TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Educational Product Category

My Fishing Business by THE FIRST MOMS CLUB PRESS

An inspiring story of a boy with a dream who learned skills that would last a lifetime. A boy takes his love of fishing and turns it into an adventure, learning skills that would stay with him forever and turn his passion into profit. 4/20/2010 (Price: $8.95)

Together by FAMILY PASTIMES

In this game, children work together to solve world and human problems presented in a simplified way. Players are divided into simulated social groups (tribes, nations, etc.). Each group gets World Problem Cards and a share of Solution Cards. Through discussion, trade agreements and world councils, the players try to solve all the problems facing them. The debriefing session at the end allows for everyone to learn from each other. Together includes two decks of cards, grouping tokens and rules for teacher preparation, interaction and final evaluation. Launch date: 1971. 4/16/2010 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Peace in Our Time by FAMILY PASTIMES

In this game, six "Nations" must solve internal affairs without creating conflicts within their own borders. As the game progresses, hot spots can develop — and by game’s end several or all of the Nations may be at war. The game is then lost. Each Nation creates a balanced territory so that a balanced world results in which population does not exceed land and resources and work is available for everyone. On the religious, cultural and political side, all sectors are also in balance with no particular sector dominating another. The key to achieving this balance is Right Education, in which intelligence and compassion are nurtured. How well the players use Right Education and deploy the other factors within their borders while making trades to assist each other across borders will determine the degree of success in establishing firm and lasting peace in our time. The game includes six nation charts, two sets of cards (110 total) consisting of population, land/resources, work/technology, religion/culture, politics/military and right education, one die, and rules of play. Launch date: 2006. 4/16/2010 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Not an Island by FAMILY PASTIMES

This game is designed to nurture imagination, listening, self-expression, collaboration and clear thinking, using a story-telling format. The setting is science-fictional and the issues presented everyday and real, tackled by players with role-playing, values discussions, dialogue, problem-solving, and creative writing. Not an Island is adaptable to any group situation and includes 55 situation cards, 55 resource cards, six life force markers, two booklets of scenarios, and rules for basic, medium and hard levels of play. Launch date: 2003. 4/16/2010 (Price: $15.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Yin Yang by FAMILY PASTIMES

In this cooperative game, players try to develop a series of balanced patterns. The moving principles are simple, but the variations and complexities of play are almost infinite. This is a game for those who like abstract, meditative endeavors. A simpler game, Clarity, is included for the beginner or younger players. The game also includes a 12" x 12" board, three sets of colored "pebbles," and scoring sheets. Launch date: 1973. 4/16/2010 (Price: $17.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Choices by FAMILY PASTIMES

This values-oriented, moral-dilemma game of discussion and evaluation presents challenges an individual encounters from childhood to old age. The situations and questions appear on cards with choices to make. Players can create their own responses and more situations to enter into the game. This game is a useful tool to stimulate values discussion in a non-competitive framework and includes a 14" x 18" play pad, four sets of questions (for childhood, adolescence, middle years and old age), mover, die, game and complete rules. Launch date: 1976. 4/16/2010 (Price: $12.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Starwords by FAMILY PASTIMES

Starwords is a cooperative word game in which players make words to cover as many Star Spaces as they can. Each word must be about what players see in the picture. The picture changes, letters get recycled, and letters are given away. Players can discuss, share and compare ideas in a natural, friendly way. Word wizards can play the Advanced Version in which dice are rolled to see what kind of word has to be formed. The game includes a 13" x 17" board, die, reference chart, 100 letter tokens, and a collection of unusual pictures. Jim Deacove, president of Family Pastimes, told TDmonthly, "Our games foster the spirit of cooperation. Players help each other climb a mountain, make a community, bring in the harvest, complete a space exploration... They are never against each other." Launch date: 1983. 4/16/2010 (Price: $24.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Jack Grunsky: Partout où les enfants chantent by CASABLANCA KIDS INC.

"The children sing everywhere" in this French CD featuring artist Jack Grunsky, accompanied by guitar and percussion.  It includes 20 tracks. Awards: 2009 National Parenting Publications Honors Award. 4/16/2010 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Big Bag of Science by BE AMAZING!

With more than 60 activities, this set can serve as a great introduction to the wonders of science. It allows kids to set up their own science lab and investigate activities in chemistry, physics, biology, geology, weather, magnets and electricity. Activities include Insta-Snow , the Geyser Tube (Mentos and diet soda geyser), Water Gel, Gravity Goo, Windbags, Twister Tube and more.  "We have billed it as “the best of Be Amazing!” since it contains many of our signature science activities," Renee Whitney, president of Be Amazing Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2010. 4/15/2010 (Price: $39.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Here We Go! Travel Kit by GOOD BUDDY NOTES

To help kids pass the time traveling, this Travel Kit includes fun activities, mini crayons and three draw-your-own postcards. Shelley Dieterichs of Good Buddy Notes told TDmonthly the Here We Go! Travel Kit's best features are its "price point, convenient size and packaging for travel." Launch date: 2008. 4/14/2010 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Creative Peg Puzzle by HAPE

Children start by joining the puzzle bases together and then twist the shapes on the appropriate post. Children can make up their own way to play this stacking and sorting activity that triples as a puzzle, too. Designed with solid baltic birch bases, the Creative Peg Puzzle posts have elasticized bases in case a child falls onto the post. Multiple bases allow for more than one child to play at the same time. Launch date: February 2010. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Emma Drink and Wet Baby by COROLLE DOLLS

This anatomically correct, all-vinyl baby doll drinks and wets and loves to take a bath. Emma is a potty-training aid, too, and is recommended by Potty Training Pro Teri Crane. At 14", she comes complete with four accessories: pink potty, pacifier, feeding bottle and disposable diaper. Liza Grando, Account Executive at Moss-Tucker Associates, told TDmonthly, "Corolle dolls are set apart from all others by their sweet, expressive faces, quality materials and construction, creative fashions and a soft, subtle scent of vanilla." Awards: 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal; 2006 ASTRA 100 Best Children's Products; 2006 ASTRA 10 Best Socially Responsible Toys; 2005 Grandparents Magazine Best Doll. Launch date: 2005. 4/14/2010 (Price: $50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Coffee Maker by HAPE

Children can prepare a cup of joe for themselves or a guest with this modern coffee maker and sugar and cream. They can insert the single-serve coffee filter in the basket and push the button to pretend the coffee is brewing. This product is constructed with a combination baltic birch plywood and maple. Robin Lehnert, Marketing Manager at Hape, told TDmonthly this product features a "modern realistic design in lifestyle colors." Launch date: Feb. 2010. ( Watch Video) 4/14/2010 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Personalized Music CD's by KIDS JUKE BOX

A retailer can carry over 5,000 names in a space as small as a counter display. This retail-friendly personalized music CD uses a child´s name to be the main character and is personalized in other ways at home by the customer using "grab and go" internet technology. No rack system and no special equipment or mass amounts of inventory are required. The CDs come pre-packed in a colorful and informative countertop display with built-in audio samples. Company President Kurt Penberg told TDmonthly, "Kids Juke Box is the only company in the world that offers Any Name personalized music. No other product gives a better return on space than Kids Juke Box." Launch date: Dec. 25, 2008. 4/14/2010 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Begin Smart™ - Pete's Potty by STERLING PUBLISHING CO.

This 14-page, colorful board book contains four fold-out flaps in the quest to find Pete's Potty. Launch date: May 2010. 4/12/2010 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Begin Smart™ - Where's Your Nose? by STERLING PUBLISHING CO.

Suitable for babies 6 months to a year old, this 7" x 7" book features a teddy bear touching his toes, nose, tummy and more. It's a touch-and-feel book with the highlighted body parts in set apart with some kind of fabric or fur. Launch date: May 2010. ( Watch Video) 4/12/2010 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

The Ticket Store Game by THE TICKET STORE GAME LLC

Designed to help children listen and improve their behavior, The Ticket Store Game allows kids to earn tickets for positive behavior at home or school — for example, doing a task when first asked instead of having to be told repeatedly. They can then redeem those tickets for rewards, such as ice cream or TV time.
Awards: 2010 iParenting Award for Excellence 4/9/2010 (Price: $24.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Speaking Merriam-Webster® Spanish-English and Advanced Learner's English Dictionary by FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS

This powerful reference tool is packed with the features that English and Spanish language learners need most. Designed to enhance grammar and speech skills, it speaks words and phrases—providing students and language-lovers with sample sentences, advanced verb conjugations and learning exercises.

Best of all, it comes with the most trustworthy word lists in circulation: Merriam-Webster’s Spanish-English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster’s Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary and Franklin’s comprehensive thesaurus. Students appreciate features like the TOEFL* word list and SAT** Spanish Subject Test Word List, along with a range of extras, including a phonetic spell corrector, grammar guides and interactive quizzes.

It also includes a USB port† for connectivity to a PC or Mac, allowing users to download their entries from their own dictionaries. Despite its robust features, this powerful device is perfectly sized to fit into a pocket or bookbag, and is ideal for language, gift, puzzle and learning aisles. 4/9/2010 (Price: $139.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

SQUIGGLE® Shapes & Colors On-the-Go by RANDOMLINE INC.

Ideal for travel, this creative activity includes four colored pencils and gives kids the chance to not only identify shapes but to create objects, patterns and characters. As children work through the pad, the shapes and designs become more complex.
― Out of 39 retailers interviewed by TDmonthly in March 2010 about top items in travel, two said Squiggle On-the-Go is a best selling product in their stores. 4/9/2010 (Price: $6.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Collins Bradford's Crossword Solver by FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS

Fret no more, the solution is in the palm of your hand! Collins Bradford’s Crossword Solver offers advanced crossword search, allowing you to look up entries in the portfolio of Collins references using known keywords, letters, and/or word length. Search and solve with the power of Gem Bradford's Crossword Solvers Dictionary with over 120,000 crossword solutions, Bradford's Crossword Lists, Solutions English Dictionary, Compact Thesaurus, and Discovery Encyclopedia. The crossword solver, anagram solver and word builder flex your word power while 4 learning zones filled with practical clues, word games, crossword indicators and more will have you polishing off puzzles in no time. The perfect gift of crossword and word game enthusiasts!


Solve puzzles like a pro – learn and improve as you go! 4/8/2010 (Price: $99.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spell Corrector in a Box by FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS

3 great tools in 1: Pencil Case, Spelling Corrector and Calculator

 4/7/2010 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Speaking Spelling Bee by FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS

The SSB-210 Speaking Spelling Bee is a virtual spelling bee tutor designed to improve spelling skills for students’ ages 8 and up and all aspiring spelling bee participants. Play with friends and family in the Competition mode, or sharpen your skills in Practice or Game Show modes to become a spelling ace! Includes a Merriam-Webster Intermediate Dictionary and Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster Rhyming Dictionary, phonetic spell correction, reading timer, word bank and additional games to enhance both educational and play value.

 4/7/2010 (Price: $99.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Racin' Mathematics by FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS

Challenge your quick thinking and math skills with Racin’ Mathematics

• Test your skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
• Advance through 12 levels of difficulty
• Earn points and cups in the bonus rounds
• Use training mode to get up to speed
• Practice learning your multiplication tables up to the “9’s”
• Ages 7+
• 1 CR2032 battery included

 4/7/2010 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Car Seat ABCs by MANHATTAN TOY

This travel toy includes seven alphabet cards designed with elements of the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom story on both sides. Cards fit into a case that may hang in the car or in other various play areas with hook and loop straps. Launch date: 2010. 4/6/2010 (Price: $17.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

TRIO™ Building Set by FISHER-PRICE INC.

Easy-click bricks, sticks, panels, and a play figure make building a snap for kids. They can build suggested designs, or use their imagination to build things all their own. Includes 100 pieces in a convenient storage tub whose lid doubles as a building base. All pieces in the Fisher-Price TRIO Building System work together. Launch date: 2010. 4/5/2010 (Price: $30.00)