February 2009 New Specialty Toys — Kits

The Dangerous Book for Boys: Electronics presents information on electronics every child should know through fun, engaging, and impressive experiments and activities. Children ages eight and up learn how to construct simple electronic toys, such as a joy buzzer and insect. It comes with a 32-page, full-color experiment manual and retails for $35.95. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: Fall 2009.

Targeted for ages ten and up, this edition enables a younger audience to experience one of the most significant technologies of the early 21st Century — especially appropriate in the midst of our auto industry crisis and global energy situation. By constructing and operating a unique reversible hydrogen fuel cell, powered by water and sunlight, children build a model car that actually runs on water! And in so doing, they join auto manufacturers in experimenting with a technology that will power not only automobiles, but electronic devices such as laptops and cell phones. This new edition has a beautifully redesigned car body with a display stand and a rewritten 64-page, full-color experiment manual, and retails for $169.95. Available fall 2009.

As a follow-up to the bestselling Power House kit comes Power House Green Essentials Edition, targeted towards a younger audience of ages 10 and up. This kit teaches children about the timely issues of alternative energy and sustainable living, by conducting 30 experiments and building ten energy-related models: the power house itself, a greenhouse, a solar cell array, a passive solar collector, a solar oven, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a hydrometer, a lemon battery, and a wind power generator. They can even sow seeds in the greenhouse! The kit comes with a 64-page, full-color experiment manual and retails for $89.95. Available now.
— “Most anything from Thames & Kosmos, like the Power House, Wind Power [and] Creative Cosmetics,” sells well for education, according to Patti Tepper Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys, Games & Books in Oklahoma City, Okla.
— Three of 40 retailers mentioned science kits by Thames & Kosmos when discussing best-selling educational items in fall 2009.

Complete and fully equipped starter kit for the little stamper/crafter in the family. Using the clear stamps and clear blocks makes stamping easy and fun because you can see how to line them up perfectly. The Clear Rubber Stamp Starter Kit comes in 3 different themes for creative stamping and artwork: “Circus Act”, “Farm Friends” and “Fun with Fish”. The Clear Rubber Stamp Starter Kit includes (1) Plastic storage case (1) Clear stamp set (1) Childsafe/washable dye ink pad (4) Clear acrylic blocks.

Designed as a fun activity for children at a birthday party or just for play at home, this kit includes tea party supplies for four: invitations to color and mail, plates, tea cups, favor bags, sets of teatime stickers, teatime fortune tellers, teacup temporary tattoos, fans to color and make, a tea party recipe book, five napkins (one to use as a tablecloth), and five sets of non-toxic crayons.

This animals-themed Kids Color Tissue Box® kit features illustrations of popular animals such as a tiger and a panda for a child to color in. Each animal occupies a different face of the tissue box. Each Kids Color Tissue Box® kit includes 2 Coloring boxes, 4 Crayola® Crayons, and 2 packs of Hankeez Brand facial tissues, each with 80 SuperSoft 2-ply tissues in each pack. The tissue box size measues 4 3/8" x 4 3/8" at the base, and 4 3/4" tall.

Build exciting projects with the Electronic Playground (EP-50) such as Voltmeter, Alarm, Radio Announcer and many more.

Power a clock with the Cola Clock Kit. Learn how batteries work when you use cola to make a chemical reaction that powers a clock.

This kit includes everything a young author needs to write and illustrate an inspirational book. It comes with two cover pages, 18 book pages, 10 washable markers, Internet Production drawing tools, and a story planner that references Christian topics and stories from the Bible. Production of the 7" x 9" hardcover book takes three to four weeks.

A bundle of playful exercise to set kids on the path to health and happiness! Kit includes the Fun Exercise Book, which is a colorful, imaginative, and richly detailed book that entertains kids with animals, games, jokes, and illustrations. Also included is the Little Yogis DVD volumes 1 and 2, where Wai Lana makes yoga a treat with two fun-filled workouts, which include all kinds of fun exercises for strong bodies and sound minds, colorful cartoons, catchy songs, cute animals, and fun learning games.

Tandy Leather Factory has developed a line of kits especially made to be used with iron-on products. The Pixie Pouch is just one of over 20 age appropriate kits that include items like a video game guitar strap, IPOD holders, and a even a complete belt buckle kit which are all iron on products and will be featured in three different colors. The kits have a modern appeal as well as the appeal of being an actual craft item that children can assemble easily. Launch date: February 2009.

This ceramic boot planter comes with herb or flower seed packets and is available in red, yellow, blue and green.

This research-based kit for busy parents includes materials to help baby grow healthily from birth. It includes a "Life With Baby" information guide and 23-minute DVD that go over children's development and encourage healthy communication with baby. The kit also includes a plush dog, the book "Goodnight, Moon," some small toys and a bib. It received a 2008 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center.

Suede lace is a popular lace in the craft industries. It has many decorative uses from American Heritage crafts to key chains, jewelry and more. Available in spools as well as 6yd cards, all in various colors.