December 2011 Notable Toys — Science & Nature

This adventure kit comes included with all the necessary tools to explore the amazing world of Bugs 3D. The kit contains a 3D book, 3D cards, magic costume card, software and Popar Reader. Kids will have an unforgettable experience as they grow wings and watch their favorite bugs leap from the pages or cards. "Popar® Toys use Augmented Reality (AR) technology to create an immersive reading experience that will allow the user to see incredible virtually “real” 3D objects and animations that will pop off the book or card," Scott Jochim, President of Popar Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2011.
Awards: 2012 Best of the Toy Fair - The View; 2012 National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval.

Old-school and new-school technology collide in this plug n' play portable speaker dock kids build themselves. Rock the house or take the show on the road. Kids learn basic electronics by investigating how speakers and amplification work. Docking station works with iPod, iTouch, and other audio devices. Launch date: September 2012.

Featuring five squishy innards-including a tongue-this anatomically correct model of the king of dinosaurs will amaze and enlighten through a journey of building and fun.  The Squishy T. rex has detailed anatomy, inside and out, with removable squishy organs.  Kids learn all about the T. rex through the accompanying book, The Mighty T. rex by Dennis Schatz. Launch date: September 2012.

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride with The Magic School Bus GROW AMAZING POLYMERS group pack. This kit provides enough materials for 30 students and is great for the classroom, after-school programs, science enrichment, boys and girls scouts, camps, and a Magic School Bus birthday Party. Young Scientists grow super balls, snow, rainbow beads, crystal gels, and polymer flowers while learning about the importance and science of super-absorbent polymers. This kit comes with 30 colorful manuals that are based on the popular Magic School Bus tv and book series. "This is the first Magic School Bus themed group pack on the market, and has enough materials and manuals for 30 children," Esther Novis, president of The Young Scientists Club, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride with The Magic School Bus as they explore slime and polymers. Young Scientists take polymers out of milk, make slime, create goop, produce a snow eruption, melt snow, grow super-absorbent flowers, germinate seeds in polymers, perform a polymer trick, dehydrate polymers, and more. This gooey bus-shaped kit comes packed with science components, 20 colorful experiment cards, a data notebook to record observations, and 10 containers of polymers including super balls, rainbow beads, snow, and gel crystals. "The bus-shaped packaging is unique and comes packed with lots of polymers and activity cards," Esther Novis, president of The Young Scientists Club, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2012.

Kids discover what makes the weather happen and how to predict what's ahead. Activities include making equipment to measure rainfall, wind direction and speed, humidity, and barometric pressure; recording measurements and observations in a Weather Log; and simulating weather events to demonstrate the science behind them. From foggy mornings to sunny afternoons to our changing seasons, weather forecasting is a year-round, practical science that children will have fun learning about. Perfect for budding meteorologists and science lovers. Launch date: January 28, 2017.
— In a December 2011 survey Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashton, Va., told TDmonthly, "We sell a lot of the science and craft books from Ideals Books - such as Science Play and Weather Forecasting. They are brightly colored with great graphics on the covers and full of simple projects for kids."           

CHEM C2000 is a complete introduction to the most important topics in chemistry, with over 250 unique experiments and a 96 page full-color experiment manual. A cartoon Professor Probenius guides kids through all of the experiments. Quality equipment, lab manual and chemicals provide the correct tools for serious learning. Ample chemicals for repeated experiments. Parental supervision required.

During an ordinary visit to the library, a girl pulls a not-so-ordinary book from the shelves. As she turns the pages in this book about coral reefs, the city around her slips away and she finds herself surrounded by the coral cities of the sea and the mysterious plants and animals that live, hunt, and hide there.

It's easy to turn old paper into custom-made new paper. Take any type of paper, add water, and grind away. Place pulp on the screen, press and let it dry. Easy, simple way to recycle paper while creating greeting cards, bookmarks, tags, announcement and more. Grinder, screen plus ribbons and jewels for decorating.
— In a November 2013 survey, Linda Graham, president and co-owner of Scheffel's Toys, Inc in Jacksonville, Ore., told TDmonthly that Small World science kits are among her store's best-selling educational products.

Kids can view more than 180 amazing, up-close images with the Talking Electron Microscope. They can view various zoomed versions of 60 images and hear 5 fun facts about each image in Learning Mode – then switch to Quiz Mode and test their knowledge. Images include the human body, viruses and bacteria, plants, animals, and other “stuff.”
Awards: National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Space Exploration Mobile is a ceiling-mount mobile for kids intrigued by outer space and the history of space exploration. This fully motorized Space Exploration Mobile features rotating, realistic models of eight historic spacecraft: Sputnik, Mercury, Soyuz, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle and Mir Space Station. The colorful Earth globe lights up, and the mobile includes an infrared remote and educational booklet. Space exploration mobile requires four AA and two AAA batteries (not included).

This toy is a box set of 12 realistic toy fish about 3 inches long.  The fish species are the ones we catch: Walleye, Northern Pike, Brook Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, Crappie, Muskellunge, Tiger Musky, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass. Made of plastic and hand painted. Box measures 7” x 3.8” x 1.4”. Launch date: November 2010.

Kids can watch ants create 3-D tunnels in nutrient-rich, translucent gel with the brand new Ant Farm Revolution from Uncle Milton. Ant Farm Revolution is the next generation in ant farm technology, with integrated LED light and projecting lens. This new ant habitat not only provides a home for ants, but also illuminates from within and projects GIANT ant shadows onto the wall or ceiling. Ants need to be ordered online.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 3 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: "Feels more like art than a toy;" interesting to all ages.
— As of 10/14/2011 this product had 1 out of 5 stars from 1 review on ToysRUs.com. Cons: Reviewer said the ants got out of their container.

Kids add friendly insects from their yard, watch them grow into giant supersized shadows on their ceiling, and move as they crawl about in the magnified-projector dome. The spacious observatory chamber is safe for bugs and kids. The projector’s buggy eyes light up, too.

Kids can make gobs of gum with this bubble gum factory. Create unique recipes by mixing and matching different flavors. Kit Includes citric acid packet, corn syrup, confectioner sugar, gum base, watermelon flavoring, blueberry flavoring, mint flavoring, 2 note cards, activity guide, and a plastic tin with lid.
— Andrea Scartozzi, from Hardware Toys in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly in a September 2011 survey that Bubble Gum Factory is their bestselling science toy.
— In a late Summer 2012 survey, Joe Berardoni Sr., owner of Pun's Toys in Bryn Mawr, Penn., told TDmonthly that "a certain few of the kits from Scientific Explorer, mostly any one that has to do with food," are their second-best selling Science & Nature item.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that kits from Scientific Explorer are one of their top-2 bestselling educational products. They sell dozens each month.

Squeeze-powered, kid-sized flashlights. Each animal's nose lights up when switched on. Side lever stores inside the body—release and squeeze to charge up the light.
— June Hargrove, co-owner of Black Forest Books & Toys in Charlotte, N.C., told TDmonthly in September 2011 that they sell 12 of this item each month.

Encourages kids to explore the human body by piecing together a life-size puzzle. Invites children to make comparisons to their own bodies as they lie on top of the completed puzzle. Features 15 illustrated pieces with both formal and common bone names printed on the reverse side. Provides a fun activity for spooky-themed parties. Soft foam puzzle measures 4'H when assembled.

This 128 page, fully illustrated book features the migration habits of many different animals in a colorful, informative, and easy-to-read format. From Animal Planet's new line of children's books. Launch date: September 27, 2011.

This new line of books feature the expert knowledge of Animal Planet in a fun, easy-to read format for kids. This book features the unique visual attributes of many different creatures in the Animal Kingdom. Launch date: September 27, 2011.

This new line of books feature the expert knowledge of Animal Planet in a fun, easy-to read format for kids. This book features the attack and defense mechanisms of many different creatures in the Animal Kingdom. Launch date: September 27, 2011.