October Staff Picks

By Justina Huddleston
October 2015

This month's staff picks features a variety of high-quality toys, from scientific superstars to fluffy plush puppets.

Elasmosaurus by SAFARI LTD.®

Seventy-five million years ago, there really were sea monsters, and this long-necked Elasmosaurus from was one of them. Wild Safari® Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life were created for the dinosaur lover in all of us. Each Safari Ltd® hand painted figure is designed to stimulate the imaginations of children of all ages. 7/20/2015 (MSRP: $11.99)

Collared Lizard by FOLKMANIS INC.

Whether he's flaked out on a rock or scurrying under one, there's no mistaking the extraordinary Folkmanis® COLLARED LIZARD puppet. Visually stunning and surprisingly soft to the touch, this wonderful North American creature comes to life with movable head, mouth, forelegs and tail!

7/2/2015 (MSRP: $33.99; Age: 3 and Up)

Rockin Rody by TMI TOYMARKETING INTERNATIONAL INC.

This is the Rody Horse with a support base for a rocking motion and is ONLY sold with a Red or Yellow Rody. The rocking base is detachable for hopping and bouncing and even more fun and play. It allows the Rody to grow with your child. The Rody Base is sold separately as item #8000. Maximum sustainable weight up to 100 lbs. 7/31/2015 (MSRP: $109.95; Age: 3 and Up)

Lava in a Bottle by GEOCENTRAL

Create your own lava lamp through chemical reactions. Drop the special fizzy tint tablets in to the beaker and watch as the "Lava" bounces up and down just like a Lava Lamp. 7/31/2015

4M Crystal Mining Kit by TOYSMITH

4M Crystal Mining Kit by TOYSMITH 4M Products are creative, imaginative, inspiring and most of all fun! The 4M Crystal Mining Kit let's you excavate your very own crystals. Once you excavate you have beautiful crystals to display and admire. Includes plaster rock with eight embedded crystals, digging tool, display case, drawstring bag and more! Perfect for ages 5 and up. 9/30/2015 (MSRP: $10.99)

LEGO Star Wars 75097 Advent Calendar Building Kit by LEGO

Journey through the Star Wars galaxy in the countdown to Christmas! Reveal minifigures, starships, vehicles and more with the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar with 24 doors and a fold-out playmat. Take a journey through the galaxy this holiday season with the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar! Open each of the 24 doors to reveal a fun Tatooine, Endor, Hoth, Space or Christmas-themed gift. With minifigures, starships, vehicles and more to discover, as well as a great fold-out playmat, Christmas will arrive faster than you can say "May the Force be with you!" 9/30/2015 (MSRP: $39.99)

Roominate Chateau by MAYKAH INC

Roominate Chateau by MAYKAH INC Girls can build their very own unique structures with the Roominate Chateau! Using the included building pieces that easily snap together, girls can tap into their imaginations to design two-level structures, bunk beds, balconies, a house on wheels, and other endless possibilities. Teaches important STEM skills: hands-on problem solving, spatial and fine motor skills, self-confidence, and creativity. Electrical circuits enhance designs so girls can watch their creations come to life with real movement, including spinning windmills, carousels, lamps, and more. Included in this 131-piece set are 8 wall/floor panels, 52 furniture building pieces, 32 connectors, 4 arches, 4 wheels, 2 axles, a motor, string of 4 lights, 2 switches, 2 battery packs, a screwdriver, doll, pet, and 20 sheets of craft paper. Requires 4 AAA batteries, not included. 9/30/2015 (MSRP: $49.99)

Wonderworld Trix Track - Cat & Mouse Track by SMART GEAR LLC

The Trix Track Cat & Mouse Track is more than a classic wooden ball run with fun and exciting eye-catching tricks and an easy locking system that keeps your creations stable while you build your maze. With your imagination there are endless configuration possibilities! The Trix Track Cat & Mouse Track includes exciting new blocks that add an entirely new dimension to Trix Tracks which allow you to build faster and higher than ever before. Watch the mouse chase after the cheese thru many obstacles and the challenge of big cat waiting at the end of the track! Trix Tracks help understand the cause and effect relationship. Specially designed bricks are made from a combination of eco friendly recycled saw dust and food grade plastic so it is safe, durable and good for the environment. Combine with other Trix Track sets to create even larger tracks, more trix and endless fun! 9/30/2015

Stack Attack by PATCH PRODUCTS INC.

Stack Attack by PATCH PRODUCTS INC. Play it risky or play it safe. Either way you just gotta stack it! Roll your dice and stack matching numbers on the dice tower. Just don't be the player who knocks down the tower because you'll score a big fat zero! But if you get all of your dice on the tower before it falls, everyone else loses out! For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. 9/30/2015 (Age: 8 and Up)

Armadora by BLUE ORANGE GAMES

Armadora is a 2-4 player area control game. Your objective is to claim the biggest portion of the dwarven gold mines. Each turn, you will choose to either place one of your tokens facedown to claim territory, or place a palisade to divide existing territories in two. The player with the highest strength in each territory wins its gold at the end of the game. The player with the most gold wins. 9/30/2015

Stitch A Pixel Pillow by ALEX BRANDS

ALEX Toys Craft Stitch A Pixel Pillow is the perfect way to create a fun and colorful pillow! Easily cross stitch this pillow with neon yarn; pre-punched holes make it so easy. The perfect activity for the beginning seamstress or tailor. Includes 4 colors of acrylic yarn (10.5 yd.), polyester yarn (10.5 yd.), 2 polyester felt squares (14 in.), polypropylene pillow insert (5.64 oz.), plastic needle and easy instructions. Recommended for children 6 years of age and older. 9/30/2015 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 6 and Up)

Calico Critters - Seaside Cruiser Houseboat by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

Welcome aboard the Seaside Cruiser, a fun house boat perfect for holidays or a weekend away! The house boat has lots of fun features including paddling pool, water slide, deckchair and parasol. Inside there are kitchen units, a table & chairs and bunk beds which can be transformed into a shower cubicle Includes Freya Chocolate rabbit dressed for ocean adventures. This set includes a mini boat to help your sylvanians get to shore without getting their paws wet, as well as their very own secluded island to visit. The side of the boat folds down to create more space, and you can slide right into the ocean. 9/30/2015 (MSRP: $110.00)

Groovy Girls Noelle with Celessence by MANHATTAN TOY

Noelle has a fresh peppermint scent. From our award winning Groovy Girls collection. Soft 13" doll features embroidered facial features and hands. Outfit is removable and attaches with a Velcro-like closure on back. Scent Technology by Celessence - an innovative micro-encapsulation delivery system. Gently hug doll to release scent. 9/30/2015 (MSRP: $22.00; Age: 3 and Up)

Kids First Level 1 - Automobile Engineer by THAMES & KOSMOS

Read the funny story of two inquisitive kids and build simple models of the vehicles they encounter on their comical trip to the supermarket with their dad. Along this roundabout journey, the kids build various vehicles to help the people in their town solve problems and complete tasks. As you follow the story, you can build models of the 10 vehicles in the story. Large, colorful plastic building pieces make it easy for small hands to put the models together. 9/30/2015 (MSRP: $45.00)