You can learn more about the TOYchallenge contest at http://www.toychallenge.com . The registration deadline is Jan. 30, 2004.

Check out the Sally Ride Science Club online at www.sallyrideclub.com/dynamic/public_home.jsp.

Learn more about engineering as a career for girls at www.engineergirl.org/nae/cwe/egmain.nsf/?Opendatabase (National Academy of Engineering).

Books recommended by SearchIt!Science:

Toys! Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions — Don L. Wulffson Published by Henry Holt and Co., 2000. Play-Doh was wallpaper cleaner? The United States Navy commissioned the invention of the Slinky? Yes, these stories are true! The behind-the-scenes stories of Play-Doh, Slinky, and many other toys are documented in this book. Find out how G.I. Joe got his name and why Raggedy Ann always has a red heart. Some of the most popular toys through the years began as someone’s mistake. After reading these stories of the humble beginnings of some of the world’s most popular toys, perhaps you’ll invent an "oops" that will rival General Electric’s useless "bouncy putty" that eventually became "Silly Putty."

Science Projects About the Physics of Toys and Games — Robert Gardner Published by Enslow Publishers, 2000. This book is about the physics involved with things like toy cars, balloons, and even toys that you make. Experiments include "Make a Comeback Toy," "Make a Toy Electric Motor," "How Does a Push-N-Go Toy Work?" and "Walking on Snow."

Toy and Game Science — Peter Pentland, Pennie Stoyles Published by Chelsea House, 2003. Have you ever wondered how a kaleidoscope works, how a slinky slinks, or why kites fly? With clear explanations of scientific principles, this book about toy and game science will answer many of your questions about how toys work. Double-page spreads focus on different topics, such as "Why do toy cars move the way they do?" or "Toys that make noise." Learn about buoyancy, balance, gravity, Newton’s laws of motion, light, and magnets, and many other principles that toys depend on. This book’s colorful layout is filled with photographs, diagrams, and weird science and toy facts.

engineering The use of science to design and build structures and machines. Engineering is necessary for safe bridges, roads, and buildings and for reliable cars, trains, and airplanes.

Copyright © 2002, 2003 Houghton-Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Used with permission.