Gift Guide2011
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'!
Monster Mansion Playspace
Gear up for some imaginative fun in this bright, whimsical monster mansion that's home to a mad scientist and his wacky creations.
Big Fun Stamp Art
Jam-packed with 12 chunky foam stamps, 3 ink pads, 8 markers, a 30-page sketch pad, and 2 adhesive-backed cardboard frames with hanging tabs, this kit is stuffed to the gills with everything a kid needs for some serious art making!
ChekChek
Introduce kids to chess with this exciting twist on the traditional game! The royal court has been upturned, and the kings and jesters have switched places.
Planpreschool Memo N' Matching Game - Animal
With so much of kindergarten focused on numbers and letters, it's a nice change of pace to find a learning toy devoted to animals and their habitats.
Colorama
From shape recognition to color matching, this game transforms preschool staples into snappy game play.
A Zeal of Zebras: An Alphabet of Collective Nouns
Have you seen a galaxy of starfish, or a caravan of camels? Peek into the pages of A Zeal of Zebras. Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet and a collective noun.
Tell Tale
Choose from loads of images to tell a story, and put a spin on traditional story books. Itâs a great way to boost your storytelling and comprehension skills.
Cleopatra's Moon
This book is a slam dunk for historical fiction lovers, or anyone interested in the mystery of Cleopatra (which is everyone since the Fall of Ptolemy).
The Flint Heart
Charles and Unity live a simple, happy life with their large family on Merripit Farm, until the evil flint rock talisman—fashioned for a power-hungry tribesman in the Stone Age—resurfaces after thousands of years to spread its dark influence over the land's people, animals and pixies.
Wilma Tenderfoot: The Case of the Frozen Hearts
This clever caper that will keep you guessing whodunit until the very end.
Platypus SoftBottle
This soft water bottle is completely collapsible and super durable, lightening the load of a hiking or camping trek.
Flying!
This kooky crew of teacher-musicians has put out their seventh album. Songs about favorite books or grandmom's house are put to an indie-rock sound, sure to please listeners of all ages.
The Magic Schoolbus: Chemistry Lab
Put a bit of magic into science learning! This lab contains 51 experiment cards, expertly sequenced to build basic skills and knowledge, with notes for both kids and parents.
LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet
Does your kid keep stealing your iPad? Get him a tablet of his own! This brand-spanking new version of a kid-favorite has the look of a grownup device.
