Editorial Review

"Dear Pen Pal, Konnichi wa! We've been to see Mt. Fuji. Name my country! Sayonara, Michiko." Challenge your group with this fast-paced geography game, created in 1992 by Educational Insights, Inc. Everyone begins at the post office. Players twirl a finely printed spinner (built into the game board itself) to select one of 60 countries. If the player can correctly identify the country's location on the board's numbered map, he or she may advance along the path to the finish. Bonus moves are won by landing on "postcard" spaces, listening to the clues on one of the 40 postcards, and correctly identifying the pen pal's country. (The sample postcard above came from Japan.) A more challenging game can be achieved by requiring players to name the country's capital; answers are provided. --Liane Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great Game - BEWARE SHIPPING
This is a great educational family game.
However, please be aware that Amazon ships this game wrapped in a plastic bag with no padding.Another game of the same order was received was crushed and torn on one corner.Amazon promptly arranged a pickup and replacement.This game arrive with crushed edges, but I decided to keep it rather than deal with another return.I figured it could have been worse; imagine a small unprotected board game competing with other shipments in a UPS truck.Amazon used to pack items in a box with packing material.This is no longer the case.Beware.

Better for younger children, but needs improvements
Great idea for a board game with lots of learning potential for younger children, however children 10+ years may soon find this formula a little unchallenging. Several improvements could make this a better product; notably, heavier paper for the frequently handled question cards, and a much larger map on the game board. Some of the countries appear too small for grandparents and children with poor eyesight. Also, the spinner is labeled with text that should be larger. With just a few design changes and the opportunity to purchase additional question card packs, perhaps geared towards different age groups, we could recommend this game more enthusiastically.

My daughter's favorite
This game really puts the world at your child's fingertips.My daughter begs to play even after her dad and I are pooped.And at eight years old, she knows more about geography than I did when I was much older.I'm getting her "Name That State" for her birthday and expect the same reaction. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Learning    4. Geography    5. Activity   

Editorial Review

You are about to begin a new amazing hobby that is sofantastic it staggers the imagination! You will create instant life!Single-handedly, you will give rise to the world's only living,breathing, instant pets--live sea monkeys! The instruction book for theSea Monkeys Ocean Zoo is an entertaining read, packed with enthusiasticrevelations about those ubiquitous brine shrimp from yourcomic-book-reading days. They're fascinating creatures, able to live up to a yearor more, reproduce ("dozens of adorable babies!"), even "performtricks" in their 5.75-inch magnifier-studded "Micro Vue" aquarium. Thekit comes with shrimp eggs, food, plasma, a water purifier, and ahandbook. Just add pure water. A great set of pets for a smallishdomicile, they'd also make a scintillating science project. Plus,they're just plain fun! --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (62)

great item
Sea Monkeys are the best! They are so easy to raise! It only takes about a day to prepare the tank! Speaking of tank, the tank is so cool! It has a flip light, and lots and lots of magnifiers.



Sea monkeys are great for kids who are allergic to fur. Be careful to not spill the tank! And remember to feed your fine little friends!

Entertaining and Fun
Before I begin, please note that this is from an eleven year old's point of view.
Sea Monkeys are really great! They are perfect for kids who aren't allowed to have furry animals.
Sea Monkeys Ocean of Light comes with exactly the following-no more, no less:

-aquarium with flip light
-instructions in a variety of languages
-water purifier pouch
-instant egg pouch
-growth food pouch
-plasma III pouch
-food and egg spoon

The kit is great for starters who don't wan't to get too fancy-just using what you need. The tank is really great, with the light and built in magnifiers, but beware that the lid is EXTREMELY loose. For those who don't know, Plasam III is some powder that will make your sea-monkey babies grow faster.
The instruction booklet has its ups and downs. It's packed with advice and science facts are crammed in, making it fun. However, the box clearly states that it has a 32 page booklet, in full color, but I did not find any.
I took one star away because the kit was simply not enough for a serious beginner trainer. For instance, an Aqua-Leash will let you transport your critters from one place to another, and the Million Bubble Air Pump is a handy device in which it pumps air. I was slightly dissapointed when I did not find either in the kit. But, I went onto the official sea-monkey website, www.sea-monkeys.com, where they sell the leash and the pump, plus other great stuff. Go on there to buy and to get valuable customer care information.
All in all, the Ocean of Light is really a pretty good kit, and sea-monkeys are the BEST and easiest to raise!

"IDidn't really get it but i had some thing like it"


It was really cool waching the sea monkey's swiming in the water it wasn't much of a problem feeding them either it was a fun thing to look at and past the time.I think my parent's will buy this for me again.I think this gift would be a scientific experiece for any child.Tip:keep younger kids away if they arent smart they'll think its a glass of water and drink it.
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Learning    3. Science    4. Animals   

Reviews (5)

Great Game - BEWARE SHIPPING
This is a great educational family game.
However, please be aware that Amazon ships this game wrapped in a plastic bag with no padding.The first one received was crushed and torn on one corner.Amazon promptly arranged a pickup and replacement.The replacement arrived also wrapped in a plastic bag and was crushed on one edge.I decided to keep it rather than deal with another return.I figured it could have been worse; imagine a small unprotected board game competing with other shipments in a UPS truck.Amazon used to pack items in a box with packing material.This is no longer the case.Beware.

Should be fun, and yet...
We just bought this game for our five year old son.He loves maps and could name some of the more recognizable states already, so we figuredhe would love it.However...

The gameplay is nonexistent.There really is no game.It's rote learning of the states and their capitals cloaked in "an exciting geography game".But it's NOT exciting.After your child learns the states (which might take a week or so, game or no game) then even that element of enjoyment is gone from this game.

The factoid postcards are not that interesting, restricting themselves to well-known landmarks and not delving into many historic or demographic details.The cards themselves are printed on cheap paper stock rather than glossy card stock, so they get bent very easily.

The spinner is on a flimsy cardboard insert that isn't flat, so the spinner doesn't spin all that consistently.

We've had this one for a week, and it's already on the shelf.The game says it's for kids Grade 3 and up...I can't imagine how older kids would enjoy this game if it can't hold a five year old's attention.

My Son Loves This Game!!
I homeschool my kids and we have a ton of games to help them learn. This is one of their most favorites. My son is eager to play this game. It has helped him learn interesting facts about the states, where they are located and what their capitals are. He will even study outside the game in hopes to beat me at the game.

First you start off by spinning the spinner and finding the state number that it landed on. To continue with your turn, you must correctly name the capital of that state. If you can't, your turn ends. If you do get the capital correct you then roll the dice and move the appropriate spaces. If you land on a space where you must draw a card, you must name the state by the hint left on the card. Most of the time it is land marks or tourist spots.

I definitely think that every parents should buy this game. It does not matter if your child attends public school, private school or home school. This game will make learning the states fun for your child and the whole family. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Learning    4. Geography    5. Activity   

Editorial Review

The Magic Castle Aquarium is small enough to hold in your hand, but large enough to provideshelter for a village of sea-monkeys. It all starts with a packet of dehydrated sea-monkey eggs. Once ahome has been prepared, stir in the eggs and watch them hatch right before your eyes. Their home isactually an underwater castle at the base of a clear container to which you add pure bottled or boiled water.Air holes at the rim of the container keep the water oxygenated. The set also comes with a water purifier,sea-monkey food, Amazing Plasma III (no one knows quite what that is), a measuring spoon, a largedroplet for agitating the water, a magnifying lid, and more. These sea-monkeys are guaranteed to live atleast two years, if properly cared for. The set is supplemented with a detailed instruction pamphlet and anorder form for the 32-page Official Sea-Monkey Handbook on the box. For children under 8 yearsof age, this kit will likely require parental assistance to set up. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (45)

oh fates! why have you forsaken my monkey!?!?!?!
There is nothing majestic about the Sea Monkey Magic castle.It is a dark tower of sea monkey doom.Let me explain.Too many times have I summoned the monkey apocalypse ravaging death by toppling over the traditional ill-balanced monkey worlds.I purchased the magic castle because the round base of the castle appeared to be a solid and stable foundation, one in which the monkey Peter could build a church to ward off the careless gyrations of their insane deity.To this end, the magic castle served its purpose faithfully. However the fatal flaw of the castle lies in its miniscule dome-like opening which confines the monkeys' exposure to oxygen slowly and callously depriving them of life.As I am a benevolent god, the cruelty of this "magical" world was denied to my monkeys as they were lacking enough air for Genesis -- stillborn into their primordial ooze.Desponded and despaired, I await the evaporation of The Flood so that I may resurrect the corpses of my fallen children in some sort of necromancer zombie-monkey darkness.Sitting in my throne, snorting lines from the mysterious packet of powdery Amazing Plasma III to invoke visions of The Second Coming, I puzzle at what evil denied the inclusion of the thousand-bubble aerator to the Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys Magic Castle.There are dark things at work beyond the light visions of the Creator.

READ THISABOUTMY SWEET LITTLE BABIES!
I never knew I could love shrimp so much. They are adorable! I read other reviews saying they were ugly, and I don't know what they mean, but mine are growing up differently! They look like tiny little shrimp, not those cute things with legs sticking out of the sides. Mine must be more fairy shrimp than brine shrimp, because their tails are curled like the shrimp you eat. I think they are a sucess! I don't care what they look like,though. They're my babies. Anyway, it's the most increadible thing I've ever seen. Tiny life-less specks turned into teeny, tiny white cones with stubby legs. Yes, they look like icecream cones,and boy are they attracted to in-direct sunlight! If you love teeny,precous,cute,sweet,active,amazing seamonkeys, buy this! I'm a tough critic and I already give it a billion stars.
YOU CANNOT LIVE WITH OUT TINY SALTY,WATER FRIENDS!! BBUUYY!!!!!

Adorable Little Shrimp! I love them so much!
I finally bought these little shrimp! At first I didn't see anything when I put in the eggs, but when I put it in the sun, THEY WERE THERE! I was
so excited! I fell in love with them because they're tiny. Right now I'm looking at them, so tiny and adorable! The only downside is I'm afraid my cat will knock them over, but he doesn't even care about them. He walked right past them 34 times. Any way, I love them so increadibly much.GET THEM! THEY'RE GREAT!I HAVE HUNDREDS ALLREADY! SO TOTALLY SATISFYING!!!!!:) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Learning    3. Science    4. Animals