TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Construction Product Category

Supermag Super Circus by PLASTWOOD CORPORATION

This magnetic set includes colorful figurines that are ready to put on a show. Launch date: 2007. 8/29/2007

Eiffel Tower by PAPERLANDMARKS

This finely detailed replica of the famous Paris landmark is available in a variety of colors. The tower measures 7.1” x 7.1” x 14.2” when assembled. 8/24/2007 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Golden Gate Bridge by PAPERLANDMARKS

The beautiful suspension bridge is a symbol of San Francisco. This model of the beloved bridge is easy to build and measures 46 inches long when assembled. Easy-to-follow instructions are provided in English, German and Latvian. The completed model measures 46.5” x 2.4” x 5.5”. 8/24/2007 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Parthenon by PAPERLANDMARKS

The Parthenon, which dates back to 431 to 404 B.C., is a Doric temple dedicated to the virginal goddess Athena. It is a brilliant landmark of the entire Greek culture. The very detailed model replicates both the inside and outside of the temple on a 1:250 scale. It measures 11.4” x 5.3” 3.5” when assembled. 8/24/2007 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ImagiBRICKS™ Giant Building Blocks 24pc Basic Set by SMART MONKEY TOYS

Designed for ages 18 months and up, this sturdy 24-piece set features blocks that are made in the U.S.A. of at least 50-percent recycled, lightweight corrugated cardboard. The set includes four large red blocks, six medium yellow blocks and 14 small blue blocks, all of which are printed with non-toxic inks and have a water-resistant coating. Adult assembly is required. 8/22/2007 (Price: $46.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Soldier Dominoes by MEE-SUB ENTERPRISE

This construction set contain of 60 wooden soldiers along with a castle fence. Can be used as a playset or set up the soldiers to be played as dominoes. 8/22/2007

Double Ferris Wheel by K'NEX BRANDS

The ultimate in thrill ride fun, the K'NEX Double Ferris Wheel has more than 850 pieces and stands over 3’ tall. Kids can create an exciting, high-powered ride that features two star-shaped wheels that spin in opposite directions. The set features brighter colors, new micro-sized K'NEX parts and the new genuine K'NEX bricks, plus one of the company’s most powerful motors that spins the giant motorized wheels in opposite directions. The set requires two AA batteries (not included).
— The K’NEX Ferris Wheel is a best seller at Toys in the Attic in Manchester, Vt., Owner Lynn Robillard told TDmonthly in summer 2007. She said the line of battery-operated construction products is popular in her store. 7/27/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gears! Gears! Gears!® Boogie Buddy™ by LEARNING RESOURCES INC.

Challenge construction creativity while encouraging gross motor coordination through movement. Motorized set plays music, dances and comes with 110 pieces, including a flashing fan light, disco ball, floppy hair, oversized glasses, action mouth, pointing hands, stickers and more. Color-coding makes it easy for students to follow building instructions for 3 different models, or build their own. Compatible with all other Gears! Gears! Gears!!® sets. Measures approximately 16"L x 10 1/2"W x 12"H when assembled. Requires 3 AA and 3 AAA batteries, not included. 7/27/2007 (Price: $44.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

SquashBlox Builder Set by DAYDREAM TOY

This classic set includes eight SquashBlox construction cushions. Infants will love using the cushions as soft playmats, while toddlers and preschoolers will love playing in and knocking down the structures. Older children, on the other hand, will love using their imagination to construct a variety of structures of differing complexities. Launch date: February 2007. 7/20/2007 (Price: $40.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Professor Big Brain Western Fort Educational Kit by HOBBICO

This set includes foam pieces required to construct a western fort, which may be accessorized with grass, trees, animals and human figurines. White glue, scissors, water-based paint and a sanding block are required to complete the construction. 7/19/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Missions of California Educational Projects: San Díego de Alcalá by HOBBICO

This set includes foam pieces required to construct a replica of the San Díego de Alcalá mission. Additional materials, including white glue, scissors and water-based paint, are necessary for completing construction. Kids may choose to bring their structure to life by adding accessories such as people, grass, bells, tress, animals and crosses. 7/19/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Invent A Tent by INVENT A TENT

The colorful Invent a Tent system is designed to help build children’s minds through creative play, allowing them to construct a unique play structure every time they pull it out. The kit includes set pole lengths and fabric dimensions and condenses easily into one storage bag. “Compared to similar products on the market, Invent A Tent builds a much sturdier play structure that is large enough for multiple children to play in at once. It also comes with an ample amount of fabric to cover the whole structure,” Cameron Scott of Invent A Tent told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2007. ( Watch Video) 7/6/2007 (Price: $79.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Real Brick & Mortar Buildings – House With Pool by LAVA IMPORTS INC.

Kids can build their own building with this kit that includes real pottery bricks, reusable bricks in 1:12 scale and everything else needed to construct the building at hand. Several designs are available. 6/25/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

UBERCRAB™ (90 piece kit) by UBERSTIX

This 90-piece construction kit can be used to make a movable crab, or combined with other construction toys for creative play.
— "The sheer size of the crab seemed to heighten the sense of accomplishment my son felt in building it," said Robbin Dawson, a member of TDmonthly's Homeschooling Roundtable, which evaluated the toy. 6/19/2007 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Animal Kingdom by UBERSTIX

The Animal Kingdom set includes the ÜBERFROG™ (76-piece kit - MSRP: $9.99), the ÜBERCRAB™ (90-piece kit - MSRP: $11.99), the ÜBERBIRD™ (84-piece kit - MSRP $11.99) and the ÜBERBAT™ (60-piece kit - MSRP: $9.99). The pieces feature realistic movement and easily integrate with other construction systems and recyclable materials. The set comes with a 40-page Basics Book. 6/19/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Harry Potter Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Building Cards by KLUTZ

This building set includes more than 275 cards that allow users to construct their own version of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. Sturdy slot-to-slot construction means there is no need for glue or nails and the cards can be taken apart and reassembled over and over again. The instructions feature assembly hints, step-by-step illustrations and directions so simple even a Muggle could follow them. The set also comes with a custom-molded Harry Potter figurine. Launch date: May 2007.
— Licensed products may be frowned upon in specialty stores, but don’t tell that to the smiling retailers who are profiting from the super combo of best-selling Klutz books with super-hot Harry Potter. It’s a new item, but it’s already made the radar blink. That’s why it’s a winner of a TDmonthly Top Seller 2007 award.
— This set is a top seller Brain Station and Tree Town Toys in Ann Arbor, Mich., Owners Hans and Tricia Masing told TDmonthly in fall 2007. 6/13/2007 (Price: $19.95)

LEGO Monster Dino by LEGO

Kids assemble the LEGO pieces to create a glow in the dark dinosaur that walks, moves his head and roars with the help of the new LEGO power system.  These versatile pieces can be torn down and built back up, bringing to life many creations, including a walking spider and a crawling crocodile.  Constructive play is a wonderful way for children to exercise their imagination, creativity, identification, and image mapping skills.  The set includes a battery box, two motors, a remote control and an additional sensor.  Launch date: August 2007.
— LEGO sells well “across the line” at Toys in the Attic in Manchester, Vt., Owner Lynn Robillard told TDmonthly in summer 2007 about the best-selling collection. 6/12/2007 (Price: $89.99)

Dado Cubes - The Blues by FAT BRAIN TOY CO.

The Blues are the first addition to the award-winning Dado Cubes line. Dado Cubes combine art and science as players explore architectural principles — proportion, balance, structure and color. A new twist on classic building blocks, Dado Cubes engage the imagination as the slits on each cube are interlocked to create an unlimited number of three-dimensional structures. Each set features 10 cubes, scaled from 1” to 5”, capable of building structures over 32” high. They are made of durable, heavy-gauge plastic and were developed, manufactured and assembled in the U.S.A. Dado Cubes have been honored with numerous awards, including Dr. Toy's Spring 2007 Best Product Award and a Spring 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. Launch date: May 2007. 6/7/2007 (Price: $27.50)

Dwellings 1 by LEARNING MATERIALS WORKSHOP

This set allows individuals to build with light, color and shadow. Four jewel-like, transparent, acrylic prisms are housed in a natural hardwood tray with a series of color optical filters and reflective mylar squares. The opportunities for experimenting with color mixing and constructing brilliantly colored architectural and sculptural forms are endless. Imagine the possibilities. 6/4/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Techno Gears Marble Mania MEGA by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

A high-tech version of the Marble Mania Extreme, this 430-piece kit features dual marble tracks, a chamber of sound, a marble twister, a motorized gear and a power lifter that automatically returns marbles to the top of the run. It allows kids to build a bigger and better marble run, and will keep little architects busy creating new working and moving creations. It requires one AA battery. “Our product features several electronic components, such as the sound chamber, the spiral gear and electronic gears. Also, we have a website that gives multiple configurations that can be constructed,” Jaye Ross of The Learning Journey International told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2007. 5/23/2007 (Price: $59.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

LEGO EXT Alien Mothership Assault by LEGO

With this new Mars Mission-theme playset, children can construct an alien ship, complete with detachable spacecraft, and blast aliens and darts into the atmosphere with a few quick pumps of the new air pump system. The set includes two glow-in-the-dark aliens, a mining specialist mini-figure, a sled and an air pump system. Construction possibilities abound with the set’s 434 LEGO pieces. Launch date: August 2007. 5/21/2007 (Price: $49.99)

Strawz: Imagine + Construct by NUOP DESIGN

This set includes 16 translucent straw pieces and 20 flexible rubber connectors so that kids can create their own fun straw. It is non-toxic and dishwasher safe. Orange, blue and lime sets are available. Chris Mindel, of distributor ThinkGeek, said of this novel construction kit that “the real limitation seems to be how much the builder can suck. I do think there will eventually be scientific limitations; it is much easier to pump liquids through long pipes than to suck liquids through pipes.”  Mindel recommends anything with caffeine and fizz — “the buzz is incredible” — and feels the coolest aspect of the Strawz is their ability to mix drinks: “Because you can have the straw dip into multiple cups, you could mix soda and flavorings.” 5/21/2007 (Price: $13.99)

Soft & Sturdy™ Giant Foam Blocks by THE STEP2 COMPANY

Soft & Sturdy™ Giant foam blocks are perfect for building and stacking! These life-size blocks can be used to create structures that children can interact with, and don't produce the noise and dangers associated with traditional wood blocks. 5/18/2007 (Price: $99.99)

Tall Stacker Pegs Building Set by LAURI, a division of PATCH PRODUCTS INC.

Winner of a Parents’ Choice Award, this three dimensional stacking set teaches children to think ahead as they plan where they will set the next peg to build the next platform. Kids will not only learn about shape, size and color relationships during the building process, but they will also hone their motor and math skills. The set includes 100 Tall Stacker Pegs, a 1,100-hole peg board and 17 Crepe Rubber Shapes all packaged in a quality storage box that comes with a handle for easy transport. Launch date: April 2006.
— This item is a best seller at Juggles in Wakefield, R.I., according to Owner Idanna Smith. 5/15/2007 (Price: $39.95)

UberArc Architectural Series by UBERSTIX

This complete professional construction kit allows children to create foundations from real blueprints with the 12 foundation plans included. Builders can make representations of real skyscrapers or design their own. The 3,200-piece set retails at $299.99. A 1,600-piece set is also available (MSRP: $179.99). Launch date: June 2007. 5/15/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]