January 2013 Notable Toys — All

Sculpting dough for all ages, colored with fruit and vegetable powders only and wheat/gluten free. Made with no preservatives and all natural and organic ingredients. Parents can feel good about their baby/toddler exploring the textures and stacking, playing and rolling our Veggie Dough. Launch date: January 2013.

This book lets you explore the Enterprise NCC-1701-D in amazing high-resolution 3D. Using original blueprints, diagram and scans, you can take a tour of the famous starship with the book and CD-ROM. The book was written by Star Trek expert team Denise and Michael Okuda. Launch date: February 2013.

Author Warren Elsmore presents a pictorial collection of world-famous buildings and landmarks made of LEGO blocks, along with instructions to build your own versions.  The models that readers can build include: The Golden Gate Bridge, New York’s new World Trade Center, The Louvre in Paris, Rome’s Coliseum, The Great Wall of China…and many more. Launch date: May 2013.

These flash cards are an engaging invitation for children and parents to explore color together in a whole new way. This 18-card set focuses on 2 tones of each of the 9 basic colors. When you flip the card over, additional colors in the same color family are introduced in the context of an illustrated pattern, and the child is prompted to pick out the right color. These innovative flash cards are both practical and stunning, making them an irresistible addition to any child’s toy box, bookshelf, or wall. "Pantone is the world’s most powerful and influential brand in color, trusted by artists and designers for decades. These flash cards will bring the colors to a younger generation," Jason Wells from Abrams told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2013.

The SKY RIPPERZ super sonic bungee-launched rockets are the newest innovation in flight technology in Zing’s Blast Off™ line. Just attach the Launcher to the Launch Hook on the SKY RIPPERZ Whistle-Screaming Rocket, pull the tab, and watch it fly over 250 feet high with a flick of the wrist! Listen as the SKY RIPPERZ Rocket takes off wailing through the air with Whistle-Screaming action. Whether kids are going for Long Shotz, High Shotz or Target Shotz, the new SKY RIPPERZ hand-launched rockets are set to soar to super sonic heights with unbelievable performance. Launch date: April 2013.

SUSHI STAX™ is the new fast-paced game that combines the fun of stacking with the unique challenge of using chopsticks!   Incorporating the trendiness of sushi into a fun and challenging game, SUSHI STAX has players racing to build and balance a variety of sushi towers using only chopsticks or tongs to lift each piece!  With various configurations on different cards, players must carefully balance the need for speed with precision and accuracy so that their pieces don’t come tumbling down. Launch date: May 2013.

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.

Make early learning fun & exciting with the brand new electronic portable Smart play Pad. Little ones will love the cool looking tablet that’s easy to use and can play anywhere. More than 30 touch sensor keys teach language and pronunciation skills to help prepare your child for kindergarten. Four game modes are full of fun ways to discover letters, phonics, numbers, music and more. Bonus - Bilingual feature helps kids learn the alphabet and numbers in English and Spanish. Requires 3 AAA batteries (included). 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.

This backpack is sized for the preschool and kindergarten set. This bag combines the personality of the Deglingos with the function of a backpack. Part of the Deglingos brand of toys and accessories designed in France, featuring new character Sandykilos.

Buckminster Fuller was an engineer, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor, futurist and second president of Mensa International, the high IQ society. He is best known for his many architectural designs, the best known of which is the geodesic dome, or "Bucky Ball"-Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know that talking about systems theorists is pretty boring, but without Mr. Fuller we wouldn't have the Space Chips Glom Dron set, so it all kind of evens out, don't you think? The Glom Dron is a set of 540 pentagon chips that can be used to build a Bucky Ball.

Kids try their hand at mad science using a beaker, funnel, mix-and-measure scoop, squishy-lidded bubble test tubes, and an abundance of glow-in-the-dark powder to concoct 20 experiments that glow, ooze, and stink up the kitchen. From glow-in-the-dark alien blood to scratch-and-sniff stickers, young scientists will never have so much fun with custom-designed tools and commonly found household ingredients.

Learn Spanish with Spot it! Basic Spanish! This educational game features universal images and Spanish words. There is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any two cards. Spot it to win. Players search for matches between a word and its corresponding picture, between two pictures, or between two words. While the repetition solidifies word recognition, the pictures support reading comprehension. Spot it! Basic Spanish aids learning for Spanish speaking emergent readers and second language learners of all ages.

Learn French with Spot it! Basic French! This educational game features universal images and French words. There is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any two cards. Spot it to win. Players search for matches between a word and its corresponding picture, between two pictures, or between two words. While the repetition solidifies word recognition, the pictures support reading comprehension. Spot it! Basic French aids learning for French speaking emergent readers and second language learners of all ages.

This golf card game features more than 50 different images of things one would see on the course. One, and only one, matching symbol exists between any two cards. Spot it to win. Spot it! Golf can be played five ways. For newcomers to the sport, this card game is a great way to become familiar with golf terms and lingo.

Animal rescue rangers to the rescue! With this rugged safari truck, two cheerful people are ready to zoom across the savannah to help their animal friends. The alligator, zebra, rhinoceros, elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus and lion fit into the truck's sides through die-cut slots, so this exciting toy is perfect for imaginative play and fine motor skills . . . and much more! Lift and remove the cargo door to unload the colorful animals, then count, sort and stack the solid-wood pieces before loading the truck and securing the door in its track. One male and one female ranger fit in the cab of the truck, or come out to tend to the animals on the preserve. Play ideas are included to reinforce basic skills and inspire creative play.

The school bus is here! There's a friendly driver at the wheel and room for six happy passengers in this 10-piece wooden play set. With easy-rolling wheels and doors that open and close, this exciting set creates an interactive scene designed to inspire limitless play. Pieces are sized to fit with all Whittle World play sets and accessories sets.

Introducing an "appsolutely" new way to enjoy story time. This sturdy case (that looks just like baby’s favorite book) will protect any iPhone® 3GS, 4 & 4S or iPod touch® 4G from dribbles, drool, teething and sticky little fingers. Baby will love unlocking never-ending content at the turn of a page – just open and close the case cover to advance app content. Through FREE interactive story apps, with adorable animations and audio prompts, baby will be introduced to classic stories, nursery rhymes, book handling skills and early literacy. (Device not included.)

This mighty music maker (with an easy-carry handle) lights up as kids rock. Jam on a 24-note keyboard with a choice of 8 instrument sounds, 4 percussion sounds and 8 different rhythms. It even records and plays back compositions. Approx. 7'L x 15'W x 2'H. Made of plastic. Requires 3 'AA' batteries (included).
— Andrea Scartozzi from Hardware Toys in Paoli. Pa., told TDmonthly in a December 2012 survey that they sold 6 of this keyboard during the holiday season.

TDmonthly recommends looking at Schoenhut for similar, high-quality musical toys and instruments.

The Confetti Ukulele is thoughtfully made of wood with blast-from-the past construction and quality. Fun, tune-able sound and a size that’s just right for a budding musician.
— In a December 2012 survey, Katie Rook, owner of Be Beep A Toy Shop in Columbia, S.C., told TDmonthly that they sold 40 of these ukuleles during the holiday season.

TDmonthly recommends looking at Schoenhut for similar, high-quality musical toys and instruments.

The Sing Along Star Microphone makes singing fantastic fun. Kids can hear their voice amplified, enjoy backing music and also see cool lights flash as they sing to their heart's content. At the end of the show, the pink Sing Along Star Microphone adds clapping and cheering. Children can use the microphone's extending stand to sing along while playing an instrument with their hands, or making extravagant hand actions. They can also take the Sing Along Star Microphone off the stand to dance while they sing.
— In a December 2012 survey about bestselling musical toys, three out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that microphones were their bestselling musical toys.

Kids can be their own rock star with the cool Rock Star guitar. 8 buttons on the fret board make tunes and sounds, and there's a rhythm button, three songs and a demo, a swing bar to pull, light-up strumming section and lots of fun effects. Comes with cool glasses and hands free mic.
— In a December 2012 survey about bestselling musical toys, three out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that ELC musical toys from International Playthings were there bestsellers.

TDmonthly recommends looking at Schoenhut for similar, high-quality musical toys and instruments.

This high quality machine is versatile and super easy to use. It includes 40' of sticker tape, 80+ sticker designs - including velvet, metallic and glitter, color-in markers and sticker book. Kids can even turn their artwork and photos into stickers.
— In a December 2012 survey about bestselling toys, Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly, "This past holiday season we had great success with the X-treme Sticker Maker from Creativity for Kids. We sold several dozen from late Nov. till we ran out in early Dec."

Where to buy:
NORTH WEST