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

Tommy Turtle by EARTHENTREE

This handcrafted, wooden pull toy is made by artisans in India and features coloring provided by natural vegetable dye. The turtle's shell rotates as the toy is pulled along. It measures 5" x 5" x 4.5". 3/3/2009 (Price: $30.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

22 ku-du! by MAD CAVE BIRD GAMES LLC

In this fast-paced educational game, up to four players draw seven tiles each and begin forming crosswords of numbers so that each grouping adds up to 22. For each 22 that's hit, a player yells "Ku-do" and selects more tiles so he or she always has seven. When the tiles are gone, players add up their points — one point per each 22 and extra points for use of the same number two or three times in the same equation. Tiles with colored numbers may be counted as positive or negative numbers, and players can use the dice to set number goals for the amount of rounds they wish to play. Launch date: February 2009. ( Watch Video) 2/27/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

VAMOS KIDS by VAMOS KIDS

The Vamos Kids product line is designed to introduce the Spanish language to toddlers and preschoolers through the use of toys and audio CDs while interacting with a parent. Launch date: November 2008. 2/27/2009 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Doodles™ by DOODLETOWN TOYS

Doodles™ are small wooden starter toys that are designed based on the vehicles as a child would imagine them. There are 8 models available including a plane, copter, tractor, pickup, road grader, bulldozer, car and a train engine. All moving parts are glued and pressure fit for durability and child safety. 2/24/2009

Wood Vehicles and CD by VAMOS KIDS

Part of a collection designed to introduce children to Spanish in a fun way, this set of five vehicles (car, truck, airplane, boat and bus) bearing their names in Spanish as well as the phonetic pronunciation. It also comes with a CD that has the pronunciation and activity phrases. Launch date: 2009. ( Watch Video) 2/16/2009 (Price: $38.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Simplexity by DISCOVERY BAY GAMES

As players take turns stacking their pieces on the seven wooden posts, the object is to get four in a row of their winning color or shape. Moves require extra strategy, though, as more than half of each player's pieces are the opponent's shape and can help their game. The game features wooden construction with a box to store all the pieces. It measures 12.25" L x 4.5" W x 4.5" H. Launch date: February 2009. 2/15/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Eco-friendly 4 Seasons Block Puzzle by BOIKIDO

 2/10/2009 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cutting Fruit by MELISSA & DOUG

Healthy breakfast, refreshing snack-time treat? Whatever the occasion, kids can cut into this 17 piece set of bright colored wood fruits, such as kiwis, oranges and a big slice of melon. Velcro rounds between the segments serve the dual purpose of holding the uncut fruit together and creating a satisfying crunch sound as the included wooden knife slices right through. It comes with a wooden crate in which to store the food.
― “Anything Melissa & Doug. Play food is probably the best,” Linda Hanzelko, owner of Timmy's Toy Chest in Lake Mary, Fla., told TDmonthly regarding best-selling wooden toys.
― “All wooden cutting food from Melissa & Doug” sells well, added William Bingham, owner of Firefly Toy Shop in Milford, Pa.
― Seven of 56 retailers surveyed said cutting food was a top-selling wooden toy. ( Watch Video) 2/9/2009 (Price: $19.99)

Take Along Tool Kit by MELISSA & DOUG

This 24-piece all-wood kit features a plethora of nails, screws, nuts, bolts and panels for preschoolers to pretend-play all kinds of building and repair projects. The primary-colored tote serves as tidy storage and a pounding bench, making it easy to transport the toolbox to wherever work might need to be done.
― “Melissa & Doug sells well,” Amy Akin, manager of Giggles for Kids in Suwanee, Ga., told TDmonthly when asked about wooden toys.
― “The quality of the product is so good, and the pricing,” said Sue Banducci, co-owner of Games Unlimited in Danville, Calif., in early 2009. 2/9/2009 (Price: $12.99)

Walk N Roll by PLANTOYS

A simple rolling push toy, the Walk N Roll features an elegant, sturdy structure and brightly colored bars that form the rolling barrel. Inside, a loose ball rattles against the interior panels as a toddler pushes, or pulls, the toy along with her first steps. The Walk N Roll is made of rubber wood, a sustainable resource, and non-toxic, vegetable-based inks.
― “Plan toys, probably specifically their Walk N Roll,” Jeff Oslick, owner of The Enchanted Toy Store in Fullerton, Calif., told TDmonthly of his store’s best-selling wooden items.
― “We carry a lot of their line,” added Teneen Dobbs, owner of Kits and Kaboodle in Carmel, Ind.
― Twenty percent of 56 retailers named Plan Toys as their best-selling line of wooden toys in early 2009. 2/9/2009 (Price: $29.95)

TAUTON Module-16 Collectible Series by BRAINET TOYS AND GAMES, LLC

In this unique puzzle, players must solve 3 challenges each one has multiple solutions. Using the 16 scenery tiles of a sinuous and complex river, the player must be part of the legendary Tautoniac raft race. Arrange the scenery tiles and bring the meanders of the TAUTON River to life while setting the rafts in the right direction. The player who finds the highest number of solutions of all the challenges wins. Tauton may be played alone, or in a competitive mode with family and friends. 2/5/2009 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

KEFER Module-16 Collectible Series by BRAINET TOYS AND GAMES, LLC

In this amazing puzzle, players must solve one challenge: create KEFER™ serpent body as a continuous, unbroken path. Player must seek for different solutions, making sure to keep unbroken the red and yellow bands that go along the serpent body. This challenge has multiple solutions. The player who finds the highest number of solutions wins. Kefer may be played alone, or in a competitive mode with family and friends. 2/5/2009 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

NOXOS Module-16 Collectible Series by BRAINET TOYS AND GAMES, LLC

In this maze, players must solve 8 challenges. Each challenge has multiple solutions. The maze consists of a single pathway that forms four concentric circles, bounded by mobile walls, surrounding the center. The player who finds the highest number of solutions on all the challenges wins. NOXOS™ may be played alone, or in a competitive mode with family and friends. 2/5/2009 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Woodstock Kid's Tambourine by WOODSTOCK CHIMES

Built-in easy-to-grip handle makes this 6" in diameter, natural-finish wood tambourine easy to play. 2/2/2009 (Price: $4.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pinnochi Junior by BOJEUX INC.

Little mice need players' help to push their pieces of cheese into their mouse holes. But participants must watch out for the cat! To play the game, players try to flick a mouse token on the game board so it hits and propels one or more cheese tokens into a mouse hole. The first team of mice to get all its cheese through the mouse holes is the winner. This wooden game is made in Canada. Launch date: 2009. 1/23/2009 (Price: $62.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bagazoo Junior Sand Bag by BOJEUX INC.

Bagazoo is a wonderful game for the whole family and an ideal game for children's parties. Eight different games can be played with the Bagazoo. It received a 2008 iParenting Media Award. "Bagazoo is set up to provide more opportunities to play than a normal bean bag toss game. It provides more challenge for the older children, while still accommodating the very young ones," Mary Pepin, project manager for Bojeux, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009. 1/23/2009 (Price: $59.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gobblet Gobblers by BLUE ORANGE GAMES

Gobblet Gobblers utilizes the awesome strategy of Gobblet and adds personality and character to the game. Players pick their Gobblers family and line up three in a row to win the game. The Gobblers have a strong appetite and can gobble up smaller Gobblers. These cute little characters will test strategy and stimulate memory. The all-wooden game has a bright, distinctive design and is earth friendly. "We plant two trees for every tree used in creating our games," Adeline Bertrix, sales manager for Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2009. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

Where to Buy: Poopsie's

( Watch Video) 1/23/2009 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Natural Skwish® by MANHATTAN TOY

This natural version of the Classic Skwish toy is made from rubberwood and has a water-based, nontoxic finish. It measures 5.5" high. Launch date: January 2009. 1/5/2009 (Price: $15) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

2009 A-9S Convertible by AUTOMOBLOX

The stylish A-9S features a speedster body and driving lights set lower than on the standard A9. The beech wood construction is complemented by shiny black wheels and white molded components that are interchangeable with other Automoblox designs. 1/5/2009 (Price: $38.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ECO HOUSE by SMART GEAR LLC

The Eco range is part of Wonderworld's collection of products designed to educate children on the importance of recycling, saving energy, and being friendly to the environment. The Eco House wooden doll house comes complete with room settings and a family. Themes include recycling, planting trees, using solar panels, bicycling and collecting rain water. All accessories are included. "Wonderworld uses only water-based paint for our wooden toys so [as] to minimize child exposure to chemicals," President Jason Cohen of Smart Gear told TDmonthly. "Wonderworld, as a strong advocate of protecting the environment, insists on using only rubber-wood that is of replenishable source and [is] widely accepted throughout the world as the environment-friendly material." Launch date: November 2008. 12/19/2008 (Price: $175) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Boikido Wooden Rainbow Cubes by BOIKIDO

Produced in the same contemporary style as our best selling Boikido blocks, these 10 Rainbow Cubes are adorned with colorful numbers and letters as well as whimsical animals. Exposing your child to counting and the alphabet, these cubes can be stacked up high, used to build, or inserted one into another while developing spatial and motor skills, too. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. 12/16/2008 (Price: $44.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Personalized Handcrafted Toy Box by WOOD CREATIONS INC.

This handcrafted toy box is available in three colors: natural oak, dark cherry and espresso. The child's name is laser engraved into the front panel for a beautiful effect. The customer also has an option to add a solid aromatic cedar base to the chest for a cedar chest application. The customer can choose from countless designs and font options. This toy chest comes with two lid supports for safety. "Nobody on the planet personalizes toy boxes like we do," President Bob Beck of Wood Creations told TDmonthly. Launch date: 1999. 12/12/2008 (Price: $295) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wooden Animal Nesting Blocks by MELISSA & DOUG

These colorful wooden blocks, featuring all sorts of creatures from both land and sea, stack up to almost 3'. Package size is 5.75" x 5.75" x 5.7".
— “Melissa & Doug are phenomenal. They have great margins for volumes and are supportive. I wish we had five more of them,” Fred Meyer, owner of Meyer’s Toy World in Battle Creek, Mich., told TDmonthly in late 2008 when naming the company one of his favorite vendors. Forty-eight percent of 52 retailers surveyed praised Melissa & Doug as a favorite supplier. 12/10/2008 (Price: $19.99)

One-of-a-Kind Wooden YoYo by SUDDENLY, IT'S REAL!

Each yoyo from One-of-a-Kind Yo-Yo has its own character. The yoyos are made with various sustainably harvested woods from Wisconsin. The wood is carefully selected, hand cut, meticulously sanded, and dipped in a clear lacquer, then assembled with the utmost care. The professional yoyo strings are 100-percent cotton. Each yoyo measures approximately 2" across. Before leaving the shop for the toy store, each yo-yo must pass rigorous testing by the maker to insure that the consumer receives a quality product that works like a charm. Launch date: 2000. 11/25/2008 (Price: $30.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Deluxe 68-Piece Block Set by BEKA INC.

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. ( Watch Video) 11/20/2008 (Price: $158.00)