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

Zero Blaster by ZERO TOYS, INC.

The Zero Blaster is the latest addition to the Zero Toys Vapor-Ring toy line. With a bright blue LED light and ray-gun sound effect, it blasts 2"- to 4"-diameter vapor rings up to 12'. It uses safe, non-toxic (water-based) fluid. ( Watch Video) 8/30/2006 (Price: $19.95)

BugView One Hand Bug Catcher by CARSON OPTICAL

BugView is a "one-hand" bug catching tool with a thumb-operated trapping slider that makes it easy to catch even the speediest specimens! The 5× crystal-clear acrylic magnifier allows surrounding light in and lets you see the smallest details with ease. Kids will have hours of fun with this educational tool. 8/25/2006 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dig a Dino by TOYSMITH

The Cretaceous Era came to an end 65 million years ago, and so did the dinosaurs. Nothing's left but fossils. Now kids can excavate parts of a T-rex, Triceratops or Stegosaurus skeleton from a mound of clay "earth,” and then assemble it. It’s like being a real paleontologist. Dig out the bones, assemble them, put them on display. Each kit includes a Kidz Quiz, instructions and excavator's tools. 8/21/2006 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bath Bomb Factory by TOYOPS INC.

Create beautiful scents for bath time! - Make scented 'Bath Bombs', 'Phunny Phoam', magic tricks and much much more while learning about acid base reactions and becoming a scientist. 8/17/2006 (Price: $13.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Classic Political Earth by HUGG-A-PLANET

This is our Classic Hugg-A-Planet® Earth."Best 25 Toys of the Past 25 Years" A real globe but soft over 600 places labeled. 8/8/2006 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kids Compass Ring by CAROLYN FORSMAN CONVERSATION PIECE JEWELRY

Adjustable plastic shank in frosted red, blue, lime, and clear. It really works. Great for boys. 3 for $12. 8/2/2006 (Price: $5.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Threek by NAVIR S.n.c

The Threek is composed of three different instruments: a periscope, a microscope and a telescope. With simple movements, the Threek is transformed from one instrument to another. The telescope provides 12x magnification and the microscope 10x magnification. The periscope is great for seeing over walls. 8/1/2006 (Price: $33.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fuel Cell Science Kit (FCJJ-11) by HORIZON FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.

This fuel-cell science kit demonstrates the real possibilities of how hydrogen can be used as a 100 percent clean fuel for cars in the future. The car can steer independently of the user once in operation: When the car hits a barrier, it will automatically find its way by reversing and turning 90 degrees. A user manual makes the car kit easy to construct and operation only requires 2AA batteries and water. Solar panels can also be used and are available as an option. The science kit contains a fuel cell, a car chassis, a small electric motor, two water and gas storage containers, cables, tubes, a plastic syringe and a user manual. 8/1/2006 (Price: $69.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

H-Racer by DYNATECH ACTION INC.

Witness the power of new energy technology in the palm of a child’s hand. That's right: This car does not need batteries. It uses a real fuel cell and its own on-board hydrogen storage system.  Horizon has created a unique, patented miniature fuel-cell car and hydrogen refueling station. For the first time, hydrogen produced externally can be fueled into an on-board storage tank. Once the car's hydrogen tank is full, the refueling station is disconnected and the car can run on its own hydrogen fuel-cell system, with the simple flip of a switch. The car measures only 6.5” x 2.8”, making this the smallest fuel cell car in the world. Recently nominated for the Intel Environment Award in Silicon Valley's Tech Museum, Horizon's miniature car is about to spread a positive message to a wide audience of children and adults around the world. Fueling station is sold separately for $40.00. 8/1/2006 (Price: $40.00)

Solar System Learning Wheel by MUDPUPPY PRESS

When kids rotate the Solar System "Around and About" Learning Wheel to align die-cut windows, they reveal cool facts underneath. Is Plut really a planet? They can have fun with the universise with this portable reference tool. It includes a storage pouch with string closure. 7/28/2006 (Price: $10) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Webs to Whales Nature Tales by BLOCK PUBLISHING

This series of illustrated storybooks with interactive CD-ROMs teaches the science behind imaginative stories of a little spider's colorful web and a young whale's rescue. The companion CD uses a variety of
activities, photos and video to introduce kids to the fascinating worlds of spiders or whales. Children mix colors, compare spiders with insects, catch flies, watch whales leap and dive, hear a whale song, or
put together puzzles. Printable activities in math, reading and science are included. This series won a 2007 Teachers' Choice Award for the Family. And "True Blue Friend" won a Learning Magazine Teachers' Choice Award for 2007.
— President Cheryl Block noted that her company has integrated the tangible quality of books with technology. Children begin with the story, use the computer as a tool, and then use printable activity pages for hands-on activity. 7/28/2006 (Price: $21.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Anatomics™ by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Discover the anatomy of a prehistoric monster! Create the metamorphosis from guts to bones to scales! Includes step by step assembly guide to create your own 17" primordial beast! Comes complete with 42 pieces! 7/28/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Smithsonian Chemistry Set MicroChem XM 5000 by NSI INTERNATIONAL INC.

This Chemistry Set from Smithsonian is all-inclusive. Kids can perform more than 1,500 experiments and procedures in the gaseous phases of matter, chemical models, solutions, acids, bases, electrochemistry, organic chemistry and more using the latest microchemistry methods. The MicroChem XM 5000 chemistry set includes chemicals and apparati to perform all experiments, a detailed manual and a standing storage chest lab to hold everything. 7/26/2006 (Price: $49.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My First Chemistry Kit by SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER

Introduce young kids to the magic of chemistry. This kit includes a microscope that magnifies 100x, 200x and 450x and comes with safe accessories. The science guide contains easy introduction activities to perform with the microscope. Kids learn about chemistry as they make a beautiful ornament and test acids and bases. The kit includes lots of activities and experiments for a younger scientist.
— "Scientific Explorer makes the ... My First Chemistry Set, and those have always done well for me," said Alison Cox, owner of Animal Quackers in Raleigh, N.C.
— Cox told TDmonthly in summer 2007 that she sells about five kits a month from Scientific Explorer.
— "The First Chemistry Set is for young children and parents to be introduced to a microscope as well as fun activities involving chemistry and chemical reactions. It's just fun to do,” Susan Rives of Scientific Explorer told TDmonthly. 7/26/2006 (Price: $19.99)

Chem C1000 by THAMES & KOSMOS

Enroll in Chem C1000 and prepare a child for a lifetime of fascination through 75 diverse experiments. Build a mini fire extinguisher and make water flow uphill in experiments with air pressure. Float a soap-powered boat to learn about the surface tension of water. Entertain friends and family with chemistry "magic" tricks, and then enlighten them with the scientific explanations behind the magic. Identify the elements in different chemical substances with dazzling colors in flame tests. The 40-page, full-color Experiment Manual guides aspiring young chemists, chemical engineers, lab technicians and researchers. 7/26/2006 (Price: $79.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Static Powered Neon Lights by STEVE SPANGLER SCIENCE

A child becomes a static detective as he or she uncovers sources of energy with the glowing neon light. Kids just scrape their feet across the floor and watch the neon light flicker. It's a human-powered light that is both safe and inexpensive. 7/26/2006 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Super Inventor's Lab by LOGIBLOCS

This ultra-giant set comes with instructions for building light and sound detectors, an electronic eye, door and drawer alarms, metal detector, space ships and more. It includes 33 electronic blocks, two pressure mat cards, three wires, a jack plug, a light bulb and holder, a pouch, filter paper, stickers and an Inventor's Manual. All Logiblocs integrate with each other to provide an ongoing expandable discovery system of endless creative fun. 7/26/2006 (Price: $92.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hot Wires by JOHN ADAMS TRADING CO., LTD.

Hot Wires is the ultimate in snap-together electronics. A child can make anything from a flying disk to a burglar alarm, from a voice recorder to an FM radio with automatic station selection or even a lie detector. With simple, full-color, step-by-step instructions a kid can become an electronic wizard in no time. 7/26/2006 (Price: $75.00)

Air Zinger Robot Kit by OWI INC.

Air Zinger inhales and then blasts out an included ball through its cannon-like loader. Zigging and zagging is no problem with its wired controller. A child can easily make it move forward, backward, left and right. When the propeller is activated to retrieve the ball, it is like watching a largemouth bass inhale its lunch. On command, its special compartment stores the ball and launches it. Quick and easy to assemble, this kit challenges cognitive skills and helps to develop a growing interest in science and robotic creation. 7/26/2006 (Price: $44.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mars by HUGG-A-PLANET

This is the most detailed globe of Mars available anywhere. Visit the Red Planet with more than 400 places labeled. It is proportional to classic Earth. The globe comes with a fact sheet on the planet Mars. 7/26/2006 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Georello Motor by QUERCETTI INTELLIGENT TOYS

This motorized set is compatible with all the Georello line. It includes a new motor unit that has two controls: a large turning knob with three positions to determine the direction of rotation (forward, reverse, neutral) and a second large knob that works as a manual accelerator, determining the speed of rotation, from slow to very fast motion. This set includes six gears in three sizes and six interlocking plates. It also includes a booklet that shows how to integrate the motor unit into all the other Georello sets. 7/26/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Science of Special Effects by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

This kit explores key concepts behind optical illusions and special effects as kids complete the 30 engaging experiments inside. Each experiment is fully illustrated in a step-by-step format, and then the science behind the effect is explained in kid-friendly language. The kit includes all components necessary, except for a few household items. 7/26/2006 (Price: $39.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Beetle Barn by INSECT LORE

Kids can follow the life cycle of the mealworm with this easy-to-raise, easy-to-do kit. It comes with a tri-chambered “Barn” habitat, a super magnifier for insect observation, detailed instructions with acres of insect information, and, most important of all, a certificate for 25 to 35 mealworm larvae. 7/26/2006 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Blasteroid Rocket w/Launcher by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Soft, safe rockets with an all foam launch pad. The Blasteroid uses air power to launch a rocket up to 50 feet in the air. Two foam rockets, launch pad, and foot pump are inlcuded. 7/26/2006 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Light-up Ramrocket® by POOF-SLINKY INC.

14" Ramrocket with light up rocket top. Activate light in rocket top for night-time fun! See a stream of red light as the rocket soars into the night sky. On/off switch to conserve batteries. Display not included. ( Watch Video) 7/26/2006 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]