Games, Playthings and Plush

Toy Roundup (From page 24)

Pop-it fidget toys and Nee Doh balls are also winners for Coolest Toys On Earth, whose Cincinnati store is nearly 1,800 square feet. But Owner Elliot Werner said his top-selling sensory product is that Shashibo Cube. “It is an excellent brain exercise as well as a fascinating way to keep your mind and hands occupied,” he noted.

At home during a pandemic winter, Elliot has tried out plenty of toys on his own four children, aged two to 11. Their favorites to use together are the Monster Match board game indoors, and flying toys for outdoors such as Beamo and Sky Glider; the Werners also cruise the neighborhood on their Onewheel electric skateboards.

Board games are the overwhelming favorite for families of mixed ages, according to toy retailers. At Whistle Stop Hobby and Toy, Everett saw demand this winter for hot new titles like Throw Throw Burrito –“like a dodge ball card game” — and Left Right Center. Classics such as Life and Twister sell consistently, along with new Harry Potter- or Mario-themed versions of Monopoly. Everitt also likes the Buildzi con- structor set from Tenzi — “a new, challenging game that was super popular this year.”

In Oxford, Mich., Funky Monkey Toys Manager Kim Collier recommended board and card games for family fun. A Dolphin Hats title called Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza was this year’s best-selling board game for all ages. In Cincinnati, the Peaceful Kingdom line “blows it away for younger kids’ games,” noted Brian Daly of King Arthur’s Court Toys, adding that Monkey Around is the brand’s top-selling title.

Daly also recommended puzzles to shoppers at the 15,000-square-foot store. His favorites, from Crocodile Creek, have color-coded sections that allow players of different ages and abilities to each work on a skill-appropriate section before mounting the entire project. “We brought them in especially because they were designed to be family puzzles,” Daly explained. “Puzzles are awesome, but it can be a problem when you have players of different abilities. These new puzzles solve that.” ❖

Getting in Tune with Musical Toy Trends

Ukuleles, easy to play and pleasant to hear, remain a top seller in a category that has not seen much innovation lately.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t say there’s real change in the trend line for musical toys right now,” said Brian Daly, buyer and manager at King Arthur’s Court in Cincinnati. For kids too young to manage a stringed instrument, the store has done well with the Hape brand; one favorite combines musical elements with stacking blocks.

But ukuleles remain the top musical toy, especially those from the high-quality line Kala, which also makes professional-grade models. “We met the Kala people at Toy Fair; they love what they do, and their products are wonderful,” Daly said.

Kala ukuleles in convenient carrying cases are also the top musical choice at Whistle Stop Hobby and Toy in St. Clair Shores, Mich., reported Manager Julie Everitt. And at Funky Monkey Toys in nearby Oxford, Manager Kim Collier said best-selling mahogany ukuleles are popular for their whimsical styles; some are shaped like strawberries and assorted fruit.

Apart from ukuleles, other musical favorites include teaching toys like the Rock & Roll It Rainbow Piano, a best-seller at Coolest Toys On Earth, and xylophones and egg shakers for younger children at Flying Pig Toys — both in Cincinnati. ❖