May 2010 Notable Toys — Wooden Toys

Pages will never rip from this delicious book made of wood! Each page features the colorful items discovered by one very hungry caterpillar from watermelons to apples. Launch date: Spring 2010

Kids will want to pull caterpillar into the kitchen when he gets very hungry, just like in the storybook. But don’t feed him -- he’s already stuffed with wood! The rich colors inspired by Eric Carle shine brightly on this wooden pull toy. Launch date: Spring 2010

In this medieval-themed game for two to four players, oppenents must work to protect their castles as they try to knock the other players' wrecking balls off track. It's a sturdy wooden game with several movable elements. Launch date: 2010.

Crocodile Chris’s large, grinning face makes for some great fun. Add his jingly bell, offset wooden wheels and non-removable, twistable head and he’s not the only one who will be smiling.

Cow Caro makes every baby a moo-ver and a shaker. Push her around on her offset, wooden wheels, shake her to hear the bells, or twist her non-removable head so she can smile in every direction.

This bear, rhino and crocodile stacking toy is not only fun but it’s a great developmental toy. Children can stack the blocks on one of three wooden rods in any order; do it like a puzzle, or mix up the animals. When it’s all done, pull the Zoolino stacking toy around and have your own zoo parade.
Awards: Creative Child Magazine Toy of the Year 2010

Bear Ben’s pushing himself into every baby’s heart. This adorable, blue bear has a bell, a non-removable, twistable head and offset wooden wheels.

Paulina’s bells, offset wheels and non-removable, twistable head is sure to roll its way into any pony-loving baby’s favorite toy stable.

Brightly colored with water-based stain (no lacquer) rattles are sure to keep baby happy and busy. Whether babies want to shake it or spin it they’re going to enjoy it.
Awards: Creative Child Magazine Toy Award 2010
— Three of 38 specialty retailers cited rattles by HABA as a best-selling wooden toy in their stores in February 2010.

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.

This wooden car has a sleek design and measures 20 cm long.

Suitable for ages 3 months and up, this spinning top toy features a wooden base covered with a bright, fabric octopus.

Cubebots's powerful hardwood frame can hold many poses, and his elastic-band muscles and durable wood limbs make him impervious to breakage. When it’s time for him to rest, he folds into a perfect cube. Designed by David Weeks. Made of sustainably harvested cherry wood. Watch Cubebot: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010

This large drum comes with an adjustable lanyard and toddler hand size's drumsticks that are perfect for beating on the big drum.
— "We are all occasionally guilty of under rating the value of simpler toys, but you can't do better for gross motor planning, grasping, or cause and effect for your toddler than a drum like the natural wood Big Drum from Plan Toys. The drum sticks are the right size for toddlers and the drum has a really nice woody sort of sound. Another great product from Plan Toys," Jennifer Shuman, owner of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.
— Plan Toys is one of Owner Donna Fredericks’ best-selling wooden lines at The Play House Toy Store in Durham, N.C.
— Gary Green, owner of The Toy Box of Asheville in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly in a January 2012 survey about musical products that they sold 30 of this item each month during the holiday shopping season.

Bright and colourful building blocks made from lightweight bamboo. The blocks are printed with various abstract designs which encourage creativity and imaginative play. Particularly suited for child hands, they can be very easily built on top of each other.
— "Fresh off winning the Toy Innovation Award at the 2010 Nuremberg Toy Fair, Hape has introduced these really big colorful hollow, bamboo construction blocks. Painted with water based paint, the blocks are big and easy for little hands to manipulate," Joe Mitchell, owner of YoYo Joe's Toys & Fun, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

Blocks Rock is a fast-paced blocks game of recognition, action and excitement that can be played by two players or two teams. Launch date: March 2010.
— "Blocks Rock with cognitive reasoning and fine motor control.  What makes this game unique is that it was designed by kids for kids and all sales proceeds go back to their school. Kudos to those that inspired these children. Geared to children 6 years and older and played by two individuals or two teams, players race to build a pattern on a matching card. The game is made challenging by a clever a 3D element.  Add a timer for solo play and use multiple cards to increase the level of difficulty as proficiencies rise," Jennifer Shuman, of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

In turn, players flip their top card. As soon as two cards match, both players with matching cards race to stack up the requested number of piggies with the right color on top. The goal is to be the first player to get rid of all his cards to win the game. "How quick and precise are your fingers? Find out as you build piggy piles in this lively stacking game. Stay on your hooves! There is more than one silly way to stack up your piggies," Bert Devort, Sales Department, Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 14, 2010.
— "Loved this game," Kate Tanner of Kidstop Toys told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

This is a classic old-school wood caddy made to help kids keep their art supplies organized. Each caddy can be customized with the name of the child in the color of their choosing. It is offered in a clear finish or stained Mahogany and comes fully stocked with crayons, markers, pencils, finger paints, scissors, glue, water color paints, modeling clay, construction paper and a doodle pad. A tool box version is also offered, and includes a hammer, pliers, screwdrivers and more. Launch date: February 14, 2010.