Eeeew, That’s Gross!

What is it about nose picking, dog poop, and a variety of bodily functions (human and animal) that kids love so much? Sure, they run around saying “Eeew, that’s gross,” but boogers, solid waste, and farts bring out more giggles than almost anything else in childhood. And, let’s face it, they get plenty of parents laughing—and getting back in touch with their inner child—too. This week we take a look at three games are sure to disgust and delight kids and adults alike.

Gooey Louie (Goliath)
As parents, we’re always trying to find those teachable moments, even in toys and games. If you’re looking for educational value, you’ve come to the wrong place with Gooey Louie. But if you’re looking for a completely silly game that’s just plain fun, this is it. The game starts by loading up Louie’s head with long, green, loogies (called “gooeys”) that dangle out of his enormous nose. Then, players take turns rolling a die to see how many of those gooeys they have to pick out. One of them—no one knows which—will make Louie’s eyes pop out, his head fly open, and his brains fly across the room. It’s revolting, but incredibly entertaining for kids and adults. The gooeys look like gummy worms, but, sadly, they aren’t edible. Hmm. Would that be too gross? Nah… Takes 10 minutes max. For two or more players, ages 4 and up. $22.50. http://www.gooeylouiegame.com/

Doggie Doo (Goliath)
Doggie Doo has been around for quite a while, but feeding, walking, and cleaning up after a dog has never been more fun. Here’s how it works: shove some of the specially formulated food (it’s kind of like Play Doh, but stretchier gooier) into your dog’s mouth, then start squeezing his leash. Each squeeze produces a disgusting, but laugh-inducing gassy sound that gets louder and louder until, well, digestion takes its course. Every player has his or her own pooper scooper which, unlike in the real world, they love to use. Theoretically, Doggie Doo is a game, but most kids are going to bypass the rules and skip right to the feeding, farting, and popping part. The folks at Goliath say that the game teaches kids to clean up after their pets. Could be, but it might also be teaching them to play with poop. Either way, everyone should wash their hands afterwards. For two to four players, ages 4 and. $23.00. http://www.doggiedoogame.com/

Dino Meal (Goliath)
Dino Meal isn’t as gross as Doggie Do or Gooey Louie, but it taps into another childhood favorite to entertain kids and keep ‘em laughing: fear. An evil T-Rex has stolen a bunch of eggs from another dino and has hidden them in a pit, cleverly covered by a leaf. It’s up to us to get those eggs back their parents. Players roll a die to tell them which color egg to rescue. Then, they gently lift up the leaf and use a long tweezers to reach in and grab the egg. All’s well until the T-Rex, who’s been guarding her ill-gotten eggs, lunges forward, jaws snapping. Of course, no one gets hurt, but you’ll jump out of your seat every time. The wide-eyed moments of fear are followed by squeals of delight. Dino Meal can be played by 2-4 players, ages 4 and up, in less than 20 minutes. $18.00. http://www.goliathgames.us/

Valley of the Dolls

Got a special girl at home? Maybe a niece or granddaughter you like to shower with gifts? So many girls love dolls (and so do some boys), but there’s a lot more to the genre than those cuddly baby dolls that close your eyes when you lay them down, and Barbie. Here are some of the most interesting dolls available today. And while they’re aimed at children, playing with dolls is a great way for parents—dads as well as moms—to have fun with their kids.

Doc McStuffins
Doc McStuffins, star of the incredibly popular TV show of the same name, has a bevy of adorable doll-related toys. Unlike a lot of character-based toys these days that make you buy extras to really enjoy them, the “Doc Is In Clinic” comes with just about everything that your young child could need to play with and is ready to go right out of the box. This fantastic playhouse includes all the furnishings for Doc’s room and exam areas, two “stuffed” (plastic) toys that talk when used with the clinic table, and even batteries. So arrange the furniture, decorate the clinic with the included stickers, and start treating sick toys, STAT! For ages 3 and up. Available at Target, Amazon, and other retailers for around $50.00.

The “Magic Talkin’ Doc and Friends” playset has larger toys for smaller hands—or for kids who just like their toys a little bigger than action figures. This set comes with Doc, her doctor’s bag and instruments, a check-up table, and Stuffy and Lambie. Doc talks and sings her famous “Time for Your Checkup” song, and both Stuffy and Lambie talk when you put them on the exam table. For ages 3 and up. Retails for about $35.

The Doctor’s Dress Up Set comes with everything your child will need to turn herself into a life-size Doc McStuffins doll: the white coat and trademark striped shirt, a sparkly headband, and plenty of doctor essentials, such as a stethoscope and name tag. All she needs is someone to figure out Obamacare and help her handle the billing and she’ll be ready to set up shop. Retails for about $20.

Hello Kitty
This classic from the 70′s and 80′s is still around and still delighting little girls. Ok, and sometimes grown ones, too. The reimagined Hello Kitty now comes in a variety of super soft plush options. Larger ones retail for about $15, while a three-pack of smaller once runs $11 (there are three packs to choose from). The color-me plush—also $11—is especially cuddly and can be decorated with the accompanying marker. It’s machine washable but may retain a slight tint if your child has a heavy hand with the marker. Ages 4 and up.

Pinkie Cooper
We can’t say enough good things about this fun line of that melds dolls and dogs into one figure. If you haven’t seen them, these fun, adorable dog-dolls are a little odd looking, but they grow on you pretty quickly. Pinkie is quite the fashionista and she encourages travel and learning about different cultures, and stimulates kids’ imagination. Pinky even has her own fashion-conscious puppy pets who have mix-and-match hairstyles and more. Her clothes are bright and trendy. But best of all, she’s actually dressed in a way that won’t make parents blush: no sexy clothing or vampy undergarments, thank you very much. Your child can also keep up with Pinkie and her friends’ international adventures at PinkieCooper.com. Dolls retail from $10-$20.

Boo! Happy Halloween

With Halloween right around the corner, do you have all your ducks (or pumpkins, as it were) in a row? No? Not to worry. Here are some Halloween goodies that can help you get your spooky on—in a kid-friendly way, of course. All of them are aimed at almost all ages, with appropriate adult supervision.

Surface Carving Kit (Pumpkin Masters)

What’s Halloween without carved pumpkins? Looking for spooky, cute, or something in between? Pumpkin Masters has all the tools and accessories you and the kids could possibly need to decorate the perfect pumpkin, while keeping it fun, safe, creative and affordable: carving kits, patterns (many are free to download on their website), specialized tools, jack-o-lantern lights, flashing strobe lights, and more. If mom, dad, or the teenagers who haunt your home want to do something a little (or a lot) more complicated, we’ve got you covered. Our new favorite is the Surface Carving Kit, which, as you can guess from the name, has you do your carving on the surface of the pumpkin—without having to hollow it out or clean seeds off your floor. And surface-carved pumpkins last longer. The kit comes with three interchangeable carving tips, 12 patterns, and more—enough to get you off to a great start. On their website, Pumpkin Masters also has video instructions and on-line carving contests.http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/

Pumpkin Talker

and Halloween Pics ‘n’ Props (Hallmark)

Pumpkin Masters is far from the only game in town. Hallmark’s Pumpkin Talker line comes with easy-to-use templates for carving Batman, Cinderella, Scooby Doo, or a nameless scary jack-o-lantern (each Talker is sold separately and includes one pattern). The templates are easy to use, and when you’re done, put the Talker device into your pumpkin and the motion-activated voice will “speak” in the character’s voice whenever someone comes near. The one we tried, Scooby Doo, is a family favorite and sounded just like the lovable dog from the show. $14.95.

Hallmark’s Halloween Pics ‘n’ Props kit comes with a haunted house backdrop and a ton of props, masks, and other stuff to make great pictures or holiday cards to share with your family and friends. It also comes with a photo album so you can make a coffee table book people will look at a lot more than the wine one you t but no one ever looks at… $29.95. http://www.hallmark.com

Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

After a long morning of pumpkin carving and photo shoots, what better way to unwind with the family than by curling up and sharing a book. Donaldson (a UK Children’s Laureate from 2011-2013, and Scheffler are the same author-illustrator team that created the critically-acclaimed series, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. The book is very cute and comes as either a regular or board book (for about $4.95), as well as on DVD (about $8.50). Kids Preferred has created an adorable line of plush toys (sold separately for $14.95) to accompany the book, including a Witch, Cat, or Dragon, all of which are the perfect reading companions for youngsters. www.kidspreferred.com and roomonthebroom.com/us

Halloween Stories Collection, Volume 2,

Too exhausted to even pick up a book? If so, Scholastic has the next-best thing: 14 not-really-scary stories that will be a hit with early and/or pre-readers. These movies bring best-selling children’s storybooks to life and promote a love of literature. Filled with skeletons, witches, and more seasonal spooks. But remember, this is a family activity, so be sure to watch the videos with your children and get them talking. $21.27. www.scholastic.com

Beyond the Game of Kings

Chess has been around for hundreds of years, and it’s always been associated with intelligence, strategy, and memory. But over the past decade—partly due to the increase in video and smartphone games—the Game of Kings, has lost some of its allure and its audience. This week we take a look at two great chess-like games that are fun, engaging, and at least as intellectually stimulating and challenging as chess.

Arimaa
From a distance, Armiaa looks like chess: There are two sides, each with 16 pieces, and it’s played on an 8×8 board. But the similarity ends there. The most powerful piece is the elephant and the weakest are the rabbits. All the pieces move the same way: one space left, right, or forward. And all but the rabbits can move one space backwards.

The company’s tag line is “Intuitively simple… intellectually challenging” and they’re right. Unlike chess, where there’s only one way to set up the board, in Armaa, players set up their pieces any way they’d like (as long as they’re all in two “home rows”). The game’s inventor estimates that there are as many as 64 million ways to start the game, as opposed to only 20 in chess. And unlike chess, where weaker pieces protect the stronger ones, here, the strong protect the weak and the goal is to get one of your rabbits all the way across the board. Each turn, players can move up to four spaces—all by one piece or divided among several. You can use your turn to advance or protect your own pieces or to push or pull your opponent’s to less favorable spaces—or to one of the four trap spaces that remove pieces from the board. Sounds a little complicated, but the rules are easy enough for kids as young as five or six to learn.

Once the game is underway, there are an average of 17,000 possible moves at any given time (vs. about 30 in chess), Armiaa stimulates logical and strategic thinking, improves focus and problem-solving skills, stimulates creativity, and may even help with math. But more than that, it’s a delightful way for a parent and child to spend time together. $30.00 http://arimaa.com

Commander-in-Chief (X-Plus Products)
While the goal of this game is similar to chess—capture your opponent’s leader—Commander-in-Chief turns the traditional 8×8 chess board on its head. Well, actually, on its side: the game is played with the board in a diamond shape. The 15 spaces in the corner facing each player are brown and represent land, and there’s a wide blue ocean between the two warring forces. The board is set up in a specific way and the 15 solid, nicely crafted pieces—which include tanks, submarines, helicopters, destroyers, fighter jets, bombers, and amphibian assault vehicles—can move through the air, on land, by sea, or in some cases, a combination.

Each piece has unique directional movements and restrictions, and keeping track of them can be tough. But every time you play (and you’re going to want to play this game over and over), you’ll get closer to mastering them—just like in chess. Until then, the game comes with two one-page reference guides—one for each side.

Commander-in-Chief isn’t quite as involved as chess, but it definitely requires logic, strategic thinking, planning, and logic. A great game for beginners and experts alike, it takes only about 30 minutes to play. And one especially nice feature that separates it from other similar games is that it can be played by 2 or 4 players. $34.00. http://www.commander-in-chief.com/the-game.html

Family Video Games, Chapter 1

If you’re a gamer, you probably have a special place in your house where you can fire up your games and settle in—all alone. But why not share the fun with your kids? Here are some family friendly video games you and your kids can play together.

Rayman Legends (Wii U, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Playstation Vita and Windows)
Rayman is back in all his glory in this follow-up to Rayman Origins. This time, Rayman is out to jump, punch, bounce, and float his way through 120 levels of 2.5 dimensions of platforming fun. (2.5 dimensions means that it’s a 2D game, but characters hop from front to back or creatures will slink from area to area, which makes for some very interesting game play.) Legends is one of those easy-to-play-but-hard-to-master games, but no matter where you are, it’s a blast. When running from dragons or just trying to hop off a cliff before it crumbles away, the most rewarding moments in Rayman are when you get that wonderful end-of-level Rayman dance. The Wii U version includes a free Challenges app.

Hot Wheels, World’s Best Driver (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and PC)
When you think of Hot Wheels, you probably think of small cars and big fun, with every surface in your home becoming a track and tiny cars that become middle-of-the-night tripping hazards. But now, you and the kids can play the Hot Wheels video game. You start by selecting a team—each one specializes in a certain driving style: tricks, speed, drifting, and off-roading. Unlike some games where differences between cars are purely cosmetic, here you can actually feel the difference in the way the cars handle. In multiplayer mode, players take turns with the controller, which can frustrate the little ones. But once they’re used to it, this is a really fun game for everyone. Oh, and don’t put those Hot Wheels cars and tracks away—technology is great, but building and racing is too.

Turbo: Super Stunt Squad (Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3)
This entry from D3 features characters from the movie Turbo. It’s a stunt-based game, kind of like the skateboarding games of yester-year, but replacing the humans and skateboards with speed-boosted snails. Initially only a few levels are open. Each is based on a human environment (for example, a nail salon or the kitchen in a fast-food place), but from a snail’s perspective. On each level, collectibles and upgrades help unlock new abilities and open up new levels to explore and conquer. Each character has a unique feel and special talents, such as Turbo’s Tuck and Roll, and Skidmark’s Nitro Boost. Can be played co-op or solo.

Disney Infinity (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U, Wii, and Nintendo 3DS)
Take a toy-to-video-game crossover and add some Disney magic (and player creativity) and you’ve got a fun family-friendly game that children and parent can enjoy together. Disney Infinity is essentially a toy box that you can stock with as few or as many play sets and character pieces as you’d like. Each play set is based on a popular Disney film. The starter pack comes with three sets and three characters: Captain Jack from Pirates of the Caribbean, Sully from Monsters University and Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles. All three are a blast to play either solo or with another player (unfortunately, if you want to play co-op, you’ll need to buy additional characters, but they’re pretty inexpensive). Sorry, no mixing-and-matching: Captain Jack will not be visiting Monsters University.

Now for Something Completely Different

It’s not easy being in the toy and game business. The pressure to continually come up with new ideas—and then transform them into unique, entertaining, fun products that people will actually want to play with—is huge. This week we had a chance to review a number of board games that were clever, innovative, and great fun for the whole family.

Make ‘n’ Break Party (Ravensburger)
This new release adds a new twist to the original Make ‘n’ Break game. The concept is pretty simple: pick a card with a picture of a structure, then build that structure using small blocks before the timer goes off. But here’s the twist. Instead of just building what’s on the card, one player has to describe the structure to a teammate who can’t see the picture. And that’s just the basic game mode. In addition to the picture, each card has several related words which come into play in more advanced modes. In mode two, one player still describes the structure, but can’t use any of the words on the card. For example, if the words are balance and triangle, he or she can’t say either one in any form—something that makes describing what’s on the card harder and the laughter louder. In the toughest mode, the player who’s doing the building is blindfolded. For a maximum of 9 players. The box says ages 10 and up, but younger kids will have a blast too. 3-9 players. $22.00. http://www.ravensburger.com

Front Runner (SimplyFun)
There are a lot of great math games out there, but we found this one to be especially challenging—in a good way. The setting is a horse race, and each player is a jockey. The horse pawns are numbered 2-7 and are actually the answers to the equations printed on Equation Cards. But instead of solving simple addition or subtraction problems, players are solving for factors, which are the numbers that divide evenly into larger numbers without a remainder (for example, the factors of 10 are 1, 2, 5,and 10). Unlike a lot of other math-based games, Front Runner involves strategy. The only way a horse can move forward is if its number is a factor. Here’s how it works. A problem printed on the card (each card has three problems, one easy, one hard, one even harder) reads X+Y-Z=?. Using three dice, the player rolls 5, 3, and 2. 5+3-2 is 6. Since the factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, and 6, those horses move forward. But if the player arranges the dice 5+2-3, the answer is 4, whose factors are 2 and 4, so only those horses would move, leaving the others behind. Players try to create equations whose factors advance their horse—but no one else’s. It’s a little complicated in the beginning, but well worth the effort. 2-6 players. Ages 8 and up. http://www.simplyfun.com

Bugs in the Kitchen (Ravensburger)
At the start of the game, the board is made up of spoons, knives, and forks that are arranged so they trap a battery-operated HEXBUG that’s trying to escape. Players take turn rolling a die that shows one of the utensils, which they can turn, creating paths that the bouncing bug will follow. Players strategically turn the utensils so they lure the bug into their trap. Bugs in the Kitchen is fast paced, raucous, and can be played in less than 10 minutes by 2-4 exterminators. Ages 6 and up. $44.99. http://www.ravensburger.com

More Movie Madness

A few weeks ago we reviewed a number of toys based on movie adaptations of comic books, including Iron Man, Superman, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This week we’re looking at more movie characters, but these are aimed at a younger crowd.

Sulley Monster Mask (Spinmaster)
This plush mask is cute, not frightening—just like the real Sulley. But that won’t keep the kids from putting it on and trying to scare mom and dad. 100 percent kid-powered, the eyebrows move up and down and the mouth opens and closes along with the child’s. A t-strap on the back keeps the mask in place but also allows for easy on and off. For ages 3 and up. $14.99. spinmaster.com/

Roll-A-Scare Race Playset and Roll-A-Scare Monsters Assortment (Spinmaster)
If you remember the Zoobies craze from a few years back, the Roll-A-Scare monsters will feel familiar. They start off round and careen down the Playset Race track that parents and kids can build together. But when they cross the magnetic finish line, they pop open. There are a total of 12 monsters (including Boo, who isn’t really a monster). Each of the 12 comes with a student ID card that also pops them open. The Playset is $20, and each of the monsters costs $7-$12. spinmaster.com/

My Scare Pal (Spinmaster)
These squeezable, cuddly Mike and Sulley plush toys will soon become your child’s new best buddies. They’re great for toting around the house and acting out favorite scenes from the movie. Pull Mike’s long arms and legs and he’ll say one of 10 funny lines, encouraging your child to help him grow and to watch his eye, since he only has one. For some reason, Sulley has 15 lines plus a growl that will send the kids into enough giggles to power Monster City. The kids can also shake Sulley into Tickle Mode, Scare Mode, or Sleep Time mode. Requires 2 AA batteries (included). $20-30). spinmaster.com/

The Smurfs2 Movie Figures (JAKKS)
Celebrate the new Smurfs 2 movie with a fun line of highly-detailed characters. There are 24 different 2.75” figures (individual Smurfs cost $4 each, 2-packs for $7). You can also get any of a dozen 7.5” Bean Bag Plush Smurfs that are perfect for snuggling up with on a road trip (and Smurfs do love to travel). $8 each. www.Jakks.com

Disney Planes Wing Control Dusty Crophopper Remote Control Plane (Mattel)
One of the hottest kids movies right now is Disney Pixar’s Planes and this cool, interactive remote-control toy with an absurdly long name lets kids “become” Dusty, using their arms to control his movements. In manual mode, your child pushes a button to start the propeller and move the plane forward, he or she then use the two controllers—one on each arm—to make the plane fly, dive, and roll. If your child doesn’t want to be a pilot, there’s also an autopilot mode too, which takes Dusty through three pre-programmed performances. $40. Batteries not included. http://shop.mattel.com/

Disney Planes Sky Track Challenge Track Set (Mattel)
This unique race set lets you attach planes to the track with special clips so they can do loops and other tricks. Lots of parent-child fun building the track, but the roadway didn’t hold together well so we ended up having to glue it. In addition, the set comes with only one plane, which is a bummer since a true “race” track should come with at least two vehicles, shouldn’t it? Still, pretty entertaining. $31 (plus the cost of an additional plane) http://shop.mattel.com/

In It for the Long Haul

Suitcases come in different shapes and sizes, but the best ones are the kind you pack up and go on a trip with. Here are some of our top picks for family (or solo) travel.

Tarmac AWD 22 (Eagle Creek)
This well-built carry-on-size bag comes with a ton of extras, including sturdy, 360-degree dynamic wheels that make navigating crowded airports a breeze, and lockable (and self-repairing) zippers. The Coat Keeper is an especially nice feature. How many times have you brought along a sweater or jacket just in case the flight gets chilly—and then left it on the plane or in the back of a taxi? The Keeper lets you clip your jacket to the outside of the suitcase. The AWD 22 also comes with a No Matter What warranty that really does cover damage from any cause. About $330. Eaglecreek.com

Pack-It System (Eagle Creek)
The Pack-It System comes in a variety of styles. Folders help keep your clothes wrinkle-free and compressed; Cubes are great for t-shirts, pants, underwear, and anything else you can roll up; Sacs keep all your small stuff organized; and Mud Boxes are water-resistant and perfect for muddy shoes and scuba wetsuits. $25-$30. Eaglecreek.com

iLite Supreme Wheeled Boarding Bag (American Tourister)
If you’re taking a short trip and are bringing your computer along for the ride, this bag may be just the ticket. Despite its small size, the iLite series sports sturdy wheels that allow you to push, pull, and turn any way you want. It also has a very comfortable retractable handle. On the inside, you’ll find plenty of pockets, straps, and zipper compartments, all of which make keeping your clothes where you put them. Samsonite/American Tourister have positioned the iLite as a laptop bag, but although the large exterior pocket has plenty of room for a computer, cables, and a few other gadgets, it’s not as well-padded as it could be. But that’s nothing a few extra pairs of socks couldn’t solve. About $75. Samsonite.com

Colora (American Tourister)
The most noticeable feature of the Colora series is the eye-popping colors (including raspberry, lime green, and orange), which make spotting your luggage on the baggage carousel quite easy. Even the handles and wheels stand out. Now all you have to do is find a stylish wardrobe to match. On the inside of the bag, you’ll find plenty of pockets, zippers, and cross-straps to help keep your belongings right where you pack them, something that’s greatly appreciated when bringing home souvenirs or trying to keep your things in any sort of order. $125-$145. Samsonite.com

Helium Garment Bag (Delsey)
Delsey’s garment bags come in three styles: Covers (or sleeves) are lightweight and include a locking hangar clamp to keep your clothes from sliding around, as well as a few exterior pockets; Non-rolling bags are pretty much what the name indicates: they’re framed bags that you sling over your shoulder or hold by the top handle. They also have lots of pockets for shoes, toiletries, accessories, and maybe a book or two; Rolling bags will keep your clothes wrinkle-free and looking good, but they’re are a little bigger and heavier. Fortunately, they’ve got wheels—something to consider if you’re traveling in a group and you’re the designated Sherpa. The rolling bags come with an adjustable strap that allows you to connect them to other bags, freeing up your hands. One of our favorite features about Delseys is the built-in over-weight indicator, which lets you know if you’ve gone over the 50-pound limit of doom. $79-$150. Delsey.com

Learning with Your Kids? There’s an App for That

As fun—and educational—as iPads can be, when it comes to parents playing learning games with their children (as opposed to kids playing by themselves and turning into zombies), there really isn’t an app for that. Until now. TigerFace Games has developed a number of learning apps that allow parents and children to either compete or collaborate. The TigerFace Games apps are just a few of the dozens of games that are part of the Fingerprint Network. We spoke with Nancy MacIntyre, Fingerprint’s CEO and co-founder. Having worked at Broderbund, LeapFrog,and Hasbro, Nancy knows a thing or two about games. “We’re trying to create experiences that parents and kids can do together,” she says.

We test-drove three Fingerprint apps, including two that are being released this week. We also previewed two more that are due out by the end of September. All are fun, engaging, entertaining, and challenging, and the graphics and animation are excellent.

Cosmic Reactor
Two players compete head-to-head in seven math-based games. One is a memory-match game, where players turn over “plates” that have equations, trying to find matching pairs (for example, 5×2 and 20-10). In another, a randomly-generated problem comes up (“pick the equation that gives 41”), and players have to find the right one from among a bunch of equation-sporting viruses that are floating around the screen. Customization is easy, so kindergarteners can do simple addition and subtraction, while older kids can multiply and divide larger numbers. (Ages 5-11; $2.99).

Quick Tap Spanish
In this two-person game, players race to match foreign-language words with their English equivalents. Quick Tap (which also comes in French, German, Portuguese, Mandarin, and others. Includes more than 100 word pairs in a variety of categories, such as animals, colors, food, and numbers. A fun way to brush up on the basics. (Ages: 5-11; $1.99)

The Flying Alphabetinis
If you like Scramble With Friends (by Zynga) or Boggle, you’ll love this game, where tiny acrobats with letters on their bellies pile on top of each other and create a jumble. Players find words forwards, backwards, up, down, and even zig-zagy. Flashcards with hints (like a picture of a boat) help early readers. (Ages 5-11; Free – $2.99).

Sushi Scramble (coming soon)
A friendly sushi chef puts letters on floating boats while hungry customers grab them as fast as they can. In the 2-person collaborative mode, players work together to complete assignments such as, “Make two words that start with T”. In competitive mode, up to four players make words using letters from the boats or snatched from another player’s tray..(Ages 7-11; $2.99)

Equator (coming soon)The earth is out of whack and the only way to set things right is to come up with two equations that produce equal results. Both players work together using game-generated numbers and floating arithmetic operators (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). As the game progresses, problems gradually become more challenging. (Ages 5-11; Free – $2.99)

When parents download any of the 40+ Fingerprint apps, they become part of the Network, which offers some nice features. Of course, basic parental controls keep kids from downloading more apps without permission. But there’s also the ability to set up individual profiles for everyone in the family and track each child’s progress. That way dad and mom will know whether there are specific areas the child needs to work on.

Right now, Fingerprint apps are available only on Apple devices. But Android versions will be out soon. As Nancy MacIntyre says, “We’ll do anything we can to keep kids and families playing together.” For more info, visit http://www.fingerprintplay.com

Superhero Toys

In a recent article on wired.com, Kevin Feige-the man behind just about every Marvel comics movie released over the past decade-says that Marvel has movies planned out until 2021. If you’re a kid (or someone who still loves comic book characters and adventure movies), that’s great news and you might want to look at some of your favorite superhero capes before the films arrive! If you’re a parent, that might be less-than-great news because every one of those movies will spawn a series of related toys and games, that means… more money spent on toys! Have no fear though, you can check out websites like https://www.raise.com/coupons/walmart and save money with their coupons and discount codes on those coveted toys. Here are just a few of them.

Iron Man Action Cycle (Playhut)
Iron Man and his alter ego (big, big ego), Tony Stark, is one cool dude-especially when he’s in motion. And that’s exactly where the Iron Man Action Cycle puts him. Given how high-tech Iron Man is, this toy is remarkably low-tech-not even a battery. Kids stomp or punch an air bladder which propels Iron Man across the room. Best on hard, flat surfaces-carpet will just slow him down. Since it requires stomping and punching, a little parental supervision is advised to ensure that no one’s toes or fingers get smashed. There are also Captain America, Spider Man, and other superhero Action Cycles. All are $19.99. Available at playhut.com and toysrus.com.

Marvel Iron Man 3 Avengers Initiative Assemblers Battle Vehicle (Hasbro)
This cool toy includes Iron Man himself and a race car, which converts to power-enhanced exo-armor when Iron Man needs a little extra protection. The car also has the ability to launch Iron Man into the battle with a simple push on the spoiler. $19.99. Hasbro.com

Marvel Iron Man 3 Avengers Initiative Arc Strike Iron Man Figure (Hasbro)
Sporting a lot of interactive features, this large Iron Man’s hands, chest, and eyes light up with a blue electronic glow. When “powering up” the lights glow brighter and you get that cool powering-up sound. And when firing, the lights pulse. While not as poseable as some might like, the lights and other effects will engage most kids. $19.99. Hasbro.com

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Flingers (Playmates Toys)
And now onto those heroes-in-a-half-shell. The Ninja Turtles are back with a new line called Flingers. Each Ninja (sold separately) has a built-in mechanism that allows him to throw things at the evil Foot Clan. Leonardo has 10 sewer lids, Raphael 4 sais, Donatello 3 bo’s, and Michelangelo has 10 pizzas. The figures themselves are dressed in some pretty funky (in a good way) junkyard armor. The flinging mechanism works well, but performs best on a hard surface and in the weapons need to be fired off in a certain order, especially with Raphael. But done correctly, it’s fun to see each Turtle grab his weapon and throw it. $12.99 each. Playmatestoys.com.

Man of Steel Quick Shots Battle for Metropolis Play Set (Mattel)
In case you haven’t seen it, Man of Steel is a re-imagining of Superman with a darker, mysterious, and more-alien feel to it. But it’s still epic and no matter where he is, Superman is always fun. What’s not to like about a guy who’s strong, can fly, always does the right thing, and is pretty good looking to boot? With the release of the new movie-and with plenty of sequels sure to follow-there’s going to be a plethora of new toys. Mattel’s Quick Shots line revives a low-tech-yet-effective mode of superhero transportation: Make a V with your fingers, pull back on the stretchy figure’s body, release, and let him soar around your living room. Quick Shots come in single flinger packs as well as in larger play sets like Battle for Metropolis. $30.99 for the set. Mattel.com

Parents@Play

Toys and Games That Get Parents and Kids Playing Together