December 2013 Notable Toys — Kits

Build your own adventures with the LEGO® City Starter Set featuring 5 minifigures, an ambulance, police motorcycle, fire truck and accessories.
— In a May 2015 survey, four of 11 retailers told TDmonthly that LEGO was their best-selling line of construction toys.

Where to buy:
NORTH EAST
NORTH WEST

Create your own cool, colorful jewelry with the FunLoom Bracelet Making Kit! The kit includes an expandable loom board that lets you design and make stylish accessories such as bracelets, rings, hair bands, belts, necklaces and more. This creation station also comes with a hook, 600 colorful silicone bands, 30 closure clips and a step-by-step "How to Loom" guide.
— In a November 2013 survey, Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Co. in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly that Funlooms are a best-seller in their store

Where to buy:
SOUTH

Discover the science of living things with this complete introductory microscope kit. The beautifully illustrated experiment manual guides you through observations of many living specimens found in and around your home: onion cells, pond water, chloroplasts, plant stem cross sections, microorganisms, mouth cells, meat cells, different types of hair and fur, dust mites, bugs, pollen in honey, and much more. The kit includes three prepared specimens on a slide, four blank slides, cover slips, tweezers, needle, section slicing tool, and vial. The ocular lens, or eyepiece lens, of the microscope has an adjustable 12x to 18x magnification power. When combined with the three objective lenses, this results in a total magnification power of 96x to 750x. It has a battery-powered light and a mirror to light up the specimens.

Texo is the award-winning 3 dimensional design and construction system by architect, author and designer Lester Walker. The beauty of Texo is the variety of building systems found within one toy: simple puzzles, shape sorting and color matching at its most basic level, the system allows for a gradual progression to stacking the interconnected shapes and on to advanced architectural models such as bridges, houses, skyscrapers and more! Solid wood rods and planks coupled with the geometric precision of molded plastic connectors enhance the design and construction potential. Also included is a deluxe Activity Guide with how-to’s, commentary and step-by-step instructions on maximizing the potential of Texo.

53 pieces include: 1 non-magnetic steel sphere, 8 triangular magnetic components,18 square magnetic components, 4 triangular covers, 8 medium square covers, 1 mask, 10 ball joints, 1 hand/head, and 2 crests. Aki is a Proteon. Geomag KOR Proteon are five characters with differing rocky, swampy and volcanic native environments. These characters are differentiated by the color of their covers and masks. There are three developmental stages that give life to different characters: from Aki, in the more simple stage, to Taurex, intermediate stage and Blatta, Vulkrum and Swomp who have evolved to the more advanced stage.

Get ready for an intergalactic adventure with the Supernova Blast Roller Coaster Building Set. Use over 800 K'NEX pieces including classic flexi-rods to build a model over 3 feet high! The specialized blaster motor launches your car on an out-of-this-world adventure through 22 feet of NEW glow-in-the-dark track!! For more fun, download instructions for a 2nd coaster, the Sonic Boom. Requires 3 "C" batteries (not included). Ages 9+. Standard parts made in the U.S.A. Special components made in China. Packaged in the U.S.A.

See inside the wonderful world of worms. Learn about their fascinating life style and their valuable contribution to the world we live in. Provides hours of fun and fascination. Features: Plastic worm housing, Tunneling material, Shade, Illustrated instruction manual, Worms not included.

Build and defend the King’s Castle with 7 minifigures, battering ram, tons of functions and the brave White Knight with fully armored horse. 996 pieces.

Set sail for fancy fun in the Dolphin Cruiser, a 2-story yacht with a waterslide that splits in half for playing inside with 3 mini-dolls. 612 pieces.
— Dalene Lockhart, owner of Toy Town in Casper, Wyo., told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that LEGO Superheroes and LEGO Friends were the best-selling construction toys in her store.
— In a November 2014 survey, two retailers told TDmonthly that LEGO was a best-selling line of toys.

Includes a prepared slide (Daphnia). Dive into a microscopic world from the comfort of your own room.

40x magnification! The bright LED makes observation easy! You can even examine solid objects!
— Paula Bolte, owner of Imaginations Toy & Furniture Co. in Blacksburg, Va., told TDmonthly in a November 2014 survey that Artec science kits are one of their store's best-selling educational toys.

Make your own radio controlled car with completed circuit board. You can not operate more than one car at the same time because their radio waves will interfere.

Using sensors on either side of its body, this robot detects obstacles and travels around or away from them. When it hits an obstacle, the robot turns and runs in a different direction!

A motorized walking robot that travels by alternately moving its right and left legs. Runs like crazy!

Create a beautiful kaleidoscopic world on the walls in your room.

Create a beautiful kaleidoscopic world on the walls in your room.

Make static electricity from your own Van de Graaff Generator! Static electricity generated by turning the rubber belt will accumulate on the aluminum-wrapped plastic sphere. You can perform experiments such as standing pompom strands and lighting the included neon bulb!