December 2014 Notable Toys — General Toys

A soft multi-sensory environment in a fun bright dinosaur, the award-winning Playnest is fresh this year with the Playnest® Dino! A fabric covered inflatable ring that supports baby during play, the additional textures and sounds help both hand/eye coordination and manipulative skills. The Playnest Dino will play an important role in baby's physical and play development. Covers are machine washable. Mention ToyDirectory for special considerations

Specially designed for bath time fun, 12-inch Mon Premier Bébé Bath Girl is soft and pose able and so light that it floats. Filled with polystyrene "beads" that dry quickly, the doll is a favorite playmate out of the tub, too. When bath time is over, simply air-dry the doll by hanging it from the tab on the back of its neck. Bébé Bath Girl's sweetly expressive face will captivate little ones while its cuddly soft body will invite lots of hugs and cuddles. Mon Premier Bébé Bath Girl features quality materials and careful attention to detail. Its face and limbs are made of soft, supple vinyl that is delicately scented vanilla -- a Corolle signature and its blue eyes close when you put Mon Premier Bébé Bath Girl down for a nap or at bedtime, just like a real baby.  Ages 18 Months +, MSRP: $42

Arabesque, anyone? Bebe Calin Ballerina is recital-ready in a leotard, tutu, tights and pink slippers with ribbon laces. Designed for little mommies 18 months and older, the Corolle Mon Premier Bebe Calin Ballerina will be her new favorite baby. Perfect for your little one, this dolly has a sweet face with big blue eyes that close when she's put down for a nap. Her kissably soft vinyl skin is gently scented with vanilla and her snuggly soft body is posable and perfect for cuddling when dancing fun is over!  MSRP: $39.99 Ages 18 months+
— In a June 2015 survey, three out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Calin from Corolle was their best-selling doll.

The perfect gift set for a newborn, Miss Fresh Riviera & Blanket will delight babies ages 0 and up. Miss Fresh Riviera is 9.5 inches tall, so you can easily take her wherever your little one goes. She has a soft, cuddly body that’s easy for little fingers to grasp and hold, with soft, pastel coloring to delight babies’ senses. Her smooth vinyl face is delicately scented with vanilla — a Corolle signature — and has a sweet expression that will both captivate and soothe baby. The set also includes a soft, fleece blanket to wrap her up and snuggle. Ages 0+, MSRP: $39.99

Ray with the red cap and Ben with the blue cap make the perfect pals (shown with bodies tucked in).

Inspired by a child's drawings, they have soft cushy pillow heads, with small stuffed bodies that tuck inside. As a friend to dream with, they spark positive, imaginative play, and encourage children to Be A Dreamer®. As a pillow, Dream Frenz put the fun in FUNctional! Each one has a coordinated quilted soft fabric on the back. U.S. Pat. No. 8,321,978

Pretty Pink Penelope and Beautiful Blue Brittany (shown with bodies tucked in) make delightful friends!

Inspired by a child's drawings, they have soft cushy pillow heads, with small stuffed bodies that tuck inside. As a friend to dream with, they spark positive, imaginative play, and encourage children to Be A Dreamer®. As a pillow, Dream Frenz put the fun in FUNctional! Each one has a coordinated quilted soft fabric on the back. U.S. Pat. No. 8,321,978

Shimmer the Star and Marlin the Moon make bedtime magical as their faces glow in the dark! Sol the Sun is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Inspired by a child's drawings, they have soft cushy pillow heads, with small stuffed bodies that tuck inside. As a friend to dream with, they spark positive, imaginative play, and encourage children to Be A Dreamer®. As a pillow, Dream Frenz put the fun in FUNctional! Each one has a coordinated quilted soft fabric on the back. U.S. Pat. No. 8,321,978

Ruggedly handsome, PJ the Pirate with Merry the Mermaid, and Sol the Sun (shown with body tucked in).

Inspired by a child's drawings, they have soft cushy pillow heads, with small stuffed bodies that tuck inside. As a friend to dream with, they spark positive, imaginative play, and encourage children to Be A Dreamer®. As a pillow, Dream Frenz put the fun in FUNctional! Each one has a coordinated quilted soft fabric on the back. U.S. Pat. No. 8,321,978

Sky Scrapers soar over 100 ft. Includes: 3 Orange disks and Sky Scraper launcher.
— Paula Bolte, owner of Imaginations Toy & Furniture Co. in Blacksburg, Va., told TDmonthly in a November 2014 survey that Sky Scrapers from Aeromax is one of their store's best-selling flying toys.
Awards: 2014 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Award

Sub-micro size. 100% factory-assembled, test-flown and ready-to-fly right from the box. Unique rotor head designed specifically to provide inherent stability of a coaxial helicopter, but provide the agile control of a single-rotor helicopter. Factory-installed 5-in-1 control unit with Spektrum™ 2.4GHz DSM2®-compatible receiver, main motor ESCs, mixer, gyro and fully-proportional servos. This model is one of the many available for the Phoenix RC Flight Simulator.
— Diane Gervais from Amato's Toy & Hobby in Middletown, Conn., told TDmonthly in a November 2014 survey that Horizon Hobby is their store's best-selling brand of flying toys.

The largest Brackitz set, The Master Builder Set, contains 200 pieces ((120) wooden planks, (20) blue 90° connectors, (20) orange 90° connectors, (20) yellow 120° connectors and (20) red 120° connectors). The Master Builder Set retails at $99.95. This set is designed for kids who want a no-limits building kit and educational toy. Ideal for building, balancing and active early-math learning. Perfect for family fun!
Awards: 2014 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Seal of Approval

The Architect Set contains 100 pieces ((60) wooden planks, (10) blue 90° connectors, (10) orange 90° connectors, (10) yellow 120° connectors and (10) red 120° connectors). This set retails at $59.95. This is a clear choice for the little builders and architects in your life. Perfect for the curious mind this set can provide countless hours of fun!
Awards: 2014 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Seal of Approval

The Creator Set is the smallest of the three sets sold. Boys and girls can create structures and models with endless possibilities. It contains 50 pieces ((30) wooden planks, (5) blue 90° connectors, (5) orange 90° connectors, (5) yellow 120° connectors and (5) red 120° connectors). This set retails at $29.95.
Awards: 2014 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Seal of Approval

Every Minecraft world has a village hidden somewhere. Create and customize your own, all with LEGO bricks. In this LEGO micro-world you can build your houses and grow the crops, but watch out for the aggressive Zombies that menace the Villagers. Below the village is a mine, so beware of the TNT when you go wandering, as the walls can explode. Comes with 3 buildable Micromob figures: the Pig, the Villager and the Zombie.
— Three out of 11 retailers told TDmonthly in a May 2015 survey that LEGO was their best-selling brand of licensed toys.

In Disney's Frozen, Anna is a spirited daydreamer who ends a wintry spell with the help of her sister Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf the snowman, and her own determination. Kids will love re-creating Anna's magical adventures in Arendelle with this delightful doll. Featuring true-to-movie details, Anna wears her signature outfit that fans of the film will instantly recognize.

This Elsa doll, from the new Disney film Frozen, captures the essence of her beloved character in her elegant fashion recognizable from the film. She sparkles in an ethereal gown, with a look both as delicate as a snowflake and as majestic as her own icy powers. A scoop neck strip of white showcases the gorgeous bodice of light blue sparkles accented with a deep blue ribbon sash. The long blue skirt stops just above the floor to provide a peek at her translucent blue heels. A sheer white overcoat detailed with snowflake sparkles completes the sophisticated look, while her flowing blond hair, pulled into a side braid and topped with a translucent, glittery blue tiara is the perfect final touch. Girls will love reenacting the adventures of Elsa from the film or creating new ones for this beautiful and elegant character.

Build, create and build again! This large set features 270 pieces including a hammer, screwdriver, pliers and wrench! A fun way to practice hand/eye coordination. Package measures 22" x 16" x 3.75".

String Art was originally invented to make math concepts more accessible to kids, but it isn't just for squares (or triangles or circles) any more. With our crystal-clear, step-by-step illustrated system you only need to learn three simple techniques to make all the kids art in this book, including a fun fox, a darling dandelion, a cute cat, an awesome owl - you can even spell your name. The final results may look intricate, but we include an only-from-Klutz pin-pushing tool so even a string-art newbie can create awesome art with this classic craft. And our pin-pusher solves string art's prickliest problems by making sure that every pin goes in straight and at the same height. With instructions for 20 projects and enough materials for six, kids will be making amazing art in no time. Comes with: 60 page book, 360 feet of craft thread in 8 bright colors, 550 sturdy pins, 6 project boards, 10 decorative sheets of backing paper, 5 sheets of tracing paper, pin-pushing tool.
— In a May 2015 survey, two out of 11 retailers told TDmonthly that Klutz was their best-selling brand of activity kits.

Make the shuttles go zip and zoom as you weave your very own design. Talk about the way cloth is made. Look at different kinds of fabric.

Lite-Brite®, the classic toy that's been letting kids create with light since 1967 is being reintroduced with updates! 200 shaped pegs, light effects, 6 reusable templates, and removable storage tray insure that generations to come will continue to be delighted and inspired by this childhood favorite. 8"x 11.5"x 0.5".

Squigz Benders join Squigz imaginative construction. These Fun Little Suckers bend, twist and loop their way into creative play! Connecting to each other and to any solid, non-porous surface - Squigz are a species all their own. They flex. They stick. They suck people into creativity. Once they take hold, it takes some pull to separate them. When Squigz POP! in protest - you’ll have to admit… your hands and ears are shamelessly delighted!

Now girls can start sewing in a safe and creative way! The Sew Cool Machine is a revolutionary threadless device that's perfect for a first time experience. It has everything you need to start sewing right away. Create nine projects from start to end. This threadless sewing machine includes patterns and pre-cut shapes for purses, pouches, characters and more. Encouraging imagination and hand eye coordination, young sewers will love it because they can do it by themselves. Start creating today with the threadless miracle that's Sew Cool!

Whackies is the latest and greatest product coming out of Creative Concepts this year. Filling a tube full of great tasting crunchy candy pieces makes this new product a must for retailers who are looking for something new and exciting.

Pucker Powder is celebrating 15 years of Interactive candy fun. Choose one of several size tubes and fill it with a your favorite powdered candy flavors and colors.