TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Educational Product Category

Tabeo™ by TOYS R US

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. 10/11/2012 (Price: $149.99)

iDrum by DREAM CHEEKY

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. 10/10/2012 (Price: $69.99)

iPlay Piano by DREAM CHEEKY

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. 10/10/2012 (Price: $89.99)

The Global Game Changers by PIXEL ENTERTAINMENT

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. 10/9/2012 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

International Moneybox by MOONJAR

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. 10/5/2012 (Price: $28.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Potty Training Little Ones by GALLOPING MINDS

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 10/4/2012 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Homevesting by GAMEVESTING LLC

Play along with UG™ of HOMEVESTORS of America, rescuing "Ugly" Properties and rehabilitaing them to make them "Luvly" for resale.  Get started learning to Rescue, Rehab, and Resell Houses, just like on ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" or A&E's "Flip This House". Learn the game and sign up online and on a mobile device to play in HOMEVESTING tournaments. Prizes galore, including flat screen TVs, XBoxes, Cash. Come learn what Tony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki, Carlton Sheets and Armando Montelongo charge thousands of dollars for. Learn the trials and tribulations that come along with the adventure of real estate investment, and have fun doing it. 10/4/2012 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Come August, Come Freedom: The Bellows, the Gallows, and the Black General Gabriel by CANDLEWICK PRESS

In a time of post-Revolutionary fervor in Richmond, Virginia, an imposing twenty-four-year-old slave named Gabriel, known for his courage and intellect, plotted a rebellion involving thousands of African- American freedom seekers armed with refashioned pitchforks and other implements of Gabriel’s blacksmith trade. The revolt would be thwarted by a confluence of fierce weather and human betrayal, but Gabriel retained his dignity to the end. History knows little of Gabriel’s early life. But here, author Gigi Amateau imagines a childhood shaped by a mother’s devotion, a father’s passion for liberation, and a friendship with a white master’s son who later proved cowardly and cruel. She gives vibrant life to Gabriel’s love for his wife-to-be, Nanny, a slave woman whose freedom he worked tirelessly, and futilely, to buy. Interwoven with original documents, this poignant, illuminating novel gives a personal face to a remarkable moment in history. Launch date: September 2012. 10/1/2012 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sesame Street Brand New Readers Box Set by CANDLEWICK PRESS

This engaging boxed set contains: Ten short, funny, full-color books about Sesame Street, featuring Big Bird, Grover, Elmo, Abby, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, and more; a fold-out poster with full-color stickers for tracking books as they’re read; a Brand New Readers certificate of achievement to build children’s confidence; a make-your-own Brand New Reader book - just right for brand-new writers; and a parent/teacher guide to make reading a success the very first time. Launch date: September 2012. 10/1/2012 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dublin: A 3D Keepsake Cityscape by CANDLEWICK PRESS

Traveling to Dublin? Just returned? Wish you could go? Discover a dozen popular spots, from Dublin Castle (now a convention center) to the lofty St. Patrick’s Cathedral, from the handsome brick townhouses of Merrion Square to Gaiety Theatre, the city’s longest-running theatrical stage. Launch date: September 2012. 10/1/2012 (Price: $8.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Metropolitan Museum of Art 3-D Expanding Pocket Guide by CANDLEWICK PRESS

Welcome to the Met. Boasting more than two million works, it’s one of the world’s largest art museums. Learn about twelve top attractions, including the lovely Charles Engelhard Court, the formidable Arms and Armor Court, and the Modern Art Gallery showcasing works from Monet to the artists of today. Launch date: September 2012. 10/1/2012 (Price: $8.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Elephant's Friend and Other Tales Ancient India by CANDLEWICK PRESS

Have you heard about the elephant and the dog who became not just unlikely companions, but the best of friends? Or the traveler whose greed for gold lures him straight into the scrawny tiger’s trap? How about the talkative tortoise who can’t keep his mouth closed to save his life? Drawing from three books of best-loved Indian folktales - Hitopadesha Tales, Jataka Tales, and Panchantra Tales - this graphic storybook collection, alive with kid-friendly illustrations, is infused with humor and warmth. Launch date: August 2012. 10/1/2012 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

A President from Hawaii by CANDLEWICK PRESS

Barack Obama is the first United States President to be born in Hawai‘i, the Aloha State. A President from Hawai‘i - originally distributed exclusively in that state - explores the unique history and cultural traditions of President Obama’s birthplace. In addition to the well-known concept of aloha, it introduces such Hawaiian concepts as kokua (to help), lokahi (unity), and ohana (family), among others, and includes quotes from Barack Obama’s speeches, books, and interviews that reflect and embrace these themes. Launch date: September 2012. 10/1/2012 (Price: $15.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First by CANDLEWICK PRESS

It’s chaos! It’s pandemonium! And it’s definitely not as easy as A-B-C! Filled with visually humorous details, Bob Kolar’s colorful illustrations are the perfect foil for Alethea Kontis’s snappy story about the comic confusion that comes when the letters of the alphabet, like a class of unruly children, step out of order and show that each one has a mind of its own. Launch date: September 2012. 10/1/2012 (Price: $6.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Pop-up World Atlas by CANDLEWICK PRESS

Budding geographers will love to immerse themselves in this fun, bright, fact-packed first atlas with lots of detailed illustrations. Each continent has its own spread, with pop-ups, flaps, booklets, and sturdy pull-tabs introducing the world’s countries, inhabitants, and famous landmarks. Launch date: September 2012. 10/1/2012 (Price: $18.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Noah's Ark Matching Game + Kaleidoscope by WEE BELIEVERS

48 sturdy game pieces depict Noah and a boatload of colorful animals waiting for kids to match them with their mate. Our keepsake reusable container is TWO toys in one - doubling as a kaleidoscope when empty. Pieces 2 1/4" round. Recommended Ages 3+. Launch date: September 2012. 9/25/2012 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Brilli the Imagination Ball by VTECH

Little ones will love Brilli the Imagination Ball, an educational toy from VTech. There are 5 different modes of play, including games with counting, natural sounds, rhymes and silly sounds. The firm surface provides an easy grip for small hands, and the included motion sensor offers a wide variety of feedback responses for each game played. 9/24/2012 (Price: $17.99)

SunMod Solar Modification Kit by SPARKLE LABS

This device allows users to add on the Solar Mod kit to any device that runs on AA or AAA batteries. Just turn the device over and let the sun's rays charge it. Hack any AA or AAA powered device to make it solar powered. Included: a flexible solar cell 4.8V with soldered metal connectors, mailable packaging and double -sided tape. Fun hack. Easy way to break into solar projects. NiMH batteries not included. 9/21/2012 (Price: $18.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

InnoTab 2 Learning App Tablet by VTECH

With the addition of a rotatable camera that can also take video, children can capture memories of their friends and themselves. With hundreds of apps to download, children will have so much fun they won't realize they are learning. Combines photo/video camera, interactive animated eBooks, creative activities, tilt sensor learning games and a rich collection of application. Teaches essential skills in reading, logic and creativity. Parents can also track their child's progress on a variety of educational milestones and lessons. Launch date: 2012. 9/19/2012 (Price: $79.00)

Handstand Kids Baking Around the World Cookbook by HANDSTAND KIDS

Packaged with a whisk and silicone baking cups, the Handstand Kids Baking Around the World Cookbook kit introduces children to the world of baking in a colorful, hardbound and illustrated book with new recipes from Arleen Scavone, two-time winner of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, and founder of the famous bakery, Sweet Arleen’s. This cookbook features PB&J Cupcakes, South African Pumpkin Bread Pudding, and Carrot Walnut Cupcakes, among others. Launch date: January 2008.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval 9/17/2012 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

16 Piece Cupcake Kit by CURIOUS CHEF INC.

The Curious Chef line provides kids with real, functional, kitchen utensils. The 16 PC Cupcake Kit is just one of many items that helps families create special memories centered on the joy of cooking and positive eating habits. "Curious Chef is the only complete line of real cooking utensils designed for kids that have safety features built-in with kids' size (and behaviors) in mind," Taylor Crenshaw, brand manager for Tailor Made Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2009. 9/17/2012 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Papertronics Lunar Landers by SPARKLE LABS

Papertronics are paper toys with paper electronic circuits in them. The Lunar Landers come in a pack of three. Spaceboy, Alien Girl and Tabula Rasa. Tabula Rasa is blank and can be designed by the user.Turn them into a cool night light, party lights or fun additions to a room or desk. When the spaceships are put in their landers one way, they light up. Turn them another way and they are off. Kids fold them themselves- they come pre-cut. Fun DIY with paper and electronics. Follow along with the instructional video. Launch date: August 2010. 9/17/2012 (Price: $18.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cowboy Playground by PUTUMAYO KIDS

A fun collection of classic cowboy songs for buckaroos of all ages by artists such as Western music stalwarts Riders in the Sky and Don Edwards. "Cowboy Playground includes a 24-page booklet featuring archival photos from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming," Marie-Louise Sturm, Co-Manager of Putumayo Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2012.
— As of 9/25/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 1 review on Amazon.com. 9/17/2012 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

4D Octopus Siamensis Puzzle by TEDCO INC.

Packed in a gift box the model is approximately 3" and consist of 26 pieces. Museum quality fine detailed sculpturing and hand painted. Collect the series - great gifts for the future marine biologist. 9/17/2012 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ignition Series - Color-Changing Crystals by THAMES & KOSMOS

With this kit, kids can grow amazing crystals that change color. Learn about the chemical reaction that causes the beautiful shift in colors, and examine the factors that influence the reaction. Conduct a chemical analysis to better understand why the color change occurs. Show off the crystal creations in two special locking display cases.
— In a Fall 2013 survey, three out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Thames & Kosmos was a best-selling brand of science toy. 9/17/2012 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]