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

Tavern Puzzle Collection Trios – Basic/Intermediate Trio by TUCKER-JONES HOUSE INC.

These three-puzzle combos are attractively packaged in a sturdy box. Each set costs slightly less than three individual puzzles. The Basic/Intermediate Trio includes Conestoga Playmate, Lyon’s Loops, and Clef Hangar puzzles. Difficult and Complex combos are also available. Launch date: Fall 2006. 11/10/2006 (Price: $60.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle Quest Around the World by SCHOOL SPECIALTY PUBLISHING

Children can take on the earth’s most challenging physical features with this game, which offers fascinating text and unique games and puzzles that teach core curriculum topics and develop logic and deduction skills. It features eight wipe-clean game boards, game pieces and wipe-off markers, all in a case-bound board book with convenient storage compartments. “This is more than just a book that teaches core curriculum topics,” Kelly Poggiali of School Specialty Publishing told TDmonthly. “It offers an incredible game-playing experience.” Launch date: October 2006. 10/25/2006 (Price: $22.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ABC Chunky Puzzle by MELISSA & DOUG

This alphabet puzzle toy was designed to combine fun and learning. It comes with large pieces containing letters and drawings that are visually and intellectually appealing to the growing mind. It’s handcrafted of solid wood.
— "We sell a lot of puzzles. Most of the ones we sell well are Melissa & Doug. They’re a really great company," said Rene Leonardi, assistant manager at Ouray Toys in Ouray, Colo.
— Owner Elaine Hackney of Boing! JP’s Toy Shop has carried these chunky puzzles for a couple of years and said they are best sellers due to their graphics and play value. “Each puzzle piece stands alone and can be used for pretending as well as for the puzzle,” she told TDmonthly in summer 2007.
— Rick Davis, from marketing at Melissa & Doug, told TDmonthly that “We just try to make it fun to sell our toys, and from what we hear from our vendors, customers, and from the media, it sounds like we’re succeeding.” 10/23/2006 (Price: $26.99)

Peek-a-Boo Gorilla/Hippo Puzzle by elogIQ

These new patent pending graphically stunning puzzles will provide you with hours of fun. Each puzzle comes with a pair of glasses; one red and one blue to let you see the two separate images. To solve you must place the pieces correctly to match both the red and blue images. 10/10/2006 (Price: $9.00)

Noah's Ark Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

b. dazzle, inc.’s Noah’s Ark Scramble Squares nine-piece brain teaser puzzle is based upon literal translations of the Bible’s Book of Genesis, supported by archeological finds and historical research. This hopeful and optimistic approach to the classic theme shows the ark at the end of The Great Flood. 10/6/2006 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ladies' Shoes Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

What girl doesn’t love to play dress up? "Ladies' Shoes" Scramble Squares brain teaser puzzle is the stylish answer for any fashion-conscious mother or daughter. Award-winning Scramble Squares nine-piece puzzles, in more than 120 exquisite styles, teach patience, perseverance, fine motor skills and critical thinking, and help maintain mental agility while providing stimulating entertainment. 10/6/2006 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fall Festival Scramble Squares® by b. dazzle, inc.

This beautiful new “Fall Festival” Scramble Squares® 9-piece brain teaser puzzle by b. dazzle, inc. celebrates nature’s paintbrush and the harvest ceremonies that have been conducted by many grateful cultures throughout the history of civilization. Award Winning Scramble Squares® are perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzles® for ages 4 to 104. 10/6/2006 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Giant Circle Puzzle by TAG TOYS INC.

Eight jumbo interlocking puzzle parts in eight bold colors make up this giant circle puzzle. Large pieces are easy for a young child to handle in the process of searching for the correct fit. The puzzle measures 11" in diameter and is designed to improve perception of spatial relations and fine shape discrimination. 10/5/2006 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Name Puzzle by TAG TOYS INC.

Perfect first gift. Large brightly colored letters can be removed for puzzle play, or they can be glued in to make a name plaque to personalize a child’s room. Perfect for names, short phrases or messages. Please allow 10-14 days for shipping. 10/5/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Japanese Puzzle Box — 4 Sun 10 Step: Uroko-Kirichigai Pattern by PUZZLE MASTER

Packaged in an impressive Pressboard Gift Box, this 3-D puzzle box is crafted in high-quality wood material. It has a beautiful finish and is stamped by the craftsman on the inside of the lid. There is only one unique way to open it, so it makes a super secret holder. 9/25/2006 (Price: $85.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Playing Card Puzzle by PIATNIK OF AMERICA

An imaginative 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles from Piatnik’s 182 years of archives of playing card design and printing. 9/13/2006 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ball of Whacks by U.S. GAMES SYSTEMS, INC.

A marvel of engineering, the Ball of Whacks is made up of 30 magnetic rhombic pyramids that can be taken apart and rearranged in endless creative ways. More versatile than a puzzle and lots more fun than a brainteaser, there’s no right or wrong way to use it. Just pick it up and play with it! Designed to be a creativity workshop in a box, Ball of Whacks comes with a 96-page illustrated guidebook providing exercises for creative brainstorming, strategies for problem solving, insights into the creative process challenges to construct shapes and mosaics, and to invent new ones. The game is also a good stress reliever for active individuals working under pressure. 8/21/2006 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Lauri Crepe Rubber Puzzles - Butterfly by LAURI, a division of PATCH PRODUCTS INC.

This creative and durable puzzle set is the next step up for kids graduating from wooden puzzles. It stimulates the mind by providing two levels of puzzle solving. It’s easy to wash and lasts for years.
— "I don't carry a lot of foam toys, but that is one that we do have in our store," is the response Pam Sommer, of the Montana Book & Toy Company in Helena, Mont., gave about the Lauri puzzles she sells in her store.
— "The foam puzzles from Lauri are good for 2- to 3-year-olds," added Shana Hack, owner of Moon Rabbit Toys in Santa Fe, N.M.
— Mary Jo C. Meister, sales manager at Lauri Toys, gave a variety of reasons for why the Lauri puzzles are popular, including, "two skill levels in one, crepe rubber doesn't warp or crease, easily disinfected, comes with durable storage tray, latex-free and Lauri replaces lost pieces!" 8/21/2006 (Price: $8.50)

Sudoku Puzzle Board by WORLDWISE IMPORTS

The Sudoku Board is all wood with a grid to hold tiles in place. Comes with 81 Double sided two color large tiles and 81 two sided mini tiles, a book with 100 Sudoku puzzles and a large velour pouch to store all of the tiles. Suggested retail price is $29.95 to $32.95. 8/16/2006

Pirate Blackbeard 4D Puzzle™ Figure by FAME MASTER ENTERPRISE LTD.

This new 11.9 cm-tall pirate action-figure puzzle toy has easy-snap articulations that make assembly a … well, snap. Each Pirate in the series comes with a Diorama Display Platform. Pirate Blackbeard can be combined with Pirate Redbeard to form a larger Diorama. Big-J the Pirate and Bone Pirate are also available separately. Each figure features museum-quality, fine-detailed sculpturing with hand-painted parts. They are packaged on blister cards and come 12 pieces to the inner box, with 4 inner boxes to a carton (7.1 cu feet). 8/14/2006 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Math 'n Motion by elogIQ

With this first product in a series, students will learn both simple and complex math concepts using the Math 'N Motion lesson plan, which was developed to satisfy the NCTM standards for math and contains a three-part lesson plan on algorithms. It is recommended for students in grades 4-6. 8/10/2006 (Price: $12)

Animals 1 (Allah Made Them All Box of 3 Small Puzzles) by GOODWORD BOOKS PVT. LTD.

This box set of three different small puzzles features Allah's wonderful creation: animals. Kids will enjoy the accomplishment of solving the puzzles. 8/1/2006 (Price: $4.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

OrbSticle by R&A MEDIA INC.

This 3” sphere puzzle, created from 12 wooden pieces, comes with its own custom display stand. 7/28/2006 (Price: $17.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

PyrPlex by R&A MEDIA INC.

The object of this puzzle is to assemble the 13 wooden pieces into a 3” tall pyramid shape. 7/28/2006 (Price: $14.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pocket CalmPlex MindBlock by R&A MEDIA INC.

Like its “big brother,” the Pocket CalmPlex puzzle is a wooden logic puzzle. It's constructed of 1cm (3/8") cubes, which can be manipulated to make a  3" by  3" 8 by 8 checkerboard, a 1.5" by 1.5" by 1.5" cube, and more than 50 other shapes.  And it’s portable. 7/28/2006 (Price: $7.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Desktop CalmPlex MindBlock by R&A MEDIA INC.

The CalmPlex puzzle is a wooden logic puzzle constructed of 2-cm (3/4") cubes,  which makes a 6" by 6"   8 by 8 checkerboard and a 3" by 3" by 3"  4 by 4 by 4 cube. The puzzle also can make more than 50 other shapes. 7/28/2006 (Price: $19.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Visual Echo Puzzles Clownfish Mini 3D Puzzle by HOBBICO

Now the stunning Clownfish artwork of renowned painter Royce McClure is available in a smaller size. This puzzle is 35 pieces and measures 6” by 4-1/2” when completed. The image can also be found on a 20” by 16” puzzle that uses up to 12 layered images to achieve magical 3-dimensional depth. 7/24/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Flamingos Scramble Squares® Puzzle by b. dazzle, inc.

Exquisite award-winning Scramble Squares nine-piece puzzles are "Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzles" on over 100 nature, science, technology, sports, history, geography and cultural topics. Scramble Squares teaches critical thinking/problem solving skills, patience, perseverance, statistical probabilities, and cooperative and solitary productivity, while providing quiet and stimulating fun. Each puzzle package includes a panel of fascinating facts on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer. 7/24/2006 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Noah's Ark Scramble Squares® Puzzle by b. dazzle, inc.

Exquisite award-winning Scramble Squares nine-piece puzzles are "Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzles" on over 100 nature, science, technology, sports, history, geography and cultural topics. Scramble Squares teaches critical thinking/problem solving skills, patience, perseverance, statistical probabilities, and cooperative and solitary productivity, while providing quiet and stimulating fun. Each puzzle package includes a panel of fascinating facts on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer. 7/24/2006 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The White Horse by LIBERTY PUZZLES

This 1/4" maple-veneer plywood puzzle includes the classic image “The White Horse” by John Constable. The 12.75" x 18.5" puzzle includes 541 pieces, 87 of which are figurals. 7/21/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]