From the world of Collect 'Em All, these uber-cute little foam animal figures are 1" to 1-1/2" across with a little 3" hook-n-loop band on the back so they can be attached to fingers, flip-flops, shoelaces, backpacks, wherever kiddies think they belong. You'll get (4) different ones from the selection of frogs, pandas, monkeys, elephants, kittens, bats, fishes, penguins and toucans.

Extra-nifty, this 3-D sci-fi cartoon coloring set includes a 36-page pad of cartoons with (3) sets of (12) 7” x 5” sheets. Also comes with a pair of diffraction glasses, so you can see what you’re coloring, and (10) assorted markers, all in a compact book-like carrying case.

Making stuff crystal clear is boring. Grow your own red, blue or purple crystals with these amazing Magical Crystal growing kits. You get approx 4 oz of mono-ammonium crystal, a 2-3/8" dia concave base, some appropriate food coloring flakes, a 3-3/4" x 2-3/4" dia clear plastic container, mixing stick and instructions. Ages 8+.

For whiz kids, from ScienceWiz™. The Inventions kit has (4) projects: using a small motor as a generator; building a telegraph; a DC motor; and an AM radio. You add a D-cell battery and a few household items. Created by Berkeley science-education whiz Penny Norman, Ph.D., and attractively boxed, with a lavishly illustrated 40pp instruction book. For ages 8 to 80

Home robotics, bubeleh. Build a working hydraulic arm with this excellent 66-piece kit from Pathfinders' Simple Machine series. Structure is die-cut plywood and the kit includes tubing, (3) syringes and glue. You'll need a ruler and scissors. The finished arm will be approx 13-1/2" tall and will reach out over 16" and rotate 90° on an 8-5/8' x 6-7/8" base. Comes with a 12-page manual and uses water. Beautiful, too. For ages 8+.

For tyro electronics wizards: build your own dual white-LED strobe light. You'll need a 9V battery, solder and a soldering iron. Features a speed switch and rate control knob, and will oscillate between once and a seizure-inducing 60X per second. Draws 40mA. Ages 10+, as some soldering is required.

Just like the original Stomp® Rocket but slightly smaller for slightly smaller feet, the Stomp® Rocket Jr. Glow also, you guessed it, glows in the dark. Includes (4) 8-3/4" tall foam rockets, launch tripod, 3-foot hose and the launching pad on which you or your young 'uns stomp to launch it up to 100 feet. Runs on air alone (no more waiting for your liquid hydrogen order from NASA) so it's safe. For ages 3 and up, depending upon shoe size.

Actually, your chickens, plural, since our each is multiples of lovely, plucked and naked chickens in full chicken color. And unlike the real thing, these are small enough to carry in your pocket, because you never know. In molded plastic, you pick the dozen micro-mini pullets at 1-1/2” long, or the 3-pack of 3” long birds. Either way, you’re prepared for any chicken emergency you’re likely to encounter.

before we dip our tongues into it. You might want to, too. Try Watersafe® Well-Water Test Kit, a robust 10 parameter, single-use kit made for testing city water or well-water. Contains tests that will detect lead, coliform bacteria, pesticides, nitrates, iron, nitrites, pH, chlorine, copper and hardness. Includes an instruction manual and EPA drinking water standards. Easy to use, with your water quality results on the spot.

Nice little pulley unit kit includes (1) pulley each at 50, 30, 25 and 20mm and (3) pulleys at 11mm, plus myriad bushings, a 3VDC motor, (2) belts and a belt guide, base, mounts and assorted hardware. Includes graphic assembly instructions, plus a couple of rudimentary drawings with suggested projects. It's a mechanical science project waiting for a home.

Return with us now to those thrilling days of the 15th century, when Leonardo was designing stuff you wouldn't have thought of even if you'd paid attention in class and applied yourself. You choose from these wooden models of his genius designs. His unrealized aerial screw (think helicopter) stands approx 15" tall on a 9" square base and has a canvas canopy. Includes a 12-page manual and all the parts. For ages 9+. You’ll need glue, scissors and a ruler. The trebuchet (think catapult) is based on his original 1482 design, stands approx 24" tall x 12-3/4" x 4-1/2" and comes with all the parts, including a clay ball to launch at your favorite model castle, or your sister. Includes an 8-page instruction book and is for ages 12+. Bring glue, scissors, a ruler and some small clamps.Great resources for STEM activities.

And teach a kid (8 and up) the basics of solar power. This excellent educational kit from Elenco comes with (9) 0.5VDC solar cells pre-wired in sets of (3) and mounted in a 5" x 4" x 7/16" black-plastic frame with screw terminals on the bottom. The kit includes a 1.5VDC motor with leads and a mount, a fan blade and (4) plastic discs from 5/8" dia to 2" dia for mounting on the motor shaft, a 1.5V incandescent bulb with leads, a sound module with leads, and graphic cards to mount on the discs. Comes with a 14-page instruction/experiment booklet, including info on increasing voltage and amperage, powering battery charges, radios, games, etc. Lots of science project potential. "Heuristic as all get-out," Jarvis said when he saw it. Ages 8+.

Incendiary rocket fuel? We don't need no stinkin' incendiary rocket fuel. We got the Mighty Seltzer Rocket! The seltzer rocket, made of simple plastic parts. (No, don't lean over it!. That's not a foam nose cone, you know!) The 4-1/4" x 1-1/4" dia seltzer rocket that holds water and (1) dissolving seltzer tablet. The rocket that has shot almost 30 feet in the air for us. It comes with (4) antacid tablets, just like those you can buy at the drug store -- and it's basic science at its best!

Nothing beats owl pellets for the edification of budding biologists. These are from barn owls and they're domestic, yurped up by your American barn owls, each with a skeleton inside. Keep them refrigerated to keep the moths away. Most are approx 1-1/2" to 2" long.

The problem with mobiles is that you have to wait to inherit the wind before they do anything interesting. Until now. This devilishly clever mobile has an 8” wide single prop plane with a solar cell up top mounted on a crossbar with a coin holder at the opposite end for ballast. The whole shebang is approx 18” long. Can be hung on the included 5” ball chain or set on top of an empty plastic pop bottle. In white plastic, which you could paint if you tend to paint things. Ages 8+.

We like The Usborne Book of Science Activities a whole bunch. It’s volume one of the Helen Edom and Kate Woodward series, a 74-page hardcover that includes experiments with water, magnets, light and mirrors, with plenty of puzzles and projects--profusely illustrated, throughout. Handy for keeping your young one's mind in shape when not in school or as family learning projects.

Electronic fun with just a hint of soldering from Madlab. You pick: the lie detector kit, with a PC board and components, or the LED logic game with diodes and transistors that pit your skill against moving a peg along (36) pads. You should be able to assemble either kit in under an hour with a little light soldering. You add a 9V battery to both. For ages 10 and up. Soldering iron not included. But we have one, and it’s item #88242 for $6.95.

Who woodn’t, really? In a world of plastics, it’s hard to beat a model fashioned from pieces of dead trees. You pick from our assortment of pre-cut unfinished wood models made for ages 8+, and all you add is wood glue, paint, sandpaper and simple hand tools: the 12-piece drag racer will measure 6-3/4” long x 2” tall and the 35-piece steam engine will measure 7-3/8” long x 4-3/8” tall.