The Hape shopping cart is a wooden, wheeled shopping trolly. Parents can role-play with their children as they ‘shop’ through the house. When kids aren’t playing the trolley makes for an excellent storage space. The Early Explorer
Lacing Pony can help kids count and read colours with a selection of colourful beads and laces. The wooden horse is designed to help kids learn
creativity, imagination and fine motor skills as they thread, lace and saddle up. There is also a lacing peacock. Two great moving pull alongs are also arriving in the 2013 Hape catalogue: The Walk-A-Long Croc and the Walk-Along Puppy. The Croc really moves as it is pushed and pulled, and the Puppy nods and wags its tail as it its walked along. 01208 873123
GUITAR AND UKULELE, RAINBOW COLOURS
Rainbow Colours is a set of products designed to present the easiest possible approach to learning to play the guitar and ukulele. It has also featured on TV show Dragons’ Den.
Using the coloured musical notes with the coloured strings, learning is made simple. The visual
style of the book is great for ages three to 15 years, as well as students with learning difficulties or dyslexia. The system also provides an opportunity for parents and teachers to interact with their children, while teaching them to play a new instrument. The complete package comes with a three quarter
size classical guitar or soprano ukulele, coloured strings, rainbow colours book and a full colour box. The book and coloured strings are sold as a package for those who already own an instrument, and the rainbow coloured strings are also sold separately for spares. 0121 449 8181
ANGRY BIRDS STAR WARS CARD GAME, CARTAMUNDI
The card game celebrates a collaboration between the most popular mobile video game and the greatest film saga of all time – Angry Birds Star Wars.
The deck of playing
cards from Cartamundi features everyone’s favourite Star Wars characters from the new Angry Birds game. Children will transform into the fiercest of fowls against their pesky piggy mates, as they use logic, skill and sheer brute force in fun-filled card games. How about slow-motion Pairs, light speed Snap or
Go Fish? It’s not all about spectacular gameplay for the family though, as these packs aim to sprinkle a shower of cosmic Christmas magic over both collectors and fans alike.
The deck will be
available in four different embossed limited edition tins. Each comes with a matching collectible, 3D lenticular bonus card, and at only £4.99 each, they look likely to fly off the shelves this season. For more info visit
Ravensburger says its children’s range combines favourite characters, piece counts and top-notch quality. New introductions to its licensed portfolio include Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Mike the Knight, Sofia the First, Doc Mcstuffins, Monsters University, Tree Fu Tom and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, alongside established favourites Octonauts, Thomas &
Friends, Tatty Teddy and Hello Kitty.
Mini Memory has a range
of characters to choose from, including Moshi Monsters, Mike the Knight, Spider-Man, Thomas and Friends, Octonauts, Minnie Mouse, Disney Cars, Hello Kitty and Disney Princess – with more new titles planned for 2013. There’s also a new range of simple games retailing at less than £10 – titles include the
Mike the Knight Treasure Hunt Game, Hello Kitty Fun Day Out Game, Thomas & Friends Roads & Rails Game, Octonauts Sea Eels and Ladders Game and Minnie Fashion Mouse. Ravensburger’s adult puzzle line includes new character-based autumn titles like Me to You, Disney’s Mickey & Minnie, Fairies and a multi- character montage. 01869 363800