November 2008 Notable Toys — Construction

Don't let the name intimidate you. InfiniTrax's™ 1080 Beast can be tamed by the beginner. The Beast challenges you to a whole new level of imagination and building larger and bigger than anything else InfiniTrax™ has to offer! Your driving champ now has the most awesome amount of track-building power to be had at their finger tips. So many pieces and so many configurations, you'll never run out of new ways to race! It's time to step up to the ultimate fun, the ultimate challenge. It's time to tame the Beast!

InfiniTrax™ challenges you to a whole new level of imagination and building challenge courtesy of our next level of racing fun! With the 720 Burn, your driving champ will have one of our most powerful and flexible racetrack kits. The 720 Burn will keep them busy for hours dreaming up so many track configurations they may never get to actually racing their cars! Forget just the simple oval and drag racing configurations; it's time to step up to some hairpin racing turns and serious straight-a-ways designed for speed and control.

Are you ready to really have some fun? Then step up a notch and see if you can master the next level of InfiniTrax™ racing fun. The 540 Shred gives you some serious building power to see what your racer can do with an unlimited world of race track building and play. Your racing champ can build track in multiple configurations from a simple oval to hairpin turns and twists!

Enter the world of infinite possibilities, infinite potential and infinite racing! The 360 Sprint is your first step into the InfiniTrax™ unlimited world of race track building and play. Your racing champ can build this amazing track in both oval and drag racing configurations.

From the company's traditional collection of wooden blocks made in the USA, this set features 68 blocks in 12 shapes: 10 units, 10 half units, 10 half pillars, eight pillars, six columns, 4 double pillars, four Roman arches, four half circles, four small triangles, four double flats, two roof boards and two double units.
— “They don’t require minimums,” said Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids in Madison, Wis., when naming BEKA as a preferred vendor in fall 2008. Two other retailers, out of 52, also listed the company as a favorite.

This set of 55 blocks adds variety to the classic move-a-block-and-don't-let-the-tower-fall game with colored pieces and rules that involve rolling dice and moving a block of the same color shown.

This versatile building set combines both art and science with pieces that build 3-D structures that serve not only as décor or architectural models, but also as marble runs in which the activity of the balls is unpredictable.

The Giant Construction Block Set comes with 24 blocks (16 timber blocks and 8 cinder blocks). Large and easy to handle, children can build objects from skyscrapers to cabins to forts.  The timber blocks are 12" x 16" x 3" and the cinder blocks are 12" x 16" x 6". Assembly of the blocks is required. For ages 18mo. and up.

This set features 230 bricks in a wooden box, plus a building plan and packing model. Anchor (Anker) Stones are made with 100-percent-natural ingredients: quartz sand, color pigments, linseed oil and chalk. Each stone is individually tested and hand measured to ensure it meets the company's standards.

This starter set comes with two simple construction plans and 42 bricks, offering an introduction to the word of Anchor (Anker) Stones by allowing children to create cars, trains and simple buildings.

Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew welcome two new members, Gripper and Grabber, as they hurry to finish a new sports stadium in time for the Sunflower Valley Games. Launch date: January 6, 2009.

This high-tech version of the Techno Gears Marble Mania Genius has more than 520 pieces, so kids can build a bigger and better marble run. New dual power lifters, quad-track marble channels, a spiral channel and a marble loop channel are just a few features of the Genius set. It requires one AA battery. Launch date: June 2008.

This modern construction set features 35 durable, plastics squares that measure 3" on each side and have notches on the sides that allow them to be connected. Children can build structures more than 3' high.

This set of 35, 3" squares made of heavy-duty plastic can be used to build creations more than 3' tall. Launch date: 2008.

This colorful construction kit comes in a plastic carrying case that snaps closed and has a handle on the top. It includes more than 650 pieces, including wheels and connectors to build moveable models. Projects include a water mill house, a merry-go-round, a car, a helicopter and a sports car. The pieces make a click sound when connected or pulled apart.

For children 3 and up, Special Cross building blocks have more available shapes in comparison to Baby Cross allowing for more design possibilites. Special Cross 80 includes 12 blue squares, 12 red squares, 12 yellow squares, 12 green squares, 16 red circles, and 16 blue round pegs.

For children 3 and up, Special Cross building blocks have more available shapes in comparison to Baby Cross allowing for more design possibilites. Special Cross 20 includes 6 yellow squares, 6 green squares, 4 red circles, and 4 blue round pegs.

These Italian designed building blocks can be connected together in different ways to form various shapes and models. The Baby Cross 40 set includes 10 squares of each color (blue, yellow, green, and red).

These Italian designed building blocks can be connected together in different ways to form various shapes and models. The Baby Cross 12 set includes 6 red squares and 6 yellow squares.

This set comes with two cars and colorful, click-lock track that children can use to build and rebuild their own roads for play.
— Three of 32 retailers predicted in October 2008 that this product will be a hot seller for the holiday season. "Got 12 in yesterday; sold through half," James Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly.
—    “People keep asking for it,” said Terri Bracken, owner of Earth Explorer Toys in Zionsville, Ind., in November 2008. “We’ve gone through 36 and have 18 left.”

Little Reader Blocks are 3” cubes constructed of sturdy corrugated cardboard. The blocks are imprinted with over 100 preK-2 sight words that combine learning with play. Words are color-coded by type (adjective, noun, verb, etc.) to make sentence forming fun and easy. The set includes 18 pieces: 3 yellow adjective blocks, 3 green noun blocks, 5 blue verb blocks, 5 red pronon blocks, and 2 white preposition blocks. Kids can roll blocks like dice to form sentences, look for familiar letters or words, stack blocks to make sentences, and much more. Guided play activities are included. Adult assembly required.

This set consists of 16 large red blocks (12” x 6” x 3”). ImagiBRICKS™ Giant Building Blocks are an enduring classic that offers endless play possibilities because they are versatile and safe. The blocks are printed with non-toxic inks and with their water-resistant coating are strong and durable for years of creative play.
— ImagiBRICKS are a best seller at Kazoo & Company in Denver, Owner Diana Nelson told TDmonthly at the beginning of 2009.

This 40pc Basic Set includes 8 large red blocks (12” x 6” x 3”), 6 medium yellow blocks (6” x 6” x 3”), and 24 small blue blocks (6” x 3” x 3). ImagiBRICKS™ Giant Building Blocks are an enduring classic that offers endless play possibilities because they are versatile and safe. The blocks are printed with non-toxic inks and with their water-resistant coating are strong and durable for years of creative play.