November 2009 New Specialty Toys — Educational

Rattlesnakes are much maligned primarily because they are much misunderstood. In Rattlesnake Rules, award-winning children’s author and science editor Conrad J. Storad, of Arizona, removes the veil of mystery from these fascinating creatures and imparts to young readers valuable information that will help them better understand rattlesnakes and keep both the children and the snakes safe. Delightfully illustrated by Conrad’s long-time collaborator, artist Nathaniel P. Jensen, The Rattlesnake Rules is yet another in their popular series that includes Desert Night Shift (A Pack Rat Story) and Don’t Ever Cross that Road! (An Armadillo Story), among others. Launch date: October 15, 2009.

As Luke and his sister Jenny resume their summer vacation, their mother plans a stop at the historic town of Lincoln, New Mexico. But when a thunderstorm begins to brew, Luke and Jenny realize things aren't what they seem. Suddenly they are swept back in time and find themselves face-to-face with the notorious Billy the Kid. The ghost of Paul, a young buffalo soldier who lived more than a century ago, guides them on their journey as they experience the life and times of this mysterious young outlaw. Will Billy the Kid live up to his legend? — This book received a 2007 Indie Book Awards of Excellence.

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009.

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009.

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Ocean combines a puzzle with additional activities to create a fun and interactive learning experience for your child. After assembling the puzzle, children can create their own scenes and stories by placing the reuseable static stickers on the surface of completed puzzle. Then turn the puzzle over for a big coloring activity! The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009.

This set of three-piece puzzle pairs features familiar characters and professionals. Children will learn to recognize many different people, such as a police officer, ballerina, and wizard. The colorful puzzle sets are self-correcting — only cards that belong together will fit together. Launch date: October 2009.

Meet Skiff, a playful Sheltie. In Little Skiff’s Moving Adventures, Skiff moves from Alaska to Arizona, and in Little Skiff Copes With Valley Fever, Skiff learns all about Valley Fever firsthand. Author Dany Pierard-Deviche hopes Skiff will teach children how to stay confident in the face of adversity and change. Launch date: January 15, 2010.

Kids can feed Melody, listen to her heart, trim her nails, and give her lots of cuddles. The excitement begins when your child opens the pet carrier door and hears Melody's playful theme song. Plush puppy and all accessories store easily inside. "The Pet Care Center incorporates the Baby Genius principle of music as a core learning tool to engage and encourage children to communicate, connect, discover, and use their imaginations to express themselves," John Russel, of RUSSEL Public Relations, told TDmonthly. Awards: The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2009, The Toy Insider Best Toddler Toys for the 2009 Holiday Season 2009 and Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products 2009. Launch date: August 2009.

Baffle! consists of a 5 x 5 grid of 25 squares on the game board, plus 25 game pieces in five shapes and colors. The player strategically places and removes pieces to accomplish the goal of each particular game. In Baffle! Classic, he must end up with a configuration in which each row, column and diagonal has a piece of each shape and a piece of each color.
— At the Play House Toy Store in Durham, N.C., this game is a best seller, Owner Donna Frederick told TDmonthly in late November 2009.

Winner of industry awards, this teacher's edition of the Spoils of Civilization is a math set for the classroom designed to motivate students to complete class and home work and improve class attendance and behavior through workbooks and class materials. Also includes a fun story about the Merbs™.

Featuring the Merbs™, this set consists of 3 short and quick multiplication games. The games take you through a journey on land, at sea, and in the air.  Mastery of multiplication facts is the key needed to win. Practice basic skills with colored-coded dice and pawns. Improve recall of multiplication facts using positive and/or negative numbers.

The Merbs™ present the Spoils of Civilization, the "Original Token Economy". A game of diplomatic manipulation, it teaches United States geography, money skills, and basic economics.

Let's Go Guang! Chinese for Children is a kit for kids to learn Chinese as a second language. Children join Ling and Kai while they visit their grandparents and discover Guang, a fun-loving dragon. It's designed for kids to learn how to properly pronounce about 50 useful everyday Mandarin Chinese words, phrases and sentences, including greetings, introductions and numbers. Each kit includes: DVD: "Meet Guang, the Chinese Dragon" (Animated Feature), "Making Dumplings" (Live footage), and "Mini Lessons and Songs," all in English and Mandarin Chinese; illustrated hardback book: "Story of Meet Guang, the Chinese Dragon with Pinyin"; English audio CD; flash cards with simplified Chinese characters, Pinyin; English Parents/Educator Guide; and vocabulary list.
— "This is a unique, high-quality, high-production toy/product that is effective, yet fun and engaging for kids," Karen Wu Audi, Co-Founder of aha! Chinese, told TDmonthly. "Kids learn Chinese and don't realize that they are learning the language." Awards: 2009 iParenting Media Award; and Dr. Toy's 10 Best Educational and 100 Best Children's Products Awards. Launch date: August 8, 2009.

"It’s Not Leap Year this Year" is a story about a boy named Miles who was born on Feb. 29. There is just one problem: Feb. 29 does not come this year. What would you do if you were told that you could pick any day you want to celebrate your birthday? That’s exactly what Miles’ mom told him he could do. What day does Miles pick? "It’s Not Leap Year this Year" is the second book in her leap year series and is arriving just in time for 2010, which is not a leap year. The first book, "It’s My Birthday Finally" is also available. "Although there are other books written about leap year, this is the second in the leap year year series I've written," author Michelle Winfrey told TDmonthly. "This one is about what 'leapers' may do when it is not a leap year." Launch date: November 16, 2009.

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009.

The Fun Facts! series of Puzzle Doubles combines a beautifully illustrated floor puzzle with twelve fun animal facts into a high-quality educational experience. Children will first enjoy assembling the large, colorful puzzle. Flip the puzzle over to learn fun facts about the pictured animals, which encourage parent-child discussion. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009.

Puzzle Doubles Create A Scene Farm combines a puzzle with additional activities to create a fun and interactive learning experience for your child. After assembling the puzzle, children can create their own scenes and stories by placing the reuseable static stickers on the surface of completed puzzle. Then turn the puzzle over for a big coloring activity! The bright illustrations encourage parent-child conversation. Each 50-piece puzzle measures a giant 3' x 2'. Launch date: November 16, 2009.

This fun memory game will challenge problem solving and develop memory skills of young children as they try to find a pair of matching cards. Bright, colorful illustrations teach upper and lower case letters of the alphabet. It's a great family game for all ages. Launch date: October 2009.

Meet Skiff, a playful Sheltie. In "Little Skiff Copes With Valley Fever," Skiff learns all about Valley Fever firsthand. Author Dany Pierard-Deviche hopes Skiff will teach children how to stay confident in the face of adversity and change. "As a former research biologist, Pierard-Deviche hopes to trigger reflection in children and inspire them to conduct their own research on things that interest them," said Lisa Goldman of Five Star Publications. "The Little Skiff books are the perfect blend of fiction and nonfiction. They are simultaneously instructional and entertaining." Launch date: January 15, 2010.

This 200-piece puzzle shows a vast space scene and provides the names of the planets. Once assembled, it measures 19 1/3” x 14 1/4".
— Main Street Toy Shop in Columbus, Ga., sells about 30 Ravensburger puzzles per month, Owner Gladys Griffin told TDmonthly in fall 2009 when discussing best-selling educational items.
— "Ravensburger jigsaw puzzles; a dozen per month" Linda Laramy, owner of Crackerjacks in Easton, Md., told TDmonthly.

Centered on basic math skills and beginning reading, this workbook includes activities with color illustrations that allow kids to practice for reaching first-grade goals while strengthening their critical thinking.
— Seven of 40 specialty retailers referenced books or study guides of some sort when asked about best-selling educational toys and school supplies in fall 2009.
— Annie’s Toy Chest in Cocoa, Fla., sells about 18 School Zone books per month. “Tourists grab them and use to keep the kids thinking on breaks,” Owner Teresa Derry told TDmonthly in late 2009.

This picture-filled wooden puzzle of the United States includes 40 pieces created to help develop map skills. When each puzzle piece is placed in the correct location, the puzzle speaks the names of the states and capitals. It measures 0.8” x 15.8” x 11.9”. It requires three AAA batteries (not included).
— Ten percent of 40 retailers named Melissa & Doug as a best-selling brand when it comes to educational products. LB Toys in Media, Pa., sells about 30 per month of the U.S. wooden map puzzle, Owner Jamie Burdette told TDmonthly in fall 2009.
— Michael O'Dell of Toys from the Attic in Rehoboth Beach, Del., told TDmonthly in a Summer 2011 survey that they don't sell many electronic or battery operated toys, but of those they do have, sound puzzles from Melissa & Doug sell best.

Preschoolers can practice drawing and writing by tracing the lights that make shapes and letters. This portable tool is designed to foster development of phonics and early writing skills, as well as gaining control of a pencil. It employs a retraceable surface, and parents can find more ideas for learning online at the LeapFrog Learning Path.
— As of 7.26.2010, this product had 4.5 out of 5 stars from - reviews on Amazon.com, and was listed No. 20 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Educational but entertaining; children seemed to enjoy learning to write with this product. CONS: Some customers felt the product did not provide enough constructive feedback.

Contagious musical fun. Delightful characters help put those germs at bay! Original, easy to learn songs that really connect with young children.