January 2011 New Specialty Toys — Pretend Play

The well-disguised Secret Agent Headquarters contains covert features, such as a trapdoor leading to the jail, a jet ski hiding place for an emergency escape, and a secret command center with LED board. The Secret Agent Headquarters also contains plenty of equipment for the agents. The multifunctional vehicle can be converted for deployments on land, water, and air, the speedboat can be upgraded with the Playmobil Underwater Motor (#7350), and the LED super weapon can also be used against attackers. The set comes with five figures, including a double agent with a changeable face. Another exciting feature is the functional alarm system that can be placed in rooms at home to warn of "intruders." Dimensions: 20.1 x 15.7 x 8.5 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages seven to twelve.
— Joe Beradoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that "We do not sell action figures in our store. The closest products to them are Playmobil and Papo figures."

The Children’s Zoo allows children to role-play petting and feeding animals at the zoo. This set includes four figures, piglets, goats, sheep, and lamb. Also comes with fences for the animal enclosure, rock formation with water fall, birdfeeder, and many other accessories. Recommended for ages four to ten. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
— Rebecca Goblish, owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that Playmobil is one of her top-three best-selling brands of toy.

Transport boulders from place to place with the Skip Truck. Set includes a figure, adjustable Skip Truck, boulders, and other accessories. Recommended for ages four to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $29.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Playmobil figures in their swimming gear can have fun and enjoy a refreshing swim in the Pool with Water Slide. The pool can be filled with water and comes with a functioning shower. The set includes six figures and many other accessories. Dimensions: 22.4 x 14.2 x 7.7 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $39.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Contains a small ball and small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
— Brooke Andrews, owner of Miller's Toys in Mamaroneck, N.Y. told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011 that it doesn't matter which Playmobil items she is carrying- they are consistently her bestselling playset.

Life is carefree at the Playmobil Summer House. The house is equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, making it the perfect getaway for a family of four. The pretty terrace decorated with plants has patio furniture and a grill for barbecues. Set also comes with four figures and many other accessories. Dimensions: 14.2 x 13 x 8.8 inches (L x W x H). Recommended for ages four to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $59.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

The Click & Go Jet can be folded together compactly in just a few moves and snapped onto a belt clip to be taken along anywhere. The jet can be put together quickly and the fun can begin. Set also includes a figure. Recommended for ages six to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $9.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

With this action-packed set, children can navigate the treasure hunters through the guarded, trap-filled, treasure temple. The stake barrier, drop pit, and falling rocks make it difficult to pass through the temple to find the hidden treasure. Set comes with two temple guards, three treasure hunters, giant lizard, treasure map that can be revealed when rubbed, and many other accessories. Dimensions: 13.6 x 11.4 x 14.8 inches (L x W x H).  Recommended for ages four to ten. Suggested Retail Price: $69.99. Warning. Choking Hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

The first release in a planned series, Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels on the Bus features favorite songs and rhymes including the title track, “Froggy Went a Courting” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” with a few original pieces thrown into the mix. Each tune features an animal character performing a solo on their instrument. An enclosed 10-page booklet features illustrations of these new animal friends created by Nica Brooke. "The recording spotlights the sounds of instruments with funky music and top musicians performing," PR Beth Blenz-Clucas told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2011

This easy-to-assemble wooden workbench is perfect for pretend DIY projects. It comes with 13 geometric shapes, 4 wheels, 14 screws, 6 nails, 12 nuts, 4 square nuts, 1 hammer, 1 screwdriver and 1 wrench. Build whatever you like, use your imagination, the sky is the limit. Instructions for 5 construction projects included. It's been tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

All kids like pretend play, particularly kitchen and cooking. This 4-sided wooden kitchen is equipped with oven, stove with clicking knobs, fridge with working door, blackboard with 2 pcs of chalk for "menu of the day" and a clock for learning how to tell time. Accessories include a pan with lid, stove with lid, 3 vegetable magnets, 2 pcs of chalk, and a spoon. Perfect for mom and daughter bonding. No assembly required. It's been tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards.

Fan Stamp's Disney Face Art takes dress-up and playtime invites for increased imaginative options. For parties or everyday fun, Fan Stamp allows children to enhance their role-play experience with Disney characters they love. Designs are 100% mineral make-up, hypo allergenic and sweat and water resistant. Designs are reusable, include glitter, apply in seconds and wipe off easily.
Awards: National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2010

Contents include:  Sixty finger-puppet cards featuring Shakespeare's most famous characters, including Hamlet, Lady Macbeth, King Lear, Othello, Shylock, and Falstaff.   Twelve stand-up sets of castles, forests, balconies, and battlefields.  A 96-page "folio" of classic scenes—from Hamlet's "To Be or Not to Be" soliloquy to Romeo and Juliet's classic balcony serenade.  Once you've finished staging the Bard's entire canon, you can mix and match masterpuppets to produce your own Shakespearean mash-ups. Perhaps your Romeo will fall in love with Lady Macbeth.

Adorable Activity Gym with oversized, round mat surface has soft linen and patterned arches, includes a Tummy Time pillow and offers 17+ developmental activities.

This Busy Time Activity Center is the result of a collaboration between Parents, America's foremost family magazine, and Manhattan Toy. This lovely, wooden activity center looks as much like a sleek piece of furniture as it does a developmental toy, and every surface provides a different stimulating world to explore. The colorful bead maze builds motor skills and eye hand coordination; the xylophone teaches cause and effect, promotes a love of music, and provides auditory stimulation; colorful, lettered pockets with drop-in objects promote eye/hand coordination and accompanies kids on the road to literacy; and turning knobs and spinning balls capture babies' sense of wonder and imaginations.

This sturdy but stylish durable wood cart is brimming with built-in activities, lots of storage space in the heavy nylon pocket, and an anti-tip braking function for beginning walkers. Colorful bead-bars, chunky wood shapes with sorter, and space for teddy bears and toys make this a hands-on favorite for years.

This product projects 24 images on your wall or ceiling, and includes exclusive images of Clone Wars vehicles with a synchronized audio tour narration on CD.  Also features bright, clear projection with a focus dial, narration by Captain Rex.  Dimensions: Length: 8.5 "; Height: 6.0 "; Width: 8.5".   Product Weight: 2.0 Lb.
  — As of 10.25.10, this product was listed in the top 30 best-selling toys and games on Target.com.

Features include doors to open, friends to find beautifully illustrated animals from A to Z, loopty-loo routes for you to wind through, zigzag paths to race up and down, spinners to spin, and a beautiful display box with gift tag.
 —  As of 10.25.10, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 20 reviews on Target.com and was listed in the top 30 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Durable and fun for infants and toddlers.

The Melissa & Doug Wooden Slice and Bake Cookie Set lets children ages three and up pretend to bake, decorate, and serve cookies, all while practicing fine motor skills, learning number concepts, and more. The set includes a dozen wooden cookies, a dozen wooden decorating pieces, and toy wooden kitchen utensils.
— As of 10.25.2010, this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 81 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 22 on the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS:  Durable and fun.  CONS:  Recalled in Canada for barium in the paint.
— The Slice and Bake Cookie Set was one of only two wooden items that sells well for Tracie Meadows, owner of Whippersnappers on St. Simons Island, Ga.

This makes a great costume from the movie Toy Story.  Product includes set of inflatable vinyl wings.
—As of 10.25.2010, this product had 3 out of 5 stars from 19 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 3 on the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Good costume. CONS: Can leak air.

The Folkmanis turtleneck turtle puppet has a moveable mouth and two front legs.  It is 12 inches tall, 8 inches wide and 5 inches long (30.5 x 20.3 x 12.7 cm). This cute green turtle has a gray/green shell and a yellow turtle neck and underneath.

Features 14 distinct, real tools, with safety helmet included.

Made especially for Arab countries, Brickadoo has designed an extra large kit for this market segment, which is the Arab Mosque.  Brickadoo's water-soluble cement is an extremely safe and convenient adhesive. Safe because it is made from rice and contains no gluten. Convenient because the bricks stuck together with it quickly come apart when the structure is immersed in water.

The box contains two buildings: a farmhouse and a stable, but also includes the fencing and entrance gate.  Now that two horses have also been added to the set, this has become a great building and play set for kids. Using their imagination, girls and boys can expand their Brickadoo Cities with this set.

A push toy with lots of pretend possibilities.  This mower is designed for true walkers.  It is not weighted for toddlers that are looking for something to hold onto.  This is a prop that makes a pleasing sound when it's pushed.  The top of the mower comes off and doubles as a leaf blower. It has a crank and a see-thru window so that you can see the parts move. Not difficult to put together.
Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Platinum, 2010.