TDmonthly's May Staff Picks

In this family-friendly game, players match the color of each tile and anticipate which direction the action tiles will take. Twists in the game include players receiving extra turns, drawing extra tiles, reversing orders and gaining extra points. Launch date: February 2008.

The kit contains hard and soft pre-punched aluminum parts, four screws, four nuts, four springs and assembly tools. The butterfly measures 4-1/2” x 5” x 2” when assembled, and features moveable wings and legs for more creativity. Other varieties in the bug kits collection include the Samurai Scorpion, the Mega Mantis and the Rhino Beetle.

One side of the tin lunchbox features Charlie Brown, while the other side features Snoopy. The lunchbox comes with a matching thermos.

Playing with bubbles is always a favorite activity. But did you know there is science involved? Exploring Bubbles sets out to teach how this fun activity is a great physics lesson. The kit allows soap films and bubbles on metal frames to be studied, showing that a soap film always adopts a configuration with the least surface area, and also allows a simple measurement of the surface tension of water. PacSci’s Exploring Bubbles kit includes a 16.5 cm diameter trough for soap solution, six different metal frames for making and manipulating bubbles, and a metal ring and sensitive spring scale for the surface tension measurement. A detailed experiment guide is included.

The Flowboard is built with the patented 14-wheeled Deep Carve System (DCS) which sets the flowboard apart from regular skateboards. The design enables a rider to carve through 45-degree turns with smooth, fluid transitions from edge to edge. On Target dimensions are 32"L x 9.25" W with a concave design.

The fashionable pendant looks great on moms and is safe for babies to chew. A variety of other pendants is available, all made from a food-safe, phthalate-free, federally approved silicone.

Great instrument with great sound for young and older kids! It comes in happy colors.

The 96-piece kit contains 36 Qubits, 30 connectors and 30 bridges. The educational set’s easy-slide connectors slip into place, keeping the structures strong and steady. All designs touch on architecture, structure and basic concepts of geometry. Launch date: May 2008.
— "My husband came home to find [our four children] immersed in fabricating various projects and was so intrigued that he spent 30 minutes building with them," said Teresa Wilson, a reviewer among the five families that evaluated this product for a TDmonthly Roundtable.

Snack & Play Travel Tray is made of soft, durable, 100-percent nylon. It buckles around the child and fits most car and booster seats. Snack & Play Travel Tray has two side pockets for storage and easy reach, plus a 2" wall to stop toys, food and other items from falling off the tray. It has won a number of awards, including iParenting Media and NAPPA awards.

The Car Series is one of the newest additions to the LaQ Hobby Kit Series. It is possible to make seven different vehicles from one kit for hours of creative snapping fun. The Siren Car kit consists of 180 regular pieces and 14 movable parts. “The basic square and triangle pieces are connected together by various joint parts with a fun snapping noise. Children love this snap, and it encourages them to know that the pieces are firmly fit together,” Mo Saeki of Yoshiritsu Co. told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 1, 2008.

These colorful and comfortable animal-shaped shoes feature the likeness of a duck, with patent-pending Footprinter bottoms that leave animal tracks when a child steps in dirt, firm sand or water. Polliwalks have built-in arch support and a deep heel cup. They are lightweight, easy to clean, easy on-and-off for young children, slip resistant and waterproof. The packaging features environmentally friendly hang tags and hooks made from recycled materials. The duck style also comes in fuchsia and orange. “Children don't just see Polliwalks simply as a pair of shoes; they see them as animal companions,” Co-founder Cheryl Andonian of Polliwalks Inc. told TDmonthly. “We are hearing back from customers that their children don't want to take them off.” Launch date: December 2007.

The soft-textured crib mobile features unique patterns, vibrant colors, a mirrored canopy and five adorable plush characters. The plush characters can be removed from the mobile for independent play. Launch date: 2007.

Maintaining a stable and comfortable room environment is basic to a baby's health. The sensor lets caregivers know the temperature and humidity of a room at a glance. The sensor is even equipped with visual indicators that advise if the room is a predefined comfort zone. Launch date: June 2008.

This addictive, fast-paced dice game is now available in a blue tin box. This edition includes three specially marked LCR® cubes. The game itself retains its original simplicity where the roll of the dice determines which players to the left, right or center get the chips; the winner being the player with the chips at the end. Simple, fun and even educational for growing minds. L-C-R also comes with 24 playing chips and game instructions. The game is designed for three or more players.

The game’s 26 flash cards come in a handy carrying case and feature an innovative combination of letters, pictures and picture words. Each card also features specialized lenticular printing, which allows for multiple 3D images on each card. The game helps children master essential reading skills, such as recognizing letters of the alphabet, learning the alphabet order and identifying beginning sounds. Launch date: October 1, 2007.

Children can watch the baby animals follow them as they pull the animals along on sturdy wooden wheels. This product is intended for children over the age of 18 months. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2009. Launch date: January 1, 2008.

Where to Buy: The Satin Button

The Spinnys are three 1” cubes strung on a 5" dowel that is capped with bright blue enders. Kids can expand their imaginations by creating over three dozen, different animal combinations, including a horinocerlion or even a liodogous. The toy, intended for children over the age of 18 months, is made with non-toxic finishes and inks. Spinny Speller and Spinny People versions are also available. “Our Spinnys are compact and durable, [allowing them] to go everywhere the toddler goes. Always creative and interesting,” Maple Landmark Woodcraft Co. Marketing Manager Barbara Rainville told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 1, 2008.

Kids can build, stack and play, creating a floating city right in the tub. The set comes with 41 double-sided foam pieces to make a variety of buildings, vehicles, trees and people.  A mesh bag with suction cups is included for drying and storage. Launch date: February 2008.

The blanket-and-toy-in-one is made from OCIA certified organic cotton and colored in an all-natural PureWaterWash™ bath with dyes from plants and minerals.  The soothing companion is free of chemicals, toxins and other harmful substances, making it safe for babies. Launch date: March 2008.

The compact set gives kids a glimpse into three diverse cultures from a child’s point of view. The set includes 24-page photographic passports for Egypt, Italy and Mexico, three golden medallions and FactZ cards featuring famous landmarks and cultural icons. “Compass KidZ World Tour Medallions Set offers kids the chance to get a glimpse into other cultures, in a kid-relevant way, Compass KidZ Co-Founder Jennifer Apy told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2008.

This sport utility vehicle is built for high-quality performance on rugged terrain. The wooden replica features durable body accessories permanently fixed to the simple wooden body blocks. Launch date: February 2008.
— Jeanette Lauture of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., told TDmonthly in summer 2008 that Automoblox are top sellers in her store. “This product has mass appeal for girls and boys,” she said. “Children love to pull things apart and build them up again, and the variety and interchangeability of these cars offer many hours of play.”
— Automoblox are top sellers at Green Frog Toys in Portland, Ore., Owner Patricia Fiedler said in spring 2009. “They’re fun, well-made, and offer endless mix-and-match possibilities.”

The durable, wooden rocking horse is made by Old World craftsmen in Poland. These toys make “great heirloom gifts…because grandparents remember growing up with these,” Zeiger Enterprises Inc. President Marion Zeiger, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2008.

This vintage version of the self-contained Double Shutter comes with wooden dice. The entire game comes in a wooden box. A casino tin and junior version are also available. “Durable, easy to stow away and with minimal pieces this game is perfect to travel with,” Jeremy Smith at Blue Orange Games told TDmonthly.  Launch date: February 2008.