet treats, and tons more. Make your charms with the nine bright colors of clay, bake them, add shine (with our specially formulated glaze), and then attach your creations to the included bracelet.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval
— Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that Make Clay Charms from Klutz is the store's best-selling activity kit.