October 2012 Notable Toys — Preschool

In this fun game, kids create an endless cast of characters as leaves, ribbons, coins, seashells, paper clips and a variety of found objects combine to make millions of faces. 160 object images. Made from 90% recycled materials.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

The Dora the Explorer Inflatable Play Cube for iPad will delight and entertain children of all ages while they play, learn and interact with their iPad. The inflatable cube helps protect the iPad from bumps and damage, safely bringing the wonder of tablet technology to young children while entertaining them with the playful images of Dora's adventures. The cube is easily inflated with the included foot pump and features a protective case recessed on a padded side to hold and secure the iPad. Once inflated it can safely be bounced and turned over to use in either an upright tabletop position for playing with the apps kids love like the included Dora Dress-Up Adventures! HD game or flipped to its side for enjoying videos and episodes of kid's favorite Dora adventure. Parents can have peace of mind and comfortably watch their child play games, learn and discover magical interactive moments while child proofing and protecting the iPad with the official licensed Nickelodeon Dora the Explorer Inflatable Cube for iPad from CTA Digital.

The super bouncy SpongeBob SquarePants Inflatable Cube for iPad will delight and entertain children of all ages while they play and interact with their iPad. The inflatable cube helps protect the iPad from bumps and damage, safely bringing the wonder of tablet technology to young children while entertaining them with the playful faces of Bikini Bottom's favorite talking sponge. The cube is easily inflated with the included foot pump and features a protective case recessed on a padded side to hold and secure the iPad. Once inflated it can safely be bounced and turned over to use in either an upright tabletop position for playing with Apps like the included SpongeBob's Super Bouncy Fun Time HD game or flipped to its side for enjoying videos and episodes of kid's favorite SpongeBob adventure. Parents can have peace of mind and comfortably watch their child play games, learn and discover magical interactive moments while child proofing and protecting the iPad with the official licensed Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants Inflatable Cube for iPad from CTA Digital.

Are you ready kids? Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants! Absorbent and yellow and protective is he! The SpongeBob SquarePants Universal Activity Tray for iPad will delight and entertain children while they play and interact with their iPad. The Activity Tray helps protect the iPad from bumps, spills and damage, safely bringing the wonder of tablet technology to toddlers and young children while entertaining them with the playful images of Bikini Bottom's favorite talking sponge. This unique and universal activity tray can be easily fitted and securely attached to a car seat, stroller or a high chair.

Focusing on the number 10, Pig 10 is an exciting card game for children. As in "MAU MAU", players take turns in placing cards in the middle of the table while adding the number of the card to the value of the card pile. A player reaching 10 exactly wins all played cards, whereas a player exceeding the 10 has to give the reward to his right neighbor. In this easy and popular game, players must make decisions with every turn: do I have the right cards in my hand, can I put my left neighbor under pressure, or will I step into the trap my right neighbors have set for me?

Green Toys' Flatbed Truck and Race Car lets kids ages one and up enjoy two cars, either apart for racing or stacked together for hauling. These eco-conscious vehicles are made in the USA from 100 percent recycled plastic milk containers. The recycled products in this set help to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Parents can feel confident giving this toy to their little one as it contains no BPA, PVC, phthalates, or external coatings.
— As of 10/26/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 51 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; BPA and pthalate free; made in the USA. Cons: Several users mentioned that the wheels had difficulty turning.

This villain’s car can go up to 20 feet—and that’s no joke. Just shake it up to start the engine. The more kids shake it up, the longer it goes. Says cool phrases every time kids let it go.

Kids control the action as Thomas puffs on his way with real cool to the touch steam. They can send Thomas forward or backward with a spin, hear whistles, fun phrases and more. Thomas does 3 special moves and comes with an easy to use remote-control.
— As of 10/26/2012 this product had 4.2 out of 5 stars from 24 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Durable; works on carpet and vinyl. Cons: Short battery life, remote control has limited range.

Kids will have fun even when they're on the go with the Carrying Case Vet Clinic. This easy to take-along case comes with a figure, kitten, puppy, guinea pigs, and accessories to help the vet treat the animals.
— In a July 2013 survey Donna Frederick, owner of The Play House Toy Store in Durham, N.C., told TDmonthly that toys by Playmbil are one of her store's overall best-sellers.
— In a May 2014 survey Suzi McMullen, manager of Doodlehopper 4 Kids in Falls Church, Va., told TDmonthly that Playmobil was her store's best-selling play set.

Kids will have fun when they are on the go with the Princess Carrying Case. This easy to take-along playset comes with a figure, unicorn, peacock, swan, vanity, and other accessories.
— Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids LTD in Madison, Wis., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that Playmobil take-along sets, particularly princess and pirate, are some of their best-selling play sets.

Kids can have fun even when they're on the go with the Carrying Case Santa's Workshop. Set includes Santa, elf, gifts, toys, wheelbarrow, table, chair, and other accessories that all fit into a green, easy to take-along case.

The perfect toy for doll mommies and teddy daddies to create a first home for their little friends. This doll's house has lots of accessories and is easy to carry wherever you go. Includes a chair, sleeping bag, pillow and three hangers. When kids are done playing, they can just close it up and take it with them. Includes carrying handle. Made of cotton/polyester. Measures 41" x 13" x 28" when open. Dolls are not included.

The canopy converts the carry cot for doll or teddy into a comfy little bed. When the doll or teddy want to be taken along to grandma or grandpas, the canopy is simply removed and the carrying straps attached. Bed includes pillow, blanket and canopy. Made of cotton/polyester.

This set comes complete with a wooden cook top. Content: apron, frying pan, wooden stove top, pot with lid, and salt & pepper shakers. Dishwasher safe - microwave safe - suitable for food contact - PVC free. 10 pieces.

Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll, a gorgeous book by author/illustrator Sunny Seki, takes readers on a journey into ancient Japan and the story behind the famous Daruma Doll. Yuko-chan, an adventurous blind orphan, is able to do amazing things. She confronts a temple burglar in the dead of night, and crosses treacherous mountain passes to deliver food to hungry people. During her travels, Yuko-chan trips and tumbles down a snowy cliff. She discovers a strange thing as she waits for help: her tea gourd, regardless of how she drops it, always lands right-side-up. The tea has frozen in the bottom of the gourd. Inspired by this, she creates the famous Daruma doll toy, which rights itself when tipped—a true symbol of resilience. Thanks to Yuko-chan's invention, the villagers are able to earn a living and feed themselves by selling the dolls. Yuko-chan never gave up, no matter the obstacles she faced, and the Daruma doll is a charming reminder of the power of perseverance.

Everywhere in the world, there are poems and songs especially for children—rhymes that are sung from generation to generation and never forgotten. In Japan, nursery rhymes speak of nature, of everyday joys and of Japan's own special culture. In Japanese Nursery Rhymes fifteen well-loved verses are colorfully presented in a format that makes language learning easier. The included audio CD features kids singing in both Japanese and English.

The land of dinosaurs comes back to life in an amazing detailed scene filled with all types of favorite dinosaurs. After completing the giant floor puzzle, kids will have a blast naming all the different dinosaurs. Launch date: March 2012.

Soft Shapes® Tub Stickables are made entirely of child-safe foam. These huggable, squeezable, touchable favorites are designed to get kids learning while playing in the bath. Perfect for bath time, playtime, anytime fun and learning, These fun filled sticker sets contain 20 chunky foam bath stickers that float in water and stick to the tub, packaged in a reusable tote-along tube that suctions to the wall. Other sets include Mermaids, Trucks, and Pirates.

Each fun animal piece is the same shape, but four are large and four are small. Kids can match the big pieces with the little pieces or mix them up to make different pairs or patterns. Skills in this puzzle: Recognition of size relationships; Understanding of sorting, matching, pairing, and patterning; Slight visual support in wells.

This set consists of 6 blocks Goodwood deconstruction blocks are a new system of innovative wooden blocks, designed to invite real creative play. The beautiful, precisely crafted blocks are intentionally packaged without instructions or other prescriptive guidelines, in order to cultivate open-ended exploration. Unlike most modern toys, this puts the child in complete control of the child-toy relationship, and encourages them to come up with their own ways to play. The different shapes allow for building outwards in every dimension, and the creation of structures which are both architecturally and geometrically interesting, as well as visually pleasing. They are suitable as a construction toy for children, and increasingly popular as a desk toy for design-minded adults as well. The ever-growing goodwood system currently includes seven original designs. Each set is designed to be fun and interesting on its own, and to provide new features when combined with the other sets as well. All sets come with pieces in six vibrant colors (water-based acrylic paint), made from forest-friendly rubber wood, and CPSIA tested. Care has been taken to ensure that the product reflects responsible social and environmental decision-making, and the developer's website provides a mechanism for purchasing discounted sets for donation into orphanages and kindergartens in the developing world.

Goodwood deconstruction blocks are a new system of innovative wooden blocks, designed to invite real creative play. The beautiful, precisely crafted blocks are intentionally packaged without instructions or other prescriptive guidelines, in order to cultivate open-ended exploration. Unlike most modern toys, this puts the child in complete control of the child-toy relationship, and encourages them to come up with their own ways to play. The different shapes allow for building outwards in every dimension, and the creation of structures which are both architecturally and geometrically interesting, as well as visually pleasing. They are suitable as a construction toy for children, and increasingly popular as a desk toy for design-minded adults as well. The ever-growing goodwood system currently includes seven original designs. Each set is designed to be fun and interesting on its own, and to provide new features when combined with the other sets as well. All sets come with pieces in six vibrant colors (water-based acrylic paint), made from forest-friendly rubber wood, and CPSIA tested. Care has been taken to ensure that the product reflects responsible social and environmental decision-making, and the developer's website provides a mechanism for purchasing discounted sets for donation into orphanages and kindergartens in the developing world.

Fun is the destination once kids hop on the VeggieTales bus. Sturdy enough for hours of play, it features bump-and-go action so that no matter what gets in the way, it keeps on rollin'. Honk the horn and hear the Veggies sing "The Wheels on the Bus." For ages 3 and up. Requires three AA batteries (not included). Measures 8" x 6.75".

VeggieTales' first remote control car just for little ones. Kids can have fun with Junior Asparagus & Laura Carrot in the front seats. Features easy controls for small fingers, working headlights, and controls that move car forward, backward, left and right. Remote control works within a 20 foot radius so the car never gets away. Uses 6 AA batteries (not included).
— As of 12/6/2012 this product had 2.5 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Children who like Veggie Tales will like the toy. Cons: Reviewers reported the car was of a poor quality.

Join LarryBoy and his sidekick Alfred as they whirl away to help save the day in Bumblyburg. Equipped with real helicopter sounds and the voice of LarryBoy saying "LarryCopter to the rescue," kids will love playing with their favorite Veggie hero. Features spinning propellers and actual shooting plunger.