TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Science & Nature Product Category

Rainy Day Garden by NOTED CO

This ceramic boot planter comes with herb or flower seed packets and is available in red, yellow, blue and green. 11/21/2008

Climate Cubes by POOF-SLINKY INC.

This weather system includes four functional weather instruments: wind vane, anemometer, thermometer and rain gauge. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $20.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Treasure Tracker by POOF-SLINKY INC.

This digital metal detector allows kids to hunt for lost or hidden treasures. It includes headphones with audio tone alert and volume control. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bionic Ear by POOF-SLINKY INC.

With the Bionic Ear, children can listen to faint and far-away sounds with a range up to 300'. It includes digital record and playback with headphones, plus background noise reduction that makes the hearing amazingly clear. This product helps kids "learn how the secret spies listen to sounds and conversations far away," Janice Hudy, sales and marketing assistant at POOF-Slinky told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ancient Pyramid by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Kids can create their own ancient Egyptian pyramid, scare friends with the built-in mummy sounds, and use the built-in hieroglyphic decoder to read and write their own hieroglyphics — all while learning about ancient Eygpt. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Our Amazing Mummies by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Kids can learn all about mummies while creating their own from the inside out. With this project, children wrap, paint and display their mummy in the provided carved stone resting place. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hurricane Tracker by POOF-SLINKY INC.

This educational game for one to four players lets individuals create their own scale-model hurricanes. It includes a board game and activities, plus a 29-page fun fact booklet. Launch date: November 27, 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $35.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Lightning Lab by POOF-SLINKY INC.

The Lightning Lab simulates lightning and real storm sounds, and includes a 22-page booklet. "The fun and fact booklet not only guides you through using your Lightning Lab, but it's full of fun and interesting facts about the weather," Janice Hudy, sales and marketing assistant for POOF-Slinky, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $25.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Our Amazing Solar System by POOF-SLINKY INC.

This set allows one to build and display all nine planets of the solar system. It includes a 64-page fun and fact booklet that shows how to conduct more than 20 fascinating experiments with the completed models. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $30.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Space Theater Planetarium by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Kids can project their own scientifically accurate views of the ever-changing night sky, and will learn to locate actual stars and constellations. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $30.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Planet Mobile by POOF-SLINKY INC.

This beautiful 3-D mobile of the solar system is easy to balance and hang, and comes with glow-in-the-dark paint for spectacular night viewing. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $20.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kitchen Chemistry by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Here's a safe and fun way to learn the basics of chemistry without blowing up the house. This kit uses common household substances to make fun things such as rock candy, super bubbles, molding clay, flip-flop slime and more. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Secret Messages by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Cryptography, the spy science of secret messages, is everywhere. Kids can learn the secrets to keeping secrets with this product, using codes, cyphers and hidden messages to communicate. "[It] comes with a step-by-step, easy-to-read manual that will guide you through fingerprinting," Janice Hudy, sales and marketing assistant for POOF-Slinky, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Slime Science by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Kids can study the basics of chemistry while creating five different types of ooey, gooey ooze: sewer slime, wiggly wonder, power putty, flip-flop slime and glooze. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Electric Bell by POOF-SLINKY INC.

This kit introduces the basics of electric circuitry. It can be used as a telegraph, or kids can change the circuit and use it as a bell or buzzer. The battery is not included. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Electric Motor by POOF-SLINKY INC.

No tools are needed to make this powerful electric motor that powers its own motorboat and teaches the basics of chemistry. The battery is not included. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Crystal Radio by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Kids can build a working crystal radio that will pick up radio stations and allow them to experiment with radio waves while learning chemistry basics. No batteries or soldering are needed. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $10.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Slippery Slimes by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Kids can whip up and delight in two ooey, gooey slimes, while learning what polymers are and why they act the way they do. This kit contains safe, non-toxic ingredients and includes step-by-step instructions. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Power Putty Slimes by POOF-SLINKY INC.

Kids can mix up and enjoy two more kinds of slime that wiggle, bounce and snap. This kit contains safe, non-toxic ingredients. It "comes with an easy-to-read, step-by-step instruction manual to guide you hrough your experiments," said Janice Hudy, sales and marketing assistant for POOF-Slinky, Inc. Launch date: November 2008. 11/13/2008 (Price: $6.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Introduction to Electronics by THAMES & KOSMOS

Kids will discover the digital world with this unique introduction to electronics. They follow the story of Robert M-3, a young robot in the year 2069, who is beginning his education in electronics with an apprenticeship to Sirius Armstrong, the chief electrical engineer on an enormous space station orbiting Earth. As they read about Robert’s lessons in electronics, they will conduct experiments alongside him using the Electronics Workshop console.  They start by assembling simple circuits with blinking LEDs and resistors, as Robert travels from Earth to the space station. Once there, he goes from department to department, fixing electrical systems and devices, while the child works alongside him. Electronics Workshop 1 is a captivating combination of reading and science, with fanciful stories that enliven the experiments, making for a fun learning experience. Full-color, 68-page experiment manual takes kids through 148 experiments in electronics. Launch date: August 2008. 11/10/2008 (Price: $109.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ScienceWiz Magnetism by SCIENCE WIZ / NORMAN & GLOBUS INC.

This kit includes high-quality ceramic magnets and 26 activities designed to develop a solid foundation for more advanced topics in electricity and magnetism, teaching children the fundamental principles of magnetism while they play. It includes how to build an electromagnet, how to flip the poles of an electromagnet, and how an electric motor works, and allows kids to go iron detecting, visualize the lines of force, craft a compass, and levitate and bounce ring magnets. "ScienceWiz Magnetism is the only product of its kind that teaches the concepts of magnetism through hands-on learning and play. Magnets are more fun when you know how they work!" Rachael Norman, sales manager for Norman & Globus Inc., told TDmonthly. This product has received a Creative Child Magazine Award. Launch date: July 1, 2008. 10/31/2008 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pamper Your Dog by SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER

Inspired by her beloved King Charles, college student Elizabeth Rives created this fun-filled kit for kids and their pets while she was working part-time at Scientific Explorer. Pamper your Dog will have pets woofing with delight over yummy, nutritious dog cupcakes. Children can give their canine friend a healthy scrub with homemade shampoo, brush those long teeth with special doggie toothpaste, and learn the secrets of a great massage for their furry friend, as well as design a unique "dog tag" for an ID. Insights into canine thinking will turn kids into real dog psychologists. The kit "helps teach social responsibility in a fun way," Scientific Explorer's Vice President Susan Rives told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008. 10/29/2008 (Price: $19.99)

Sour Candy Factory by SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER

This kit comes with all the supplies children need to make hard candy, liquid candy, powder candy, lollipops and much more.
— “A variety of kits for a variety of ages make this brand a top seller,” said Joe Berardoni, Sr., owner of Pun’s Toy Store in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in the fall of 2008. “They have exciting projects for 4-year-olds to do with Mom and Dad and kits for older children to explore on their own.” 10/27/2008

Dora Mermaid Adventure Garden by DUNECRAFT INC.

Kids can help Dora save the Magic Kingdom by planting their very own colorful cleansing plants in a vibrant underwater world. Rainbow plants grow very quidkly and have fantastic, flowing multi-colored foliage. The “underwater” garden can be completed with the included deep blue gravel, sea shells, a Dora-themed stake and natural beach sand. Rainbow plants are easy to grow and will flourish in the garden on a windowsill for years in bright, indirect light as they clean the air and water. "The Dora Mermaid Adventure Garden is licensed from the top-rated creator of children's shows and exemplifies our mission to ignite an interest in plants and the world around us," Alicia Borley, PR manager for DuneCraft, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2008. 10/27/2008 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Skeleton Pellets Mole Bag of Knowledge by DUNECRAFT INC.

Kids can construct their own mole skeleton with DuneCraft’s new Skeleton Pellets — each contains an entire skeleton. The product is 100-percent synthetic, making it completely safe and sanitary to dissect. Each Skeleton Pellet Bag of Knowledge contains a magnifying glass, a Skeleton Pellet, a bone-sorting chart and more. Launch date: October 2008. 10/27/2008 (Price: $4.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]