January 2013 New Specialty Toys — Puzzles & Skill

Teach sequencing and ordinal numbers. Pictures on front, words and numbers on back. Format adapts to abilities and features self-checking pieces for independent learning. Two-sided, 3-piece puzzles. 15 puzzles/45 pieces.

Smart Toys and Games, Inc. has launched its first brain-building game for kids as young as two years old with Bunny Peek a Boo.  Sturdy wooden blocks and fun rabbit characters allow children to develop spatial perception skills and "pull a rabbit out of the box" with this 3D puzzle. Sixty challenges prepare children ages 2-5 for more difficult single player logic games. The four large bunny blocks can be combined in many different ways for endless fun. Launch date: 2013.

Angry Birds On Top challenges players ages 6 and up to move five transparent sliding pieces until pigs are covered with angry birds, while trying not to trap the birds in the cage. This multi-level puzzle comes with 24 challenge cards and a total of 48 challenges. Launch date: 2013.

Based on an award-winning SmartGames design, Angry Birds Under Construction challenges players ages 8 and up to solve 48 puzzles by using four playing pieces to cover the correct number and type of pigs and angry birds to match the challenge in the included booklet. Launch date: 2013.

Designed specifically for preschoolers, Tangoes Jr. includes seven large magnetic pieces, 12 double-sided puzzle cards offering two levels of play, and a large playing surface to help young children learn visual perception, problem solving and teamwork skills. Newly designed for 2013, Tangoes Jr. now includes a booklet with 100 extra puzzles to challenge children who master the puzzle cards. Launch date: 2013.

For players who love Tangoes, Smart Toys and Games, Inc. has launched the more challenging Tangoes Brainiac Edition. This game includes two sets of playing pieces in green and red providing dozens of new puzzles and solutions. Players ages 7 and up can challenge friends or play alone to test their visual perception skills as they match the puzzle pieces to images on the cards. Launch date: 2013.

The new Back 2 Back single player logic game takes puzzle building vertical with a unique grid-shaped vertical game board. Players ages 7 and up must attempt to fill both sides of the grid with the 11 colorful and varied puzzle pieces. The game features a handy travel case and a booklet with 60 challenges for testing even the sharpest mind. Launch date: 2013.

In the single player logic game Vikings, players ages 6 and up rotate a variety of puzzle pieces built into the board to navigate ships out of the storm. Contents include the game board, four Viking ships, nine rotating puzzle pieces, and a booklet with 48 challenges. Launch date: 2013.

The newest edition to SmartGames hit IQ series, IQ Link draws players 8 and up into its mesmerizing challenges as they work to fit 36 colorful and fun-shaped puzzle parts into the 24 free spaces on the game board. This compact game is perfect for traveling and comes with 120 challenges for hours of brain-building fun.Launch date: 2013.

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.

Different from traditional memory games in which two identical cards are matched, Puzzle Match has kids search and match three puzzle piece parts of one image to complete the match. For example, players search for puzzle pieces of the head, body and claws of a parrot to make the match. As an added value, once kids finish the memory game and match the interlocking pieces, the pieces can be assembled into a giant, beautifully illustrated scene. "Unlike traditional memory games in which two identical cards must be found for the match, Puzzle Match - The Pet Shop has players searching and matching three different parts of one full picture to make the match," Ari Weinstock, CEO of Wowopolis, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2013.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Picks New Products

A six-sided block puzzle that encourages kids to re-create familiar animals, landmarks and map of USA. Turn the blocks to make 6 different puzzles...mix and match for more creative fun. Great educational toy that challenges the cognitive skills in assembling the matching blocks. Large 2” Blocks are easy to hold and play with. Includes a slide-out tray and mini images of completed puzzles. Launch date: February 2013.

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.

Explore and build EVEN MORE endless possibilities by combining the expanded assortment of gears. Place the puzzle pieces together and watch the amazing movement you can create by spinning and twirling the gears. (24 pieces included)

The Temple In Paradise Scramble Squares® 9-piece educational brain teaser puzzle for all ages celebrates The San Marga (“The Good Path”) Iraivan Temple being constructed at the foot of an extinct volcano on Kauai, the northernmost of the Hawaiian Islands. The temple is being constructed at Kauai's Hindu Monastery, 5 miles from the town of Kapaa, 4 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The temple construction commenced in 1975 and is scheduled for completion in 2017. There are Hindu temples in virtually every nation on earth, over 1,000 in the United States and nearly a million in India, but this temple was destined to be unique—a white-granite edifice being brought stone by stone from south central India after being hand-carved by 75 sculptors working for 27 years with simple bamboo-handled mallets and tens of thousands of mild steel chisels. Their monumental efforts reflect the ultimate in artisan craftsmanship and design, surrounded by as beautiful a setting as the paradise island of Kauai could provide.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best Picks

This wooden panda baby toy loves to play peekaboo. Hear the click and clack as its paws flap up to cover the cheerful face, then push them down again to say, "Hello!" Even babies can bring about a big visual change with just a simple motion, so they're encouraged to keep exploring as fine motor skills grow naturally. Made with select hardwood and child-safe dyes, First Play Peek-a-Boo Panda makes a heartwarming baby-shower gift.

This collection of puzzles features the whimsical artwork of Hayley Gillespie. Inspired by her son; they conjure the feeling of what it is to be a child and how short and special that time can be. The puzzle itself has 500 pieces and the chipboard used is made of recycled materials. Design: Hobby Horse. Finished dimensions: 19x19 inches. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Imported.

Attempt to cover the pre-marked puzzle cards whit your Tantrix tiles until the puzzle in completed; it's a challenge every step-of-the-way. Twelve puzzle cards with 3 levels of difficulty and 3 different objectives fit into the wooden puzzle frame. Includes: 1 Wooden Match tray, 13 Tantrix™ tiles, 12 Puzzle cards, Instructions.

Learning about dinosaurs has never been so much fun. Expand your knowledge of dinosaurs with this 100-piece Puzzle Double! After you put the puzzle together, turn off the lights and the puzzle glows in the dark! Additionally turn the puzzle over and you have a coloring activity. The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 100-piece puzzle measures a giant 3’ X 2’. Launch date: November 2012.

This fun and colorful tray puzzle features numbers and equations and will encourage children to develop counting and early math skills. Lined text teaches uppercase and lowercase handwriting skills. Pictures are also printed under the pieces to guide younger children. Launch date: November 2012.

This fun and colorful tray puzzle features the alphabet and will encourage children to develop letter recognition skills.  Lined text teaches uppercase and lowercase handwriting skills.  Pictures are also printed under the pieces to guide younger children. Launch date: November 2012.

Progressive puzzles grow with kids. As preschoolers master the 3-piece puzzle, they then progress to the 4-piece, 5-piece, and 6-piece puzzles. Four puzzles included in each set. Easy slide box allows for quick clean-up. Large chunky puzzle pieces measure about 2x3" each. Made with 80% recycled content and printed with vegetable based inks. Conforms with CPSIA and ASTM standards.

Loved by players of every age and skill level, the goal of Sudoku - a fun, addictive logic game - is to fill all 81 spaces on the 9x9 playing area with numbers, such that all digits 1-9 are used once per row, per column and per 3x3 region. Designed with balance in mind, our innovative approach to Sudoku equally engages both halves of the brain - the right side works on numerical challenges and reasoning while the left side focuses on color patterns and creativity. Although the large game board and colorful numbered pieces are designed to be enjoyed collaboratively with a partner, it's just as fun to play individually. Each Set includes: 1) Game Board (11.4" x 11.4") with Colored areas easy to distinguish each 3x3 region and indented round spaces to keep everything in place. 2) Round Game Pieces (216) includes, 81 primary game pieces which are identifiable by both colors and numbers and has a black or white star on its reverse side for use in other games, and 135 secondary game pieces with 15 of each number which are smooth and can move and slide easily. 3) Covered Storage Tray for easy to organize and store game pieces with ergonomic, rounded design which makes accessing the smooth game pieces easy. 4) Sukugo® Booklet with game instructions and 100 Sudoku games (10 levels of difficulty) and solutions. And 5) Carrying Case with Padded, zipper-closing case fits easily on a bookshelf and external pocket holds game piece tray and booklet.

PathWords Jr. is a clever word search puzzle with a twist. To complete each themed challenge, place colorful Tetris-style puzzle pieces over letters to spell a word forward or backwards. With its unique design and tactile appeal, PathWords Jr. builds spatial reasoning and strengthens vocabulary with clever graphic hints and funny word play. An ideal game for children ages 6 and  up, PathWords Jr. instills a lifelong love of word puzzles and logic games.
Awards: Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Product Award; ASTRA Best Toys winner in 2011; Creative Child Puzzle of the Year; Parents' Choice (Gold); Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (Platinum); Teachers' Choice; National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA).
— As of 11/15/2012 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 17 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Helps build logic and spacial skills; helps kids develop literacy skills.