December 2011 Notable Toys — All

Frankie, Clawdeen and Draculaura have all been getting ready together to "cut up" the dance floor and boogie the night away at the Dawn of the Dance at Monster High. This three-pack is the only place you can find Draculaura in her Dawn of the Dance outfit.

The Power Wheels Fisher-Price Dune Racer Ride On is a 2 seat, open cockpit design 12v battery operated ride on with large off road tires. This  dune buggy's main feature is Monster Traction which delivers superior terrain performance versus other battery operated ride ons. The Power Wheels Fisher-Price Dune Racer Ride On drives 2.5 and 5mph forward and 2.5 mph in reverse. It also has a front storage compartment and seat belts for added play, a metal frame and nickel plated side safety bars. For enhanced appearance the product has metal plated wheels, front bumper, and shifter.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 12 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Low and wide build makes it more stable than other Power Wheels vehicles; fun; two kids can ride at once. Cons: Tires are very noisy; battery does not last long.

The girls from Monster High are fabulously freaky and ready to cheer in their fearleading uniforms. The three Draculaura, Cleo de Nile and Goulia Yelps dolls come with a set of pom poms and a Skullete megaphone and they're ready to get the high school crowd up on their feet and out of their seats. Draculaura and Cleo are dressed in cheer uniforms and ready to rock the crowd and Ghoulia is there to "represent" as the ultimate Monster High fan.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Great attention to detail; lots of accessories.

Air Hogs Hyperactives Pro R/C Vehicle has ultimate control in micro scale performance. Reach scale speeds of over 450 mph. 2.4 ghz radio frequency communication for hobby inspired performance. Multi band for challenging friends. Up to 10 vehicles can run at once. Foam tires for maximum traction,and stability. Wide stance, and dune buggy inspired design enhance speed and stunt performance. Pistol grip controller charger for precision control and ultimate performance.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 3 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Fast; easy to use; high quality.

Having enough ammo on hand can mean the difference between winning and losing when it comes to NERF blaster missions. The Nerf Vortex Vigilon Disc Blaster holds up to 5 long-range discs, and its built-in clip drops down at the touch of a button. Simply release the clip, reload the discs and reengage the clip for minimum rearming time and maximum blasting action. Offering long-range, high-powered disc-blasting technology, Nerf Vortex Vigilon Disc Blaster hurls ultra-distance discs for the ultimate battle experience. The Nerf Vortex Vigilon Disc Blaster comes with 5 discs and instructions.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 8 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Easy to reload; shoots long distances. Cons: Discs bounce off of the surfaces they hit and become lost.

Once the balls pop out of the elephant's trunk, it's anybody's guess which way they'll roll — into the belly for put-and-take play, across the room for baby to crawl after, or back through the trunk for more poppin' surprises. With 10 fun tunes to play and this elephant's trunk controlling the poppin' direction, the play is exciting, engaging, and fun.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 2.9 out of 5 stars from 8 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Entertaining; helps develop hand-eye coordination; music is cute. Cons: Fan that blows the balls is loud; balls don't blow automatically so younger kids may have trouble using it.

Moshi Monsters love collecting Moshlings. Now kids can bring home Moshlings of their own with a Moshi Monsters 3 pack. Inside they'll discover 3 cute Moshlings and 1 secret code. The next time they log online,  they can use the code to retrieve 1 special item for their Moshi Monster. It's the perfect mystery gift for a Monster. Colors and styles vary. Three moshi monsters are selected at random at time of shipment. The Moshi Monsters 3-Pack Figures includes: 3 Moshling Figures; 1 Code for 1 Special Item; and a Bonus 3 Day Premium Trial Membership.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on ToysRUs.com.

Fly the LEGO Ninjago Lightning Dragon Battle (2521) to rescue Sensei Wu. Frakjaw and Kruncha have captured Sensei Wu and stole the nunchucks of lightning with their helicopter. Help Jay and the fearsome Lightning Dragon to rescue him and retrieve the golden weapon before they escape into the Underworld.! Beware of the helicopter's snapping jaws and flick missiles.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Dragon is durable; mini figures are great. Cons: Helicopter is not very durable.

Watching the rising and falling colored blobs in these lamps is hypnotizing. They measure 13.75 inches tall and come in three assorted colors: pink, green and blue.
— Mary Porter, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn Va., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that she sells several of these lamps each month, making them her best selling tween item.
— Marc Slotin, owner of My Imagination Station in Spartanburg, S.C., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2013 survey that lava lamps were a big seller with tweens.

This bracelet features a pink band covered in orange rhinestones, and bright orange ties. 7" long.
— Joanne Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that jewelry from Natural Life is a best selling product for tweens at her store.

A class trip to a local natural history museum  takes a  dangerous turn for the characters of this book, the fifth and allegedly final installment of The Secret Series, when a mummy with a missing finger goes missing. Launch date: September 2011.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 5 out of 5 stars from 155 reviews on BarnesandNoble.com.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 5 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com.
— As of 10/19/2011 this book had 4.39 out of 5 stars from 106 ratings on GoodReads.com.

There’s a conga in the Congo with these 10 wild instruments. Includes Leopard conga drum with 10-bell tambourine lid; Antelope slide whistle; Hornbill water whistle; 2 giraffe maracas; Croc cabasa & clacker; Twister hand drum and 2 snake drumsticks.

Designed by a physician to assist in developing a child’s oral-motor alertness. The Busy Bee Baby Buzzer stimulates auditory senses with blinking lights and music. The bee gently vibrates and plays soothing and calming classical tunes. The bee’s soft ears are ideal for the orally-dependent child. The color buttons let caregiver or child select what they’d like to hear.

Place the last puzzle piece into the emergency vehicle to see the lights flash and hear the sirens. This 9-piece wooden peg puzzle features three 3-piece emergency vehicles, with a full-color, matching picture under each piece.

Crayola Super Tips Markers have unique, durable tips for drawing thick or thin lines. Use the sides for coloring in large areas and the tips for adding details. Super Tips are great for school projects, doodling, and coloring fun.These markers use ink that's formulated to easily wash from skin and most children's clothing. As an added bonus, these sets include some Silly Scent markers. The set of 50 contains 12 markers with silly scents.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 3.9 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros:  Very washable; scented markers smell good. Cons: Yellow marker is actually orange; colors aren't true to their cap colors.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 4.2 out of 5 stars from 16 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Glides smoothly; good color variety; comfortable grip. Cons: Messy; two reviewers said that the markers were not, in fact, washable.

Pump-action, 10-disc blaster is customizable so kids can enhance their fire control or modify their blaster for mobility. With removable 10-disc magazine for maximum firepower with minimum reloading time. Removable stock and versatile Tactical Rail System let kids modify their blaster to meet their battlefield needs. (Tactical Rail accessories sold separately.) As with all VORTEX blasters, features XLR long-range disc technology to launch discs an ultra long distance. PRAXIS blaster comes with removable stock, 10-disc magazine, 10 discs and instructions.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Accurate, long range; several reviewers said this was their favorite of the Vortex line. Cons: Discs are easily lost and not sold separately.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 6 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Simple to use; clip loading process is satisfying; Doesn't hurt to get hit by the discs. Cons: Discs get lost easily.

Based on Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the Hasbro Transformers Ultimate Optimus Prime Figure is the premium movie-adapted Transformers toy on the market. Designed for ages five and older, and standing over 22 inches tall, this action figure features a sleek design, glowing weapon lights, and battle and conversation sounds.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 3.8 out of 5 stars from 40 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Large; unique; comes with trailer. Cons: Some of the limbs are not very sturdy; not enough points of articulation.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Very detailed. Cons: Bigger than "voyager class," yet smaller than "deluxe" class, making it awkward to display. 

Battle for control of the four Spinjitzu weapons has begun. Sensei Wu, Kai, Zane and Nya need help to keep Lord Garmadon and his evil skeleton army from taking the ultimate Spinjitzu weapon – the Dragon Sword of Fire. As the temple splits into two, the fearsome Fire Dragon emerges to protect the sword by spitting fire at Lord Garmadon. Set also includes Samukai and Kruncha figures, all four golden weapons and 14 other weapons. 1174 pieces. Launch date: Summer 2011.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars from 3 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Helps build fine motor skills and logic skills; challenging. Cons: Finished structure not very durable.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Very detailed; lots of moving parts.

Take home this LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean The Black Pearl (4184). After 13 years, Davy Jones has come to take Jack Sparrow back to the Flying Dutchman. As his tentacled adversary boards the Black Pearl with his brackish crew, Maccus and Bootstrap Bill, Jack and his friends Will and Joshamee are in no mood to surrender just yet. The LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean The Black Pearl (4184) includes: Jack Sparrow MiniFigure; Will Turner MiniFigure; Joshamee Gibbs MiniFigure; Davy Jones MiniFigure; Maccus and Bootstrap Bill MiniFigures. Contains 804 pieces. Launch date: October 2011.

Kids can transform, configure, and manipulate Block Builders for endless building and perpetual design. Fold and unfold the six distinctively hinged blocks to create skyscrapers, modern art sculptures, geometric marvels - just about anything imaginable. Includes 50 puzzle challenge cards. Block Builders puzzle challenge cards range from beginner to expert. Look at the design on the front of the card and recreate the shape using the indicated number of blocks. The solution is provided in an exploded view on the opposite side of the card.

Kids can watch ants create 3-D tunnels in nutrient-rich, translucent gel with the brand new Ant Farm Revolution from Uncle Milton. Ant Farm Revolution is the next generation in ant farm technology, with integrated LED light and projecting lens. This new ant habitat not only provides a home for ants, but also illuminates from within and projects GIANT ant shadows onto the wall or ceiling. Ants need to be ordered online.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 3 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: "Feels more like art than a toy;" interesting to all ages.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 1 out of 5 stars from 1 review on ToysRUs.com. Cons: Reviewer said the ants got out of their container.

This Pigeon plush toy, from Caldecott Honor Award Winning Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, has a bean-filled body of soft chenille with embroidered eyes, and velour feet and legs. Squeeze Pigeon and hear him plead "Let Me Drive the Bus!!!"... in author Mo Willems' own voice.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Cute; good for kids who are fans of the book. Cons: No off switch.

Kids add friendly insects from their yard, watch them grow into giant supersized shadows on their ceiling, and move as they crawl about in the magnified-projector dome. The spacious observatory chamber is safe for bugs and kids. The projector’s buggy eyes light up, too.

These helium-filled shark balloons are remote controlled to "swim" through the air. The infrared remote functions include climb, descend, and tail fin control. Up to a 40 ft range. 57 inches long, 36 inches high.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 2.8 out of 5 stars from 19 reviews on ToysRUs.com. Pros: Visually striking. Cons: Difficult to assemble; flimsy; does not stay inflated very long.
— Mike McCollum, owner of Learning Express in Hoover, Ala., told TDmonthly in November 2011 that Air Swimmers are becoming one of his best selling flying toys. He said that since September 2011, he has sold 16 of the sharks and 7 of the clown fish.