Jimbo Matison’s So Crazy Japanese Toys! by Chronicle Books takes a look at campy toys based on Japanese TV show characters, from Ultraman and Space Giants to Battle Hawk and Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robots. Each chapter is devoted to a different class of Japanese toy. Extended sections include full information about each character shown in the book.

One of the Games for Your Brain, this deck contains 50 cards depicting each of the United States and eight Challenge cards. State cards have colorful photos and contain pertinent facts, such as the state capital, area, highest point and population. They also relate one Fun Fact, such as that Alaska is home to 98% of brown bears in the United States. There are instructions for five different card games, based on well-known games and marked with a difficulty level. Level 1 requires just the simplest concepts of counting and picture identification, while Level 3 games require reading skills and some problem-solving abilities. It's a great way to introduce kids to the world immediately surrounding them.

This step-by-step guide of classic yo-yo tricks includes an instruction book featuring over 20 popular yo-yo tricks. The kit includes yo-yo plus stickers. From walking the dog and skinning the cat to doing the buzz saw and rocking the baby, kids will become yo-yo pros while having fun looking at their favorite Nick characters.

Using materials easily found around the house, the more than 75 super duper activities in this book are designed to maximize fun. Rainy days or sunny days, at home or on the road, this book provides dozens of great ideas for keeping kids busy and helping them learn. Compiling ten years of your favorite 52 Deck art activities, the Super Duper Art & Craft Activity Book offers a crafty range of projects for children to make — indoors, barely messy to very messy, on one's own, or with friends. Kids of many ages will enjoy making projects such as patchword postcards and feet puppets.

The latest in the Caterpillar series, this book contains big puzzle pieces in the pages that pop out to assemble into a picture of a big dump truck. Kids can flip the pieces over to assemble a play mat that's perfect for children to use with their own toy trucks and machines. It's two puzzles in one for twice the fun.

knitting is the latest craze among all ages, and the perfect way for kids to pass time on long car rides or when there’s nothing on TV. This kit is designed for absolute beginners and teaches all the basics of knitting. There's a detailed, 36-page instruction booklet, a circular needle, a ball of yarn, and 10 pattern cards for the coolest knitted creations. READ MOM REVIEW

This set includes 18 full-color board books that feature baby animals hopping, waddling, leaping, trotting, flying and swimming. “This is a unique format for board books that comes in a convenient carrying case that will make the perfect gift,” Jessica Levy of Chronicle Books told TDmonthly. The product is a 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner. Launch date: April 2006.

From Ants in My Applesauce to Zany Zucchini Sticks, these 26 recipes offer young chefs a wide variety of hands-on cooking adventures. Each has clear, simple steps that children will find easy to follow — and in the process, they’ll learn about the foods they enjoy and practice skills like following directions and measuring. The product was developed by mother, cooking teacher and former chef Hilary Karmilowicz, and features tasty, kid-tested recipes. The set includes stickers and blank cards. Launch date: May 2007.

This book by award-winning author and artist Bob Barner features penguins sliding on their tummies and swimming in the sea, cuddling for warmth and hiding in the shade. It combines simple, whimsical verse with colorful collage images, and includes the “Penguin Parade” with information on all 17 penguin species. Launch date: February 2007.

This is just one title in Lynn Brunelle’s “The World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Deck” portable series, which also includes Reading! (ages 5 to 7), Math! (7 to 9), and World History & Geography! (11 to 13). The No. 1-selling kids’ almanac becomes a fun educational tool in these decks that include 75 curriculum-based activities to encourage subject-specific comprehension. They feature all-new games, puzzles, riddles and fascinating facts. This product won a 2006 NAPPA Toy Award, Gold Honor. Launch date: May 2007.

First introduced in 1997, J. otto Siebold and Vivian Walsh's modern Christmas classic about Olive, a little dog with big reindeer dreams, has since received great reviews and sold over one million copies.  The tenth anniversary deluxe edition is larger in size than the original and features flaps to lift, spots to scratch and sniff and a pop-up grand finale. Designed to be a perfect holiday gift, this edition will appeal to Olive's many fans and create many new fans. Launch date: December 2007.

Christmas is celebrated Latino style, with an angel hung above the door and zapatos filled with grass for the wise men’s camels. Each letter in this festive alphabet book introduces children to a Spanish word, and each colorful page takes children through a joyous aspect of the 22 days of the traditional holiday. Vibrant art from acclaimed illustrator Joe Cepeda complements the lively, rhythmic text to bring the reader a wealth of heritage — and a season of light. Launch date: December 2007.

This electronic quiz game lets kids prove how well they know their favorite shows. With 1,000 questions from 19 top-rated Nickelodeon shows, including “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” “The Fairly OddParents,” “Avatar,” “Zoey 101” and “Unfabulous,” Nickelodeon Trivia Challenge is sure to provide hours of entertainment. The electronic module picks the questions and kids choose from multiple-choice answers. It’s perfect for sharing with a friend, playing alone or livening up long car rides. Launch date: September 2007.

In this new series by award-winning author Sandra Markle, famous explorers take a backseat to the animals they encounter along the way. Through nimble writing and beautiful paintings, this series casts the past in a whole new light. "The author ... is an internationally known science education consultant," Cathleen Brady, senior manager of children's publicity for Chronicle Books, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2008.

This follow-up to Paleo Sharks features a 390-million-year-old cockroach, a 320-million-year-old millipede, and many other ancient creepy crawlies. It offers "high-interest, educational info in an appealing, high-design format," Cathleen Brady, senior manager of children's publicity for Chronicle Books, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2008.

The No. 1-selling kids' almanac becomes a fun educational tool in this trivia deck series for kids. Coded by age range and subject, each deck includes 75 fun and educational brainteasers that build skills in science, math, reading and vocabulary. "The World Almanac brand is widely recognized and trusted," pointed out Cathleen Brady, senior manager of children's publicity at Chronicle Books. This product received a 2008 Parents' Choice Recommended Award and a 2006 National Parenting Publications Toy Award, Gold Honor. Launch date: May 2008.

Much more than an atlas, this book is a virtual travel experience. It includes more than 40 maps, 30 feature articles on impressive places, more than 50 eye-popping 3-D photos of the world's most interesting sights, and two pairs of 3-D glasses. It "brings geography to life," Cathleen Brady, senior manager of children's publicity for Chronicle Books, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2008.

Through engaging and practical exercises, this guide teaches young girls valuable lessons to help them lead financially secure and independent lives. It is "written by The Women's Foundation of California with an introduction by Kathleen Brown, former Treasurer of the State of California," Cathleen Brady, senior manager of children's publicity for Chronicle Books, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2008.

This 32-page, full-color, hardcover chronicles the adventures of a kiss that goes astray and ends up landing right back where it was supposed to go in the first place — from a mother to her daughter.  It is written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Dan Baxter. Launch date: October 2008.

Create a delightfully modern house with this innovative set of modular nesting boxes! Aspiring architects and designers of all ages can create modern spaces, arrange furniture and accessories, and then remodel again to create endless variations of their unique and distinctive homes. Includes 7 nesting boxes, 8 mix-and-match furniture pieces, and 12 removable vinyl cling accessories. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

This hip press-out family includes 5 freestanding people, a cat, a dog, a doghouse, and over 150 mix-and-match vinyl cling pieces of clothing! Combine this with the MoMA Modern Play House for a completely modern experience. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Inspired by classic stringing bead toys, this innovative collection of 10 books in various shapes develops motor skills while introducing color, shape, and pattern in a wonderfully playful way. Children will have hours of fun reading this set as books, playing with them as blocks, or stringing them as beads. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Featuring striking design and photography, these unique lacing cards teach shapes, colors, and textures while they develop hand-eye coordination. Bright, colorful cards with die-cut shapes can be used alone or laced together into a book or a piece of hanging art. Fundamental concepts have never been so fun! WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

With eye-catching interiors and playful activities, this open-ended sketchbook encourages would-be artists of all ages to look at the world around them and take chances expressing what they see.

Stroller time is much more fun when these flash cards come along for the ride. This bright, graphic set includes five touch-and-feel cards in five different shapes with engaging textures and pictures. Easy to attach to a stroller, backpack, or diaper bag, these cards are visually stimulating in the box as well as in baby's hand.