December 2011 Notable Toys — All

This premium edition game features the great fun of Monopoly with many premium upgrades including a solid wood cabinet in a black painted finish with a recessed flocked silver foil stamped rolling area.  Other upgrades include an integrated storage area with lined compartments and a wooden banker's tray.  This deluxe set also includes a silver foil stamped game path and Chance and Community Chest cards, Monopoly money with silver ink printing, wooden houses and hotels and plated die-cast tokens.

For game fans who like nostalgia and style, Winning Solutions’ Library Classic Collection includes special editions of MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE and CLUE board games, packaged within a luxe faux-leather “book” that makes a decorative addition to any bookshelf. Each game design is inspired by original graphics and game pieces that made these brands cultural icons, such as wooden houses and hotels in the MONOPOLY Library Classic game, and die-cast metal “weapon” play pieces in the CLUE Libary Classic version.

Players of all ages and abilities will enjoy the new BIG scale Scrabble, which is 50 percent larger than the original version, making the print easier to read and letters easier to manipulate for older (and even younger) players. The Giant SCRABBLE game features an oversized, rotating wooden game board. The tiles and rack are also made with wood and the gold-foil raised grid keeps letters in place during play.

Smart Mat multi-purpose play mats are ideal indoors or out; for playrooms, story time, snack time, the beach, backyard, even classrooms. Children will engage in hours of imaginative play using their own vehicles, such as PlaSmart’s Wonky Wheels, as well as play figures. With a giant play surface (minimum 78” x 46”), Smart Mats are easy to clean, travel, and store. Made from high quality, coated, EVA foam.

The Trash Pack Truck is a great place to store collectible trashies. It holds more than 10 at a time. Two trashies are included. Trash Pack is 'The Gross Gang in your garbage,' a new toy line of icky characters named after all the delights one might find in their trash can.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 3 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Kids enjoy dumping their Trashies out of the truck. Cons: When the cans are stored inside they tend to move around.

The Wow! Stuff My Keepon is the dancing robot that moves to any music. The tiny microphone in My Keepons nose allows him to hear the music kids play or even the rhythms they make themselves. My Keepon listens for the tempo of the music and matches the beat with an uncanny sense of timing. My Keepon can dance to any style of music, from slow ballads to pop music. Each performance is an original and unique interpretation. With an array of touch sensors underneath his playful textured skin, My Keepon responds to poking, patting, squeezing or tickling by looking around, showing his mood and making expressive sounds. As soon as My Keepon wakes up, he wants to play and will try to attract attention. My Keepon sits on top of his very own performance stage, which contains most of the robotic mechanism, so My Keepon himself can be soft and squishy to touch. Launch date: October 2011.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 1 review on ToysRUs.com.

The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Dance and Play Puppy is baby's puppy friend that will encourage him to move, dance and sing along through familiar songs. With over 25 sung songs and phrases, baby will learn about ABCs and letters, counting and numbers, parts of the body, actions, manners, greetings and first words. Takes 6 AA batteries (not included).
— As of 10/21/2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 1 review on ToysRUs.com.
— As of 10/21/2011 this product had 4.1 out of 5 stars from 25 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Engaging; moves well; interactive; large. Cons: Volume is not adjustable and can get annoying; the motor itself is loud.

The Cassie brings plenty of charm to a doll's neighborhood. The second floor has two dormers with gable windows, while the first floor features a transom-lit door and three-over-four windows for well-lit living spaces. An open back makes designing and decorating easy. This superior-quality dollhouse comes as natural, unpainted wood, and is ready to be assembled, shingled and decorated by its owner. Shingles and paint not included in kit. 1:12 scale. Dimensions: 18" x 20.5" x 24" Assembled
— In an October 2011 survey, Robert Lightburn from Cville's Hobbies, Games and Toys in Charlottesville, Va., told TDmonthly that "Collectible doll houses, like Melissa and Doug's House that Jack Built," are their best selling keepsake items.

In this game, players build a railroad empire in the land of the rising sun. Players use their initial investment to build track. Then pick up commodities where they are grown, mined, or manufactured and deliver them to a lucrative place of demand. Players complete a delivery and make the money they need to buy larger, faster trains, and expand their railroad empire. Win the game by building the most effective railroad empire. Obstacles are rival tracks and Japan’s great mountains, channels, and rivers and restrictive coastline.
Nippon Rails is geographically accurate. The game depicts Japan’s rivers, plains, and mountains, as well as its natural resources. It’s a great way to learn about the geography, business, shipping, and transportation of Europe while having fun with friends or family. For 2-6 players. Playing Time: 120-240 minutes. Launch date: October 20, 2011.
— As of 10/20/2011 this product had 6.7 out of 10 stars from 358 ratings on BoardGameGeek.com.

It’s four Simon games in one. The Wonder-Link technology lets the cubes know where players shuffle them, when they win and what they scored. The yellow game is Simon Lights Off. The red game is Simon Shuffle. The blue game is Simon Secret Color, there’s only one order that will show the same color on all four cubes. The green game is Simon Classic Stop shuffling.  Can be played as a group or alone. High-tech twist on the legendary Simon game tests memory and logic skills. Includes 4 electronic cubes, game case, rules and quick-play card.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3.8 out of 5 stars from 22 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: No rating below 3 stars; different modes of play keep it interesting. Cons: Expensive; not challenging.

Using Light Control technology, the car automatically chases after the light projected on the floor. The unique dual-sided design allows the car to keep running when the car flips over, and the ultra-cool light-up rims change color upon flipping. The Chaser includes a four-in-one stunt ramp for more exciting racing action and stunt abilities. This 1:32 scale car has a performance range of up to 40' and a scale speed of up to 300 mph, and two transmitter settings allow for racing two cars at the same time for double the fun.

The Mattel WWE Colossal Crashdown Arena Play Set is the largest play set where Flexforce figures can fight it out for the ultimate title. The belt is up for grabs, hanging from the top of the ceiling to taunt all those who fight for it. Simply defeat opponents on the authentic Raw-themed skirt and ring, then climb to the top of the ceiling to grab it. But be careful, the entire superstructure is collapsible, so players will have to hurry to reach for the belt and make it their own before it all falls. Recreate  favorite matches between contenders, and decide for who deserves the title.

Kids can play and explore with their mini lalaloopsy dolls in this Mini Lalaloopsy Treehouse Playset as they climb, swing, and pretend in their very own treehouse. This fun hangout includes lots of fun activities, 2 exclusive Lalaloopsy Dolls, 2 Pets, and lots of accessories.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3 out of 5 stars from 11 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Cute; collectible; lots of details. Cons: Poorly made; expensive.

The RedaKai Championship Tin offers everything needed to play. Based on the animated cartoon series, RedaKai is a fast-paced card game of Kairu battles that is easy to learn and quick to play. Ideal for kids six and up, this two-to-four-player game helps build creative and strategic thinking skills during basic and advanced gameplay. The RedaKai Championship Tin comes complete with all cards and accessories essential to the game.

Thanks to innovative Wonder-Link technology, these super-smart dice know what was rolled, what the player decided to hold and automatically re-roll the rest. Choose from four ways to play - Poker, Max, Wild or Flash. Can be played as a group or solo. It comes with 5 Electronic Yahtzee dice, a game case, Rules and Quick-Play Card. It includes 5 button batteries.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3.5 out of 5 stars from 21 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Ideal for single player usage; nice storage case. Cons: Screen can be difficult to read; scoring happens too quickly; not as fun as the original.

WowWee Paper Jamz are affordable and innovative instruments that provide an instant rock star experience and open-ended play. The creative blend of technology and play is made possible with Active Graphics Technology circuit-embedded paper, which allows kids to play like a pro by simply touching the paper surface. With cutting-edge technology, this Paper Jamz Pro microphone lets anyone sound like a pop star. USB cable included. For ages 8 and above. Batteries 3 x “AAA” (not included).

Get the real deal with The Real Lightning McQueen. His eyes and mouth come to life with impulse projection technology. Kids can interact with Lightning McQueen like never before as he teaches them how to maneuver him and rewards their driving skills. With bump detection technology, Lightning McQueen will react to collisions and even call in his pit crew for repairs. Lightning McQueen not only delivers his famous lines from the movie, but also speaks new, never-before-heard lines that can only be heard when driving The Real Lightning McQueen. Launch date: October 2011.

The Nerf VORTEX NITRON Blaster features a cutting-edge acceleration trigger that propels a full-auto storm of discs toward targets with extreme range for an all-out assault. The Centerfire Tech electronic scope features pulsing targeting lights to help kids center their aim. The included 20-disc magazine and onboard magazine storage make reloading quick and simple. In addition to being fully automatic, the NITRON is fully customizable with the Tactical Rail System that is compatible with most VORTEX and N-Strike Mission Kit accessories (sold separately) for a fully customizable battlefield experience.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3.6 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Appealing visual design; automatic. Cons: There is a lag when firing; takes lots of batteries, which is expensive.

With a BEYSTADIUM™ arena to fight in and exclusive battle tops and launchers, kids can start their dueling practice as soon as they're set up. Customize the BEYSTADIUM with three battle cores: the Zip Core forces straight-line movement, the Chaos Core brings chaos to the tops' movement, and the Deflector Core brings craziness because it affects right-spin and left-spin tops differently. With the tournament grids and official rule book, kids will be ready to do battle . Set up the exclusive GALAXY PEGASUS™ and METEO L-DRAGO™ tops for a launching, spinning attack.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Fun; good starter kit. Cons: Expensive.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3.5 out of 5 stars from 22 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Bey Media L-Drago is is a left-spinning top and is great; beys come assembled. Cons: not very durable; top has to be set just right before spinning, otherwise it won't go.
— In a Summer 2012 survey Deran Muckjian, owner of Catch a Falling Star in Lexington, Mass., told TDmonthly that they sell 40 Hasbro Beyblade figures every month.

The Mattel Barbie Sisters Go Camping! Camper has everything Barbie needs for her camping trips in one foldable and portable camper. With enough room to sleep all four sisters, the pink-tastic design of the camper with cool graphic touches is sure to please all. Kitchen accessories, such as food pieces and dishes, are included to enhance imaginative play, along with a bathroom complete with a toilet and shower. Don’t forget to bring Barbie’s cute puppy along for the ride, and use the pet bed for when it’s time to rest. The camper even comes with a Jacuzzi for Barbie and her sisters to relax in. This totally foldable and portable design makes it easy to carry anywhere, so Barbie’s adventures can continue anyplace.

With real-as-can-be movements, sounds and actions, COOKIE MY PLAYFUL PUP lets kids experience the joy of having a puppy of their very own. When kids pet her on her head or back, she barks, moves her head and wags her tail. Give her cheek a little scratch and she'll turn toward their hand to ask for more. When they tell her just how sweet she is, she'll respond with puppy babble that sounds just like she's talking. She loves her squeaky toy — when kids make it squeak, she'll turn her head toward the sound. When kids put her toy bone in her mouth, she'll make crunching sounds like she's chewing it. This pup is about 14 inches tall and can either sit up or lie down.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 22 reviews on Walmart.com. Pros: Realistic; fun; entertaining. Cons: Dog doesn't "walk" so many reviewers reported their kids lost interest after a couple days; batteries run out quickly.

The classic oven has been updated to be light bulb-free and comes with yummy mixes and pans for cooking up all kinds of sweet treats. Oven comes with baking pan, cupcake pan, pan pusher, chocolate chip cookie mix, red velvet cake mix, pink frosting mix, rainbow sugar crystals package, paper cupcake wraps and instructions/recipe booklet.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 4 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Easy, fun.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 3.9 out of 5 stars from 22 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: No assembly required; very easy;  Cons: Does not include many mixes; mixes make small quantities of food; extra mixes are expensive.

It's easy for kids to prepare meals for a birthday bash, picnic, backyard barbeque or to cook up just about anything with the Fisher-Price Dora Fiesta Favorites Kitchen Playset. The Fisher-Price Dora Fiesta Favorites Kitchen Playset includes: A double sided "fiesta recipe card" that kids can place in the kitchen window to cook delicious meals like tacos, huevos rancheros, hamburgers, and more; Dora talks kids through each recipe with fun phrases that correspond to the recipe; A refrigerator, oven, stovetop, grill, sink and a phone; More than 60 English and Spanish phrases, and 20 play pieces. Requires three AA batteries, included.

The Tonka Chuck & Friends Race Along Chuck is bursting with energy and wants to race. Kids can push or pull Chuck to make him go. Kids can fill and empty his dump bed and press the cab lights to hear over 50 phrases and sounds.