ASTRA MARKETPLACE & ACADEMY 2014
BEAD BAZAAR
BEAD BAZAAR lets kids discover creativity in weaving and take their custom designs to new heights with the Portable Wooden Lap Loom. Weaving helps kids improve manual dexterity and develop a sense of confidence in their ability to create. This kit includes a wooden lap loom, assorted bundles of colored yarn, warp string, two stick shuttles, a tapestry needle, and an instruction and design booklet to create up to three accessories. The Art of Creativity Safety Dance makes creating eyecatching jewelry simple. This kit includes an assortment of beads, chains, safety pins, and string to create multiple pieces of fashion jewelry. Easy-to-follow instructions include how to make a beaded elastic band bracelet and tips on how to attach chains to each other. Bead Bazaar’s ABC Peg Board comes with 26 chunky, colorful alphabet pegs, designed for kids ages 3 and up. The peg board helps develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and letter recognition. Kids can explore the alphabet while learning colors and memory skills.
OYS T L U F GHT U O H T
THOUGHTFUL TOYS has reinvented the traditional toy car with its Modarri toy car line, which includes a Street Car “S1,” a Dirt Car “X1,” and a Track Car “T1.” Kids can create their miniature cars from the wheels up and then drive them with their fingers. Swap parts between cars using the included Hex Tool for a unique look and the ability to invent new tricks. Each modular car includes a chassis, hood/windshield, seat pan, seat, fenders and frame, four wheels, and front and rear suspension. Due to small parts, Modarri cars are recommended for kids ages 6 and up.
GEOCENTRAL Kids can learn and discover with GEOCENTRAL’s Excavate & Explore kit. A sculpted and hand-painted dig block, a digging tool, a dusting brush, a magnifier, a keepsake bag, and an educational booklet are included, so kids can feel like real archaeologists. The GPAN-Gold Panning Kit is a fun set that allows kids to pan for gold, while also teaching kids about the history of the 1849 Gold Rush. Kids will feel like real miners as they use the included magnifier, tweezers, and 7-inch miner’s pan to sift through the dirt and strike gold. An educational guide is also included. Little geologists can learn about rock specimens with the Rock Science Kit, while the Break-Your-Own Geodes kit comes with a set of 10 geodes in assorted sizes for kids to learn about and then break open. GeoCentral also offers Magic Message Pens for writing secret messages to friends and siblings, and a Bag of Jokes that contains five classic practical jokes that can be played on anyone: Snake Eggs, Flies & Spiders, Nail thru Finger, Fake Teeth, and Snapping Gum.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
S56
MAY/JUNE 2014