May 2010 Notable Toys — All

This powerful reference tool is packed with the features that English and Spanish language learners need most. Designed to enhance grammar and speech skills, it speaks words and phrases—providing students and language-lovers with sample sentences, advanced verb conjugations and learning exercises.

Best of all, it comes with the most trustworthy word lists in circulation: Merriam-Webster’s Spanish-English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster’s Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary and Franklin’s comprehensive thesaurus. Students appreciate features like the TOEFL* word list and SAT** Spanish Subject Test Word List, along with a range of extras, including a phonetic spell corrector, grammar guides and interactive quizzes.

It also includes a USB port† for connectivity to a PC or Mac, allowing users to download their entries from their own dictionaries. Despite its robust features, this powerful device is perfectly sized to fit into a pocket or bookbag, and is ideal for language, gift, puzzle and learning aisles.

Made in Germany of high-quality wood and non-toxic paint in brilliant colors, the Miro clutching toy and teether has an interesting shape and set-in rattle. Large, smooth bumps on the circular panels offer texture to engage the fingers and soothe sore gums.
― When asked about her best-selling infant and toddler items in March 2010, Martha Bimblich, owner of Twinkles of Bay Harbor in Bay Harbor Island, Fla., told TDmonthly, “Haba is a great seller for us.” Bimblich said she sells 25 to 30 pieces per month.
― Three of 39 storeowners said in spring 2010 that Haba is a consistent top seller in their stores.

This soft plush sorting toy from Melissa & Doug brings together a variety of fun developmental activities for toddlers. The mailbox has an opening front flap and see-through back panel, as well as a flag that can be raised and lowered just like a real mailbox. Cheerfully addressed letters come with Velcro stamps that can be taken off and put back on as a child imagines their letters going into the mailbox, flying all the way around the world, and coming back again.
― Twenty percent of 39 retailers named Melissa and Doug as their top-selling supplier of infant and toddler toys during a March 2010 survey conducted by TDmonthly.

Ideal for travel, this creative activity includes four colored pencils and gives kids the chance to not only identify shapes but to create objects, patterns and characters. As children work through the pad, the shapes and designs become more complex.
― Out of 39 retailers interviewed by TDmonthly in March 2010 about top items in travel, two said Squiggle On-the-Go is a best selling product in their stores.

Mad Libs combine language education, creative stimulation, and just plain silly fun. Each page asks for a list of words by part of speech, which are then plugged into strategic blanks in a short story on the page following. When distributed throughout the Mad Libs framework, a list of seemingly ordinary words becomes inventive and hilarious.
― Two of 39 retailers who participated in TDmonthly's March 2010 survey of top-selling travel toys said Mad Libs are their best.
— “We sell three Mad Libs a day,” Ava Allen, owner of Be Beep A Toy Store in Columbia, S.C., told TDmonthly in autumn 2010.
— In an April 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers said that Mad Libs are one of their best-selling travel products.

This classic, portable version of Find It celebrates “The Wizard of Oz” by challenging one or more players to find 26 items, including Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Cowardly Lion, an emerald, a yellow brick, a broom and, of course, Toto the dog. This game is slightly smaller than the original Find It games.
― “Find It is a great car toy,” said Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., when asked about her top-selling travel toys in March 2010. Three of 39 retailers said Find It is a best seller in their travel departments.

Be a super detective! Use your Invisible Ink pen to uncover the truth and solve the mysteries. Here are just some of the games you will find inside this book, decode the cryptograms, decipher Krazygrams, and nab the crook in jailbreak.
Each book includes 48 pages of fun and a special pen.
― Out of 39 retailers, four named activity books from Lee Publications as their top-selling travel item in March 2010, reporting sales averaging 24 per month.
― Kristen Dolle, manager of Playthings Toy Shoppe in Louisville, Ky. told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011 that Magic pen books by Lee Publications were a best-selling travel toy.
— In an April 2012 survey about best selling travel toys, Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly: "As a category, Lee Publication’s Yes & Know books continue to sell out during travel time due to their wide age range and low retail price."
— Want this? As of 05/06/2011, this product was available for purchase at Playthings Toy Shoppe.

Lightweight and portable, this small Imaginetics play set combines whimsical animal illustrations and a richly colored background with reusable, interactive magnets. Each image is backed with thin, flexible magnetic material, allowing pieces to be repositioned easily on the themed backdrop. Children can tell stories or invent games, and when finished the play set folds closed to protect and secure the pieces.
― “We sell a lot of Imaginetics,” said Jill Brown, buyer at Kidoodles in Norman, Okla., when asked about her best-selling travel items in spring 2010. Seven of 39 retailers surveyed by TDmonthly in March 2010 said magnetic play sets are their top-selling travel toy.
― In late Spring 2011 two out of 12 retailers surveyed mentioned Imaginetics as a best-selling travel toy.
— Want this? As of 05/06/2011, this product was available for purchase at Magic Box Toys.

The Be Good Company My Little Sandbox line features tabletop play sets encouraging creativity, imagination and fun by bringing the sandbox or the beach into the home on rainy or cold days. Kids can play in the ultra fine sand-filled 10" x 10" x 2" wooden box. Each play set includes the wooden box, sand, a no-mess play mat, a re-sealable storage box, and themed toys - dog house, doggie food, grooming tools, doggie bed, 6 dogs, drinking water, pooper scooper, grooming rate, and 3 doggie toys.

The HAWK RC helicopter comes fully assembled and ready to fly. It can fly over 25 meters high at a speed of 20 km/h. Includes radio transmitter, built-in 7.2V rechargeable Ni-MH battery for the helicopter, battery charger adapter, and instructions. Radio transmitter requires 4 AA batteries (not included).

The 1/16 Snow Leopard M26 Airsoft Battle Tank features machine gun, cannon, start and shutdown sound effects and features a smoking effect (when oil is added). The turrent can swing 180 degrees. Includes rechargeable batteries for the tank, A/C adapter battery charger, Airsoft Hop Up system, and remote control. Remote control requires 8 AA batteries (not included.

Featuring a powerful nitrol 2.67cc Vertex engine, aluminum capped shocks, and composite disc brakes, the 1:10 Redcat Racing Shockwave will handle all off road 4WD adventures.

The Pop the Pig Piggybank will stores loose change for a rainy day.  Kids can feed him coins either through his mouth or the slot in his back.  When ready to “cash out”, they can just use his spatula key to open his clear vault stomach and get their money. Jennie Robinson of Goliath Games told TDmonthly, "It’s an addition to the popular game Pop the Pig." Launch date: 2010.

This motorized power dealer stacks dominoes on its own and works with all Domino Express ™ sets. Just fill the Domino Tower with dominoes, place it on the power dealer and turn it on to set up row after row of evenly-spaced dominoes.  Jennie Robinson of Goliath Games told TDmonthly, "Now your Domino Express™ set up is easier, quicker, and better than ever!" Launch date: June 15, 2010.

In this game, players must take a card and stack the blocks without making the towers fall. The winner is the last player standing.  When a player knocks over any blocks they receive a panic token and when they have three they are out of the game. For two to six players. Jennie Robinson of Goliath Games told TDmonthly, "It’s more than just stacking blocks, it has rules and has twists and turns that other 'block' games don’t have." Launch date: 2010.
— Candice Broom of Mom Most Traveled called Panic Tower! “a great, no-tech game for kids that need to be unplugged and use their minds!”
— Even without children of her own, Krystal of Krystal’s Kitsch found Panic Tower! to be “easy to play and explain” for “fast-paced” fun and “fierce competition.” She recommended the game “for anyone — especially young adults.”

Flip the switch and this battery operated mouse starts speeding away in zig-zag patterns. Kids must chase the swerving, turning, crafty little mouse until they hook his tail with their cat’s paw and collect their cheese. First to get three cheeses wins the game. For two to six players. Jennie Robinson of Goliath Games told TDmonthly, "There is no other board game like it in the market at this time." Launch date: June 15, 2010.

Featuring a mix of rock, folk and classical sounds, this 12-track album showcases the talents of the Milkshake band. It was nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children.

Earthworm Ensemble is a 22-piece folk/country group producing music the whole family can sing along to. Their self-titled CD contains 11 songs about worms, a pizza moon, growing corn and a superhero dog and bear.
— Dadnabbit’s Jeff Giles applauded the album’s ample heart, homespun feel and eco-friendly subject matter. He concluded, “Children’s records don’t get much timelier, or more well-meaning, than this.”
— Kathleen of Katydid and Kid enjoyed the lovely vocal harmonies. The casual feel of the recording made it perfect for her to dance to with her child.
— CanCan of Mom Most Traveled called the CD “fresh.” She shared the music with her pre-K students, leading an interpretative dance to “Bang A Drum” and humming along to “That’s What The Earthworm’s For.”

Fret no more, the solution is in the palm of your hand! Collins Bradford’s Crossword Solver offers advanced crossword search, allowing you to look up entries in the portfolio of Collins references using known keywords, letters, and/or word length. Search and solve with the power of Gem Bradford's Crossword Solvers Dictionary with over 120,000 crossword solutions, Bradford's Crossword Lists, Solutions English Dictionary, Compact Thesaurus, and Discovery Encyclopedia. The crossword solver, anagram solver and word builder flex your word power while 4 learning zones filled with practical clues, word games, crossword indicators and more will have you polishing off puzzles in no time. The perfect gift of crossword and word game enthusiasts!


Solve puzzles like a pro – learn and improve as you go!

Vehicle Mini kit-ArtiSands Mini Vehicle kit includes nine(9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Dump Truck, Cement Truck, Race Car and Train). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

Farm Mini kit-ArtiSands Mini Farm kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Barn, Rooster, Cow and Horse). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

This multi-paneled playscape folds into a book for easy portability and, with 21 feet of design on the interior and exterior, offers 42 feet of space for one or more children to enjoy while playing. The pictures are designed to spark a child's imagination and encourage creativity.

3 great tools in 1: Pencil Case, Spelling Corrector and Calculator