Animal rescue rangers to the rescue! With this rugged safari truck, two cheerful people are ready to zoom across the savannah to help their animal friends. The alligator, zebra, rhinoceros, elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus and lion fit into the truck's sides through die-cut slots, so this exciting toy is perfect for imaginative play and fine motor skills . . . and much more! Lift and remove the cargo door to unload the colorful animals, then count, sort and stack the solid-wood pieces before loading the truck and securing the door in its track. One male and one female ranger fit in the cab of the truck, or come out to tend to the animals on the preserve. Play ideas are included to reinforce basic skills and inspire creative play.

This puzzle features dramatic dinosaurs in an exciting prehistoric scene. 2' x 3' when complete, it features 24 extra-thick pieces with an Easy-Clean surface to keep them looking like new.

It's show time! This wooden puppet theater has been designed with a sturdy, non-tip base and plenty of room inside for a puppeteer or two! The stylized theatrical graphics and plush, velvety curtains will inspire creativity and expression in any child. Including a clock with movable hands and a chalkboard panel for playbill information, it's a stage just awaiting imagination!
— Bebe Feimster, owner of Big Smile Toys in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly in a June 2015 survey that Melissa and Doug’s Deluxe Puppet Theater is one of their best-selling furniture items.

No-mess painting for kids! This exciting paint-with-water coloring book includes four reusable pages and a refillable water pen. Simply use the pen to color in each scene--details and vibrant color appear with every stroke! Then let the page dry to erase the pictures and fill it in again and again. This animal-themed book includes four scenes to color, and a search-and-find activity for each scene. The chunky-sized water pen is easy for kids to hold and stores neatly right in the front cover, so Water WOW books make ideal travel activity books and travel toys for kids!
— Joe Novak, owner of Kazoo Toys of Buckhead in Atlanta, Ga., told TDmonthly in an April 2015 survey that Water Wow from Melissa & Doug is one of their store's best-selling travel toys.

This colorful wooden set includes 12 wooden, sliceable cookies and 12 toppings, wooden knife, spatula, cookie sheet and a kitchen mitt for safe, "low-calorie" play! The cookies store in a durable dough tube.
— Molly Hungerford, manager at Leapin' Lizards Toy Company in Bend, Or., told TDmonthly in a March 2015 survey that Melissa & Doug's wooden play food is one of her store's best-selling eco-friendly toys.

Bella Butterfly swings open on the easy-access door of this whimsical bug house. A sturdy handle, a beautifully striped floor and lots of air holes provide the perfect place to house and observe insects and bugs. Dimensions: 5.5" x 7.5" x 3.5"
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in an March 2015 survey that bug houses are one of her store's best-selling outdoor toys.

Brightly colored animals and familiar objects illustrate the letters of the alphabet on these cardboard blocks. Nested, the ten vibrant blocks fit into the included carrying case. Stacked, they form a tower nearly three feet high!
— In a February 2015 survey, six out of 11 retailers told TDmonthly that Melissa & Doug makes their best-selling wooden toys. Bebe Feimster    , manager of Big Smile Toys/Hardware Center in Paoli, Pa., said these blocks do particularly well.

Add excitement to travel with this sturdy, reusable classic travel game. Learn the name and location of all fifty states, identify states by their license plate design or simply plot your trip by flipping the states along your rout. No loose pieces to leave a trail.
— Gladys Griffin, owner of Main Street Toy Shop in Columbus, Ga., told TDmonthly in an April 2013 survey that this game is their best-selling travel toy.

Knock the four brightly colored balls through the holes, then watch and listen as they roll down the ramps. Sturdy wooden hammer included.
— Michelle Deutschmann, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Falmouth, Mass., told TDmonthly in a February 2013 survey that they sold six of this item during the holidays, "which is a big number for a smaller store."

Any little host will be proud to present these three layers of "delicious" yumminess. This fabulous cake can be topped with a bride and groom for a formal pretend wedding or with a flower bouquet to celebrate any special event. Serving and assembling this confection is easy with all the wooden layers, a selection of toppings, a server and decorative cake plate included in the "bakery" box.
— As of 1/17/2013 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 36 reviews on Amazon.com.

Help each magnetic animal find its place and environment. This magnetic book with removable pieces is "bound" to amuse and educate with pet, farm, wild and undersea animal shaped magnetic pieces.
— As of 1/17/2013 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 21 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Good for travel; Easy enough for young children but challenging enough to hold their interest. Cons: Pictures begin to fade after a while.
— In a November 2013 survey, Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly that puzzles, especially from Melissa & Doug, are a best-selling education toy.

The school bus is here! There's a friendly driver at the wheel and room for six happy passengers in this 10-piece wooden play set. With easy-rolling wheels and doors that open and close, this exciting set creates an interactive scene designed to inspire limitless play. Pieces are sized to fit with all Whittle World play sets and accessories sets.

Smarty Pants Third Grade cards let kids test their smarts and load up on new facts and funny trivia. Designed for independent use (so a child can play alone or with a parent or friend), the cards are colorful, creative and packed with illustrated activities, including trivia quizzes, problem-solving puzzles, rebus puzzles, fun facts, creative story-building games and much more. Each educational card set is thoughtfully developed to suit the learning style and curriculum standards of each age range...then spiced up with fresh, lively design and an infusion of humor (including a whimsical pants-shaped case!) to keep kids giggling, engaged and excited about learning.

This wooden panda baby toy loves to play peekaboo. Hear the click and clack as its paws flap up to cover the cheerful face, then push them down again to say, "Hello!" Even babies can bring about a big visual change with just a simple motion, so they're encouraged to keep exploring as fine motor skills grow naturally. Made with select hardwood and child-safe dyes, First Play Peek-a-Boo Panda makes a heartwarming baby-shower gift.

This wooden play castle features hand-painted pink accents to keep any princess happy in her castle, plus two removable turrets, balconies, flying buttress, flag and a working drawbridge. Castle opens fully for hours of engaging play. Measures 17.5"L x 27"W x 15.25"H.
— As of 10/26/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 207 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Aesthetically pleasing; durable. Cons: Several reviewers said that the openings to the castle were extremely small, making it difficult to get furniture in and out; some reviewers mentioned the wood splintering.

Festive Wintery Pull-along Penguin & Polar Bear toy. Improve hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills, and movement abilities. 5 Stackable penguin and polar bear blocks.

Keeping family and friends gathered around the holiday table doesn't take a miracle - just great questions. "What three values does your family cherish most?" and "What is the best Chanukah gift you have ever received?" are two of the 82 questions on these conversation-starting cards. Make way through the deck to share holiday memories, and create a new tradition with this box of 82 conversation-starters.

Suspend comes with 24 notched, rubber-tipped wire pieces to hang from a tabletop stand. Sound easy? Try adding another piece! Each time a bar is added, the balance shifts, the difficulty changes and the incredible midair sculpture transforms. Can players add all their game pieces without making it fall? This tricky game for 1-4 players is a test of steady nerves and steady hands.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, 2012 Best Toys Guide Best Games
— In a February 2014 survey, Joe Novak, owner of Kazoo Toys of Buckhead in Buckhead, Ga., told TDmonthly that Suspend was one of their stores top-3 best-selling games.

Chunky Puzzles are 2-in-1. Put the fat chunky pieces in place on the board, matching by picture and shape. Or stand them up, move them about, and play pretend.

This easy-to-assemble, sturdy wooden play table is ideal for trains, dollhouses, arts & crafts projects, blocks, puzzles and more. It also features a double-sided play board and jumbo-sized drawer for convenient storage.
— In a May 2012 survey, Andy Ricks, owner of My Imagination Station in Hattiesburg, Miss., told TDmonthly that they sell one of these items each month, "but much more around the holidays."

With sturdy metal construction and pivoting front wheels, this kid-size shopping cart is easy to maneuver, fun to fill and built to last. Dimensions: 23.25" x 15" x 11.75" Assembled.