The Magnifying Bug Viewer has a 3.5" magnifying lie and features air holes to allow the insect to breath. Kids can watch a little creature for a while, then let him go. It's simple, educational, and fun.
— "I would say that our best-selling in science and nature are those little plastic magnifying cups with the magnifier on the top. We definitely go for volume on those items. I get mine from Toysmith," said Dalene Lockhart, owner of Toy Town in Casper, WY.

Kids can pop up their Port-A-Bug, put in some friendly insects, and they're ready for some fun with bugs. They can observe butterflies, ladybugs, and other friendly critters in the airy mesh habitat, then let them go. The Port-A-Bug compresses back into its tote-sack, clips to a kid's hip, and they're off and ready to explore some more. It features a lightweight and escape-proof ventilated mesh, and a convenient nylon carrying handle. The Port-A-Bug is a winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award.
— "We sell a lot of bug catching items from Insect Lore. It's collapsible. It's called Port-A-Bug," said Shirley Reilly, owner of Let's Play in Hillsboro, Ore.

These microscopes not only plug right into the TV, but also look like cool disembodied eyes. Simply plug in the composite video input and the kid-friendly microscope will magnify everything at 200x and display it on the television screen. According to Jakks Pacific Inc. Director of Corporate Communications Anne-Marie Feliciano, the device will allow kids to “share their discoveries with their friends, family and classroom. This product is a winner of numerous awards, including an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, a Parents Magazine Best Toy Award, a Parenting Magazine Mom-Tested Toy of the Year Award and more.

Blooming Clip Card has a continuous message delivery effect as it grows plants while attached to a greeting card. It makes a fantastic thank you, marriage proposal, wedding invitation and celebration card for special occasions. Since the card is made from organic materials and contains plant seeds, it blossoms much faster while maintaining its small size and fit. Launch date: March 2007.

The Eco Dome is distinctively designed to mimic real world land-systems, living systems and to show atmospheric effects. Explore the science of global warming and weather patterns (thermals and storms) and create micro climates and link environments with other wild science nature systems. The system has been specifically designed to help children understand planet management and how to explore the fragile world in which we live. This product is a 2008 iParenting Media Award winner. Launch date: January 10, 2008.
— "One quality that sets this product apart from all others: There is no science kit like this in the world – except the world itself," Dennis Callaghan of Toyops Inc. told TDmonthly. Additionally, the product “is eco-friendly and part of a connectable world.”

The easy-to-make Worm Farm is a scientific recreation of a real underground worm nest. It gives kids a close look at the daily routine of worms, educating them about the science of Oligochaetology. Clean, easy to keep and inexpensive to feed, these low maintenance creatures makes wonderful pets. This product is a 2008 iParenting Media Award winner.

Create gruesomely lifelike brain-shaped soap. Operate on special castings to make slippery soap eyeballs. Graft soap fingers onto your soap creations to scare everyone including you! Blend colors and fragrance to make your own signature soap.

Be a BSI! Super-cool portable tools let kids discover bug body parts, eating habits and other bug business—wherever they go. BSI Bug Scope Double-viewing action shows bugs from the top and bottom! GeoSafari® Bug Patrol® Catch-and-release container clips to clothing for hands-free bug patrol. Super Sleuth Microscope Check out tiny bugs at 30x their normal size! Discovering Bugs Full-color booklet gives kids the scoop on bug care.

Children can grow a collection of dinosaurs with this set of ten colored beans that are marked with images of dinosaurs using a patented process. Magically, seedlings grow from the soil with the animal images still on them and then develop to yield edible beans. The dinosaurs include Stegosaurus, Triceratops, T-Rex, Brontosaurus and more. The beans come in a poly bag, along with a recyclable
planter, vermiculite growing medium and detailed instructions. Launch date: January 2008.

The AstroMaster Series produce bright, clear images of the Moon and planets. It is easy to see the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn with every one of these fine instruments. For views of the brighter deep space objects like galaxies and nebulae, we recommend the larger aperture and light gathering ability of the Newtonian reflectors.

The Celestron PowerSeeker series of telescopes is designed to give the first-time buyer the perfect combination of quality, value, features and power. Offering exceptional value, these telescopes feature portable yet powerful designs with ample optical performance to excite any newcomer to the world of amateur astronomy.

The bonsai village includes elm, lilac, pea shrub, beauty bush, butterfly bush and more. The plants will begin growing in less than a week and live for years. “It teaches children all different kinds of techniques such as pruning, wiring, over-wintering and more. In other words, it helps bring learning to life,” Dunecraft Inc. Public Relations Specialist Alicia Borley told TDmonthly. This product is a Spring 2007 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Award winner. Launch date: October 2006.

Every box of this dinosaur excavation game is comprised of a digging tool set and a buried dinosaur fossil, and the game simulates the common searching pattern paleontologists use in the field. The museum-quality products conform to United States and European Safety standards (EN71, ASTM F963 and AS1647). “Our product is the only digging play-type dinosaur game that could make layers simulating real paleontologists’ action. The dinosaur fossil is made from stone powder, which is three times stronger than similar products in the market,” President Tony Sangvacharakul of Near Nature Corporation told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 24, 2007.

The Roly-Poly Playground is an exciting way to explore nature’s smaller creatures. Designed for “roly-poly” pill bugs and other small creatures, such as ladybugs, this miniature playground is portable for on-the-run fun and exploration. The domed habitat includes fun playground equipment, air vents and a snap-tight lid.

This kit allows kids to create colorful chemical brain corals, magically levitate objects using density gradients, and defy gravity with chemical “hoopla rings.” Kids will learn all about crystals, gels, suspensions and more while creating a “coral reef” and watching coral trees grow branches right before their eyes. Each kit contains enough material to fill two completely different tanks with plenty left for experimenting. This product is exclusively distributed by Toyops Inc. Launch date: July 2007.

Kids can build their own glider and learn all about the science of flight. These high-performance gliders can be launched either by hand or by the included tow rope. Kids will learn about aerodynamics in their efforts to get the best out of their aircraft for aerobatics, speed or long flights. A pilot’s exam and flight log book are provided to allow kids to feel like real pilots. This product is exclusively distributed by Toyops Inc. Launch date: July 2007.

With minimal assembly, kids can recreate a real underground ant colony and observe the amazing world of ants.  These scientifically accurate recreations allow kids to observe the ants in an almost natural habitat.  Ants make great pets because they are very clean, easy to keep and inexpensive to feed, and yet still teach kids the responsibility of caring for a pet.  This set is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the sciences of Myrmecology and Entomology.  This product is exclusively distributed by Toyops Inc.  Launch date: July 2007.

Children can grow a zoo with this set of 10 colored beans that are marked with images of zoo animals using a patent-pending process. Magically, seedlings grow from the soil with the animal images still on them and then develop to yield edible beans. The featured animals are a zebra, monkey, flamingo, elephant, alligator, snake, giraffe, bear, seal and lion. The beans come in a poly bag.

Kids can learn self-defense techniques as they play card games. The goal of the game is to repel all attacks by creating sequences of cards that represent actual self-defense techniques. This game is educational, fun and easy to play. Developed by two self defense teachers. Launch date: June 20, 2007.
— "U.S. stores are our main business partners. Their continuing support allows us to innovate and develop new and exciting products," said Jean-Pierre Grenier of SynHeme in summer 2007.

Usable indoors or outdoors, this super-powered microscope will magnify anything 40 times its natural size.  Author Shar Levine helps kids easily turn their home, bedroom or backyard into a laboratory.  The microscope can be used on the stand or off, and kids can observe the details of prepared slides or create their own.  Launch date: September 2007.

This kit includes a greenhouse with a transparent lid, two bags of Wonder Soil (100 mini wafers), three removable six-section trays and an activity guide with reproducible worksheets.  Setting up the greenhouse is simple, making the kit perfect for anyone without greenhouse experience.  Wonder Soil mini wafers expand quickly with water and are polymer-fortified for better drainage and faster plant growth.  The greenhouse measures 5.5" x 22.5" x 6.5".  Launch date: June 2007.

The Forest Ant Ecoterrarium measures 5” x 3-1/2” x 1” and features a unique gel formula that allows both ants and plants to cohabitate.  Made in Europe, the kit includes a magnifying glass, a handbook and a free gel refill kit.  Launch date: Spring 2007.

The S-shaped Super Antquarium measures 5-1/2” x 7” x 1-1/4”, which is allows ants a tremendous amount of space to dig their amazing network of tunnels in the blue transparent gel that is both their home and food.  Made in Europe, the kit includes a magnifying glass, a handbook and a free gel refill kit.  Launch date: Spring 2007.

This computer systems engineering kit introduces kids to microcontrollers, sensors and programming. The educational kit includes 100 experiments involving light, heat and sound sensors, data collection and more. Kids will learn about the inner workings of computers and programs and how to assemble circuits, design circuits and write programs. This product received a Spring 2007 Parents' Choice Silver Award.
— “This kit breaks down how computers actually work and thus is extremely relevant to the technology-dependent world in which children live and learn,” Christa Raimondo, customer relations manager for Thames & Kosmos, told TDmonthly.
— “Thames & Kosmos science kits do really well during the holidays,” Little Blue Choo Choo Manager Brandy Lindstrom in Scottsdale, Ariz., told TDmonthly.
— Five out of 58 retailers who spoke with TDmonthly named science kits as a popular gift item for older kids.

This two-in-one combination microscope has two built in light sources: one shines up through the slide and another shines down on solid objects.  The lenses are made of real optical glass, which produces a very clear image.  The microscope uses AA batteries, which makes it portable and usable outdoors.  Launch date: December 2006.