Gift Ideas


Updated November 2006


Click here to go to Amazon and 4%-6% of every purchase you make will be donated back to EPCGT.


Click here to go to our EPCGT Amazon store where you will find links to books, gift ideas, and wish list items we recommend. You can also link to Amazon's home page from here for items we have not listed. EPCGT will receive 4%-6% of your purchases.




Click here to go to MindWare and 10% of every purchase you make will be donated back to EPCGT.



Click here to go to Barnes & Noble and 5% of every purchase you make will be donated back to EPCGT.


To view our recommendations, click on a topic below or just browse through the page. Most of these are items that our kids use and enjoy; a few have recommendations from other sources. References to **NEW** indicate a new listing by us, not necessarily a new product for 2006. To see recommendations for books, magazines, or movies, go to Books and More.



Art

Acrylic paint set - Dick Blick store or www.dickblick.com

**NEW** Art Fraud Detective by Anna Nilsen (puzzle book / mystery game / art book) (ages 8+) - Mindware

**NEW** Art Game (card game with companion art book for ages 7+) (1) The Impressionist, (2) The Renaissance, (3) Van Gogh and Friends - MuseumTour

Art Posters - www.art.com

“Artrageous Projects” by Klutz & Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Big Book of Cartooning by Bruce Blitz

Colored pencils (Bruynzeel, Faber-Castell, Berol Prismacolor)

Creative Clay Jewelry by Leslie Dierks

**NEW** Drawing and Painting with Colored Pencil by Kristy Ann Kutch, 2005

Dress-up clothes

Easel (regular or table style) or drafting table

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters by MaryAnn F. Kohl & Kim Solga

Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick (ages 9+) - available at Barnes & Noble

**NEW** Klutz Crochet - available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon

Klutz Knitting by Anne Akers Johnson (ed.) (ages 8+) - available at Barnes & Noble

Lightbox

Markers, double-sided (Tombow, Berol Prismacolor) - one source: Dick Blick

Models – person, horse, hand - www.dickblick.com

**NEW** Pine Needle Basket Kit (ages 10+) - www.hearthsong.com

**NEW** Sand Quick Sculpture Kit by Deltasand and refill (ages 8+) - Mindware

Sewing box with contents

**NEW** Tapestry Wraps Kit (ages 10+) - www.hearthsong.com

Tool box and tools

Weaving class IOU at Saori Free-style Weaving Studio- see Art Centers

Weaving loom

Woodcarving class gift certificate at Rockler Woodworking or The Woodcarver’s Store, and tools that fit smaller hands, especially the palm sets.

Woodworking for Kids by Kevin McGuire

**NEW** Writer's Oasis (see reference under LANGUAGE ARTS)

Good art sources: Creative KidStuff, Dick Blick, Michael’s, FLAX Art & Design (1-800-547-7778, www.flaxart.com)

Gift certificate for classes at the Bloomington Art Center, Edina Art Center or Minnetonka Center for the Arts

Tickets to Children’s Theater, Stages Theater

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Family Games

Most items are available at Amazon. If you choose to purchase through Amazon, please use our link above so we will have part of the purchase price refunded to us. (See "Service to our Community" to view how the money is used.)

The aMAZEing Labyrinth (ages 8+) (Available at Amazon; search for "Amazing" without the "e." Please use our Amazon Affiliate link above to make purchases.)

Apples to Apples Junior (ages 7-12), Apples to Apples (ages 12+), or **NEW** Jr. Extended edition (ages 9+) - Mindware

A to Z (ages 8+) - timing is everything as your team tries to cover each letter on your board by thinking of something starting with each letter that fits the current category

**NEW** revised edition Axis & Allies (ages 12+) like Risk with WWII map and players

Blokus (ages 5-12) - Mindware - also available at Barnes & Noble
OR **NEW** Blokus Trigon (ages 5+) - Barnes & Noble, Target, Amazon

Brainquest card sets - available for Preschool, K, each of grades 1-7 at Mindware
AND math and reading for each of grades 1-3, America (ages 9-12), Black History (ages 9+), Presidents (ages 9-12), Hispanic America (ages 9-12) - BrainQuest.com

Cadoo, Cranium (ages 5-10)

**NEW** Can You Beat Ken? (ages 12+) - Games by James

Card Games:

  • Bohnanza (ages 8+ with expansion sets for ages 10+)
  • Five Crowns
  • **NEW** King Arthur (ages 8+) GAMES Magazine Best Family Card Game Runner-Up 2007 - www.funagain.com
  • Milles Bournes (g/t 9+)
  • Quiddler
  • Set - Mindware and Barnes & Noble
  • **NEW** Slamwich collectible tin (ages 6+) - check Amazon, www.funagain.com

**NEW** Catch Phrase (teens & adults)

**NEW** Caylus strategy game (ages 12+) 2006 International Gamers Award, special award for complex games - Games by James

Chess “IOU” tickets to game nights with The Chess Club at the Eden Prairie Center Community Room (see www.mnchess.com/locations-ep.htm)

Chess set

Cranium (ages 12+)

Crosswords to Keep You Sharp by Arthur Goodman (ages 10+) available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon

Diplomacy (ages 12+)

**NEW** Domino Rally set and add-on (ages 4-12) - www.hearthsong.com

**NEW** Eurorails strategy board game (ages 10+) - Amazon, Games by James

**NEW** Gambit (strategy game with sliding tiles) (ages 8+) - Mindware

**NEW** Hacienda (ages 10+) GAMES Magazine Best Family Strategy Game 2007 and Forbes Magazine 1 of 10 great business games - click our Amazon link above to purchase

Illustory - Mindware

**NEW** Ingenious (strategy game for ages 8+) - Mindware

Jigsaw puzzles for ages 2-10 – Ravensburger

Jigsaw puzzles for ages 8+ - www.bitsandpieces.com

**NEW** LONPOS Pattern Puzzle (big award winner) or set of puzzles (ages 6+) - Mindware

Lost Cities (g/t 9+) International Gamers Awards Best 2-Player Game 2000

**NEW** Major League Baseball trivia card game (ages 8+) - Creative KidStuff

Mancala (ages 5+) - Mindware - also at Barnes & Noble
    or for 4 players - Mindware

**NEW** Marble Run (ages 3-? classic) with optional add-on set - Mindware or Marble Racetrack with extension at Discovery Toys

Mastermind (ages 7+) 2-player mathematical logic - Mindware

Match Wits with Mensa (ages 10+) - Mindware

Mensa for Kids card sets (ages 10-18) - 6 sets avaiable separately or as one - Mindware

**NEW** Mindtrap 10th Anniversary tin - Mindware
OR Mindtrap 2 (ages 12+)

**NEW** Mystery Story Puzzles (Read the story, piece together the jigsaw puzzle, and see if you can solve the mystery.) - Bits and Pieces

Othello

Outburst or Outburst, Jr.

**NEW** Pentago (ages 6+) - Games by James

Princes of Florence strategy game (ages 12+) 2001 International Gamers Award Best Strategy Game and 2001 GAMES Magazine Best Advanced Strategy Game

Puerto Rico strategy game (ages 12+) 2003 International Gamers Award and others - Games by James, Air Traffic

**NEW** Quoridor Classic (ages 8+) - Mindware

Rat-A-Tat Cat (ages 5+)

**NEW** Ringgz (strategy game - conquer territories by placing a majority of rings of the same color on the same spot - ages 8+) - Mindware

**NEW** RoboRally (ages 10+) - Amazon, Games by James

Scotland Yard (ages 8+)

Scrabble or Super Scrabble (see Language Arts below)

Settlers of Catan card game (for 2 players) (g/t 10+) Spiel des Jahres Game of the Year, 1995

Settlers of Catan board game (multi-player)
and expansions: Cities and Knights of Catan, Seafarers of Catan, Settlers of Catan 5-6 player expansion

**NEW** Stratego for 2 players or Ultimate Stratego for 4 players (ages 8+)

Torres (ages 12+) 2000 GAMES Magazine Game of the Year, 2000 Spiel des Jahres Game of the Year, 2000 International Gamers Award Best Strategy Game Nominee

**NEW** TriBond (Best of) (ages 12+) - Best of 10 years of TriBond; available through Amazon and Games by James under "Tribond" (look for the orange and yellow box)

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Humor

The comic-strip book of your choice: Calvin & Hobbes, Foxtrot (by Bill Amend), Dilbert, etc.

**NEW** Cubicle Playsets (for Dilbert fans, young and old?) Your choice of Bob, Ted, Ann, Joe, IT Department, Copy Center, Sensitivity Trainer, etc. cubicle playset. Pose your figure and decorate your cube with supplied stickers. - From whom else but ThinkGeek.com

**NEW** LED Shaking Dice Kit - "Create Your Own Randomness" by constructing an LED shaking dice from pre-printed circuit boards and various diodes and resistors. Shake the dice and the 7 LEDs flash through possible numbers slowly until stopping on one random choice between 1 and 6. You need your own soldering iron, solder, screwdriver, and button size battery to complete the kit, but - never fear - you can also order that at ThinkGeek.com

**NEW** Robots - magnetic, posable, "just-for-fun" 4-inch tall robots - ThinkGeek.com

Sachar, Louis, Sideways Stories from Wayside School and others

Scieszka, Jon, Knights of the Kitchen Table (ages 7-11), The Math Curse (ages 6-9), Squids Will Be Squids (ages 5-8), The Science Curse (ages 6-9) and more

Music by Joe Scruggs and Rosenshontz (ages 3-8)

**NEW** Snicket, Lemony, The End (#13, last in A Series of Unfortunate Events) OR for the child who doesn't have earlier books: The Complete Wreck: A Boxed Set of Books 1-13 by Lemony Snicket

**NEW** Spamalot tickets at the Ordway for Monty Python fans - showing July 24-August 12, 2007

T-shirts:

**NEW** Weird Al Yankovic music (parents, please judge content for your child) (ages vary; 12+?)

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Language Arts

Boggle travel edition at Barnes & Noble

Cribbage - at Barnes & Noble

Crossword Companion - Kid and CC Jeopardy for different skill levels - www.herbko.com

The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E. B. White (ages 14+)

GoPlay Magnetic Hangman - small, travel-size - www.bn.com

Illustory by Creations by You (ages 6+) - Mindware

Journal, blank or:

  • All About Me: A Keepsake Journal for Kids by Linda Kranz
  • Through My Eyes: A Journal for Teens by Linda Kranz, available through Free Spirit Publishing – www.freespirit.com
  • Journal Jumpstarts: A Month of Creative Writing Prompts series of 12 monthly journals (grades 6-12)

Keedsrow game (ages 8+) - www.pywacketgames.com

Letter Flip game (ages 10+) - Mindware

Live Writing: Breathing Life into Your Words by Ralph Fletcher (ages 8-12)

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition by Joseph Gibaldi, 2003

Magazine subscription to:

  • Animerica (parental guidance suggested) www.animerica-mag.com
  • Muse (nonfiction sponsored by Smithsonian ages 9-14)
  • New Moon (all-girl submissions, ages 9-11)
  • Teen Ink 10-month magazine written by teens for teens
----See our Magazines page for more information.

**NEW** The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, 3rd Edition, by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil, 2002 (ages 13+)

**NEW** The New First Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Your Child Needs to Know, 3rd Edition, by E.D. Hirsch, William G. Rowland, and Michael Stanford, 2004 (ages 8-12+)

Super Scrabble (ages 8+) - Mindware

Teen Ink edited by John Meyer, compiled by Stephanie Meyer. There are various versions of these paperback compilations of teen writing. Find them at Barnes & Noble or Amazon (please use EPCGT link at top to purchase).

Word Roots (ages 8-11 or ages 12+) - Greek and Latin roots with English counterparts - Mindware

**NEW** Writing/Reading surfaces (all available at Levenger.com):

  • Writer's Oasis - 20-inch wide writing surface that can incline at 2 angles for reading or writing and drawing. Also available: Oasis concept pads with drawing space in the middle and writing space on the sides, and oasis isometric pads to draw to scale with room on the side for writing.
  • Student (or regular) editor's desk with inclined work surface, complete with back ledge to hold reference books open and "gutter" for writing utensils.
  • Folding book stand 7" wide x 5 to 6-1/4" high to hold a book at one of 4 angles.
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Math

Architectural design kits:

The Art of Construction by Mario Salvadori (ages 10+) - Mindware

The Art and Craft of Problem Solving by Paul Zeitz (high school)- Ships within 2-4 weeks

The Art of Problem Solving, Volumes I and II by Sandor Lehoczky and Richard Rusczyk (middle school and high school) and many other choices of good math instruction - www.artofproblemsolving.com

Baseball Math and Football Math by Jack and David Coffland

BINARY ARTS puzzles and games: Brick by Brick, Block by Block 3D, Rush Hour, etc. - many available at Barnes & Noble; Rush Hour at Mindware

Building tools:

  • Erector Best of 50 Set (ages 8-13)
  • Hardwood blocks (specialty sets include Frank Lloyd Wright, castle, Mayan) and, at MuseumTour.com: Middle Eastern blocks, Pyramid blocks, and Russian blocks.
  • Kapla Blocks (ages 3+, especially ages 8-12)
  • K’NEX
  • LEGOS
  • Lincoln Logs
  • Rokenbok building sets
  • Zome System Creator Kit or other - Mindware

Cash register

Challenge Math for the Elementary and Middle School Student by Edward Zaccaro

**NEW** Colorku (Sudoku with wooden marbles of different colors) at Colorku.com

Engineering the City by Matthys Levy and Richard Panchyk (ages 11+) - Mindware

**NEW** Fly through Algebra for FLY Pentop Computer (ages 12-14)

**NEW** Head Full of Numbers dice game (ages 7+) - Mindware

**NEW** Kakuro puzzle books (a new puzzle craze more challenging and more fun(?) than Sudoku) - one suggested title:
The Official Book of Kakuro by Timothy E. Parker

Lateral thinking books:

  • Critical Thinking Puzzles/False Logic Puzzles (3 book set for ages 10+) - Mindware
  • Lateral Thinking Puzzlers (3 book set for ages 12+) - Mindware

Magnetix building sets (ages 8-12) - see Amazon link above

Mastermind Collection Books by Ivan Moscovich (ages 12+) - Mindware
6 puzzle books available separately or as a set:

  • Deviously Difficult Mind-Bending Puzzles
  • Fiendishly Frustrating Brain-Twisting Puzzles
  • The Hinged Square & Other Puzzles
  • Leonardo's Mirror & Other Puzzles
  • The Monty Hall Problem & Other Puzzles
  • The Shoelace Problem & Other Puzzles

Math Dice game (ages 8+) - Barnes & Noble

Maze books: Great Double Maze Book by Juliet & Charles Snape, Marvelous Mazes by Juliet & Charles Snape

**NEW** Musical Fruitcake CD by Klein Four - Several math PhD students from Northwestern U. formed an a cappella group that sings songs about math and love - or love and math. T-shirts are also available at Cafepress/kleinfour

Origami animal kits - Mindware

Origami books: Easy Origami by John Montroll, Origami Boxes by Tomoko Fuse

Pappas, Theoni - books:

  • Fractals, Googols and Other Mathematical Tales
  • The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat
  • The Further Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat
  • Math for Kids and Other People Too

Problem Solving Strategies by Arthur Engel (high school)

Rubik's cube or variations (ages 8+): 4x4 and 5x5 at Mindware
AND UFO, Twist, Cube - Mindware

Squzzle Puzzles (ages 6+) - Mindware

Sudoku books

  • Mensa Sudoku 500+ Puzzles by Michael Rios - at Barnes & Noble
  • Sudoku Easy to Hard by Will Shortz
  • Sudoku Easy Presented by Will Shortz
  • Sudoku, More than 200 Fun and Challenging Japanese Number Puzzles by Tammy Seto

**NEW** Sudoku Grand Master Game Board (numbered pegs in a wooden game board with box, including large pieces with a red number on one side and a black number on the other and small "thinking pieces" for the spaces you are still working on) at Bits and Pieces

**NEW** Tangram puzzles in 3D (ages 3+) - Mindware

**NEW** Totally Stumped for FLY Pentop Computer (ages 8-12)

The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught) (ages 12+) by Edward Zaccaro

T-shirts - www.mfolz.com

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Music

BoomWhackers (musical tubes) and accessories - Mindware

Blue Man Group - The Complex Rock Tour Live on DVD

Chimalong Jr. xylophone (ages 4-10)

Classical Kids tapes:

  • Beethoven Lives Upstairs
  • Hallelujah Handel  **NEW**
  • Mr. Bach Comes to Call
  • Mozart’s Magic Fantasy
  • Tchaikovsky Discovers America
  • Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery

Here’s to You, Charlie Brown! By David Benoit

Music Ace and Music Ace 2 composing software by Harmonic Vision (for beginning and intermediate students) – www.harmonicvision.com

The Point by Harry Nilsson

Putamayo music of different cultures, among which are:

  • Acoustic Brazil (2005)
  • Asian Lounge (2005)
  • Caribbean Playground (2004)
  • Celtic Crossroads (2005)
  • Italian Cafe (2005)
  • North African Groove (2005)
  • Nuevo Latino (2004)
  • Women of Africa (2004)

SchoolHouse Rock, esp. Best of Schoolhouse Rock

Sheet music/books of challenging music for the instrument they play in the style they like (browse Groth Music, Schmitt Music, www.sheetmusicplus.com)

T-shirts - www.mfolz.com

Tickets to Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Children's Theater, Minnesota Orchestra, Ordway Theatre, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

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Science

Birdsong Identifier (portable, electronic with song cards) - Wild Birds Unlimited on Prairie Center Drive or National Geographic

**NEW** Capsela Toys - motorized sets you build that show how things work (ages 6+)

**NEW** Chem C1000 Chemistry Set (ages 10+) - Mindware

**NEW** Chem C2000 Chemistry Set (advanced - ages 10+) - Mindware and available at Barnes & Noble

**NEW** Chem C3000 Chemistry Set (Ages 12+) - 360 experiements - PhysLink Science eStore

**NEW** Computer Repair Tool Kit - ThinkGeek.com

Computer Science publications:

  • **NEW** CSS Web Site Design (Hands-On Training) by Eric A. Meyer, 2006 (for beginners
  • **NEW** HTML, XHTML and CSS, 6th Edition Visual Quick Start guide by Elizabeth Castro, 2006 (for beginners)
  • **NEW** JavaScript the Definitive Guide, 5th Edition by David Flanagan, 2006 (not for beginners)
  • **NEW** Learning Web Design: A Beginner's Guide to HTML, Graphics and Beyond by Jennifer Niederst, 2003
  • Magazine subscription to MacWorld or PC World (ages 14+)
  • **NEW** Sams Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML and CSS in One Hour a Day 5th Edition, by Laura LeMay and Rafe Colburn, 2006
  • **NEW** Web Design in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (O'Reilly) by Jennifer Niederst Robbins, 2006 (for programmers with some experience)

Connections 2 and Connections 3 - 20-episode DVDs of James Burke, the "science detective" - link to Amazon above

Crystal Growing Kits - PhysLink Science eStore

**NEW** Dinosaurs (ages 3+) - Carnegie dinosaurs by Safari - Toy Safari or Schleich dinosaurs - check Creative Kidstuff, Toy World, Target

Electronics Learning Lab (ages 10+) Radio Shack
   > or Snap Circuits (ages 8-12) - Mindware. More advanced Snap Circuits are listed below.

Fossils and rocks - one good local source is The Enchanted Rock Garden, 6445 Lyndale Avenue S., 612-866-1140

Fuel Cell Car and Experiment Kit by Thames & Kosmos (ages 12+, 2002 Parents Choice Silver Award winner) - available at Barnes & Noble and Mindware

**NEW** Hydrogen Fuel Rocket - Mindware

**NEW** Inside the Tomb of Tutankhamun by Jacqueline Morley, 2005 (ages 8-12)

**NEW** In Their Time: The Greatest Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century by Anthony J. Mayo, Nitin Nohria

  • **NEW** Laptop "landing station" (stand-alone; adjustable height; can also be used as a keyboard tray) - Levenger

    • **NEW** LEGO MindStorms NXT Robotics Invention System (ages 10+) - Mindware
    and supporting text: Building Robots with Java Brains by Brian Bagnall

    **NEW** Mad About Physics: Braintwisters, Paradoxes, and Curiosities and Mad About Modern Physics by Christopher Jargodzki and Franklin Potter (ages 12+)

    **NEW** Microscope - Micro Trek - Mindware

    Model rocket kits (Hub Hobby in Richfield or Hobbytown USA in Minnetonka)

    **NEW** "Neat to Know" books by David Feldman - Mindware

    • When Do Fish Sleep?
    • Who Put the Butter in Butterfly?
    • Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise?

    New Way Things Work by David Macaulay

    **NEW** Scientists card game - PhysLink Science eStore

    **NEW** Snap Circuits 300 and 500 - Mindware and Snap Circuits Extreme (750 projects that interface with a computer) - HearthSong

    **NEW** Soldering Tool - "Cold Heat" cordless tool, in pro version or classic, that heats quickly and cools down fast, with optional accessory tips - ThinkGeek.com

    **NEW** The 10 Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But Are Rarely Taught) by Edward Zaccaro

    T-shirts - www.mfolz.com

    Telescope

    **NEW** Ultimate Star Planetarium (ages 8+) - Discovery Store

    **NEW** The Universe DVD - with narration by renowned astronomers Alex Filippenko and Karel Schrijver, NASA images, and original orchestral music (all ages)

    The Way Life Works: The Science Lover's Illustrated Guide to How Life Grows, Develops, Reproduces, and Gets Along by Mahlon Hoagland and Bert Dodson

    Weather station - www.scientificsonline.com


    ********

    A good source of many science kits, small items, etc. is www.physlink.com/estore

    Another good source of many science items, including very expensive instruments, is www.scientificsonline.com

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    Social Studies & Geography

    The All-American Trivia Game (ages 9-15 Jr. Edition, 16+ Adult) - Mindware

    BrainQuest card sets for America (ages 9-12), Black History (ages 9+), Presidents (ages 9-12), Hispanic America (ages 9-12) - choose Amazon link above or Brainquest.com

    **NEW** The Egyptian Pyramid Mystery is Solved!: The Mysteries, Vol. 1 by Margaret Morris, Margie Morris, 2004 (ages 9+)

    **NEW** The Family Reference Atlas of the World by National Geographic, 2006 - National Geographic

    GeoSafari laptop & card sets for two age ranges

    Globe, maps (Rand McNally, Latitudes stores)

    **NEW** Good magazine, new October 2006 - 100% of your money goes to the non-profit of your choice. The magazine features many philanthropic entrepreneurs who want to make the world a better place - www.goodmagazine.com

    **NEW** The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy by Bryan Magee

    Handy Geography Answer Book by Matthew Rosenberg

    An Inconvenient Truth DVD about global warming

    Magazine subscription to

    • Appleseeds (ages 7-9)
    • Dig (ages 8-13)
    • Muse (ages 10+)
    • National Geographic for Kids (ages 6-12)
    • National Geographic (young adult+)
    • Ranger Rick
    • Zoobooks

    Mindware Challenge Game (Jeopardy) books, set of 3 - Mindware

    • American History Challenge
    • Geography Challenge
    • World History Challenge

    **NEW** Good magazine, new October 2006 - 100% of your money goes to the non-profit of your choice. The magazine features many philanthropic entrepreneurs who want to make the world a better place - www.goodmagazine.com

    **NEW** The Great Philosophers: An Introduction to Western Philosophy by Bryan Magee

    **NEW** Guinness World Records (parents may want to preview the 2007 edition to judge age appropriateness)

    **NEW** National Geographic Almanac of American History by James Miller and John Thompson, 2005

    **NEW** National Geographic Dinosaurs by Paul Barrett

    **NEW** National Geographic Family Reference Atlas of the World, 2nd Edition, 2006

    National Geographic GeoBee Challenge Game (ages 8+) - National Geographic

    **NEW** National Geographic Our Fifty States by Mark Bockenhauer

    **NEW** National Geographic World History Biographies Series books:

    • Alexander: The Boy Soldier Who Conquered the World
    • Galileo: The Genius Who Faced the Inquisition
    • Gandhi: The Young Protester Who Founded a Nation
    • Hatshepsut: The Princess Who Became King
    • Michelangelo: The Young Artist Who Dreamed of Perfection
    • Nelson Mandela: The Rebel Who Led His Nation to Freedom

    **NEW** Nature books by Stan Tekiela, Director of Staring Lake Outdoor Center, including Nature Smart and field guides of Minnesota

    **NEW** Nature Journal:

    • Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You by Clare Walker Leslie, Charles E. Roth (for young adult and adult)
    • My Nature Journal: A Personal Nature Guide for Young People by Adrienne Olmstead (ages 8-12)

    Rosetta Stone software to learn 25+? Different languages by Fairfield Language Tech. (some languages better than others; check reviews) - please use our Amazon link above.

    Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller (ages 4-9)

    Scrambled States of America Geography Game (ages 6-11) Mindware

    Take Off! Geography game (ages 6+)

    **NEW** Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: Official Companion Book to the Exhibition sponsored by National Geographic by Zahi A. Hawass, Kenneth Garrett, 2005

    **NEW** Walden: Or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau - hardcover 150th Anniversary edition with wood engravings by Michael McCurdy and a foreword by naturalist Terry Tempest Williams
    OR Walden: 150th Anniversary Illustrated Edition of the American Classic with photographs by Scot Miller; both published in 2004.

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    Software

    Some of the following softare programs are old, but particular favorites of ours. We have found that you can have good luck purchasing older products from Half Price Books. Please help us be more aware of great new educational software products by sending us a note through the Contact button above. We would love to pass the information along.

    Amazon Trail 3rd Edition: Rainforest Adventures (ages 8+)

    Chess softare: Chessmaster 9000 (ages 5+) and **NEW** Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2: Chess in the Black Castle (ages 6+)

    Civilization IV and **NEW** Civilization IV: Warlords Expansion Pack, July 2006 (ages 10+)

    I Spy and other variations (Scholastic, ages 5+)

    The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions (and other variations) (ages 8+)

    Math Blaster versions for ages 6-7 and 8-9

    Microworlds variations - www.microworlds.com

    Oregon Trail 5 (ages 8+)

    SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition (ages 10+)

    Tivola Software games:

    • Bioscopia
    • Chemicus (best of the 3)
    • Physicus

    Zoombinis Logical Journey 2 (ages 7+)

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    Making the World a Better Place?

    "Adopt" an animal through:

    Give the gift of an animal (cow, goat, chickens, etc.) and training to help children and families around the world become self-reliant: Heifer International, Choose "Give," "Online Gift Catalog."

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