August 2009 Notable Toys — Wooden Toys

This rattle is made from renewable rubberwood and features a clickety-clack sound with bright colorful pieces. Launch date: July 2009.

Block Mates build upon the foundation of unit blocks by providing children with a themed exploration set. All Block Mates are designed to fit standard unit blocks and can be built in their natural form or mixed and matched with others in the set to create new, imaginative creatures. The patented gasket design is created for a snug fit. There are five characters per set. The Safari set includes Gorilla, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Alligator and Lion. Blocks not included. There is not a toy in any market like Block Mates™. "They bring new life to a store's unit block sales and they are not marketed in big-box stores. They can be sold as an educational toy or a creative toy," Dave Ruddock, digital imaging and design for Guidecraft, told TDmonthly. This product received a Best of 2008 Instructor Teacher's Pick award and a 2008 and 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Launch date: October 20, 2008.

These Uncle Goose multi-color alphabet blocks have bug pictures and names, and are made in the USA. This set includes four complete alphabets, two upper case and two lower case, and numbers from 0 to 10 and math symbols. Uncle Goose blocks are 1-3/4" and are handcrafted from sustainable Michigan basswood with child-safe inks.

An addition to the NameTrain Wooden Railway System created by Maple Landmark, the four-car Santa Train Car Set is crafted from locally harvested maple with whimsical images of Santa, Mrs. Claus, reindeer and elves. The finishes and inks are all non-toxic. The car pieces are not sold separately. Launch date: June 15, 2009.

Playsam's Strollers are packaged in a white box with silver lettering. "These are touted to be the 'Best Baby Shower Gift Ever' under $70," Deepa Dadlani, president of VICI Enterprises (exclusive North American Distributor of Playsam), told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

From Scandinavian design company Playsam, this rocket is created to be both classic and contemporary, fanciful and functional, simple and sophisticated. "The products are beautifully packaged — ideal for gift giving," Deepa Dadlani, president of VICI Enterprises (exclusive North American Distributor of Playsam), told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This wooden dollhouse was designed by Eva Schildt. "With its beautiful packaging, Playsam makes an ideal gift; it is for the sophisticated customer with an understanding and appreciation for the unique and well made," Deepa Dadlani, president of VICI Enterprises (exclusive North American Distributor of Playsam), told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Teamson Design Play Castles are the newest design of play time that your children will love! Each Castle is very easy to assemble (no tools required!) and comes complete with figurines and furniture! The swivel base ensures that where ever they are, the will have full access to their play area with its high quality designs and its hand crafted structure.

What a great combination! Here we have a hand painted stool and coat rack all in one! The little ones will just love this! You have a choice between the Pony,Zebra and Giraffe!

Note: Some Assembly May Be Required.

The dimensions are:
13.75" x 13.75" x 42"

The Wood Grain Style Qee Collection features figurines in a variety of sizes in both light wood and dark wood designs, each created with a unique pattern like real wood. The collectibles are available in 2.5" with keychain attachment, 8", 9" and 16". Launch date: 2009.

With deck and chin spoilers, rear diffusers, side skirts, large blue wheels, silver top  and other high performance styling cues, this Silver S9-R of the Automoblox R-Line speaks the language of serious driving fun. Fully interchangeable with other models, R-Line owners can mix-and-match parts to build unique performance models or just add a little horse power to the current Automoblox styles.

With deck and chin spoilers, rear diffusers, side skirts, large red wheels, silver top and side accents plus other high performance styling cues, this White C9-R of the Automoblox R-Line speaks the language of serious driving fun. Fully interchangeable with other models, R-Line owners can mix-and-match parts to build unique performance models or just add a little horse power to the current Automoblox styles.

Design is in the details and the C9-S will add a strong dose of sophistication to your existing Automoblox collection.

Heritage Alphabet Blocks are classic toys designed to last generations. The solid-wood blocks are oversized, measuring 3” square, and they are all natural, non toxic and 100-percent organic. Each set of 12 blocks features 48 engraved characters, including the numbers 0-9. Heritage Alphabet Blocks come in three finishes: Color, Oil Only and Raw. Each Color Set utilizes real milk paint and a polymerized linseed oil rub. The blocks are made in Bend, Ore. "Promise Brand has made it our No. 1 goal to manufacture wooden products that exceed every toy test imaginable. Our materials set us far and above our competition," Alisha Alway Braatz, manager at Promise Brand LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

Finely sanded and left either au natural or finished with a light polymerized linseed oil rub, this set of 30 Classic Building Blocks features rounded corners and exposed full wood grain. Each all-natural, organic block measures approximately 1.5" square. "Promise Brand Classic Building Blocks are 100-percent non-toxic [and] organic. Sure, they are also the most aesthetically pleasing block on the market, but what really sets them apart from the competition is their all-natural status," Alisha Alway Braatz, manager for Promise Brand, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

This red-colored wooden push toy takes the shape of a pig with wheels for feet for a child to push around. The red paint is ultra low in odor and is non-toxic, while the wood itself is composed of 100% post-industrial recycled wood residuals. This wooden pig push toy measurse 9" x 11".

Made of 100% post-industrial recycled wood residuals, this push toy takes the shape of an elephant with wheels at the legs for children to push the toy around. Covered in non-toxic, ultra low odor paint, this wooden elephant push toy measures 11.5" x 11".

Featuring a board made from the renewable resource bamboo, this game, a version of the ancient Mancala, challenges players to collect the most pieces.

The Wild West Rocker features a "Good Guy" photo frame in the rocker seat back, where the consumer can place a 4" x 6" photo of any little dude. The top of the seat back has spinning beads, two cowboys on a horse, and a bag of money that spins. Underneath the seat is the company's signature understamp that can be used to personalize the rocker for the child. A photo greeting card is included so the child can say thank you. "Our rockers are designed as a rocker, and with fun things for children to play with and discover as they rock," Cheryl Batzing, PR director for Levels of Discovery, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

Designed to spark a child's imagination, these natural wooden toys feature assembly that engages the child's mind and promotes learning a new skill in the coordination of mind and hands. Pairing quality and design, the VARIS LOCK system is created to ensure tight construction that derives from precise design of the single pieces. Launch date: July 2009.

A starter set for our other Montgomery Schoolhouse building blocks, these are excellent quality hard-maple building blocks in all the standard shapes, in proportion to each other. This set has 21 pieces with eight different shapes. The base block is 1" X 2" X 4" Each set comes in a sturdy box for storage. These blocks are unfinished and part of the Schoolhouse Naturals line. The set comes in a white compact box for easy shelf displaying. Launch date: 2009.

These rounded, sanded teethers boast a smooth surface and measure approximately 3.5" in diameter and .75" wide.

This maple wood toy recycling truck is finish-free and measures about 4" long. It includes the word "recycling" and portrays sorting bins for glass, plastic and paper.

German company Holztiger uses native maple and beech woods and water-based paints and sealants in the construction of its wooden toys, such as this giraffe that is one in a collection of many wildlife animal figurines.
— Holztiger wooden animals were recognized as top sellers by Candace Gooch, owner of At Once All Agog in Limerick, Maine, in spring 2009.