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Building sets remain an evergreen staple of independent toy stores and specialty retailers everywhere. But this summer, some new entrants are shaking up the building and construction category with new ways for kids — and kidults — to play.
Fresh from The Toy Book‘s 2024 Specialty Toys & Gifts issue comes this curated list of 14 new sets that are worth a look!
PLIP KIT
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The creative construction kit features more than 50 flexible arches, sticks, and X-shaped pieces that connect via ball-and-socket ends. Kids can create patterns, prisms, and sculptures by connecting the pieces. They can also pull the pieces apart to hear a satisfying popping sound.
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Available: Summer 2024
MAGNA-TILES DINO WORLD
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This 40-piece set features four oversized, fully magnetic dinosaurs: Pteranodon, T. rex, Stegosaurus, and Velociraptor. The set includes volcano-themed tiles to create a prehistoric environment, and everything is compatible with other MAGNA-TILES sets.
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SMARTMAX: MY FIRST EXPLORERS
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Kids can mix and match the chunky, magnetic, toddler-friendly pieces to create a rocket, a plane, and a car, or create new vehicles. This tactile set joins other SmartMax: My First offerings, including Pirates, Safari Animals, Wobbly Cars, and more.
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LEGO FRIENDS ADVENTURE CAMP COZY CABINS
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This set includes three mini-dolls, a fox, and lots of camping accessories. Kids can build the set, and then pretend to join Paisley, Zac, and Sky for a cozy camping trip complete with mountain bikes, sleeping bags, a fire pit, s’mores, and more.
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SPAGHETTEEZ TWIST-A-SAURUS REX
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Using flexible noodles, connectors, and accessories, kids can build a 3D dinosaur or anything else they can imagine. The 62-piece set challenges kids to bend the noodles any way they want, then click everything into place with the connector pieces.
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CRAYOLA COLORS OF KINDNESS AND CRAYOLA PIP MAGNETIC TILES SETS
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These colorful 24- and 40-piece sets feature a variety of magnetic tiles that are easy for little hands to connect and build endless unique structures, patterns, and shapes. Colors include Life is Gouda, Seas the Day, Bluetiful, and more.
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LEGO IDEAS DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: RED DRAGON’S TALE SET
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This massive 3,745-piece set features a buildable tavern, a dungeon, and a tower, complete with a removable roof. It also has a posable Cinderhowl the Red Dragon figure that wraps around the tower, and comes with six LEGO minifigures and lots of monsters, including a beholder, an owlbear, and a displacer beast. Created in collaboration…
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MEGA SHOWCASE HOT WHEELS AUDI 90 QUATTRO IMSA GTO
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This 973-piece, 1:15-scale model kit is fully buildable and ready to display with the matching 1:64-scale die-cast race car. It features a detailed interior and engine and the iconic Audi silhouette.
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92-PIECE RAINBOW BALL RUN PACK
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Inspire children and adults alike with limitless design possibilities, STEAM learning opportunities, and fast-action FUN! The CONNETIX 92 Piece Rainbow Ball Run Pack features exclusively designed clear fluted tubes, colorful wooden balls, rainbow connector tiles, and a range of exciting twists, turns, slopes, and soundscapes that will have you building and racing, again and again.…
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LEGO TECHNIC PORSCHE GT4 E-PERFORMANCE RACE CAR
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Kids and kidults can build a remote-control version of the Porsche GT4, which is the fastest car in the LEGO Technic CONTROL+ range. Steer the car in drive and reverse modes, and light up the route with the real-working front and rear lights. The doors also open to reveal the detailed interior.
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JELLY BLOX CREATIVE KIT
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Jelly Blox is a patent-pending building system for toddlers and preschoolers that supports key developmental milestones through the fun of tactile, squishy, sensory play. A Bonus for parents — it’s totally ouch-free, so don’t worry about accidentally stepping on them.
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LEGO DREAMZZZ IZZIE’S DREAM ANIMALS
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Based on the series LEGO DREAMZzz, this set lets kids build up the beast realm with Izzie and help her retrieve a memory stolen by evil doppelganger Dizzy on the Never Witch’s raven. Kids will discover a magical egg toy and help Izzie transform it into a fantasy animal to chase down the raven and…
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Available: August 2024
OGGSMORE KEEP: A CASTLE SAGA
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The Oggs’ story continues with this castle set, which includes two characters with accessories, battlements, a drawbridge, a spiral staircase, and additional fantasy-inspired accessories. It also comes with a comic book that tells the story of how the Oggs discovered the mysterious castle.
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CURIOUS KINGDOM: CASTLE PLAYSET
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Kids can build a multi-level castle with this playset. The seven colorful characters help kids combine hands-on building skills with imaginative, story-based play. The optional, free app adds digital surprises through kid-friendly augmented reality.
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A version of this feature was originally published in The Toy Book’s 2024 Specialty Toys & Gifts Issue. Click here to read the full issue! Want to receive The Toy Book in print? Click here for subscription options!
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The post 14 New Building Sets for Specialty Retailers to Stock this Summer! appeared first on The Toy Book.