September 2012 Notable Toys — All

This FUNctional set is fit for a princess and includes the special message:  “Always a Princess”. The desk top opens to reveal a roomy storage area with multiple compartments. Slow-closing metal safety hinges are included on both the desk and chair. The chair features a removable padded seat cushion and a storage compartment beneath the seat. The space-saving design allows chair to slide under desk when not in use. Desk dimensions: 24” L x 18” W x 46” H, Table surface: 21.5", Chair dimensions: 15” L x 15.5" W x 21” H Height of seat: 12”. Launch dare: January 2012.

Kids will love receiving temporary tattoos of their favorite characters. These 3-D, interactive packs each include 50 temporary tattoos in a wide variety of designs. Choose from Hello Kitty, Disney Princesses, Minnie Bowtique, Scooby-Doo, Batman, and Spider-Man. Temporary tattoos apply easily with water, and are made with FDA-approved inks in the USA. Launch date: September 2012.

These fun activity kits provide hours of entertainment. Each kit includes 16 Magic Paint Posters, 50 temporary tattoos and 25 stickers. The Magic Paint Palettes are printed directly on each paint poster and are activated with water for mess-free painting with a paintbrush, cotton swab, or even your finger! Available in Hello Kitty, Scooby-Doo, and Spider-Man. Launch date: August 2012.

Kids can paint their favorite characters, including Hello Kitty, Batman, Pillow Pets, and Scooby-Doo. Magic paint palettes are printed directly on the paper and activated with water. Kids can paint with a cotton swab, paintbrush, or their finger. This unique, no-mess craft activity is great for travel. Each item includes 12 paint sheets. Launch date: September 2012.

Kids can design and decorate their own fashion boutique. Sturdy cardboard fashion dolls come ready to dress and decorate with 50+ pre-cut Shrinky Dinks¸ fashions. This complete set includes Faber-Castell colored pencils, Playscape, 7 fashion dolls, Shrinky Dinks, character stands and a sharpener. The Playscape measures 8 3/4"h x 15 1/2"w x 7.25"d.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Players spin the spinner on their turn, then roll the dice. Players have 3 rolls or less to match the rummy hand on the spinner – but look out for a bonus or penalty that can help or hurt. Win the most points and win the game. When players are done, they can use the dice to play a different game. Game Contents: 9 Square Shooters® dice, spinner, dice cup, and scorepad.
Awards: 2012 Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year Award; Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Kids can make a dozen dimensional rings, perfect to wear and share. This is also a great party activity. Layer 90+ printed acetate and chipboard flourishes with rhinestones and glitter gel accents onto 12 metal ring bases. This kit includes a sweet 6" diameter foam flower ring holder.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Sterling Fun Award Winner; Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal

The BILD line offers a stimulating opportunity for constructive play and imaginative exploration. Leap always knew it was destined for fun. Inspired by a rocket, this Bit redesigned itself to fly. With a well placed propeller and a powerful spring, Leap is always ready to leap into action. Crank is the go-to BIT. Whether he's scooping sand, clutching parts, or fixing the other Bits, Crank is the one for the job.Set Contains: 1 OGOBILD BITS Leap character and 1 OGOBILD BITS Crank character.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Includes everything kids need to create an enchanting home for three wee gnomes. This all-inclusive garden craft kit includes a garden dish, potting mix, wheat grass seeds, bark house, leaf-shaped pond, mossy rocks, stepping stones, resin gnomes, toadstools, ladybugs, paint, brush and a mister - just add water and a little sunshine. The garden dish measures 11"w x 2"d. The natural wheat grass seeds are pet friendly and sprout in just a few days.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Hand crafted from hardwood the 38 piece hand held version of Mentagy measures just over 6" x 6". To play simply mark the blank spaces with the black pegs and seed letters with the red letters. Players are now ready to use the remaining white letters to solve the puzzle. One advantage of the wooden Mentagy ™ set is that players can solve the puzzles without using an eraser. If a player is in the middle of solving a puzzle and has to stop, they simply place the top on the base and the pegs cannot move. Take the Mentagy ™ set anywhere and continue where the game was left off.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner
— As of 12/6/2012 Mentagy: The Next Puzzle Craze (the book) had 5 out of 5 stars from 4 reviews on Amazon.com.

Crappy Birthday is the hilarious game of giving bad gifts. The goal is to choose the worst gift for each player. Laughing together at funny pictures and the ensuing banter make this game a winner.
— As of 07/18/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 17 reviews on Amazon.com.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Kids can collect their favorite Octonaut figures and creatures - just like in the show. Travel with Tweak and explore the incredible underwater world of the Octonauts. Each pack contains one figure and one color change creature.

Inspired by the new hit Disney/Pixar animated film, Brave. Merida is a Scottish princess with triplet younger brothers. The Brave Transforming Triplets set captures the mischief of the three boys and their magical adventures. With unique poses that highlight the boys’ playful personalities, plus the ability to transform the characters into adorable bear cubs, girls will delight in reenacting scenes that feature these charming brothers. Bears cannot stand alone.

Start the incredible wall-crawling action with this super detailed The Amazing SPIDER-MAN figure. He looks just like the web-slinging hero and his hands are poised to fire a web or swing into action. Includes figure and is 8-inch scale.

Bucky sails in straight from the Jake and the Neverland Pirates show. Bucky comes fully equipped with all the necessities a young pirate would want in order to fend off the evil deeds of Captain Hook and Smee. Bucky has 3 push buttons on the deck of the ship. The 1st button activates the cannon. Load the spring loaded cannon with the water ball projectiles and press the button to shoot them. If kids press the 2nd button they'll see the infamous Tic Toc Croc explode out the side of the hidden trap door chomping away. When kids push the third button they will activate sound effects, Jake phrases, and the theme song. There is also a working slide for the figures to slide down into action. And Bucky has captain quarters to play inside. Bucky comes with Jake and Skully figures.
— As of 07/16/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 9 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; encourages imaginative play. Cons: The boat is not waterproof.

Inspired by the new hit Disney/Pixar animated film, Brave. At the heart of Disney/Pixar’s Brave is the tender tale of a daughter and mother whose different views lead them to unexpected adventures. Now, girls can play out this special story with the Brave Story Gift Set. Featuring key characters from the film in small doll form, the gift set includes a Merida doll, wearing a beautiful MagiClip fashion and elegant Queen Elinor in regal attire, and the ability to transform Merida’s mother into her dainty mum bear character, just like in the movie. To extend play, the set also comes with a cape, an additional fashion for Merida, a cake and her beloved bow-and-arrow set.

Batman The Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters Collector Figures: Based on the hit new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. The Dark Knight Rises comes to life with Movie Masters figures, sculpted with superior accuracy and details inspired by the film. Eight of the movie’s biggest characters have been meticulously crafted to capture and create fully articulated figures in six" scale. Ready to be the biggest star in any fan's collection, each figure includes a Collect and Connect piece that can be combined with other pieces to create a light-up and wall-projectable Bat Signal. Purchase eight collectible figures throughout the year to complete the Bat Signal.
— In a August 2014 survey, Sunni, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly that Batman is one of their best-selling Action Figures.

Play Magic: The Gathering and discover why it’s the world’s premier trading card game. Start with a deck of cards filled with potent spells and fearsome creatures. Then take on the mantle of a Planeswalker, a powerful mage, and challenge friends in the ultimate battle of wits.

Zane ZX is all powered up and ready to take on the evil Serpentine enemies. With Spinjitzu ice shields and incredible weapons, it's a bad day to battle the Spinjitzu masters. Customize spinners like never before with the Zane ZX minifigure, shields, blades, LEGO lift brick, golden weapon and 2 regular weapons. Use the 4 battle cards included in the set to influence the outcome.

Defeat the Great Devourer in the epic battle between good versus evil.  The Great Devourer has been awakened and threatens to devour the world of Ninjago. Can the legendary green ninja, riding the awesome 4-headed Ultra Dragon, overpower this evil adversary? Can Lord Garmadon harness the power of the 4 golden weapons of Spinjitzu to destroy the mighty snake and what about Sensei Wu? Can Jay defeat the evil snake Generals Acidicus, Skalidor and snake soldier Chokun to release his master from the impenetrable snake prison? Includes 7 minifigures: Lloyd ZX, Jay ZX, Sensei Wu, Lord Garmadon, Acidicus, Skalidor and Chokun. Set features 4-headed Ultra Dragon, The Great Devourer, snake prison, Hypnobrai fang blade with blue anti-venom capsule, 4 golden weapons and 7 regular weapons.
— As of 07/16/2012 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Very large set with many pieces; dragon's jaw can open and close. Cons: One user said that when they tried to play with the product after it was built, the blocks fell apart.

Enter the world of TRANSFORMERS robots, where the new generation of heroic AUTOBOTS and evil DECEPTICONS battle head to head in a world where things are not what they seem. The five COMBATICONS alone are enough to give pause to even the mightiest AUTOBOT force. When they combine into DECEPTICON BRUTICUS, they become the stuff of nightmares. He easily destroys his enemies with ultrasonic waves or a smack from his massive hands. Once he has begun on a path of destruction, no force in the known universe can stop him. Technical Data: Strength 10, Intelligence 3, Speed 1, Endurance 9, Rank 5, Courage 10, Fireblast 8, Skill 6. Some poses may require additional support. Product and colors may vary. Launch date: November 15, 2012.

CampAntics™ is the children’s board game of summer camp adventures. Each trip around the board is one day at camp, where players participate in daily activities (sailing, baseball, etc.), get into mischief, follow the camp director’s announcements, and try to avoid the Forbidden Forest. Primarily for children 5 to 11 years old; also loads of fun for older siblings, parents, and grandparents. Special features include: comic book instructions, many opportunities for social interaction, and single player rules. Launch date: February 2011.
Awards: 2011The Toy Man Award of Excellence; 2011The Noise on Toys Award of Excellence; 2012 Tillywig Toy Awards Sterling Fun Award; 2012 Dr. Toy Best Vacation; 2012 Family Review Center Gold Award

TeenyMates are the hot, new collectible one-inch NFL figures from the creators of Lil' Teammates. Each blind foil pack comes with two random NFL quarterback figures and two puzzle pieces. Collect all 32 NFL QBs plus three rare figures. Collect all 35 puzzle pieces and build a double-sided football field puzzle that kids can play with their figures on. Launch date: August 2012.
— "Only 1" tall but surprisingly detailed for such little guys...My kids liked them and enjoyed just fake-wrestling/fighting with them... If your kids are big into sports, they’d definitely get into these." - Review from Andrew at Mommy’s Busy...Go Ask Daddy

Our blanket and tutu duo is the ultimate for play and nap time. It provides dress up time as well as nap time. Launch date: March 2012.