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

Dinosaur Dig Play Set by ODYSSEY TOYS

This unique playset includes seven moving pieces buried in two layers. Kids lift the first layer of dinosaur puzzle pieces to reveal a second layer of fossil pieces. The two layers connect magnetically, the animals can move the magnetic backdrop, and animal names are printed on each piece. The backdrop can be used on either side, for the land of dinosaurs or the fossil dig site. The product is handcrafted in wood, except for the included poseable plastic figure, which has gripping hands, a detailed sculpted face and soft, sewn clothing. "We added value to the set by adding the figure," explained Jessica Klein, vice president of sales for Odyssey Toys. "We wanted moving pieces, because kids love that, and magnetic features so they could play in the car." Launch date: April 20, 2007. ( Watch Video) 3/19/2007 (Price: $19.95)

Evening in Frankfurt, Germany by RAVENSBURGER

This 2,000-piece puzzle comes out to a finished size of 29 ½” by 38 ½”.
— Jigsaw puzzles are popular items for adults at Amazing Toys in Great Falls, Mont., according to owner David Campbell.
— “They’re coming out with fantasy-type puzzles now for Baby Boomers,” said Shanna Frieling, owner of Giggles Toys & More in Bozeman, Mont. “Ravensburger has come out with dragons and wizards — stuff like that.”
―“Ravensburger is a great company to deal with,” said Dan Willis, owner of Communique Toys in Seattle, in spring 2007. “They have a ramp-up buy at the beginning of the year. They have the ability to place re-orders for free freight at a lesser volume.” 3/7/2007 (Price: $26.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Raging Rapids by THINKFUN

In this game, players help 12 whitewater rafters brave the rapids and make it safely back to their raft. The crew, fit with jigsaw pieces as a base, can face either the bow or stern of the raft, but there is only one correct solution for each direction. Players must help these rafters back in their raft or they will be all washed up. The game includes two puzzles in one and a boatload of fun. 3/7/2007 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rendezvous in the Rainforest by SERENDIPITY PUZZLE COMPANY

This 800-piece puzzle portrays colorful rainforest flora and animals. Launch date: 2007. 3/7/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

3D Puzzle Wooden Craft Construction Kit – Vintage Car by CHINA TOWINS GIFTS & TOYS CO. LTD.

Made of 3- to 5-mm durable high-quality wooden board, this vintage car is easy to build or color as a three-dimensional decoration. It appeals to just about any age, from 6 to 60. Cost and service set China Towins apart in the marketplace, according to U.S. Marketing Director Jim Vuong. “We will stock in the United States and sell [at the] China factory price, about 70 percent lower than the current wholesale price, and can accept small-quantity orders.” Launch date: April 2007. ( Watch Video) 3/7/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzellations – In the Garden Too Magnet Pack by TESSELLATIONS

This set includes 84 magnetic foam puzzle pieces and combines art and math to stimulate creativity. It features flowers, bumblebees, snails, ladybugs and more, and is simple for young children, but can challenge older kids and adults. It has various solutions and can be used along with the original. A Classroom Pack ($39.95) with 234 non-magnetic pieces is also available. Launch date: January 2006.
— “All of our puzzles contain multiple brain teasers to solve, but the real idea is to explore on your own,” Owner Robert Fathauer of Tessellations told TDmonthly. “The educational content in our puzzles is strong, so they appeal to parents who are looking for toys that will help their children develop math and problem-solving skills. Professionals with a math and science background … find them more interesting than mass market toys.” 3/7/2007 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Maze Mat Block by CHANGWOO ENG. CO., LTD.

With the Maze Mat Block, children first remove the cross puzzle of the mats and assemble them. They then create a maze by plugging the castle blocks from the inside after building a square wall by inserting blocks into horizontal slots. Once the tunnel blocks are plugged, kids can play the maze game with the ball, creating new mazes by adding or removing blocks. The product helps with intelligence development, IQ improvement and emotional stabilization. 3/6/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Maze Ball by CHANGWOO ENG. CO., LTD.

This toy is the perfect combination of a puzzle and a maze game. Children must assemble the 12-piece globe, insert blocks into holes on the sphere to create a maze, put in the bead and cover the sphere, and then play the maze game, moving the bead through the paths of the labyrinth. 3/6/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Farm Puzzle Board by PLAYMOBIL INC.

Where do all the farm animals belong? Put the animals in the right places to solve the puzzle. Puzzle board includes figure, cow, horse, pig, cat, sheep and accessory. Also available: Circus Puzzle Board.
— Playmobil’s puzzles are so popular in Toy Zone in San Antonio, Texas, that the store sells “around 100 a month,” manager Mark Lopez told TDmonthly in early 2008.
— According to Jamie Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., “the Playmobil line” is the store’s hottest selling line.
— Two of 45 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in early 2008 singled out Playmobil puzzles as the best-selling puzzles in their stores. 3/5/2007 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Inside/Outside Puzzle - Stegosaurus by THE STRAIGHT EDGE INC.

These frame tray die-cut puzzles typically measure 11" x 14" and are made of sturdy 1/4" board. Printed underneath the puzzle on the tray is a colorful cross section that illustrates and explains how things work. Captions are clearly written for first readers. Inside/Outside Puzzles have received awards from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Parents' Choice, Dr. Toy, The National Parenting Center and Teachers' Choice. “Each puzzle … has clearly written captions to explain the sectional view printed on the tray and under the top layer. A 3- to 5-year-old will learn, for instance, that the brain of the Stegosaurus was very small,” Amy Kallman Epstein of The Straight Edge Inc. told TDmonthly.
— Catherine Kleszczewski, president of Music in the Parlour in New York, said she really liked this and other Straight Edge puzzles at Toy Fair. “I know my son would love it,” she said. 2/28/2007 (Price: $8.99)

Pieceless Puzzle by CEACO

This unique new puzzle, made of double-sided foam material like that used to make mousepads, features “branches” or “fingers” instead of separate pieces. In lieu of piece counts, each puzzle comes with level and age-group designations. Three sizes and levels of difficulty are available. 2/28/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Deluxe Sudoku Cube by AMERICAN CLASSIC TOY INC.

This colorful numbered cube challenges players to play Sudoku on all six sides of the cube as well as with horizontal and vertical lines going around, for a total of 18 puzzles. Also plays as traditional color cube, comes with a 48 page booklet of how to play, how to solve, history of Sudoku and 50 new 2 dimensional puzzles. 2/28/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

USA Foam Map Floor Puzzle by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

Travel cross-country through this beautiful, giant, 2' x 3' puzzle of the United States. Children can explore America’s states, capitals, landmarks, animals and more with hands-on play as they connect the pieces of this colorful, illustrated map. Kids will love playing with these extra-soft foam cutouts, even if they are educational. It includes 54 interlocking, water-resistant and easy-to-clean puzzle pieces. 2/26/2007 (Price: $21.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzz 3D – Camelot Castle Puzzle by HASBRO INC.

Why stay calm with your next puzzle project, when you can go Medieval? Puzz 3D presents King Arthur’s Camelot in a challenging puzzle. This elaborate and richly detailed puzzle is a reminder of days when tables were round, and business suits were made of iron. This 608-piece Puzz 3D gem measures approximately 19" x 16" x 10" when completed and makes history come alive. 2/26/2007 (Price: $29.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Esphera 360 Jigsaw Puzzle – 9" Reef of Miracles by MEGA BRANDS

The ocean surface cloaks a magnificent, vibrant other-world, colorfully depicted in this Christian Riese Lassen illustration. The unique curved plastic puzzle pieces fit together to form a freestanding sphere. This 540-piece, 3-D puzzle is made for assembly at either the beginner or advanced level, assembling by image or using the numbers on each piece. When finished, place the sphere on the plastic puzzle stand for a beautiful decorative display. It measures 9” in diameter. 2/26/2007 (Price: $29.99)

Wooden 3-D Puzzle – Pteranodon (small) by TOYSMITH

This puzzle is a fantastic find for fossil fiends. The three-dimensional dino is made from premium-quality birch wood. It's easy to assemble without tools or glue using the unique interlocking pieces. This premium line puzzle measures 23" long by 48" wide when complete. The puzzle kit includes sandpaper, a Pteranodon fact file and puzzle instructions in case you get stuck. 2/26/2007 (Price: $29.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

5x5 Rubik's Cube by WINNING MOVES GAMES

An expanded version of the mind-boggling classic, Rubik’s 5x5 is the most challenging Rubik’s Cube ever made. Rubik’s 5x5, also known as Rubik’s Professor, has more than 10 billion combinations, more combinations than any other puzzle in the world. Featuring the iconic Rubik’s Cube design and color concept, Rubik’s 5x5 is a real handful. It comes with a black plastic cube stand.
— “Rubik’s Cube,” Denis Hofsetter told TDmonthly, when asked which item was his 2007 best-seller. “We sold out.” Dennis is the owner of The Toy Store in Atlanta, Ga.
— Manny Rocha, general manager of Mr. G’s Toys & Expressions in Los Angeles, Calif., said that his store “sold four gross” of Winnning Moves’ Rubik’s Cube.
— Five percent of 62 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly singled out this item as their store’s 2007 best-seller. 2/26/2007 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Name Chain Puzzle by HOLLOW WOODWORKS

This personalized puzzle is designed to stand up on a shelf or dresser. It is handcrafted of 3/4" furniture-grade maple wood with a child-safe finish. Each customer has a choice of primary- or pastel-colored letters. There is no limit to the number of letters for a personalized name. Letters have an MRSP of $5.00 each. Launch date: January 2007. 2/23/2007 (Price: $5.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Travel Tangoes – Animal Puzzles by SMART TOYS AND GAMES INC

Magnetic Travel Tangoes delivers all the fun of traditional Tangrams in a compact form. With magnetic puzzle pieces, an integrated play surface, wire-bound puzzle booklets and a snap closure, it’s great for short trips, long journeys or even staying at home. It is also available in Object and People themes. Launch date: April 2007. 2/23/2007 (Price: $9.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rubik's Revolution by TECHNO SOURCE

The Rubik's® Cube is an icon recognized around the world, selling over 350 million units. Now there's an all new spin on the world's #1 Cube—the Rubik's Revolution™. Packed with speed games and brainteasers everyone can play, the award-winning Rubik's Revolution is an all new spin on the world's #1 Cube. Six addictive, fast paced electronic games are easy to learn, but will push your skills to the limit with multiple challenging levels to unlock. Fun for ages 5 or 105, play by yourself or compete against your friends in both single and multiplayer games to become master of the Cube. “Rubik’s Revolution was designed as the electronic sequel to one of the best-selling toys in history ... It provides a whole new take on cubing. It is about speed. It is about smarts,” said Eric Levin, executive vice president of Techno Source. “Techno Source is also offering a Professor Rubik’s Signature Edition for the specialty market.” Winner of 10 Awards including the TIA 2008 T.O.T.Y. Game of the Year, Rubik's Revolution won a 2008 iParenting Media Award, a 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Award, a Dr. Toy Summer 2007 Best Products Award and a 2007 NAPPA Gold Award. Launch date: Summer 2007.
― “I think it will do very well,” Debbie Wurzburger, owner of Toy Chest in Pikesville, Md., told TDmonthly.
— Four out of 58 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly cited Rubik’s Revolution as their most popular “big-kid” item.
— When asked what he would most recommend for older kids and adults, Bill DeFusco, owner of Toyz Toy Store in Chesire, Conn., told TDmonthly, “The first one that comes to my mind [is] Rubik’s Revolution.” ( Watch Video) 2/21/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Crazy Cuties Educational Giant Foam Puzzle by INTERNATIONAL WORLD OF TOYS

This giant puzzle is 4' long and contains 64 pieces. Children “will love playing with the huge pieces while putting them together, [and] learning their alphabet in the process... [Kids] can easily lie down on the completed puzzle and be quite comfortable doing so!” Marketing Director Mona Ali of International World of Toys told TDmonthly. “The toy is great for the specialty market since it combines so many fun things in one single product.” Launch date: September 2007. 2/21/2007 (Price: $12.99)

Sevi Magnetic Puzzle by MAGICFOREST LTD

Comes with  different scenes to create with magnetic pieces (positive art building skill toy) or as a magnetic puzzle where the child must find the correct location for each magnetic piece. 2/19/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

XIG - The Sorcerers Sword by GT² FUN & GAMES INC.

The award-winning XIG series features unique stand-alone games involving puzzle tiles that connect during play. If desired, the completed puzzles of each game ingeniously combine into an amazing overall XIGsaw puzzle and story in a fascinating world of mysterious creatures. In XIG-The Sorcerers Sword, players challenge each other to complete an amazing sword puzzle while trying to control Sorcerers and rings of the four elements. Control of the rings allows players to protect their own Sorcerers. Spells and curses help players advance or hinder their progress. Launch date: October 2006.
— When creating XIG puzzles, the company’s two primary objectives were to “create a game that hit a chord for the tween market playing with the parents — cool enough, but interesting and engaging enough for adults to be involved” and to develop something innovative and creative — “not just the rehashing of an old idea,” President Greg Scott of GT² Fun & Games told TDmonthly. 2/19/2007 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Scribble Puzzle by SCRIBBLE MATS

Scribble Puzzles feature 24 big, chunky pieces that kids can put together easily and color with wax-based crayons. The wipe-off surface allows children to decorate again and again. Finished puzzle size is 12-1/2" X 15". Six varieties are available. This product is a 2007 Dr. Toy Best Product Award winner. Launch date: Fall 2007.
— “There doesn't seem to be anything like this on the market. … They are big, chunky pieces that the kids can put together easily, and they can color them. We create products that kids can use over and over again,” Owner Andi Thea of Scribble Mats told TDmonthly. ( Watch Video) 2/19/2007 (Price: $5.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Across the Room Puzzles – ABC Floor Puzzle by CROCODILE CREEK

This beautifully illustrated, heavy-duty puzzle is 132" long by 5" wide. It includes 52 pieces (two per letter) and can be assembled by individual letter or as one large floor puzzle. It's great for learning and play. “The across-the-room shape of this puzzle sets it apart from other floor puzzles. It’s 11’ long,” Karen Noles of Crocodile Creek told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2007. 2/19/2007 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]