March 2012 New Specialty Toys — All

These colorful cars are the perfect accessory for CitiBlocs constructions. Each car features a unique and playful design, including a taxi, police car, fire truck and more (8 cars total). Cars range in size from 2" - 4" long and are the same width/height as the standard blocks (approx 3/4"), making them perfect for kids 3+.

100 piece NEON colors building block set- with 5 different vibrant colors to add a little pizzazz to building fun. Colors include: green, pink, blue, orange and natural-colored blocks (20 blocks of each color). Build way-cool towers, towns, castles and more. Each fun set comes in a sturdy, paint can-style container for storage with a handle.

By creating a path from Start to Finish, 2 to 4 players try to beat the Ogre to the treasure. Along the way they need to collect 3 keys to open the treasure’s lock before the Ogre gets there. Players strategize, cooperate and build the path as a team. If they make it down the path before you-know-who, they all win! By playing this game, children master math grid concepts, emotional development, shared decision making, strategy techniques and of course, have fun! Board game includes a pair of wooden dice, 37 game cards, 4 key tokens and an Ogre snack. Launch date: 2012.

Chirp, chirp! The baby birds are hungry. Players help Mama Bird by turning over cards one at a time and gathering seeds. But watch out. The squirrel with the bushy tail might take the seeds for his own supper. Gather more seeds for the birds than the squirrel and everyone wins! This game works for 2 to 4 players and includes a game board, 16 game cards and 15 seeds. When play is done, children will have learned shared decision-making, cooperation, counting, adding, number sets, taking turns and following directions.

Spin the spinner and find a matching bug. Then slip it under the rug. It’s okay, Moms, because it’s just a game! Everyone works together to get all the colorful bugs under the rug before the three stinkbugs release their smelliness around the room. Watch closely and make those matches. Each of the three levels of play adds a new challenge. The board game includes 24 bright bugs, three stink bugs, a die, instructions for three game levels and a game board with a built-in spinner. Once preschoolers complete the game they will have mastered visual discrimination, taking turns, rolling a die, recognizing colors and shapes, distinguishing big and little, and counting. The focus in Level 1 is with a roll of the die that determines which 1 bug attribute will be matched for the entire game—color, number or shape. Players try to find matches to that attribute. In Level 2, both a roll of the die and a spin on the spinner complicate players’ abilities to find a match. Level 3 requires players to match two attributes in matches. Launch date: 2012.

Child-safe scissors allow 2 to 4 players to cut all the little bugs free before Willy the Spider falls from the top of the web. But watch out because the web is well, wiggly. To get started, kids pick a card, follow the instructions to cut the web and pass the scissors either left or right. Work cooperatively to free all the bugs and everyone wins. Preschoolers master recognizing left from right, cutting with scissors, taking turns, counting, hand-eye coordination and working cooperatively. Game includes stand-up web posts and platform, 50 paper webs, child-safe scissors, 10 bugs, 1 Willy spider, 30 cards, and instructions for 3 levels of game play. Level 1 introduces cutting with scissors with the players passing the scissors in one direction only. Level 2 adds Left and Right passing and Level 3 challenges the players to get up and switch seats, moving themselves left and right accordingly. Launch date: 2012.

This unicorn features two-toned purple plush and a reflective jewel that sparkles in its embroidered eyes. 11" tall.

No wheels on this little horsey, but safe rocking motions take baby on a delightful journey! This enchanting toy has been designed specifically for the very small. The rocking horse is designed with Moover’s special “brake curve” ensuring that the horse doesn't rock too high. This brake works automatically and unnoticed by reducing the speed when the horse reaches its highest point. The smart design ensures youngsters sit securely in a protected seat resulting in a safe position during the rocking and prevents a child from touching the floor. The seat is intentionally made in such a way that it takes some time for the child to climb onto and out of the seat. Choose from red horse with natural bar or natural horse with red bar.

This sturdy helper is designed for baby's own pace. Safety is key with Moover products and this walker resists tilting thanks to an adjustable brake. Parents adjust the brakes according to the child’s walking ability so the walker can move slowly forward or backward while supporting baby with a sturdy wood frame and firm easy-to-hold handle. Best of all for grownups, the rubber wheels work like "bumpers" protecting door frames and walls. After toddlers become veteran walkers the toy can be used as a cart for dolls or favorite items to move smoothly point A to point B. Choose red with yellow wheels or natural with red wheels.

This first toy on wheels is designed for children as young as 12 months, remaining friendly through the preschool years. It appeals to both boys and girls –an obvious choice as the child's first “ride-on” toy. Kids love to practice simple assembling and construction skills as both the truck body and the crane can be removed. In the driver's cab there is room for a teddy bear or a doll and other toys can be placed in the “trunk.” Choose red with yellow wheels or natural with red wheels.

Build and expand groups of beautiful color sequences. Players mix and match their own and other players’ cards into strategic groups to be the first to play their entire hand. It’s not as easy as it seems. Complete and collapse a spectrum into “white light” to increase their chances of winning.

Visual illusion leads to confusion as players try to follow number and color sequences. Players must watch out for the action cards that could completely disrupt their turn. The player to get to 100 points before the rest wins the CUBU challenge. Players can also play Speed CUBU to really test their visual perception.

Players connect the cards to build a beautiful array of colors. Add a little splice and slice to make the array explode. Array can be played on a table – but for even more fun play it on the floor and see how big the array can grow. The last person in the game is the player who builds the largest array of color.

What a blast kids will have when they can shoot aliens (or next-door buddies) with a 30-foot blast of water? This space pack holds a liter of water and can shoot water in two directions at once, or choose the more traditional single straight-on stream. Strap on the space pack – on top of other space gear or while still wearing pajamas -- and have a blast indoors or out. Like all Aeromax products, attention to detail is paramount with pretend pressure and instrument panels along with adjustable black straps. The modestly priced shooter can be played with or without water for priceless galactic role-playing. Watch more videos: Toy Fair 2012.

Junior explorers can hop on this inflatable space shuttle and blast off for both indoor or outdoor adventures. Ideal as a floating ride-on, this handsome shuttle boasts genuine looking instrument panels, gauges, a built-in portal view of Earth and the red & white stars & stripes of the U. S. of A. Kids will enjoy incorporating into play the clear window view of Earth and the international space station as seen from outer space. After touring the stars and the moon, move the furniture and make way for a shuttle landing that boasts a 45” wingspan and spreads 43” in length. Designed for a weight limit of 90 pounds.

It’s the ultimate set for water battles – a colorful Splash Sword, bright Splash Shield and of course, a Splash Bomb.

Kits include two Shains matching bracelets packaged with 100 multi-colored elements comprised of 75 letters, ten numbers and 15 icons. Matching bracelet colors can be specified, or can be mixed using any two of Shains’ 25 colors.

Brass wind instruments have played an important role in the music of New Orleans since the Spanish-American War, and were vital tools for the development of jazz during the first half of the 20th century. Putumayo's New Orleans Brass collection taps the contemporary scene for a characteristically pleasurable range of rhythms and moods. The lineup includes the Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, James and Troy Andrews, the Yockamo All-Stars, Leroy Jones, and John Boutté. Artists performing in perhaps slightly more old-fashioned styles are Glen Andrews & the Lazy Six, the Preservation Hall Hot 4, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Bob French's Original Tuxedo Band with Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown, and the Dukes of Dixieland, a much hipper-sounding ensemble than the mainstream Dixie pop group of the same name that made million-selling LPs during the 1950s and '60s. Once again, Putumayo offers substantial, accessible music to groove and move to, this time in the form of a good healthy shot of soulful sounds right up off of the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana.
— Jen Fairclough, assistant manager of Magic Box LTD in New Orleans, La., told TDmonthly in a January 2012 survey that they sell six of this CD, which plays in the store, each month.

This award-winning set includes a mini rainbow shaker, baby maraca, baby rattle and cage bell. Includes a vinyl carrying case.
Awards: 2007 Creative Child Magazine Top Toy of the Year Award
— As of 01/09/2012 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 24 reviews on Amazon.com.
— In a January 2012 survey, Dean Smith, co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly that their best selling musical item was, "Baby Band from Hohner — we had them for just a few months, and sold 15/month. It's a popular item."

This keyboard encourages interactive play with lots of buttons to press and plenty of musical choices for singing, playing, and recording. The Meowsic Keyboard comes with a book of lyrics and a small book of favorite kid quotes posted on the B Quote Gallery. Has a record button with instant play back, five instrument sounds and five beat choices, as well as a 20-song playlist that includes seven cat-themed songs.
— As of 1/6/2012 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 60 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Lots of songs to choose from; Includes black keys as well as white keys. Cons: Some parents very strongly believed that the pre-recorded songs sounded terrible, and that the songs sung with "meow" instead of regular lyrics were intolerably annoying; a few reported that certain keys wouldn't work simultaneously.
— In a 2012 survey about musical products, two of 13 retailers told TDmonthly that the Meowsic Keyboard from Battat was their top seller in the category.

Pounding sends the balls tinkling over the xylophone. Pull out the keyboard and the xylophone can be played solo. All Hape products comply with EN71 and ASTM quality standards - wood used comes from FSC managed forests.
Awards: May 2012 TDmonthly Top Toy Award. Why it won: This item was named a Top-10 Musical toy in February and a Top-10 Wooden toy in March by specialty retailers interviewed by TDmonthly. Its innovative design combines the elements of the popular shape sorting/tapping toy and the xylophone, giving it great play value.
— As of 1/6/2012 this product had 4.2 out of 5 stars from 13 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; lots of ways to play. Cons: The keyboard is not properly tuned.
— In a 2012 survey about Musical Products, three out of 13 retailers said this item was their best seller. Kelly Boone, manager of The Elephant's Trunk in Greenville, S.C., told TDmonthly that they sold at least 36 during the holidays.
— In a February 2012 survey about wooden toys, two out of 14 retailers said that this was their bestseller in the category. Kristin Dolle, manager of Playthings Toy Shoppe in Louisville, Ky. told TDmonthly that they sell between 8 and 12 units of this item each month.

The latest Pentago utilizes the sleek design style of the Multi-Player version in the compact ready to go, two-player version. Pentago is a two-player game in which the object is to create a row of five markers, in any direction, before your opponent does, but with a twist. Each move consists of placing a marker and then twisting one of the four game blocks; simple yet ingenious.

Kids will spend hours of creative fun decorating their pets with their own bright colors and patterns with this Design a Pet Kit. The Design a Pet Kit from Toysmith 4M contains a sand filled lizard, fish and frog for kids to paint and decorate. Each pet has their own adoption certificate and habitat. Kit includes: 3 sand filled pets, water soluable paints, paintbrush, adoption certificates, and habitats.
— In a January 2012 survey about arts and crafts toys, Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly that they sell a dozen of this toy each month. In fact, they sell so quickly that they "Can't keep them in stock!"

A complete Shrinky Dinks fun factory with oodles of supplies. Includes 10 sheets of pre-printed Shrink film, charm bracelets, beads, greeting cards, gift tags, jewelry cord, hair clips and key chains. Plus 8 color pencils, pencil sharpener and hole punch.
— In a January 2012 survey about arts and crafts toys, Grafton Stine, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly that Shrinky Dinks Deluxe was a best selling item.