July 2010 Notable Toys — Puzzles & Skill

A limited edition released for the Rubik's Cube's 2010 30th anniversary, this cube is an original-sized, fully functional Rubik's Cube made of wood. Five of the six sides are painted in different colors, while one is left natural. 
― “Rubik's Cubes. The wooden ones that just came out … were gone in a week,” said Shana Hack, owner of Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M., when TDmonthly asked about her best-selling puzzles in summer 2010.
― Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston's Child's Play in Baltimore, Md., said in June 2010 that she sells 68 Rubik's Cubes per month. Of 40 retailers, two said Rubik's Cubes are their top-selling puzzle.

Assembled to a finished size of 18” x 12”, this 100-piece puzzle is home to a host of silly, grinning monsters. The puzzle is printed with non-toxic, soy-based ink on 90-percent recycled board, and comes in a reusable storage tin illustrated with the featured image.
― “Mudpuppy is a strong brand for us,” Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly during a summer 2010 survey on best-selling puzzles.
― During a June 2010 survey of 40 retailers, two retailers said Mudpuppy is their top-selling puzzle brand.

A great beginner's puzzle in a 9” x 12” frame, Melissa & Doug's Safari Chunky Puzzle presents kids with eight whimsical African animals. Each thick wood piece fits neatly into its corresponding place on the panel and sticks up far enough for small fingers to easily grip and pull out. Each animal has its picture in full color underneath to keep matching easy, and the pieces are thick enough to stand up on their own for pretend play outside of the puzzle frame. 
― “Melissa & Doug [puzzles] sell two to three a day,” said Sandy Challinor, owner of Owl's Nest Toy Store in Southlake, Texas, in summer 2010.
― “[Melissa & Doug] is an excellent quality product,” said Diane Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 2010.
― Ten percent of 40 retailers told TDmonthly during a summer 2010 survey that chunky puzzles from Melissa & Doug are their top-selling puzzles.

Measuring 48” x 18” when assembled, this expansive, 100-piece floor puzzle from Melissa & Doug features an illustrated cross-section of ocean life from the sea floor to the water's sunny surface. Fish, vegetation and bottom-dwelling creatures mingle in vivid colors. The extra-thick pieces are designed to be durable and easy to handle.
― “The Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzles. You can't go wrong with those,” said Genevieve Collonge, manager of The Wooden Horse in Los Gatos, Calif., of her top-selling puzzles in June 2010.
― “[Our top seller] has been the floor puzzles from Melissa & Doug. [It's] always done really well, and we keep a nice big selection,” said Jason Curtis, owner of Funtopia in Middletown, Calif., in summer 2010.
― Nine of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in summer 2010 that Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzles are some of their best-selling puzzles.

Teenagers, adults and families can assemble this challenging 2,000-piece puzzle to a finished size of 38.5” x 29.5”. The picture is a richly colored montage of the world's great wonders, from ancient Stonehenge to the majestic Statue of Liberty. The photos are clustered around an image of the globe.
― “Ravensburger is my top brand,” said Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, during a summer 2010 survey.
― “For the most part, our business is under 12, but we sell a surprising amount of the adult [Ravensburger] puzzles,” remarked John Naisbitt, owner of Thinker Things in Solana Beach, Calif., in June 2010.
― Nine of 40 retailers listed Ravensburger 1,000-piece puzzles as top-selling puzzles in summer 2010.

This durable, 35-piece puzzle measures 11.5” x 8.25” when complete. Assembled, it features a softly watercolored illustration of two happy little ones roleplaying a sword-fighting princess and a mighty dragon in a room full of toys and dress-up accessories.
― “We always do well with Ravensburger because of the quality,” said Diane Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 2010.
― Sandy Jones, owner of The Learning Faire in Napa, Calif., said in summer 2010 that “anything less than 65 pieces” from Ravensburger makes up her best-selling puzzles.
― Fifteen of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in June 2010 that Ravensburger is their best-selling puzzle brand.

Packaged in a reusable tote box, these 35 oversized pieces are easy for little fingers to assemble. When all the pieces are put together, a dazzling underwater scene is uncovered.

These four mini-jigsaws are each divided into four colorful pieces. This set features young princesses accessorized with crowns and wands.

These four mini-jigsaws are each divided into four colorful pieces. This set features a train, plane, truck and boat.

Icosoku is a puzzle designed to make simple addition a challenge. Users explore every angle of this puzzle as they make all of the dots touching a yellow peg add up to that number. The puzzle can be solved regardless of how the yellow pegs are arranged, so there are thousands of games to play. It offers "the ability to play a new puzzle every time the number pegs are rearranged," Brandi Field, general manager of Recent Toys, told TDmonthly.
—  Two of 12 retailers named games from Recent Toys among their favorite products at ASTRA 2010, during a June 2010 TDmonthly survey.

This construction skill game includes dozens of multicolored play pieces.

This fishbowl features three happy residents for puzzle play. The extra-thick, three-piece wooden puzzle includes a fish, a turtle and a crab, each with jumbo wooden knobs for easy grasping. Full-color, matching pictures appear underneath each piece.
— In a Summer 2011 survey, 5 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that wooden peg puzzles from Melissa & Doug were their best-sellers in the category.
— As of 7/12/2011 this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from 32 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; age-appropriate; puzzle pieces fit well. Cons: One reviewer said the veneer on the puzzle pieces began peeling a month after purchasing it.
— In a June 2010 survey of 40 specialty retailers, 15 percent named Melissa & Doug as an overall top-selling brand. Two retailers told TDmonthly that the brand’s puzzles sell especially well.

This 2000pc puzzle features the famous painting Cafe Terrace at Night by Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh - the first painting in which he used starry backgrounds. Painted in September 1888 in Arles, France where still today, visitors of the site can take the place where the artist set up his easel.

Often billed as The Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, United States an internationally renowned major resort city for shopping, entertainment, and gambling. This 2000pc puzzle captures the essence of the Las Vegas Strip.

The Starry Night by Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh is the most renowned achievement of his illustrious career setting the stage for a style of painting called Expressionism. This 2000pc puzzle features the famous work.

Sometimes referred to as the Crossroads of the World, Times Square typifies all the bustle and excitement engendered by the Big Apple. New York’s Times Square is the ultimate tourist destination, encompassing the best of Broadway, commerce, street life and dining; it is estimated that 80 percent of visitors to the city make it a destination. This puzzle frames a whirlwind, first-impression view of one of the most exciting places on earth.

This series of Puzzle Doubles! combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle along with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals. All Fun Facts! Puzzle Doubles! encourage parent-child interaction. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3’ x 2’! Ages 3+ years.

An exquisite game of spatial logic where players attempt to reconstruct 3D models based on 2D images. Logical analysis is brought into play as players progress trying to resolve the more advanced challenges. This ingenious game is for players, 8 years and over, who enjoy sophisticated puzzles.
Awards: Triple Star Canadian Toy Testing Council

Using the Architect precision blocks, players attempt to replicate the Tangram models illustrated in the challenges book. Initially, the puzzles are illustrated on a scale of 1:1 allowing players to experiment on the puzzle surface itself. As players advance, the illustrated models are reduced, thereby introducing the concept of scale. In addition, players are required to use the pieces horizontally and vertically, exposing them intuitively to more advanced concepts in geometry. Tangramino offers creative play for players 6 years and over.
Awards: Triple Star Canadian Toy Testing Council

In this delightful and deceptively simple logic puzzle game, players attempt to figure out the necessary moves that will permit to assemble back Simon, the scattered magician. An escalating level of difficulty allows children to start playing and progress at their own pace. Rather quickly, however, the game attains a level presenting a fun filled challenge to any puzzle loving adult.
Awards: Game of the Year 6/6 Consumer Guide of Canada

In this puzzle, players slide the cars and twist the sphere in an effort to park each car beside its matching color spot.

George Luck's classic wooden puzzle features various dinosaurs.

This 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle features an up-to-date element table in English, French, Spanish and German. All elements are shown with their atomic weight, number, name, symbol and electronic configuration. The 26.5" x 19.25" puzzle is made from recycled board, recycled paper and vegetable-based ink.

This 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle features over 20 dinosaurs and Pterosaurs, including T-Rex and archeopteryx. All specimens are beautifully illustrated and proportional in size. The 26.5" x 19.25" puzzle is made from recycled board, recycled paper, and vegetable-based ink.