December 2012 Notable Toys — Educational

Developed especially for kids, Lexibook® Junior Tablet combine educational, multimedia and interactive activities, empowering children to play and learn using their very own tablet.  The double injection molded plastic casing is solidly constructed to hold up to kids at play -- even in the hands of its youngest users.  The easy-to-use interface can be intuitively navigated by all ages. The scrolling menu makes it easy for kids to access a treasure trove of apps, games, music, videos, cartoons and books. Launch date: October 2012.

Pair game develops memory/concentration skills and visual discrimination in a fun way. The 24 activity cards include: Early Learning, the Body, and the Animal World (6 cards for each area); It includes recognition of Shapes and letters; It encourages recognition of objects; It helps in teaching how to follow rules and respect others; It can be played individually or in a group; Big pieces for small hands. Launch date: January 2011.

Fun way to learn essential math skills about money. Each set includes 3 game series - total of 18 full color activity cards to reinforce visual recognition and discrimination, and actual size plastic bills and coins (14 bills and 24 coins).  Activity Dollar includes actual size and accurately designed play money, as well as 3 matching games to: - reinforce recognition of each coin and bill (dollar bingo), - market games to support the values of each bill and coin to arrive at the correct price and - comparison game to introduce the concept of greater and less than. Launch date: January 2012.

Hannah will introduce students to habitats including deserts and tundra, ocean and river habitats, colonies, nests and more. The book also includes fun activities and a thought-provoking science fair project. Hannah hunts for Habitats is a reproducible, colorful and fun book with hand-on experiments, a science fair project, metric conversions, the scientific method and a glossary. This book covers the exciting careers, many inventors, and actual tools and equipment with a touch of humor. Launch date: 2008.

Quick Quick is a delightful game of observation and rapidity. Outfox the other players by correctly matching the animal with its fur.Players must act quickly to collect cards, but can’t be hasty as it may cost them their hide. Launch date: 2012.

It’s time to catch some Butterflies. These beautiful creatures are spreading their stunning wings and flitting from flower to flower. Follow a simple legend and add sparkling jewels and foam tiles to decorate these special oversized mosaics. Hang these magical Butterflies on your walls for some whimsical décor. Launch date: October 2012.

SET Junior is two games in one box. Its two-sided game board allows kids to start playing as young as age 3. Side one is just matching. Match each tile to its square on the board using colors, shapes and numbers. Players earn point chips for each SET they complete. When ready, flip the board over and race to find SETs on their own. On side two, there are no turns and no luck. This game is fun, competitive and educational. Launch date: July 2012.

A high-energy educational Spanish & English class in DVD that will stimulate kid's musical & language development and captivate their imaginations. We believe that children's interest will peak after watching this special video. Children from 3 years old and up learn the name of many farm animals in the "Repeat After Me" segment. Includes "Numbers 1-30", "Sentences", "Opposites", "What Color It Is?", "Insects", "Puzzle Time" and "Time To Eat". The show ends in a fancy gelato shop learning the ice cream flavors. Songs, music, illustrations, and real farm animals are part of this wonderful video. Launch date: January 2012.
Awards: 2012 Best of Show Dealer Favorites; A “must have” item from the 2012 NSSEA Organization Ed Expo recently held on March 23rd in Baltimore, MD

It's time to "Play bal!" when Christina, Grant, Mimi, and Papa take a tour of baseball's most famous places and slide head-first into a mystery. Launch date: January 2012.

What do a brother and sister do when their sort-of-mad scientist dad takes them along the San Andreas Fault, to new Madrid Missouri and other earthquake prone places? What child can resist learning about the power of mother-nature and the tools to stay safe as these interested kids confront nature head-on. Launch date: 2007.
Awards: 2007 iParenting Media Award

Mimi, Papa, and their grandchildren- Christina and Grant- fly to Paris aboard Papa's red and white airplane, The Mystery Girl. As soon as they land at Charles de Gaulle Airport and meet their pen pals, Jean-Luc and Marie, the mystery begins. A famous statue is missing from the world-famous Louvre Museum. A mysterious woman in black is following them. So is a pigeon, dropping clues and more along the way. Launch date: 2006.

Discover with Dr. Cool turned this classic science experiment into the ultimate hands-on volcano experience. First you'll decorate the 7" ceramic volcano with the brush and paints included in the kit. Then kids'll make the volcano erupt over and over with the eruption powder and red lava coloring also included. Plus they'll get to examine 3 genuine volcanic specimens including: a real geode, an obsidian arrowhead, and a floating piece of volcanic rock called pumice. The information guide will teach kids all about their specimens as well as how volcanoes form and why they erupt. Also included is an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. Because everything is included in the kit, kids won't need to run to the store for additional supplies. If they're doing this project for the science fair, they'll love how nice the ceramic volcano looks-it's way better than the paper mache volcanoes. This is the perfect science kit for anyone interested in geology, earth science, or volcanoes. Launch date: August 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, 2012 Kids Product of the Year,  Creative Child Magazine; 2012 Gold Award, Family Review Center;2012 Seal of Approval, Family Review Center.

Excavate 3 genuine fossil specimens just like a real paleontologist. Buried inside the ammonite-shaped digging brick young paleontologists will uncover a real sliced and polished ammonite, a clam fossil and a gastropod specimen. This hands-on kit includes an excavation tool, brush, magnifying glass, full-color information guide, and an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. These 3 genuine specimens are each millions of years old. The info guide was written by teachers so that kids will improve their knowledge of science. Plus, there's an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: 2012 Seal of Excellence - Creative Child Magazine; 2012 Preferred Choice Award - Creative Child Magazine

Ready to strike it rich? This hands-on science kit will teach kids how to pan for gold just like a real gold miner. This exciting treasure hunter's kit includes a 10" prospector's pan, 2 bags of pay dirt with pyrite (also known as fool's gold) nuggets inside, mining tools, and much more. Kids will learn all of the secrets to panning in the full-color adventure guide. Plus there's an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to solve. Launch date: September 2012.
Awards: Dr. Toy 2012 Best Picks Winner, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

Everything that a budding inventor needs to build 12 basic machines is provided, including 25 machine pieces, 10 plastic nuts and bolts, and a detachable peg board—all color-coded for easy identification. Using the simple and direct instructions, kids can build each machine in minutes. The projects include: incline planes, levers, wheels and axles, gears (spur, compound, rack and pinion, and planetary), cams, cranks, pulleys, ratchets, and springs. Includes timelines detailing the history of each machine.  Hands-on, interactive, and engaging, this kit will bring out the DIY and inventor spirit in every child. Launch date: October 2011.

Re-embark in the Map it! adventure with the Map it!-USA Edition. The same amusing, educative and exciting game as Map-It! World, but with less jet-lag. Launch date: 2012.

In this game, players take turns placing randomly drawn location cards in the correct position, around a given starting point. Is Bangkok north or south of Cancùn? What about Mount Everest? Is it east or west of St.-Petersburg? If a player isn't a geography wiz, they bluff. Their opponents might just believe them…Launch date: 2012.

LeapPad2 Explorer™ inspires kids to imagine and explore with front-and-back cameras, 4 GB of memory and a library of 325+ cartridges and apps for limitless learning and fun! This special KIDZ BOP Music Pack features: a LeapPad2 Explorer™ tablet, Target Exclusive KIDZ BOP Rockin' Playlist, KIDZ BOP Ultimate Hits Playlist, KIDZ BOP Music Video Collection, a pair of kid-friendly headphones, a protective Green Gel Skin and 5 included apps: Pet Pad writing app, LeapFrog Learning Songs, Art Studio, Cartoon Director and one app of your choice. (Some included apps require Internet connection to download.) Works with LeapFrog Explorer cartridges and apps (sold separately).

Created just for kids, the Tabeo Tablet combines cutting-edge technology, advanced details and a sleek design with parental controls and kid-friendly safety features. Featuring a 7" capacitive multi-touch screen, 50 popular kid-friendly apps and Wi-Fi connectivity, this tablet is ready to deliver hours of learning, Web browsing and fun. The tablet uses the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system and with more than 7,000 free apps available for download. A built-in speaker, microphone, G-sensor and front camera provide the familiar functionality of Mom and Dad’s “grown-up” tablet. A soft, removable bumper case fits around the tablet to protect the device from accidental bumps and drops. A micro SD slot (SDHC compatible) accepts cards up to 32 GB, while the mini HDMI output allows viewing of content on a separate monitor or TV screen. The tablet offers parent-friendly features as well. The built-in browser offers a variety of parental controls, including an option to set different Internet safety controls for up to eight users or allow Internet access only on certain days or at certain times of the day, to help kids have a fun, safe online experience.

Using Bluetooth®, this seven piece drum kit connects wirelessly to an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad. The free Dream Cheeky Sound System app lets users jam along with their favorite music, in one of many styles. Users can even record and play back their drum sessions, or learn how to drum along with pre-programmed songs. On top of all that, there are more free games in the Dream Cheeky Arcade. While the possibilities are infinite, the iDrum is compact enough to take it with them anywhere. But don’t be fooled by its size; it can withstand a right good smashing. Launch date: August 2012.

Using Bluetooth®, this 3-octave piano with full-sized keys connects wirelessly to an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad. The free Dream Cheeky Sound System app lets users play along with their favorite music and select one of many instruments to make the iPlay Piano sound just like they want. Users can even record and play back their tunes, or learn how to play along with pre-programmed songs. On top of all that, there are more free games in the Dream Cheeky Arcade. With the added benefits of helping users strengthen their fingers on its durable surface, and being extremely portable, the iPlay Piano ensures users will always have piano lessons at their fingertips. Launch date: August 2012.

Winner of Dr. Toys 100 Best Childrens Products of 2012 and 10 Best High-Tech Products of 2012, as well as a Preferred Choice Award by Creative Child Magazine, this new children's book is built around The Global Game Changers, a fictional team of superheroes whose leader, Global Girl, and her sidekick, Little Big-Heart, and their trust dog Pixel, recruit real-life kids to help change the world for the better by doing good things for others without expecting anything in return. At the end of The Global Game Changers book there is a call to action for the reader to be inspired to join the Alliance by visiting The Global Game Changers interactive web community where they can share their Ignite Good! stories, learn how to utilize their talents to affect things they are passionate about, have fun, and be empowered to help make a difference in the world. Launch date: July 15, 2012.

In celebration of our tenth anniversary, Moonjar has created a brand new Moneybox with a global twist. Each metallic section is wrapped in the words, "Save, Spend and Share" in languages from around the world. The boxes are gold, silver and copper colors to appeal to the tween set as well as their parents.

Potty Training Little Ones is geared towards making potty time fun for children. The book walks through each step of potty training. From the time the child is introduced to the potty to the time he or she is ready to go and make it part of their routine. This fun and colorful book also motivates kids by providing coloring pages for each activity - choosing a potty, going for the first time and washing hands.
Awards: National Parenting Seal of Approval 2012