TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Science & Nature Product Category

The Young Scientists Club Subscription Program by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

Winner of numerous national toy awards, including Dr. Toy 100 Best Products, Teacher’s Choice Award, Learning Success Outstanding Resource Award, and The National Parenting Seal of Approval, the Young Scientists Club offers 36 different science kits that all interlink. The kits are designed for age-appropriate learning and fun, and allow parents to help nourish their children’s inquisitive minds with real science experiments from recycling to polymers. Kits are priced at $11.99 plus $4.95 shipping and handling. Kits are mailed on the 1st and 15th of each month. Once- or twice-a-month delivery is available. Three prepaid online specials include buy 12, 24 or 36 kits and receive one, two or three kits free, depending on the order. 5/4/2007 (Price: $16.94) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hydrocar (FCJJ-20) by HORIZON FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.

This space-age-looking follow-up to Horizon’s H-Racer fuel-cell toy uses the next generation of “polymer electrolyte membrane-base fuel cell” to power it to fast-driving fun. Yet another demonstration by Horizon of the shape of fuel to come, the Hydrocar’s new technology operates at a lower temperature and lower pressure than previous fuel cells, making it a safer technology if it were to be used in full-sized automobiles (or neighborhood energy infrastructures). Since this little car only turns after it bumps into things, it’s probably a good thing it’s not going to go all Hindenburg on us. 5/2/2007 (Price: $85.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rainbow Maker by KIKKERLAND DESIGN INC.

Kikkerland Design’s Rainbow Maker, available in four designs, brings rainbows right into the home. Just attach the rainbow maker to a window using the suction cup and watch as the Swarovski crystal slowly rotates, and the sunlight from outside is broken into its components and flooded into the room in rainbow form. A sunny day is all you need. Kikkerland’s Perrine Giacomazzo said they’re “selling very well” to a wide target audience from kids to seniors. “It could fit in a child’s room as well as in a living room.” 5/2/2007 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Goo Maker by TOYQUEST

Kids can make sticky, runny, thick, bouncy goo, slime and other fun substances with this motorized Goo Maker. They add the included safe powders and liquid polymers into the mixing chamber and within minutes the Goo Maker dispenses a goo-like matter into the included cup. Goo Maker also comes with measuring devices and test tubes. Launch date: August 2007. 4/23/2007 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Live Butterfly Bungalow by INSECT LORE

This giant live butterfly habitat allows children to grow butterflies from the caterpillar stage, hold them and then set them free. The airy bungalow offers up-close observation time, and the sturdy enclosure can be used again and again in a classroom or playroom. The habitat comes with a coupon for 10 caterpillars and food, plus a fun-filled fact guide.
— "The butterfly hut from Insect Lore ... where a child can get inside," said Diana Gisolfi, co-owner with her two sisters of Three Sisters in Springfield, Mass., when asked by TDmonthly about best-selling science and nature toys.
— Three of 32 retailers said Insect Lore butterfly sets are hot-selling items in science and nature.
— One retailer told TDmonthly in summer 2007 that she sells about six butterfly kits from Insect Lore each month. 4/18/2007 (Price: $39.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Create a Mystery Egg - Dino by REMEMBER THE MAGIC

Everything is provided for kids to create their own mystery eggs. This fun and easy activity includes educational factoids about fossils and the creature of their choice. ( Watch Video) 4/12/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Planetary Orbit Clock by RAKUTEN INC.

We look down on clocks on the arm, on the cell phone, on the microwave ... but how often do we look down on a clock from deep in outer space? The Planetary Orbit Clock is a mini solar system (sorry, Pluto) that, when looked at from above, tells the time. Any other angle reveals the wonders of astronomy, or at least the “orbit of the spheres.”  (It isn’t an accurate orbital representation, but it sure is fun to look at.) A Rakuten sales representative explained that they sold to “inquisitive kids” and “ardent adults.” Science connoisseurs should love it. 3/29/2007 (Price: $34.00)

Solar Car by AMAV ENTERPRISES

This new series was developed to show kids how and why things really work. They will make scientific discoveries at the same time that they are having fun, building and playing with their creations. Most of these kits allow the parent and child to work together constructing the various projects. This Science Fun series is a great play-value and incredible educational fun.

Make your very own car that gets its power from the sun. The solar panel on the car collects the energy, and then can turn your car into a racecar. THIS ITEM IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. 3/14/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My First Airplane Kit by SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER

How do airplanes fly in the sky? With My First Airplane Kit, children can learn all about flight. They can build and paint easy-to-make airplanes with pens, and then watch their custom aircraft soar through the sky. Next, using their planes and other components, they can conduct experiments to learn about gravity, lift, drag and thrust, the forces involved in flight. This kit “tailors the fascinating world of flight to the young child. Not only can you build, paint and decorate planes — but you can also use these planes to conduct experiments,” Susan Rives at Scientific Explorer told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2007.
— Idanna Smith, owner of Juggles in Wakefield, R.I., cited My First Airplane as one of the best toys at Toy Fair 2007.
— Scientific Explorer experiments do well, Owner Fred Rosenberg of On the Park in Kingwood, Texas, told TDmonthly in spring 2007.
— Scientific Explorer is one of “the most accommodating companies that I have dealt with,” Joshua Grindstaff of Education Station in Coldwater, Mich., told TDmonthly in spring 2007. “They … allow for a very small minimum order, and the quantities that you have to buy of each item are reasonable.”
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE 2/28/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Milestones in Science: The History of Science by THAMES & KOSMOS

This set includes a 96-page manual that tells about the 100 most significant experiments and discoveries of all time, 94 parts for experimentation, and information on the accomplishments of more than 140 scientists and civilizations. Chapters are as follows: Light, Colors, and Sound; Heat, Steam, and Engines; Magnetism and Electricity; Communication and Microelectronics; Forces; Life; Atoms and Molecules; Stars and Planets; and The Periodic Table. “Milestones in Science is unique in that it combines experimentation with history,” Christa Raimondo of Thames & Kosmos told TDmonthly. “Each experiment is centered on a specific scientist, his or her discovery, and its importance in the world of science.” Launch date: July 2007. 2/27/2007 (Price: $79.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Little Labs: Stepping Into Science by THAMES & KOSMOS

With this bilingual experiment kit, children can learn science fundamentals through 25 experiments that cover five key areas: biology, physics, chemistry, air and water. It includes a 48-page color guidebook with simple pictorial instructions and text in English and Spanish. “Because the steps are clear and easy to follow, a child as young as 5 can successfully complete the experiments,” Christa Raimondo of Thames & Kosmos told TDmonthly. The Little Labs series also includes single-topic kits on plants, physics, light and colors, animals, weather, and cars and motors. This product is a Fall 2007 Parent's Choice Award winner. Launch date: June 2007. 2/27/2007 (Price: $34.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Anti-gravity Globe - Levitron AG by FASCINATIONS

This product defies well-known scientific theorem by featuring one permanent magnet floating on top of another. A globe (or any suitable object) can be made to levitate above a specially engineered, electromagnetic base. It appears to defy the Earnshaw-Braunbeck theorem, more than a century old. Launch date: April 2007.
— The fact that this globe seems to defy a long-known scientific theorem related to magnets is one reason it received a TDmonthly Innovations 2007 award. It also makes a great desk ornament, sure to stop all passersby who just can’t help but take a closer look. ( Watch Video) 2/23/2007 (Price: $89.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Aromatic Eucalyptus by DUNECRAFT INC.

Eucalyptus, noted for attracting wildlife, is in leaf all year and in flower from July to August. It is easy to grow and lasts for years. The leaves are used in traditional aboriginal herbal remedies, and the essential oil found in the leaves is a powerful antiseptic used in many over-the-counter remedies for relieving cough, cold, sore throat and infection. The essential oil citronella is found in most Eucalyptus. “This product was rooted in consumer suggestion and contains a plethora of fun and educational information. This micro-terrarium contains everything needed to grow eucalyptus from seed, including informative instructions and care information,” Alicia Borley of DuneCraft told TDmonthly. 2/23/2007 (Price: $4.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Eggling: Lavender de Provence by NOTED CO

This precious little Eggling looks and feels like an extra large egg, but kids can crack its top to discover a garden ready for sowing. It is made of white porous ceramic and comes with a  terra-cotta tray and a seed pack of either herbs (basil, Italian parsley, mint or thyme) or flowers (chrysanthemum, lobelia, phlox or petunia). The plants grow for up to five months in the Eggling and can then be planted directly in soil. 2/19/2007

ATV RTR Metal Detector Vehicle by SCIENCE TECH

This is the Swiss Army Knife of metal detectors ... or is it the Transformer of radio-controlled vehicles? It’s two products in one. The ATV RTR Metal Detector Vehicle is a cool dune buggy kinda thing that races off all-terrain, guided by the whims of the kid controlling it. It also has a metal detector built in (good down to 10”) for finding coins, cans and buried treasure. Kids can take it to the beach and zoom around, and when it beeps, dig. A couple of plastic digging tools complete the set. 1/30/2007 (Price: $34.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mini Solar Robot Kits by OWI INC.

Let's meet OWI's new Mini Solar Robot and science kits. These frolicking fancies are easy to assemble and demonstrate alternative energy principles. They are simple and friendly, and will put a smile on any child 8 years and up. Happy Hopping Frog, Super Solar Racing Car, Frightened Grasshopper, Walking King Crab, and Attacking Inch Worm fit nicely into OWI's JR Science Series. Besides having jovial names, they have become our premiere entry level product. Because of their entry-level price points, retailers will grow fond of their movements; both off the shelf and after assembly. If a make-it-and-take-it type product is what you are looking for, these hands-on terrestrial tantalizers will make you the local hero. Our research team has found this product to be a distinct liking in educational programs such as after-school, summer and vacation programs. How about science workshops? You betcha! How about one-hour projects? Perfect! Let's show the kids how truly engaging science can be with OWI's new Mini Solar Robot and science kits.  ( Watch Video) 1/25/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magic School Bus Series – The Journey into the Human Body by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride into the human body with these breathtaking experiments. Young Scientists bend bones, make joints, map taste buds, expand lungs, build a stethoscope, measure lung capacities and heart rates, perform the iodine starch test, spin glitter, simulate synovial fluid, create a human body poster, and much, much more. This exciting kit includes a life-size poster with 8 sheets of body part stickers. “This is a true hands-on learning experience in that children make everything themselves. … They are also building a life-size human poster [that] will be a dazzling addition to any child's room,” President Esther Novis of The Young Scientists Club told TDmonthly. This product received the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval and an iParenting Media Award, as well as a 2007 Parents' Choice Recommended Award. Launch date: January 1, 2007.

Past videos: Toy Fair 2007 ( Watch Video) 1/11/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magic School Bus Series – The Mysteries of Rainbows by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride into the mysteries of rainbows with these awesome experiments. Young Scientists wear rainbow glasses, design a rainbow spinner, blow rainbow bubbles, make rainbow milk, bend white light, mix colored paddles, bounce light waves off ceilings, recreate Newton’s prism experiment, and much, much more. This product received the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval and an iParenting Media Award. 1/11/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magic School Bus Series – The World of Germs by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride into the world of germs with these thrilling experiments. Young Scientists will grow bacteria and fungi, test antibiotics, make a fungus bubble, explore antibiotics, grow mold, wake up fungi, cultivate bacteria in yogurt, use yeast to inflate a balloon and much, much more. Seatbelts, everyone: Get ready to discover The World of Germs. This product received the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval and an iParenting Media Award, as well as a 2007 Parents' Choice Approved Award. Launch date: January 1, 2007. 1/11/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Slooh Explore Space Live Activity Books – Volume 1 by BLUESTORM PRODUCTIONS INC.

These activity books provide a great way for families to learn about celestial objects, and then see them in real-time, where they can take pictures, print them out, and paste them in their books. They can also fill in information such as distance from the earth and sky conditions at the time of viewing. Each book contains 14 missions and has a telescope card sealed on the front cover.
— Slooh Explore Space Live is the “only product in the marketplace that teaches kids/adults about our universe and then provides the mechanism to go see these celestial objects live by accessing high-powered telescopes through a home computer,” commented Patrick Paolucci of Bluestorm. Launch date: February 2007. ( Watch Video) 1/8/2007 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Young Scientist Series by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

The Young Scientist Series kits (new packaging for 2007) provide young scientists with hours of science experiments, learning and fun. The sets can be completed in order to experience the ultimate science adventure, or they can be done individually. Get young scientists hooked and they will come back for more. This product has received the following awards: Dr. Toy Best 100 products, The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, Learning Research Institute Outstanding Resource Award, National Parenting Publications Honors Award, Learning Magazine 2004 Teachers’ Choice Award, and Practical Homeschooling Reader Award.
— When asked about best-selling science and nature toys in his store, Wayne Kneeland, owner of Toy Shop in Bristol, R.I., replied, "I would say the Young Scientists Club, including various kits such as Zany Crystals and Volcano Madness. They are some pretty interesting kits."
— Kneeland told TDmonthly in summer 2007 that he sells about 12 Young Scientists Club kits a month.
— "The multiple-award-winning Young Scientists Series is unique in that each set contains three complete science kits, including three manuals and three supply bags, that will provide ‘Young Scientists' with hours of science experiments, learning and fun," said Esther Novis, president of The Young Scientists Club.
 1/8/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Magic School Bus Series by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

This series of fun and exciting science kits is based on the popular Magic School Bus book series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. Ms Frizzle and her students make science an exhilarating experience in "The World of Germs," "The Mysteries of Rainbows" and "A Journey into the Human Body." The series has received the following awards: Spring 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval; 2007 Toy of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine; 2007 Father's Day Seal of Approval from Mr. Dad; eChoice Award, 2007 Seal of Approval and Award of Excellence from The Toy Man; and two 2007 Parents' Choice Foundation Recommended Awards. 1/8/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

3-D Solar System by GREAT EXPLORATIONS

The Great Explorations division continues to illuminate the galaxy coinciding with the renewed interest in planets and space. The newly updated 3-D Solar System and 3-D Planets in a Tube both capture the “new” solar system after astronomers redefined the planets in 2006.
— “The new Glow-in-the-Dark 3-D Solar System is innovative because it is the first product to capture the newly updated solar system with eight planets and three dwarf planets,” Matthew Crovitz of University Games told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2007. 1/5/2007 (Price: $19.98)

Flying Bat by UNCLE MILTON INDUSTRIES INC.

This realistic flying bat flaps its wings to soar and swoop through the sky. The creature of the night flies using a unique power drive winder and internal torsion system that provides satisfying flying time. It includes a cool stand for display. Launch date: Q4 2007. 1/5/2007 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Solar Robots™ by UNCLE MILTON INDUSTRIES INC.

Solar Robots use real solar cells to power themselves. Using only the power they harness from the sun, these robots can walk around. Solar Robots are available in two styles and are for outdoor use only.  Launch date: Spring 2007. ( Watch Video) 1/5/2007 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]