February 2010 Notable Toys — Pretend Play

Kids can use the icing tube-shaped dry-erase markers to color four wooden cupcakes that come with a baking tray, cupcake sleeves and decorative wooden candles. The package measures 10.5" x 13.25" x 3.13".
— Play food sets and cutting food from Melissa & Doug were named as a best-selling wooden toy by seven of 38 retailers in February 2010. "The Melissa & Doug cupcake set did really well," Lesa Smith of Whiz Kid Toys in San Luis Obispo, Calif., told TDmonthly.
― Michael McCollum, owner of Learning Express in Hoover, Ala., told TDmonthly in spring 2010 that the Bake and Decorate Cupcake Set is his best-selling playset. “One of my employees absolutely loves it,” he said of what helps drive sales.
― “All year, [the best seller] is food sets from Melissa & Doug,” said Bill Rayment, owner of Toy Crossing in Harbor Beach, Mich., when asked about his top-selling playsets and activity kits during an April 2010 interview.
― Six of 43 retailers listed Melissa & Doug as their top supplier of playsets in April 2010.

No matter how much fish, fruit and veggies you eat, there’s always room for dessert! Set includes six different fabric cakes, cookies and tarts that look almost beautiful enough to eat.

Peelable fabric banana. Comes in two separate pieces.

Single fabric carrot for pretend play.

Single fabric tomato for pretend play.

Single fabric strawberry for pretend play.

An apple a day keeps the dolly doctor away! Especially a wooden apple, made in Germany.  Load that cart with fresh wooden fruit.

Live healthy and fill your cart with yummy wooden veggies grown in GERMANY. Set includes 2 carrots, 1 radish, 2 tomatoes, 2 mushrooms and 2 peppers.

Although it’s always fun to go shopping with mommy or daddy, because of HABA’s new shopping cart there’s no need to leave home. Sleek and sturdy design, double-wheels and fabric basket make for hours of pretend shopping play. Groceries sold separately.

10pc girl's wild west play set includes two 8" clicker guns, holsters, badge, and more. Comes in a 8"x13" blister card.

The enigmatic bounty hunter Boba Fett has been a fan and kid favorite since his big screen debut in “Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back.” Part of Fett’s mystique is his signature helmet. With simulated paint weathering and side antenna, the Boba Fett Helmet lets kids become the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy. Electronic lights and sounds add to the play experience. Launch date: August 1, 2010.
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal.

Join Captain Owen on the open seas! Our rugged boat playset is great for the bathtub, beach, and pool. A complete playset. It includes an 2 boats - Explorer Boat and Rescue Boat, a Life Preserver, two Dolphins - Mother and Baby, an Adventure Guide - Captain Owen, an Adventure Hat (interchangeable with other characters), and a Backpack Accessory. 2010 TOTY Award Winner.

Box-O-Mania puts a modern twist on the traditional cardboard box - the inspiration behind imaginative play and creative learning without complicated instructions and power charges. Inspired by this timeless toy, Box-O-Mania play boxes and specially-designed reusable stickers provide kids with the creative space in which they can use their fantasy through a variety of themes: a fire station, a beauty salon, a home, a clubhouse and more. Made of lightweight, yet sturdy corrugated plastic, Box-O-Mania play boxes offer more than twelve square feet of interior space for up to three children; they are easy to assemble, convenient to transport and store away.
— "My daughter is going to love this one. Fun, interactive child sized houses made from correlated plastic panels that velcro easily together. Available in 4 colors and several different themes. Use dry erase markers or the included sticker collection to decorate and personalize. When your done, wipe it off and start anew. Great for imaginative play," Jennifer Shuman, of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

The super-soft fleece is gentle for baby's sensitive skin and the colors are bright and stimulating. One can bring out a child's imagination with these semi-abstract characters. There are five characters in all, and they range from 4" to 9" tall, so they can be effortlessly packed into a diaper bag or purse. Their size also makes them easy for little ones to handle. "Muddy Cloud is a character-driven line featuring bright colors and abstract shapes. Most uniquely, the characters have no prescribed storylines, inviting children to become the storyteller with their ever-precious creative imagination," Matt Anaya, Owner Muddy Cloud, LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008.

Part of the hands-on line of Silly Sam & Friends talking role-play toys, this is a shape sorter with personality. Kids press on his nose or push the front door to insert something and let him talk. There are four shapes, each with a different color and representing a different material to recycle. There are two modes of play. This product is not in the mass market, according to Kelly Christensen, Director of Sales, Kidz Delight. Launch date: May 15, 2010.

Silly Sam Broom is part of hands-on line of Silly Sam & Friends talking role-play toys. Kids sweep and move the bristles or press the nose to hear one of six random speech and sound effects. Awards: American Baby Toy of the Year, Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products. Launch date: 2002.

This set includes an apron (size 4-8), an adjustable cotton chef's hat, and a silicone flower trivet. It is machine washable. "The included child-size hat and silicone trivet make this kit one-of-a-kind. Kids can really dress to play the part, and use the trivet to help in the kitchen or use for pretend play," Lisa Grass, Graphic Designer, Sassafras Enterprises Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2010.

With this playhouse and paper doll set in one, kids can open the box and unlock hours of imaginative play. It includes four stand-up mermaids, 80 reusable stickers, a castle topper, peek-a-boo flaps, and a tea table. "Reusable stickers add a special element to this item. The stickers provide for multiple use and encourage imaginative and inventive play since they can be moved around and mixed and matched," Donna Modrell, Marketing & Operations Manager, Peaceable Kingdom Press, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010.

This nifty book provides a script that highlights junior's parts, plus has masks for characters to wear.

Girls can peek behind foldouts and flaps to uncover a treasure of royal secrets from favorite fairy tale princesses, such as Cinderella, Thumbelina and Snow White. The life of a Princess is one of diamonds, ball gowns and handsome princes, but it’s also filled with little secrets. How did the Princess feel the pea? What lies in Sleeping Beauty’s spell book? Launch date: November 2009.

This hip press-out family includes 5 freestanding people, a cat, a dog, a doghouse, and over 150 mix-and-match vinyl cling pieces of clothing! Combine this with the MoMA Modern Play House for a completely modern experience. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Create a delightfully modern house with this innovative set of modular nesting boxes! Aspiring architects and designers of all ages can create modern spaces, arrange furniture and accessories, and then remodel again to create endless variations of their unique and distinctive homes. Includes 7 nesting boxes, 8 mix-and-match furniture pieces, and 12 removable vinyl cling accessories. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

This easily transportable product is two playmats in one, with differently designed spaces on each side. It comes with toys, features a wipe-clean surface, and is available in various themes: DinoLand, Roadville, Farm and Work Zone. Measurements are 28.5" x 22.5". Launch date: January 2010.

This one piece design is made for a Knight on the go. Just slip this soft, comfortable shirt on and you are back in the dark ages. It has a hood and sleeves made from a black, soft fabric with a hint of metallic to give it the look of true chain mail. The front is made of black and red crushed velvet with a royal crest.