FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Christa Raimondo, Thames & Kosmos
401-683-5535 ext. 4; pr@thamesandkosmos.com

Portsmouth, RI – January 16, 2006 --Thames & Kosmos, the five-year old publisher of high-quality science kits, lives up to its award-winning reputation by garnering another six Parent’s Choice awards (Fall 2005).  The highest honor of Gold Award was given to Creative Cosmetics, an experiment kit that teaches children about the science of skin care.  Silver Honors were awarded to four Thames & Kosmos experiment kits; Physics Workshop, Earthquakes & Volcanoes, Perfume Science, and CHEM C2000.  A Parents’ Choice “Recommended” seal (one level below Silver Honors) was awarded to the Dinosaurs & Fossils kit.

Of the six products submitted by Thames & Kosmos for review by the Parents’ Choice Foundation, all were awarded some level of honor.  The rigorous criteria by which the Parents’ Choice Foundation judges products results in fewer than 15% of submissions ever receiving commendation in any one of the six award levels.  Thames & Kosmos is proud of the fact that all Fall 2005 submissions earned awards.

The Gold Award won by Creative Cosmetics (MSRP $59.95) was one of only two Gold awards given out in the Toy category.  Aimed at girls, Creative Cosmetics educates children about the biology of skin, hair, and nails, as well as the chemical components of lotions, gels, and soap.  The child then puts her knowledge to use as she mixes her own personalized beauty formulas from the cosmetic bases in the kit and natural ingredients from the local market.

The Silver Honors award-winning kits range from the topics of physics, to earth science, to the science of scent and perfume-making, to chemistry.  Physics Workshop (MSRP $49.95) introduces a child to the world of physics much like a chemistry set does for chemistry.  The child learns the fundamental laws of mechanical physics by building 36 different models, of simple and complex machines, and performing subsequent experiments with the models he/ she has built.  This hands-on learning is further enhanced by accounts of real-world applications of physics throughout the instruction manual.

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (MSRP $29.95) is the first science kit on the topic of plate tectonics and Earth’s inner workings to be created under the National Geographic brand.  Its numerous experiments and activities include making two volcanic models erupt, piecing together a plate tectonic puzzle, building and using a seismograph, completing a volcano quiz game, and much more.  Natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, which children see so often in the news, are explained, helping the child develop an awareness as to how and why these events occur. 

Also a Silver Honors winner, Perfume Science (MSRP $59.95) is another kit developed to spark girls’ interest in science.  It begins with activities that illustrate and even test how the nose and olfactory system work with the brain to sense and recognize smells.  After some background on the history of perfume-making the child is then ready to mix and master her own fragrances.  Eight different perfume oils are included in the kit and the fragrance combinations are endless. 

CHEM C2000, (MSRP $149.95) the fourth, and final, Silver Honors winner is an advanced chemistry kit.  Aside from the 17 chemicals included in the kit, it is the alcohol burner, glass test tubes, wooden test tube holder, and other lab-grade supplies that set this chemistry kit apart from others on the market.  A learning tool that can be used time and again, the CHEM C2000 comes with a 124-page full-color manual which includes 250 experiments.  Thorough safety precautions and instructions, detailed in the lab manual, ensure safe experimentation.

Always a hit with children, the topic of dinosaurs lends itself well to the science kit format.  Thames & Kosmos’ second kit created under the National Geographic brand, Dinosaurs & Fossils, (MSRP $29.95) earned the Parents’ Choice “Recommended” seal.  A comprehensive kit, the child learns about the periods of development of life on Earth, the many species of dinosaurs and pterosaurs, and how to unlock the mysteries of prehistoric life through the study of fossils. 

All six award-winning Thames & Kosmos kits can be found at specialty toy, educational, hobby, and museum stores, as well as through school and homeschool suppliers and toy and gift catalogs.  For a complete list of area retailers, visit www.thamesandkosmos.com.

All Thames & Kosmos kits comply with all U.S. and European standards for toy safety.  Parents are encouraged to enjoy the products and overall experience alongside their children.

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For more information about any one of the six award-winning kits, or to request photographs or product samples, contact Christa Raimondo at 401-683-5535 x4; christa@thamesandkosmos.com.

About Thames & Kosmos

Thames & Kosmos, a privately held company headquartered in Portsmouth, RI, was founded in 2001 with the mission of creating high-quality science and technology-related educational products for children.  Thames & Kosmos places an emphasis on teaching concepts and skills through hands-on modeling of real-world devices and processes.  Topics covered in the Thames & Kosmos line of over 20 kits include fuel cell and solar-power technology, chemistry, microscopy, biology, physics, crystallography, aerodynamics, optical illusions and human perception, perfume, cosmetics, natural history, geology, earth science, and tube radio technology.   For more information, visit www.thamesandkosmos.com

About National Geographic

Founded in 1888, the National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations.  It reaches more than 280 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and it four other magazines; the National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; films; radio programs; books; videos; maps; interactive media; and merchandise.  All of National Geographic’s net proceeds from the sale of its products support exploration, conservation and education programs combating geographic illiteracy.  The Society has funded nearly 8,000 scientific research projects.  For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com, AOL Keyword: NatGeo.

About The Parents’ Choice Foundation
Established in 1978, Parents' Choice Foundation is the nation's oldest not-for-profit evaluator of children's books, videos, toys, audios, computer software, television, and magazines. The Foundation's mission is to provide parents with information to participate wisely in their children's learning.  During their twenty-five year history, the Parents’ Choice Awards program has established the benchmarks of achievement in children’s media; trust for the consumers and credibility with the press.  For more information, visit www.parents-choice.org.