March 2013 Notable Toys — Wooden Toys

An engaging 10.5" bear shape. A natural head drum that is recessed into the body provides an easy playing platform. All wood body made from environmentally friendly Rubberwood. Play it with hands or mallet.

Keekee's big act is juggling balls while balancing on a giant banana. Talented as he may be, he needs help to impress his friends in the zoo. Find out just how many balls Keekee can balance! It all depends on each player picking the right ball and putting it in the right place. The look on kids' faces as they watch this little monkey sway to and fro is priceless. With the excitement of the crash, it never feels like losing when playing Keekee the Rocking Monkey. This all wooden balancing game is sustainably made.

Create up to 5 different layouts with this 20-piece play set. Includes Thomas, 17 pieces of track, a bridge and a tunnel.
— Grafton Stein, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that Thomas the Tank Engine toys are their best-selling licensed products.
— In a February 2014 survey, three out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Thomas & Friends sets from Fisher-Price were among their best-selling wooden toys.
— In a February 2015 survey, Sue Hottel, co-owner of No Kidding (aka Sand Castle Toys Inc) in Mattapoisett, Mass., told TDmonthly that Thomas & Friends trains are her some of her store's best-selling wooden toys.

Create your own version of happily ever after with this fairly tale block set. (Includes a prince too!)

Explore your imaginative side with this 35-piece castle-themed block set. Includes wooden knights , horses and a variety of colored and non – colored blocks. Made of PlanWood, a sustainable material created from recycled sawdust.

Build a fantastic marble run with this brilliantly colored 30 – piece set. Watch the marbles spiral and hop down the various pieces of track. The Marble Run Deluxe is made of PlanWood, a sustainable material made from recycled sawdust.
— In a February 2014 survey, Julie Steinbach, owner of Rainbow Toys in Falmouth, Maine, told TDmonthly that Marble Runs were one of their best-selling wooden toys.

Blue Orange Games is releasing their first line of toys called Engenius, a collection of three wooden construction sets. With interchangeable parts, kids can design and build their own toy. The pieces are easy to screw, push and bolt together into dozens of models. Everything stays in place for hours of play until they're ready to disassemble and build again. Available in Airplane, Helicopter and Spaceship sets. Blue Orange plants two trees for each tree used to create their wooden products.

Knock the four brightly colored balls through the holes, then watch and listen as they roll down the ramps. Sturdy wooden hammer included.
— Michelle Deutschmann, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Falmouth, Mass., told TDmonthly in a February 2013 survey that they sold six of this item during the holidays, "which is a big number for a smaller store."

Wind up this 6 inch wooden boat and watch it paddle across the water. Each boat includes three rubber bands. Powered by an ordinary rubber band, this old-fashioned paddle boat zips across bathtub, swimming pool or pond-inspiring pure delight. A simple, time-tested classic, it's crafted of varnished pine with rubber band-driven paddle wheel. Simply wind paddle, place boat in the water, carefully release, and watch it go.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a February 2013 survey that the Rubber Band Paddle boat was her best selling wooden toy. 

The beads on the bus go round and round, and up and down and over and under. This wooden bead maze bus is on a roll. The curvy maze at the top, peek-a-boo window, sliders, turning tiles, spinning gear, and wheels will keep tots learning and having fun. A great early learning toy for developing visual stimulation, hand eye coordination and cause and effect. Just the right size for small hands, the bus measures 10.5” long. For ages 10 mos and up.

Solid and stately, this castle is built to withstand battles and sieges. Free-standing, with a functional drawbridge to secure the castle from intruders, there's plenty of room inside to organize jousting tournaments or set up a great hall for a royal feast. Launch date: January 2013.

Take your favorite dolls or stuffed animal friends for a ride in our new Pram. Sturdily constructed of hardwood and pine it is built for busy afternoons filled with play and sure to be a hit with young mommies and daddies alike. Launch date: January 2013.

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.

Playing with new foods encourages kids to try them. Watch a real sushi chef (Itamae) in action. Roll sandwiches or filled lettuce leaves into sushi shapes.

Encourage playing with friends as well as solo play. Listen to the stories a child will tell as they play with this bright and cheerful wooden doll house.

Our Cupcake Stand with Cupcakes is a perfect kitchen accessory for any young chefs. ids will love putting the cupcakes on display for the whole world to see. 6 pretend cupcakes – mix and match the tops and bottoms to make new color combinations. Made of composite wood products.

Our bucket top mountain train set lets kids explore an entire world. When playtime is finished, storing this train set is a breeze – everything comes packaged in a convenient bucket. Molded mountain with two waterfalls and a lake – mountain doubles as the lid of the bucket the train set comes in. 61 pieces include fire truck and police station; airport with helicopter, helipad, airplane, and runway; townspeople, trees, and other accessories. Compatible with Thomas & Friends® wooden train sets and Brio® smart, sturdy construction.

Our adorable functional unit can be used as either pretend play washing machine or dryer. Turn the crank handle on the front and the tub actually turns! Watch the clothes rotate in either direction through the see through, shatter proof acrylic front door.

This wooden panda baby toy loves to play peekaboo. Hear the click and clack as its paws flap up to cover the cheerful face, then push them down again to say, "Hello!" Even babies can bring about a big visual change with just a simple motion, so they're encouraged to keep exploring as fine motor skills grow naturally. Made with select hardwood and child-safe dyes, First Play Peek-a-Boo Panda makes a heartwarming baby-shower gift.

The Playground set is composed of three units with four different functions. There are 2 function-swing and slider in one unit, a seesaw, a sandbox, and a bucket. Children will enjoy reconstructing and creating their own imaginary playground.

Get picture perfect views of your surroundings with this PlanToys® camera. Point, focus, and click the camera and see the different images through the kaleidoscope lens. Launch date: February 2013.

Our Deluxe Townhouse allows young girls to play and explore in a whole new world without leaving the house. This adorable wooden dollhouse comes with 30 accessory pieces and makes a great gift for any occasion. It’s so much fun to play interior decorator and move the different furniture pieces from room to room. Features include: 27 pieces of furniture & 3 mini dolls; Folds up for easy storage; Outdoor patio area; 3 levels and 12 rooms of open space; Vivid, detailed backgrounds; Made of composite wood materials; Packaged with detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions; No assembly required.
— Isaac Judd from Magic Beans in Brookline, Mass., told TDmonthly in a June 2013 survey that they usually sell one of these houses during the holidays.