June 2009 Notable Toys — Science & Nature

Simply fill the vase 3/4 full with water, add Vase-Over powder and stir. After thirty seconds, add the fun, themed foam and glitter accents, and voila — a decorated, multi-dimensional container. All that's left to do is add flowers. "There is no need to change the solution, and most cut flowers will last longer in our patent-pending formulation than water! This is the only product on the market that revolutionizes vases and how they look, as well as being made in the United States," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Kids can make three free-standing snowmen with this kit, which includes four types of polymers, a tray, whimsical instructions and information, and more. "This kit contains everything needed to make multitudes of snow-related items, and is completely made in the United States," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Stevia is known to produce a sweetener twenty to thirty times sweeter than sugar. The Sweet Leaf Plant is a sub-tropical plant that will grow 2' to 3' tall. "This product contains a plant that actually works! It is made in the United States and is guaranteed to grow," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Individuals can grow ingredients to make their own herbal teas. Plants include Lemon Balm, German Chamomile and Spearmint. These three herbs have many medicinal qualities, including promoting sleep, encouraging relaxation and lifting spirits. All make light, refreshing, aromatic teas. Decorative accents include natural gravel, decals, planting stakes, an instructions and recipe booklet and more. "The Tea House is completely manufactured in the United States, contains three types of herbal teas that can be harvested right from the terrarium, and has great educational value," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. It received a 2009 iParenting Media Award. Launch date: February 2009.

Built in 3-D, the collectible, space-age ant colony modules and connecting tubes are made in daylight and night colors for a cool look. Each sphere features three lenses to easily observe the ants: one clear, one that magnifies and one fisheye. "The Wild Science kits are constructed of the highest quality materials and designed for extended play use. Each individual kit can be designed, customized and modified to an individual child’s liking," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

Using the included molds and plaster of Paris, kids create their own reproduction of a complex leafcutter ant colony and rivet the special window to the casting for observation. Children can watch their ants as they organize the many intricate tunnels and chambers for different purposes, and take food and water around the colony. Launch date: June 2009.

With the Worm Farm, kids can discover the abilities of worms and their importance in the ecosystem through a series of safe and humane experiences using real worms. This kit features a high-quality, large-volume worm colony that allows children to plant seeds and grow vegetation in soil strata that is separated by colored sand horizons — great for tracking worm activity. The farm also contains removable privacy screens to bring worm tunnels into closer view. "The Wild Science kits are constructed of the highest quality materials and designed for extended play use. Each individual kit can be designed, customized and modified to an individual child’s liking. In addition, all of the kits within the system are designed to be interconnected, providing kids and creatures with endless possibilities to explore, learn and grow," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

This Solar Motor is ready to go right out of the package. Designed for demonstrating the principles of solar power, this kit includes a 1.1-volt, 75mA high-quality solar panel, propeller, and a state-of-the-art coreless DC motor capable of up to 22,000 rpm. This Solar Motor is a good way for introducing alternative energy concepts or just having fun outside while the sun is shining. Launch date: 2009.

This 10x-300x digital microscope is compact and connects directly to a PC via the included USB 2.0 cable. There is no software installation required. Once connected, it's easy to magnify and view endless kinds of specimens and materials — from fabrics and coins to leaves and insects. Six LED lights illuminate the specimen and there are four brightness levels that are controlled by a button on the front of the microscope. Launch date: June 2009.

From the "It's Our Planet" series, this DVD is designed for kids to learn about the animals, people and plants that call this region home. They can discover what a rainforest needs to survive, and how this beautiful natural resource is disappearing. In collaboration with rainforest conservation organizations, One Smart Cookie has compiled an educational and informative DVD that uses imagery and video. "The DVDs in the 'Let's Explore' series and in the 'It's Our Planet' series use a multi-level format to cover background knowledge, as well as appealing to a wide age group (pre-K through age 10). Multi-level learning (or differentiation of instruction) is a critical factor in our children's education. Being able to move at their own pace allows your child to feel a sense of pride as they complete a level and move onto the next. Each level in the 'Let's Explore' series expands on the teachings of the previous level, adding more facts, vocabulary and scientific knowledge," Keli M. DiRisio, CEO of One Smart Cookie Productions, told TDmonthly. It was named a 2009 Dr. Toy Vacation Product of the Year and was a 2009 Gold Award winner in the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA). Launch date: May 2008.

This 18'-long Giant Evolution Timeline Play Mat displays 600 million years of evolution with weird ancient creatures, fun facts and activities. It collapses to the size of a coffee-table book. The mat is lightweight, durable and environmentally friendly. It was named one of Dr. Toy's 10 Most Socially Responsible Products of 2009.

Our 12-foot-long Giant Evolution Timeline Poster displays 600 million years of evolution with colorful ancient creatures, fun facts and plenty of awesome activities! With the same great graphics as the floor mat, this poster version is just as engrossing for kids. Includes 12-page Activity Guide. Retails for $29.99.

This deck of large illustrated cards includes one card for all 67 creatures on the Giant Evolution Timeline. Each card includes an illustration, creature name and pronunciation, size comparison figure, paragraph of fun facts, and more. Great alone or in combination with the Giant Evolution Timeline Play Mat or Poster. Retails for $19.99.

This product is designed so that realistic flashes attract real fireflies, which can fly in but can't fly out. It allows kids to see fireflies up close and could serve as a house for nocturnal insects. It offers five light modes for five firefly species. The Firefly Attractor "safely attracts fireflies and captures them without anyone touching or harming them," a representative of Summit Products told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

These kits are designed to offer everything kids need to learn about the basics of robotic science while constructing fun machines. There are four styles: Robotic Bird, Robotic Ball Collector, Robotic Bubble Blower and Robotic Beeper. All parts snap together with easy to follow instructions. Each kit requires 2 AA batteries, not included. Launch date: 2009.

The bladder stores pee until an individual is ready to go. Most bladders hold as much liquid as a can and a half of soda. Nerves in the bladder wall tell when it’s time to go. "This super-soft, bright yellow 6" x 4" urinary bladder plush is perfect for telling someone when urine love," Founder Wendy Bryan of I Heart Guts told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 5, 2009.

The spleen keeps the blood tidy and fresh. This queen of clean serves as the primary blood filter and largest lymph organ. It brings blood into contact with lymphocytes, which happily attack foreign bodies, and cleans worn-out red and white blood cells. "This adorable 6" x 6" plushie is perfect for the lymph enthusiast lurking within us all," Wendy Bryan, founder of I Heart Guts, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 5, 2009.

The stomach creates a highly acidic environment used to digest cookies, ice cream, bacon and more. This lil' guy's digestive juices help break down food for the intestine, which absorbs the actual nutrients. This orange 8.5" x 5.5" tummy is part of the I Heart Guts collection, which is "icky yet adorable," the company's founder, Wendy Bryan, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 5, 2009.

Behold, the intestine and appendix in soft plush form. The small intestine absorbs nutrients from food while the large intestine takes in water and excretes solid waste. The tiny appendix, seen here sticking out at lower left, doesn’t do anything, but adds to the I Heart Guts plush collection. This 9" x 7" pillow-like plush "is cute, yet slightly disgusting," Wendy Bryan, founder of I Heart Guts, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 5, 2009.

This quality Dobsonian style telescope features a 76 mm aperture reflector optical tube. FirstScope is an ideal entry level astronomical telescope, as it is designed for easy observation. The user simply navigates the night sky by moving the tube in the direction of their desired object. The compact design makes it easily portable, and the FirstScope is also stylish enough to be a decorative fixture on a bookshelf or desk. The FirstScope is the Official Product Of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. The FirstScope pays tribute to Galileo Galilei and many of history’s most notable astronomers and scientists by displaying their names around the optical tube. Launch date: April 2009.

The DVD's images of peaceful, flowering gardens and multidimensional stones transitioning in an artistic display of creation, accompanied by tranquil nature sounds, are designed to shift the mind to right-brain thinking and free viewers from anxiety and stress. It comes with colorful 5” x 7” postcards to mail or frame. "'Healing Stones and Gardens' suspends time for an extraordinary moment and facilitates a journey to a sacred place where we can reconnect with inner divinity," Sue Defabis, project manager at Five Star Publications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

A tribute to family, friendship and forty-five years at summer camp, "Campingly Yours" paints a poignant picture of character, charisma and courage, lovingly nestled in America’s heartland. Punctuated with vivid imagery and laugh-out-loud humor, Thomas C. Adler’s memoir is "a heartwarming journey of a lifetime at summer camp," Sue Defabis, project manager at Five Star Publications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 15, 2009.

The Seahorse is one of nature's most startling creations. The Ancients thought these creatures pulled the chariots of Neptune. We have reduced it to an endangered species. This book explores the science and the mythology, the biology and behavior, the beauty and mystery of this unique dazzling fish.

Based on the new Spitzer Hall of Human Origins in the American Museum of Natural History which opens in February 2007, The Book of The Genome takes the young reader to the cutting edge of science, exploring and examining the tools by which we study our origins, some of the milestones in human origins, human movement across the Planet and the beginnings of being human through language, music, art and tools.