toys

Live Butterfly Garden

See one of nature's greatest miracles right before your eyes with this Oppenheim Best Toy Award-winning butterfly raising kit. Raise five Painted Lady butterflies while learning all about metamorphosis. See each caterpillar's transition as it matures, changes into a chrysalis, and finally emerges as a Painted Lady butterfly. After observing your butterflies, experience the joy of releasing them into your backyard.

Includes colorful habitat, coupon for five butterfly larvae with special food and complete instructions ($3.00 processing fee required). Three butterflies are guaranteed to be perfect specimens. Measures 12" x 12" x 10".

Note: Please allow approximately 3 weeks for your larvae to develop. During extremely hot or cold weather, delivery of live larvae may be delayed. Available only in the Continental U.S. and Alaska. Note that shipping charge applies for delivery of live larvae.

Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderful activity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observation chamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway

Blokus Strategy Board Game

Grades K and up. Europe's 2003 game of the year! Develops logic and spacial perception while kids learn to be tactical. Players take turns placing pieces on their board, each starting from their corner. Each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners! The goal is to get rid of all your pieces. The game ends when all players are blocked from laying down any more of their pieces. Includes one gameboard with 400 squares, 84 game pieces in four bright translucent colors, and an instruction guide.

Fun for both kids and adults, Blokus is a strategy board game that challenges spatial thinking. Bright colors and simple rules make it ideal for ages five and up, but adults will certainly be engrossed by this unique and challenging game.

Not Your Average Board Game
Blokus encourages creative thinking and has received a Mensa award for promoting healthy brain activity. The goal of this game is for players to fit all of their pieces onto the board. When placing a piece it may not lie adjacent to the player's other pieces, but must be placed touching at least one corner of their pieces already on the board. The player who gets rid of all of their tiles first is the winner and strategic thinking helps as you block moves from your opponent. Blokus sometimes comes to an end because there are no more possible moves.

Four players make this abstract game especially fast and exciting; however, it can be just as fun for two or three players. Blokus has come up with a number of different ways to play the game to make it more thrilling when playing with less than four players. Draft Blokus allows a player to use more than one color and Reverse Blokus reverses the entire game so that the person who places the least amount of tiles on the board is the winner. It can even be played in a solitaire version when one player attempts to place all of their pieces in a single sitting. A game of Blokus typically lasts a 30 minutes. As a practical feature, raised edges on the board help keep the tiles in place and allow convenient clean-up. This game includes 84 pieces in four vibrant colors, an instruction guide, and one gameboard with 400 squares.

Blokus is simple to understand, but the game's complexity is revealed shortly after everyone begins to play. It can be addictive, even for those not normally into abstract games. Blokus is a catalyst for spatial thinking, as players form images in their mind before placing the pieces on the board. Children and adults can play together for hours of competitive family fun. As Europe's 2003 Game of the Year, Blokus is adored by many and even played in professional tournaments.

What's in the Box
84 pieces in four colors, gameboard with 400 squares, and an instruction guide.

Once a piece has been placed on the board it can't be moved, so plan your moves carefully.

Adding to the game's challenges, each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners.

Wild Planet Hyper Dash

It's the electronic game that's as fast as you are. Test your speed and agility in a race against time using five targets and an electronic handheld unit. To start, set up your targets on the table, around the room, around the house or throughout the yard. Then, follow the announcer's commands as you zip around your racecourse to tag your targets with the handheld unit. The fastest time wins. Features four game modes that challenge your speed, skill, memory, coordination and teamwork. Includes ergonomically designed Hyper Dash unit and five labelled targets. Requires 3 "AAA" batteries, not included. Measures 4.5"L x 12"W x 10"H.

Sidewinder Falls With Banzai Fun Pack

Get set to make a mega splash with this giant water slide! Leap through the tunnel and down the diving ramp into the splash pool! Then, scale the climbing wall of this 10-foot-tall waterslide and ride the banked curve all the way back into the splash pool. Inflates in less than three minutes with the included continuous-airflow blower motor and easily attaches to any hose. Heavy-duty Dura-Tech construction ensures lasting strength and durability, while the constant airflow helps resist small tears and punctures. Included blower motor features GFCI for maximum safety and convenience. Measures 15'L x 16.25'W x 10.5'H. Holds up to 400 pounds.

Cannonball Splash Water Slide Includes Boogie Board

Slip and slide down this 14-foot-long inflatable diving ramp and into the splash pool. With the included body board, you're guaranteed a smooth -- and cool -- ride. Includes inflatable water slide with splash pool, plus a body board. Air pump not included. Made of durable PVC for years of backyard fun.

Crayola 3-D Chalk

Create your own amazing effects with specially designed, Crayola dual-ended 3D chalk. Contrasting colors are paired up, making it easy to create 'popping' art and scenes. No matter what your skill level, Crayola makes it simple to get amazing results

LEGO® Indiana Jones Jungle Duel

Attack in the jungle! It¿s a battle in the jungle for Indiana Jones and Mutt as they face off against the sword-wielding Irina Spalko, the leader of the Russians, who have been pursuing them! Watch out for Irina's sword - it cuts right through the table!

WaterWheel Play Table

The falling water action from this WaterWheel Play Table encourages creative exploration with cause and effect learning. This imaginative water play center encourages hours of outdoor fun. Pour water into the wide funnel, and activate the water wheel which then spills into the inner and outer harbors. Two molded-in sections function as canals, boats, lakes, harbors and more. An elevated design keeps water at toddler level and also keeps ground dirt clear of water and mud from forming on children's feet. Accomodates up to three children to encourage group play. Two built-in drain plugs allow for easy water removal. The four piece accessory set includes: one cup, two sailboats, and one water wheel tower (boat design and colors may vary). Features decorative molded-in fish designs on legs. Holds up to four gallons of water. Minimal adult assembly required.

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo

Everything your baby needs can be found in this Rainforest Jumperoo. Its newly designed frame allows you to opens it up from the top, and lets the seat rotate 360 degrees so baby can play and interact from any side. A fun seat and toys at five locations on the platform engage baby all the way around, and an electronic toy at the front has motion, music and lights that can be activated by baby spinning a drum.

Seat also features a bobbling elephant, a monkey swinging from a vine, a parrot hanging from a bead bar, a clear spinning bead ball, a tiger that plays hide and seek, a spinning lizard that makes rattling sounds, a tethered chew toy and a stack of chips with cute graphics for baby to explore.

Two soft leaves extend from the frame to create an overhead 'canopy' with soft toys that dangle down for fun bat-at play. Jumperoo has has three height adjustments for extended use. Frame pivots to a nested position so it can be tucked away when not in use. Includes a motion sensor that encourages kids by rewarding them with lights and sounds when they jump. Weight Capacity is 25 pounds. Requires 3 "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 43.125"H x 32"W x 37"D.

Pass the Pigs

For 2 or more players

Go hog wild with the pig-tastic game, Pass the Pigs. Players attempt to rack up points by rolling the pig dice - but if they're not careful they might 'Pig Out' and lose all their points. Pass the Pigs is the sizzlin' fun, shakin' bacon game!

How's your tolerance for puns? You'll need some for Pass the Pigs, a simple game of chance built around a pig theme. Instead of dice, you roll two cute pink piglets, and you gain or lose points depending on how the critters land. For example, if both land on all fours, called a "double trotter," you get 20 points; if they land lying opposite each other, called a "Pig Out," you gain no points and cede your turn. There are a number of other rules as well as a variation called "Hog Call." This would be a good travel game (the pigs, instructions, and scoring pad fit in a small, tidy box) or a fine present for someone who's, well, into pigs! --Elisa Murray