About a week ago, I fell into my usual July panic that we just didn’t have great toys to write about. We had some fine toys–but not the kind that get you really excited. Now having just gone through the motherload of toys that arrived this week–I’m feeling much better. In fact, now I’m a little overwhelmed. I have video taped so many of our new favorites. So the good news– there are lots of fun things to look forward to for 2011 Holiday Season.
Beautiful!
LEGO Alien Conquest Mothership
LEGO Systems has a brand new Alien Mothership that offers builders a really unusual build. The addition of a new gear at the middle allows the center of the spaceship to spin. LEGO has also added an alien sound piece to the mix. Great fun! Watch our video.
As the gang from LEGO heads out to Comic Con, they released BIG news. Starting in January 2012, there will be new LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES. The collection will include 13 of their iconic characters: Batman™, Robin™, Catwoman™, The Joker, The Riddler™, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn™, Bane, Bruce Wayne, Superman™, Lex Luthor™ and Wonder Woman™. Buildable characters will include Batman, The Joker and Green Lantern.
But wait, there’s more…a really fun contest (intended to drive you to the website–you know you’ll look anyway).
According to the LEGO press release…
At San Diego Comic-Con, 3,000 exclusive Batman and Green Lantern LEGO minifigures will be distributed to kick off a promotion that will take place from August to December in advance of the launch. Fans are encouraged to use their collectible minifigures and existing LEGO collections to create original LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES adventures through video, photography or illustration, then share their submissions on www.LEGOSUPERHEROES.com. Entrants have a chance to win monthly prizes or a grand prize trip to California for exclusive tours of Warner Bros. Studios, WB Animation and LEGOLAND® California.
I hope they send us one of the miniatures…2012 is a long time to wait! I especially can’t wait to see how Wonder Woman translates to LEGO.
“You’re one hot potato!”
Overheard at Coney Island today…
Out for a stroll on the boardwalk...
Mattel's Figit
One of the most entertaining novelty toys we saw at toy fair will be on display in Times Square in NYC tomorrow at noon — a lot of them! We’re still waiting for ours to arrive…but if you’re in the area–it should be fun to watch them all move together.
I always had a problem with charades. I never got the “sounds like, two words, two parts” thing. It just made me tense. So I was interested when we received a game called Reverse Charades by Gryphon Games. I was even happier when we got the Junior Edition. Let’s just say, I do even better with games targeted to the 6 & up crowd. This game is meant for a group, family, friends…even better.
Reverse Charades…what makes it a reverse charade? Each team has a guess while the other members of the team act out the word. There is no “sounds like” aspect to this game. There are 720 words/phrases to play with. Here are some samples: pillow fight, itchy, hula hoop, crab walk. As you’ll notice, the word choices are age appropriate and will be enjoyed by mixed ages.
New to the US market, this Breast Milk Baby doll will allow your child to simulate breast feeding. Thoughts?
Here’s how it works. According to the company’s press release…
The Breast Milk Baby simulates the breast-feeding process by including a fashionable halter-top that a young girl can put on like a vest and when she brings the Breast Milk Baby doll’s mouth up to the pretty flower decoration on the vest the doll makes a soft, suckling sound. The two flowers on the halter are positioned where the nipples would be and when the mouth of the doll is brought close to the embedded sensors in the flower, the baby makes motions and suckling sounds.
Paper Dictionary...endangered?
When I was in grade school, I used to love getting a new dictionary. Working my way through a particular letter was one of those beginning of the year pledges that usually lasted a few weeks (ok, a few days)…but still, I loved dictionaries.
So when this year’s new edition of the Scholastic Pocket Dictionary arrived this week, I wondered whether kids still use the old-fashion paper versions. I know in my own work, I’ve been converted over to an electronic version.
When was the last time you used a paper dictionary?