Editorial Review

Guess what! Dora the Explorer has jumped on the royal bandwagon! This intrepid explorer is now a fairy tale princess with magical hair that grows when the jewel in her crown is pressed with a wand. Dora talks and sings, too, in both English and Spanish: "Vamanos! Let's go to fairytale land! Will you brush my hair?" The 14-inch-tall plastic doll is not designed to be cuddled so much as played with and groomed. She is attired in a satiny yellow gown trimmed in pink and purple, and has a brush, barrettes, and magic wand. The magical tresses emerging from the hair-growing tube are quite realistic, although grownups, at least, might be a little unnerved at the sleek brown hair oozing in and out of Dora's head. Still, children are experts at suspending disbelief and accepting weirdness in the world, so they probably won't mind a bit. Four AA batteries required (included). --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (98)

Baby Annabell for My Granddaughter
Well, I bought Baby Annabell for my 3 year old Granddaughter and she absoultly loves her as do I!
I think she is just darling. My granddaughter found her early, as in before Christmas!
Yes she was her Christmas present and she found it in Grandma's spare room a couple of weeks ago and just knew that it was for her. Any way, we both just love her.

Baby Annabell Doll
I received the baby Annabell for my daughter in the mail today. The doll is in good condition, however the way it was packaged was terrible. The box was mangled and I am surprised it was okay. I think my daughter will love this doll, but she will have to wait until Christmas :-)

New Mommy
I just got this baby today i loved it i guess its kinda silly for a 13 year old to play with dolls but i think its fun(dont tell my friends)anyways this doll isnt what i expected i thought it would do more stuff i couldnt chooose between rock a bye chou chou or annabell but when i found out annabells mouth moved i was set i think its fun to act like you have your own baby if you have old brothers or sisters who like to annoy then its not good like me my sister likes to yell and hit it right when it falls asleep but i think this is a great baby, overall.

BABY Annabell
I got Baby Annabell in the hopes that I would get a very modern doll.When I opened the pakage I wwas somewhat disppionted. Yes she was modern like she giggled and cryed. She really makes realistic mouth movements.BUT sometimes when you try to read a story to her she justs keeps on giggling.I can't really take out of my rooom or my family will go insane. Even when she sucks it's super noisy. I wish you could feed her or have to change her diaper because it's wet.It's perfect for the LITTLE mother HINT BETWEEN 3-7 but, maybe we older mother 7+up need something more than bottle feeding or rattling a rattle . Over all I think she is perfect for younger mothers. Also, I thinnk she is over priced. I do have a recomendation for older mothers though, Baby Born.

A great doll!
This doll is great--she cries and laughs like a real baby. I have a 5 yr old and a 2 year old and they both love to play with her. The crying is a little annoying after awhile, but you can turn her off with a switch on her back. She also comes with a bottle, pacifier, and toy bear. Well worth the money! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Even though the Best Friends gang could have fun almost any place, there's no way they'd turn down chill-out sessions in this two-level, open-sided doll house. It has a number of trendy, modern spaces, each with a different character: a common room with nice furniture and a tiny antique juke box; a vanity salon with tons of beauty accessories; a juice and smoothie bar with all the fixins'; a bay window library with for quiet time with books; and an umbrella-shaded sun deck up top. Amenities include an arcade game, open-shut drawers, tiny picture frames, a telephone, books, food, clothes hangers, and more. Everything can be moved around, which keeps things interesting, and the whole house folds up (into a heart shape) for easy storage. Choking Hazard: Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (2)

good
this a great toy! it teaches you that different people can have different jobs and its really fun 2 play with! its really durable!

REVIEW
This toy was pretty fun for my child, except some of the parts broke really easily ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Watch out Emeril! Future Gourmet Chef at work!
We got this for our daughter's 2nd birthday after reading ALL the reviews, and even wrote to Step 2 FIRST to inquire about some common problems. The dishrack HAS been fixed and the dishes don't fall out. The instructions don't seem to be in a logical order: we put the decals on FIRST while the pieces are easier to get to(which are very forgiving: you can remove if not lined up right!); make SURE you have batteries (12 AA for the Dream kitchen); put spindles and door/drawer knobs on before assembling big pieces together. Just seems to make more sense that way. Took about an hour for the 2 of us to assemble. Some holes are NOT drilled, so have a drill on hand. The fridge door is fine on ours, but the keypad next to the microwave is not quite centered, so the microwave door catches on it and is hard to open and close. Maybe can remedy by redrilling the top hole for keypad. Also like the idea of taping a string behind keypad for ease of removing to change batteries.

Lots of FUN sounds and "boiling/sizzling" sounds also stop on their own after about a minute. Daughter LOVES it so far! Well Worth the money, but shop around: found $15 difference in shipping cost from here to Target.com. VERY durable: 20lb cat jumped up on it - didn't tip or move at all! After the assembly, you'll love it! Hope/expect to have many years of fun play out of it!

The Best Kitchen Out There
My daughter received this kitchen for Christmas when she was
1 1\2. I was worried she wouldn't be interested in it, i thought maybe she was a little young, but she started to play with it right away, and hasn't stopped since. Everyday she is cooking Mommy something. It wasn't as hard to put together as i thought, and it is very durable. My daughter plays rough, and not one thing is broken or cracked. My only regret for this kitchen is it doesn't have a lot of counterspace. Ever since she got it, everyone wants to buy her blenders, and coffepots, and toasters, but there is no room to put it in her kitchen. Also my daughter wishes the faucet made noise. it is a great value for the money as well. It's is the only kitchen I could find that wasn't pink & purple, and I plan to have a boy eventually, and I try to buy larger toy items that can be used by either a girl ot a boy. This is a GREAT value, and anyone in the market for a kid's kitchen should definitely purchase this one.

Well worth the money!
I bought this for my daughter's 2nd birthday and she loves it. It keeps her occupied like no other toy she has. She loves to help me in the kitchen and now she has her own, her size. I read other reviews about this product and I didn't have any of the problems other people say they did. It was easy to put together, I do, however, recommend using an electric screwdriver, it'll go much faster that way. My daughter thinks the overhead light is the coolest thing ever and no worries, it shuts itself off within minutes if they forget to. So no wasting batteries. This kitchen is well worth the money I paid for it and has all the storage space they could need for thier dishes and food. My only complaint, actually it's more my daughters, is that she wishes the faucet made noise like everything else does.
Anyway, all the doors fit right and it is sturdy. My advice is just take your time assembling it. I'd say it took me about an hour to put it all together, decals and all.

Well Worth It!
I bought this for my daughter's 2nd birthday and she loves it. It keeps her occupied like no other toy she has. She loves to help me in the kitchen and now she has her own, her size. I read other reviews about this product and I didn't have any of the problems other people say they did. It was easy to put together, I do, however, recommend using an electric screwdriver, it'll go much faster that way. My daughter thinks the overhead light is the coolest thing ever and no worries, it shuts itself off within minutes if they forget to. So no wasting batteries. This kitchen is well worth the money I paid for it and has all the storage space they could need for thier dishes and food. My only complaint, actually it's more my daughters, is that she wishes the faucet made noise like everything else does.
Anyway, all the doors fit right and it is sturdy. My advice is just take your time assembling it. I'd say it took me about an hour to put it all together, decals and all.

Very Happy Mommy
My 3 yaer ols son recieved this as a gift for his 3rd birthday. He has played with it everyday since he got it. Its big and has lots of things to do. And I LOVE that it is the only kitchen out there that is not pink and purple. It suits either a boy or a girl. It was very easy to put together and you dont have to worry about it tipping over onto anyone. The bottm is heavy enough to support the wieght on the top. The light has an automatic shut off, which is a great feature. Keeps the batteries from dieing so fast from little ones forgetting to turn it off. I will be purchasing more Step2 toys in the very near future! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great for a horse or animal enthusiast
My 4-year old daughter got this 8 months ago and it is a winner. The two compartments, many doors, storage areas and folding fence give her all she needs to make her space for her many horses and other animals. It gets used every day and nothing has broken.

Worth the money
This play barn is exactly what I was looking for for my 4 year old son who is a Horse enthusiast. It is much bigger than I expected, beautiful, and has lots of opening doors and gates. It also comes with a fence that folds up and stores neatly in the barn. This barn is big enough for Breyer horses, and has an a swing out side. It was a great purchase and highly recommended.

Nice barn for toy horses
Just got this item today and I am impressed with it's compatibility for various sizes of toy horses. I especially love the fact that it can be folded up to a smaller size to be tucked into a closet when needed.

This barn has multiple doors that open-some slide and other's are dutch doors. We do have another barn of this type that has the dutch doors and the hinge's fell apart right away. I am hoping this one will be better since the doors do seem to open and close more smoothly on this particular barn...but need to stress that the kids need to be somewhat 'gentle' with these dutch doors so they don't break the hinges. The manufacturer really should attach them with metal hinges and they would last alot longer.

Overall...I feel my kids are going to get alot of enjoyment out of this barn. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A must have collectible
This doll looks amazingly like the people of Portugal.
It has amazing Facial features and the dress is exquisite.
It's a good price, great bargain and a magnificant barbie doll.

E Portuguese Menina (A Portuguese Girl)
I collect Barbies. I started at the beginning of this year and have 46 in all in my collection. I don't play with them. I keep them in the boxes. But Princess Of The Portuguese Empire was the first barbie I got to start my collecting. I am Portuguese myself and I was browsing through Wal-Mart one day and was shocked to discover that a Portuguese Barbie was made. For I always liked Barbie's and started to collect them seriously after the Portuguese one came out. She's gorgeous! Her dress is a beautiful dark brown color and is of Renaissance Fashion. She is great for all collectors out there. A great doll.

Beautiful!
Gorgeous gown, lush curly hair, intelligent expression; great for redressing- she looks good in everything.

I don't know about educational value-- I throw the box away before I get the doll in the house. Dolls are for PLAYING, is what I say.

Beautiful and fun Barbie
I have had this doll since right after she came out, and I love her. I still play with barbies although I am 15, and this one is one of my absolute favorites. Her dress is absolutly lovely, although once taken off it can be difficult to get the sleeves over her thumbs again. Her hair is beautiful, thick, dark and curly. An amazing doll well worth the price.

Step Back In Time...
Barbie's The Dolls of The World Collection as a whole is enchanting and engaging. The Princess of the Portuguese Empire, one of the more recent additions to the set, is a strikingly beautiful doll.

Dressed in a gorgeously detailed period costume (bodice and gown) of sienna velvet, this Barbie represents a young woman of the royal court of Lisbon in the 1500's.

Unlike many Barbies, she has long, rich, dark curly hair, and an olive complexion with arrestingly dark eyes.

I have purchased this Barbie for a serious female adult collector, whose first reaction upon seeing her was to gasp in pleasure at Barbie's appearance. I can't imagine a better endorsement. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Addition to Dollhouse!!
My 3-year-old daughter received this for her birthday and loves it!She also got the dollhouse, some figures, and Dora's bedroom.She is in love with all of it!She especially loves the talking pool and deck set b/c she loves to pretend the characters are swimming!It comes with a lounge chair, a cooler that flips over from drinks to food, and a dora figure in ponytails and a bathing suit with a duck swim ring.She is very cute!This was a great addition to the house and attaches to the outside for great play!

Excellent
My daughter loves this. She can play with it night day, and i like it, because you learn English, and Spanish. This helps out in school. She doesn't go yet, but her brother starts kindergarten this year.

Happy at last
I am very happy that we were able to purchase the pool and deck furniture. My 3yr.old daughter,Morgan, really enjoys having Dora jump off the diving board and relax by the pool wearing the rubber duckie ring. She enjoys listening to the phrases from the diving board, too. It was a good idea for Fisher Price to include an extra Dora doll with the pool set.

the best accessory for Dora's house!
We found this stocked on a shelf in a local store before Christmas and snatched it up, since we couldn't find ANY of the other attachments for the Dora house.
Since then, we've bought several of the furniture packs and I can say by far, this is the one my daughter plays with the most. In fact, she plays with the pool most of the time and totally disregards the house!!!The diving board, when pushed, makes cute sounds and phrases and comes with a really cute duckie ring =) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Not-quite-fabulous
I've loved Barbies since they first came out, and I still believe dolls are to be PLAYED with, which is why I don't completely love this doll. She has awful hair, and what would it have cost them to throw a few snaps or some velcro on the back of her dress?

On the other hand, the dress IS gorgeous, and the shoes are fabulous. And I love her grave and dignified expression.

Very Beautiful,Historical....
...And cheap!And I don't mean $$$ cheap. Unlike the other 'European' looking Dolls of the World that I own, this one is a little chinsy and it gets messed up. For example, the plastic rod in the bodice kept popping out and I didnt touch it, her hair uncurled and her hem between the blue and the goldish petticoat unraveled. I was suprised that all happened and I had to purchase a new one because my others D.O.T.W arent like that.But it is really pretty and fun to play with!!

Princess of the Danish Court Barbie---- What a find!
She reminds me of Cinderella from the Disney movie! This doll is very, VERY pretty, which is why she remains in her box on my display shelf. She comes at a good price, compared to other Barbie Collectibles which can go up to $300. The back of the box includes a history of Denmark, as well as a little story about this fairy-tale-like doll. Little kids can also enjoy Princess of Denmark (she's a Barbie, after all!).

a product worth your money
this doll is nt only a collectable but very pretty as well. i do not play with barbie dolls because i am 12, but i collect them and keep them in their boxes. If you are like me it is worth your money, and if it is for playing i give it 5 stars!

A wonderful doll
This is truly a wonderful doll. Her body type is exactly like Princess of Portugal's and similar to that of Princess of Ireland. The first thing I noticed when I removed her from the box was that her dress was not removable like the other princesses. But still, it's a great doll and dress. Her hair is upswept into a bun which is behind a wonderful tiara w/ little aquamarine jewels that match her Cinderella like dress and eyes. Princess of the Danish Court also comes w/ earring that are the same ones that came w/ Princess of China. Also, unlike her pictures on the internet, she comes w/ a choker, the same material as the ribbon that's on top of the torso part of her dress. Her sleeves are puffy on the bottom half, and she comes w/ beautiful heeled shoes that are from her time. This doll is wonderful, her dress alone is worth the [cost]. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

VERY COOL TOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was really excited about this toy. when I got it I decided to test it out.it was great!everything worked VERY WELL!

Calling all spies!!!!!
Calling all spies! The Micro spy kit is really cool! The NIGHTSPYER mini-scope is great for snooping around in the dark. The voice scrambler is excellent for passing top- secret messages. The spy motion alarm is great for keeping secure areas secure, and the spy micro listener is great for listening in on secret conversations and picking up top-secret info. Anyway, on to the REVIEW. My favorite part of this kit is the NIGHTSPYER mini-scope because it's small, yet it's good for taking a closer look in the middle of the night. This toy is really cool! Buy it!!!

P.S. If it's too bright to use your NIGHTSPYER, you can go on a mission on [postopia website] . Look for the game called "Night Spy Mission" and go on a 4-level adventure for late night snacks. And look at the directions!!!

I love this toy!
This toy is really fun. My favorite attachment is the voice scrambler. My ten-year-old sister likes to use the Micro Listener. My eleven-year-old sister likes the Voice Scrambler, too. You should get this toy.

Spy Micro Kit
This toy is great! The NIGHT SPYER really works well. It can see in even the darkest places. The detector is nice and sensetive [and loud....], and it sounds even when there is a little bit of light. The voice changer lowers your voice, but besides that, it works great. The listener is the best thing in the micro kit. You can hear voices from REALLY far away, and through walls. The durability of this toy is ......ok, but it won't last long if stepped on or dropped. The educational value is bad because there is nothing educational. But it is SO MUCH FUN! Buy this toy! You won't be dissapointed!

A spy's best gadgets
Spy Micro kit is awesome!!! The Detector is great and sensitive, The night spyer is good for magnifying and seeing in the dark, the voice changer didn't really work but I still liked it, and the listener really worked! The only bad thing is that the voice changer lowers the volume of your voice and most of what you hear with the listener is backround noises but you can still hear better. I defenitly reccommend this item!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Rock-a-bye baby--when this doll is patted, the crying will stop. Rock A ByeChou Chou makes lots of cooing and burbling sounds, and just like a real baby, she criesfor attention, too. She can be comforted by patting her firmly on the back or by giving hera bottle or her own pink pacifier. When Chou Chou is placed on her back to sleep, herblue eyes close, and she "falls asleep" with gentle, regular breathing sounds. When she'spicked up, her eyes pop open and she "wakes up" with giggling or crying. The 19-inchdoll has the same high-quality materials and construction of all Zapf dolls, with a pretty,hard-vinyl face, molded vinyl hands and feet, and bean-filled arms and legs for a cuddlyfeel. Rock A Bye Chou Chou wears a pink and white sleeper with a matching cap, andshe requires three AA batteries (not included) to power her coos and cries. --MarcieBovetz ... Read more

Reviews (152)

What a WONDERFUL doll!!!
Santa brought this doll for my 18 month old daughter last Christmas. I know that the appropriate age starts at 3 years old, but we have had no problems. In examining the doll, I found nothing that could be hazardous to my daughter. I think the manufacturer put that age on the box, because they thought an older child might get more out of the doll. However, my daughter has learned quite a bit herself, and I am sure it is a doll that will grow with her.

This doll is a big bone of contention when her five year old cousin comes over to play. They both want the doll at the same time. My daughter gets really protective, and tells her older cousin: "MY BABY". It is really neat to see her mothering instincts come alive with this doll. She carries it around everywhere with her, and gives it lots of hugs. She loves to hear the sounds it makes when she gives the doll a bottle or pacifier. I am extremely happy she received this doll.

Since my niece loves the doll so much, I am purchasing one for her today. Now, maybe I can have some peace when she comes for a visit.... HIGHLY recommended from me. No problems at all...

MIKELLA BEST EVER
I GOT BABY CHOU CHOU FOR MY GRANDAUGHTER'S 3RD BIRTHDAY<br /> SHE HAS OWNED HER FOR 1 YEAR. NO PROBLEMS SHE IS GREAT

Seems great but NOT
She seems like an amazing doll but my two little girls (ages 2 and 4, who love dolls and take good care of their toys) just don't like her. And she's already broken about a year after purchase. Her eyes just open and close continually when turned on. I tried new batteries so that wasn't the problem. The clothes were really awful. They looked old and worn out quickly, so I purchased her some new ones (not cheap) that weren't terry and that solved the problem with that. I paid full price for her so I am terribly disappointed. Also, beware that the bottle is very sharp for those who still put things in their mouth, especially toy bottles. But there is a pacifier to use if you must hide the bottle. I wish I hadn't wasted my money. Now my daughter wants a baby you just push her tummy to make her talk. Get one of those instead.

A must have for little mommy's/daddy's
My daughter begged Santa to bring this baby to her - and when he did she has been the best little mommy ever since! The doll is weighted just right and makes all the cute baby noises that baby's do - but she's not too loud. We don't care for the bald head/sculpted hair look so we jumped online and bought a baby doll wig for less than $10 and she's even more adorable and unique. This baby is well worth the money!! Zapf always makes such good quality toys we have never been disappointed. We highly recommend this baby for any aspiring mommy or new big sister or brother, our three year old son likes to take of the baby too. PS - she's very sweet with her bald little head, the wig was just something we did.

Lasting item
I was searching for additional outfits for my daughter's chou chou doll when I decided to add my comments. Two years ago I searched for a realistic first doll for my daughter's 2nd birthday. Chou Chou is what I found and she has lived up to every expectation. My daughter seems to have gravitated toward the smaller dolls such as the madeline 8 inch collection and now even smaller the polly dolls and accessories. But she continues to have Baby Chou Chou on hand sleeping in her own bed nearby. She loves to change doll clothes, so I try to always have accessories for all her favorites. One thing I must say is that for a doll who is approaching the end of a 2nd year with us, she has remained in excellent condition. No signs of wear. She doesn't go through tons of batteries either. We've replaced them once a year or so. I would highly recommend this doll. I agree with one of the other comments about the velcrow on the terry. Snaps might have been a better idea. I think the accessories for this doll are nice but a little pricey. My daughter loves to feed chou chou her bottle and give her pacifier to her. Sometimes she's had to bring her to me to stop her crying. Takes a firm pat on the back. She loves it and that's all that matters to me. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Kids who wear this fancy dress-up piece will obviously not be playing the "pauper" side of the Barbie-influenced fairy tale, "The Prince(ess) and the Pauper."With a quilted felt bodice and three layers and textures of skirt, it's a pretty, pink expression of 19th century couture. Details include raised trim with gold stitching at the neck, waist, and forearms; a pink rose at the waist; and a "Princess Anneliese" portrait (actually of Barbie) at the chest. Kids up to a smallish 5 years old can wear it, and get it on and off easily thanks to Velcro closures in back.Diane Beall ... Read more

Editorial Review

Too many craft projects end up in the drawer; this paint-it-yourselfelectric bedside lamp kit can light up a room. Included are a small ceramiclamp, a plain white shade, and the basics for decorating them. There's a six-potset of mixable paints, and also a 20-inch strip of pink pompoms for the shade'sfringe, complete with glue. Obviously, these can be supplemented with othercraft materials of your choosing. The lamp and shade together are 10 inches highand a 15-watt candle-style bulb is already included. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Project!
I bought this lamp for my 7 year old daughter when her baby sister was born. She decorated the lamp for her sister and put it in her nursery. She was very proud of herself and it was a great way for her to be included in getting ready for the baby. Her sister is 2 now and her lamp is still on her dresser. She had a great time putting it together and it is very well made as well. A great project for girls!

looks cool!
I gave it 4 not 5 because I don`t have it yet. It looks really cool, and I bet it really is all the box shows! which is more then I can say for alot of toys these days,sadly. Well I will do another review if I get this.

TERRIFIC !! We buy this for gifts too. GREAT PRODUCT !
I can't say enough about this lamp. It's QUALITY, a good project for a child 6 years and up. We bought one for a gift for an 8 year old too and she loved it. My granddaughter has a lamp that we made together, for her bedroom. What a good feeling she had when it was complete. By the way, the ONLY thing I did with her was help with glueing on the ball fringe. The only thing I would recommend is that Imaginarium also include other color fringes, like white, black, blue.....or ?? With a PINK fringe, it's clearly earmarked as a girl's project and I think a boy would enjoy a lamp too. I could see a camo lamp with a black fringe too.
GREAT PRODUCTS COME FROM IMAGINARIUM. I HAVE MANY ON THE CRAFT SHELF!

Groovy and FUN too!
I bought this toy for my seven year old's birthday and she had the best time with it. It comes with paint to paint the base and other arts and crafts to decorate the lampshade...and it really works!! It's definately worth the money! ... Read more