May 2010 Notable Toys — Play Sets

With this 40-piece restaurant playset, little ones can design their pretend menus with many different pretend food items, and step into fully into their roles with a guest check pad, a waitress's apron and a hat. The table is set with menus, cloth napkins, cups, plates and flatware. The set, which packs into a carrying case, even comes packaged with two play credit cards.
― “The Sweetheart Cafe from Alex does very well,” said Lori Hershman, owner of Evan's Toy Shoppe in Camden, Conn., in spring 2010.
― Five out of 43 retailers who took part in an April 2010 survey of best-selling activity kits and playsets named Alex as their top supplier for this category.

Baseball Guys packs an entire stadium into a handy plastic storage bin. Each box contains 26 2 1/2" players from red and blue teams, an umpire, a felt field and an adjustable scoreboard.
Awards: iParenting Media
— Katie from Katie’s Nesting Spot felt that the Baseball Guys made a great way for fathers and grandfathers to bond with their kids over baseball. She appreciated the comparatively large size of the figures and the included stackable carry case, though she remarked that the container lid did not stay shut when moved.
— Rhea of Mommy23Monkeys reported that her eldest son disliked having to switch between figures posed in “hitting” and “running” poses while acting out games. Her more imaginative sons thoroughly enjoyed playing with the figures, both in baseball and non-baseball themed play.
— In a May 2012 survey about best selling toys, Mike DiAndrea, manager of Hardware Toy Center in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly that they sell 10 of this item each month.

This realistic kitchen and dining counter has a dual-sided design for multi-child use. Its modern features include a "stainless steel” oven, refrigerator and serving utensils. Also included are a 39-piece accessory set, lots of storage, two electronic sound features, and a deep sink.

This sleek European-influenced styling uses gender-neutral colors to appeal to both boys and girls. “Stainless steel” appliances and accents add to the clean, modern look. A special frying pan and boiling pot with lid activate electronic frying and boiling water sounds in the stove’s cook top burner. Additional electronic sounds in the oven, microwave and phone add to realistic play. The set also includes a refrigerator, coffee maker, faucet and sink.

Teddy Bear Picnic is designed to provide everything kids need for picnicking fun in an easy-to-carry tote. It unfolds to a 41" x 44" Picnic Blanket and comes complete with a classic positionable Vermont Teddy Bear dressed in a coordinating dress and ready for countless picnicking adventures. Launch date: July 2010.

Girls can fill the pool and whirlpool area with water and press down on the sunflower leaf for a real shower, or glide Strawberry Shortcake doll down the pink waterslide into the pool with the Strawberry Shortcake Splashin' Petal Pool Playset. The set also includes a fabric towel, sun bonnet, and removable umbrella. Some assembly required. Launch date: Spring 2010.

Girls can join their favorite pets in the Littlest Pet Shop collection on a fun-filled road trip with the Littlest Pet Shop Paw Powered Cruiser playset. The first-ever vehicle in the Littlest Pet Shop line features seating for six pets including a working swing and "real" spinning hamster wheel. Pets can even enjoy the 360-degree view from the top of the vehicle as they ride in the adorable rotating basket. The Littlest Pet Shop Paw Powered Cruiser playset  includes an exclusive hamster pet. Launch date: Spring 2010.

Good Buddy Notes newborn onesies are imprinted with "baby talk" text messages on the front. Shelley Dieterichs of Good Buddy Notes told TDmonthly, "These onesies are clever, trendy and humorous." Launch date: April 2010.

This portable play set has a handle at the top and a door that opens to store all the pieces inside. It contains 22 pieces, includes a couple of pirates, a skeleton, guns and other accessories, and even a cannon that really fires cannonballs.

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.

With the ZipBin® Mini Space Playset, child can keep toys neatly stored together. When unzipped, there is a colorful planet and a space station ready for fantasy play. When play is done, capture all the toys inside. This mini play set includes one astronaut and space shuttle and also serves as a travel toy.

The Playmobil Kitchen with Dinette Set is great for use with Playmobil Suburban Life play sets. The Playmobil Kitchen is packed with accessories that allow the figures to put away groceries in the cupboards or fridge, make a meal on the stove, and serve and eat it at the dinette. Launch date: 2010.

This convertible allows up to six Calico Critters to travel around Cloverleaf Corners in style. The set includes 3 Whisker Cats, detachable luggage and 2 detachable baby seats with safety straps. The convertible's tires and wheel both rotate. Launch date: 2010.

Fans of DreamWorks "How to Train Your Dragon" can experience the movie's excitement with this volcano playset. Kids can drop an egg into the volcano to reveal a new Dragon. They can remove the parts and assemble, then swap Dragon parts around to make new species. Set includes one volcano, one egg and one figure. Launch date: 2010.

This cozy cottage comes fully assembled and ready to play with everything you need for hours of pretend play fun with Calico Critters. This play set comes equipped with over 10 furniture pieces & accessories including: Bell Hopscotch Rabbit, bed with matching sheets, round table with chairs, kitchen counter with sink & oven, movable ladder for easy access to each floor, cookware and food. Launch date: 2010.
— "We also see a lot of interest in the Calico Critter playhouses - there is quite a variety of them," Suzi McMullen, manager of e-commerce at Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly in a June 2013 survey.
— Syd Clarke, owner of Ali-Cat in Carrboro, N.C., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that the Calico Critters Cozy Cottage is one of their best-selling play sets.

This Thomas and Friends train playset has been designed so that it can be used with or without the normal Thomas Wooden Railway gauged track, but has oversized engines for little hands can easily grasp and manouvre. The set includes two destinations for Thomas to visit on Sodor Island: Maithwaite Station and Crossing Gate. Launch date: February 2010.

LEGO's construction play sets and figures feature classic and new characters from Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3. In this play set, builders help Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear drive around the day care center in his toy dump truck.

LEGO's construction play sets and figures feature classic and new characters from Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3. The Toy Story 3 Western Train serves up many adventures as builders help Woody, Buzz and Jessie fight their way into the train and get everyone off safely.

Kids and parents can toss the ball to have fun with their pets. Launch date: January 25, 2010.

When unzipped, it becomes an activity center perfect for buildings and fire fighters with LEGO Bricks. When play is done, four quick zips and all the bricks are captured inside. The LEGO® CITY FIRE ZipBin® Large Toy Box Playmat features cut handles and fabulous artwork. It is designed to be sturdy, strong, stackable and portable. LEGO blocks are not included. LEGO, The LEGO logo, the Brick and Knob configuration are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2009 LEGO Group. "It is a large playmat that zips up into a sturdy, portable, toy box that has amazing artwork," Robin Leighty, Marketing and Sales Specialist, Neat-Oh! International, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010.

Dress up these stylish young girls in a variety of outfits. Each tin consists of 2 characters printed on the tin, activity card to be used on the tin and 1 sheet of magnets.

Andy's friends are out of the toy box. Woody and Buzz are ready to round them up for another adventure! Each tin includes a colorful play scene printed on the inside of the tin, 1 additional colorful play scene (2 cards) and 3 sheets of magnets.

This ship hoists a yellow submachine attached by hook and rope for imaginative journeys through the depths of the ocean. The boat’s nine built-in layers of storage space contain 44 figures, including deep-sea divers, shipwrecked items and various forms of sea life. A bonus DVD is included with the story of Captain Nemo plus interactive sea games. Launch date: April 2010.
Awards: 2010 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Products