Gift Guide2007
From toys that stand the test of time to board games that are anything but boring, we found the best products for each grade that will build your child's brain as well as being chock full of fun. Our list of loot is kid-tested, teacher approved, and full of options for any family, so get wrappin'!
Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End
When a toy ties into pop culture, it's an instant hit. But, this boat boasts learning potential, too. To build the 165-piece Empress ship your child will need concentration, dexterity and the ability to transfer 2-D instructions into 3-D shapes. There's plenty of treasure to keep kids busy-- the ...
Fantacolor Tecno
This unique toy gives "learning the nuts and bolts" new meaning. Using a multicolored assortment of plastic screws, wrenches, nuts, bolts, and screwdrivers, kids can create designs by attaching and detaching a slew of shapes to the special board (which folds up to become a handy carry-all for the ...
Knights of the Kitchen Table
When Joe gets a magic book from his uncle, he and his friends Fred and Sam find themselves accidentally transported to King Arthur's court. They barely escape danger at every turn, honing their wits to fight a dragon and outsmart a very sneaky giant. This book, the first in the Time Warp Trio ...
Bananagrams
If Scrabble's point system and competitiveness gets your little wordsmith down, this funky anagram game is the perfect alternative. Simple and portable, all you need is a flat surface and this set of ceramic tiles which comes in a banana-shaped canvas case. Players take tiles from the "bunch" which ...
His Dark Materials
This epic trilogy has all the trappings of a young adult fantasy series, while delving into some very adult themes and ideas. In the books, 12-year-old tomboy Lyra and her animal daemon travel through interconnecting realities, filled with enough ghostly wraiths, shape-shifting creatures and flying ...
Blue Man Group Keyboard
This wild conglomeration of musical toys, aptly named "Keyboard Experience," was inspired by the antics of the Blue Man Group, who are featured banging stuff, blowing through convoluted tubes, and prancing around with light tricks in an accompanying DVD. A synthesizer keyboard with 9 ...
Fizzy Foamy Science
With this beginner's chemistry kit, your child can measure, predict, and investigate common household phenomenons like rising bread and fizzing soda. There are six separate activities for kids to try a number of different ways, laying the groundwork for observation, experimentation, and drawing ...
The Beach
This national bestseller, written by its author at the ripe old age of 26, was a pretty mediocre movie. But it's a riveting book. With the pacing of a thriller and themes teens can relate to (the dark side of peer pressure, the quest to be original, the search for meaning in life...), the book is ...
Password & Password Junior
Remember that "Password" TV show when you were a kid? Well, bring that up to date with cool "decoder cases" and "password cards", but keep the old fashioned word play, and you've got a great game that clearly supports elementary reading skills. This game is best played ...
iLife
Tired of consumption? Inspire creation! This suite of software includes an array of artistic tools that will flex your kid's right brain and kick-start her imagination. Inside the box you'll find iMovie (for video), iPhoto (for photos), GarageBand (for music), iDVD (for DVD burning) and iWeb (for ...
Word Sweep
In this game of quick-draw vocabulary challenges, players test their skills by guessing three words after hearing their dictionary definitions. These can be of "everyday," "intermediate," or "challenging" levels, and when they say challenging, they mean it. So, what sets this game apart from ...
Beginner's Origami: Birds, Beasts, Bugs, and Butterflies
For a fusion of art, math, and pure manual dexterity, it's hard to match Origami. With proper adult guidance, even very small children can make simple shapes. But older kids can still learn a great deal by practicing this ancient art, especially as they move into the increasingly abstract math ...
Taboo
Everyone knows what a birthday party is. But can your child explain it without using the words "celebration," "presents," "balloons," and "cake"? In Taboo, players must describe something without using the accompanying "taboo" words. Creative ...
Flip Video Camcorder
Have a budding movie-maker on your hands, but not sure you're ready to shell out big bucks for a camera? This camcorder is an affordable option and it's so easy to use, even a fifth grader can shoot video whenever the spirit moves him. There's no fancy footwork required here-- to record kids simply ...
The Hidden Grail: Sir Percival and the Fisher King
It's unlikely that your kids have ever listened to a bard in action. Enter Odds Bodkin, a world-renowned storyteller equipped with harp and 12-string guitar. This CD, based on the King Arthur legends, is the story of a sheltered boy who grows up in the woods, with only his mother for company. When ...
Potholder Loom
This simple, classic toy starts with a hard plastic frame and a set of colorful cotton looms that kids can weave to create real potholders. Teachers, especially for first and second graders, consider looms a valuable learning toy. In weaving loops, six-year-olds get invaluable practice with pattern ...
