August 2012 Notable Toys — General Toys

Lights. Movement. Magic. Orbeez are soft and squishy, wet and wacky, fun and funky, bouncy and beautiful. They start off hard and tiny. Add water and they grow to more than 150 times their original size. Create a one-of-a-kind night light with translucent petals, swirling Orbeez and color-changing LEDs. Turn out the room lights and watch the Orbeez project a stunning, moving light show on the ceiling. Batteries not included.

These race cars can be used with other SmartMax race track sets. SmartMax is the magnetic discovery concept that allows children, even from a very early age, to experience both the wonders of magnetism and the fascinating world of construction in a safe way. The extra-large pieces make it easy for small children to manipulate them. The magnets have the ideal strength for easy assembly and breakdown of constructions. SmartMax is carefully designed to meet and exceed the world’s toughest safety requirements, including giant-sized, non-swallowable 1.8” diameter metal balls and inaccessible magnets encased in specially sonic-welded bars.

Itzabots are robot shaped ceramic planters that kids can customize with any of the included mix and match stickers. Create and recreate new companion as many times as kids like. When kids fill the planter with water and give it a little light, their itzabot will begin to sprout a thick head of grass "hair" within 5-7 days. The hair will continue to grow for 2 months with continued watering and styling. Available in three styles/sticker kits: Monster, Girl, and Robot.

Itzabots are robot shaped ceramic planters that kids can customize with any of the included mix and match stickers. Create and recreate new companion as many times as kids like. When kids fill the planter with water and give it a little light, their itzabot will begin to sprout a thick head of grass "hair" within 5-7 days. The hair will continue to grow for 2 months with continued watering and styling. Available in three styles/sticker kits: Monster, Girl, and Robot.

Spot it! Halloween is a party card game consisting of 55 cards, each featuring an assortment of 8 symbols. This special Halloween edition features images such as jack-o'-lanterns, cobwebs, ghouls and other spooky creatures and objects to surprise even the bravest player. Spot It! reinforces visual perception and matching skills. It sharpens reaction time while exercising motor skills and quick cognition in a fun, fast-paced atmosphere.  As with all Spot it! editions, there is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any two cards. This game can be played five different ways.

Tower Bridge is a 216-pc 3D Puzzle that replicates the historic London landmark with exacting details.  Featuring the company’s Premium Puzzle Softclick Technology™ of precision-cut plastic flat and hinged pieces that snap together without glue, Tower Bridge is the newest addition to the 3D Puzzle assortment of impressive structures known worldwide.  The newest offering joins the line’s Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building and New England Lighthouse.

This ferocious dinosaur head is the perfect place to store and play with the Tyrannosaurus Rex that's included. Unzip the backpack to reveal a prehistoric jungle, tar pit, volcano and lava filled gorge. When it’s time to go, kids can pack-up the dinos, zip up the backpack and throw it over their shoulder. Includes 1 dinosaur. Colorful, Durable, wipe-clean surface.
Awards: 2012 TDmonthly Top Toy Award. Why it Won: This dinosaur shaped back pack unzips into a colorful, durable playmat. The playmat features prehistoric scenes like a tar pit and an erupting volcano. The backpack comes with one toy dinosaur, and kids can add their own collection as well. They can even have fun with the zipped-up backpack, which resembles the face of a fearsome green dino. The material is durable and easily wipes clean, and the zippers run smoothly, securely holding dinos and other toys until kids are ready to unzip and play again. 

Kids can take their Spider-Man adventures to a whole new level with the Amazing Spider-Man Mega-Blaster Web Shooter Set. Kids will be able to fire web-fluid or water like their favorite web-crawling hero when they pull on the glove and attach the Mega-Blaster Web Shooter to it. Use the middle two figures to trigger the shooter.

Gem Styling Merida features iconic elements from the film in fashion play for girls. Dressed in her signature blue gown, Merida comes with a reversible cape that girls can flip over to reveal a sparkly print inspired by the movie. They also can decorate her outfit or her long red hair with gems, and they can play out Merida’s love of archery with the included bow and arrow.

This Bow and Arrow set comes with 3 arrows, a fabric arrow quiver, and a glow-in-the-dark Will-o-the-Wisp charm to help young archers find their way.

Tiny THOR and LOKI figures are just the right size for little hands. THOR figure's hand accessory is not removable.

This detailed HULK figure puts kids right into the heart of the battle for the future of the planet. Hear the hero intimidate the enemy with smashing and roaring sounds. He won't back down in the starkest of circumstances. Squeeze his legs together for the HULK smash attack, and see his opponent suffer a crushing defeat.

Each Licensed Bubble Blaster creates streams of continuous bubble action for hours. Includes Super Miracle Bubbles Premium Plus Solution in 100% recyclable bottle.

It’s all aboard for BIG railroading adventures and fun with Li’l Big Haulers train sets and separate-sale items. The Short Line Special ready-to-run train set comes complete with steam locomotive with operating headlight and tender, two colorful passenger cars, hook-and-loop couplers on all cars, 4'3" oval of steel alloy track (12 pieces), power pack and speed controller, and illustrated instruction manual. Launch date: August 2012.

Roy Toy's Classic Building sets are all wooden pieces, dyed with natural vegetable based food dyes, and made 100% in the USA. This line features a log cabin and a fort set, both have 140 plus pieces and each set comes complete with building directions. Launch date: January 1992.

Roy Toy's 250 pc. set is all wooden, dyed with all natural, vegetable based dyes, and made 100% in the USA. This set comes complete with building directions for a log cabin, a tree house, and a farm set, but the possibilities are endless. Launch date: January 1992.

The Revolution features YoYoJams all new “Solid Spin” high grade aluminum axle system. Machined specifically for YoYoJam this axle is completely unique in construction. It brings the metal rimmed yo-yo together as if it was a completely solid metal body resulting in a very stable yo-yo. This new construction also allows for two bearing sizes to be used as users progress from your first throw to the most complex string tricks. The Revolution ships with a standard bearing installed which allows the yo-yo to be more responsive for beginner to intermediate play. When users are ready to move on to more complex tricks, simply change to the Speed bearing included in the package to move up to an unresponsive yo-yo capable of the most complex string tricks. The Revolution features a tough polycarbonate body with machined aluminum weight rings. It has a comfortable fit in the hand and a smooth, stable spin at all times.

With its wide metal aluminum rings, extra weight, and extra width the Dark Magic II is the perfect yo-yo for learning string tricks that require a stable and long sleeping yo-yo. Designed by World Yo-Yo Contest Judge André Boulay it has been used by many famous players to place as high as 2nd in the World Yo-Yo Contest and 1st in the National Yo-Yo Contest. The all new Dark Magic II is also available featuring the YoYoJam Solid Spin Axle System. It brings the metal rimmed yo-yo together as if it was a completely solid metal body resulting in a very stable yo-yo. Dark Magic II ships with a standard bearing installed which allows the yo-yo to be more responsive for beginner to intermediate play. When users are ready to move on to more complex tricks, simply change to the Speed bearing included in the package to move up to an unresponsive yo-yo capable of the most complex string tricks.

Forget plain boring tape. In kids' next craft project, try Tapeffiti by Fashion Angels Enterprises. Wrap pencils, make tape bracelets and fashion accessories, or customize notebooks and just about anything. With these fabulous and fashionable patterned tapes the fun and possibilities are endless. This 30 Piece Tapeffiti Set includes 30 mini tape dispensers each filled with 9-feet of different patterns of Tapeffiti that will stick to just about any surface. The great thing about this tape: if kids need to reposition it, or remove it, Tapeffiti will come right off. The 30 rolls of Tapeffiti come in a fun desktop holder so kids can easily store all their decorative tape.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

Let kids' imaginations soar with this gliding toddler plane. The dynamic rolling rubber wheels and spinning front propeller will engage any young pilot.

A steady hand is required to remove the shaped pieces in this game. Players must think critically, remove pieces carefully without causing the trap to move. Assists with fine motor control and visual spatial development. Contains 63 pieces, game board, 6 game cards, replacement band, and complete instructions.

The patented, original Swiss-made Magnetic Construction System. Helps kids advance in creative thinking and logical reasoning abilities. Fun, 36 vibrant magnetic rods in a brilliant bubble gum pink color, and 30 non-magnetic metal spheres. Complete instructions to assist with simple & complex structures. A starting set for discovery with Geomag. Made in Switzerland.

Designed for creation, disassemble to reuse again & again. Kids look for recycled materials, then assemble them with the included 30 clips, 2 lock-hinges, 1 safe saws and flower and Space Pod inspired sticker sheets. Includes step by step instructions and a poster with idea inspirations. Can be used again and again.

Each of the 16 all-new minifigures come in a sealed "mystery" bag, so kids never know which minifigure they might get. And each minifigure has its own special accessories, display plate and collector's leaflet. Series 7 includes: Aztec Warrior, Evil Knight, Galaxy Patrol, Jungle Boy, Viking Woman, Ocean King, Grandma Visitor, Rocker Girl, Tennis Ace, Computer Programmer, Bride, Swimming Champion, Daredevil, Bunny Suit Guy, Hippie and Bagpiper.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, Deran Muckjian, owner of Catch a Falling Star in Lexington, Mass., told TDmonthly that "Lego continually sells really well, across the board, for boy gifts," and that the LEGO minifigures were an overall best seller.
— In a late Summer 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers said that LEGO minifigures were one of their bestselling novelty items.
— In a July 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that  LEGO minifigs are their best-selling toy.