Crack the Code and Score the Gold: Only a true mastermind could pull off a caper like this. One vault door is the only thing standing between you and a much-deserved treasure. Will you play your cards right and be the first to open the vaunted vault? It’s a game of numbers as you use special Tool cards to beat your opponents and crack the code. So don’t play it safe. Get crackin’ and bust those codes. "This is a NEW card game that is fun for both parents and children alike," said Katie Hemlock, marketing specialist at Fundex Games, Ltd. "The action cards in the game give players a leg up on their crafty competition, including The Master Key, Double Cross, Thieves’ Curse. And the Bamboozled card will really toss a monkey wrench in their plans." Launch date: 2/2/2009.

This colorful and charming deck presents fascinating facts about America's favorite pastime. Each card poses an intriguing question designed to get conversations rolling at home, in school, at parties or on the road. There are no wrong or right answers. Participants just pick a card and start talking. "Unique questions get kids thinking and talking about their own ideas and experiences," Lynn Araujo, communications director for U.S. Games Systems, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2008.

Now even the tinest Baby can have a Zoobie. The Baby Mashaka plush toy  un-Velcroes to become a comfy pillow, then unzips to transform into an infant-sized blanket. The blanket even features fuzzy "comfort corners" to stimulate Baby's interest in textures. Release date: 2008.

This "cruise edition" of the quick-play, easy-to-learn strategy game Pentago is ideal for portability and travel. Launch date: 2007.
Awards: May 2012 TDmonthly Top Toy Award. Why it won: Not only is this game a proven best seller; it also earned a high rating from TDmonthly's panel of reviewers, as well as users on Amazon.com.
— Brooke Andrews, owner of Millers Toy Store in Mamoroneck, N.Y., told TDmonthly in late fall 2009 that her store sells about 12 Pentago games per week. Erika Evers, owner of Dancing Bear Toys in Hendersonville, N.C., estimated sales of about 8 to 12 units per month.
— As of 4/12/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 24 reviews on Amazon.com.

Writing on the easel encourages the child to sit with good posture while writing, assisting the child visually and supporting a good wrist and hand position. The kit comes with a chalk board, a "Cloud to Garden" Dry Erase board, a Fine Motor Funbook, 12 E-Z grip crayons whose triangular promotes proper grasp, kid scissors, three mini pencils, a dry erase marker, an easy-to-grip chalk in a sturdy holder and a sponge eraser. “The kit and contents fold up easily to become a travel case,” Fun and Function LLC President Aviva Weiss told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

Select a challenge card and flip and slide the special ZenBender dice to recreate the pattern. With three levels of difficulty and 36 different patterns, there’s a challenge for everyone. Three other varieties are available: Dachshund, Dragon and Quilt.

Select a challenge card and flip and slide the special ZenBender dice to recreate the pattern. With three levels of difficulty and 36 different patterns, there’s a challenge for everyone. Three other varieties are available: Dachshund, Quilt and Race Track.

Select a challenge card and flip and slide the special ZenBender dice to recreate the pattern. With three levels of difficulty and 36 different patterns, there’s a challenge for everyone. Three other varieties are available: Dragon, Quilt and Race Track.

The game puts reactions time to the test. Two cards are played to the table, but only one wins. Be the first to call-out the winning card and win a point. “Kids will pick up the game because it’s familiar to them,” Out of the Box Publishing Inc. Marketing Director Matt Mariani told TDmonthly. “’Rock, Paper, Scissors’ is played everywhere… but [this game] adds the element of speed.” Launch date: May 2008.

The game is great for travel and brain exercise. The game features 48 different puzzles at differing levels of difficulty. “Kids will also like it because it has planes,” Educational Insights Advertising and Public Relations Coordinator Heidi Bultman told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 31, 2008.

The memory-matching game engages children with a charming array of colorful and crazy hats. Pick a pair, build a stack and win the game. The game comes with an 11” x 17” double-sided folding magnetic game board; 40 chunky foam magnetic game pieces that stay firmly in place and are easy for small hands to control; and a full-color illustrated instruction booklet with easy-to-follow rules. “This game is a creative twist to the classic memory game,” Jessia McCulligh, of Dowling Magnets’ marketing department, told TDmonthly. “With magnetic pieces…[this game is] great for little hands and…great for travel!” Launch date: January 2007.

The playset comes with two exclusive pocket puppies: Digby and Jumper. The playset also features a spinning Ferris wheel, swinging ship, teeter-totter and much more.

The playset includes a mommy puppy, her three newborn pups and a lot of accessories. The puppies can play on a seesaw, take baths, enjoy treats and snuggle in at bedtime. The nursery folds up for on-the-go fun.

Players race the clock drawing items in a given category and then try to determine which of their partner’s drawings actually matches theirs. The team with the most matches wins. The game comes with category cards, sketch pads, pencils, die, spin timer and instructions. “These games are perfect for people on the go and have busy schedules,” Fundex Games Ltd. Marketing Specialist Katie Hemlock told TDmonthly. “They play in half the time and are twice the fun.” Launch date: June 2008.

The kit features play scenes equipped with magnetic pieces that kids can use to create and recreate different play scenes. Over 20 colorful, magnetic pieces are included. The magnetic play scenes are available in two varieties: pirate ship and fairy tree house. “The Magnetic Play Scenes encourage kids’ imagination because they can use it to act out a different story every time they play with it,” Joyce Johannson, a representative for Magnetic Poetry, told TDmonthly. “Use the colorful magnetic characters and accessories to have tea in the fairy house, or have someone walk the plank on the pirate ship.” Launch date: Spring 2008.

The kit comes in its own handy travel case, along with blank flipbooks, instructions and four stencils containing eight images of a character in motion. When drawn in sequence and “flipped,” the character appears to move. The kit is great for any child with an interest in animation. Launch date: Spring 2008.

The kit comes in its own handy travel case, along with eight colored pencils and a pad of paper. The first few pages of the pad show step-by-step drawing instructions for simple things, such as a boy, a girl, a house and a cat. “The colorful packaging, size and travel strap appeal to children and make it easy for them to bring their art supplies with them wherever they go,” Joyce Johannson, a representative for Magnetic Poetry, told TDmonthly. Launch date: Spring 2008.

The kit comes in its own handy travel case, along with watercolor paint, a water bottle, a paintbrush, watercolor paper and suggestions of things to paint and how to get started. “The GO Art Activity Kits encourage kids’ imagination by providing everything they need to explore different art forms,” Joyce Johannson, a representative for Magnetic Poetry, told TDmonthly. Launch date: Spring 2008.

The kit comes in its own handy travel case, along with eight washable markers and a book full of geometric patterns and designs for coloring. “Each kit also has ideas for things to try – making it fun for kids to come back to create their own works of art time and time again,” Joyce Johannson, a representative for Magnetic Poetry, told TDmonthly. Launch date: Spring 2008.

In this fast-paced card game, players add bugs to the toad king’s feast by playing cards in numerical order. Players without the next card in the sequence must catch one just like King Toad! He or she must say "Ribbit" and then stick out his or her tongue from one to four times to signal the card requested. The game comes with 60 cards, 12 tokens and instructions in both English and Spanish.

The playset lets kids reenact and embellish the classic Goldilocks and the three bears tale with story magnets. It comes complete with four play figures and 48 magnets. The playset folds closed and latches into a handy box that can travel anywhere. Launch date: January 2008.

The playset lets kids reenact and embellish the classic Cinderella fairytale with story magnets. It comes complete with Cinderella and Prince Charming play figures, five play scenes and 60 magnets.  The playset folds closed and latches into a handy box that can travel anywhere. Launch date: January 2008.

The travel activity backpack includes a 64-page maze book of all 50 states, crossword puzzles chocked full of words and information related to each state, a 64-page word search, a laminated folding map, state geography playing cards and coloring markers. All items are packaged in a clear vinyl, zippered backpack. This item is a 2004 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award winner.

The 31-piece set contains full service for four.  The set includes cups, saucers, a teapot, a sugar bowl, creamer, utensils, a tablecloth and napkins, all packed inside a convenient cardboard carry case for travel.  Each piece was uniquely designed with Madeline in mind. Launch date: December 2001.

The Dream Garden comes with a magic fountain, a prince, a princess, a swan, a peacock, a unicorn, butterflies, a tree, flowers and more. The fountain features a waterspout that works with a hand pump. All pieces come stored inside an easy-to-carry box with a handle. Launch date: January 2008.
— Playmobil is a best-selling line at Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., Owner Jeanette Lauture said in summer 2008. “I find this ‘gold standard’ to be awesome for girls and boys for a wide age range (1-1/2 to 12 years old),” she told TDmonthly. “I’ve been selling this item since I opened [in spring 2007].”
— Jamie Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly in July 2008 that he sells 60 units of Playmobil per month.  “We go through them like there’s no tomorrow,” noted Bill Sartain, co-owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah.
— Seven of 66 retailers named Playmobil as their overall best seller in summer 2008.