A Mighty Girl 2023 Holiday Guide

This microscope from Geosafari is specially designed to be rugged and easy to use for preschoolers! The extra-large eyepieces and chunky focusing knob are similar to the ones on an adult microscope, and the bright LED with an easy push-button activation illuminates even more detail. The 8X magnification is enough to make a noticeable difference, but still familiar enough to help younger kids connect what they see through the scope with the real-life object. It's the perfect option for an eager scientist who's not quite ready for the real thing.

She can learn all about hydroponics with this inspiring set from Nancy B.'s Science Club! Sprout seeds, then put them in the seed baskets and suspend them over flasks of water; without any soil, the plants will start to grow! All the necessary bits and pieces are included in this kit, as well as a journal that provides experiment ideas, interesting facts, and writing prompts. It's perfect for your budding gardener or biologist!

Dive into the daily life of a human cell in Cytosis! In this board game from Genius Games, players take turns putting flasks on available organelles inside the cell; then, they activate the organelle, to either gain macromolecule resources or take actions like completing cell component cards. As the game goes on, resources and space get tight, so think strategically! Everything in this engrossing game mimics actual processes in human cells, teaching cell biology concepts in a clever way. For another biology-themed game from this innovative company, check out Peptide: A Protein Building Game.

Experience life as a monarch butterfly in this game from Spiel des Jahre winner Elizabeth Hargrave and Alderac Entertainment Group! Mariposas is played across three seasons: in spring, your butterflies head North; in summer, they spread out; and in fall, they return south. Along the way, you're trying to collect flower tokens and breed future generations by landing near milkweed plants! Keep an eye on your objectives to score extra points, and win even more points for every butterfly that makes it back to Mexico at the end of the fall. With stunning artwork, simple but deep gameplay, and different strategies to try every time you play, this game for 2 to 5 players is sure to be a favorite.

Would-be entomologists and other bug lovers will be thrilled by this Real Bug Dig Kit from National Geographic! Inside the digging brick, kids will find three bugs preserved in transparent acrylic: a fortune beetle, a scorpion, and a spiny spider. Once they've dug their specimens out of the brick using the archeological tools, they can study them with the magnifying glass, and use the full-color learning guide to discover more about insects, arachnids, and arthropods. It's an exciting kit that encourages kids to develop a new appreciation for this mysterious and intriguing creatures!

Dive into the world of dinosaurs with this two-in-one toy that lets kids enjoy both assembling a puzzle and playing search and find! This 64-piece puzzle from Mudpuppy has thick, sturdy pieces that are easy for little hands to manipulate, and colorful dinosaur illustrations that feature all their favorite species. Then, once it's assembled, kids can spot the dinosaurs from the border in the image they created! This eco-friendly puzzle uses recycled materials and non-toxic inks, so it's friendly to modern wildlife and kids study prehistoric life! For two more search and find puzzles from Mudpuppy, check out the Woodland Forest Search and Find Puzzle and the Ocean Life Search and Find Puzzle.

Celebrate the diversity of life on Earth, past and present, with this gorgeous 1000-piece puzzle from Eurographics! From the origins of life to humanity (represented by Charles Darwin), this puzzle depicts the amazing variety of organisms — from extinct creatures like the dinosaurs to ancient life forms that survive today. Made which high-quality blueboard that offers a precise fit that holds up to repeated assembly and disassembly, and with a 19.25" by 26.5" finished size that lets you see every detail, this puzzle is sure to be a favorite.

Create your own glow-in-the-dark dinosaur habitat with this kit from Creativity for Kids! Everything you need to create a terrarium is included: toy dinosaurs and fossils, glow rocks, dino eggs, and even a "volcano" with a flickering red LED light. Once you've created your terrarium, plant the quick-growing beans and wheatgrass to add a little foliage. There are enough supplies to support two full plant lifecycles in this kit, and kids will love being able to add their own glowing creative touches.

Stargaze on your socks with these colorful, unique knee socks from Sock It To Me! These comfortable and stretchy knee socks are a favorite with our community, both for their fit and for their interesting patterns. This pair shows off a love of the night sky with a midnight blue background and real constellations. Future astronomers and astronauts, or anyone who loves the stars, will love these socks!

Learn all about prehistoric animals with this set from the Young Scientists Club that's four games in one! 80 illustrated game cards depict a wide variety of prehistoric creatures, or offer three fascinating facts about each one. Kids can play bingo, two memory games, or trivia by matching the picture with details about the animal! Sort the cards by geologic era, or check out the 18 by 24 inch poster to find out just how big these amazing creatures were!

Celebrate the beauties of the universe with this gorgeous puzzle from EuroGraphics! This stunning, scientifically accurate puzzle features images of the skies in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, including constellations, double or multiple stars, variable stars, galaxies, diffuse and planetary nebulae, Milky Way Galaxy, open clusters, globular clusters, and the North Galactic Pole and South Galactic Pole. With a finished size of 19.25" x 26.5", this 1000-piece puzzle offers plenty of chances to check out every detail!

Build a tribute to some of the ground-breaking women who took American into space with this much-anticipated set from LEGO Ideas! This fan-designed set features astronomer Nancy Grace Roman; computer scientist Margaret Hamilton; astronaut and physicist Sally Ride; and astronaut, physician and engineer Mae Jemison, each as part of a vignette depicting their role with NASA. It's a wonderful way to inspire the women in STEM of future generations!