February 2013 Notable Toys — Kits

Since it was first introduced in 1965, Spirograph has made it possible for aspiring artists of all ages to create beautifully intricate designs, originally developed as a drafting tool, by a mechanical engineer named Denys Fisher, the distinctive wheels and rings of the Spirograph cleverly combine, the principles of art and mathematics in a way that has inspired and delighted generations. Now you too can create your own cool designs and awesome pictures with the help of this fun and classic Spirograph drawing accessory. Put your paper in place and then choose again and again from 19 different gears to mix and match patterns and create a totally awesome image. Use the design guide to try out tried and true designs or get creative and create cool and colorful graphics of your own. Drawing accessory includes tray with built-in storage and includes 19 gears, 2 rings, 1 rack, 3-Ounce of Spiro-Putty, 3 retractable ball point pens, a 14 page guide book, 20 sheets of design paper and a carry along storage case with a built in work surface.
— Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston's Childs Play in Arlington, Va., told TDmonthly in a January 2014 survey that the Spirograph was a best-selling arts & crafts toy.
— Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a January 2015 survey that the Spirograph is one of their best-selling arts & crafts toys - they sell around 20 each month.

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.

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.

Tooby Loops™ Fashion & Fun allows kids to turn colorful mesh tubing into creative crafts. Use the kit to create headbands, bracelets and more with Tooby Loops, chenille stems, beads, rhinestones and more – all included.
— Barb Stine, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly in a January 2014 survey that Tooby Loops were a best-selling arts & crafts item.
— Joe Berardoni Jr., owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that Creativity for Kids is one of his store's top activity toy brands

Celebrate the grand opening of the Heartlake Pet Salon.! Everyone's excited to check it out. Help Emma to shampoo her friend Joanna's pretty white poodle in the bubble bath, then trim and clip her on the rotating grooming table. Use the blow dryer and brushes to make her perfect. While Joanna is waiting for her puppy to be groomed, help her to shop for new pet food and lots of accessories in the salon's shop. Then fill up the water dish at the tap for the poodle to drink. With all of these accessories and functions, kids can really pamper all of the pretty pets in Heartlake City. Includes Emma and Joanna mini-doll figures and a poodle.

An armed and dangerous alien mosquitoid is speeding this way on a space flyer. Stop that creepy crawler with blue team leader Solomon Blaze and the split function Swarm Interceptor. When the action gets too hot for one Galaxy Squad ship, split the Swarm Interceptor into 2 fierce fighting machines: an agile flyer with detachable guns and a powerful turret with hidden flick missiles! That pest doesn't stand a chance against the split-function Swarm Interceptor with Solomon Blaze at the wheel. Includes 2 minifigures with assorted weapons: Solomon Blaze and alien mosquitoid.

This beautiful tented carousel is adorned with intricate royal details and opens up to two-feet wide, revealing a dream closet fit for a Princess Pony. The playset features display areas not only for her Change-It-Up Hair™, but for her Mix-It-Up Fashions™, too, making it easy for the Princess Pony to appraise her pony wardrobe and decide on just the right fashion for the royal occasion. The Styling Center, with three mirrors and storage for her hair brushes, jewelry, and Saddlettes™, lets girls add the finishing touches. The Dressing Carousel comes with two Princess Pony skirts, which also dress the windows as fanciful curtains.
Awards: 2012 Dr.Toy Best Picks

The 20 sheets that come with eeBoo's Scratch Papers are not just any sheets. Hidden beneath the scratchable black surface are dazzling papers that children will delight to discover. Available in gorgeously designed Pattern Papers, shiny Foil Papers or bright Fluorescent Papers, eeBoo's Scratch Papers will make the simplest drawings shine, and enhance more complicated ones too. Scratch Papers come with 4 sheets each of 5 designs, 20 pages altogether, and the artist's very own bamboo stick.

Never in the history of performance have juggling balls been so eye-catchingly pretty. Novice and master jugglers alike will delight in eeBoo's soft and perfectly weighted juggling balls – inspiring enthusiasts of this classic hobby to reach new heights. Each set of 3 balls is beautifully designed with brightly colored velvet and festive, stitched designs. The set includes a colorful instructional poster featuring simple step-by-step instructions guiding young jugglers as they dazzle friends and family. Diameter of ball is approximately 2.5". Juggling and mathematical thinking are intricately linked. Moreover, scientists have found that juggling is associated with an increase in white and gray matter in the brain.

Kids can show off their cool drawings in a big way. Draw or trace anything on the reusable plastic sheets with the special markers – kids can even use additional sheets to create layered looks. Then project their creations on the walls or ceiling up to 20 times larger than the original size.

Just add water, snap the lid shut and stand back. The bubbling action of the chemical reaction builds up pressure inside the can until the top POPS and flied through the air. Kids can mix up their own top-popping fuel mixture and put the Snap Cans to the distance test. Attach the foam rocket to the Snap Can and shoot the rocket high into the air.

Create with light on almost any flat surface with the repositionable glow canvas. Make luminous drawings with the light wand or the crystal tip with starburst effects. Comes with airbrush can for great sound effects ,stencils and texture sheets.

It's 'snot pretty when kids perfect the art of grossness. Yes, only Gross Art from SmartLab Toys teaches kids how to draw realistic illustrations of all things gross using real art techniques. Gross-lovers everywhere will love drawing stinky fish, slimey snot and grody bathrooms.

Super-clear directions walk kids through seven unique bracelet designs, all based on a simple weaving technique. Use our custom loom and included beads, cord, needle, and thread to create a wardrobe of beautifully beaded bands that can be worn wrapped, stacked, or stylishly solo. Comes with: custom loom, over 900 glass and specialty beads, closure beads, cord, beading thread and 3 needles.

This kit uses a variety of visual and tactile experiments that introduce kids to the world of plant science. Each experiment is designed to teach kids a different principle about plants, including seed purpose and description, capillary action, water cycle, DNA, sprouting, horticulture, plant biology and natural product science. An exciting range of experiment types are used to represent or explain plant biology or to use plants in the experiment.

Samurai X is on board the mighty Samurai Mech when she locates the Constrictai fang blade and closes in to claim it. Can scout Snike and warrior Bytar stop it with a catapult ambush? Or will the Samurai Mech's massive blade, shoulder cannon shooter and bladed grabbers overcome the Constrictai snakes? Includes 3 minifigures: Samurai X, Snike and Bytar, Samurai Mech, catapult, Constrictai fang blade with orange anti-venom capsule and weapon.

This set of customizable gizmos includes a book of games, pranks, and jokes that make the most of them. The 16 different sound-and-gizmo combinations offer limitless opportunities for immature humor. Follow simple instructions to wire a door alarm, motion sensor, light sensor, or push-button device; then program it with one of four funny sounds. Comes With: circuit board, speaker, LED, battery clip, photoresistor, switches, project wires, alligator clip, gadget dock, gadget case, 4 gadget covers, 2 doorbell hangers and 2 door alarm hangers. Launch date: September 1, 2012.

Users can recreate their very own piece of aviation history with the historic Sopwith Camel. This detailed replica of one of the most recognizable British single-seat biplanes ever to have graced the skies. Features include a realistic rotating propeller and engine cylinders, hinged tail rudder, realistic tension wires, functioning wing ailerons and tail flaps that can be controlled from the cockpit – just like the real plane. The detail doesn't stop there; this authentic model has over 880 bricks, including rare dark green, dark tan and metallic silver elements.

The Fortune Cookie Maker lets children write, create and decorate fortune cookies right at home. Children just write down their fortune, combine the included mix with water, heat in the microwave for a few seconds, knead and roll out their dough and then place it in the Fortune Cookie Machine. With the push of a button, their fortune is deliciously sealed and is ready to decorate and eat within 10 minutes. The Fortune Cookie Machine makes up to 12 cookies, and is fun for the entire family.

With the Spin Master Cool Baker Cake Pop Maker, kids ages six and up can make and decorate vanilla-flavored cake pops. The kit's cake-pop maker helps kids fill the included molds to make perfect, no-bake pops, which set up in the refrigerator and are ready to decorate in just 15 minutes. Kids can personalize their pops with white or brown icing and pink, blue, and rainbow sprinkles. Sprinkle stencils and brightly colored paper tags add extra flair.

Smart Lab's Squishy Science from Head to Toe sparks curiosity and reveals the mysteries of the human brain and body for kids eight and up. This set includes transparent, anatomically correct models of the human body and human skull. Kids dissect the squishy organs and glow in the dark bones, nerves and eyeballs with lifelike surgical tools. The colorful information booklet, Organ-izer, and activity cards are packed with scientific information about the human body and the brain.
— As of 11/15/2012 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 15 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Fun and educational; includes and educational guidebook. Cons: Hard to snap the skull together.

Set sail on an adventure to defeat the evil minions of Kaos with the buildable Crusher’s Pirate Quest by Mega Bloks Skylanders Giants. The colossal Crusher swings his stone hammer in a clash with the deadly Axecutioner. Meanwhile, Cynder leaps into action to take down the remaining Chompy. Rebuild the set into a dock inspired by the Cutthroat Carnival in Skylanders Giants and discover all of the action features in this 2-in-1 play set.

Through the mist, Jack McHammer catches sight of the zombie graveyard. He's on a mission to recover the zombie moonstone, but as he reaches for it, the zombies rise from their coffins and attack. Can he make it back to his car and battle the zombies with the giant hammer? Includes 4 minifigures: Jack McHammer and 3 zombies.

The Mine is a busy place, full of miners digging for gold. Break up the rock with the big drilling machine and transport it out of the mine with the train. Then load it onto the conveyor belt with the crane and haul it away with the truck. There's even a safe to keep the gold inside. Help the miners find even more gold by blasting with the dynamite! Includes 4 minifigures: crew chief, crane driver, driller and truck driver.