February 2010 New Specialty Toys — Wooden Toys

This realistic-looking barbecue set features a hood that opens and a collapsible side table. It includes red knobs to pretend adjusting the heat during play, and wheels to roll it around to different locations. Primary materials are plywood, MDF and non-toxic paint. It measures 47 cm x 37.5 cm x 60 cm.
— This BBQ set was one of the top-two products mentioned by specialty retailers during ASTRA's Share the Fair event at Toy Fair 2010.

These beechwood blocks in a pastel palette are made in Germany and come in a 10-piece set.
— Two of 38 specialty retailers named HABA blocks as a best-selling wooden toy in February 2010.

This bright block set features 28 pieces colored with water-based, non-toxic stains.
— Two of 38 specialty retailers referenced HABA blocks when discussing best-selling wooden toys in February 2010.

This colorful collection of 36 wooden blocks comes in a red-wheeled wagon with a rope for transport. It measures 13" x 11" x 3."
— Five of 38 specialty retailers named Melissa & Doug's blocks as a best-selling wooden toy in February 2010.

These wooden, magnetic dolls come in a box with multiple clothing options and include stands for playtime.
— Five of 38 retailers told TDmonthly in February 2010 that Melissa & Doug magnetic dress-up items are a best-selling wooden toy in their stores.

This 24-piece wooden jigsaw puzzle features an attractive palette of dinosaurs and scenery. It measures 0.4" x 11.75" x 15.75".
— Eight of 38 retailers named puzzles by Melissa & Doug as a best-selling wooden toy in early 2010. Jamie Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly his store sells about 36 a month of assorted styles.

This small purple engine boasting red wheels and gold trim is labeled with the No. 14 and prides himself on mischief and adventure. It measures 3.5" x 1.5" x 2".
— Ten of 38 specialty retailers named Thomas & Friends as one of their best-selling wooden lines in February 2010.
— Mike Lane, manager of Hobbytown in Cumming, Ga., told TDmonthly in early 2010 that his store sells about 3 dozen Thomas trains per month.

Complete with interchangeable parts like the rest of the Automoblox collection, the T900 features a chrome grill and bumpers, all-terrain tires on chrome wheels, and an overall sleek, sporty design.
— Four of 38 specialty retailers named Automoblox as a top-selling wooden toy in February 2010. "Automoblox do really well," said Stacy Solie of Leapin' Lizards Toy Co. in Bend, Ore., citing sales of about 2 dozen per month.

This kit gives some structure to free-form building with planks, including an idea book with instructions for building ball-track structures, ramps, funnels and more. It allows for scientific experimentation as kids test rolling the two included lightweight balls to see if they move as anticipated.
— "A new concept kit will help kids build bigger and better — simple, open-ended and smart," said John MacDougall, owner of Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., at Toy Fair 2010.
— It was also a top-two favorite at ASTRA's Share the Fair event during Toy Fair 2010.
— In an April 2012 survey, Elmer Carranza, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly that KEVA blocks are their best selling construction toy.

In this medieval-themed game for two to four players, oppenents must work to protect their castles as they try to knock the other players' wrecking balls off track. It's a sturdy wooden game with several movable elements. Launch date: 2010.

Brightly colored with water-based stain (no lacquer) rattles are sure to keep baby happy and busy. Whether babies want to shake it or spin it they’re going to enjoy it.
Awards: Creative Child Magazine Toy Award 2010
— Three of 38 specialty retailers cited rattles by HABA as a best-selling wooden toy in their stores in February 2010.

This wooden car has a sleek design and measures 20 cm long.

Suitable for ages 3 months and up, this spinning top toy features a wooden base covered with a bright, fabric octopus.

Cubebots's powerful hardwood frame can hold many poses, and his elastic-band muscles and durable wood limbs make him impervious to breakage. When it’s time for him to rest, he folds into a perfect cube. Designed by David Weeks. Made of sustainably harvested cherry wood. Watch Cubebot: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010

This large drum comes with an adjustable lanyard and toddler hand size's drumsticks that are perfect for beating on the big drum.
— "We are all occasionally guilty of under rating the value of simpler toys, but you can't do better for gross motor planning, grasping, or cause and effect for your toddler than a drum like the natural wood Big Drum from Plan Toys. The drum sticks are the right size for toddlers and the drum has a really nice woody sort of sound. Another great product from Plan Toys," Jennifer Shuman, owner of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.
— Plan Toys is one of Owner Donna Fredericks’ best-selling wooden lines at The Play House Toy Store in Durham, N.C.
— Gary Green, owner of The Toy Box of Asheville in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly in a January 2012 survey about musical products that they sold 30 of this item each month during the holiday shopping season.

Bright and colourful building blocks made from lightweight bamboo. The blocks are printed with various abstract designs which encourage creativity and imaginative play. Particularly suited for child hands, they can be very easily built on top of each other.
— "Fresh off winning the Toy Innovation Award at the 2010 Nuremberg Toy Fair, Hape has introduced these really big colorful hollow, bamboo construction blocks. Painted with water based paint, the blocks are big and easy for little hands to manipulate," Joe Mitchell, owner of YoYo Joe's Toys & Fun, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

Blocks Rock is a fast-paced blocks game of recognition, action and excitement that can be played by two players or two teams. Launch date: March 2010.
— "Blocks Rock with cognitive reasoning and fine motor control.  What makes this game unique is that it was designed by kids for kids and all sales proceeds go back to their school. Kudos to those that inspired these children. Geared to children 6 years and older and played by two individuals or two teams, players race to build a pattern on a matching card. The game is made challenging by a clever a 3D element.  Add a timer for solo play and use multiple cards to increase the level of difficulty as proficiencies rise," Jennifer Shuman, of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

In turn, players flip their top card. As soon as two cards match, both players with matching cards race to stack up the requested number of piggies with the right color on top. The goal is to be the first player to get rid of all his cards to win the game. "How quick and precise are your fingers? Find out as you build piggy piles in this lively stacking game. Stay on your hooves! There is more than one silly way to stack up your piggies," Bert Devort, Sales Department, Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 14, 2010.
— "Loved this game," Kate Tanner of Kidstop Toys told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

This is a classic old-school wood caddy made to help kids keep their art supplies organized. Each caddy can be customized with the name of the child in the color of their choosing. It is offered in a clear finish or stained Mahogany and comes fully stocked with crayons, markers, pencils, finger paints, scissors, glue, water color paints, modeling clay, construction paper and a doodle pad. A tool box version is also offered, and includes a hammer, pliers, screwdrivers and more. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

Little kids can Pollywolly doodle all day on this wooden banjo

Kids can learn about colors, numbers, stacking and nesting with this set of wooden nesting boxes.

Kids can release their inner Robinson Crusoe with this building set. The natural wood pieces can fit together in a number of ways to build the perfect island getaway.

This high-quality, colorful, easy to assemble Push & Play Mouse Wagon is designed to engage kids in hours and hours of wholesome play with lots of fun. It encourages walking and balancing, and there's a maze on both sides of the wagon. Kids can store their favorite toys in the large box and move around the house. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

This environmentally friendly wooden Geometric Stacking Puzzle is made of wood from FSC-monitored sources, painted with water-based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials, and printed with soy-bean ink. Created with a 2-year-old in mind, this all-wood puzzle features stacking and counting elements to help kids think and learn. Each of the four puzzle pieces contains one, two, three or four posts on which children can stack a circle, rectangle, square or triangle. Each shape is made with a different number of holes so it can only be put on the correct puzzle piece. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: February 14, 2010.