Tag Archives: Endless Games

PETRUCELLI PICKS: GIFT GUIDE 2019: THE BEST TOYS & GAMES OF THE YEAR

ThinkFun has  perfect name: They are the world’s leader in brain and logic games, wonders that make you think and have fun. Their gems develop critical skills and builds visual perception and reasoning skills through fun game play. This year we relish Heads Talk Tails Walk, a matching game that’s just as fun for parents as it is for kids.
Can you hop like a frog while clucking like a chicken? The hilarious sounds and movements you have to make to pay make this a great game to play together with your toddler, and a great gift for both parents and children.
We heard that Santa, his missus and 99.7 % of his gnomes howled over Invasion of the Cow Snatchers, whose nifty sci-fi cover promises a game in which players “mooove the magnets”.
The game comes with
a game grid, 60 challenge cards with solutions (that become increasingly difficult as you play through them), 6 magnetic tokens including a UFO, 4 cows, a bull, 9 walls, 1 silo, 5 crop circles and instructions. Got milk?

Players really think when playing Thinking Putty Puzzle in which you connect the same-colored dots by creating same-colored paths of Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty without crossing different colored Thinking Putty paths. It’s unique play experience makes it one of the best gifts for boys and girls ages 8 and older. We promise!


And the Password is . . . “great”.  Based on the famous ’60s TV game show, Endless Games has resurrected and revived the classic TV game show. Teams of two square off to see who can guess the secret password first.
Communicate wisely because players can give only one-word clues . . . the fewer the clues the higher the score.
The game includes 50 Password cards, scoring indicator dial, score pad, 2 “Magic Window” Revealers and Instructions. For game nights, this family friendly game is perfect for kids, teens, and adults.


Get ready to play Endless Games’  AKA, the game that says the things you know but in other words . . . you know, also known as. You’ll guess people, place, and things from words that mean the same thing. Let us tease you: Do you know the Disney movie Also Known As The Tiny Fish Woman or the superhero Also Known As Arachnid Guy? Of course you do: The Little Mermaid and Spider-Man!
The rules are easy to learn and the game is difficult to stop playing. The game is AKA great family fun!


Everyone wishes for the chance to win a bundle on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. But face it: The odds of being chosen for the Big Time is, well, small. So we’re turning over the cards to show you a different way to enjoy the fun. Endless Games has had the brilliance to turn the game shows into card games.
With the Jeopardy! Card Game, each deck plays out like a full episode, complete with Jeopardy!, Double Jeopardy! and Final Jeopardy! rounds. How much will you bet?
Think of this one as a vowel movement. Shuffle the deck and flip your way through the Wheel of Fortune Card Game; then call out a letter and try to solve the puzzle in the puzzle deck. Just look out for that Bankrupt card.
Both make great
party favors, stocking stuffers and travel buddies.
There are also Junior Editions of each card game, ideal for those ages 8-12.


Forget Barbie. Meet Blaire, the 2019 American Girl of the Year. She’s a chef-in-training, party planner and chicken wrangler at her family’s farm and restaurant. The 18-inch doll has bright green eyes that open and close, curly red hair and movable head and limbs. She’s also a fashion doll: Blaire’s favorite dress features a bumblebee print and gathered tie; she has a sunny yellow bandanna bracelet she wears while gardening and there’s a nifty pair of purple platform sandals.
Want more exciting American Girl news? There are now Smart Girl’s Guide Kits made by American Girl. Each includes an advice book, whimsical extras and a mini American Girl Doll.
AMERICAN-GIRL-DOLL-SMART-GIRL-039-S-GUIDE-KIT-SPORTS-AND-FITNESS-NEW-NEVER-USED Our fave (so far) is Sports & Fitness; this kit features: Smart Girl’s Guide: Sports & Fitness book; American Girl water bottle; purple cinch bag; inspirational bracelets and a mini American Girl doll


 

Petrucelli Picks: Gift Guide 2018: The 9 Best Toys & Games of the Year

Crayola crayons were our colorful childhood chums. But oh! The company has colored out of the lines and created dozens (and dozens) of creative creations.
Our two new favorites:
Crayola Silly Scents Sticker Maker
The young (and young-at-heart) can turn virtually anything into a custom sticker. This is a perfect activity at a birthday or craft party. To start creating your own DIY stickers just place an adhesive sheet on the sticker bed and place a magazine picture or the included line art on top.

Slide the handle over the rubber mat and an instant sticker! For scented stickers, simply color your stickers with Silly Scents Markers for a multi-sensory twist. Decorate your devices, book covers, school locker and much more. It includes 10 sheets of perforated line art, 20 sheets of adhesive paper, 6 Silly Scents mini-markers, 3 clear mini Scent Sticks and an instruction sheet.

Crayola Color Chemistry Set for Kids
This kids chemistry set was developed by scientists at Crayola who knew the value of STEM activities.

There are 50 experiments; 16 out-of-the-box experiments and 34 additional science activities inspired by steam and stem learning.


The fun is endless when it comes to the wonderful selection made by Endless Games. This year, our elves had quite the festive times “testing” four new favorites. We promise lots o’ giggles and gusto!

Are you looking for the perfect board game to get your children off the couch or away from video games that gives them an exciting, adventurous way to stay active and healthy? Look no further than The Floor is Lava!, an exciting new interactive floor game that turns any living room, backyard or floor into a “lava jumping adventure”. Designed with colorful, non-slip stepping stone pads, kids and adults can jump, leap and twist their way to safety through physical activity, imagination and pure fun. And remember, don’t touch the floor. Hot indeed!

There’s a trio of card games that we place high on our Top Games List.

Label Horror Trivia under “frightening” and “fun”. In this horror trivia game, challenge yourself and your friends on a wide range of horror themed questions from pop culture. Win by knowing the scariest movie and TV references. There are 150 questions; each correct answer gets a weapon—you’ll need three weapons to win. Do we dare say this is one bloody good adventure?

Another fun card game: Everyone Knows. This gem asks questions… and puts pressure on players. It seems simple: Can you answer questions faster than friends? Everybody Knows - Family Board GameQuick! Who painted the Mona Lisa? What is the “Breakfast of Champions”? Where is the cerebrum? How many you can get right in 60 seconds? This card game for kids and adults comes with 500 playing cards, a sand timer, dry erase marker and scorecard. Boys and girls alike will enjoy this game.

See if you and your friends are thinking the same things with What Comes to Mind? Write down the first thing that comes to mind after reading the card prompts aloud. Think like your competition and score points based on the most matching answers. This is a beginner-friendly card game plays in about 20 minutes and includes 75 Cards, an answer pad, 4 pencils and instructions. What Comes to Mind? Is the perfect solution for birthday parties, party prizes and hard-to-buy-for-.  It is easy to learn with no difficult rules or strategy.


Whenever we think of fun, we check out the nifty new games from ThinkFun.
The engaging logic game is the cat’s meow. Tangled yarn. A missing bird. Which of the six pussy cats was responsible for each Cat Crime? Players learn critical reasoning and logical deduction skills as they solve the 40 increasingly difficult challenges and find the criminal cat. Cat Crimes features a familiar puzzle style where players have to use sequential reasoning to determine the final order and placement of the cats around the dinner table. With a little problem solving you’ll be able to use paw prints, toy placement and other clues to figure out exactly where each Cat was sitting at the time of the crime.

Who say playing in the dark is always scary? Meet Shadows. This is a thrilling, immersive play experience that brings a distinctive twist to game night – you play it in the dark! Tall, looming trees cast shadows all around. Off in the distance you hear a faint rustling sound and your heart begins to race. Could the legend be true? Will you finally discover the creatures who hide in the forest shadows?

One player moves the LED lantern around in search of Shadowlings, mysterious creatures who avoid the light. The lantern illuminates the forest and trees, casting real shadows on the game board. The rest of the players work together, strategically moving their Shadowlings to stay out of the light in this innovative board game for kids and families.

Laser Chess is a two-player strategy game that combines the spatial thinking skills of chess with the high-tech fun of laser beams. Players alternate turns moving their mirrored pieces around the board, and at the end of each turn, players fire a real laser beam from their Laser. The laser beam bounces from mirror to mirror, and if the beam strikes a non-mirrored surface of any piece, it is immediately removed from play.

If you illuminate your opponent’s King – you win. There are five different board set-ups.  Like all of ThinkFun’s games, Laser Chess is built to develop critical thinking skills, like logical and abstract reasoning. Check mate!

Gift Guide 2017: Petrucelli Picks the Best Books, Toys & Games, DVDs and Apps for Kids of the Year

We start a new chapter every time we get to read and cherish a new books. And we read and cherish many every year. It was tough, but we choose these as must-read, must-have for every library.

Walter and the Wallet (Eifrig Publishing, $14.99) Walter Whippingdale is having the worst day of his life. The girl he likes is making googly eyes at another boy in his class. He struck out during recess. He broke his favorite watch. A giant pimple appeared on his nose. And to top it off, he somehow managed to get mustard in his eye at lunch! Walking home from school, his head is hanging low. Which is precisely how Walter spots a wallet lying in the street . . . a wallet bursting with cash. Suddenly, his terrible day is about to change. But how? Cash in on this is a lovely, lyrical tale full of life lessons. 
 
Ralphie, Always Loved (About Something Good , $14.99 or $7.99) will remind you of all that is good, and reaffirm your belief in love’s power to uplift and transform. Anyone who has felt a deep connection with their own beloved pet will find joy, kindness and light in Ralphie’s story; the book is perfect for sharing with little ones as well as friends and family. The cat’s meow! aboutsomethinggood.com/ralphie-always-loved/
 
The Global Warming Express (Terra Nova Books, $14.99) Whoever thought such an important issue could make for a fabulous kid’s book? We have placed the Earth in peril—through pollution, global warming, oil spills and our general disrespect and neglect of the environment. Those who respond first are the animals. There is The Fluff, a penguin; Creamy, a harp seal; Tomás, a black bear; Flora, a polar bear; and Lady Athabasca, a whooping crane, among others. The animals have all suffered from destruction to their habitats and neglect of the environment, and want to do something about it. They jump on a magical train powered by positive thoughts and take off to let others know about the problems Earth’s creatures are facing. This is the perfect book to begin conversations, educate kids and parents, and even help start up school programs in every neighborhood. terranovabooks.com/the-global-warming-express.html
 

Whenever the wind breaks, poor Argyle Fox has a tough time. With his signature style, he wants to play outside on a springtime day, but the wind is wreaking havoc with his fun and games. As soon as he builds a card tower, climbs into a giant spider web, or takes up his pirate sword, here comes the wind: WoooshMama Fox tells grumpy Argyle that if he thinks long enough, he will come up with something to do. Following his mother’s suggestion and inspired by her knitting, he works all the pieces of his day together and creates the perfect solution. Argyle’s story, warmly told in Argyle Fox  (Tanglewood Publishing, $17.99) shows that failure is often a path to success and celebrates perseverance, creative thinking, and an old-fashioned springtime activity. tanglewoodbooks.com/books/picture-books/argyle-fox/

We don’t usually recommend pop-up books for wee ones since inquisitive minds (and hands!) destroy such wondersl We make an exception with The Nutcracker: A Papercut Pop-Up Book (Thames & Hudson, $19.95), knowing parents and grandparents will protect papercut artist Shobhna Patel’s exquisite retelling of Tchaikovsky’s ballet using an entirely new pop-up technique featuring dazzling laser-cut illustrations that will enchant readers young and old. Patel has invented a new paper-engineering technique called the “paperscope,” which is used for the first time in this charming book. The book features four pop-up paperscopes that spring when the reader presses each paperscope down with their hand to reveal the scene hidden within. The effect is one of a magical series of stage sets, recalling the story’s origins as a ballet. Simply magnificent!

Public Media Distribution and PBS Distribution have enough great DVDs to fill 1,367 stockings and appeal to the young (and young-at-heart). Three faves: We loved Miffy’s Adventures Big and Small: Play Date With Miffy, an all-new DVD from the lovable and popular children’s Nick Jr. TV series. Miffy's Adventures Big and Small: Play Date with Miffy! DVDChildren will enjoy watching Miffy and her friends Melanie and Grunty as they embark on adventures and new experiences, sing memorable songs and have fun–all the while learning about kindness, respect, and friendship. Miffy and friends jump in puddles, take a ballet lesson, play hide and seek and much more in these 11 fun-filled playtime adventures. We also loved Wild Kratts: Wild Winter Creatures!Product Details Join Martin Kratt and Chris Kratt as they embark on four snowy winter adventures from their hit PBS KIDS series. Chris and Martin continue to face Zach Varmitech when he kidnaps a polar bear cub and a walrus calf, and again when he threatens to use an entire walrus herd to mine precious pearls for Donita Donata’s fashion line. Entertaining and educational. Super Why: Super Why Sleeping Beauty & OtherSuper Why: Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairytale Adventures takes Super Readers on four classic adventures. You will especially love the Sleeping Beauty segment. The Super Readers travel into the famous story of Sleeping Beauty to speak with a Princess who loves sleeping just as much as Princess Pea loves tea parties!

Disney Book Group has oodles of nifty books for the wee ones. Disney Baby: My First Christmas ($8.99) introduces Baby to the wonders of Christmas with Mickey and friends. From sticky candy canes to fluffy white snow, Baby will delight in the touch and feel elements of this engaging board book. Join Olaf on a fantastic adventure in Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Olaf’s Journey ($12.99), a board book featuring LED lights showing through every page. In The Twelve Days of Christmas ($16.99), Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-Winning Greg Pizzoli’s pitch-perfect humor gives this classic carol new life. As more and more gifts show up in the story, fans of Greg’s previous books will love identifying familiar animals. This hilarious interpretation with festive foil on the cover makes for a perfect holiday gift. When a series of animals come knocking at the door seeking a warm place to sleep, there’s always room for one more! William’s Winter Nap ($17.99) is the perfect read-aloud for a cold winter night. Product DetailsLinda Ashman’s playful rhymes, paired with Chuck Groenink’s irresistible animal illustrations, will have young readers cuddling up to this book with their favorite stuffed animals at bedtime. Celebrate the spirit of the season with Mickey’s Christmas Storybook Treasury ($30), a collectible Mickey & Friends volume featuring four beautifully illustrated Christmas stories:https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e7c92a67158fbb0135a774c5b/images/1cad778d-cefd-4156-9525-251351689192.jpg “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” “Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s Christmas Wish,” “Donald’s Christmas Tree” and “The Gift of the Magi.” Bring home the timeless appeal of Disney storytelling and experience the magic again and again. Who doesn’t love the holidays? Twinkling lights, merry carolers, the smell of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and the alien creature battling your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man? Welcome to the exciting world of Marvel’s Super Hero Adventures!
In Deck the Malls ($4.99), the first book in the series, join Spider-Man and his amazing arachnid ally Spider-Gwen as they take on the alien menace known as Venom. Will Spider-Man outrun Venom before the creature can steal his powers? Spider-Man & Friends: Deck the Malls: An Early Chapter Book (Marvel Chapter Book (eBook)) by [Cadenhead, MacKenzie, Ryan, Sean]Will Spider-Gwen figure out Venom’s weakness before it’s too late? Will the spider-friends save the day in time to finish their holiday shopping? It’s anything but a silent night this festive season.  Art of Coloring: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas ($15.99) These images are ideal for adding your own brand of color and style. https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e7c92a67158fbb0135a774c5b/images/7053b328-bcc2-4153-a166-7d6801496a50.jpgPerfect for cultivating creativity, relaxation, and focus, these pages are filled with artwork evocative of the delightfully frightful world of Jack Skellington.  Six Words Fresh Off the Boat captures hundreds of takes on the immigration experience, from every-day people as well as world-famous celebrities including Aziz Ansari, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Julianne Moore, Mario Batali, George Takei, Neil Gaiman, Amanda Palmer, Billy Collins and Dr. Sanjay Gupta. This book will have you thinking in sixes and challenging others to share six words about their lives.  First premiering on Broadway in November 13, 1997, Disney’s award-winning “Best Musical” The Lion King celebrated its 20th anniversary in November. https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e7c92a67158fbb0135a774c5b/images/21c65265-7a4a-490b-b162-4b1eeff937fb.jpgNow a veteran actor to the musical, Alton Fitzgerald White—the longest running “Mufasa”—reflects on his own life, career, and the rich lore of The Lion King, in My Pride: Mastering Life’s Daily Performance.

Inspired by the iconic series, Kim Smith’s adorable new picture book imagines what Scully and Mulder would be like as children camping out in a backyard filled with strange lights, sounds and… aliens? When it first aired, The X-Files was one of the most popular sci-fi TV shows in American television, lasting nine seasons and two feature films. With 2016’s revival season and production for the 2018 season of The X-Files set to begin this summer, excitement for the series continues to grow.

The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird  (Quirk Books ($18.99) is a great way for parents to share one of their favorite TV shows and the picture book would be a great addition to any Halloween coverage you might be planning.

A bit (get it?) about apps. We know nada. We don’t even own a cell phone! But a very reliable source from way up North tells us about My Town Games, a company that has great and safe apps for kids. My Town: Pets is a purr-fect choice: It allows children to have fun adopting cats, dogs, birds and hamsters, caring for them, taking them to the vet–everything they would do with real pets–which will present the opportunity to learn animal interaction and responsibility that can carry over into their real lives. If they walk their dog at the park’s litter sand area, make sure they don’t just don’t forget to clean up the poop.MyTownPetsScreenShot2 An added bonus is connectivity of My Town games and with shared characters and places that can travel from one game to another, all part of the larger My Town family of apps. Another bonus: My Town: Pets received an endorsement from Kids First!, a program of The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media. So far, there are 22 titles in My Town’s library. Another neat app: My Little Princess: Stores. It allows children to open up a whole new digital dollhouse with new characters to dress up and test out the latest makeup trends and style. Find your characters’ best friend and go pick up food at the supermarket, or plan a party and pick up the items to celebrate with. MyLittlePrincess

 

A trio of great games from (who else) Endless Games.
Name something everyone loves to play. If you said Family Feud, you’ve scored lots of points!Family Feud 40th Anniversary Retro Edition Board Game Endless Games has released this nifty Family Feud 40th Anniversary Retro Edition Board Game, featuring the classic FF home version console. There are more than 500 survey questions, so every family will have ample chances to play . . . again  and again and again. Richard Dawson’s kisses not included.

Remember that TV fave The Gig Short? What about that musical movie A Dorks Stink? No, we are not making typos. Nor are we losing our minds. We are simply having fun with Out of Order, a game in which film, TV, song and book titles are scrambled.  Take away a letter here, add a letter there and in five steps the correct answer is revealed. So: The Gig Short = The Gig Shot = The Gag Shot = The Gang Shot = The Gang Show = The Gong Show. The Dorks Stink = A Dorks Sink = A Dorks Line = A Doris Line = A Chorus Line.  Be the first to unscramble and identify the title to win. 
 
The curtain has risen on series four of the popular Playbill Puzzles, a 1,000-piece jumble featuring Playbill covers of current Broadway plays and musicals.Playbill Broadway Cover Puzzle, 1000 Piece by Endless Games Even Mama Rose would would agree this family fun adventure is coming up roses . . . as long as the pieces fit.
 
Spinmaster continues to break the toy formula with these three marvel must-haves. Do your kids want a pet? A dazzling dog? A curious cat? A grunting guinea pig? Some frivolous fish? If your your apartment rental forbids such a childhood necessary or someone in the family is allergic, fret no more! Bring Zhu Zhu pet hamsters home. This battery-powered facmisle comes in nifty neon colors and the Hamster House Play Set is the perfect place for any Zhu to live. The set comes with an exclusive Winkie hamster and a slide and tunnel, making recreations of scenes from the TV show as A-B-C (or is it Z-H-U?). If he needs companions, add Mr. Squiggles, Roxie, Num Nums and the rest of the gang. Our pet favorite toy this season! 
 

Kids can get ahead with the fun with the Airbrush Styling Studio. Tapping into the trend of online beauty tutorials, the Studio’s innovative cordless airbrush tool and colorful makeup sticks (washable markers) teaches them how to easily apply stylish hair and makeup on your very own model. Use the hair and makeup stencils to recreate your favorite looks from the Lookbook, and customize with gems and eye color stickers. Airbrush colorful highlights and attach the hair extensions wear the extensions in your own hair! Once the Lookbook styles are mastered, design your own using the free play templates and share your amazing Lookbook creations. Then, simply wash off to design all over again. It’s easy to create endless looks just like a real stylist with the Cool Maker Airbrush Styling Studio.

We spend way too much playing with M.A.X., a 12-inch tall advanced robot who is crammed with tons of fun, educational features. Designed for budding engineers and tinkerers 0 years and older, this robot-building kit offers a challenging yet rewarding build consisting of 332 parts. A Wealth of Interactive FeaturesOnce he’s assembled, M.A.X. functions as a friendly robot companion and personal assistant. He engages kids in conversation, learns from every interaction, remembers important dates, and more. He even features a built-in gaming platform. Customizable programming allows kids to personalize M.A.X. to meet their own specifications so that every assembled M.A.X. robot is truly one of a kind. And like all Meccano kits, M.A.X. can be reassembled into a huge variety of other robotics toys.