January 2011 Notable Toys — All

A child will never have to hop alone again. Using this tandem hopper increases kids' agility and copperative skills. Plus, they get exercise without even noticing.
Awards: 2010 National Parenting Center Riding/Exercise Toys award

Dinosaur fans can dig up their favorite bones using a plastic chisel and hammer. After assembling the pieces, they'll have a museum-quality display piece.
Awards: 2010 National Parenting Center Toys That Teach award

Kids use a plastic chisel and hammer to unearth the bones of extinct animals, then assemble the pieces into a skeleton. The finished piece can be used as a display.
Awards: 2010 National Parenting Center Toys That Teach award

Between a Roc and a Hard Place is the story of a young dragon named Tephra, who is abandoned as an egg and is subsequently adopted and raised by a family of giant birds (Rocs). Through trial and error, Tephra and her family members learn along the way what being a family really means. The story explores intricacies of adoption, especially interracial adoptions, all without ever mentioning the word ‘adoption.’ Author Danny Birt has an MA degree in music therapy, and has worked with children who have special needs.
Awards: 2010 National Parenting Center Children's Books award

A new series of Superstructs, plastic rod-and-connector-style construction toys, called Arc-A-Teks from WABA Fun will have kids as young as 3-years-old creating, building and imagining. Each of the three Arc-A-Teks sets comes with 40-42 pieces, enough to build two Arc-A-Tek characters simultaneously. Children can also build a third character from each set, and instructions can be found online using a special code included in each Arc-A-Teks set. It’s a thoroughly non-violent, character-building construction set made with bigger parts for littler hands.

Check out Ugly any time of day with a new line of high-end ceramic watches from the Ugly Doll people. As of 11/29/10, watches were not yet available for purchase, but could be pre-ordered.

Andy Mills is a fashion-doll first: an openly gay event planner. Made of vinyl and hard plastic, this new, original sculpt doll has hand-painted facial features and comes dressed in a sharp pin-striped suit, complete with a contrasting pocket square and spectacles. He has blue eyes and wigged brunette hair. He’s a full 17” high.

This compilation by Susan Magasmen uses a developmental skills model called the 6Cs™ that was created by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff to help parents and teachers see the immediate links between learning and play.  The stories come from families and educators at Goddard Schools around the nation.

A classic scene of enjoying Coca-Cola during the holiday season. Completed puzzle measures 28.75" x 36". © The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola, Coke and the Contour Bottle Design, the Dynamic Ribbon device, the Red Disk Icon and the Coca-Cola Santa are trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company and in Canada, Coca-Cola, Ltd.  All rights reserved.  Allied Products Corporation is an official licensee of The Coca-Cola Company.

Put together this 2000-piece jigsaw puzzle to reveal a collage of women's shoes. © Hallmark Licensing

It's a race to the finish with this graphic and colorful image. Finished puzzle measures 28.75" x 36". © James Tandkiev Photography.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Sprinbok was a best selling brand of puzzles.

Cross over into a winter wonderland all from the comfort of home. This scene was captured in Seattle, Washington. Finished puzzle measures 28.75" x 36".

One for the avid Coke collector — a collage of Coca-Cola vintage signs. © The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola, Coke and the Contour Bottle Design, the Dynamic Ribbon device, the Red Disk Icon and the Coca-Cola Santa are trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company and in Canada, Coca-Cola, Ltd.  All rights reserved.  Allied Products Corporation is an official licensee of The Coca-Cola Company.

Come sail away with this colorful photo of sails in the midst of a race that's too close to call.

Created by award-winning children’s author/illustrator Neecy Twinem, ZombieZoo characters are different and a bit quirky, featuring an unusual story line and unique personalities. The ZombieZoo family of animals includes Boo the black cat, the natural born leader of the group, and Stich, a pig obsessed with hygiene.  Along with their friends, Muck (Monkey), Rob (Rabbit) and Toxic (Snake), original (large) Zombies stand at 12 to 15 inches high, are made of soft fleece and have a “Frankenstein” style of stitching adorning their bodies and over-sized heads.  The large ZombieZoo plush characters come with a six and a half minute DVD storybook. Zombie minis, replicas of their larger siblings, are also available. They stand 4-5 inches tall and include a handy clip to attach to backpacks, clothing, etc.  

The Air Hogs Hawk Eye Camera Copter is the first indoor helicopter that can take video and photos while flying. The helicopter can capture up to 5 minutes of video at a resolution of 320 x 240 or hundreds of photos at a resolution of 640 x 480.  Requires 3 AAA batteries, not included.

Two five-foot long, 30-piece colorful cargo train puzzles: one teaching color, counting and number recognition and one teaching the alphabet. One puzzle features a train of cabooses with numbers on the side, while the other features the alphabet.

Featuring two playtime activities in one, each Find It! product combines a puzzle and game into one educational, interactive learning experience. Puzzle Doubles Find It! USA teaches children about the United States of America. First assemble the puzzle, then play the game using the enclosed game pieces. For an additional learning experience, flip the game pieces over to play a word recognition game. Each 50-piece puzzle measures 3’ x 2’.

Featuring two playtime activities in one, each Find It! product combines a puzzle and game into one educational, interactive learning experience. This Find It! version teaches children the ABCs. First assemble the puzzle, then play the game using the enclosed game pieces. For an additional learning experience, flip the game pieces over to play a word recognition game. Each 50-piece puzzle measures 3’ x 2’.

Featuring two playtime activities in one, each Find It! product combines a puzzle and game into one educational, interactive learning experience. Puzzle Doubles Find It! Friends teaches children about multicultural friends. First assemble the puzzle, then play the game using the enclosed game pieces. For an additional learning experience, flip the game pieces over to play a word recognition game. Each 50-piece puzzle measures 3’ x 2’.

Featuring two fun-filled playtime activities in one, each Find It! product combines a puzzle and game into one educational, interactive learning experience. The Find It! series teaches children about the USA, dinosaurs, ABCs, 123s, Canada, the solar system, and multicultural friends. First assemble the puzzle, then play the game using the enclosed game pieces. For an additional learning experience, flip the game pieces over to play a word recognition game. Each 50-piece puzzle measures 3’ x 2’.

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Dollhouse combines a puzzle with additional activities to create a fun and interactive learning experience for your child. After assembling the puzzle, children can create their own scenes and stories by placing the reuseable static stickers on the surface of completed puzzle. Then turn the puzzle over for a big coloring activity! The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'.

Build a brain and then pick it apart with this sequel to the Squishy Human Body. This anatomically correct model, complete with moving mandible (jawbone) and squishy plastic brain and eyes, makes for a realistic experience of our body's gray matter. With the included illustrated book, kids go on a tour through the sense, movement, memory, emotion, decision-making, and automatic functions like breathing and digestion. Phenomena like brain freeze and notes on how and when things go wrong are also explored. Includes: 9-piece transparent skill that fits together at the sutures, 8 squishy brain parts, Squishy eyeballs, 4 vertebrae pieces with spinal cord, Skull base, Tools: forceps, scalpel, and tweezers, Skull map, Brain blister with labels, and 32-page, fully illustrated book.
— In a December 2013 survey two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that skull and brain novelty items were Halloween best-sellers.

With this hands-on kit and tour guide, kids enter the world of the human body — complete with removable squishy vital organs as well as skeletal, vascular, and muscular systems, kids explore the complex inner workings of the human body and see how everything fits together. Research physician Lucille M. Kayes helps examine the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of the human body by following a bite of pizza as it travels through the body. Includes: 12" plastic human body model and stand, 12 plastic bones and muscles, 9 removable squishy vital organs, Body parts Organ-izer, Tweezers, Forceps, and 32-page fully illustrated book,
Awards: 2008 NAPPA Honors Award; 2008 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award (Educational/Science Toys Category); 2008 Parents’ Choice Recommended Award