November 2010 New Specialty Toys — Educational

This 26.5" x 19.25" puzzle illustrates more than 35 antique fire engines and fire trucks. The 1,000 durable, easy-fit pieces are made from recycled board, recycled paper and vegetable-based ink. Puzzles feature detailed illustrations and text in multiplie languages. "Assembling puzzles improves fine motor skill, picture recognition abilities and task completion; promotes both cooperative and independent play," Erich Fellinger, sales manager, EuroGraphics, told TDmonthly.

This 1,000-piece World War II Aircrafts jigsaw puzzle features many of the greatest warbirds such as the Hurricane, the Supermarine Spitfire, the Messerschmitt BF-109 and the Boeing B-29 SuperFortress. Aircrafts of seven different countries from both Allied and Axis forces are featured with detailed information on each plane. The puzzle measures 26.5" x 19.25" and is made from recycled cardboard and paper and vegetable-based ink. Puzzles feature detailed illustrations and text in multiplie languages. "Assembling puzzles improves fine motor skill, picture recognition abilities and task completion; promotes both cooperative and independent play," Erich Fellinger, sales manager, EuroGraphics, told TDmonthly.

This jigsaw puzzle features a beautifully rendered image with scientific charts of the solar system's planets, complete with full data on spin, distance from the sun, gravity and much more. Made from recycled board and paper and printed with vegetable-based ink, it includes 1,000 durable easy-fit pieces and measures 26.5" x 19.25." Puzzles feature detailed illustrations and text in multiplie languages. "Assembling puzzles improves fine motor skill, picture recognition abilities and task completion; promotes both cooperative and independent play," Erich Fellinger, sales manager, EuroGraphics, told TDmonthly.

This book is designed to help children unlock the door to imagination and possibilities with easily readable text. Kids transform strange shapes into words and experience the adventure of reading. This 9" x 9" hardcover features 90 full-color pages. "Magic Words: Discovering the Adventure of Reading is designed to empower beginning readers with fun, predictable stories that encourage the decoding of simple words and reinforce sight word knowledge," Lightning Bug Learning President Julie Rebboah told TDmonthly. 
Awards: 2010 Reader's Favorite Finalist - Kindergarten Category

This reading adventure is designed to teach children the connection between letters and sounds. Predictable stories promote participation and sight word knowledge, and aim to give children the keys to the mysterious world of words. This 9" x 9" hardcover edition includes 136 full-color pages. "Magic Letters: The Keys to the World of Words was written by an experienced kindergarten teacher and sets beginning readers up for success with predictable stories that help children build a storehouse of sight words," Lightning Bug Learning President Julie Rebboah told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Reader's Favorite Finalist - Kindergarten Category

Lightning Bug Literacy Kit Kindergarten Edition is designed to teach children essential skills that build a strong foundation for reading and writing. This program aims to help kids gain confidence while mastering grade level phonics, reading and writing skills. "This comprehensive, teacher-designed kit builds a foundation for literacy: reading, writing, reading comprehension and handwriting," Lightning Bug Learning President Julie Rebboah told TDmonthly.
— The mom blogger at Welcome to Our Wonderland read both Magic Letters and Magic Words from the kit. She stated that the “text is predictable so your child can learn the story and participate,” leading to “the clicking moment” when letter sounds and words are associated in the child’s mind. The reviewer and her daughter enjoyed the books “more then most other word family books.”
— Jenny Thompson of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine reviewed Magic Letter, Magic Words and the audio CD from the kit. Jenny exclaimed “I am not exaggerating when I say that these books changed our lives! These were the first books my daughter was enthusiastic about reading. She could not wait to read each story.”

In this DVD, beloved children’s books are brought to life with voice, sign language, and beautiful music scores. Designed for preschoolers.

In this game, gardeners work hard to grow beautiful, fresh, organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers. But sometimes garden pests eat those good things before people can. Players must keep the garden safe by catching all six pests and taking them to the forest where they belong. The game includes a 12 x 12" board, two dice, seven pest movers, one "havahart" trap, one electric fence chart and rules. "Play as friends, not as enemies! Our games foster the spirit of cooperation," Jim Deacove, president of Family Pastimes, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, CREATIVE CHILD MAGAZINE.

This 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle illustrates over 15 species of beloved penguins. It measures 13" x 19," and features durable easy-fit puzzle pieces made from recycled board and vegetable-based ink. "Assembling puzzles improves fine motor skill, picture recognition abilities and task completion," Erich Fellinger, EuroGraphics sales manager, told TDmonthly.

This 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle illustrates the various life forms that make up the complex tropical rain forest ecosystem. It measures 19.25" x 26.5," and features durable easy-fit puzzle pieces made from recycled board and vegetable-based ink. "Assembling puzzles improves fine motor skill, picture recognition abilities and task completion," Erich Fellinger, EuroGraphics sales manager, told TDmonthly.

The Safari Friends Pedestal Pets collection includes a gorilla, lion, hippo, and elephant. Pedestal Pets are sets of pencil toppers featuring a variety of animal figures. Each package comes with 4 animal pencil toppers, 4 matching pencils and 4 fun fact trading cards. Children can also go to the Pedestal Pets website and "adopt" their pets and print out coloring pages of all the animals.

The Barnyard Friends Pedestal Pets collection includes a horse, pig, sheep, and duck. Pedestal Pets are sets of pencil toppers featuring a variety of animal figures. Each package comes with 4 animal pencil toppers, 4 matching pencils and 4 fun fact trading cards. Children can also go to the Pedestal Pets website and "adopt" their pets and print out coloring pages of all the animals.

The Neighborhood Friends Pedestal Pets collection includes a cat, turtle, frog, and dog. Pedestal Pets are sets of pencil toppers featuring a variety of animal figures. Each package comes with 4 animal pencil toppers, 4 matching pencils and 4 fun fact trading cards. Children can also go to the Pedestal Pets website and "adopt" their pets and print out coloring pages of all the animals.

This album features 20 original songs that aim to help children build vocabulary in both English and Spanish through active multisensory participation. The songs are a combination of new compositions and updated versions of early Hap Palmer favorites along with new translations into Spanish. The lyrics and activities were developed in conjunction with Spanish language educational expert Laura Radchik, PhD.
Awards: Parent's Choice Foundation Audio Award Fall 2010, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010

For 2 to 6 players, or up to 3 individual players, Sequence Numbers is similar to the original Sequence game, except the cards are a mathematical equation, whose answer is a number found on the game board. First player or team to achieve the required amount of Sequences wins the game.

The Merbs™ Motivational Game System is an incentive-based program with a twist. This tool provides a game-based storyline that motivates kids to complete schoolwork. Students are challenged to help a populations of creatures, The Merbs™, build a civilization. They earn cash to buy game properties, creating an economy. The competition of the system encourages increased homework completion and class participation. This allows the instructor to evaluate students daily through simple game play. Parents can also use the System at home to motivate children to complete homework. For 2 or more players.

Packed in a gift box, the model is approximately 3" and consist of 25 pieces. Museum quality, finely detailed sculpturing and hand painted.