July 2011 Notable Toys — Language

20 large-format bilingual coloring and activity pages printed on heavy art paper and a colorful kid-friendly glossary invite children to discover their artistic talents and explore the diverse cultures, landscapes, animals and musical instruments of Latin America. "The Latin America Coloring Book is bilingual English and Spanish. This aspect along with its beautiful aesthetic sets it apart from other coloring books on the market," Ava Mostefaoui, co-manager of Putamayo Kids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.

Word Braniac includes 120 Letter Cards, 1 Game Timer and 1 copy of Word Brainiac Games Booklet-Volume 1, featuring 5 entertaining and educational word games- all contained in a handy re-closable plastic pouch. There are also instructions to 45 more games on Word Braniac's website- players can play a different game every time. Kids can enjoy a game alone or play with their friends, and can compete against each other or battle as teams. There are games for kids, adults and older folks. There are games for students and those wanting to learn English as their second language. All games are excellent vocabulary-builders. Some focus on English grammar and general academic subjects. Most entail abstract and logical thinking. Each game rewards individual risk-taking while some games promote team building.25% of your purchase will fund youth-oriented development projects.