OPTICAL TOYS & ILLUSIONS

Satchel Paige said never look back, something might be gaining on you, but he was a pitcher, not a spy. We recommend checking behind you with these stylish spy sunglasses with rear-view mirrors at the edges of both lenses. The flexible frame means one size fits all noggins. For ages 5+.

There's optical science and high school physics, and then there's making pretty colors with this little 4-1/2" x about 1" acrylic prism. It makes the same rainbows that the beveled edges on the glass in the French doors to your grandmother's living room used to make on the floor in the afternoon while she was making supper. If you had a grandmother with French doors with beveled glass, who made you supper. If not, you'd better buy this prism or you won't have anything to remember after she's gone.

These 5-5/8" wide cardboard solar viewing glasses filter out 99.999 percent of visible light, and 100 percent of harmful UV and IR light, which means they’re safe for direct solar viewing (and your sunglasses aren’t). A sharp, orange image of the sun will always be there because the lenses are scratch-resistant. You get (2) pairs because who wants to watch an eclipse alone? For you techie types who care, they’re rated for transmission under EN1836:2005 and AS/NZS 1338:1992. ISO 12312-2:2015. In other words, they're from a NASA approved manufacturer. 

Forget that the 6-3/4" long body is festooned with Latin phrases and old maps. The stones/beads/glass inside the tube would make designing windows in cathedrals a snap. And hey, that's good work if you can get it. A nice gift for Rosetta window fans, and a must for that special bishop in your life.

Rattlebacks are plastic semi-elliptical shapes, 3-7/8" long, that illustrate Newton's laws of motion, while mystifying kids. Set them down (the rattlebacks, not the kids) and their offset center of gravity makes them spin. Spin them in one direction and they stop and reverse themselves. You get a package of (10) in assorted colors, along with a lesson plan and suggested activities.

This reincarnation of the classic View-Master® is called (wait for it) the View-Master Classic®. As much fun as ever, and still battery-free. Comes with (3) reels with (21) 3-D images, including Age of Dinosaurs, Safari Adventure and Marine Life. Includes a case and, yes, it will accept all of the original film reels. For ages 3+.

Ever wonder what that mystery gloop is on the bathroom floor or behind the garage? If only gloop could speak! Now it sort of can, with this STEAM kit for budding young scientists. The Dabble Lab™ Magic Reveal SlimyGloop™ kit includes a blacklight pen, glue, sodium tetraborate, measuring cup, mixing spoon and instructions. Kids create mystery art works and secret messages in “gloop,” then reveal them with the blacklight. And they’ll learn about compound science in the process. Ages 6+. ! WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD–Small Parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

The world is your kaleidoscope with a teleidoscope, which is to say that instead of a bunch of little pieces of glass and beads in a rotating case, there's a lens at the other end, in this case a big, clear glass marble making lovely patterns based on whatever you point it at. (Try it on a printed page.) Measures 1" dia x 8-1/4" long. The cardboard tube is covered with diffraction paper for a cool look. Assorted colors

Neon strip cardboard spectacles with diffraction gratings as the lenses. (AKA Fireworks Glasses!) You can see the regular world, but all light sources and bright objects appear in multiple rainbow hued images. Smaller lights, think holiday ones, give you multitudes of rainbow streaks and fireworks are amped up from "ooh" and "ah" to "WOW!" The effect is a little as though the whole world were a giant hologram. These will have Jarvis and the AS&S logo on them so you can spread the word! Great stocking stuffer or birthday party item for grade school ages.

This 4-3/4" dia moon is so much more interesting than the real thing. This one has a 4-way dimmer, flash/strobe/fast and slow fade/steady-on modes, plus internal LEDs to make (15) colors in addition to traditional moonish white. It's also a great nightlight. Remote control comes with a battery but you'll need (3) "AAA" batteries to run the moon. Topographical, but the giant astronaut footprint suggests it's not quite to scale. Will sit up by itself or wall mount on a couple of finishing nails.

Our set of 3D nature cards, 3-1/2" x 2-1/2", is packed with facts on the back side, and has full-color images of (7) critters: red-eyed tree frog, bottle-nose dolphin, gray wolf, humpback whale, polar bear, keel-billed toucan and giant panda. Great for learning and general time-passing. You’ll get a package of (10) with (3) different cards in it.

Yet another great Snap Circuits® kit, this one based on lighting and optics, with a bonus 3-dimensional circuit board. Includes (50) parts and over (150) projects. Special components include an infinity mirror; red, green, blue and white LEDs; 6-way gel wheel; photoresistor; and a diffusion lens. Parts compatible with all other Snap Circuits® kits, too.

Direct from Warner Bros' Polar Express, these old-style red lens/blue lens cardboard 3-D glasses are 5-3/4" across with 4-1/4" temples. You get (2) packages with (4) in each, for a total of (8). They carry a warning against using them as sunglasses, while performing physical activity or for extended wear or outside play, but you're also warned about choking on them. So let's not eat them during the movie, okay? And turn off your phone.

You've seen everybody's favorite desk toy. The one that makes you swear you can pick up the coin that's right inside it. Too bad it's really a hologram you're looking at! Now you can own this petite version of the popular "illusion" toy. This one, 6" dia x 2" tall, with a 1-5/8" opening on the top, leaves more money in your wallet and more room on your desktop. And try to touch that little rubber frog that comes with it. It's either enchanting - or enchanted!