Merging physical toys with mobile games, Silicon Valley startup Nukotoys has released two new educational kids apps, Animal Planet Wildlands and Monsterology, that interact with its Nuko collectible trading cards.

The new free-to-play apps, which are now available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices on the App Store, instantly recognize Nuko cards and import their information when the cards are tapped to the screens of iOS devices. The functionality allows the apps to render 3D versions of animals and monsters from the corresponding cards.

Nuko cards come in packs of three and seven and are available at Apple Stores, through the apps, and at additional retailers across the US including Toys ‘R’ Us, Target, and Walmart.

In Animal Planet Wildlands, a Discovery Communications property, users can collect, trade and interact with 50 exotic animals in running games, quests, and puzzles. The app also features Animal Planet videos.

Monsterology, a Candlewick Press brand, lets kids use 100 collectable cards to play with 75 mythological monsters including Cyclops, sea serpents, griffins, and unicorns.