May 2010 New Specialty Toys — Science & Nature

This inflatable 16"-diameter "reality globe" is made with thousands of digital images of the world from space. Visually authentic, the EarthBall also features accurate glow-in-the-dark cities and atmospheric conditions as seen from space. The ball is easy to inflate and suspend from the North Pole in a classroom, office or a bedroom. "This inflatable globe is photo-realistic, offering a beautiful, fun and important global perspective," Sole Proprietor Didier Gincig told TDmonthly.

These robotic creatures behave like real bugs. Kids can go online to register and track their Nano collections. Additional bugs, track, habitats, carrying cases and more are available separately.
— Five of 40 retailers told TDmonthly in June 2010 that the Hexbug is a top-selling product. In July 2010, 11 percent of 38 retailers named Hexbugs an overall top seller.
— In a June 2010 survey, two of 40 retailers told TDmonthly Hexbugs are a top-selling gift for boys ages 4 to 12.

Build your own electric vehicles and machines, and then power them up with a hand-crank generator. Assemble 11 models including a racecar, “flying” car, radar car, satellite car, propeller airplane, drilling car, bulldozer, space station, well-digging machine, and portable camping torch. Experiment with your electric generator and your models: Alter the crank-time and the crank-frequency and see how these variables affect the performance of your cars and machines. The 36-page color instruction book included in this kit illustrates the step-by-step assembly of each model and related principles so that children learn through playing. The 122 building pieces included in this set are compatible with those in all Thames & Kosmos Construction Series kits, Physics Series kits, Wind Power, and Hydropower kits.

Build wind-powered generators to energize your electric vehicles and charge your rechargeable batteries! The wind spins the turbine, which turns an electric generator, which in turn charges your rechargeable AA batteries (not included). You can then use those wind-charged batteries to power the model vehicles you build. The six models include a glider, sail car, jet car, tractor, racecar, and tricycle. This kit includes two styles of wind turbine blades and a gearbox with three different gear ratios for experimenting. You can adjust the angle and number of wind turbine blades to make best use of wind, to make the LED light up brightly, and to charge the rechargeable battery as fast as possible. Explore this amazing, free source of renewable energy and store the electricity you generate for use in practical applications. Included also is a 40-page color instruction book with illustrated step-by-step instructions for assembling two windmills and six model vehicles, and conducting various experiments. The 133 building pieces included in this set are compatible with those in all Thames & Kosmos Construction Series kits, Physics Series kits, Wind Power, and Hydropower kits.

Pneumatic-Hydraulic Engines. Build your own models powered by air and water pressure to learn about the laws of physics. This unique kit allows you to build two different air-and-water-powered systems: water-jet propelled cars and hydro-pneumo (which simply means air pressure and water pressure) powered engines. The hydro-pneumo system uses a self-contained air-and-water turbine system as a motor. Construct 15 models including a truck, excavator, radar car, tank, antique car, helicopter, motorbike, backhoe, rocket car, forklift, roadster, propeller plane, grinder, and cutting machine. The water-jet propelled cars are a fun outdoor activity, while the self-contained hydro-pneumo powered models are fun both indoors and out. The 48-page color instruction book included in this kit illustrates the step-by-step assembly of each model and related principles so that children learn through playing. The 165 building pieces included in this set are compatible with those in all Thames & Kosmos Construction Series kits, Physics Series kits, Wind Power, and Hydropower kits.

Turn your body's natural static charge into useful light with this human-powered light bulb.

Make soda pop, then make it change colors. Pull tasty jelly things from a solution. Make Polymer Pudding. Learn about solutions, formulas, acids, bases, neutralization reaction, carbonation, indicators, pH chemistry of anthocyanins (red cabbagge pigments), gels, and polymers.

Cup your hand around the base of this glass sculpture and the liquid inside shoots up the curved glass straw into the upper bulb, where it begins to boil! Also called a "love meter" because its reaction intensifies with higher body temperatures. Available in the colors and shapes pictured; we'll choose for you.

Secret messages, invisible to unaided eye, are revealed under special light. Blister pack includes pen and light.

Sunprint kits encourage an interest in the photographic process using only sun, water, and a bit of imagination.

A handy spinal cord on a roll. Use this tape to seal and stick with endless sacral style. 25 meters of 2” wide packing tape.

Now you can brew cola just like a caveman. With all natural ingredients and some recycled soda bottles, a little chemistry magic happens and Voilà! Yummy fresh soda! Kit includes Cola extract, yeast, a funnel, labels and instructions.

Mixing the ingredients in this kit produces a large tube of minty fresh toothpaste for sparkling teeth. Making toothpaste really involves youngsters in brushing their teeth. After filling the tube, you can start brushing immediately with the enclosed tooth brush. Tube can be customized and decorated. Kit instructions contain a brief history of toothpaste and instructions on the proper way to brush.

At least half a dozen classic mind-benders, take-aparts, and other conundrums to keep the puzzler bemused, busy, and happy. Part of our growing new line DIY: Happy activities.

A Bloom Ball, aka seedball, is a seed delivery pod that is encased in a protective (clay) and nutrient rich (organic compost) shell. Toss and leave to grow - these contain more than 20 types of wildflower seed selected to thrive in the USA. Peggable card.

See the phenomenal secret power of this humble rock. Create a lovely snowy white rock garden in days. Part of the growing Compact Curiosity Line. Made in the USA

In researching this Glux, I came upon a word for blue: “Hoovaloo,” meaning an intelligent blue. This GLUX is just full of intelligent blues as well a spectrum of other colors. It’s quite beautiful to look at and satisfying to smush and stretch. Made in the USA.

This ant habitat lets kids see all the inner workings of an ant colony. The Antosphere allows for children to connect and customize their own anti-gravity ant colony at home. The package contains eight pods, three bases and 18 supports.

With more than 60 activities, this set can serve as a great introduction to the wonders of science. It allows kids to set up their own science lab and investigate activities in chemistry, physics, biology, geology, weather, magnets and electricity. Activities include Insta-Snow , the Geyser Tube (Mentos and diet soda geyser), Water Gel, Gravity Goo, Windbags, Twister Tube and more.  "We have billed it as “the best of Be Amazing!” since it contains many of our signature science activities," Renee Whitney, president of Be Amazing Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2010.

Designed as a realistic replica of the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, this serpent's moves can be dictated by the remote. It flicks its tongue and rattles its tail while on the move. The product requires 4 AA and a 9V battery (not included).
Awards: Creative Child Magazine Toy of the Year 2010

The Curse of Pirate Island is designed to encourage young adventurers to dig up buried treasure. Will they find jewels? Gold? Something else? Variations in buried items and creepy surprises will keep young treasure hunters coming back for more. The Excavation Set features a sand-based island with buried treasure box. Children dig using a stainless steel hammer and chisel to uncover treasure. The excavation glasses add to the "archeological experience." "Most of our competitors use plaster digging blocks. Plaster is extremely messy and gets everywhere! Our Sandblocks are made of a course sand that is dust free and easy to clean up," Andrew Tober, Director of Creative Development, BSW Toy Inc., told TDmonthly.

The Easter Grass-kit offers an eco-friendly, all-natural alternative to wasteful plastic grass. It's designed as a fun and educational activity for parent and child to enjoy together in anticipation of the holiday. Each kit contains enough materials for two medium baskets of real grass. Recommended growth time is seven to 10 days. Launch date: March 5, 2010.

This Emperor Penguin chick moves according to the shake of the egg, which functions as a remote control. The user simply shakes the egg up, down, left or right to make the penguin move forward, backward or to either side. It requires four AG13 batteries (included). Launch date: June 2010.

Discover the Stirling engine, a simple, clean and efficient energy technology that is quickly becoming a viable source of electricity as the availability of fossil fuels declines. The Stirling engine in this kit uses renewable energy from the sun to drive a generator, which charges a rechargeable battery to power an electric car. Named after its inventor, Robert Stirling, the original Stirling engine dates back almost 200 years. Today, high-tech Stirling engines are being used in arrays of giant mirrored solar collectors and common applications like compact generators.
— "This set will be shipping in the fall and, like all of Thames & Kosmos products, is a wonderful scientific learning tool," Joe Mitchell, owner of YoYo Joe's Toys & Fun, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.