Top-10 Most-Wanted Toys: August 2010

This Marvel superhero-themed Silly Bandz 24-pack includes Iron Man, Spider Man, Wolverine, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and Thor. These bands can be collected, worn or traded with friends.
— In a July 2010 survey, Marc Holcomb of Toys & Co. in Greensboro, N.C., cited sales figures of about 1,500 Silly Bandz a week at his three stores and online shop. “They've brought a lot of new faces in,” he said.
— Fifteen of 38 specialty retailers told TDmonthly in July 2010 that rubber band bracelets are a top-selling product. Nine of the 15 specifically mentioned Silly Bandz.
— TDmonthly  first reported on kids collecting rubber band animals back in 2005.

As a creative, educational action toy, it’s loads of fun — kids jump on the air bladder to launch a 9" all-foam rocket into the air. The Junior Stomp Rocket is used by science teachers to help children learn about trajectory, force and motion. It is also valued by psychologists, physical therapists, special-ed teachers and parents of children with special needs. “Stomp Rockets are recognized for their positive contribution to the lives of millions of children and adults around the world,” Frank Reed, of D & L Company, told TDmonthly. Awards: Top Toy of the Year 2005, Creative Child Magazine; Excellent Product 2005, iParenting Media.
— “Our top selling flying toy is The Stomp Rocket Jr.,” confirmed Sallie Kashiwa, manager of Timbuk Toys in Denver, in October 2008. “We go through about four cases (40) a month.”
— Six of 68 retailers said in fall 2008 that the Stomp Rocket is their best-selling flying toy. Holly Anvers, manager of Ages & Stages Toy Box in Golden, Colo., cited sales of about 40 units per month in late fall 2009.
— Eighteen percent of 38 specialty retailers named Stomp Rockets an overall best-selling toy in July 2010. Scott Loveless, owner of Toys That Teach in Bothell, Wash., told TDmonthly in summer 2010 that his store sells “somewhere along the lines of 40 to 60” Stomp Rockets each month. “Stomp Rockets … are always a summer favorite.”
— In autumn 2010, Marc Holcomb, owner of Toys & Co. In Greensboro, S.C., said he sold approximately 50 per month per store. “It's our #1 gift item,'' he told TDmonthly.

The Pumponator Balloon Pumping Station is designed to make filling balloons with water or air easily. The Pumponator Balloon Pumping Station is filled with 500 balloons and strings for tying. Just fill the container with water, pump, press and fill the balloon. Leave out the water for indoor balloon fun.
— Two of 43 specialty retailers named Pumponator as a top seller in late spring 2010. Four of 40 surveyed retailers claimed Pumponator as an overall top seller in June 2010.
— “I order 144 at a time (and am on my) fourth order since May,” Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barston’s Child’s Play in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly in early summer 2010.
— In a summer 2010 survey, seven of 38 toy and gift retailers named Pumponator an overall top seller. Terri Bracken, owner of Earth Explorer Toys in Zionsville, Ind., told TDmonthly in July 2010 that her store sold 120 Pumponator stations in less than two months. The same month, Kathy Burns, manager of My Favorite Toy Store in Downers Grove, Ill., called Pumponator "a neat, neat item, and very price-appropriate.”
— ''We sell about 500 per year at all 3 stores,'' Marc Holcomb, owner of owner of Toys & Co. in Greensboro, S.C., told TDmonthly in autumn 2010.
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller

The fast-moving word game consists of 144 ivory-like letter tiles in a zippered banana pouch. Players place the tiles face down on the table and randomly select 21 tiles. They turn their letters right-side up simultaneously and proceed to form as many intersecting and interconnecting words as possible, rearranging their own letters as many times as desired throughout the game. Awards: TDmonthly Top Seller 2007; 2009 TOTY Game of the YEAR, 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal; 2007 iParenting; 2007 Parents' Choice Recommended; 2007 Dr. Toy Best Products. (Read Review)
— This product has been making the TDmonthly Best-sellers lists since 2007.
— As of 05/13/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 456 reviews on Amazon.com.
— Eight of 66 retailers vouched for its best-selling status in May 2008; seven of 63 did in Sept. 2008. Shani Watmough of Planet Toys in Rockland, Maine, said her store sells 60 per month.  Fifteen of 38 named it a top-selling game in Feb. 2010.
— As of April 5, 2010, Bananagrams had spent 570 days in the top-100 best-selling toys and games on Amazon.com.
— According to owner Brett Sommer of Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho,  “It was the 2009 game of the year. The brilliant packaging definitely helps this product."

Jedi Master Plo Koon scours the space lanes for General Grievous’ ship, Malevolence, in  "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." This set includes 175 building pieces, a Plo Koon minifigure, an Astromech Droid minifigure and a cockpit ejection seat for ejecting minifigures from the finished 10" Starfighter.
— Karen Park, owner of Zaks Gifts in Manchester-By-the-Sea, Mass., told TDmonthly in Summer 2010 that her store sells about 20 to 30 LEGO Star Wars sets each week.
— Six of 38 specialty retailers named LEGO products an overall best seller in July 2010. Two of the six cited LEGO Star Wars as a popular product line.

These unicorn erasers have removable puzzle parts so they can be taken apart and reassembled. The collection includes six pastel colors.
— In summer 2010, Margy Peine, owner of Tree House Toys in Cumberland, Md., told TDmonthly her store sells about 75 Japanese erasers per month.
— Thirteen percent of 38 specialty retailers named Japanese erasers a best-selling product in July 2010.
— Linda Laramy, owner of Crackerjacks in Easton, Md., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that they don't sell many tween items other than collectible erasers, which they sell about 4 dozen of each month.

These robotic creatures behave like real bugs. Kids can go online to register and track their Nano collections. Additional bugs, track, habitats, carrying cases and more are available separately.
— Five of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in June 2010 that the Hexbug is a top-selling product. In July 2010, 11 percent of 38 retailers named Hexbugs an overall top seller.
— In a June 2010 survey, two of 40 retailers told TDmonthly Hexbugs are a top-selling gift for boys ages 4 to 12.

This easy-to-assemble 38" kite is made from ripstop nylon and features the images of characters from Disney/Pixar's Toy Story films.
— Sue Hottel, co-owner of No Kidding in Mattapoisett, Mass., told TDmonthly in summer 2010 that her store sells 50 to 60 kites each month.
— In a July 2010 survey of 38 retailers, three cited kites as a top-selling product.

This play set includes a king figure, a scepter, a carriage with space for five seahorses, and one seahorse capable of pulling the carriage on its own.
— In July 2010, eight percent of 38 specialty retailers named Playmobil products overall best sellers.
— “Playmobil still is a really good seller for us,” Gary Green of Toy Box of Asheville Inc. in Asheville, N.C., told TDmonthly in summer 2010.

This set includes 216 powerful rare earth magnets that can be molded, shaped and snapped together in an endless variety of configurations. Each Buckyball has two poles — one repels, one attracts. Not intended for children. Watch video
— ''Pun's has sold about four dozen in the last month alone,'' Joe Berardoni, Sr., owner of Pun's Toy Shop in Bryn Mawr, Pa., shared with TDmonthly in the fall of 2010.
—Jeanette Lauture, owner of Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., sold nine of 24 units in two days after opening a box for display, she told TDmonthly. Two of 39 retailers named Buckyballs as a best-selling travel toy in March 2010.
— Dean Smith, Co-owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that he sells "probably 50" sets of Buckyballs each month.
— May 27, 2010 RECALL of 175,000 sets (prior to March 2010) with 13+ labeling violating a federal standard that powerful magnets not be sold to children under 14.