Toy news for Monday, Nov. 2: the U.S. toy industry's trade group opened its sixth Toy Safety Awareness Month with a new parent survey on knockoff toys, LEGO's 5,682-piece Venice set reaches all shoppers on Nov. 4, and PODS Play put Bing in a pop-up play tent. Plus a Godzilla BE@RBRICK timed to Japan's new Godzilla film and a six-bottle Harry Potter line from Owala.
1. Toy Safety Awareness Month: 87% of Parents Say a Knockoff Isn't Worth the Risk, but 84% Think Knockoff Squishies Are Safe
The U.S. toy industry's national trade association kicked off its sixth annual Toy Safety Awareness Month on Nov. 2 with a holiday checklist and a new survey of 1,000 U.S. parents, conducted by Wakefield Research. The group says 87% of parents agree a counterfeit or knockoff toy's lower price isn't worth the safety risk, yet 84% believe knockoff squishy toys are safe for play. It also found that 35% of parents think toy age labels are only suggestions, rising to 49% among Baby Boomers, many of whom are now grandparents buying gifts.
The checklist asks shoppers to buy from known brands and trusted retailers, wait for a trusted retailer to restock a sold-out toy, and watch for red flags such as unfamiliar sellers, misspellings, poorly edited photos and missing age or safety information. For squishy toys, the group says to look for a brand name on the package and on the toy itself. It also says to follow 3+ labels because those toys may have small parts, and to check Recalls.gov before buying a toy secondhand. "This year, with the popularity of squishy toys, we're unfortunately seeing an influx of dangerous knockoff squishies that are not compliant with U.S. toy safety laws," said Joan Lawrence, the trade group's senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs. The tips will run all month on PlaySafe.org and social media.
Source: PR Newswire
2. LEGO Icons Venetian Neighborhood (11388): 5,682 Pieces, Open to All Shoppers Nov. 4, with a Free Water Taxi Through Nov. 8
LEGO's new Icons Venetian Neighborhood (11388) went on sale to LEGO Insiders on Nov. 1 and opens to everyone on Nov. 4 for $549.99 at LEGO.com and LEGO Stores. LEGO calls the 5,682-piece, 18+ diorama one of the most intricate city scenes in its Icons line. It has a villa, a glassblowing workshop, an astronomical clock tower and an arched bridge over a canal with a gondola, plus 17 minifigures, including gondoliers, musicians and two carnival-goers in masks. Turn a vase on the 3D-printed street piano and it plays real notes. Turn a knob on the clock tower and its calendar moves. The model measures about 19 inches high, 25 inches wide and 13 inches deep.
From Nov. 1 to 8, buyers get the 322-piece Venetian Water Taxi (40898) free while stocks last, LEGO says. The taxi set comes with a dock, captain and tourist minifigures and two pigeons, and it also sells on its own for $29.99.
Pros: A real showpiece for adult builders, with working piano notes and a moving clock; the free taxi adds a second build
Cons: $549.99 and 18+, so it's a display model, not a kids' toy; the free taxi is a limited-time, while-stocks-last offer
Source: The LEGO Group
3. PODS Play Puts Bing in a Pop-Up Sensory Play Tent, with Stories Unlocked in an App
PODS Play has added PODSgo Bing, a pop-up play tent themed on the preschool series Bing. The outside shows Bing's street and the inside shows the park. The box holds a sturdy frame, a Bing Adventure Jacket with a zip-on door, remote-controlled soft-glow lighting, a memory foam mat and a "passport" with a padlock QR code. Scanning the code in the PODS Play app unlocks Bing Volume One: two Bing audio stories, playtime music for dancing and bedtime music for winding down. PODS says more volumes are coming.
The tent measures 90 x 90 x 115 cm (about 35 x 35 x 45 inches), is meant for indoor use and is listed for ages 3 and up. PODS says it's tested to the European toy standards EN71 Parts 2 and 3 and EN 62115. On the PODS Play online store it's listed at £125.
Pros: A calm-down corner and story space in one; the lighting and audio are built in
Cons: Needs floor space and a phone or tablet for the app; the store lists the price in pounds, so check shipping and the final price before ordering from the U.S.
Source: PODS Play
4. Medicom Toy Releases a BE@RBRICK Godzilla for Japan's New Film Godzilla 0.0
Medicom Toy's BE@RBRICK Godzilla (2026) is based on the Godzilla in Godzilla 0.0, the follow-up to Godzilla Minus One, which opens in Japanese theaters on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Medicom says both sizes go on sale the same day at Medicom Toy stores, its online stores and various theaters: the 100% figure, about 70 mm (2.75 inches) tall, for 2,970 yen with tax, and the 400% figure, about 280 mm (11 inches) tall, for 22,000 yen with tax. Medicom's official store lists both as scheduled for November 2026. Medicom notes that the pictured item is a sample, so the final product may differ slightly.
Pros: A shelf-friendly way to collect the newest movie Godzilla, in a small or a large size
Cons: Sold through Medicom's Japanese channels in yen; the large 400% size costs more than seven times as much as the small one
Source: Medicom Toy (OPENERS)
5. Owala Releases a Six-Bottle Harry Potter Collection, Made with Warner Bros.
Drinkware brand Owala has a Harry Potter collection of six 30-ounce FreeSip Sway bottles: one each for Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, plus Patronus and Harry Potter Vignettes designs. Owala says it worked directly with Warner Bros. on the line. Each bottle has a raised design, and the Patronus bottle glows in the dark. The bottles have Owala's leakproof lids, triple-layer insulation, carry handles and a hidden straw for sipping or swigging. Owala calls them special editions that "won't be around forever."
Pros: An easy stocking-size gift for older Harry Potter fans who already carry a water bottle
Cons: 30 ounces is big for young kids' hands; limited editions may sell out
Source: Owala
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