TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Educational Product Category

P'kolino Multi-Solution Shape Puzzle Spaceship by P'KOLINO

Encourages creative problem solving and more. Develop a child's ability to creatively solve challenges with this Multi-Solution Puzzle. Offered in a variety of designs, these easy to use puzzles challenge children 2 years and older to come with creative alternatives. "With as many solutions as a child can imagine these puzzles hold their attention longer than the standard one-and-done puzzle," J.B. Schneider of P'Kolino told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2010.
Awards: 2010 Parents' 55 Best Toys 7/26/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

All About America Series by KINGFISHER BOOKS

This nonfiction series encourages kids' historical exploration and discovery. With detailed reconstructions, original artworks, and source material from each period, plus reading lists, and resources for further study, this series is a comprehensive introduction to the history that shaped America. "It's history in action with dynamic full-bleed spreads featuring historical objects, cutaway illustrations, scenes from daily life, and accessible age-appropriate text," Marina Cambareri, Marketing Manager at Kingfisher, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011. 7/18/2011 (Price: $19.89) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Lava Blasting Volcano Kit by SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER

Volcanoes are one of the most awesome forces found in nature. They can shoot rocks and gases miles into the air and their lava flows can outrace a speeding car.  Now kids can try that at home.  In this kit, everything is included to create a volcanic blast.  Volcano really explodes and lava flows, and the kit includes cool science that explains how volcanoes form and why they explode.  Volcano erupts up to 10 times. Launch date: August 2010.
— In a September 2011 survey, three out of 13 retailers said products from Scientific Explorer were their bestselling science & nature toys. Joe Berardoni, owner of Pun's Toys in Brynn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly that "Scientific Explorer's line features colorful, good sized boxes and some great titles." 7/12/2011 (Price: $19.99)

Crime Catchers Spy Science Kit by SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER

With this kit, kids can investigate crime scene clues and learn about how science plays an important role in solving crimes.  They'll also learn how to make & match DNA, analyze mysterious fingerprints, decode secret messages, and more. Launch date: August 2011. 7/12/2011 (Price: $19.99)

Disgusting Special Effects Make Up Kit by SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER

With this kit, kids can make gruesome fake cuts, burns, and bruises, just like in the movies, use tricks professional make up artists use, and learn the science behind the movie make up. Launch date: September 2011. 7/12/2011 (Price: $19.99)

Giddy Up Mega Blendy Pens Kit by SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER

Kids can create over 300 different color combinations with this set of Blendy Pens.  Just insert any 2 Blendy Pens into the fusion chamber, and click, twist, fuse.  Includes 12 original Blendy Pens, 12 Magic Blendy Pens, and 10 mini Blendy Pens, PLUS 20 bonus Surprise Art posters. Launch date: October 2011. 7/12/2011 (Price: $24.99)

Easy Daysies Teacher/Classroom Routine Kit by EASY DAYSIES

Teachers can use these handy magnets in a pocket chart or any magnetic surface in the  classroom to show the class routine. Illustrations are simple enough for non-readers of any age to understand. Created by a teacher. No more having to make a routine out of laminated paper! 18 durable magnets. Includes 3 blanks to fill in with a permanent or dry erase marker. Great for kids with special needs. Launch date: 2010
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice of the Year Award (Parenting Aids-Teaching Responsibility & Educational Products); 2010 PTPA Award (Parent Tested Parent Approved). 7/11/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

DIG! & DISCOVER: 3D T-Rex by KRISTAL EDUCATIONAL INC.

Kids carefully dig into a block of soft, sedimentary rock and discover an ancient, 70 million year-old 3D Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. Then solve an ancient puzzle and assemble its scattered bones into a 10 inch “museum quality reproduction.” A fun filled, educational, hands-on experience for all explorers ages 7 and up.  Contents: excavation block with bone replicas, excavation tool, excavation brush, and instructions.  WARNING! CHOKING HAZARD – contains small parts. Not suitable for children under 3 years. Conforms to ASTM F-963-08. Launch date: 2010. 7/11/2011 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Farm Animal Activity Mat by NORTH AMERICAN BEAR

Engage developing minds with active play to keep little wheels turning with curiosity.  Farm Animal Activity Mat is a complete gift-to-go that opens to reveal 12 familiar barnyard friends in tricot with their own silk-screened pocket prompting counting fun.  Features padded velour and cotton construction with zipper closure and appliquéd barn on front.  Handled carrying case 17” x 18½” is perfect for travel and can be hung as nursery or playroom décor. Launch date: February 2011. 7/11/2011 (Price: $75.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wizarday - When Our Stuff Went Away! by TOYS 'N TAYLS

Think chores and schedules are boring and restrictive? Think again! Wizarday is an  adventure story that will help the whole family – big and small – understand what an important role family schedules play in a happy, healthy life. Play the game and bring the Wizarday book to life creating your own daily family routine. Ages: 8+ .An 80 page chapter book and/or 3 interactive board & card games.  "This product doesn't simply deal with helping parents program their children into doing their chores. It emphasizes the role of structure and boundaries as the foundation of a family's wellbeing, preparing children for a responsible adolescence," Dr. Sarah Itzhaki, Co-founder of ToysNTayls, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2011. Book plus game: $37.50; Game only - $25.00; Book only - $14.50.
Awards: 2011 Creative Child Game of the Year Award; 2011 The Toy Man eChoice Award. 7/11/2011 (Price: $37.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer by LEAPFROG

Though sleek and thin, the LeapPad can withstand kids' roughhousing and dirty fingers. Designed to be flipped, shaken, and turned by little hands, the LeapPad comes with a tilt sensor for game control that puts kids in the middle of the action. A 5-inch color touch screen makes it easy for kids of all ages to learn and interact. There are more than 100 learning games, videos, books, and apps available, and topics covered include spelling, phonics skills, mathematics, science, music, geography, and more.
— As of 8/29/2011 this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 96 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Larger screen than other LeapFrog products; works with Leapster explorer games and apps; comes with extra stylus in case one gets lost. Cons: Screen and camera resolution are low; takes 4 batteries; processing is slow; most apps need to be purchased separately. 6/30/2011 (Price: $99.99)

BUGS by COIL RECORDS

"BUGS" is the critically acclaimed second album of Mister G, a celebrated songwriter and educator who performs internationally.  The songs, which include fan favorites such as "Shark in My Bathtub" and "Pam the Pug," span a range of musical styles from funk to rock, bluegrass to bossa nova. The CD includes several original bilingual (Spanish/English) songs, which grew out of Mister G's concerts for kids in Latin America. 6/27/2011 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pizza for Breakfast by COIL RECORDS

"Pizza for Breakfast" is the critically acclaimed first album of Mister G, a celebrated songwriter and educator who performs internationally.  The songs, which include fan favorites such as "Sneaky Chihuahua" and "Pony with a Problem," span a range of musical styles ranging from pop to rock, bluegrass to ska. Kids, and their parents, will be singing along with the environmental toe-tapper, "Don't Waste Stuff" and soaping up to "Bath." Launch date: January 2010. 6/27/2011 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Wee Friend by MY WEE FRIEND

Invented by a British mother of six, My Wee Friend is a simple potty training method. It is a black disc which adheres to the bottom of a training potty. When the child uses the potty, the disc temporarily reveals a smiling face, then reverts to black. It can be left in the potty, cleaned as usual and reused for up to 12 weeks. Suitable for both boys and girls, it motivates the child and reinforces consistency. It is available in nine designs. 6/27/2011 (Price: $4.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Come On, Let's Go! (A DVD) by ROCK ME BABY RECORDS

Come On, Let’s Go! will guide children (and their parents) on a musical and visual journey. Susie Tallman’s first DVD compiles 22 fun-filled music videos from the best of Children’s Songs, Nursery Rhymes and Let’s Go! Travel, Camp & Car Songs. The full-length DVD offers all the musical brilliance and charm of Susie Tallman with lots of new faces and wonderful, imaginative places. Join Susie and her friends on a farm horsin’ around, quack like ducks on a lake, jump on the bed with monkeys and eat cupcakes at a tea party.  "As with all Susie Tallman’s music CDs, Come On, Let’s Go! offers fresh, upbeat styles, real instruments, lots of voices, and interesting, inspired visual takes on old favorites," Amy Steadman, President of Rock Me Baby Records, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.
Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award; Parent’s Choice Recommended Award. 6/27/2011 (Price: $15.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wild Guess Chase by ALL THE KING'S GAMES

Who will be the player/team to win the most cards by guessing other players' words correctly the fastest, and with the fewest letters possible?  Players take turns making a word from the lettered cards in their hand, but they don’t show their word to any of the other players. Instead, they place each lettered card of their word face down on the table.  Then... the first letter of the word is revealed (and the timer is started) as the other players begin to shout out possible words for what the hidden word could be. A player must guess the word before the timer runs out... so if at any time two or more players agree to see another letter, another card is turned over and players continue to try and guess the word. The player who first guesses the hidden word correctly wins the number of cards that are still left face down... or ALL of the cards if the word is discovered with only one letter revealed. Launch date: June 2012. ( Watch Video) 6/27/2011 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

GIANTmicrobes Brain Cell (Neuron) by GIANTMICROBES

The more brain cells you have, the smarter you are. 6/24/2011 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fauna by FOXMIND GAMES

In the game Fauna, players are not expected to know all the answers, simply gather their wits and make an educated guess. Right on target? Great! Close? That's good too, since players can score partial points. The more they play, the better they get.  Playing Fauna involves some fun betting for points. Contents: 1 double-sided game board (metric & imperial units); 180 animal cards with 360 animals; 1 card box; 42 bet markers, divided in 6 colors; 30 black evaluation markers; 1 lion marker (for the starting player). Launch date: July 2011.
Awards: 2009 Spiel des Jahres Nominee Germany 6/24/2011 (Price: $39.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Geoblocks by FOXMIND GAMES

Part of the four games of the Architecto line, use these 18 orange blocks to build and replicate different models in order to enhance spatial visualisation skills. Children will be captivated by the amazing structures they create, whether in perspective or a towering high rise. The Geoblocks are sold separately so users can transform Architecto, Equilibrio, Tangramino or Cliko into a two-player game. One set of Geoblocks is already included in the four Architecto line games. Launch date: 2005. 6/24/2011 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Web by FOXMIND GAMES

Two spider clans are fighting each other in an epic duel. Spiders in bigger groups will defeat the weakest in the intersections of the web. A thrilling and challenging strategy game, where players attack and capture their opponent's spiders. Contents: 18 spiders (9 white and 9 red); 1 board; 1 bag; Game rules. Launch date: 2010. 6/24/2011 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Smartrix by FOXMIND GAMES

Players place their cards so that the patterns match, aiming to create point-scoring sets. Smartrix can be appreciated on several levels; for beginners, it is a smart and fun matching game. As players' skills improve, Smartrix provides deep and captivating strategy, combining memory, risk-taking, tactics and a touch of luck.  Contents: 70 cards; Game rules. Launch date: June 2010.
Awards: 2010 6/6 Consumer Guide Canada 6/24/2011 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cheery: The True Adventures of a Chiricahua Leopard Frog by FIVE STAR PUBLICATIONS INC.

Cheery is a frog. He’s a Chiricahua Leopard Frog, to be more precise. Okay, he’s not a frog yet. At the beginning of the story, he’s still a tadpole. Young readers will learn how a tadpole turns into a frog and why some frogs—like Cheery—are dramatically declining in numbers around the world. Author Dr. Elizabeth W. Davidson is a research scientist at Arizona State University where she is working to save these amazing amphibians. Cheery: The true adventures of a Chiricahua Leopard Frog puts the problem in terms that young readers can grasp. The book contains valuable lesson guides for parents and teachers. 6/22/2011 (Price: $15.95)

Now I'm Reading Plays: Jack and the Beanstalk by INNOVATIVEKIDS

This innovative spin on the classic story of "Jack and the Beanstalk" helps build reading confidence and fluency. With Jack, Jack's mother, the giant and the giant's wife, kids can experience the excitement of reading and acting at the same time. The kit includes four masks so kids can put on a real performance.
Awards: Father's Day 2011 Mr. Dad and Great Dad Seals of Approval. 6/22/2011 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Bishop CubesŪ 27-Cube Set by SHAPE GAMES LLC

This is a set of 27 interlocking Cubes arranged in a 3x3x3 cube shape.  The puzzle challenges the player to transform the arrangement of the 27 cubes from one shape to any other shape, without disengaging any of the Cubes from each other. Cubes must be shifted by sliding along their faces.  The Cubes can shift in all three dimensions: X, Y and Z, but each face slides in only one direction. There are many solutions because there are millions of shapes you can tranform from and to.  The ultimate goal is to be able to logically understand how to shift from one shape to another in the fewest number of moves.  Other games can be invented by disengaging the Cubes and re-engaging them with the colors "flipped" on one or some of the Cubes, creating a "marked" Cube. The challenge is then to shift the "marked" Cube or Cubes into a specific position in the arrangement
Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy Award, June 2011
— Why it won: This cube puzzle challenges kids to use their spacial-temporal reasoning and logic skills. It's innovative design allows for more open-ended play than similar products, and it is portable for fun on-the-go. 6/3/2011 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

BrushyBall by BRUSHYBALL LLC

BrushyBall is an interactive toothbrush holder and  timer.  A sink top 'follow-the-leader' toothbrushing game, BrushyBall, guides children through brushing their own teeth for two minutes.  BrushyBall coaches young brushers with an adorable voice and pearly white teeth which light up in six sequential sections.  BrushyBall was specifically designed to motivate young brushers, captivate short attention spans and teach complete brushing of all teeth. BrushyBall also holds up to four toothbrushes for open air drying and offers 900+ brushing sessions on two AA batteries (included). Launch date: Fall 2011. 6/2/2011 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]