June 2008 New Toys — Educational

National Geographic Kids Tropical Frog Display by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

Each 5" tropical frog reflects its defining characteristics with attention to accuracy and respect for the species. The frogs are available in five varieties: Fire Bellied Toad, Amazonian-Poisen Frog, Yellow-banded Poisen Frog, Red-eyes Tree Frog and Amazon Leaf Frog. Launch date: June 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $11.99)

National Geographic Kids Sea Turtle by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

The Sea Turtle comes with a "fun-fact" card that includes a stunning National Geographic Society photo of the sea turtle and educational information in a kid-friendly format “This cute and uncommon plush animal reflects the characteristics of a real sea turtle, making it lifelike and loveable!” International Playthings Inc. Representative Nicole Tiedemann told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $22.99)

Quercetti Tables Tube by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC

Children can learn their timetables with this mechanical calculator. Simply turn the knobs on the sides to select numbers between one and ten, and see multiplication and division equations at the same time. For example, “3 x 6 = 18 / 6 = 3.” “The tables tube is a fun, but inexpensive way of bringing the times tables wherever they go,” International Playthings Inc. Representative Nicole Tiedemann told TDmonthly. “Kids can surely use the practice, and will also love having a cool way of studying right in their pocket.” 5/30/2008 (Price: $24.99)

Grow Your Own Pine Tree by DUNECRAFT INC.

The pine tree kit comes with a coconut coir pot that can be planted directly in the ground after sprouting, colorful plant stakes, seed packs, germination mixture, informative instructions on the care and background of the trees and more. Other kits in the Grow Your Own Tree line include Austrian Pines, Siberian Elms, Gingko Trees and more. 5/30/2008 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Grow Your Own Elm Tree by DUNECRAFT INC.

The kit comes with a coconut coir pot that can be planted directly in the ground after sprouting, colorful plant stakes, seed packs, germination mixture, informative instructions on the care and background of the trees and more. Other kits in the Grow Your Own Tree line include Austrian Pines, Siberian Elms, Gingko Trees and more. 5/30/2008 (Price: $7.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kid Clock by Creations by You, Inc.

This kit allows children to put their drawings into the face of a wall clock. A time-teaching dial is also included to help children learn how to tell time. Launch date: 2000. 5/30/2008 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Rockin' Collection! Minerals by MINI ME GEOLOGY

The kit features minerals and testing equipment, all contained in a durable, travel convenient storage case. Additionally, the names of each mineral are provided below a foam pad, giving children an opportunity play a fun, identification game with the minerals. “Children enjoy the large, colorful minerals and the included streak plates, hand magnifier and identification cards that they can use for testing and identifying the minerals,” Tracy Barnhart of Mini Me Geology told TDmonthly. “Owners of the kit are also able to download additional free mineral information, experiments and puzzles from the company's website.” Launch date: 2007. 5/30/2008 (Price: $56.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ACHIEVE-Ability™ - Ancient Egyptian Treasure Search by WORLD CLASS LEARNING MATERIALS INC.

The four-level game has players comparing and ordering decimals through an ancient Egyptian treasure search game. At the same time, it teaches them about the different wonders of the world, such as the Nile River, the Sphinx and the Aswan Dam. “It is hard to find intermediate level games that can still capture a student who is at an older age,” World Class Learning Materials Product Development Manager Alyssa Brown told TDmonthly. “Students will love this fun and unique way of identifying greater than and less than decimals.” Launch date: January 1, 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Learning Resources Smart Toss™ by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

The game offers four play options: recognition of colors, number or shapes and free play. It also provides kinesthetic learning opportunities and promotes physical activity. “This product if fun and easy to use,” Educational Insights Inc. Advertising and Public Relations Coordinator Heidi Bultman told TDmonthly. “It also folds up nicely and can be cleaned easily.” Launch date: January 31, 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $59.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Goofball Rally by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

The game teaches color recognition and enhances logical thinking skills. “Kids will love the fast-paced game,” Educational Insights Advertising and Public Relations Coordinator Heidi Bultman told TDmonthly. It’s “very easy to understand and [there is] no reading required.” Launch date: January 31, 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Air Traffic Control Tower by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

The game is great for travel and brain exercise. The game features 48 different puzzles at differing levels of difficulty. “Kids will also like it because it has planes,” Educational Insights Advertising and Public Relations Coordinator Heidi Bultman told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 31, 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Giant Blokus by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

The strategy game teaches spatial reasoning and critical thinking skills. “Giant Blokus is fun to play, easy to learn and has huge games pieces,” Educational Insights Advertising and Public Relations Coordinator Heidi Bultman told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 31, 2008. THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER DISTRIBUTED BY EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS. 12/4/08. 5/30/2008 (Price: $169.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spinny Speller by MAPLE LANDMARK WOODCRAFT CO.

The 5” x 1-1/2” toy teaches beginning rhyming skills as well as basic rhyming words. Each of the three cubes spins freely on the center rod. The center cube features vowels A, I, O and U, while the outer cubes feature a selection of letters that allow for over three dozen words and word sounds. This item is intended for children over the age of 18 months. “Kids love them because kids love to learn…and show off how smart they are with the words and letters they have learned,” Maple Landmark Marketing Manager Barbara Rainville told TDmonthly. “And no other company makes them as durable and simple as Maple Landmark.” Launch date: January 1, 2007. 5/30/2008 (Price: $8.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa of Ghana by ETHIDOLLS

The doll is based on the famous Ghanaian Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa, a real African woman leader from West African history. She comes with a beautifully illustrated storybook and audio CD that recount her singular act of bravery in 1900, against colonial domination. The doll and the storybook and audio CD set may be purchased separately, with MSRPs of $139 and $25, respectively. “Now, more than ever, girls grow up fast, and EthiDolls offers them a chance to imagine the possibility of leadership, accomplishment and excitement through the inspiring story of Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa, a wonderful role-model doll for the 21st Century,” Patti Gindoff, senior vice president of marketing at EthiDolls, told TDmonthly. Launch date: Summer 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $164.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

athleticBaby K's Kids Golf-N-Go Starter Golf Set by athleticBaby LLC

Just like Dad's, but perfect for your future little golfer. These unique plush clubs are soft enough for baby, yet sturdy enough for toddlers. What a great way to introduce the love of golf to any child. Comes with 2 clubs, 3 balls and a putting green. Perfect for indoor/outdoor use. Also a great way for the more advanced child to practice their hole-in-one! Machine Washable. 5/30/2008

Let's Go Shopping by ON THE MARK PRESS

The book teaches kids the important skills they need to know about money. Topics include earning, saving, spending and fundraising. “The activities in Let’s Go Shopping are age-appropriate, real-life situations kids can relate to, like a trip to the beach, going to the candy store and role-playing in a restaurant and grocery setting,” On the Mark Press Marketing Coordinator Li Sinclair told TDmonthly. 5/30/2008 (Price: $10.99)

Explore the Farm by KIDZ DELIGHT

Kids will learn animal names, sounds, numbers and colors, as well as discover animal names in a foreign language. The toy also includes play elements that will help kids develop their fine motor skills: a sliding sheep, a spinning wheel, a sliding dog, a rotating hen and an opening door. With each movement, speech or sound is triggered. “Explore the Farm includes six different game modes to make it age-appropriate and evolutionary,” Am Curet of Kidz Delight told TDmonthly. Launch date: Fall 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $27.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Light & Sound Animals by KIDZ DELIGHT

The toy features seven fun activities including Animal Names, Animal Sounds and Animal Homes, with cute images, colored lights and great sound effects. It’s a “high quality electronic laptop toy focus[ed] on animal learning,” Am Curet of Kidz Delight told TDmonthly. Launch date: Fall 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

A Horse's Tale: A Colonial Williamsburg Adventure by ABRAMS BOOKS

The story revolves around the town of Willamsburg, as they attempt to cheer up Garrick the Gardener’s sad horse. The book “includes a glossary that highlights period words and terms and features the adorable characters first created as plush toys,” Abrams Books Publicity Assistant Laura Mihalick told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2008. 5/30/2008 (Price: $16.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Braincandy, Bundle of Joy! by BRAINCANDY

The DVD series focuses on teaching young children about themselves and the world around them through each of their five senses. It allows children to learn through experience and play. Launch date: October 16, 2007. 5/30/2008 (Price: $59.99)

Word Roots Beginning by THE CRITICAL THINKING CO.

Word Roots teaches students the meanings of prefixes, roots, and suffixes commonly used in English. Learning word elements dramatically improves spelling and the ability to decode unfamiliar words. Word Roots will add hundreds of words to your students' vocabulary and greater depth to their thinking and writing. Series includes five titles for Grades 3-12+. Interactive software versions are also available. 5/29/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Science Detective® A1 by THE CRITICAL THINKING CO.

Science Detective® uses topics and skills drawn from national science standards to prepare children for more advanced science courses and new assessments that measure reasoning, reading comprehension, and writing in science. Students can't just scan the passages for answers—they must carefully analyze and synthesize the information from the text and charts, tables, and graphs to explain and support their answers. Series includes two titles for Grades 3-6. Interactive software version is also available. 5/29/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Saturday Matinee by SUPERFROG GAMES

This game can be played with up to 20 people. Its 12:30 and time to head to the matinee.  What’s playing? Comedy?  Adventure?  Draw a tab from the popcorn carton and find out.  First to have a ticket for all the movies on their card wins the game. 5/23/2008

Madam Zora's Fortunes by SUPERFROG GAMES

Draw one of the colored stones from the pouch, choose a number and Madam Zora will predict  your fortune.  Money, love, luck, destiny, surprises and your wishes are all included. 5/23/2008

Math Dice by THINKFUN

In this captivating 3-D game of mental math, players try to get closest to the target number by creating different equations using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and even powers. Launch date: 2004.
— Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that Math Dice is one of their top-2 best selling educational products. 5/23/2008 (Price: $4.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]