ASTRA Preview: New Twists on Classic Toys

By Justina Huddleston
June 2011

See below for a sampling of new products from companies who will be attending this year's ASTRA Marketplace & Academy in Anaheim, Calif. These innovative products put a new twist on old favorites.

Coquette Redhead by COROLLE DOLLS

Coquette Redhead is a lovable doll with long, rooted hair that can be brushed and styled. She comes dressed in a fashionable purple jacket, plaid shirt, and matching pants, with coordinating sneakers. Her face has a realistic, delicate sprinkling of freckles. Launch date: April 2011. ( Watch Video) 3/8/2011 (MSRP: $75.00; Age: 2 and Up)

I Built It! Checkers by I BUILT IT GAMES

Build your own customized checker set. These “I Built It!” checkers let you choose any of your favorite pictures and add them right into every game piece, making for a personalized game. Each game comes with 12 red and 12 black checker pieces made of durable yet lightweight plastic. These jumbo sized checker pieces are each 2 3/4 inches around, so there is plenty of room for pictures. Also included in each game are a picture sizing stencil, an instruction and idea sheet, and a 24 inch square red and black game board, This oversized game board folds down to fit in a 12 by 12 inch box. ( Watch Video) 12/29/2010

SCRUBLE Cube by RSV PRODUCTIONS INC.

SCRUBLE Cube is a fusion of the classic Rubik's Cube and SCRABBLE games. To play, you twist and turn the sides of the cube or rotate the individual squares to spell words. Earn extra points for spelling a word across multiple surfaces using bonus squares and building new words off ones that have already been created. SCRUBLE Cube can promote the development and exercise of key brain functions- logical deduction, analytical processing and word development skills. 1-4 players. 1/24/2011 (MSRP: $24.95; Age: 8 and Up)

Glitter Rainbow Wings by CREATIVE EDUCATION OF CANADA

Glitter Rainbow Wings by CREATIVE EDUCATION OF CANADA These glitter wings come in an organza bag with maribou trim. Six layered pieces feature a three color base and two colors of glitter.
— In a Winter 2012 survey Melissa Pennille, co-owner of Teaching Toys & Books in Tacoma, Wash., told TDmonthly that butterfly wings were one of their bestselling items this Halloween season. ( Watch Video) 3/8/2011 (MSRP: $11.99; Age: 3 to 8)

Cuboro Jubilee by CUBORO WOODEN GAMES

Cuboro Jubilee by CUBORO WOODEN GAMES Celebrating it's 25th "Jubilee" year in 2011, Cuboro is a wooden block marble maze system from Switzerland. The Jubilee set, only available in 2011, features 25 blocks, including 4 completely new blocks. Precisely crafted from ecologically harvested European beechwood, the variety of Cuboro blocks allow for seemingly infinite marble run creations. Cuboro stimulates creativity and spatial sense. What sets this item apart is "The infinite creativity possible within a system where every element is a cube of the same size," Ken Kahn, owner of Oh! Toys, told TDmonthly. 1/25/2011 (MSRP: $159.99; Age: 5 to 13)

Folkmanis Puppet Kits by FOLKMANIS INC.

Each kit includes: a plush puppet body, felt to cut-out body parts, non-toxic glue, fabric puppet parts, instructions, animal facts, and puppet show ideas. The package converts to a puppet stage and the inside of the packaging is a ready-to-color stage scene, so there is no packaging waste. Children can “Simply Cut, Glue, Color, Play,” says Elaine Kollias, marketing director at Folkmanis. Consumer will need to provide their own scissors and crayons. The Kits come in three varieties: Bunny, Cat and Frog. 1/14/2011 (MSRP: $19.49; Age: 4 and Up)

Woodstock Music Box by WOODSTOCK CHIMES

Includes Harmonica, Mini Chimalong, JingleBand, Kid's Accordion, Ukulele, and Mini Tambourine. "The pieces are for children, but are created with a professional musician mentality," Garry Kvistad, CEO of Woodstock Chimes, said in a press release. Launch date: February 2011. 1/24/2011 (MSRP: $100; Age: 3 and Up)

Tegu Original Set in Jungle Finish by TEGU INC.

Tegu's patent-pending blocks cleverly incorporate magnets inside sustainably harvested wood, offering gravity-defying blocks that show no visible point of connectivity and enable multi-dimensional building experiences. Available in the following honduran hardwood finishes: natural, mahogany, tints and jungle. "We utilize eco-friendly hardwoods, making them both durable and friendly to the forest," a rep for Tegu Inc told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Parent’s Choice Award, 2010 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys and Children’s Products, 2010 Oppenheim Gold
— David Stelzer, owner of Shananigans in Baltimore, Md., told TDmonthly in a March 2015 survey that Tegu blocks were one of his store's best-selling eco-friendly toys. 3/4/2011 (MSRP: $110.00; Age: 3 and Up)

Wall Coaster by ACTIVE PRODUCTS INC.

Wall Coaster by ACTIVE PRODUCTS INC. The Wall Coaster is NOT an ordinary marble run. Kids can just stick it to the wall and let their imaginations soar. The Wall Coaster uses the basic laws of physics and gravity to enable hours of fun and imaginative play. Plus, it is super easy to use. What makes the Wall Coaster different? The Wall Coaster can be applied to almost any vertical or horizontal surface. The new add on parts allow the user to build all kinds of crazy contraptions.
— Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J. told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011 that he sells between eight and 10 Wall Coasters each month.
— Want this? As of 05/10/2011, this product was available for purchase at JaZams ( Watch Video) 2/9/2010 (MSRP: $19.95; Age: 5 and Up)