Mommy, how does a helicopter stay in the sky? Daddy, why does a racecar drive faster than your car?

Kids’ curiosity about why and how something’s made can get a little overwhelming. Created by three dads, Worx Toys “shape-code-activated” vehicle and storybook systems ($30-65, www.worxtoys.com) give you a break by educating kids 6-9 years old while they play.

Four different vehicles – a fire truck, racecar, helicopter and ambulance – come with storybooks that feature kid-reporter Howie Works on various adventures. Within the storybook are informational boxes with codes to key into a keypad on the vehicle to light up the area being discussed. Even parents can be educated on the inner workings of these vehicles.

The Apex Police Helicopter and Torch Fire Truck come with the Worx Toys Transmitter, a remote control that also includes a joystick to drive the fire truck and to move the ladder up and down.

Children can also use their imaginations and program the vehicles so  that the features –lights, siren, ladder, etc – activate on cue. With the ability to learn how things work, these toys are bound to keep kids and parents learning.