September 2012 New Specialty Toys — Science & Nature

This device allows users to add on the Solar Mod kit to any device that runs on AA or AAA batteries. Just turn the device over and let the sun's rays charge it. Hack any AA or AAA powered device to make it solar powered. Included: a flexible solar cell 4.8V with soldered metal connectors, mailable packaging and double -sided tape. Fun hack. Easy way to break into solar projects. NiMH batteries not included.

Packed in a gift box the model is approximately 3" and consist of 26 pieces. Museum quality fine detailed sculpturing and hand painted. Collect the series - great gifts for the future marine biologist.

With this kit, kids can grow amazing crystals that change color. Learn about the chemical reaction that causes the beautiful shift in colors, and examine the factors that influence the reaction. Conduct a chemical analysis to better understand why the color change occurs. Show off the crystal creations in two special locking display cases.
— In a Fall 2013 survey, three out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Thames & Kosmos was a best-selling brand of science toy.

Now children can musically discover the mysteries and wonders of the Universe with Beth Nielsen Champan's new CD, The Mighty Sky. As rich and varied as the galaxy she sings about - and just as exciting to explore - The Might Sky blends accurate science, creative astronomy-based lyrics and the striking songwriting that Beth is famous for. Launch date: October 9, 2012.

The Fascinating World of Birds is part of a video series designed by BrainFood Learning to build confidence in science through fun and interesting content. The video series advances a child's education by showing amazing video footage along with narration describing bird features and abilities. This format is designed to expand a child's vocabulary as the video content grabs the viewer's attention and the vocabulary is absorbed. This animal DVD is appropriate for kids of all ages. Each bird is clearly identified and shown in their natural habitat keeping children engaged. More advanced children will enjoy learning larger concepts such as depth perception. Birds featured in this animal video include ostrich, penguin, Canada Goose, owl, hummingbird, woodpecker, macaw, pelican, American Robin, and eagle. A multi-section review reinforces information presented earlier in the video. The beginner level reviews show bird flash cards and what features are common among all birds. The more advanced levels quiz children on bird facts and broader scientific terms related to birds.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys

Excavate 3 genuine shark teeth just like a real paleontologist. Buried inside the shark tooth shaped digging brick shark-lovers will uncover 3 different species of shark teeth. This hands-on kit includes an excavation tool, brush, magnifying glass, full-color information guide, and an activity booklet with 10 fun games, puzzles, and challenges to complete. This is a must have gift for anyone who loves sharks. The genuine specimens in this kit are each millions of years old. This educational gift is a great way to start a fossil collection. Launch date: August 2012.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys; 2012 Seal of Approval - Parent Tested, Parent Approved; 2012 Dr. Toy 10 Best Socially Responsible Products.

This set comes with a large tray and footing in which kids build the structure. The tray measures approximately 10 inches by 16 inches by 3 inches deep. The tray and the footing are both white. The footing has a grid of 12 holes for columns (4 x 3 configuration). Build the structure using the footing in the tray for the base, place the submersible pump in the tray, add water until it completely covers the inlet on the pump, and then enjoy reconfiguring the pipes, opening and closing valves and watching the action. When one takes the set down, all the parts pack into the tray, the plastic lid snaps on and it can be safely stored away for future use.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys

Leonardo da Vinci improved upon the already-established catapult design when he introduced his own vision the the age-old military launching device. This design uses a double leaf spring to produce a great deal of energy in order to propel stone projectiles or flammable materials over large distances. A hand crank on the side of the catapult was used to load the spring. The scientific genius of Leonardo da Vinci is brought to life through these 10 articulated models. The inventions that inspired these snap-together replicas are taken from the pages of Da Vinci’s priceless and awe-inspiring notebooks. All models are made of plastic and require no special tools. Manuals are very educational and teach how these inventions have evolved into what they are today.
— Priscilla Moore, owner of Mr. Fub’s Party/Toys and More in Yellow Springs, Oh., told TDmonthly in a late Summer 2012 survey that this catapult is one of their best selling Science toys.

Itzabots are robot shaped ceramic planters that kids can customize with any of the included mix and match stickers. Create and recreate new companion as many times as kids like. When kids fill the planter with water and give it a little light, their itzabot will begin to sprout a thick head of grass "hair" within 5-7 days. The hair will continue to grow for 2 months with continued watering and styling. Available in three styles/sticker kits: Monster, Girl, and Robot.

Itzabots are robot shaped ceramic planters that kids can customize with any of the included mix and match stickers. Create and recreate new companion as many times as kids like. When kids fill the planter with water and give it a little light, their itzabot will begin to sprout a thick head of grass "hair" within 5-7 days. The hair will continue to grow for 2 months with continued watering and styling. Available in three styles/sticker kits: Monster, Girl, and Robot.

Just imagine all of nature—mountains, prairies, oceans, and all—lying on your bed as a patchwork quilt. Take flora and fauna in their unique habitats, fold them up and you have a book, this book. Earth’s major habitats are spread before you, ready to be examined. Here in this beautiful package are revealed the key concepts of natural science. This patchwork quilt of nature covers the whole Earth to learn about, to enjoy, to care for, and to love.

Just imagine—you are a young orca whale. Your special friends are two cousins and your 100 year-old great grandmother, the clan leader. You learn to play with them, face danger with them, hunt with them—and even go people-watching with them. Based on actual orca, or killer whale, research, this book combines science with the real story of how family, friendship, and a grandmother’s love are helping this magnificent but endangered orca clan to survive.

This kit includes everything kids need to do fun experiments on road trips, plane flights, train rides, and vacations. Assemble a simple pair of binoculars and learn how they work. Set up a mini cable car to run between car windows or airplane tray tables. Explore rotational speed with a spinning disk experiment. Build a balance scale to measure weights. Calculate how far a distance is on a map, and how fast you are traveling. Learn fun facts about migrating animals and how fast Earth is traveling through space. Experiment with a mini boomerang. Observe optical illusions with a spinning top. Make a "lenticular" postcard that looks different depending on the viewing angle.

Eating is one of life's greatest pleasures, but poor food choices and eating habits can lead to a lifetime of obesity and other health problems, low energy, general malaise, and even poor self-esteem. MyPlate Food BINGO is a fun, easy way to teach 9 year olds and up how important it is to eat healthy and grow up feeling energized and feeling great. Based on the USDA's revamped MyPlate food categories - vegetables, fruit, whole grains, protein and dairy - this gustatorial game's 95 different foods will get everyone involved considering different options, portion sizes and combinations.
Awards: 2012 Tillywig Brain Child Award; 2012 Parent's Choice Approved Award; 2012 Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Product; 2012 Dr. Toy's Alumni Award of Excellence; 2012 Family Review Center Gold Award; 2012 Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year Award.
—  "So much packed into this little package. Great for teachers to incorporate into a classroom activity and great for at home too...An overall great learning tool, that promotes healthy standards in an easy to understand and easy to implement manner." - a review on Family Review Center.

This is one individual littleBits bit: The temperature sensor senses the temperature surrounding it. Whether it's sitting in a cold glass of water, or just hanging out at your table, or anything in between, the temperature sensor gets stronger when it's warmer. The littleBits Starter kit or Teaser kit, or the USB Power bit is required for use.

Nutrition plays a fundamental role in maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. This program explains the dangers of unhealthy diets, which can lead to nutritional disorders. It also explores the diversity of diets around the world. When we eat, we eat in the context of our body types, cultures, diets and, believe it or not, our moods. This program explores the many contexts in which we eat and what they mean for nutrition. Light Speed Video Learning is a comprehensive video course designed to teach core curriculum subjects. Our rapid-fire approach keeps students engaged while our cast of young actors, humorous skits, mnemonics, and on-screen graphics present step-by-step examples to teach students the essentials to master a subject.

From Basher, the illustrator who made science too-cool-for-school, comes a fun and funky poster and sticker book to introduce the youngest readers to the wonderful world of Basher Science. Featuring some of the friendly and iconic superstars of the best-selling titles in the series—Rocks and Minerals, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Planet Earth, Oceans, and Physics—as well as four pages of reusable stickers and gentle, child-friendly text, this book is an appealing, interactive treat for the youngest science hounds. Launch date: July 2012.

Electric motors and generators are in countless devices, appliances, and vehicles we use every day. They are an essential technology in our modern world. With this kit, kids can conduct 25 experiments to learn how an electric motor converts electricity into motion, and how an electric generator does just the opposite, converting motion into electricity. The electric motor is made of transparent plastic to show how the inside components work. Set up the motor to run on battery power and learn how a motor works. Then reconfigure the device to work in reverse as a hand-crank electric generator. Experiment with magnets to learn about the force of magnetism, and how magnetic fields relate to electric current. Build simple circuits consisting of the motor or generator, wires, and a light bulb to learn about the flow of electricity. Learn about gears and drive-trains and how they work to effectively convert kinetic energy into electrical energy and back again. The full-color, 48-page manual guides your experiments with step-by-step instructions.

The BILD line offers a stimulating opportunity for constructive play and imaginative exploration. Leap always knew it was destined for fun. Inspired by a rocket, this Bit redesigned itself to fly. With a well placed propeller and a powerful spring, Leap is always ready to leap into action. Crank is the go-to BIT. Whether he's scooping sand, clutching parts, or fixing the other Bits, Crank is the one for the job.Set Contains: 1 OGOBILD BITS Leap character and 1 OGOBILD BITS Crank character.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Includes everything kids need to create an enchanting home for three wee gnomes. This all-inclusive garden craft kit includes a garden dish, potting mix, wheat grass seeds, bark house, leaf-shaped pond, mossy rocks, stepping stones, resin gnomes, toadstools, ladybugs, paint, brush and a mister - just add water and a little sunshine. The garden dish measures 11"w x 2"d. The natural wheat grass seeds are pet friendly and sprout in just a few days.
Awards: Summer 2012 Tillywig Award Winner

Make free standing snowmen with DuneCraft’s brand new Mini Snowman Kit. The Make Your Own Snowman Kit is perfect for creating a winter wonderland in the house at any time of the year. This set comes with everything needed to make life-like snow, snowmen, a snow fort or igloo, and many little snowballs. All of the materials are completely reusable and are sure to provide hours of delightful holiday fun. Make Your Own Snowman World is safe for ages 3 and up and retails for $4.99. Launch date: February 2011.

Among the most difficult, as well as among the most beautiful Scramble Squares® puzzles, the Hummingbirds Scramble Squares® is a wonderful gift for bird enthusiasts, naturalists, gardeners and for anyone needing a little humility.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys

Using Bernoulli’s principle Fascinations has engineered a way to float a disc in the air over 18 inches high. Of course at that height it can become difficult to balance any object on a cushion of air but that’s where all the fun begins. How long can it stay in the air and how long can it fly? It’s cooler than magic because it’s real science at work.