January 2013 New Specialty Toys — Construction

What do you get with basic geomentric shapes made of Lauri crepe rubber and 21 tall-stacker Pegs? You get toy that entertains preschoolers for hours in convenient travel case for kids on the go. They'll fill all the holes, sort the pegs by color, and see how high the pegs will stack. With to holes per shape, it's also counting toy that lays good foundation for early math skills. When finished playing, kids will have fun putting the shapes back in the puzzle frame.
— In a November 2013 survey, Richard Gibson, owner of Learning Express of Newton in Newton, Mass., told TDmonthly that they make $5,000 a year on Tall Stackers alone.

Build an authentic vintage fire station! Ding ding ding! There’s a fire in town! The fire brigade drives to the scene from this detailed and realistic 1930’s fire station. Designed to fit with other modular buildings like 10182 Café Corner and 10185 Green Grocer, the station features rare LEGO® pieces and innovative construction techniques. It includes a ‘30s-style fire truck, 4 minifigures, a fire-dog, an opening station garage door, and a removable building roof for interior access. It also includes 2 fully-furnished floors with fire-fighting tools, racks for the firemen's helmets, fire-pole, ping-pong table, kitchen with fully-stocked fridge, couch, bookshelf and a roof with a water tower and bell. Measures 14" (35 cm) high and 10" (25 cm) wide.
— As of 1/11/2013 this product has 4.4 out of 5 stars from 38 reviews on Amazon.com.

Hero, Vampire, Rocker and Pirate styles available.  Mix and match; the more kids collect, the more possibilities they have. Recycled wood, made in the USA.

Buckminster Fuller was an engineer, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor, futurist and second president of Mensa International, the high IQ society. He is best known for his many architectural designs, the best known of which is the geodesic dome, or "Bucky Ball"-Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know that talking about systems theorists is pretty boring, but without Mr. Fuller we wouldn't have the Space Chips Glom Dron set, so it all kind of evens out, don't you think? The Glom Dron is a set of 540 pentagon chips that can be used to build a Bucky Ball.

High above Gotham City, Batman™ spots Bane in the armored Tumbler chasing Police Commissioner Gordon. Bust through the road barricades in the Bane Tumbler with hidden dual flick missiles and flame exhaust. Then swoop down from the skies in The Bat and winch the commissioner to safety with the rescue rope before Bane reaches him. Includes 3 minifigures: Batman, Bane and Police Commissioner Gordon with assorted weapons.
— In a May 2014 survey, four out of 11 retailers told TDmonthly that Lego was their best-selling line of licensed toys.

Simplistic shape. Endless possibility. The only tools required are the children's imagination. Plus Plus bricks is made in Denmark of PE (polyethylene). Free of phthalates and PVC.

With 650 elements in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes, the LEGO Creative Building Kit is the perfect supplement to any LEGO collection - includes building instructions.

This is the first book & construction toy in the GoldieBlox series. Meet Goldie, her beloved dog, Nacho, Benjamin Cranklin (the cat with an attitude), Katinka (the dolphin ballerina), Phil (the sloth) and Flavio (the bear from Brazil). Help Goldie figure out how to build a belt drive to spin everybody. Includes: (1) storybook, (1) pegboard, (5) wheels, (10) axles, (5) blocks, (1) crank, (1) ribbon, (5) washers. Launch date: April 2013.
— In a May 2014 survey Suzi McMullen, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly that Goldieblox was a best-selling construction toy in their store. "When we had it, we sold out all 24," she said.
— In a September 2014 survey, LyndaBlankenship from Smart Toys & Books in Knoxville, Tenn., told TDmonthly that Goldie Blox are one of the store's best-selling science & nature toys.

The USS Enterprise is the longest aircraft carrier in the US and the oldest. It has recently taken its final voyage after more than 50 years. With over 900+ assorted size and colored pieces kids can create a 3D image of the USS Enterprise down to the tiniest detail. It is the end of an era for the US Navy, making it the perfect gift for any Navy buff or construction enthusiast. With a finished size of 3.25” x 15.25” d x 3.25” h , it would make a nice addition to any den.

Save The Company of Dwarves. The goblins have captured the heroic Dwarves and imprisoned them deep inside their filthy caves. Help Gandalf the Grey sneak past The Goblin King and set them free. Discover the cave's functions, secrets and hidden treasures as you fight your way to freedom by firing the catapult, collapsing the rope bridge, lifting the bucket crane, tipping the ladder and finding the map. Defeat The Goblin King in an epic underworld battle! And beware The Goblin King throne's trapping function. Includes Gandalf the Grey and 7 minifigures exclusive to this building set: Dori the Dwarf, Nori the Dwarf, Ori the Dwarf, Goblin Scribe, 2 Goblin Soldiers and The Goblin King. Launch date: 2012.

Follow Fili the Dwarf and Kili the Dwarf deep into the dark and scary Mirkwood Forest on The Quest for The Lonely Mountain. Attack the heroes with 3 small spiders and 2 giant spiders with glow-in-the-dark eyes and trap them inside cocoon elements high up in the buildable tree. Use Legolas Greenleaf and Tauriel to save the day by battling the spiders and freeing the Dwarves with the tipping function before it's too late. Includes 4 minifigures: Fili the Dwarf, Kili the Dwarf, Legolas Greenleaf and Tauriel, all with assorted weapons. Launch date: 2012.

Gandalf the Grey has invited the Dwarves to Bag End - the Hobbit home of Bilbo Baggins. Uncover the Hobbit hole to entertain the Dwarves with food and drink accessories. Then invite Bilbo Baggins on a great journey to The Lonely Mountain and begin the epic LEGO The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey adventure. Includes Gandalf the Grey and 5 exclusive minifigures featured only in this set: Bilbo Baggins in his Shire outfit, Balin the Dwarf, Dwalin the Dwarf, Bombur the Dwarf and Bofur the Dwarf, all with assorted weapons. Launch date: 2012.

On the shores of an underground lake beneath the Misty Mountains, Bilbo Baggins, armed with Sting, discovers a magic ring that was recently lost by the creature Gollum. Use the reveal function to take the golden Ring! But beware - only Gollum, aboard his boat of Goblin skin and bones, knows the way out. Can our Hobbit hero solve the riddles asked by Gollum and escape to freedom with the Ring before Gollum realizes it's gone? Kids decide as they build and recreate this famous scene from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Includes 2 minifigures: Bilbo Baggins and Gollum. Launch date: 2012.

This kit provides hours of fun creating amazing innovations ranging from the ridiculous to the very practical. This system is designed to teach the power of interactive innovation, creative problem solving and social innovation. Compete online with other kids or post your idea and have it rated by the Hänz innovation community. This is a very fun construction set that is simply addictive. Made in the USA with fair trade and the environment in mind.

This smaller kit is an affordable way to get started with Hänz construction sets. You can create gravity race cars, interesting structures and even practical items such as smart phone holders and picture frames. This kit can create dozen of unique innovative structures and provides hours of fun and learning. Made in the USA with fair trade and the environment in mind.

This gigantic marble run features 103 pieces with 12 marbles. Kids can build their structure any way they like, then drop the marbles and watch them race through the run.
— In a May 2013 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that marble runs were one of their best-selling construction toys.

Figure comes in his own storage case with a special package design made to fit in your pocket. Each figure comes with a Boston cap, bat, glove, ball, stand, and unique OYO DNA number. OYO minifigures are athletic figures that are compatible with popular building-block systems. These figures include MLB and NFL licensed minifigures. OYOs are designed with eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and other facial characteristics that best represent their real life counterparts. Figures are articulated to better mimic real athletic positions and movements.

Each BrickWarriors Warrior Pack includes between 7 and 9 premium minifigure accessories, ranging from swords and medieval armor all the way to sci-fi guns and space armor. The accessories all fit perfectly onto LEGO® and other building-toy minifigures. The packs are sold in cases of 20 and the cases double as a retail POP display. Launch date: October 2012.

Designed for both the classroom and the playroom, this magnetic wooden block set includes 106 blocks in 8 shapes: 12 cubes, 8 large columns, 16 mega planks, 26 long planks, 8 medium columns, 8 small trapezoids, 8 large trapezoids, and 20 short planks. During Tegu’s design process, we observe students in their natural environments and create educational tools that encourage active, inquisitive, and resourceful minds at all grade levels. Powered by magnets, Tegu Blocks offer puzzle-like constructive possibilities that challenge students to develop and problem solve their way to gravity-defying breakthroughs—improving hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills in the process. Launch date: February 2013.

Orchestra is the Advanced Level Xyloba with 96 parts. Xyloba is a creative marble run for building and composing at the same time. Xyloba develops motor function and spatial imagination, and facilitates a creative approach to music.

The Basic Level Xyloba with 25 parts. Xyloba is a creative marble run for building and composing at the same time. Xyloba develops motor function and spatial imagination, and facilitates a creative approach to music.

This kit allows users to increase the size, complexity and richness of their models. The number of interesting things one can build increases exponentially when one has more parts. This kit is perfect for those who have already caught the Zometool bug or families and groups who want to build together. Total parts: 738.
— As of 11/15/2012 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 9 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: A great educational tool; can be used to teach geometry, or just for fun. Cons: Rods have to be pushed really hard into the balls in order for the creations not to fall apart.

SmartMax Set - BASIC 25 allows children ages three and up to experience the wonders of magnetism and the fascinating world of construction in a safe way. Towers, bridges, and houses are just a few building options that take advantage of the large pieces to engage even the youngest builder.
— Diane Gervais from Amato's Toy & Hobby in Middletown, Conn., told TDmonthly in a November 2014 survey that Smartmax sets are one of their store's best-selling educational toys. "Smartmax is pretty popular right now in preschool," she told us.

Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Discover the all new Magneatos Better Builder Series. With super strong magnetic force, unique rod and ball configurations and myriad design possibilities, Magneatos Better Builders are a wonderfully inventive way to help children discover principles of science, construction, and engineering while developing their creativity skills. Includes handy storage bin and deluxe 22-page Activity Guide which explores magnet science and provides sample building models for all ages. Magnets are safely and securely embedded in the over sized rods. Metal balls ensure a quick and strong connection. Tested to ages 18 months plus. For ages 2+.
Awards: Oppeheim Platinum Best Toy Award Winner