Out of the Cradle

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Section: Fun & Games

LEGO “Shuttle Adventure”

LEGO
“Shuttle Adventure”
Item 10213
2010
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: Hah! The LEGO website has it listed for $99.99. I got mine at the local LEGO store for that price, and it is pretty stupendous at 1,204 pieces. The nephews are coming over this weekend to help put it together (and wishing it was for them), and then it’s going down to the Frontiers of Flight Museum to be added to the display case of modern space toys that accompanies the exhibit of Lunar art. Tune in to OotC for an update soon on the Moon Day planning.

[Update: A most excellent set, with a working robotic arm and satellite to deploy. The spring action landing gear is pretty cool, as is the cockpit area. Totally sweet. I’m still waiting on the LEGO Lunar Electric Rover, though.]

“The Moon · La Lune · Der Mond · La Luna” (puzzle)

“The Moon · La Lune · Der Mond · La Luna”
Eurographics
2010
19.250″ x 26.625″
Item #: 6000-1007
Publisher’s Web Site

“Rocket Baby Play Set” (plush)

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“Rocket Baby Play Set”
International Playthings LLC
2010
Item #: E00277
Publisher’s Web Site

“Space Base & Satellite Explorer” (model)

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Lindberg
“Space Base & Satellite Explorer”
J Lloyd International Inc.
2010
#91008
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: So new it’s not even up yet at the manufacturer’s website, at last there’s a new, non-shuttle model kit to work on. I picked up the copy for the Lunar Library at my locally-owned and operated hobby store; when I find a good online link I’ll attach it.

“Lunar Command” (jeu)

LEGO
“Lunar Command”
2009
Item #4534895
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: Not yet available in the U.S., this was one of my top acquisition priorities during my trip to Strasbourg for the ISU Syposium.

P.S. The one nephew loved it and always wants to play it.

“Level Up: En Route vers la Lune” (jeu)

“Level Up: En Route vers la Lune”
Asmodee
?
Réf. LU01

“Mission: I.S.S.” (card game)

Schwartz, Scott & Aaron Toman
“Mission: I.S.S.”
Iron Bear Studios
2002

“Miss Astronaut Barbie®” (doll)

Mattel Inc.
“Miss Astronaut Barbie®”
Special Edition - My Favorite Career: 1965
2009
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: The third Barbie® added to the Lunar Library, this one is a reproduction of a 1965 model that arrived just in time for the Gemini program. From the package:

“Yes, she was a rocket scientist - taking us to new fashion heights, while firmly placing her stilettos on the [M]oon.”

P.S. I’m still waiting for the Barbie® Dream™ ISS/Bigelow Module.

“Pocket Rockets” (card game)

“Pocket Rockets”
Hazgaard Editions/Asmodee US
2009
Ref: KG17
Publisher’s Web Site
BoardGameGeek Web Site

Glow in the Dark Space Train Station (playset)

KidKraft
Glow in the Dark Space Train Station
Item 17471
2009 (?)
Publisher’s Web Site

spacestationtrain.jpg

Librarian’s Note: Wicked cool! Glow in the dark tracks and features, different centers of activity, three teams of astronauts (red, blue, yellow), nuclear materials to move around, massive robots from some machine intelligence beyond the stars, a cool celestial navigation table for the command center, trucks, a crane, a rocket, a saucer, and some aliens (if you’re into that sort of thing), all guaranteed to provide hours and hours of imaginative play. Kudos to KidKraft for this one.

“2-in-1 Space Rocket” (playset)

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“2-in-1 Space Rocket”
Daron Toys
2009
Item #: FM361
Publisher’s Web Site

“Apollo 27″ Rocket (model)

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“Apollo 27″ Rocket
Pegasus Hobbies
2009
Stock # 9101
Publisher’s Web Site

“Eight Man Grey Crater”

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War Torn Worlds
“Eight Man Grey Crater”
08/2009
WTW-06819
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: Found this at Games Plus near Chicago, a very well stocked gaming store. Some day I am going to run a Lunar-themed RPG scenario at a sci-fi con. Some day…

“Paper Astronaut: The Paper Spacecraft Mission Manual”

Cezzar, Juliette & Éditions Aéro-Dynamiques
“Paper Astronaut: The Paper Spacecraft Mission Manual”
Universe Publishing
2009
ISBN13: 978-0-789-31881-7
Publisher’s Web Site
Official Website

Librarian’s Note: Go into any hobby shop, and you’ll find plenty of models of airplanes and cars and ships, but rockets? You can have any rocket you want as long as it’s a Space Shuttle (or Apollo). Space interested model builders have adapted to this by promulgating a large number of paper models. The best round-up of links to paper models is over at Hobbyspace, but this book is a terrific introduction to the hobby with an international line-up of spacecraft.

“Space Your Face - Lunar Librarian Boogie”

Courtesy of NASA
“Space Your Face - Lunar Librarian Boogie”
Inflicted on you by Lunar Librarian Ken

Make your own Space Boogie video at Space Your Face

kenmoondance.jpg

“Space Camp” (Nintendo DS)

7 Studios Inc.
“Space Camp”
Activision
2009
Wired GeekDad Review

Librarian’s Note: Kinda cool, but really for younger players.

READ MORE…

Retro Ray-guns: Galacteers (miniatures)

Retro-Ray-guns: Galacteers
Hydra Miniatures
2009
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: And here I was wondering where I was going to find some astronaut-y type miniatures to use with my Star Tiles from Fat Dragon Games. Not astronaut-y, but I do dig the retro stylings. Requires some assembly, and painting, and a bit of imagination doesn’t hurt, either.

rocky-rizzo.jpgjane-hunter.thumbnail.jpgace-mcguire.thumbnail.jpggalacteer-sergeant.jpg

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“little einsteins: Space Mission Adventure”

Fisher-Price, Inc.
“little einsteins: Space Mission Adventure”
Mattel, Inc.
2008
#M2960
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: Works reasonably well with some of the other space playsets. Includes Rocket Moon Rover.

Traveller Adventure 1: Beltstrike (RPG)

Whittaker, Lawrence
“Traveller: Beltstrike”
Mongoose Traveller
2008
ISBN: 978-1-906-10368-2
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: While not set in our Solar system, any Game Master worth their salt should be easily able to adapt the scenario to do some RPG adventuring in our own Asteroid Belt searching for riches and glory.

“Moon” (Nintendo DS)

Renegade Kid
“Moon”
Mastiff
2008
Author’s Web Site
Publisher’s Web Site
Yahoo! Games Review
ign.com Review
GamePro Review
the escapist Review
Destructoid Review

Librarian’s Note: This one looks to be a pretty interesting game. I guess I’m going to have to rent my nephew’s DS to try it out, as I haven’t upgraded from the Gameboy Advance I picked up for traveling. (Hey, I can’t read books all the time)

“Space Trader: Merchant Marine” (PC-CD)

Hermitworks Entertainment Corp.
“Space Trader: Merchant Marine”
Meridian 4
2008
Author’s Web Site
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: Space merchant gaming set in our Solar system. Too cool! I guess I’m going to have to keep a closer eye on the video game world.

“Star Tiles” (card model)

startiles.jpg

“Star Tiles”
Fat Dragon Games
2008
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: A nice addition for those doing science fiction role-playing. I may have to do a Moon-based RPG scenario for an upcoming Con. Now if only I could find some decent astronaut-y type miniatures instead of all the war-mecha stuff…

Chick-fil-a Space Station

chickfilass.jpg

Chick-fil-a Restaurants
Space Station toys
2008
Atlanta Journal-Constitution article
Wired blogs geekdad Review
CollectSpace Review

Librarian’s Note: I don’t know how I missed these, but I just picked up a full set today, well after the promotion period is over. Each of the four pieces contains a set of cards relevant to the piece: Space Shuttle, Living in Space, Constellation Program and Space Telescopes. Kudos to Chick-fil-a (a favorite of mine since the early 80s) for having this kind of space toys in their Kids Meals.

Astronaut Snoopy (plush)

astronautsnoopy.jpg

Hallmark
Astronaut Snoopy
Peanuts Celebrates NASA’S 50 Years in the U.S. Space Program
2008

Librarian’s Note: Sweeeeeeeet! Hallmark’s redoing their website so I don’t have a link, but it should be available at your local Hallmark store. Not sure why he has aviator goggles underneath the plastic helmet, but whatever. Be sure to pick up one for yourself, and please consider one for a local toy drive for disadvantaged children, since we never know where our next Einstein is going to come from. Besides, waging random good in the world is needed now more than ever, everywhere.

“Go For Launch: Space Encyclopedia Board Game”

go4launch.gif

“Go For Launch: Space Encyclopedia Board Game”
Go For Launch, Inc.
1998
Publisher’s Web Site
BoardGameGeek Web Site

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