TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Puzzles & Skill Product Category

Magna Puzzles - 3D Butterflies by CEACO

This 16-piece 3D puzzle comes with a travel tin for easy porting. Kids can remove all the magnetic pieces from the cover and then try to reassemble the entire puzzle from scratch. Or, they can keep out a single piece and place the other pieces on the board in any order, then slide them to and fro to solve the puzzle that way. Everyting fits inside the tin when they're ready to go. Other designs are available. ( Watch Video) 10/20/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Quarks!® - The Brain Teaser with a Cosmic Twist by FOURIER IDEA INC.

Quarks!® is a spherical 3D puzzle based on the sliding shell mechanism. It is also a brainteaser that makes the players familiar with some concepts of modern physics. Inspired by the world of quarks (subatomic particles that are one of the fundamental building blocks of all matter in the universe), Quarks!®  is an amazing game that will challenge anyone at any age. Holding the ball with both hands, twist the hemispheres in any direction to scramble the color pattern. The objective of the puzzle is to bring all the six colored spiral shaped quarks back to their original order. As an alternative to giving up, Quarks!® can easily be taken apart and recombined; a puzzle in itself. Once assembled, the Quarks! globe is returned to the original “out of the box” configuration. 10/6/2009 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Coca-Cola Polar Bears 1000pc jigsaw puzzle by BUFFALO GAMES INC.

In this 1000pc jigsaw puzzle the famous Polar Bear images of the 1990's portraits an adorable polar bear family enjoying Coca-Cola. 9/15/2009 (Price: $16.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Coca-Cola: A Gift For Santa 1000pc jigsaw puzzle by BUFFALO GAMES INC.

This 1000pc jigsaw puzzle captures the innocences of childhood in A Gift For Santa. 9/15/2009 (Price: $16.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Football Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

Scramble Squares® are nine-piece puzzles that feature original art and only one solution. They're great for everyone from age 4 to 104. Interesting fact: Modern football had its start in the mid 1800s, when Webb Ellis of England’s Rugby School scored a goal in a game of English soccer football by picking up the ball and running it over the goal line in a desperate attempt to win the game before the school’s five o’clock curfew bell. From that day forward, English football divided into two distinct games: the “handling game,” rugby, where the ball could be advanced by carrying it, and the “dribbling game,” soccer, where the ball must be advanced by kicking it. ( Watch Video) 9/10/2009 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Classic Cars Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

These nine-piece puzzles are easy to play, but hard to solve. They feature original artwork, plus educational facts on the back of the travel-size package. Interesting fact:  In 1964, the general manager of Pontiac, John DeLorean, created the first “muscle car” by approving the installation of 389 cubic inch, 6.3-liter engine in the Pontiac LeMans, adding the designation “GTO” that had been a name first used by Ferrari, Europe’s leading sports car company. ( Watch Video) 9/10/2009 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Outer Banks' Lighthouses Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

These little brain teaser puzzles are easy to play, but hard to solve. Each puzzle has nine 4"x 4" pieces with excellent artwork that will keep everyone in the family entertained. Scramble Square puzzles are easy to carry, beautifully produced and perfect for using at home or taking along on travel. Each of the 91 different puzzle packages includes a panel of fascinating facts, trivia questions and hidden answers. ( Watch Video) 9/8/2009 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Chili Today, Hot Tamale Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

Scramble Squares puzzles look easy, but are difficult to solve. Players of all ages can play together or alone, challenging their brains to find the single pattern that will solve the puzzle. Interesting fact:
The spicy heat of chili peppers is measured in Scoville Units, an index developed by Wilbur Scoville in 1912. Scoville Units measure chili pepper heat in multiples of 100, with bell peppers at 0 and the habanero at over 300,000 Scoville Units. ( Watch Video) 9/8/2009 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Learning Puzzles by FABRICAS SELECTAS USA (FS-USA)

These bilingual puzzles teach children words in both English and Spanish. Varieties include "ABCs," "Addition and Subtraction" and "My Body." Launch date: 2009. ( Watch Video) 8/31/2009

Gemstone Fairies Puzzle by CEACO

This 100-piece puzzle features bright artwork and three embedded gemstones. Launch date: 2009. 8/28/2009 (Price: $6.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Stackers Storage Play Set: Little Princess Castle by TIER TOYS

This stack and play puzzle set includes 9 levels of storage and 75 detailed figures and accessories stored inside. Plus bonus download of the story of Princess Olivia and interactive games. 8/17/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

SphereXYZ Kit by LA1PRODUCTS

This kit is designed for children and adults who wish to build and solve the SphereXYZ. The pieces can be assembled in any way, and once snapped in, the puzzle is ready to be solved, which is done by rotating the hemispheres and moving the scrambled tiles along the canals until each hemisphere hosts the complete collection of one of the tile colors and the two white tiles are positioned at either pole. SphereXYZ takes about 10 minutes to snap together. "It's the first-ever 'build it, solve it' puzzle," Lori Powers, co-founder of LA1Products, told TDmonthly.  Launch date: November 2009. 7/30/2009 (Price: $17.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cowboys & Cowgirls Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

This American-made Scramble Squares puzzle features nine cowboy-themed pieces that must be arranged into a 12" x 12" square so that the graphics match up edge to edge for every piece, forming a complete design. There exists only one solution. The packaging includes educational information relating to the puzzle theme, as well as a trivia quiz. Scramble Squares awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2008. Launch date: 2009.

Where to Buy: LB Toys 7/30/2009 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Da Vinci MACHINE™ by GENIO TOYS LLC

Inspired by the legendary genius Da Vinci, the product is a Code Machine that stretches players' imaginative and logical mind. It is a beautiful fusion of a Word game and a Logic game. Its interactive game-play makes it a great piece for friends and family pastimes. The difficulty levels are controlled by players so it is also a nice adult-child educational toy. ( Watch Video) 7/21/2009 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Visual Echo Puzzle - You Are Here by HOBBICO

Manufactured with the specialized lenticular printing process, Visual Echo puzzles display the illusion of depth and movement when viewed from changing angles. Parallel rows of optical lenses display different facets of a complex, interlaced image underneath the top layer. The “You Are Here” puzzle, once the 500 interlocking pieces are assembled, features the planets of the solar system drifting on the star-filled background of space. 
― “Visual Echoes is a line of 3D puzzles that does pretty well. I'm looking at the line right now, and it's very good,” Robin Ellerman, owner of Trains-N-Toys in North Canton, Ohio, told TDmonthly in June 2009. 7/21/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Pencils' Puzzle by POMEGRANATE

The row of pencils represented on the photo that emerges when this 1,000-piece puzzle is fully assembled were taken from architect Frank Lloyd Wright's desk after his death in 1959. The image is an homage to Wright's renowned talent for drawing, as well as an intricate picture for puzzling.  Completed, the puzzle measures 20” x 29”. 
― “Presently, our best-selling puzzle is a Frank Lloyd Wright piece titled ‘Pencils.’ It also happens to be from one of our best-selling puzzle manufacturers, Pomegranate, which is dominating our puzzle sales this year,” Kevin Pohle, owner of The Wizard's Chest in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly in June 2009. ( Watch Video) 7/21/2009 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kid's World ABC Floor Puzzle by CROCODILE CREEK

With two interlocking puzzle pieces for each letter of the alphabet, this 52-piece puzzle completes to 11' long. Each letter can be put together separately for a variety of learning activities that will help stimulate children's motor and critical thinking skills.
― Darlene Lockhart, owner of Toy Town in Casper, Wyo., told TDmonthly her top seller in the puzzle category is “any floor puzzle.” Lockhart was among seven of 47 retailers who said in June 2009 that floor puzzles are top-selling puzzles in their stores.
― Two of 47 storeowners named Crocodile Creek as their best-selling puzzle brand in early summer 2009. 7/21/2009 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My First Puzzles - Dinosaurs by CROCODILE CREEK

Packed in a bright red latching box emblazoned with a painted stegosaurus, four individually bagged jigsaw puzzles offer different skill levels for young children.  At four, six, nine and 12 pieces, each puzzle assembles into a picture of a different dinosaur (a pterodactyl, tyrannosaurus, triceratops and the pictured stegosaurus). 
— In an August 2011 survey, 2 out of 12 retailers said that Crocodile Creek's puzzles were best-sellers in the puzzle category. Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., said that she sells 3-6 Crocodile Creek puzzles each week.
― “We have Crocodile Creek and do well with those,” Jeri Dorsey, buyer for Kits and Kaboodle in Carmel, Ind., told TDmonthly in June 2009 when asked about top-selling puzzles.
— "All of the Crocodile Creek products" for school do well, said Rick Henry, owner of Stellabella Toys in Cambridge, Mass., in autumn 2010. He sells approximately 50 pieces of lunch boxes, thermoses and the like per month. 7/21/2009 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dragon World Puzzle Ball by RAVENSBURGER

Individuals can build a smooth, solid, 6”-diameter sphere out of 240 curved pieces. The ball stays together with no glue required, displaying a detailed and colorful image of fire-breathing dragons all over its surface. The puzzle comes with a display base to impress friends and family by showing off the completed ball. 
― “Puzzle Balls from Ravensburger ... are really popular right now,” said Emily Bieritz, manager of My Favorite Toy Store in Downers Grove, Ill., in June 2009.
― Three of 47 retailers told TDmonthly in early summer 2009 that Puzzle Balls from Ravensburger are top sellers in their stores. ( Watch Video) 7/21/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

African Plains Jigsaw Puzzle by MELISSA & DOUG

The 24 large, interlocking pieces of this wooden jigsaw puzzle fit together to reveal a brightly colored African landscape populated with friendly cartoon animals. Underneath the setting sun, children will recognize the faces of a giraffe, lion, elephant, hippo, zebra and pink flamingo. The puzzle builds and stores in the tray, allowing children to recreate the image over and over again. 
― “Melissa & Doug overall does really well,” said Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer's Toy World in Battle Creek, Mich., when asked about his top-selling puzzle in June 2009.
― Seventeen of 47 retailers told TDmonthly in early summer 2009 that Melissa & Doug is their top-selling puzzle line, reporting sales between 15 and 30 pieces per month. 7/21/2009 (Price: $9.99)

World Map 1665 3,000-Piece Puzzle by RAVENSBURGER

Completing to the intriguing image of a mid-1600s map of the world, this 3,000-piece puzzle measures 32” by 48”. Ravensburger puzzles are made out of fully interlocking pieces of durable board cut with precision tools.
― “We get lots of compliments from customers for their quality and prices,” Mary Horne, owner of J. Christopher in Jonesboro, Ark., told TDmonthly about what makes Ravensburger her main puzzle brand.
― “I've always been happy with the quality of the products and the diversity of the line,” said Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toy Store in Anchorage, Alaska. Gregory was among 24 of 47 retailers who said in June 2009 that Ravensburger is their best-selling puzzle brand.
― “They're great puzzles. We do a lot of them,” said Cathy Albro, owner of Creative Learning Toys in Grand Rapids, Mich., of Ravensburger in early summer 2009. ( Watch Video) 7/21/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Popular Mechanics - Airplane Innovation Jigsaw Puzzle by NEW YORK PUZZLE COMPANY LLC

From the company's vintage magazine collection comes this 500-piece jigsaw puzzle of the March 1931 cover of Popular Mechanics Magazine. It features an image of an innovative airplane design in flight and is made in the USA from post-consumer recycled materials. Launch date: August 15, 2009. 7/19/2009 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Popular Mechanics - Pirate Battle Jigsaw Puzzle by NEW YORK PUZZLE COMPANY LLC

From the company's vintage magazine collection comes this 500-piece jigsaw puzzle of the October 1926 cover of Popular Mechanics Magazine. Featuring an image of a pirate battle, it is made in the USA from post-consumer recycled materials. The company's collection features "relevant puzzles that have broad cross-market appeal from general gift buyers and casual puzzlers to even the most discerning of jigsaw enthusiasts," Adam Silver, co-President of New York Puzzle Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 15, 2009. 7/19/2009 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

New Yorker - Thanksgiving Day Parade Jigsaw Puzzle by NEW YORK PUZZLE COMPANY LLC

From the company's New Yorker collection comes this 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of the November 29, 1952, cover of The New Yorker magazine. Featuring art by Arthur Getz, this puzzle is a drawing of the famous Thanksgiving Day Parade watched around the country every year. It is made in the USA from post-consumer recycled materials. Launch date: August 15, 2009. 7/19/2009 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

New Yorker - Vetting Jigsaw Puzzle by NEW YORK PUZZLE COMPANY LLC

From the company's New Yorker collection comes this 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of the December 8, 2008, cover of The New Yorker magazine. Finding the humor in politics, this puzzle features art by Barry Blitt, with a drawing of President Barack Obama interviewing dogs to find his new pet. It is made in the USA from post-consumer recycled materials. "We make puzzles you'll want to frame and hang as art," Adam Silver, co-president of New York Puzzle Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009. ( Watch Video) 7/19/2009 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]