Reviewed for 2008, First Grade

With all the hoopla about the dangers of plastics and lead-based paint, buying greener toys has become not only a way to help the environment, but also a way to watch your kid play without developing an ulcer. This strategy game is made of bamboo-- a fast-growing, earth-friendly raw material, and it's colored with non-toxic, water-based paint. Conscience aside, it's also a brain-teasing blast! Each player attempts to build squares made of bamboo walls, that have at least three sides in their color. The problem is, other players try to thwart them at every turn, by inserting their own walls before the goal can be reached. A bit like a 3-D version of the age-old game of Dots and Squares, Castella forces kids to think ahead, building their strategy skills in the process. (Hape International, $22.50)

Where to buy Castella 3