Janod has been making toys for 40 years and are well established in their home country, France. They are making a big push into the US this year with their line of attractive wooden toys focused on open-ended play. Here are some of my favorites from the Janod booth as well as other notables from Kid O, Seedling and another newcomer, AppCrayon:
Pictured above is one of Janod's play kitchen (the Chic Maxi). It's a bit more refined looking than most available play kitchens and I think kids will enjoy that the hanging utensils are magnetic. It comes with a pot, pan and oven mitt.
What I especially liked about this little play grill was that it was on wheels so it can do double duty as a walking toy or be wheeled out to the yard for proper summertime grilling.
The Janod rep told me they have a patent on this rocking horse and she pointed out the added safety of the horse's legs having a wide stance. The sides are removable for older children.
Your kids can live out their Roman Holiday fantasies on this adorable wood bike.
Kid O's white and primary colored tip trucks were a hit and they've added airplanes and tug boats. All have rubber wheels for smoother movement. On the right you can see their Free Play Magnatab. Kid O started with alphabet and number versions and are now making it free form.
Kid O is the US distributor for Seedling (NZ) who specializes in art and craft kits like Design Your Own Wood Shield, Make Your Own Snowglobe and this inflatable Color the Earth.
The Toy Industry Associaton's "trend experts" declared toys that work with smart devices and apps one of the year's top trends. The AppCrayon isn't exactly a toy, but a tool for children to use in conjunction with apps on tablets and touch phones. It's a stylus designed to help kids learn the proper way to hold a pen to optimize writing. AppCrayon has been so popular with schools that they're on backorder for a few months.
(Images: Carrie McBride)
MORE TOY FAIR 2012 ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
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• Toy Fair Highlights: Part I
• Toy Fair Highlights: Part II
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Nomade Express Slee...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
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loooove that Janod kitchen - was going to go for the ikea duktig, but I've changed my mind. any idea where, when we can get one?
@alaichoy I'm not sure. They are already available in Europe so it's more a matter of which US buyers ordered them at the tradeshow (or otherwise). You could always contact Janod for help and I'll be sure to keep my eyes open and let readers know when I see them for sale here.
:-) It's the rocking horse my son got for his first birthday. It's funny because I tend to envy you for all the toys you get in the US. Grass is always greener on the other side ;-)
@alaichoy : make sure to check the height of the play kitchen 'cause I saw some Janod ones that were quite small.
That kitchen is much smaller than the IKEA one. We have slanted ceilings in the kids' room in our German apartment and this Janod kitchen fits perfectly, and it has character.
Our daughter is probably on the younger side for a kitchen (17 months) but she loves playing tea party at daycare with the older kids...a smaller kitchen might be perfect for her now and for the small area where her toys are in our townhouse...thanks, all!
And I know that this is a bit silly, but I especially like that it doesn't come with a microwave!
Wondering about the patent on the rocking horse. Looks like a very traditional making and design to me.
You obviously missed this rocking horse http://www.kensington-rocking-horses.co.uk/best-rocking-horse.htm It was in Nuremberg, too ;-) It has got several awards and is the most beautiful and one of the safest rocking horses I know.
Will try to make a clickable link: Europe's Favourite Rocking Horse
Janod is supposed to arrive in April! We will be selling the kitchen and the scooter as well as some of their other items (puzzles and magnetibooks) on Amazon and our website http://www.peachandplum.com/.