June 2010 New Specialty Toys — Educational

This is a game of collaboration, learning and discussion full of strategy, with each player making an important contribution. Set in 1895, players are a group of peaceful Christian villagers in Russia who drive wagons through the countryside, visiting homes to collect firewood and weapons for the building of ploughshares in the village center, all while avoiding confiscation and imprisonment by the Tsar's patrolling soldiers. The game includes a 17" x 17" board, special playing cards, movers, dice, collection chart, wagons, and rules for regular and advanced games.

“The Money Savvy Kids Club” children’s book series are co-written by financial literacy expert Susan Beacham and bestselling author Lynnette Khalfani-Cox. Through four funny and engaging stories in these smart and creative illustrated picture books, a group of childhood friends learn that there are actually four things you can do with money: Save, Spend, Donate or Invest. Money Savvy Generation Director of Operations and Marketing Melinda Voelcker told TDmonthly, "These books address the challenging topic of money choices, but in a fun and age-appropriate manner that kids can understand and that parents can use to help begin a conversation about money with their kids. Topics include: how to earn money, saving for a goal, what is a donation and how you can donate, what home foreclosure means and compound interest."

The Money Savvy Kids @Home Kit is a starting point to teach a child how to get smart about money. Included is the award-winning Money Savvy Pig, Cow or Football bank, Parent Handbook, eight-chapter CD-ROM (100+ images) with four sing-along songs, Student Workbook, 22-page Coloring & Activity book, and a Money Poem poster. The lessons explore the history of money, where money comes from, the importance of earning money and the four basic money choices: Save, Spend, Donate and Invest.

The Feelings Storybook is a sensitive and heartfelt book for children of all ages that can act as an assessment tool for emotional growth. This book is interactive and contains 32 pages with full-color illustrations. It is ideal for the developing reader and features a 22-minute companion CD narrated by the author/psychologist, Dr. Alexandra Delis-Abrams.

Messages consists of three games for those who love playing with words and ideas. Players must express their cleverness, creativity and sense of humor by using symbol tokens to form picture phrases and sentences, known as rebuses. Players pool their ideas to make rebuses to fill the board, red spots add challenges, and each game played is a different experience. The package includes a 7.75" x 7.5" board, 100 symbol tokens, a glossary of suggested meanings, rules and a storage bag.

The adventure scenarios in this game are the actual journeys of such explorers as Marco Polo, Nansen, Scott, Drake and Cook. Players pick a journey, make preparations, assemble crews and venture forth together, each handling different aspects of the expedition. The package includes an 18" x 22" world map board, dice, a land and sea log of adventures, money, crew cards and assorted charts. Jim Deacove, president of Family Pastimes, told TDmonthly this product is "an educational eye-opener about the life of explorers — a good family and classroom game."

The award-winning ABC Feelings Activity/Flash Card set contains 26 cards with full-color illustrations and a feeling word for each letter. Each card has a line drawing on the back, a definition of the feeling, a story and interesting activities relating to that feeling. With six activities per card, this set is ideal for preschool age and up, in home or classroom, group or one on one. Instructions are included in the easy to use carrying package. Vice President of ABC Feelings Gene Abrams told TDmonthly, "These 7.5" x 8.75" cards are interactive and multicultural, fun and easy to use, resulting in enhanced communication and understanding of feelings."

In this game, the seven pieces start as an ink blot to be carefully rearranged to make animals, faces, letters, numbers, birds, ships, and more. A booklet of 60 silhouetted shapes to try is included, as well as rules for a cooperative game. It can be played alone or in a group. President of Family Pastimes Jim Deacove told TDmonthly this product is "for the clever, the imaginative, the creative!"

Early Years are four cooperative card games for the younger ages. Each game is designed to nurture and encourage a blend of close observation, communication, imagination, and some academic, social and memory skills in a non-threatening, self-esteem-building atmosphere. The pack includes four sets of 35 cards each: a “domino” word game, an animal memory game, a number/math skills game, and a storytelling game. Jim Deacove, president of Family Pastimes, told TDmonthly Early Years is "a big bargain with lots of play value, and just plain fun to play! Special group game rules are included for accommodating as many as 36 players."

Roman Town lets the player be an archaeologist and manage a team of diggers while learning about archaeological techniques and uncovering ancient objects. Graphics rendered in 3D let players explore Roman buildings and immerse themselves in Roman history. One can put pots together, exercise puzzle skills with fun mini-games, and find out what archaeologists really do. President of Dig-It Games Suzi Wilczynski told TDmonthly, "Roman Town is unique, educational and, most importantly, lots of fun!"
Awards: The Tillywig Brain Child Award; NAPPA Honors; The National Parenting Center 2010 Seal of Approval; Creative Child 2010 Game of the Year Award; Dr Toy’s Best Vacation Product; five 2010 Life Buzz Parent-to-Parent awards.

The Grasshopper Preschool Prep Getting Our Hands Ready Kit is packed with playful games and an illustrated guidebook to get children ready for early writing and grasp. Children can feed bugs to Mr.Crunch, play with dozens of reusable stickers, dough stamps, stretchy dough, and more. The Grasshopper guidebook gives parents the tools they need to give their children a head start for school success. Rachel Rudman, President of Grasshopper Inc., told TDmonthly this is "the only product on the market to get kids ready for preschool without electronics and without workbooks ... all fun!"
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010

JumpStart Pet Rescue contains five Discovery worlds where preschoolers navigate through five stories in a search for lost pets. Each Discovery world contains a guided story told by one of the JumpStart friends, leading children on a learning adventure through more than 50 learning lessons and 20 activities that teach kids more than 75 essential skills they need to succeed. As kids progress through the adventures, they improve their pre-reading skills, memory, creativity, motor skills, listening and much more. This imaginative and immersive 3D learning environment is designed to offer hours of exploration and adventure. James Czulewicz, Vice President of Sales and Planning at Knowledge Adventure, told TDmonthly this item is the "first educational product for the Wii."

This 7.5" x 6.5" plush representation of the seminal vesicle gland could make a great gift for prostate cancer survivors. It is safe for all ages and packed inside a biodegradable plastic sleeve. It is designed in California and made in China. Wendy Bryan, Founder of I Heart Guts, told TDmonthly this item is a "designer educational plush."

This pink 6.5" x 5.5" mammary gland plush can make a great gift for breast cancer survivors or mastectomy patients. It is safe for all ages and packed inside a biodegradable plastic sleeve. The plush is designed in California and made in China.

This 7.75" x 6.25" pink and purple plush of the female reproductive gland is designed safe for all ages and is packed inside a biodegradable plastic sleeve. It is designed in California and made in China.

This super-soft blue 6.5" x 5.75" testis plush comes with an informative hangtag. It is designed safe for all ages and packed inside a biodegradable plastic sleeve. Designed in California, made in China. Wendy Bryan, founder of I Heart Guts, told TDmonthly these are the "best designed educational plushes on the market."

First launched in the UK, About Time USA edition has all the features of the original board game plus new American content. The objective is to be the team that guesses closest to the actual date (year) of an historical event. Categories include Heroes & Villains, The Arts, Everyday Life, Innovation, Word & Thought and State & Nation. It features more than 1,600 original questions on American history and culture and world events up to and including 2009. Player pieces are historical characters including Queen Elizabeth I, Napoleon and Shakespeare. The game is for two to eight players or teams and lasts between 25 and 90 minutes.

An inspiring story about responsibility and young entrepreneurs. A boy and his sister, their love of horses, and an idea—all come together in this delightful and educational story of the entrepreneurial spirit of American youth today.

Everything in life starts out with one idea. A child, a summer on Nantucket Island, and an idea—all come together in this beautifully illustrated and inspiring story of the entrepreneurial spirit of American youth today.

An inspiring story of a boy with a dream who learned skills that would last a lifetime. A boy takes his love of fishing and turns it into an adventure, learning skills that would stay with him forever and turn his passion into profit.

In this game, children work together to solve world and human problems presented in a simplified way. Players are divided into simulated social groups (tribes, nations, etc.). Each group gets World Problem Cards and a share of Solution Cards. Through discussion, trade agreements and world councils, the players try to solve all the problems facing them. The debriefing session at the end allows for everyone to learn from each other. Together includes two decks of cards, grouping tokens and rules for teacher preparation, interaction and final evaluation. Launch date: 1971.

In this game, six "Nations" must solve internal affairs without creating conflicts within their own borders. As the game progresses, hot spots can develop — and by game’s end several or all of the Nations may be at war. The game is then lost. Each Nation creates a balanced territory so that a balanced world results in which population does not exceed land and resources and work is available for everyone. On the religious, cultural and political side, all sectors are also in balance with no particular sector dominating another. The key to achieving this balance is Right Education, in which intelligence and compassion are nurtured. How well the players use Right Education and deploy the other factors within their borders while making trades to assist each other across borders will determine the degree of success in establishing firm and lasting peace in our time. The game includes six nation charts, two sets of cards (110 total) consisting of population, land/resources, work/technology, religion/culture, politics/military and right education, one die, and rules of play. Launch date: 2006.

This game is designed to nurture imagination, listening, self-expression, collaboration and clear thinking, using a story-telling format. The setting is science-fictional and the issues presented everyday and real, tackled by players with role-playing, values discussions, dialogue, problem-solving, and creative writing. Not an Island is adaptable to any group situation and includes 55 situation cards, 55 resource cards, six life force markers, two booklets of scenarios, and rules for basic, medium and hard levels of play. Launch date: 2003.

In this cooperative game, players try to develop a series of balanced patterns. The moving principles are simple, but the variations and complexities of play are almost infinite. This is a game for those who like abstract, meditative endeavors. A simpler game, Clarity, is included for the beginner or younger players. The game also includes a 12" x 12" board, three sets of colored "pebbles," and scoring sheets. Launch date: 1973.