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

Works of Ahhh… Wood Painting Kits – Heart Box by BALITONO INC.

This beautifully crafted wooden heart box awaits an artist. A child can paint whatever her heart desires, then brush on the special glitter glaze to make this a keepsake for herself or a loved one. The designer can glue photos, glass marbles (included), beads or other decorations to the open frame on top. ( Watch Video) 7/6/2007 (Price: $18.00)

Wooden Robots by TAKE-G TOYS

Wood Punk? Lumberbots? What does one call these finely crafted, amazingly designed wooden robots created by toy maker Takeji (Take-G) Nakagawa, whose motto is “to bring wooden beauty and quality into life in my own style”? Stylish they are. One almost wouldn’t mind these robots destroying one's city, they look so good. “Trees take [a] long time to grow and show us their beauty. I think that I have responsibilities as a craftsman and an artist of breathing new life into these trees. I have a job to link 100 years in the past and 100 years in the future through my work.” Not yet to the shores of the U.S.A., it’s only a matter of time before these stunning robo-timbers invade our land. 7/3/2007 (Price: $50.00)

Push Lights by COLORI USA/TATIRI

Kids feel safe and sleep tight with tatiri's push light. Decorative night light. It's battery operated! Launch Date: July 2007 7/3/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pacifier Holder by COLORI USA/TATIRI

Tatiri's Pacifier holders protects baby's pacifier from falling...It's a great relief for mothers...Unique and functional... It becomes part of baby's outing needs... Launch Date: July 2007 7/3/2007 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Soma Cube by MAPLE LANDMARK WOODCRAFT CO.

The soma cube is made from beautiful hard maple and finished with a light coat of polyurethane. This seven-piece puzzle features three-dimensional pieces that, together, measure about 2 ½” cubed. The solution is available on the company’s website. “The soma cube is available in single units, perfect for the small specialty store [that doesn’t have] a lot of room but wants to offer unique games,” Barbara Rainville, marketing manager for Maple Landmark, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2007. 6/25/2007 (Price: $9.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

NameTrain Theme Cars by MAPLE LANDMARK WOODCRAFT CO.

The NameTrain thematic cars include Birthday, American Flag and Sports theme varieties. These cars make the perfect dividers between NameTrain words and are compatible with other wooden track systems. The images are created with a durable digital imaging process that won't rub off. Customizing is available. “These cars extend the NameTrain system to customize even more. NameTrains are not available in any mass retail outlets,” Barbara Rainville, marketing manager for Maple Landmark, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2007. $4.90 each. 6/25/2007 (Price: $4.90) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wacky Wood Puzzle – Caged Ball by LAVA IMPORTS INC.

This burr (interlocking solid) puzzle includes 12 hardwood pieces and a ball. A solution is not provided, and on a scale of 1 to 6 (6 being most difficult), this puzzle ranks a 2. 6/25/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bamboo Rapelli by HAPE

This well-designed game is simple, yet challenging. Rapelli, a game made of bamboo, is a game of chance. Children pick their favorite color caterpillar and roll the color and arrow dice to see whether they move a caterpillar in or out.  The last one not to fall out is the winner.  Launch date: 2007. 6/22/2007 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sports Bean Bag & Ring Toss Combo by ANATEX

This unique game combines two classic games into one, for open-ended play. The game comes with four bean bags and four 6” wooden free-standing sports figures: a baseball catcher, a football receiver, a soccer referee and a basketball player. This family game can be played at home, at school or at parties. Launch date: June 5, 2007. 6/22/2007 (Price: $59.99)

Tool Kit by D AND ME WOOD TOYS LLP

This handmade oak tool box contains all the tools a young carpenter needs to help with the building and repair jobs around the house. The toolbox includes a hammer, a screwdriver, a saw, a square, an old-fashioned hand drill and 6" ruler. The box and tools are made of walnut, maple and oak, with a natural oil finish. The set makes a perfect collector's gift for any carpenter, woodworker or builder. Launch date: January 2007. 6/13/2007 (Price: $58.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Beleduc Patterns Wall Panel by HAPE

In this game, 36 blocks with three-color patterns need to be matched with the picture.  As children attempt to complete the puzzles, they will exercise their pattern- and color-matching skills.  Mess free and easy to mount, these wall panels are perfect for offices or waiting rooms. 6/12/2007 (Price: $49.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Beleduc's 4 Seasons Layer Puzzle by HAPE

This 28-piece puzzle takes children through the four seasons with the four-layer seasons puzzle.  Each layer -- for spring, summer, fall and winter -- has a delightful scene of children playing outside. Launch date: February 2007. 6/12/2007 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wooden Music Maker by THE LITTLE LITTLE LITTLE TOY COMPANY

This musical set consists of a variety of instruments perfect for a one-baby band: a drum, an xylophone, a washboard and more.  All featured in child-friendly colors, the set also includes two wooden drumsticks.  Launch date: July 1, 2007. THIS PRODUCT IS SOLD OUT AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AGAIN UNTIL LATE JANUARY 2008. 6/12/2007 (Price: $60.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wooden Rocking Horse by THE LITTLE LITTLE LITTLE TOY COMPANY

Little ones can sit and rock on this soft, yet sturdy, coffee-colored horse. Studded with a shiny red rosette ribbon, this rocking horse even makes little horse sounds. The horse features a classic design and a hardwood base.  Launch date: July 1, 2007. 6/12/2007 (Price: $125.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Flower Garden by CHELONA

This creative flower game is intended for two to four players.  Each player, as a gardener, possesses a garden with four holes in it.  Each player attempts to create four flowers as quickly as possible using flower stalks, flower centers and flower leaves.  Players roll the two dice included and do what the symbols and colors on the dice indicate.  Players also place beads on a string to make a caterpillar, and when the caterpillar is complete, the game is over.  All parts have attached magnets for easy connecting. 6/12/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Flower Bookends by THE CRAFT SHOP

This springy flower will never be left alone as her partner is only a few books away. Interlocking pieces make these bookends a breeze to assemble. Children will appreciate the illustration marks on the wood that make it easy to produce a professional bookend set. 6/5/2007 (Price: $2.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Busy Bugs Music Box by SCHYLLING

As music plays, ladybugs spin on this 4”-wide hand-painted music box.  “It’s the simple things in life that put smiles on our faces. It’s something as elementary as dancing ladybugs that make us laugh,” Sales & Marketing Coordinator Jaime Edry of Schylling told TDmonthly. “This product is made from quality wood and has the potential to last from generation to generation.” Launch date: January 2004. 5/25/2007 (Price: $11.99)

Sushi-Slicing Play-Food Set by MELISSA & DOUG

Kids can serve up a low-fat, high-protein meal to their teddy bears with this wooden play set.
— “Wood slicing food by Melissa & Doug,” Anna Barr, owner Anna’s Toy Depot in Austin, Texas, told TDmonthly, when asked about her store’s best selling wooden toy item.
— “We sell numerous sets of wooden food, like Melissa & Doug ones,” Emily Holmes, a buyer for Ambassador Toys in San Francisco, Calif., told TDmonthly.
— Over 11 percent of retailers told TDmonthly in early 2008 that wooden play-food sets were selling very well in their stores. 5/11/2007 (Price: $19.95)

Heritage Playsets Wildlife Park by TOP SHELF HOLDINGS LLC

It's natural to love this playful wildlife reserve, where animals feed, sleep, play and hide as a child's imagination unfolds. It features working doors, a ladder, sliding gates, two feeding troughs and 12 realistic wild animals. ( Watch Video) 5/8/2007 (Price: $99.95)

Heritage Playsets Princess Palace by TOP SHELF HOLDINGS LLC

Dreams come true in this fairy tale palace. With a realistic footbridge, working doors and windows, a rope ladder, a secret entrance and a set of six flexible wooden figures, this playset will provide years of imaginative play. 5/8/2007 (Price: $109.95)

Mini Workshop by ANATEX

This colorful Mini Workshop is both a toolbox and a workbench.  Pre-drilled holes on the workbench invite little carpenters to develop their skills. The Mini Workshop includes 31 pieces of handcrafted solid wood, pounding pegs, differently shaped screws and bolts, as well as hammer, screwdriver and wrench. The set itself is 13" x 6" x 6".
— "We sell Anatex wooden tool benches. They do well for us," was the commentary on store best sellers given by Katie Culotta, daughter of the owner at Victoria’s Toy Station in Baton Rouge, La. 5/7/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Noah's Ark by ARMUO

The set consists of one ladder and 16 figures: two people, two kangaroos, two lions, two rhinoceroses, two giraffes, two elephants, two camels and two ostriches. The ship is made of pine wood and the figures are made of lime wood. Both types of wood are covered by vegetable linen oil. The ship is sold separately from the figurines. 5/4/2007 (Price: $128.00)

Chess and Checkers Set by WOOD EXPRESSIONS INC.

Can’t choose which game you want? Want to buy them all? Well now you don’t have to because we have the answer. It’s a combination game set. This particular 15” one is beautifully made in black stained wood with storage and 3” king, hand-painted, hand-polished, black stained/kari wood chessmen, containing your favorite pastime games, chess and checkers. It’s great to play with, and even when you’re not playing with it, looks absolutely gorgeous on your coffee table.
— Dustin Gilliland, owner of Crimson Castle Chess & Games in Tuscaloosa, Ala., sells a few chess sets per month, and more around the holidays. 5/2/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Punch & Drop by PLANTOYS

This product gives little ones a chance to practice hammering, as they can hit the colored balls until they drop and slide out of the box. It is suitable for ages 12 to 18 months. 4/30/2007

The Boss by MAGNUM ENTERPRISES, LLC

Who's the BOSS? This gun's the boss and it brings back the days of Al Capone or Elliot Ness. It holds 12-shots along the barrel, and has the famous radial drum cartridge type magazine of the classic Thompson Machine gun. (You need the size #125 BLUE rubberbands for this gun.)

Overall Gun Length: 29 inches
Rubber Band Stretch: 16 inches 4/25/2007 (Price: $30.99)