May 2010 Notable Toys — Educational

Beach and ocean life is the theme in this activity set. Includes a seahorse, fish, and sandcastle as well as sand.

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes: big, small, fuzzy and hairy. Children can take the crinkly paper, the soft snow, and the fuzzy brown yarn to create their own furry friend.

Snakes, alligators, and turtles are very different, yet all in the same family. Use the various materials to create a visual distinction among them.

By air, land, and sea, migrating animals are "going home." Salmon, turtles, whales and manatees travel by sea. Hummingbirds, butterflies and geese fly with determination. And caribou thunder across vast plains. Both illustrations and text capture a sense of movement and purpose, plus a sense of mystery and amazement. This is an "educational book about why animals migrate [and] how they find their way home, and lets you discover the journey along the way," Sandy Philpott, Director of Marketing, Dawn Publications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2010.

In a unique blend of caricature and realism, five adorable cartoon bluebirds — a band in search of a different song for their upcoming concert — go birdwatching (and bird-listening) across the continent. Along the way they see remarkable (real) birds from the bald eagle in Alaska to mallard ducks in Boston, and discover the joys of birdwatching. The book is full of information about the birds, in the form of “field guide” pages, journal entries by the BLUES, and birding tips. "This book, the first in a series, is not just an imaginative travelogue — it’s also a young person’s primer to birdwatching! The book combines realistic birds with caricature birds. The BLUES offer a delightful way to introduce young children to birds and birding," Sandy Philpott, Director of Marketing, Dawn Publications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2010.

Pangaea Mountain comes with a fascinating book about Dr. Geostone and his two students Rocky and Crystal. The students fall asleep in class and wake up on a mysterious mountain in search of the "Living Dinosaur." As the three explore, Dr. Geostone teaches the children about the many fossils and Gems discovered within. In the end they learn a bit about everyday life, geology, geography, biology and earth science. Finally they are amazed that the mountain really does contain living organisms (Triops) they bring back to life by just adding water. This kit keeps you learning and having fun for months. "Most "I dig" kits simply let a kid dig something out and go wow. Activities are lacking and education is not the objective...TOYOPS stands behind its image of Tops in Toys That Teach. The illustrated book which accompanies this kit along with all the tools of a field scientist are fun, and teach while enjoying the excavation. The book is written to permit simple activities to make science hands on and fun. You will learn...My favorite is the story behind the buried hematite and how it defined the auto industry sprouting up in Michigan. It isn't just a mineral - it is part of history," Eugene Hull, Ph.D., President of ToyOps told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2013.

Sumoku is a unique crossword-style game with numbers that can be played five different ways. Players add up the tiles to multiples of a number shown on the die. Once all the tiles are connected together, it's a sumoku. "Whether you look for fast action with friends, a challenging pastime, or an addictive game that brings family together, sumoku has it all! Packed with endless challenges, sumoku is pure adding fun!" Bert Devort, Sales Department, Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

Kids can marvel at the fastest-growing fish in the world, growing from egg to adult in just six weeks. The adult can reach up to 2" (7 cm) in length. The Killifish eggs used in the kit are from the same family of Killifish eggs that were flown and studied by NASA on the space station. These eggs are homegrown in the USA and raised in Toyops labs to preserve their native habitats. Owners just add bottled water and a light source to watch them spring to life. Launch date: March 2010.

This construction toy designed for little hands allows children to explore their imagination with freeform creations and unlimited possibilities. The three shapes (rectangle, square and octagon) have several slots that lock together to build three-dimensional structures in multiple ways that are simple, challenging and fun. "Locktagons is an excellent introduction into building and is a great way to develop imagination, stimulate logic, develop spatial reasoning skills, and encourage creativity. The magic of these toys is unlocked with a child’s imagination. An activity guide is also included that will give parents suggestions on educational ways to build and interact with their child," Jessica Wineke, Public Relations Coordinator, Patch Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2010.

Sneaky Puzzles are full of surprise. Kids put together a colorful under-the-sea scene with funny fish and their silly friends. Then, they can see all the letters of the alphabet and numbers 0–9 hidden in the picture, and wear the included 3D glasses to see the fish and their friends in a whole different way. "Children will be astonished as they watch the sea creatures swim towards them and parents will love the educational value," Jessica Wineke, Public Relations Coordinator, Patch Products Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2010.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010

Just Look is a palm-sized, glass optics microscope that lets one explore the small details of the world around. This handy little scope has infinite uses in all activities — from looking at freckles on an arm to watching ants in an ant habitat. The microscope is designed to be used in almost any profession, from judging the quality of fabrics to finding inclusions in gemstones. "It is a pocket-sized microscope that children can use to explore the scientific world," Rachel Neuland, Marketing Coordinator, Toyops, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2010.

Pedestal Pets is a new educational pencil topper line! There are three series: Neighborhood, Safari and Barnyard Friends. Each package comes with 4 animal pencil toppers, 4 matching pencils and 4 fun fact trading cards! Children can also go to the website and 'adopt' their pets and print out coloring pages of all the animals!

This line of modern toy airplanes is compatible with most wooden train systems and is proudly made in the USA with FDA-compliant materials that are PVC, BPA, lead and phthalate free. Parents can visit the Little Sky Riders website to experience how these planes can help teach children the alphabet. "Little Sky Riders' personalities set them apart from all other toy airplanes on the market. Add in that they are made in the USA and have an online educational component and you have a modern classic," Daniel Monahan, President, DANO2, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 4, 2010. Watch Little Sky Riders: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010

The Princess Money Manager coin bank promotes to girls the financial fundamentals of saving, spend wisely and sharing. "Its beautiful and practical design inspires girls and gets them excited about learning how to save money," Carolyn Grossi, President, Little Flower Products LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 12, 2009.

Bilingual Flash Cards are designed to help children learn all 26 English letters and 27 Spanish letters. Brightly colored illustrations help children recognize letters and identify beginning sounds. There are two convenient ways to play: using in a stand position or carrying anywhere using the handle. Award: 2009 Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award. Launch date: October 2009.

This compact, easy to use projector is designed to provide hours of entertainment and creativity. It teaches how to trace and write the alphabet and numbers (for ages 3 to 4 years). Kids over 4 years can trace and draw 24 animals and write their names in English/Spanish. A bright LED provides a clear image along with long battery life. The size of the image can be adjusted to suit the drawing surface. Awards: 2009 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award. Launch date: October 2009.

This blend of alphabet blocks and crossword games is designed to grow with the child and is fully bilingual. Children start off by learning the English and Spanish alphabet using the blocks. The learning continues as they spell first words while playing the 12 crossword games in English and Spanish. Launch date: October 2009.

Players must carefully weave their pieces past each other to Home (the opposite corner). A traffic jam will lose the game for everyone. Tactics involve self-sacrifice, luck of the dice and cleverness in using the opportunities that Chance provides. The game is designed with the "feel"it of backgammon. For younger players, it can be set up with fewer pieces. For serious strategists, the game can be recorded as players delve into the intricate world of openings, and mid and endgame tactics. It includes a 12" x 12" board, four sets of colored wooden pieces, dice and illustrated rules.

Squeek, The Monster of Innocence, is afraid to try new things. He hides in his cozy bubble dreaming of all he could do if he just stepped outside. But what happens if Squeek's Bubble takes the step for him? Join Squeek through his whimsical adventures in "The Monster in the Bubble." "The WorryWoo Monsters are a first-of-a-kind series where quirky characters embody individual emotions," Andi Green, CEO, Monsters In My Head LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010.

The players of this cooperative game are shepherds and farmers who put as many sheep and lambs to pasture as they safely can, but from time to time the coyotes come around. They are tricky, but not always as clever as the farmers, who have barn space and the help of their trusty Sheep Dog and Amazing LLama to protect the flock. As Night approaches, players have to be especially alert and ready to work as a team. The game includes a 12" x 12" board; 55 sheep, coyote, dog and llama cards; 35 time of day cards; and rules for basic and advanced games. Launch date: October 2009.

The Starter Kit includes the following: a signed Think Green! book with an environmental message, a reusable children's shopping bag, a reusable napkin to color, and a Kids Think Big bracelet made from reclaimed climbing rope. It can be all wrapped with a colorful piece of 100-percent PCW wrapping paper. Awards: Moonbeam Children's Book Award 2009, Creative Child 2009 Preferred Choice Award, Garden Club of America’s 2009 Club Conservation Award. Launch date: 2010.

The YOUTHpreneur It’s My BIZkit contains everything to get a child’s part-time business up and running,  including professional guidance and practical advice for both mentor and child. This kit will teach young entrepreneurs essential concepts related to business, communication and charitable giving by allowing them to experience it firsthand. A seven step kit, this product is complete with brief case, reference guide, workbook, stationary, thank you cards, money pouch, and mentor's guide.

ThriveTime for Teens is the first-of-its-kind money and life reality board game just for teens. Offering a fun, interactive and family-fun approach to empowering teens with the basic financial skills, each decision in the game either drives you to thriving success or diving debt. The game delivers real-life experiences with credit cards, jobs, work/life balance, time management, charity, savings and effective communication.

The Imaginal Hamacron Kit is the ideal kit for educational and creative play using moving parts. A child's imagination becomes reality with the innovative Hamacron Parts and the Hamacron Mini Parts. You can build 9 interchangeable models with the Hamacron Parts to explore the infinite possibilities of creating models with moving action.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010