August 2011 Notable Toys — Books

This story is about the relationship between a child and his father. John plays with his Daddy, dangles from his arm, and listens to Daddy read a story. The charming illustrations feature lots of bright reds and yellows that give the board book a cozy feel. The book is for children 24 mos. and up and focuses on emotions.

This 12 page board book follows a little boy before, during, and after his bath time. Simple yet colorful illustrations and a focus on a daily activity are ideal for children 12 months and up. The book also introduces children to vocabulary words such as bathtub, clothes, and shampoo.

From drumming, to reading, to pushing along toy cars, this book follows one little boy during all of his play activities for the day. Brightly colored, painted illustrations on a stark white background help the cute illustrations stand out for young readers. The book also emphasizes appropriate vocabulary words such as car, blocks, and wagon.

In this novelization of the upcoming Judy Moody film, Judy and her friends decide to make their summer vacation the best summer ever. Then, her parents announce they are going away and leaving Judy and her brother, Stink, with their Aunt. Judy comes up with an elaborate "Thrill Points" system and a list of daring activities that she and her friends in the T.P. (Toad Pee) Club must accomplish in order to earn points. But Judy must pull out all the stops when she realizes that she's earned less points than her friends. The book, written by the author of the original series and co-author of the screenplay, stays true to the character of Judy and her brother Stink, and Judy's unique language and penchant for misadventure keep the story going through all 136 pages. The book includes an interview with "Judy," a glossary for readers who want to speak like Judy, and information on the author.

LEGO Crazy Action Contraptions is a brand-new book of brand-new, high-performance projects. From the supercharged Speedster to the Squeezeclaw Grabber to the Wall Rocket Racer — all these contraptions spin, stretch, speed, or otherwise spring into action. And all of them are totally buildable thanks to super-clear instructions and step-by-step diagrams. Every single one of the 16 projects can be constructed using just the custom selection of LEGO® bricks that come with the book.
— As of 05/12/2011 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 15 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Some contraptions run slowly; the included rubber bands wear out with time.
— "Klutz Lego contraptions is by far our biggest seller," Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Asburn, Va., told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011.
— Want this? As of 05/11/2011 this product was available at The Curiosity Zone.

This book contains twenty-five endlessly reusable mazes. Featuring the work of the talented illustrators from around the world, each maze stands on its own as a work of art. The brightly colored mazes each offer a whimsical design and a new challenge. Ideal for travel or just to pass the time.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of the Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va. mentioned this book as a best-selling travel toy in late Spring 2011, saying she sold several each month.
— Want this? As of 05/06/2011, this product was available for purchase at The Curiosity Zone.