June 2008 New Toys — Educational

Qubits Construction Toy - Junior 96-Piece Kit by QUBITS TOY COMPANY

The 96-piece kit contains 36 Qubits, 30 connectors and 30 bridges. The educational set’s easy-slide connectors slip into place, keeping the structures strong and steady. All designs touch on architecture, structure and basic concepts of geometry. Launch date: May 2008.
— "My husband came home to find [our four children] immersed in fabricating various projects and was so intrigued that he spent 30 minutes building with them," said Teresa Wilson, a reviewer among the five families that evaluated this product for a TDmonthly Roundtable. ( Watch Video) 4/4/2008 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

YogaLand! The Australian Adventure by YOGA INSPIRATIONS

The DVD features the exclusive “yoga moment,” aerobic fitness and yoga poses, calming games and songs, an educational story and sense of adventure, parent/teacher instructions and testimonials. The Australian-themed DVD, led by certified teacher and yoga instructor Diane Cline runs 45 minutes long. It places a focus on mind, body, breathing and imagination, and teaches children Australian-themed yoga poses such as kangaroo, koala and bird. The video offers parents a powerful tool to engage children in the benefits of exercise with yoga told through story and techniques to help children calm down and focus. This item is a 2008 Parents' Choice Award, Creative Child Magazine's Preferred Choice Award, a Dr Toy Award and the Film Advisory Board's Award of Excellence winner. 4/3/2008 (Price: $19.95)

Conduction Experiment by PACIFIC SCIENCE SUPPLIES INC.

Conduction Experiment feature constructing a “conduction tester” and explores the conduction of electricity. Kit contains: 2 battery holders, bulb holder, light bulb, alligator connector cords, and sample pack. Packaged in bright, colorful PacSci packaging. 4/2/2008

Molecular Model Set by PACIFIC SCIENCE SUPPLIES INC.

Do you want to see what water looks like? How about carbon dioxide? The Molecular Model Set is an excellent way to visualize organic and inorganic compounds and gain a better understanding of the actual structure of complex molecules. Set includes a sturdy wooden storage case, connecting springs, 35 colored balls and an experiment guide. 4/2/2008

Newtonian Demonstrator by PACIFIC SCIENCE SUPPLIES INC.

The Newtonian Demonstrator is excellent for demonstrating Newton’s Third Law of Motion and the principle of Conservation of Momentum.  The unique design provides for better results and stability.  Instruction manual included. 4/2/2008

Exploring Bubbles by PACIFIC SCIENCE SUPPLIES INC.

Playing with bubbles is always a favorite activity. But did you know there is science involved? Exploring Bubbles sets out to teach how this fun activity is a great physics lesson. The kit allows soap films and bubbles on metal frames to be studied, showing that a soap film always adopts a configuration with the least surface area, and also allows a simple measurement of the surface tension of water. PacSci’s Exploring Bubbles kit includes a 16.5 cm diameter trough for soap solution, six different metal frames for making and manipulating bubbles, and a metal ring and sensitive spring scale for the surface tension measurement. A detailed experiment guide is included. 4/2/2008

Exploring Optics by PACIFIC SCIENCE SUPPLIES INC.

Explore the science of light and the physics of how light works with mirrors, lenses and prisms. No matter how complicated a camera, a telescope, or a microscope is, it consists of one or more of these basic elements. The experiments in this kit will help you understand their principles. PacSci’s Exploring Optics kit includes a laser, acrylic mirror, equilateral prism, cylindrical double concave and convex lenses, 4 cards and experiment guide. 4/2/2008

Baby Shakespeare – World of Poetry by BABY EINSTEIN

Babies will learn 12 common words, while discovering the sound of poetry. The DVD combines poetry with puppet shows, funny sound effects, colorful images and the music of Beethoven. The DVD features repeat play, Spanish, French and English language tracks, discovery cards, puppet shows and a toy chest. This item is intended for children over the age of six months. 3/31/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

World Animals – A Musical Safari by BABY EINSTEIN

The music-filled DVD introduces babies to lions, tigers, dolphins, fish and more from all over the world’s different environments. Babies will be taken on an adventure that blends wildlife footage with puppet shows, colorful images and classical music. The DVD features repeat play, Spanish, French and English language tracks, discovery cards, puppet shows and a toy chest. This item is intended for children over the age of six months. 3/31/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

V.Smile™ V-Motion™ by VTECH

The motion-activated video game plugs directly into television sets. It offers lesion in basic math, reading, science, spelling and more. The wireless, motion-activated controller is even adaptable to both right- and left-handed play. Launch date: August 2008. 3/28/2008 (Price: $69.99)

Grow-A-Head™ Bugs by SOURCING INTERNATIONAL LLC

The “bug” comes complete with a “seeded head,” small vase, instructions and educational facts about photosynthesis and plant growth. The “hair” sprouts in just five to seven days, lasts for months and can be styled. The collection includes a butterfly, bee, ladybug and grasshopper. Launch date: February 2008. 3/28/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Tell All by SUPERFROG GAMES

Everyone has a story. This is a chance to get to know family, friends and new friends. Maybe someone has 11 siblings or was in a flood or owns a copyright or saw a president up close. Your whole group will love Tell All. The game includes 99 questions of big and small events such as "Have you ever fallen off a horse?" Or "Ever won a beauty contest". This is a great mixer for small to large groups and can be played with any number of players. 3/28/2008 (Price: $12.00)

Soups On by SUPERFROG GAMES

Our sensitive chef is experiencing a range of emotions as he puts together 14 different soups. The crab is pinching his nose, the chicken doesn't want to go in the pot, the celery is stalking him and the tomato is flirting with him. The ingredients are all here for a simple but fun, fast moving game similar to rummy and bingo.

The deck includes 14 ingredients for soup plus the measurements required. First player to collect all of their ingredients wins the game.

3 to 20 players 3/28/2008 (Price: $18.00)

Lucky Dog by SUPERFROG GAMES

This is a simple but lively game. Each player takes a turn by first declaring which number he is going to roll the dice for. He holds up that card and then rolls. If the number is matched he can continue on to another number. If there is no match the dice is passed on. First to have all six numbers wins the game.

2 to 10 players 3/28/2008 (Price: $10.00)

Grocery Shopping by SUPERFROG GAMES

Everyone has a grocery list of five items to complete in this game. A roll of the dice determines where the miniature shopping basket will land. If the shopping basket lands on carrots and the player has that on their list, they mark it off. Managers specials keep the game interesting. Manager specials turn up from time to time such as "Produce man has gone bananas. All bananas are free today". Anyone with bananas on their list can mark it of. An easy and fun game for all.

3 to 20 players 3/28/2008 (Price: $16.00)

Puzzleball® - Junior World Map by RAVENSBURGER

The kid-friendly, 3D-puzzle globe is composed of curved pieces that fit together perfectly to form a solid, smooth ball without any need for glue. The 96-piece puzzle measures 5” in diameter when assembled.
— Ravensburger's puzzle balls are selling well for David Hesel, owner of The Toy Shop in Concord., Mass. "We just got a 5' one, which we just put into our window," he said in March 2008, adding that the store has sold 100 puzzle balls since January.
— Nancy Bloomberg, owner of La Toys Etcetera in Cedarhurst, N.Y., was impressed with Ravensburger puzzles at Toy Fair 2008 and recently bought “individual pieces in a new buying program,” she told TDmonthly. “Our area is heavily populated with orthodox Jews so it's important to have non-electronic toys; a focus on games, building and puzzles is generally very strong.”
— Three of 32 retailers said in October 2008 they anticipate the Puzzleball to be one of the best-selling toys for the holidays. “Puzzles are a great niche for us,” said Michele and Ken Gietz of Where’d You Get That!? in Williamstown, Mass., when discussing their best sellers in fall 2008. Ravensburger is among the various brands of puzzles their store stocks for both children and adults. ( Watch Video) 3/27/2008 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The SENSEsational Alphabet Cards by SENSESATIONAL ALPHABET

Multi-Sensory learning perfect for typical and special needs. This fun and engaging card set lets your child feel the different textures of the Horse and Lizard, smell the distinctive aromas of Apples and Roses, and much, much more! Learn the entire alphabet and many beginning words in Sign Language and Braille. 3/27/2008 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wise Alec™ by GRIDDLY GAMES INC.

Wise Alec is the new highly interactive party and family fun game from Griddly Games. The game is entertaining as well as educational and is tailor-made for family game nights. Wise Alec is filled with challenging questions for the young and old. This stimulating trivia game takes you back to everything you learned in grade school. With over 1,000 questions covering a wide range of interesting topics like history, science and spelling, this game is guaranteed to entertain time and time again. Each card features both easy and hard questions – great for leveling the playing field between big and little kids. The second edition of Wise Alec features updated questions, new packaging and a new game board. ( Watch Video) 3/27/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Andy's Airplanes Episode 1 by ANDY'S AIRPLANES

Andy Meets the Blue Angels is the first in the series of Andy and his best friend Yaygrr the black footed ferret as they travel the world to meet new kids and learn about history, geography, culture, science and of course about aviation. Andy’s Airplanes company mission is to “teach kids without ever having them feel like they are learning”. Episode 1 finds Andy meeting The Blue Angels and learning about Aircraft carriers. Episode 2, coming summer of 08 will have Andy going to Hawaii to learn about volcanoes and Hawaiian culture. 3/27/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Amazing Air by THE TESTOR CORP

Ideal for personal, family, group and classroom fun, Testors Activity Sets pack quality, value and convenience into one-stop solutions for countless creative pastimes. Amazing Air lets individuals put a personal stamp on everything from models and diecast cars to skateboards, helmets and school projects. In hip silver packaging, the set includes an easy-to-use airbrush, a can of propellent, five cool colors of acrylic paints, a “flames” stencil and a Project Idea Booklet. “From the world leader in hobby and craft painting systems, Testors® Amazing Air is the ideal starter set for creative air-painting fun,” David Veres, in advertising and public relations for The Testor Corp., told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2008. 3/26/2008 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by HASBRO INC.

Part of Playskool’s Noodleboro line and packaged with an audio CD and 24-page storybook, this game for two to four players helps children practice saying “please” and “thank you” as they gather goods for a picnic. Lack of manners could result in a swarm of ants ruining the picnic. Launch date: Fall 2008. 3/26/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dog Party Fun Book by ANIMAL WOW ENTERTAINMENT INC.

Filled with party ideas, 11 safety tips, games, activities, important lessons on pet care and a certificate, this 24-page book was created to motivate kids to learn and practice good pet care. Four of the pages are designed to help grownups turn fun moments into valuable lessons. 3/26/2008 (Price: $5.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Stonees by ZABAZOO CORPORATION

The 50-piece set of composed of building blocks that are colorful, easy to use and rock-like contoured for an alternative to traditional wooden blocks or plastic pieces that stick together. Children will enhance their fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving abilities, creative concept thought and imagination, while also applying an underlying eco-awareness. A 150-piece set is also available. 3/25/2008 (Price: $19.99)

Little Pim: Foreign Language and Fun, Vol. 1 Eating and Drinking (Spanish) by LITTLE PIM CO.

The DVD contains five-minute shorts starring a lovable, animated panda named Little Pim who, along with live-action kids, teaches very young kids food related vocabulary. It also teaches them and how to express needs such as "I'm hungry" and "I'm thirsty" by pairing words with action. The DVD is specially designed for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. “Available in Spanish, French, Chinese and ESL, the three-disc series teaches young children nearly two hundred vocabulary words and phrases for such everyday activities as playtime, bedtime and mealtime,” Heide Hendricks of Little Pim Co. told TDmonthly. This product won a 2008 iParenting Media Award. Launch date: November 2007. 3/25/2008 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Earth2 by REPLOGLE GLOBES

The square globe is designed specially for kids. The map cube comes with a stand, but can be detached from it and used in a game of throw and catch. The globe is fun, educational and portable. Launch date: February 2008. 3/25/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]