Color Caterpillars are designed as a captivating way to introduce children to colors, patterns and sizes. The big, bright, snap-together pieces are made for little hands to manage as they build cute, colorful, caterpillar friends, develop fine motor skills, and engage in early exploration at the same time. Color Caterpillars encourages creativity with 15 mix-and-match pieces and includes a convenient plastic storage jar. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

Number Bugs are designed to introduce children to numbers, counting 0 to 5, addition and color matching. The chunky, snap-together pieces are made for little hands to manage as they build adorable bug friends, develop fine motor skills, and engage in early learning at the same time. The 18-piece set makes six bugs and includes a convenient plastic storage jar. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— “[We] do a lot with Learning Resources in math,” Jacque Flagg, owner of Jacque’s Inc. in Bryan, Texas, told TDmonthly in fall 2009 about best-selling educational supplies.
— Two of 40 retailers named Learning Resources as a top-selling brand for school supplies and educational products.

Little chefs fill pies, roll cookies and more. This set invites kids to imagine holding a pretend bake-off, making special treats for company, running their own bakery, or entering the school bake sale. It features an egg that cracks open to release the yolk, cookies in four shapes to cut out, and more. The set introduces parts of a whole with a sliceable, three-piece loaf of bread and a pie with three, two-piece slices kids can fill with the included fruit. It comes with 31 plastic pieces, including favorite baked goods, a measuring cup and spoon, and other utensils a baker needs. The rolling pin (the set’s largest piece) measures 8.5” L. "From mimicking what happens in the kitchen at home to imaginative play such as running a restaurant, the Pretend and Play Bakery Set offers a realistic hands-on play experience as well as educational play," Nancy Davies, group account director for Salmon Borre Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

With the Pretend & Play Birthday Set, kids can design custom invitations for special guests, and decorate the cake and three presents. The five cake pieces feature candles numbered one to five to help with counting. Also included is a birthday crown, a pretend camera, birthday cards and more. "It encourages creativity through the design of invitations and cake decorations to number play with the numbered candles and cake slices," Nancy Davies, group account director for Salmon Borre Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

Speed, smarts and reflexes get a workout in the Jitterz Fast-Paced Trivia Game that sets players on edge. Instead of buzzing in, two to four players keep their hands on pads as Jitterz reads a question, then multiple choice answers. The first player to pull her hand up after the correct answer has been read wins. More than 250 general questions about science and world geography, simple classification, and logic questions challenge children to expand their knowledge. It includes an Activity Guide, adjustable volume and automatic shut-off. An AC adapter is available separately. Launch date: April 15, 2009.

The Funny Phone Early Listening Game is created to get players of all ages giggling. Players dial a number and listen as Funny Phone tells what the next game is. With more than 300 challenges — tongue twisters, singing, drawing, acting and more — Funny Phone is full of surprises. Winners can dial a secret phone number to hear a victory message. It features automatic shut-off, adjustable volume and a break-away safety cord. It requires 3 AA batteries, not included. An AC adapter is available separately. This product was named one of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009. Launch date: April 15, 2009.

Got It Reading & Math Game is a two-sided electronic game with two arcade-style joysticks. Word and math questions appear on the screen and players move their cursors to “grab” the correct answers before they are eaten up by the opponent or the friendly monster (also offers solo play). It features bonus rounds, volume control, automatic shut-off and two headphone jacks that allow quiet play. It includes Activity Guide and an AC adapter is available separately. "This game provides the option of either a reading or a math game, providing immediate feedback and play for one or two players," Nancy Davies, group account director for Salmon Borre Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 15, 2009.

An electronic dice roll gives players a target number, and kids (or parents) race to add or subtract the light-up numbers one through 9 at their station. Once a player has used all of his numbers, he's scored a knockout. Players can also train for matches in solo mode. The announcer’s voice, starting bell and roaring crowd send fighters into the ring ready to rumble. It features volume control and automatic shut-off, and includes an Activity Guide. An AC adapter is available separately. Launch date: April 2, 2009.

Little anglers can hook the catch of the day, and an adjustable vest makes play more realistic. Kids can play a size-matching game with worms and fish. It features six pages of write-and-wipe, fishing-themed activities. Plastic pieces include a pole with magnetic hook, three magnetic fish, three worms, a net and a vest (plastic, nylon and canvas). All magnets are embedded for safety, and the plastic tackle box stores all pieces. "This fishing set is a realistic representation of fishing, allowing imaginative play, while also being able to play matching games with the various size worms and colored fish that come with the set," Nancy Davies, group account director at Salmon Borre Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— Deborah Smith from Toys That Teach in Richmond, Va., told TDmonthly in a December 2011 survey that Learning Resources Pretend & Play kits were among her best selling Halloween products.

Kids can name the five figurines and take charge of the day, from writing on the "blackboard" to extra-long recess. This set is compatible with other Gears! Gears! Gears! sets. Kids can follow the color-coded building instructions or use their imaginations. The 60-piece set includes 20 colorful gears, five figurines, playground equipment, a write-and-wipe schoolhouse, a flag, a sticker sheet and a base. All pieces except the cardboard school house are plastic. "Gears! Gears! Gears! School Set is a hands-on educational product that builds fine motor skills while creating positive feelings about school," Nancy Davies, group account director at the Salmon Borre Group, PR agency for Learning Resources, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

With this 63-piece kit, kids can build all five Simple Machines at the same time. Students can construct, examine, and explain simple machines to develop a deeper understanding of how they make work easier. The set contains enough pieces to build a lever, pulley, inclined plane, wheel and axle, and wedge. Children can modify the machines with four included weights (two 5g and two 10g) and eight included rubber bands to explore effort, force, load, motion and distance. The labeled pieces assemble easily and separate to store. An Activity Guide is included. Launch date: January 31, 2008.

This 18-piece set helps kids learn essential skills such as how to button, snap, buckle and tie. Inside the backpack are even more learning tools including a pencil holder, stencil shape ruler, assignment notebook, mix-and-match milk carton, three jumbo crayons, calculator, ID card, lunch bag, stickers and a 5-piece counting apple.

The plastic play fruits separate into pieces to help children learn number sense, number recognition, counting (one to five) and part-to-whole relationships — a key early fractions concept. The five-piece set also encourages fine motor skills, healthy snacking and imaginative play. Embedded magnets (orange, apple and plum) and friction fitting (banana) make numbered pieces easy to assemble. All five fruits store in 7-3/4" bowl. Launch date: January 2008.

The set invites kids to discover and observe bugs and plants, using a magnifying observation box, a viewer with tweezers, a butterfly net and more. The set also includes a write-and-wipe matching activity and fact page. All pieces in the set are durable, and come packaged in a convenient 14"L x 12"W x 3-1/2"H storage and carrying case. Launch date: January 2008.

Follow the best, or march to your own! Push the monkey’s tongue, then try to remember and repeat the series of beats using the 2 drumsticks or your hands. Bongos detach for a creative jam session for 2 kids. Also include cymbal and triangle.

Count your chickens—and your pigs and cows, too! Adorable interactive mat with animal sounds features 4 games, plus a music mode that plays 10 different children’s songs. Play explores numbers, counting, greater and lesser amounts, and animal sound patterns. Engaging characters encourage children to follow spoken directions. 

Kids can’t help cracking up as they hurry to unscramble their eggs first. No reading required—just fast hands and eyes as players recognize and match colors in simple patterns. Includes game base, eggs, egg cartons, double-sided cards and game guide.

Dial up a world of play with our cordless pretend phone that doubles as a cell phone. It’s easy to program and record up to 3 personalized messages, or listen to 10 pre-recorded messages from friends around town. Features 3 modes of play: dial correctly to hear messages, remember 3-, 4- or 5-digit sequences; or learn 911 safety as an interactive lesson. Speakerphone included. Two volume levels. For 1-4 players.

Know your coins? Cash in and win! Dual keypads and screens let kids race to beat the clock or best each other as they add coin values and learn equivalencies. High-quality sound with adjustable volume offers engaging play and immediate feedback. Includes five different games and guide. Higher levels feature even more problem-solving challenges with limitations on number of moves and more. For 1-2 players.

Kids can create a one-of-a-kind canine, or follow the color-coded instructions to build three different dogs. The set challenges problem-solving and fine motor skills with snap-together pieces that are compatible with all other Gears! Gears! Gears! sets. Remote control brings everything to life with motion and doggy sounds. Includes plastic gears, mouth, nose, tail, stickers and more.
— “We do very well with Gears, Gears, Gears from Learning Resources,” Bob Breneman, owner of G Wilikers in Portsmouth, N.H., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— Brandy Cardenas, manager of Timbuk Toys in Denver, Colo., told TDmonthly in April 2008 that her store currently carries this item.
— The Gears! Gears! Gears! line includes various sets targeted to a broad age group of children.

All aboard! Unique melody-building train set invites children to play composer and conductor at the same time. Lay down the note tiles and let the electronic engine read them, creating a traveling song. No reading required just match the colors in the songbook to play 7 children’s songs and learn Melody Express the C scale. Or, improvise your own tunes! Set of 60 pieces includes tiles (low C through high C), track segments, engine, coal car and engineer figure for pretend play.

Test your number knowledge with over 15 different kinds of math problems! Engaging play features 4 games with 3 levels each. Helps children learn number values, place value, rounding, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Sounds and lights reward success and allow self-checking. For 1-2 players.

Playing school is fun and prepares kids for learning. This set has everything a kid needs to let his or her imagination run wild in the ultimate pretend classroom: grade book, clock, bell, calendar, map, pointer and much more.
— In a Fall 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers said that the Pretend & Play School Set was their best selling educational toy.

Challenge construction creativity while encouraging gross motor coordination through movement. Motorized set plays music, dances and comes with 110 pieces, including a flashing fan light, disco ball, floppy hair, oversized glasses, action mouth, pointing hands, stickers and more. Color-coding makes it easy for students to follow building instructions for 3 different models, or build their own. Compatible with all other Gears! Gears! Gears!!® sets. Measures approximately 16"L x 10 1/2"W x 12"H when assembled. Requires 3 AA and 3 AAA batteries, not included.

With 6 different word games and arcade-style, trackball action, Alphaball™ Electronic Word Game makes spelling and word-building practice irresistible–in English and Spanish! Players choose a language setting, spin the trackball to scramble the letters of a word, then race to solve word puzzles. An electronic display screen, countdown lights, sound effects and music engage students in English, Spanish, ELL and bilingual classrooms alike. Measures 14”L x 6”W x 9”H. For 1 or more players. Requires 3 AA batteries, not included.