TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Wooden Toys Product Category

Color Snake Clutching Toy by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

This German-made clutching toy by HABA manipulates easily in an infant's hands. The variations created with the easy movement of the different sections allows for easy beginning hand-eye coordination. It is made from beechwood and colored in a nontoxic, water-based stain. Launch date: March 2010. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $15.29) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rainbow Xylophone by HAPE

This high-quality wooden xylophone is designed with lifestyle colors, has a handle for easy toting and storage for two sticks. The baltic birch frame and maple keys and two sticks offer fun, safe early melodies. Robin Lehnert, Hape Marketing Manager, told TDmonthly, "A 10-month old begins with a rap and a tap. Who knows what could happen next on the very beginner xylophone." Launch date: February 2010.
— In a January 2014 survey, Cariad Owens Fichtner, manager of Out of the Blue, Ltd in Albuquerque, N.M., told TDmonthly that Hape Xylophones were one of the top-2 best-selling musical toys at her store.
— In a January 2015 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Xylophones were their store's best-selling music toys. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Little Drummer by HAPE

Youngsters can tap on both sides of this wood drum. One side is a classic tone drum and the other has a regular drum sound. The see-through drum surface allows children to trace beads inside in a secure maze. It comes with two drum sticks. Launch date: February 2010. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Creative Peg Puzzle by HAPE

Children start by joining the puzzle bases together and then twist the shapes on the appropriate post. Children can make up their own way to play this stacking and sorting activity that triples as a puzzle, too. Designed with solid baltic birch bases, the Creative Peg Puzzle posts have elasticized bases in case a child falls onto the post. Multiple bases allow for more than one child to play at the same time. Launch date: February 2010. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Coffee Maker by HAPE

Children can prepare a cup of joe for themselves or a guest with this modern coffee maker and sugar and cream. They can insert the single-serve coffee filter in the basket and push the button to pretend the coffee is brewing. This product is constructed with a combination baltic birch plywood and maple. Robin Lehnert, Marketing Manager at Hape, told TDmonthly this product features a "modern realistic design in lifestyle colors." Launch date: Feb. 2010. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gourmet Fridge by HAPE

The Gourmet Fridge is a modern white wood cabinet-style refrigerator with a top-mounted freezer and six ice cubes ready to provide instant refreshment. Hape Marketing Manager Robin Lehnert told TDmonthly, "High-quality Baltic Birch plywood materials combine with a modern, realistic design in lifestyle colors for this working ice-maker." Launch date: February 2010. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $119.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Miro Clutching Toy by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

Made in Germany of high-quality wood and non-toxic paint in brilliant colors, the Miro clutching toy and teether has an interesting shape and set-in rattle. Large, smooth bumps on the circular panels offer texture to engage the fingers and soothe sore gums.
― When asked about her best-selling infant and toddler items in March 2010, Martha Bimblich, owner of Twinkles of Bay Harbor in Bay Harbor Island, Fla., told TDmonthly, “Haba is a great seller for us.” Bimblich said she sells 25 to 30 pieces per month.
― Three of 39 storeowners said in spring 2010 that Haba is a consistent top seller in their stores. 4/9/2010 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My First Cooker Daisy's Kitchen by DJECO

My First Cooker from French company Djeco is designed as a cute and elegant kitchen playset. The set features a sink, oven and stove in a cheery yellow and green daisy motif with included salt and pepper shakers, pots, cooking utensils and other accessories.
— Although she was initially surprised by the small size of the kitchen playset, Greta Gard of Upscale Baby Blog found the compact size a boon when it came time to move the toy from one room to another. Greta also enjoyed the product’s easy assembly and bright, non-toxic paints.
— An Amazon.com reviewer reported that the set’s numerous play features, including moving clock hands and magnetic utensils, were very popular with her daughter. 4/7/2010 (Price: $99.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Clicky Clack by MANHATTAN TOY

Baby can enjoy the clicky clack this teether makes when this toy is tapped together. This teether features wooden shapes, multiple textures and colors, and is easy for little hands to grasp. Launch date: 2010. 4/2/2010 (Price: $16.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Battle for the Seas by BUNKY'S ENTERPRISES, INC.

This board game has a strategic engagement style of play, where players must use historical figures and sailing warships from the era 1750-1805 to battle for the seas. Bunky Gress, President of Bunky's Enterprises, Inc., told TDmonthly, "The game is designed by the players in regards to length and complexity." Launch date: June 2010. 4/2/2010 (Price: $49.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Floppy Flower Push Puppet by TOYSMITH

These wooden party favors are 4.5” tall and come in a set of four in various colors. Kids can push on the base and watch the flower move.
— These little puppets were on the top-10 best-seller list at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., in spring 2010, as reported by Owner Natalie Comeaux. 3/25/2010 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

HOBBY KITS WALACHIA by WALACHIA

The hobby kits by WALACHIA vary in size and theme. They contain up to 300 parts of precisely cut wooden prisms of 9 x 9 mm, gables, roofs and bases made of plywood, doors and windows, even foil to substitute for glass. Paper prints can be applied on roof areas, or children can glue shingles made of beech veneer. The set also contains dusting material to represent grass, as well as sandpaper to use for small adjustments. Individual parts are glued with wood and paper glue according to step-by-step diagram instructions. Instructions available in eight languages. Launch date: 1992. 3/24/2010 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

VARIO by WALACHIA

It is possible to build multiple variants of different buildings with the Dismantlable Vario Building Set from WALACHIA. The set contains beech parts of 15 mm in diameter, of various lengths, with which by means of locks at the ends, creative and unique constructions may be assembled and dismantled. Awards: 1995/Prague Toy Fair. Launch date: January 1992. 3/24/2010 (Price: $56) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Beleduc From Egg to Frog 5-Layer Puzzle by HAPE

This layered wooden puzzle teaches kids the stages of a frog's life, from egg to tadpole to juvenile and adult. ( Watch Video) 3/23/2010 (Price: $24.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Woody Click Vehicle Transportation by HAPE

This natural wood car transporter can tote two chunky vehicles and load and unload them for endless imaginary adventures with its driver Woody Click.  A water based paint adds bright colors to playtime that begins with building the vehicles first and then play. It won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award in 2006. ( Watch Video) 3/23/2010 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Classic Baby Beads by MANHATTAN TOY

Suitable for ages 3 months and up, this rainbow collection of wooden beads is held together by an elastic cord and can be manipulated into a variety of configurations. The beads are coated with non-toxic, water-based finishes.
— "If we were able to keep [Baby Beads] in stock, we would sell lots," Dean Smith, co-owner of JaZams in Pennington, N.J., told TDmonthly in March 2010. "Based on how many we've sold, we would sell 30 a month." 3/23/2010 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wooden Bowling Set - White by KITTY BABY LOVE

Created for family game night, this bowling set features six hand-cut and sanded maple wood kitty pins with carved facial features and coated in non-toxic paints. It includes a 2"-diameter bowling ball, a game play sheet, four score sheets, and a handmade cotton canvas bag for storage. "We love that they function to help develop hand-eye coordination for a younger child but will last for years as the child grows older," Sara, co-owner of Kitty Baby Love, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 3/22/2010 (Price: $40.00)

Teach & Play Tiles by MAPLE LANDMARK WOODCRAFT CO.

There are four different Teach & Play Tiles set for the beginning learner. Set 1 has shapes and colors, set 2 includes animals and vegetables, set 3 makes story telling fun with buildings and vehicles, and set 4 reinforces counting skills with numbers and fractions. Each set comes with 12 tiles, printed on both sides with non-toxic inks. The tiles measure 2.25" wide, 3.5" tall and a slight 1/8" thick. Sets come with a cloth storage pouch and suggestions for play. Each set can be used for rudimentary learning at first and then grow with the child in expanding activities. The tiles may be used for matching and sorting skills, comparing and contrasting, categorization, story telling and math practice. Launch date: Summer 2010. 3/19/2010 (Price: $12.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magnetic Wooden Blocks - Starter Set by TEGU INC.

This starter set of 26 Tegu blocks includes cubes, long planks and short planks in a natural finish. The blocks are made of European Beech and contain small, embedded magnets that allow the blocks to stick together and be fashioned in a variety of ways not possible with traditional blocks.
Awards:  2010 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, Gold Seal.
— In a February 2015 survey, Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, told TDmonthly that puzzles from Melissa & Doug are her store's best-selling wooden toys. 3/12/2010 (Price: $50.00)

See & Spell by MELISSA & DOUG

Melissa & Doug put their spin on another classic toy with See & Spell. Eight, two-sided cutout boards feature pictures and empty spots for letters. Kids can use the 64 included wooden letters to fill the empty spots, complete the puzzle, and spell the sight-reading word featured in the picture. The wooden letters can also be used as stencils.
— Cleeo of cleeo and bea said the See & Spell is “an excellent tool in helping our tots grasp the concept of reading,” though she lamented the lack of a lid to keep all the pieces inside the box.
— Viewpoints reviewers praised the product for using lowercase letters instead of the typical uppercase letters found with most spelling products.
— Reviewers on Melissa & Doug’s site felt that See & Spell might not maintain the interest of children for a sustained period of time and hoped for a word expansion pack to help with this issue. 3/4/2010 (Price: $19.99)

Modern Family by brinca dada LLC

This family set is designed for the Emerson House by brinca dada. The Modern Family is sleek, minimalist, and striking; the dolls' beauty is only matched by their equisite functionality. Not only are they posable and fully articulated, the dolls' biceps and calves flex realistically. The Modern Family turns playtime into an art. 3/2/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Living Room by brinca dada LLC

This living room set serves as a collection of accessories for brinca dada's Emerson House. It creates the perfect atmosphere for entertaining guests, reading a good book or relaxing with family. The set features eleven pieces including TV console, lamps, HD television, sofa, chairs, coffee table, console, side table and rug. Launch Date: Spring 2010. 3/2/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Inchimals™ by FAT BRAIN TOY CO.

Inchimals is a set of 12 wooden blocks with animal images that measure from 1” in height (ladybug) to 12” high (giraffe).  They can be combined with the 100 write on/wipe off math puzzles for kids to practice counting, number values and recognition, fine motor skills, language and more. Launch date: Spring 2010. 2/26/2010 (Price: $29.95)

Gourmet Grill (with food) by HAPE

This realistic-looking barbecue set features a hood that opens and a collapsible side table. It includes red knobs to pretend adjusting the heat during play, and wheels to roll it around to different locations. Primary materials are plywood, MDF and non-toxic paint. It measures 47 cm x 37.5 cm x 60 cm.
— This BBQ set was one of the top-two products mentioned by specialty retailers during ASTRA's Share the Fair event at Toy Fair 2010. ( Watch Video) 2/25/2010 (Price: $149.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Building Blocks Sakrada by HABA USA/HABERMAASS CORP.

These beechwood blocks in a pastel palette are made in Germany and come in a 10-piece set.
— Two of 38 specialty retailers named HABA blocks as a best-selling wooden toy in February 2010. 2/25/2010 (Price: $25.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]