September 2012 Notable Toys — Pretend Play

The expanding Fisher-Price Imaginext Eagle Talon Castle Play Set brings imagination to life with sound effects, activation discs and figures to help fight the attackers. Castle magically recognizes approaching dragons, ogres and battlements to warn of impending attacks. Castle expands from 20" to 42" and is reconfigurable in different ways. Play set includes: transforming castle, 3 figure turn discs, 2 catapults, 1 "Turn Tech" cannon with 2 projectiles, 3 figures with helmets, shields and swords, 8 firing discs for catapults and eagle head, 1 treasure chest, 2 ladders and 4 flags. Launch date: 2012.

Each Wearables Stunt Plane comes complete with shoulder straps, propeller fasteners and printed, precut corrugated pieces children to decorate and then construct into a wearable-sized 3-D bi-plane.

This set is fit for royalty. 36 pieces include: a candle holder, pedestal stand, dressing table, mirrors, canister, stool with cushion, goblet, chest perfume bottle, trunk, dressmaker form, and more.

A horse and carriage Playmobil set. Inspires storytelling and creative play. Includes pegasus horse, carriage, princess doll figure. Princess figure height 7.5 cm tall. 25 plastic pieces. High quality Playmobil construction.

This castle features a grand staircase and a lot of rooms. The tower has a secret hiding place, and inside the castle there is a revolving dance floor. Includes a jewelry box, tiara, bracelet and ring for the child. Dimensions: 29.5"x 28"x 26" (L x W x H).
— Grafton Stine, owner of Toys on the Square in Hummelstown, Pa., told TDmonthly in a June 2013 survey that Playmobil dollhouses and furnishings are their best-selling furniture item.

The World of Entertainment, Publishing and Inspiration (World of EPI) was formed by Dr. Lisa Williams, a dynamic mom/former professor whose mission is expressing joy by providing children access to dolls that encourage dreams, promote intelligence, challenge perceptions, and open their hearts to all types of beauty. Abrielle is modeling her satiny lavender princess dress with a matching headband, slippers, and silvery studded earrings. Her high ponytail with long luxurious tresses perfectly complements her regal attire. She has beautifully bronzed skin and golden brown eyes.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys

Make It Mine is now offering a revolutionary new line of dolls that are a first-of-its-kind line of high-quality, fun, fully customizable, poseable, play dolls and accessories. This innovative combination of features make the dolls stand alone. They are 16-inch premium ball-jointed play dolls, with changeable wigs, changeable eyes and 15 articulated joints that separate to allow for changeable parts. From the dolls’ faces to their eyes, wigs, torsos, hands, feet and clothing, These dolls’ parts and accessories are interchangeable, so a girl can make her doll a black-haired, brown-eyed soccer player one minute and a pink-haired, purple-eyed mermaid the next.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys

This great Indoor Play tent comes in 2 burlap and 6 canvas fabrics. Tent poles can be ordered in many colors or stained. Support poles are 57" tall to the top point. The tent is 40" deep and can go from 30 to 36" wide. Easy to assemble, this tent is for indoor play. Made in the USA. Launch date: 2012.

Head for the sunny skies of Heartlake City with Stephanie's seaplane. Soar the sunny Heartlake skies with Stephanie. Find sky-high adventure at the Heartlake Flying Club where she takes flying lessons. Now that she has some experience, Stephanie can even fly all by herself. With a map to find her way around and a life preserver for safety, Stephanie can practice piloting her very own seaplane and earn her diploma. Includes Stephanie mini-doll figure. Features a waterside hut and pier.  Accessories include a map, diploma, pink life preserver brick, bird, crab and telescope.
— John Taylor, owner of O.P. Taylor in Brevard, N.C., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that LEGO toys are consistent best sellers in his store.

The Laugh and Learn Click 'n Learn Remote is baby's very own remote with so many buttons, songs and learning fun. With realistic styling and a light at the top of the remote, baby will delight in being in control of all the sounds and music. Baby can click away to learn about numbers, opposites, colors, greetings and first words. Turn the volume up and down or switch channels to hear a new station. With four songs and lots of realistic sound effects, baby will love being in control of their very own learning remote.

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

This mobile construction bench includes a wooden saw, hammer, screwdriver, and wrench. Made of birch plywood, wheel treads made of silicone. L 43 x w 33 x h 49 cm. Brake can be adapted according to individual needs.

This wooden scale with metal pans is a fun way for kids to experiment with weight and balance. A perfect pretend play item for kitchen sets.

This beech wood stove top features two black burners, two knobs, and one red knob. Made in Germany.

Black Forest chocolate cake can be "sliced" into 6 scrumptious pieces. Dimensions: 7.8 x 8.08 x 2.8 inches.

This pretend play set encourages healthy eating. Includes: basket with 1 leek, 2 carrots, 1 banana, and 2 tomatoes. Basket 18 x 12 x 9 cm.

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.

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.

Join Puff and friends in the magical land of Honalee.  Act out the story with these stand-up puzzle pieces.  Story is printed on back of puzzle board for adult to read as child plays.  A classic, beautifully constructed, wood puzzle fitting of this timeless tale.  6 puzzle pieces and  board are made from premium birch ply-wood. Map of Honalee, Puff and Friends are printed directly to the wood for a nostalgic look and added durability. Launch date: August 2012.

Bring imagination to life as child and pull-along Puff frolic through Honalee. Pull and Puff frolics in an up-and-down motion with moving wings. A classic, beautifully constructed, wood pull toy fitting of this timeless tale. Quality solid wood construction; naturally. Launch date: August 2012.

Each mini figure in Safari Ltd®’s Toob® ranges from 1” to 3” and is carefully sculpted and finely hand painted. Packaged in a reusable acetate Toob®, the figures guarantee years of learning fun. Safari Ltd® introduces for 2012 highly detailed butterflies from around the world that flaunt their vibrantly colored wings. This Toob® includes a Red Glider, Green Swallowtail, Orange Barred Sulphur, White Angled Sulphur, Evenus regalis, Anaea clytemnestra and a Papilio garleppi. All figures are 100% guaranteed and lead free to ensure children’s safety. Suggested ages 3+. Launch date: January 2012.

Make a seed blossom into a beautiful flower. This set includes all the tools kids need to build a flower: seed, soil, watering can, shovel, garden shears, stackable stems, 2 leaves, and 4 interchangeable flower petals. Launch date: August 2012.

My Very Own Kitchen offers plenty of play features in a compact size. This 19-piece kitchen set includes a microwave, range, grill area, conventional oven, dish organizer and shelf space. Accessories include cups, dishes, silverware, pots, pans, cooking utensils, a pitcher, a cell phone and a colorful label sheet. Measures 19.25"L x 8.25"W x 28.75"H assembled.

Young chefs will enjoy this 9 piece play cookware set and find that it's just the right size for them to stir up some fun. Set contains oven mitt, pot holder, whisk, measuring spoon set, wooden spoon, saute pan, 4 1/2" pot with lid and sauce pan.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys