November 2008 New Specialty Toys — Educational

Developed from the ROBOTIX Parts Catalog exclusively from www.roboticsandthings.com is a replica of the Mars Spirit and Mars Opportunity Rovers. Based upon the actual designs with schematics and diagrams from NASA, an instruction Manual and other collateral materials have been created for this set.

The Robot Inventor's Workshop Kit was originally marketed in a 4-Color Box that has been replaced with a kid-friendly Heavy-Duty PVC Zipper Bag for easy storage of the ROBOTIX Motor, Controller and Parts.  The Handbook is professionally printed with a 4-Color Cover and Black & White Pages full of diagrams and robotic instructional programs.  The 23-Parts include a Low-Speed Motor, a Black 1-Switch Controller with Easy-Opening Clip, ROBOTIX Arms in both 50mm and 100mm length in 2-different colors and ROBOTIX Connectors in Black.

Safari offers over 80 high quality educational posters that cover a wide variety of themes. We have everything from dinosaurs and evolution, endangered wildlife, vanishing rainforests, climate change, conservation of the oceans, the solar system, minerals and much more. Posters are 24” x 36” in size; ideal for any classroom use. Educational information in 5 languages is provided on many of our posters. We offer them laminated for extended use and protection against dirt and water spills.

Safari offers over 80 high quality, educational posters that cover a wide variety of themes. We have everything from dinosaurs and evolution, endangered wildlife, vanishing rainforests, climate change, conservation of the oceans, the solar system, minerals and much more. Posters are 24” x 36” in size; ideal for any classroom use. Educational information in 5 languages is provided on many of our posters. We also offer them laminated for extended use and protection against dirt and water spills.

This game allows children to practice creating singular from plural words and vice-versa. It goes over eight rules for making words plural, strengthening both oral and written language skills.

Kids can use this kit to build a working wind turbine to harness power out of thin air. Wind is one of the most promising sources of clean, renewable energy available today. During the experiments, kids will learn the physics of force and motion as it applies to wind power technology. The kit includes a full-color, 32-page experiment manual that offers illustrated instructions for 20 experiments and scientific information. Kids will build a working wind turbine, harnes mechanical energy to lift weights and more.
— “I’m featuring science kits that teach kids about the environment or renewable energy, such as the Thames and Kosmos Wind Power and the Fuel Cell X7,” said Michelle Smith of Piccolo Mondo Toys in Portland, Ore., of this good seller in her store.

Learning multiplication facts and related lessons is now a truly exciting game. Students begin at the appropriate level: beginning, intermediate or advanced. There is a practice section to work on specific multiplication problems. Then the student builds skills while playing challenging games such as; baseball, long jump, basketball or bowling. Each of these games has 11 levels of play.

Designed for students of all ages who need to develop or review basic Language Arts and Reading Comprehension skills. The course features Sports-inspired “Coach” led tutorials, Learn the Words sessions, and adrenaline-charged, fun-filled games to make learning a true journey. Students will master syllables, spelling, word families, and the entire range of topics. Winner of Computers for Youth Family Learning Software Award 2008.

Beginning reading and math builds the foundation for success with this content-packed interactive program. Includes 11 sing-a-long songs and 15 two-level activities to teach children letter names, numbers, phonics, basic addition and more. The Super Star System gives students an incentive to repeat an activity until a gold star is awarded. Winner of a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Zillio has 12 colorful staircases based upon multiplication tables. The visual and tactile relationships between steps enable kids to discover and master difficult math concepts as they learn and play with 10 essential math skills. Mega Zillio is the larger version of the Mini Zillio. It handles numbers up to 60, and measures 27" x 27" x 12". It does everything the Mini does but can have up to 6 players at a time and the same games included require more challenging play and problem solving to come out on top.

Zillio has 12 colorful staircases based upon multiplication tables. The visual and tactile relationships between steps enable kids to discover and master difficult math concepts as they learn and play with 10 essential math skills.  Mini Zillio handles numbers up to 36, and measures 18" x 18" x 8", compared to Mega Zillio's 27" x 27" x 12.5". For up to 4 players at a time.
Awards: 2010 Tillywig Brain Child

This 19-track album is specially created to get kids moving while also aiding the learning process. It features original music by Don and Laurie Monopoli of the Learning Station, both of whom collaborated with Dr. Becky Bailey of Loving Guidance Inc. on the lyrics. Stop-and-go activities boost attention spans, songs for breathing and stretching help relieve stress, and "connecting songs" improve impulse control skills. Tracks include "Itsy Ditsy Spider," "Boogie Rock," "Watch Me Listen" and "It's a Marvelous Day." "Music and movement is part of every young child's life. Why not make those movements into brain-boosting experiences that help those little brains grow?" asked Laurie Monopoli, educational coordinator for The Learning Station. This CD received a 2008 CD of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine, as well as a 2008 Directors' Choice Award. It was also named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products and 10 Best Audio-Video Products for 2008. The album is available on the company's website in both CD and downloadable formats. Both include a 20-page booklet with lyrics, movements and brain-boosting activities. Launch date: May 15, 2008.

Set imaginative gears in motion with this colorful and durable puzzle. Children can challenge themselves by setting interlocking gears into different logical and creative patterns on the puzzle board. Includes 48 gears and 30 interlocking gear pegs. Helps develop logic and creative thinking skills for 3 dimensional systems and geometric patterns.

This 40 page, full color book with all materials except common items & 1.5 volt battery contains 25 activities for children 6 to 12. Decode words and secret messages with mirror magic. Visit the incredible world of the invisible. Light wands, rainbow glasses, shadow capture paper, spinning and mixing colors, and molding lenses are FUN! Nurtures a love of science with carefully crafted projects that work.

This science book comes with materials included for 24 activities. Through rocketry and a classic set of favorite projects, Motion explores the central concepts of physics. This kit is packed with parts, including a beautiful, precision, brass colored balance scale to measure mass, a hover puck, a jet car that really zooms, the components to make your own spring meter, an accurate to 1/100 of a second stop watch to clock speed, velocity and acceleration and the tubes, stoppers and inflation needle to launch both water rockets and baking soda rockets. Each project has been refined, through years of testing and feedback, into age appropriate fun.

Read and learn a foreign language with Nicholas, the loveable puppy. Inside the Adventures with Nicholas Book & Plush Toy Set, you’ll find the Five Crayons bilingual imaginative storybook, lovable characters and engaging illustrations, along with a read-along, sing-along audio CD and a soft, adorable Nicholas toy doll. Adventures with Nicholas Book & Toy Set is also available in French.

JUMBULAYA is an award-winning, multi-faceted word strategy game in which players rearrange, add, and trade tiles on the board to build and claim longer and longer words each turn. As players build words horizontally, they also look for a Jumbulaya - a word of seven or more tiles that can be seen vertically on the game board. "Jumbulaya is a word strategy game where players need to THINK ON MULTIPLE LEVELS simultaneously," said Karl Archer, CEO and cofounder of Platypus Games. "It incorporates strategy into the game play, as players are able to add, as well as remove, tiles from the board and think many moves ahead in order to try to win." It has won a 2008 Mensa Select Gold Seal and iParenting Media Award. Launch date: 12/15/2007.

This healthy feeding guide for toddler 1 to 3 years old focuses on personality tendencies, tricks for picky eaters, recipes, food and environmental safety, and shopping suggestions. "This product provides innovative comprehensive easy to use information," said Christina E. Schmidt, president of Baby Bistro Brands. Launch date: 09/01/2005.

This healthy feeding guide for infants 0 to 12 months discusses nutritional needs, how to feed baby, recipes, shopping tips and safety guidelines. "This set represents an innovative organization of complete information into easy-to-use cards," said Christina Schmidt M.S., N.E., president of Baby Bistro Brands. Launch date: 09/01/2001.

This kit includes a 40 page science book and enough contents to participate in 18 activities. All materials are included except for a D-cell battery. The kit has step-by-step, highly visual instructions and child appropriate materials designed for young children to work independently.
— John Blair, owner of Science Safari in Cary, N.C., told TDmonthly in a September 2011 survey that they sell 6-8 of these kits each month. "We really like them and we push them,” he said. 

An unassuming colored dome a little bit larger than an egg, the zOrb packs powerful magnification once plugged in by simple USB connection. This tiny microscope zooms the viewer in from 35 to 53x magnification depending on the size of the computer screen. Focus can be refined by twisting the top half of the zOrb one way or the other, and pictures can be easily captured for later use. Also takes video footage. Includes software on CD, two base adaptors, and instruction manual. USB cable attached.

This colorful DVD shows how to write all "contemporary cursive" upper and lowercase letters in cursive, tips to remember letter connections, reminders on correct pencil grips and posture, and colorful graphics to not only show how the letters are written but to introduce cursive sight words to help children learn to read cursive writing. The DVD has received the following awards: 2008 Toy Man Seal of Approval and Editor's Choice Award, Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2008, 2008 Parents' Choice Approved Award, and 2008 Preferred Product Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: Summer 2008.

This nationally acclaimed DVD, teaches children to write upper and lowercase manuscript letters on lined paper, teaches ways to remember the proper pencil grip, introduces the children to letter sounds and 100+ sight words to develop early reading skills, and even provides tips on how to avoid letter reversals! It includes fun drawing breaks using letters to keep kids interested.

Think Green! is a wonderfully illustrated children’s book about simple ways kids (and adults) can help keep Earth clean and safe for all people, animals, fish and birds. It’s a fun book with easy-to-grasp everyday ideas, includes a page to personalize characters and new green ideas, and is a great gift idea for schools, libraries, non-profit fundraising and corporations. Several of the illustrations show website addresses of green-thinking resources. Think Green! is the "first children's book in history to have it's own eco-audit ... an environmental benefits statement explaining the resources saved by printing Think Green! on recycled/post consumer paper vs. virgin fiber," Jeanine Behr Getz, managing director and author for Kids Think Big, told TDmonthly. This book received a Dr. Toy 2008 Summer Vacation Award. Launch date: April 10, 2008.