ASTRA Marketplace & Academy 2012 Perfectly sized for long car or plane rides, SMART/TANGOES USA’s IQ Twist can keep kids ages 6 and older entertained for hours
Educational Insights Has Magic Moves
The Magic Moves Electronic Wand, from EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS, encourages kids to get moving by providing 90 commands for them to follow, from “swoop like an eagle” to “stomp like a dinosaur.” Twentysix musical styles complement the commands to keep kids in action. The Wand is appropriate for kids ages 3 and up. Puppet-on-a-Stick combines three oversized puppets into one with silly faces and movable mouths. The puppet is recommended for kids ages 4 and up. GeoSafari Jr. Talking Bug Net allows kids (ages 3 and up) to choose a (pretend) bug and drop it into the net to learn 100-plus bug facts and quiz questions. The Net then asks questions using the facts that have been learned. Nowhere to Go is a two-player, hexagonal game board. The game includes two playing pieces and 40 blockers. Each player places a spy piece on the starting spaces, and they proceed to take turns moving across any bridges that are not blocked. A player ends their turn by placing a blocker on any bridge; the first player to trap the other spy with blockers wins.
PEACEABLE KINGDOM introduces Preschool Skill Builder games, in which everyday tasks, such as cutting with safety scissors or recognizing left from right, are practiced and mastered in a cooperative game setting. The new titles include Feed the Woozle, Willy’s Wiggly Web, and Snug as a Bug in a Rug. In Feed the Woozle, kids must feed Woozle 12 silly snacks without dropping them from the spoon while they perform such actions as walking backwards or hopping like a bunny. The included child-safe scissors in Willy’s Wiggly Web allow two to four players to cut all the little bugs free from Willy’s Web before he drops down from the top. Spin the spinner in Snug as a Bug in a Rug, find the matching bug, and then secretly slide it under the rug, all while working on visual discrimination, the concept of taking turns, and counting.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
S52
Beamo
TOYSMITH’s Squishees help individuals grab hold of their emotions. The two-inch super soft stress balls are available in four expressive moods. Deluxe Kendama is a classic toss and catch game from Japan with endless tricks to learn and master. It is made of solid wood and measures 7 inches tall. Beamo Jr., a lightweight and oversized hoop, is easy to throw and even easier to catch. Toysmith is introducing a 20-inch version of the 30-inch classic Beamo.
MAY/JUNE 2012