TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Puzzles & Skill Product Category

3D Sneaky Puzzles® Singin' Sea Creatures™ by PATCH PRODUCTS INC.

Sneaky Puzzles are full of surprise. Kids put together a colorful under-the-sea scene with funny fish and their silly friends. Then, they can see all the letters of the alphabet and numbers 0–9 hidden in the picture, and wear the included 3D glasses to see the fish and their friends in a whole different way. "Children will be astonished as they watch the sea creatures swim towards them and parents will love the educational value," Jessica Wineke, Public Relations Coordinator, Patch Products Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2010.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010 2/4/2010 (Price: $15.00)

750-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles by RE-MARKS INC.

The images might be contemporary, but the jigsaws are classic. High-quality puzzle pieces packaged in square boxes with shrink wrap. ( Watch Video) 1/21/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spiders & Arachnids by EUROGRAPHICS INC.

This 1,000-piece puzzle features illustrated arachnids from all over the world, from big tarantulas to tiny scorpions. This high-quality puzzle includes educational information to make assembling both fun and fascinating. Launch date: February 2010. 1/14/2010 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

"Cows" Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

Retailers will be able to milk new profits from  b. dazzle, inc.’s beautiful new Scramble Squares® puzzle on one of America’s favorite topics. Retailers using b. dazzle’s unique Scramble Squares® interactive playing surface point of purchase displays may offer consumers a free Scramble Squares® puzzle if the consumer can solve the demonstration 9-piece Scramble Squares® puzzle within 5 minutes.  b. dazzle, inc. provides a free electronic timer and  a 5-MINUTE CHALLENGE® CERTIFICATE Kit with every display to support this very effective promotion. Once a consumer tries to solve the puzzle, he/she gets “hooked” and wants to buy at least one to take home and prove he/she can solve it!   Because Scramble Squares® are less than $10.00 retail and they are available in over 140 exquisite styles, consumers who have taken THE CHALLENGE® usually buy at least two or three Scramble Squares® puzzles at a time to delight or torment friends and family members.You can also watch a video about how the 5-MINUTE CHALLENGE® helps sell Scramble Squares® puzzles. 1/6/2010 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

a-ha! Brainteaser Blockout by THINKFUN

ThinkFun a-ha! Brainteasers are designed to inspire special a-ha! moments for novice and seasoned problem solvers alike. A player will need all his brainpower for this one. The goal is to fit all four cubes into the box so they sit flush with the rim. Expert, Level 4. Launch date: 2010.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va, told TDmonthly in a July 2013 survey that ThinkFun Brainteaser Puzzles were among her store's best-selling puzzles. 12/16/2009 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

a-ha! Brainteaser Straight Arrow by THINKFUN

ThinkFun a-ha! Brainteasers are designed to inspire special a-ha! moments for novice and seasoned problem solvers alike. Can you “shoot” the arrow out of the front of the tray without removing the three planks? Hard, Level 3. "[It's] another brainteaser to add to ThinkFun's collection of best-selling brainteasers, which teach pattern recognition, abstract thinking and problem solving," Edoardo Kulp, Marketing Manager, ThinkFun Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010. 12/16/2009 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

a-ha! Brainteaser Star Burst by THINKFUN

For novice and seasoned problem solvers alike, the object of the Star Burst is simple, the solution is elusive. Just take the Star Burst apart and put it back together again. Simple. Or is it? Medium, Level 2. Launch date: 2010.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va, told TDmonthly in a July 2013 survey that ThinkFun Brainteaser Puzzles were among her store's best-selling puzzles. 12/16/2009 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Zig-Zag Knot by THINKFUN

This “cousin” of the best-selling Gordian’s Knot is designed to be elegant but cunning. Untangling Zig-Zag Knot is not as easy as it looks. The player slides each piece in the correct sequence of 37 moves to take the Zig-Zag Knot apart. With every move made, one or more pieces will move easily, but there’s only one right answer. The included guide shows the complete solution as well as full instructions for putting Zig-Zag Knot back to its original form. Launch date: April 2010. 12/16/2009 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

SPELLABLE by SMART PLAY LLC

This bilingual puzzle game is designed to help players learn the alphabet and spell three-letter words. It has bright colored letters and picture cards to captivate a child’s attention, and it grows with the child by starting with the alphabet and continuing on to spelling simple words. Children can play a self-checking spelling game and learn to spell three-letter words in both English and Spanish. It includes 22 spelling cards and 68 letters. "Ingenio is the first educational bilingual toy brand committed to bilingual learning. All Ingenio products are bilingual — product, packaging and website. This line offers parents a great opportunity to teach a second language to their child at an early age," Ilango Sankaralingam, president of Smart Play, LLC, told TDmonthly. Award: Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Products 2009. Launch date: September 2009. 12/16/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

60-Piece Mini-Puzzles by RE-MARKS INC.

For home or travel, these 60-piece puzzles come in six styles and are packaged in sets of four in a crisp clear sleeve. Choose from Puppies, Kittens, Wildlife (pictured), Travel, Horses and Nature. 12/8/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

250-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles by RE-MARKS INC.

Available in three sizes, Re-Marks puzzles feature a wide range of images to choose from to accommodate interests from puppy fans, star gazers to horse lovers. 12/8/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Perplexus Original by PATCH PRODUCTS INC.

The first member of the Perplexus family, this see-through sphere houses a 3-D labyrinth game with 100 barriers, turns, twists and cliffhangers that serve as obstacles to getting a small steel ball to the end. Invented in 1970 by Michael McGinnis, a design teacher, Perplexus helps develop motor and dexterity skills, along with hand-eye coordination.
― As of 12/17/2012 this product had 4.4 out of 5 stars from 393 reviews on Amazon.com and was No. 12 on the top 100 bestselling toys and games.
— At Izilla Toys in Seattle, "Perplexus is selling really, really well for us," Co-owner Jude Larene told TDmonthly in late fall 2009.
— In summer 2010 this game was a top-10 best seller at Dancing Bear Toys in Asheville and Hendersonville, N.C..
Awards: 2012 Parents’ Choice Awards - Silver, 2011 Time Magazine – 15 Smartest Toys for Young Geniuses, 2011 Parent Tested Parent Approved – Seal of Approval, 2011 Grand Prix Kidexpo – Elu par les Parents (Parents’Choice), 2011 Children of Museum of Indianapolis – Top 10 Toys of 2011, 2011 Canadian Toy Testing Council – Children’s Choice, 2011 Babble List – Best Kids Toys, 2010 Toy Insider – Hot 20, 2010 The National Parenting Center – Seal of Approval, 2010 Prémio Brazil – Award of Excellence, 2010 Parents’ Magazine – Top Toys, 2010 NAPPA – Gold, 2010 ASTRA – Best Toy for Kids 12/2/2009 (Price: $24.99)

Puzzle Doubles Fun Facts! Creatures of the Sea by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/30/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Doubles Fun Facts! Animals of the World by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/30/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Ocean by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Ocean combines a puzzle with additional activities to create a fun and interactive learning experience for your child. After assembling the puzzle, children can create their own scenes and stories by placing the reuseable static stickers on the surface of completed puzzle. Then turn the puzzle over for a big coloring activity! The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/30/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Doubles Fun Facts! Creatures of the Past by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/25/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Doubles Fun Facts! Animal Friends by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/25/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Farm by THE LEARNING JOURNEY INTERNATIONAL

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Farm combines a puzzle with additional activities to create a fun and interactive learning experience for your child. After assembling the puzzle, children can create their own scenes and stories by placing the reuseable static stickers on the surface of completed puzzle. Then turn the puzzle over for a big coloring activity! The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009. 11/25/2009 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Solar System by RAVENSBURGER

This 200-piece puzzle shows a vast space scene and provides the names of the planets. Once assembled, it measures 19 1/3” x 14 1/4".
— Main Street Toy Shop in Columbus, Ga., sells about 30 Ravensburger puzzles per month, Owner Gladys Griffin told TDmonthly in fall 2009 when discussing best-selling educational items.
— "Ravensburger jigsaw puzzles; a dozen per month" Linda Laramy, owner of Crackerjacks in Easton, Md., told TDmonthly. 11/24/2009 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

United States of America Sound Puzzle by MELISSA & DOUG

This picture-filled wooden puzzle of the United States includes 40 pieces created to help develop map skills. When each puzzle piece is placed in the correct location, the puzzle speaks the names of the states and capitals. It measures 0.8” x 15.8” x 11.9”. It requires three AAA batteries (not included).
— Ten percent of 40 retailers named Melissa & Doug as a best-selling brand when it comes to educational products. LB Toys in Media, Pa., sells about 30 per month of the U.S. wooden map puzzle, Owner Jamie Burdette told TDmonthly in fall 2009.
— Michael O'Dell of Toys from the Attic in Rehoboth Beach, Del., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that they don't sell many electronic or battery operated toys, but of those they do have, sound puzzles from Melissa & Doug sell best. 11/24/2009 (Price: $24.99)

ENI Puzzle by ENI Puzzle Land Co.

The Eni Puzzle is a unique puzzle that is simple to play and designed to enhance problem solving and dexterity in both young children and seniors. The Eni Puzzle is cylindrically shaped and divided by several ring shaped sections. Each ring section is composed of a multitude of colored tiles that rotate independently. The tiles can travel each ring by one empty space and then be rotated into different positions. The puzzle is solved by a combination of ring rotations and the movement of colored tiles between rings. ( Watch Video) 11/3/2009 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Amazing Wave of Light Animatronic ™ Dolphin by CAN YOU IMAGINE

The Amazing Wave of Light Animatronic Dolphin is a work of art that combines lights, sound and movement. The visual experience is hypnotic, creating a relaxing tranquil environment for any room in your home or office. You can choose from three modes: 1) Watch it move in a well-lit room with the Sound & Movement Mode; 2) Bring it into the bedroom shut the light off and watch the Movement, Sound and Light Mode take over - completely relaxing you; 3) Simply use it in the Movement Only Mode (with no sound or light) and be mesmerized by the slow graceful movement of the Dolphin. The Amazing Wave of Light Animatronic™ Dolphin has a built-in Sleep Timer Mode; with the push of a button it can be set to turn off in a 30 minutes to one hour. Cons: One user reported that the dolphin's nose got stuck and wouldn't go back down. ( Watch Video) 10/28/2009 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

FridgiGears™ Puzzle by CAN YOU IMAGINE

The Amazing Magnetic FridgiGears Deluxe Light Show Puzzle Gear Edition lets kids make creations light up & glow in the dark. Each gear is a puzzle that a child puts together to create a moving work of art. A rotating magnetic black light is included. The motorized picture frame gear powers all 20 gears with an easy "tap on/tap off" function. Included are over 103 black-light responsive magnetic fridgi puzzle pieces. ( Watch Video) 10/28/2009 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rubik's 4x4 by WINNING MOVES GAMES

An updated and more complex version of the classic 3x3 Rubik's Cube, this brainteaser has twists and turns to baffle even experienced puzzlers. Winning Moves Games warns that due to the complex mechanics required to allow movement of the four row Rubik's Cube, care should be taken during play to align the rows fully before attempting to twist. 
― Two of 39 retailers told TDmonthly in October 2009 that Rubik's Cubes are their top seller for tween boys. 10/27/2009 (Price: $20.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Popular Playthings - Magnetic Picture Twister by POPULAR PLAYTHINGS

First just turn the eight magnetic puzzle wheels left and right to mix up the picture. Then reverse the process until all images are complete. Too easy? Now separate the wheels, mix them up and try again.  Hidden magnets keep the wheels together while you try to solve the puzzle, making it ideal for travel. ( Watch Video) 10/26/2009 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]