November 2007 New Toys — Kits

Chalk Factory by SKULLDUGGERY

Using this kit, kids can create colorful sidewalk chalk in six iconic shapes: moon, heart, four-leaf clover, star, circle and triangle. Mix the chalk powder with water, add one or more colors as desired, pour into the shape molds and then draw away. Launch date: Spring 2008. 11/30/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bead Factory – Hearts by SKULLDUGGERY

The Bead Factory Kits come with high quality molds, paint, necklace and bracelet ties and enough Perfect Cast to create 50 beads. The kit allows kids to create their own personalized beads from scratch. Launch date: Spring 2008. 11/30/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Body Box by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

A human kidney, a brain, a heart, an eyeball and a plastic skeleton with removable parts are assembled in this unusual and instructive kit for budding junior biologists. The shapes of all organs are accurately rendered, and an accompanying book is filled with full-color illustrations and descriptions of the human body’s organs and functions, described on a level that is understandable to older children. Launch date: October 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $24.99)

Spooky Fun by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Spooky Fun is a Barron’s Fun Pack that contains everything kids need to become a Spook Buster. The Spooky Fun book tours the haunted house. The illustrations are in sinister, shadowy full color, and they seem to pop off their pages when viewed through the 3-D glasses. Launch date: August 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Pirate Fun by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

This Barron’s Fun Pack features fascinating challenges for kids to meet and overcome as they take part in an adventure on the high seas. Readers of the enclosed color-illustrated Pirate Fun book become members of a pirate crew led by the dastardly Mad Jack Blackheart. The Fun Pack contains everything they need to become pirate captains and succeed in their quest. Launch date: August 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Secrets from the Dragon's World by BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES

A fascinating, color-illustrated book points out the meanings of this kit’s other dragon-related items. In the book, “The Dragon Master’s Tale,” young readers meet a young knight named George and join in on his perilous quest. Launch date: October 2007. 11/27/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Copper-Nickel Set by DOWLING MAGNETS

Each set contains 25 super-small, super-powerful neodymium magnets. From science experiments to magic tricks to random creative play, these magnets present endless opportunities for exploring, experimenting and explaining. 11/5/2007 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Electromagnet by DOWLING MAGNETS

Kids can build a doorbell, a telegraph system and even a catapult, all using a true electromagnet. The kit includes a disc, latch and neodymium magnets, a compass, straws, wires, sandpaper, switch plates, wood screws, nails, light bulbs, battery holders, iron filings, pre-drilled wood blocks, light-emitting diode (LED) and an experiment and project book. 11/5/2007 (Price: $23.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Electric Motor/ Generator Kit by DOWLING MAGNETS

Kids can explore electricity by building a motor/generator that actually powers a light bulb. The kit includes a disc, latch and neodymium magnets, a compass, wire, sand paper, a spring, paper clips, a pre-drilled wood block, iron cores, nuts, nails, screws, bolts, light emitting diode (LED), plastic plates and tubes and an experiment and project book. 11/5/2007 (Price: $23.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magnet Levitation Kit by DOWLING MAGNETS

Kids can learn about equilibrium and magnetic fields while constructing a gravity-defying train. The kit includes a disc, ring, latch and neodymium magnets, standard and hi-force magnetic strips, plastic guide rails, a compass, iron filings, wood blocks, nails and an experiment and project book. 11/5/2007 (Price: $23.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bubble Experiment Lab by TOYQUEST

This kit introduces kids to physics and chemistry through fun with bubbles. The Lab features a battery-powered fan and smoke generator which allow kids to create smoke filled bubbles, bubbles inside of bubbles, square bubbles and more. 10/2/2007 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fashion Design Studio by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

This designer-set features a mannequin, sewing materials, a sketch book, yards of fabric, a swatch booklet, trims, a satin dress form, a garment bag and a design manual. Kids can decorate the dress included or create their own dream designs. “This product taps into the energy generated by television shows, such as ‘Project Runway,’ and excites tweens to try out their fashion design skills. The thoughtfulness that went into the selection of materials in the kit makes it ideal for the specialty market,” Lisa Ritchey of Faber-Castell told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2007.
— Terry Meyers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, told TDmonthly that her store “sells several dozen” of this item each month.
— “They're all inclusive and that's attractive to customers because they don't need to go out and buy a whole bunch of other supplies,” said John Goehring, owner of The Toyworks in Santa Rosa, Calif., of his top-selling Creativity for Kids crafts in late 2008.
— Thirteen percent of 44 retailers listed fashion-related kits as top-selling crafts in fall 2008. 9/28/2007 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puchi Petite Collections – Cupcake Creations by RE-MENT INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Each hand-carved, miniature model is crafted to fine detail, such as the cupcake that is missing a bite. (In a different set, the steak has grill marks that match the grill.) Other sets include Cookie Cutouts and Happy Birthday, all of whose contents can be mixed and matched. Launch date: August 2006. 9/27/2007 (Price: $3.99)

Tornado Maker by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Create and watch an F1, F2, F3, F4 or F5 tornado form right before one’s eyes in one’s very own room. Lightning and thunderous tornado sounds are built-in. The kit also comes with a 35-page fun and fact booklet. 9/27/2007 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ScienceWiz™ - Energy: Join the Race to Save the Planet by SCIENCE WIZ / NORMAN & GLOBUS INC.

Both educational and fun, this kit addresses the global climate crisis and calls kids to action. The kit includes lab materials and a book written by Ph.D. scientist Penny Norman. A supercapacitor, a solar cell, two motors, an electric car, a flywheel generator and pure hydrogen are among the many materials included. 9/27/2007 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Your Tooth Fairy Pillow Kit by WHITEPIGEON ENTERPRISES LLC

If you like to sew, you can make the Your Tooth Fairy Pillow™ yourself and save money. The well planned kit includes everything you need – pillow, bows, brush, label, letter – but customizing is up to you! 9/11/2007 (Price: $15.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

DeLuxe Snap Rover SCROV-50 by ELENCO

With this deluxe version, kids can build their own RC Snap Rover using the colorful Snap Circuits parts that come with the kit. There is no soldering required; all the parts simply snap together with ease. Once the Snap Rover is completed, kids can navigate their surroundings with the easy-to-use remote control. The Deluxe features a disc shooter, a digital voice recorder, music sounds, a wireless microphone and more than 20 other experiments.
— "The Deluxe Snap Rover comes with remote control and can be navigated both forward and backward. It all snaps together with ease and comes with a full assembly manual,” said Walter Larsen, national sales manager for Elenco. 9/6/2007 (Price: $99.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mini Marker Set by LOEW-CORNELL INC.

This 22-piece set includes a 100-sheet, 4” x 6” sketch book and 20 mini markers in a brightly colored canvas wrap case. It has “a ‘real artist feel’ in terms of presentation and supplies,” Shirley Miller, director of education and public relations for Loew-Cornell, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2007. 8/29/2007 (Price: $9.99)

80-Piece Art Kit by LOEW-CORNELL INC.

This colorful 80-piece set includes 20 crayons, 16 markers, 12 watercolor cakes, 14 mini color pencils, 12 oil pastels, one glue, one drawing pencil, one pencil sharpener, one palette and one paintbrush. “[This set] includes oil pastels, which are often not found in smaller (100-piece or less) children’s art kits. Oil pastels produce rich vivid color and can be used to create more complicated pieces,” Shirley Miller, director of education and public relations for Loew-Cornell, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2007. 8/29/2007 (Price: $6.99)

Pet Pals You Can Draw: The Amazing Step-by-Step Art Card Studio by STERLING PUBLISHING CO.

Illustrated cards included in this set guide children through each step in creating a complete picture; each new stroke is displayed in a contrasting color. Kids can then flip the card to try drawing the picture from a different perspective or pose. Subjects include fish, dogs, rabbits, snakes and more. Each kit includes 32 double-sided cards, eight colored pencils, a 64-page drawing pad and a pencil sharpener. The box features front magnetic closure. “We have a product that provides great kit components along with a strong, fully realized editorial vision,” Associate Publicist Meaghan E. Finnerty of Sterling Publishing told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2007. 8/29/2007 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Zoo Buddies You Can Draw: The Amazing Step-by-Step Art Card Studio by STERLING PUBLISHING CO.

Illustrated cards included in this set guide children through each step in creating a complete picture; each new stroke is displayed in a contrasting color. Kids can then flip the card to try drawing the picture from a different perspective or pose. Subjects include bears, chimpanzees, pandas, penguins and more. Each kit includes 32 double-sided cards, eight colored pencils, a 64-page drawing pad and a pencil sharpener. The box features front magnetic closure. “Using an easy, no-erase approach, our art cards eliminate the frustration kids feel when they have to go back and erase guide lines to finish their drawings,” Associate Publicist Meaghan E. Finnerty of Sterling Publishing told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2007. ( Watch Video) 8/29/2007 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wizardology Code-Writing Kit by CANDLEWICK PRESS

Ideal for aspiring wizards, this kit contains code-making instructions, 16 sheets of notepaper, 16 envelopes, six postcards and two sheets of stickers. It allows individuals to communicate with other apprentices of Wizardology by using mysterious codes. “The OLOGY code-writing kits capitalize on the unrelenting popularity and demand for the bestselling children's book series. These are surefire hits in the toy market,” Tracy Miracle of Candlewick Press told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2007. 8/29/2007 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pirateology Code-Writing Kit by CANDLEWICK PRESS

From the sea chest of Captain William Lubber, this code-writing and deciphering kit contains code-making instructions, 16 sheets of notepaper, 16 envelopes, six postcards and two sheets of stickers. It allows individuals to unscramble piratical codes in order to make the seas safer. Launch date: November 2007. 8/29/2007 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Egyptology Code-Writing Kit by CANDLEWICK PRESS

Each kit contains code-making instructions, 16 sheets of notepaper, 16 envelopes, six postcards and two sheets of stickers. This one is assembled from the desk of missing explorer and amateur Egyptologist Emily Sands, and it allows other fans of Egyptology to communicate using hieroglyphics, which comes in hand when sharing secret discoveries. Launch date: November 2007. ( Watch Video) 8/29/2007 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dragonology Code-Writing Kit by CANDLEWICK PRESS

This kit from the desk of dragonologist Ernest Drake contains code-making instructions, 16 sheets of notepaper, 16 envelopes, six postcards and two sheets of stickers. It comes with a key for deciphering dragon scripts and secrets as to how dragonologists can successfully communicate with a variety of dragon species. Launch date: November 2007. 8/29/2007 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]