The kit provides kids with an interactive, hands-on learning experience. Kids will be able to witness the seed’s transformation into a plant inside the terrarium, and then learn to take care of the plant. “Our kits are fun and educational,” DuneCraft Inc. Public Relations Specialist Alicia Borley told TDmonthly. “The lure of growing a prehistoric plant as well as everything included with the Prehistoric Plant would be why this would be picked over another kit.” Launch date: February 2008.

The 20-page activity kit is portable and lightweight, making it perfect for keeping youngsters busy on long commutes. The activity book is full of puzzles, games and coloring pages that promote reading, artistic and imaginative thinking and puzzle-solving skills. Kids can color in their favorite pages and then use the included child-safe glue tube to decorate the page with bright foam stickers, googly eyes, spangles and more. “Not only would a child pick our books out of the crowd, but parents will, too!” Fibre-Craft Materials Corp. Marketing Communications Manager Gail Cohen told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

The princess activity kit is portable and lightweight, designed to keep youngsters busy on planes, trains and car trips. The 20-page activity storybook is full of puzzles, games and coloring pages that promote reading, artistic and imaginative thinking and puzzle-solving skills. Kids can color in their favorite pages and then use the included child-safe glue tube to decorate the page with bright foam stickers, googly eyes, spangles and more. “Not only would a child pick our books out of the crowd, but parents will, too!” Fibre-Craft Materials Corp. Marketing Communications Manager Gail Cohen told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

The portable, lightweight kit is designed to keep youngsters busy on planes, trains and car trips. The 20-page activity book promotes reading, artistic and imaginative thinking and puzzle-solving skills. Kids can color in their favorite pages and then use the included child-safe glue tube to decorate the page with bright foam stickers, googly eyes, spangles and more. “Not only would a child pick our books out of the crowd, but parents will, too!” Fibre-Craft Materials Corp. Marketing Communications Manager Gail Cohen told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

The kit features 30 snap-together parts, a rock-like base with six plant fossils, a dinosaur jawbone fragment, support rods, a full-color T-Rex action poster and full-color assembly instructions. The skeleton displays beautifully after assembly. “Dinosaurs are very popluar right now and our product is a great quality for the money,” Educational Insights Inc. Advertising and Public Relations Coordinator Heidi Bultman told TDmonthly. “Also, our dinosaur can be put together over and over again, and does not use glue.” Launch date: January 2008.

Personalize a photo frame with this kit. The kit includes a 7-1/2" x 9-1/2" photo frame base, one photo easel back, 1 lb. of recycled stained glass, 2 oz. of glass gems, 8 oz. tile grout, two plastic gloves, one wooden stir stick, 2 fl. oz. of mosaic glue and instructions. “Our kit is simple to use and includes everything needed to make it,” Milestones Products Marketing Associate Jeff Clark told TDmonthly. “Also, mosaics are a very easy and fun medium to work with and our kit lets children create something that's both artistic and usable.” Launch date: January 1, 2008.

Kits include the Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit and the Large Tie Dye Kit. The Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit contains three primary colors of Procion MX dye in applicator bottles, gloves, rubber bands, soda ash and written instructions. Enough product to do up to 5 shirts. The Large Tie Dye Kit dyes up to 15 adult T-shirts and contains primary colors of pre-measured procion dye powder in applicators, soda ash dye fixer, rubber bands, rubber gloves, an extra applicator bottle for mixing secondary colors and simple instructions. Launch Date: January 2010.

Kids can create their very own book with this kit. The wire-bound book comes with a blank centerpiece, easy tear-out pages, double-sided custom papers in 25 pattern choices, foam shapes, letters, googly eyes, glue stick, a double-tipped pen and simple instructions. Launch date: August 2008.

The kit comes with faux flower petals, faux leaves, sequins, glitter, metallic floss, cotton floss, wooden beads, perler beads, florists’ wire and more. There are enough materials to make eight homemade ornaments. Launch date: August 2008.

The book comes with eight blank, pre-folded cards and envelopes, die-cut paper flower shapes, dimensional foam tape, glitter and other embellishments, all in a variety of complementary colors and patterns. The kit allows anyone to easily make personalized cards. Launch date: August 2008.

The kit comes with four pages of line art on plastic clings, line art of a figure on clear plastic, two pattern plates with four textures each, eight colored pencils, 50 sheets punched tracing paper, a sketching pencil, a pencil sharpener, an eraser and a fine-tip pen. Launch date: August 2008.

The kit contains enough materials for four projects under the sun: two necklaces, colored thread, original shells and color instructions. “Easy to do, these summer projects will impress everybody,” Bojeux Inc. Coordinator Isabelle Grenon told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

The kit comes with assorted wood and felt pieces, one sheet of transfer, rattail, gems, three lobster clips and color instructions. “These dangle pals are easy to create…[and] very trendy,” Bojeux Inc. Coordinator Isabelle Grenon told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

The kit comes with enough materials to create three pouches: three assorted felt colors, six pre-cuts felt flowers, six buttons, one needle, colored thread and color instructions. “In a room, a dresser or a locker, it's the most fashion way to keep orderly your valuable objects,” Bojeux Inc.  Coordinator Isabelle Grenon told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

 The kit comes with enough assorted beads and gemstones to make two bracelets and two rings. Illustrated instructions are included. “It’s really fun to do and the result is amazing,” Bojeux Inc.  Coordinator Isabelle Grenon told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2008.

This 40-page, pirate-themed, interactive activity book comes with an eye patch, a compass, a bandana, face paint crayons, play coins, temporary tattoos, a treasure map and more. The book measures 9” x 9”.
— “We have a whole section on travel. Alex is a big one for us,” Jane Beck, owner of B.J. Beck’s Toys in Cedarburg, Wis., told TDmonthly in March 2008.
— Five percent of retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in March 2008 named Alex as the maker of the most popular travel toys.
— Pirate themes appear to be in, with over 7 percent of retailers who spoke with TDmonthly in March 2008 naming a pirate-themed item as a best-selling toy in their store.

The kit comes with a paper doll cowboy, two sheets of clothing and accessories and a three-panel press-and-cling closet. No scissors are needed, creating a mess-free activity. A cowgirl version is also available. “Clothes press out easily and cling to the dolls, making it easier for small hands to enjoy,” Liz Bjornstad, of Enchantmints’ sales department, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2008.

The kit comes with a paper doll fairy, two sheets of fairy clothing and accessories and a three-panel press-and-cling closet. No scissors are needed, creating a mess-free activity. “Paper Doll Fairies appeal to a young girl’s love of fairies and allow her to enter an imaginary fairy world in a hands-on way,” Liz Bjornstad, of Enchantmints’ sales department, told TDmonthly.

The kit comes with unique peel-and-stick stencils, fabric paint, glitter and fabric glue, allowing children to easily personalize fabric items such as sneakers, clothes, totes and accessories. “The party-sized kit is packaged in our kid-pleasing hot pink cake box and includes invitations, thank you cards, totes to decorate and enough art materials for a party of twelve,” Storybook Studio Founder Melissa Yamello told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2008.

The kit includes 16 Stonehenge rocks, a landscaped mat and a 32-page guide about the ancient wonder. Launch date: March 2008.

The nursery allows kids to hatch baby earthworms from real earthworm cocoons, and then watch them dig and grow in the special multi-chambered greenhouse habitat. Kids can even release the matured earthworms safely into their backyard. The educational and ecological kit comes with approximately 50 Vermipod™ earthworm cocoons, a greenhouse habitat, special growth soil and an instructional guide full of earthworm facts and activities.

The kit takes approximately 30 minutes to build and will allow kids to observe and learn all about how the lift is powered by water. Everything needed is included in the kit except for scissors, a ruler and water. Launch date: April 2008.

The kit is designed for children, allowing them to easily create a variety of unique robots. Launch date: February 2008.

The compact set gives kids a glimpse into three diverse cultures from a child’s point of view. The set includes 24-page photographic passports for Egypt, Italy and Mexico, three golden medallions and FactZ cards featuring famous landmarks and cultural icons. “Compass KidZ World Tour Medallions Set offers kids the chance to get a glimpse into other cultures, in a kid-relevant way, Compass KidZ Co-Founder Jennifer Apy told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 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.