May 2010 New Specialty Toys — Wooden Toys

The classic children's holiday story is told in a multi-layer wooden puzzle.

This wooden traditional-cut 98-piece puzzle is contained in a wooden frame and is suitable for display.

This wooden set contains the Amtrak F-40 engine and two Superliner cars. All Whittle Train toys are designed for use on Brio and Thomas track systems. "Our products are crafted with the highest quality of artwork and components. Attention to detail and safety are hallmarks of the Whittle Toy Company and these principles are incorporated into everything we make, right here in the USA," Owner Mike Whitworth told TDmonthly.

In the game of Cornerstone, players build and climb towers in a race to reach the top. Each turn, players build by strategically placing blocks, gaining a better vantage point for their climber, or blocking an opponent as the towers grow taller and more unstable. Matt Mette, Co-Founder of Good Company Games, told TDmonthly, "This game is universally appealing." Awards: 2009 Mensa Select; Parents' Choice Silver Honor. Launch date: October 2008.

The nic CombiCar is a basic vehicle with four different set-ups. It's now also availabe with a trailer. The set-ups are very easily interchangeable. The system is suited for use inside and outside, but should be kept dry. Made of beech wood.
— “In our view, it’s the best scooter toy that's ever been made," said Dean Ruggierio Smith, co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, NJ.

From the My Little Scoot collection, Train Engine Scoot is the perfect size for play mats, crafted from pine and approximately 4" long. This Scoot Train is modeled after the great locomotives of years past. Non-toxic clear finish and inks are used. Barbara Rainville, Marketing Manager at Maple Landmark Woodcraft, told TDmonthly, "The Scoot Train is made in the USA." Launch date: March 2010.

Great for make-believe in Camelot, on the High Seas or even at Hogwarts, these swords are crafted from hardwood plywood, highly sanded with gently rounded edges, and finished with an earth-based naturoil finish. Each sword measures about .25” thick and 20” long, and the handle is designed to fit comfortably in a child’s hand. Barbara Rainville, Marketing Manager at Maple Landmark Woodcraft, told TDmonthly, "The swords are American-made and singles are available." Launch date: Feb. 10, 2010.

The Jigsaw Puzzle Board has two slide-out trays for sorting and storing puzzle pieces, and comes with a clear, acrylic cover and four plastic clips to protect the puzzle when not in use. The puzzle board is made from Oak wood with a hand-rubbed oil finish and is available in three sizes: 500 pieces, 1,000 pieces and 1,500 pieces. Ed Weber, owner of Jigsaw Puzzle Board, told TDmonthly, "The 1,000 piece puzzle board is our most popular."

Large, versatile and sturdy stand-up easel allows young artists to create masterpieces over and over! Painting area is 17" x 20" for chalkboard, write and wipe, and paper roll surfaces. Handy and spacious paint and brush shelf has a washable surface for easdy clean-ups. Spacious 18" x 18' storage tray conveniently holds a variety of art supplies. Paints, paintbrush, chalk and paper sheets not included.  Ships partially assembled.

These hardwood maple and cherry chess pieces are made in Vermont. The pieces are blocks with a traditional characters engraved on two sides. All the pieces are 1" wide and 1" deep, varying in height depending on the strength of the character. The pawn stands at 1.25" tall and the Queen is 2.25" tall. Each set comes with a cloth pouch for piece storage when not in use. Barbara Rainville, marketing manager for Maple Landmark Woodcraft, told TDmonthly, "Each piece has a diagram to show how that character moves engraved on the bottom — for new players or those just a bit rusty." Launch date: March 13, 2010.

This German-made clutching toy by HABA manipulates easily in an infant's hands. The variations created with the easy movement of the different sections allows for easy beginning hand-eye coordination. It is made from beechwood and colored in a nontoxic, water-based stain. Launch date: March 2010.

This high-quality wooden xylophone is designed with lifestyle colors, has a handle for easy toting and storage for two sticks. The baltic birch frame and maple keys and two sticks offer fun, safe early melodies. Robin Lehnert, Hape Marketing Manager, told TDmonthly, "A 10-month old begins with a rap and a tap. Who knows what could happen next on the very beginner xylophone." Launch date: February 2010.
— In a January 2014 survey, Cariad Owens Fichtner, manager of Out of the Blue, Ltd in Albuquerque, N.M., told TDmonthly that Hape Xylophones were one of the top-2 best-selling musical toys at her store.
— In a January 2015 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Xylophones were their store's best-selling music toys.

Youngsters can tap on both sides of this wood drum. One side is a classic tone drum and the other has a regular drum sound. The see-through drum surface allows children to trace beads inside in a secure maze. It comes with two drum sticks. Launch date: February 2010.

Children start by joining the puzzle bases together and then twist the shapes on the appropriate post. Children can make up their own way to play this stacking and sorting activity that triples as a puzzle, too. Designed with solid baltic birch bases, the Creative Peg Puzzle posts have elasticized bases in case a child falls onto the post. Multiple bases allow for more than one child to play at the same time. Launch date: February 2010.

Children can prepare a cup of joe for themselves or a guest with this modern coffee maker and sugar and cream. They can insert the single-serve coffee filter in the basket and push the button to pretend the coffee is brewing. This product is constructed with a combination baltic birch plywood and maple. Robin Lehnert, Marketing Manager at Hape, told TDmonthly this product features a "modern realistic design in lifestyle colors." Launch date: Feb. 2010.

The Gourmet Fridge is a modern white wood cabinet-style refrigerator with a top-mounted freezer and six ice cubes ready to provide instant refreshment. Hape Marketing Manager Robin Lehnert told TDmonthly, "High-quality Baltic Birch plywood materials combine with a modern, realistic design in lifestyle colors for this working ice-maker." Launch date: February 2010.

Baby can enjoy the clicky clack this teether makes when this toy is tapped together. This teether features wooden shapes, multiple textures and colors, and is easy for little hands to grasp. Launch date: 2010.

This board game has a strategic engagement style of play, where players must use historical figures and sailing warships from the era 1750-1805 to battle for the seas. Bunky Gress, President of Bunky's Enterprises, Inc., told TDmonthly, "The game is designed by the players in regards to length and complexity." Launch date: June 2010.

It is possible to build multiple variants of different buildings with the Dismantlable Vario Building Set from WALACHIA. The set contains beech parts of 15 mm in diameter, of various lengths, with which by means of locks at the ends, creative and unique constructions may be assembled and dismantled. Awards: 1995/Prague Toy Fair. Launch date: January 1992.

This layered wooden puzzle teaches kids the stages of a frog's life, from egg to tadpole to juvenile and adult.

This natural wood car transporter can tote two chunky vehicles and load and unload them for endless imaginary adventures with its driver Woody Click.  A water based paint adds bright colors to playtime that begins with building the vehicles first and then play. It won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award in 2006.

Suitable for ages 3 months and up, this rainbow collection of wooden beads is held together by an elastic cord and can be manipulated into a variety of configurations. The beads are coated with non-toxic, water-based finishes.
— "If we were able to keep [Baby Beads] in stock, we would sell lots," Dean Smith, co-owner of JaZams in Pennington, N.J., told TDmonthly in March 2010. "Based on how many we've sold, we would sell 30 a month."

Created for family game night, this bowling set features six hand-cut and sanded maple wood kitty pins with carved facial features and coated in non-toxic paints. It includes a 2"-diameter bowling ball, a game play sheet, four score sheets, and a handmade cotton canvas bag for storage. "We love that they function to help develop hand-eye coordination for a younger child but will last for years as the child grows older," Sara, co-owner of Kitty Baby Love, told TDmonthly. Launch date:

There are four different Teach & Play Tiles set for the beginning learner. Set 1 has shapes and colors, set 2 includes animals and vegetables, set 3 makes story telling fun with buildings and vehicles, and set 4 reinforces counting skills with numbers and fractions. Each set comes with 12 tiles, printed on both sides with non-toxic inks. The tiles measure 2.25" wide, 3.5" tall and a slight 1/8" thick. Sets come with a cloth storage pouch and suggestions for play. Each set can be used for rudimentary learning at first and then grow with the child in expanding activities. The tiles may be used for matching and sorting skills, comparing and contrasting, categorization, story telling and math practice. Launch date: Summer 2010.