Gift Guide2008
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'!
Marble Run
Marble runs have been a kid classic for years and it's no wonder-- they provide hours of whizzy fun, in addition to a shot of fine-motor practice and pre-engineering skills. This one's a real looker, but it's made of environmentally friendly rubberwood.
My Listography: My Amazing Life in Lists
Could you remember the television shows you liked, the times you got in the most trouble, or all the places you wanted to go one day...back when you were 12? Didn't think so. Give your child a gift with the historical memory of a journal and the irresistible fun factor of personalized Top 10 lists.
A Visitor for Bear
Bear does not like visitors. So when a bright-eyed mouse knocks on his door, wrangling for a cup of tea, bear tells him to go away. The problem is, the mouse keeps popping up again and again, and in the most unlikely places! A delightful slap-sticky saga.
Lightsnake Podcasting Kit
Podcasting is a great way for a teen to get her voice out to a limitless audience on the Web, in a creative and safe venue. This program comes with a microphone, editing software, plus a one-year subscription to Acidplanet Prozone, an online host for her podcast. Terry Gross, watch out!
Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara
Follow the exploits of 19th century explorer, Arthur Denison, and his son Will, who survive a shipwreck only to find themselves stranded on an island teeming with dinosaurs! An adventure packed with amazing encounters, like a woolly mammoth and a giant dinosaur that resembles a knife-clawed chicken!
Atlas Adventures
In this game of geography smarts, players compete to complete a world map puzzle by correctly answering world trivia questions. But this ain't your grandmama's quiz game: in a word, these questions are hard.
Airline Terminal
If you think long lines at the airport can never be fun, think again. This set turns check-in into a super cool adventure, with a sleek counter, swiveling computer monitor, and moving luggage belt, so kids can watch suitcases wind all the way from the attendant to the plane.
Too Many Toys
At Spencer's house, toys spill out of every nook and cranny, and his mother is determined to see him put at least some of the robots, board games, and cars in the giveaway box, while Spencer is determined to keep them all. Kids will wait with bated breath as they flip through the negotiations.
Cranium WOW
Cranium WOW is an updated version of the wildly popular board game, and it takes the cake for retaining the successful format, while adding new details that make the game more fun than ever. There's a challenge for everyone, whether you're a sketch artist, intellectual, thespian, or vocab pro.
Educated Kid
This indie band of three hails from the Bay area, and while they aren't a household name (yet!), we're betting it won't be long. Handpicked to grace the kids' stage at Lollapalooza, it's no surprise that they've got a hip-factor that will keep parents rocking out along with their kids.
Deluxe Puppet Theater and a Gaggle of Puppets
Set the hands of the move-able clock, put out the chalkboard marquis, and part the velvet curtains...it's showtime! This well-made wooden theater offers hours of imaginative play. Perfect for developing storytelling skills, and turning a day cooped up inside into a dramatic adventure!
The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones
Meet orphans Amy and Dan Cahill, two kids competing against other members of the powerful Cahill clan to discover the first of 39 clues. Why so interested? No biggie-- the clues just lead to a secret that will make them the most powerful people on the planet.
World Traveler Magnetic Dress Up Doll
Konichiwa! Namaste! Guten Tag! Give your kindergartner a tour of the world, with this set of magnetic dress up dolls. Like paper dolls, but created in a much more robust format, each tin comes with a magnetic figure, four background scenes, and three pages of magnetic outfits from across the globe.
Hike the Continental Divide
What do Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico have in common? They're all part of the Great Continental Divide. Give your teen the chance to experience its beauty with a multi-day volunteer trip.
Octopus Whirl
This building toy comes with 454 individual pieces that can be interconnected in a huge variety of ways, allowing the player to use her creativity to construct anything she can dream up. Switch on the electric motor and watch it spin around like the real carnival ride, but without the nausea!
Triskellion
This is a riveting tale of two twin teenagers who, following their parents divorce, are sent to stay with their grandmother in a small English village. Sounds boring, until Rachel and Adam discover a legacy that foretold their coming... over three thousand years ago!
