Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Kids really love this toy
My daughter was 3 1/2 when she first played with her 10 year old sister's B&W Pixter, and she loved it. So I got her the color Pixter, and she plays with it every day, especially in the car. There are educational games available for it, as well as entertainment games. It also plays all the older black and white games for the older versions of Pixter.

Disappointed
We bought this for our 4 year old because he's not quite old enough for Game Boy. We have already had to return it twice due to it malfunctioning within a short period of time. The first one, the stylus didn't work and the second one the stylus worked on only half the screen after a couple of weeks. For as much money as we spent, I had great expectations. The kids, 4-9 years, enjoyed it while it worked, it just didn't hold up very long. I'd spend my money else where.

Take Care
My kids love this toy!! But do be careful because it is needs to be well taken care of. I would not reccommend this to any child who just throws things down where they may.

worth every penny
My 4 year old is one of those kids who can't play with anything for more than 5 minutes, except the Pixter. It is the best toy I've ever bought for her, and we've tried everything (thanks to used toys and bargains...). I bought her the Pixter recently because I was pregnant and too tired to keep her busy. It is well designed, challenging but not frustrating, is adaptable to her growth and needs, etc.

Pixter Easily Broken
I got my daughter the Pixter Color. Her little sister dropped it on my oak floor a few hours after we opened up the box. Now only half the screen works. I know it was dropped, but kids drop stuff. There must be a way to make these things more breakage-resistant. Spending 80 dollars on a toy that worked just one afternoon is bad enough. Listening to my daughter sob all evening was worse. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Has entertained my child for 3 years!
We first bought our pixter in 2001 while taking our 4 year old on a three week trip to Europe. It entertained her the ENTIRE time. We even had people coming up to us to take pictures of her playing it because she was so quiet for such a young child! Of course, the next year, we upgraded to the 2.0 version (giving her old one to her cousin). She still plays with it constantly. We have a large variety of software (which I buy on sale every so often) that she keeps attached to the carrying case (I do recommend, it keeps everything in one place and is handy to carry everywhere) in a small mess bag I had. She plays it with or without the sound depending on where we are. I asked her if she wanted a gameboy or a pixter 2.0 in color for Christmas and she immediately said Pixter! It's much more imaginative and allows her to be creative. It also is great for us to play games while trying to pass time like when we are waiting at a doctor's office. We can draw, play tic-tac-toe, bingo, etc... and she doesn't make a fuss. She loves it so much, that she shows every kid she sees how it works and lets them play. It does wear the more she plays, but what doesn't? Her current one has lasted for over two years with almost daily use. All ours have lasted through tons of train, plane and automobile rides, many of them over 10 hours in length. I would definitely buy it for the 3-7 year range. I'm sure the older children may not get as much entertainment out of it as they would other systems. We'll be buying her the color version for Christmas this year!

Pixter-Color
Great toy better that the monochrome version. However, it lacks durability. My 5 year old son got one as a christmas present in 03'. We have had to exchanged it 3 times in 8 months. The primary problem been accuracy of the touch pad. Even after recaliburation the accuracy slightly improves if at all. There is no place for light as in the previous version. My son loves it when it works but gets very frustrated when it doesn't.

Broken on the second day....
We used to own the pixter but it quit working after just a few months (I was disappointed but assumed that it was just my child's overuse/rough handling) so we thought we would upgrade to the color pixter as they had since been released. We should have learned from our mistakes about the durability of this product. My daughter had it out of the box for not even 24 hours, it slipped out of her hands onto the floor, and the screen cracked and the product no longer works. This drop was only 12 inches to the floor. This is quite an expensive toy to not be able to withstand more. My children own gameboys and have dropped them numerous times and even left them in the car on a hot day, and they still work. In fact, my friend's child left his out in the rain and after drying it out, it continued to work! I am truly disappointed with the inability of the Pixter to stand up to a child's environment. I would think twice before buying this toy.

Not a satisfied customer!!!
I purchased a Color Pixter for my neice's 5th Birthday. She already owns and loves her Leapster so I figured she'd really enjoy the Pixter.Before I gave it to her I myself tried it out and honestly thought it was kind of neat but a bit limited. I know the Leapster talks to you and the Pixter doesn't. For over $80 this thing should talk. Anyway, I give it to her and she literally had it out of the box for 5 minutes and I look over and the screen has been scratched beyond belief!! I know for a fact she used nothing but the stylus on the screen. Obviously she pressed too hard which they do warn you about in the owner's manual but lets be reasonable! She did exactly what she usually does to the Leapster and the Pixter can't withstand anything but a very gentle touch which is not what you're going to get from 4 and 5 yr olds. This is not the quality that I expected. She's not a destructive child with her toys. She's had the Leapster since Christmas, has no problems with it and loves it. I had read the reviews that these Pixters don't seem to hold up very well but for heavens sake...I paid well over $100 for this thing along with another software cartridge to use with it and it's in her posession for literally 5 minutes and this is how it holds up?? Fischer Price states that this toy is for ages 4 or 5 and up but take heed!! Unless you're buying this unit for a child who's older, I would not recommend it. In fact, I don't recommend buying it at all. I do highly recomment buying a Leapster and then buying the "Draw and Learn" software cartridge for about $25. It's very nice, and the Leapster is extremely durable. If I'd known they even made such a cartridge for the Leapster, I wouldn't have even bought the Color Pixter in the first place. Anyway, I returned the merchandise and recieved a full refund so no harm done but just a warning to all. When they say the screens will scratch, they're not kidding and it doesn't take much to scratch them. The Leapsters the way to go....hands down.

A nother *GREAT* toy,
Hey ya people. I bought one of these things and I say it is the best toy ever! O.K. here is the detales about this toy: 1:There is tons of other feachers on this than the first one. So don't go out and buy the older one. (It will bored to death!) 2: It is color. (duh,I don't know why I put that.) And the old one is, well, black and white. Witch can sometimes stran your eyes. 3: There is better games included with the color. For instince, pick a seane and draw and put stamps and stuff. create words and put them as stamps. (witch is cool.) color the number. Draw by yourself. And conect the dots. wonce you conect the dots a mini show like-thingie will have to do some thing about the picture. 4: Now this is about the batteries. Well, I played it A LOT and I repeat A LOT and STILL HAVEN'T HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERIES! And to tell you it takes four of those batteries. 5: Here is a kind of cool feature. It tures off when you don't play with it after a while. 6: It can take both black and white softwere and color softwere. So make sure you have the adapter. And wene you want a color softwere make shure you pick up a color one beacause I picked up a black and white one on accident. That's all about the stuff about it! About the learning,well what I think is educational is if you don't have paper at home you can use it whoa, I was talking about education, It teaches you to be a good artest. Durability, you know you wouldn't want to damage a PDA for kids. I don't know what will happen but DON'T TRY IT! It also makes a prefect gift for Chistmas! So go out and buy it! You will be satisfied and so will your kids. Oh goodie! I got more things about this toy! You can save one, I repeat ONE piture or something you can save in a file. Which is a drag beacause you want to save more than ONE. And I tried to set the volum because it was noisey and it got scrachey. Eventually, it didn't scratch no more. And if you look on the bottom, you can put headphones. Which to me is nice. And once you get your pixter color, just follow the dierections you ain't going to be confusied. There are SIMPLE! Later dudes and evreybody else! P.S. Hope this review helped you! A LOT! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

great design, great fun
This preschooler variation of the old favorite Bingo is a real winner.

Zingo cards have a 3 by 3 grid that shows pictures and words. Cards have a yellow side (easier, for younger kids) and a red side for the odler ones. The plastic game piece dispenser is well-designed and fun to use. Players shout out to claim a piece, which is then placed over the appropriate square on the player's card. There are several play variations.

Excellent game for the younger set, and fun for older children and adults as well.

Wonderful toy - kids love it!
My son got this for his fourth birthday and still plays with it regularly (he's now over 5). He'd just started to read when he got it, and the game helped him add many new words to his vocabulary - but more importantly, it was fun! His friends loved it so much that several of them asked for their own sets as gifts. We play until everyone wins and gets to shout Zingo!, and the kids help each other get there. And my son even plays it sometimes by himself. It's really wonderful, very very fun, and would be great for kids from about 3 to at least 6.

game enthusiast
my 4 yr old daughter received this game as a gift. she hasn't stopped playing it! Everyone in the family has fun with Zingo! from my 8 yr old daughter to my mother in law! Great family fun!

Let's Zingo!
Our children love this game and it is by far their favorite. Though the recommended ages are 4 and up - my 4 year old and my 2 1/2 year old both enjoy playing this game and it is one that they never seem to tire of. The playing pieces are all very durable and well constructed. I highly recommend Zingo.

Excellent game that even parents enjoy!
This game is great. Since the day we got it, it has been played with all the time. The kids love being able to yell "Zingo" when the win. The design is great since you can keep all the pieces neatly tucked in the dispenser.

A great fun, educational game for game nights and rainy days! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (9)

We LOVE It !!!!
My 2 year old was given the Pixter from her aunt right before we moved out of state,We love it!Shes 2 and can find her way around websites better than most 20 year olds but I thought this might be a little harder,well I was wrong,she taught me how to use and shes 2! I recommend this for all toddlers b/c they will want to learn how to use it and when they do its worth it when they come to you with a big smile and show you what they did!!!!

The best everything toy
My son recieved this for christmas and he has not put it down since. He is 3 years old and just loves everything about it. He counts and recognizes numbers and just loves it. I highly recommend this toy for children. We haven't left the house without it since we got it.

Great Toy
I bought the Color Pixter for my 6 year old at Christmas and she loves it. I am glad I paid the extra and got color. My only complaint is the lack of additional software. I talked to Mattel/Fisher Price and was told that they sold so much of these products at Christmas they are behind in getting the stores stocked with the software (I was afraid they had quit making them). We did get one of the black & white software cartridges and it wasn't worth the time or money, I'll hold out for the color. Hard to tell how educational without additional software. As for durability, so far so good. Great entertainment!

Great toy!
I purchased the Pixter Color for my daughter. She just loves it! The color cartidges are hard to find. I was able to purchase the Dinodraw, Barbie & SpongeBob for Christmas. They are typically sold out so you have to keep checking. Fisher Price does make a carrying case for the pixter color and all of your cartidges. It is a MUST HAVE because this is an expensive toy but a wonderful one. The case keeps the pixter and the cartidges safe and clean. (I bought it [online]) My daughter brought her pixter on a long car trip and really enjoyed it. She also brings it to her brother's wrestling tournaments which can be very long and boring for a little girl. It is a great toy. I will purchase additional color cartidges when available! Enjoy!!

The favorite toy under the tree!
I bought this for my 4 year daughter for Christmas this year. She is really into coloring and drawing, so this appeared to be the perfect gift for her.

This is definitely for the 'under 8' crowd. As a matter of fact my FOUR YEAR OLD has mastered this in two days! When I say mastered, I'm referring to the ability to use Pixter unsupervised. She will ask questions here and there, but it surely didn't take long for her to figure out what each of the icons do. So I will even go further and say that I can see the 4-6 age group reaping the most benefits from this without getting bored.

There was mention in a previous review about no "undo" feature....it DOES have this feature, but you may only undo once. Still, it has the feature so you may 'erase' what you just did without erasing the entire picture.

For each of my nieces I purchased the Pixter 2.0 for Christmas, the black and white Pixter. I must say that I'm glad I spent the extra money and purchased the color version for my daughter. The pixels appear to be greater which makes the quality of the pictures so much better. The color choices when coloring is probably the best feature. My daughter likes the built in coloring-by-number feature the best. She also love the ability to use all the built in stamps to add to her pictures. To me it's like a elementary computer Paint program....

Now...educational? Not necessarily, but it has potential depending on the cartridges you buy. For example, I purchased the Barbie Color, the Spongebob Color, and on clearance I bought a b&w "learning fun" cartridge. The Barbie and Spongebob are games, plain and simple. My daughter enjoys them, especially the Barbie one, but aside from a matching game I don't see these as educational. The 'learning fun' cartridge lets your child practice writing upper and lower case letters and numbers. There is more to this cartridge, but we haven't delved into the entire cartridge yet as it IS in black and white and doesn't hold my daughter's interest as well. Based on this cartridge I WILL be buying the new COLOR Smart Start cartridge, which appears to be an updated version of this b&w one.

I realize that since this product is fairly new that the accessories are probably still in the works, but I would love to see a carrying case for the Color Pixter. I am hesitant to allow my daughter to carry this around outside of the house for fear of dropping it. At $80 it's a chance I don't want to take. I also would love to see a bigger selection in software....dinosaurs and Rescue Heroes holds no appeal to my daughter and that leaves a VERY limited selection for girls in my opinion.

All in all, if your child is a budding artist this is a great tool for them and it will hold their attention. I have to be honest in saying that my daughter's number one request for Christmas was "go go my walking pup" and didn't even know what Pixter was......Go-Go is sitting still under the tree all alone and Pixter Color is the favorite. It's the toy she picked to take to her cousin's house...(she gets to pick ONE toy to take)

I'm glad I purchased this and I would do it again...... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Ever wish you could see into the future? If you answered"without a doubt" or "signs point to yes," you are in luck. It is easyto get a sneak preview into the future with Mattel's Magic 8 Ball. Takeall the guesswork out of finding the answers to life's more perplexingquestions. Yes, this is the same Magic 8 Ball you remember from thepast, and it is just as reliable as ever. If you don't get the resultsyou are after, you can always "ask again later!" --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A toy that uses the imagination
The Magic 8 Ball is a great toy for kids who have a good imagination. Sometimes when I'd see one of them in a store when I was a kid, I'd pick it up for a minute and asks questions and shake it up to see what it would say. Now my little sister got one and plays with it all the time. She'll ask something like "Is it going to rain today?" or "Is my brother stupid?" and then she'll shake it up and laugh at the answers that come up. All you do is ask a question out loud or in your mind, then shake the Magic 8 Ball and a prism shaped object will float to the top of the water inside it, revealing an answer such as "My guess is no" or "Can't decide, ask me later."

So pretty much, the Magic 8 Ball isn't a game you play or anything like that, it's just something that kids can use their wild imaginations with and actually have a little fun while they're doing it. The Magic 8 Ball doesn't really have much educational value, but it is durable. You don't have to worry about it tearing up after somebody drops it or if it falls on the floor or anything. I recommend the Magic 8 Ball to anyone who has any kids in their family that have good imaginations.

A way better friend than miss cleo! Especially for singles!
I have never seen an oracle more accurate than this toy! I mean I trust this toy with all my intimate questions I would never ask or tell anyone else. For example when I was 12 I would ask if so & so liked me as a friend or more only to find out the accuracy of this ball is 93% true, (for me at least) sometimes I would ask the same question twice if I got an undesired answer, to me, this means a maybe or it could go either way type of thing. But still trust us reviewers on the accuracy. I recommend this ball for personal questions, everyday questions, etc. But as for business which I rarely used it for, I hope your a careful desicion maker. You know, don't gamble your stocks or anything on this ball! If you want, I hear there is a financial 8-ball from the reviewer below.

A great & honest companion recommended for people Age 12 and up!!

The best of the best!
I love magic 8 balls! I can sit for hours asking ridiculous questions! I'm telling you, this is definitely something you want to look into! Also, it's not tiny,like most. 4 inches is huge for an 8 ball!

Withstood the Test of Time!
I loved this toy as a kid back in the 60's and my daughter loves it just as fondly in the new millenium.Great toys never go out of style.Ask questions and find out what's on the mind of someone close to you.Use it as a mediator when you can't all decide what to eat for dinner.Just don't shake it before you ask it!

So Much Fun
Hi, I am 11 years old. My friend has one of these, and he let me try it and i asked some questions on it and they were true! I would say that the magic 8 ball is 90% correct! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Our favorite toy
My 2 year old son was first introduced to this toy at our Montessori class...he was hooked immediately!!! It was easy for him to figure out how to put the pieces together and attach the gears (he loved being able to do all of this himself as opposed to other gear toys where most of the building is already done for you) He sat and happily played with this fantastic toy for almost an hour before we had to leave. The learning possibilities of this toy are immmense as is the "fun value". With no "bells and whistles" this toy ranks very high on our list of toys due to the fact that our son has complete creative control...it's all up to him. All in all, it's a fantastic toy that we highly recomend.

Almost perfect...
My son received this toy for Christmas, and we gave one to our niece. The verdict is that it is almost, but not quite, perfect.

The toy is a set of interlocking squares of various colors that are perforated to hold a four-pronged hub that can support one of four sizes of gears. Everything is made of a durable plastic that has some flex to it. You can create systems of gears that spin around and even construct things like gearboxes. (The cover of the box--shown above--will give you a simple idea of what can be done.) There is a manual aimed at parents that helps them teach their child how gears work, too--a nice touch.

The quality of the toy is high: the colorful stickers for the gears are plastic coated, the injection-molded pieces are free from excess plastic, and the pieces fit together solidly. It's everything you would want from a European-made toy. (Quercetti, the manufacturer, is based in Italy and the toy is actually made there.)

It's a mesmerizing little toy and its variability is virtually endless. There are other kits in the Gear line that include such things as universal joints and 3-D parts, so it is highly expandable, even as your child ages.

My quibble? Our three year old niece adores the toy, but our three year old son only plays with it in fits. Truth be told, I play with it more than my son does. So as with anything, your mileage may vary.

It's nice that toys like this one are still being made. There's a lot of learning that can occur with it, too. Factor in the expandability and how can you go wrong?

Now if only I could get my son to join me more while I'm playing with it!

Bit tough for little hands to put together, but beautiful...
The base pieces of this toy are a bit stiff for my kids' little hands to put together. Also, the pegs that hold the gears onto the base are a bit tricky, but will build good fine motor skills if not discarded in frustration. I was just as entranced by this toy as they were as we played with it together for the first time. The brightly colored decals are trippy and fun. And learning that gears transfer energy they supply to move other gears of various sizes "on down the line" is... priceless. *grin*

we can go earlier
My daughter has always been drawn to visual spatial toys and loves playing with gears. She started getting independent with this around 3 years of age. I love the Discovery toy version as well.

Kaleido Gears Review
Originally purchased for our 5 year-old granddaughter, this toy is a little above her developmental stage, and apparently above her grandparents as well! She and we became frustrated in trying to fit the white gear connectors to the gear pieces, and then attaching the coupled piece onto the frame. Our 8 and 11 year-old granddaughters, however, love it and fight over playing with it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This microcosm of Neopets is a portable world for your pocket. Meridell, the land of heroes and legends that was long hidden within Neopia has now been uncovered and is delightfully rendered here in miniature. The pocket Neopet world folds up into a small gold colored pod that you can take anywhere. Open up the case and you can play with your three Neopets: Lupe, Draik, and Lxi. Name them, choose their personalities and preferences, and then proceed to play with, feed, and generally care for them. The sensors in the electronic ports they sit in know which pet you're playing with. There are six games you can play on the small LCD screen with four toggle buttons--they aren't the most engaging games, but winning them scores you points you'll need to buy food and toys for your pet. If you don't give your pet everything it needs, it will run away. Of course, you can always reprogram it to come back to you. There are three little slots to tuck the pets neatly into when you close up the case and hit the road. --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (28)

This game is OK...
This game is very cute, but the instructions that come with the it are not clear. The game can become frustrating after a while. It is also a low-tech game and can have some problems.

Awsome toy
This toy is so cool,i couldn't find it in stores so i ordered it online,i have a regular pocket neopet,but this one is cooler.I do not no what those other people are thinking,well duh the graphics are bad,what do u expect for 20 dollars,A flatscreen moniter?I think it works just fine the way the graphics are,and the neopoints aren't hard to get ,it a fun challenge,and that's what teaches you responsibility,so if you don't care about it it will leave you,and if yo have skewl,you can just turn it off,thats a good feature for when you are goin somewhere and you don't want to take it with you,It really makes you think about about the responsibiliy of taking care of a real pet,over all this is a worth it toy if your into neopets.

I bet this will be fun...until your pet runs away.
What i have heard is that the pet runs away and has specific times for everything. That is definitly a con. Some people have school ya know!

pros: fun, and teaches responsibility
cons: your pet runs away, has specific times, and neopoints are hard to get.
I recommend the voice activated neopet instead

Only mediocre.
I am an avid Neopets fan and when I heard they were coming out with merchedise, I was quite pleased.
This product, however, disapointed me. The screen is too smal to do anything with. THe games are fun, yet the graphics are someof the worst I've ever seen. In the ned, I endd up taking the Neopets (A Lupe, Ixi, and Draik) and playing with them without the set. I would recomend a voice activated pet, rather then this game.

Fun1
This toy right here was sooo kewl and fun! It teaches you how to take care of pets very good. You can play fun games to earn money and such to buy food,toys,and petpets. I would recommend this to any kid who is 8 and up and is hooked on neopets ... Read more

Teacher Review

This spy pen set will please young secret agent wannabes with its sleeksilver design and multiple functions that transform a working pen into alight-activated motion alarm, a flashlight, or a magnifying glass with bothlong-distance and close-up magnification lenses. The set includes a sturdy, silverplastic case to hold all the different components, including the large pen thatslides into the side of the case. The end of the pen unlocks the storage case,providing another secret function that kids will like. The pen's motion alarm isits best feature, with a nonthreatening beeping sound that won't be too loud forthe parents or younger siblings. A clearly written instruction sheet explainsall the secret spy functions, augmented with diagrams that will help even thenonmechanical parent outfitting a junior spy. Two AAA batteries are required(not included). --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian ... Read more

Reviews (41)

FUN(...)!
THIS IS SO(...) FUN!(...) WHEN I AM SO CALLED "SLEEPING" (THATS WHAT PARENTS THINK I AM DOING). I AM ACTUALY STAYING UP ALL NIGHT WRITING OR DOING SOMETHING FUN!(...) WHEN I AM DOING SOMETHING I AM NOT SUPOSE TO DO, I PUT THE MOTION DETECTOR DOWNSTAIRS WHERE THE STAIRS ARE. (F.Y.I. MY ROOM IS UPSTAIRS).SO WHEN I HEAR THE beep,beep,beep. I'LL KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS COMING SO I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO HIDE WHATEVER I AM DOING AWAY.
(...)

THE BEST SPY TOY EVER
It is a great toy .you can eisley slip it into your pocket and you can eisley replace the battaries. it has a wonderful telescope and comes with extra ink.it has a flashlightthat works wonderful. I think you should buy it because THIS IS THE BEST SPY TOY EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

great in the begining
i wanted it so badley, so i bought it. it was great, but i got tired of it. now i don't know where it is!!!

spy pen
I love this spy pen because it is so handy! Though there is a flaw or two! the first flaw is thatthe battery instuctions say they should be facing negitive, when they should be positive. and the motion sensor is annoying and goes of for every little movement and is LOUD! the good things are the light, the night light extender that looks like a cane, and the backup refill ink stick! the box is very handy because it has a special compartment for each piece (including the ink). the down side to the box is that it says it locks with the general ending of the pen, but when you think you locked it, it flips open. i really recommend this toy but not to anyone who expects perfection out of everthing

I Love spy pen
I like my spy pen a lot.it is a lot of fun.I like going and puting on the things it had.If there was a contest for the best toy and I was finding the best one I think I would pick the spy pen.All I am saying is I like it a lot! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Even if you've been living on Mars since the 1970s, you've probably heard of Rubik's Cube, the bestselling puzzle in history. Just in case, though, here's a recap: it's a 3-by-3-by-3-inch cube with rotating faces made up of nine squares that can be scrambled into (so it's said) 43 quintillion combinations. Getting the cube back to its original position (so that all nine squares of the same color make up each face) is incredibly challenging for most, though it can be mastered and solved. For those not gifted with superhuman spatial intuition, this mindbender comes with a solution hints booklet, which examines the cube's properties and offers clues for solving the puzzle. Whether it's a difficult toy or retro '80s kitsch you're seeking, Rubik's Cube is for you. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (37)

You can do the cube!
...Was the title of a book I bought out of sheer frustration when I was a kid in the mid-eighties, stuck with a mixed-up Cube I couldn't solve. Well, the book was very helpful and allowed me to solve my Cube on a regular basis, so eventually I got bored and put my Cube aside.

I left home in 1992 to join the Army and my stepmom put all my childhood stuff in storage. I didn't get a whole lot of my stuff back til I came back to the Memphis area (for the second time) in 2001... and there, amongst my things, was that selfsame Rubik's Cube.

And lo and behold if it doesn't still work beautifully after nine years in storage! Doesn't even need to be lubricated, all the stickers are still intact (even if some of them have nicks in them) and... it's still mixed up, doggone it, and now I wish I had my book again!

Definitely a fun toy. I have heard most kids these days would rather zonk out on the computer than play something that might actually provide an intellectual challenge. It's a shame, too.

The one--the only
We've all see this toy before, haven't we?

Although I owned Rubik's Magic rings as a kid, a similar but easier-to-solve toy, I never owned the most famous, the original Rubik's cube. I tried, but always got stuck after figuring out one of the sides.

Fast forwarding to a few months ago, I saw it again at a friend's house and was inexplicably hooked. I knew it was only a matter of time before I ordered it.

This cube has proved to be reasonably durable and is fun if you like puzzles. Don't bother to buy a guide to how to figure it out, as there are TONS of solutions on the Internet, from the basic ones to the fast solutions which require a lot of memorization. Whether you cheat or figure it out yourself, it will certainly keep you entertained and is a good value for the money.

O why dost thou torture me so?!
Like everyone else who grew up in the 80s, this hellish nightmare of a puzzle briefly held a prominent place among my collection of playthings, right between the Legos™ and old-school TransFormers®. Sadly, unlike the Legos, I was never able to match my cube's colors up too well. And unlike my TransFormers, which were fairly simple to convert from one mode to another, I was unable to convert this import from Hungary into its proper mode (AKA all faces made up of the same color). After jumbling it up I spent the next several weeks tryin' to get the thing back to its original solid-color-faced state, to no avail. Which I'm sure is the same experience everybody else who grew up with this symbol of the "me" generation had to contend with.

Like all fads, my interest in the cube eventually began to wane to the point where I'd pick it up only on a rare occasion & spend a little bit of time trying to figure it out. Needless to say, I was no more successful on these occasions than I was before. In fact, as I worked on it more and more, in my mind I could hear this demonic puzzle mocking me, and belittling me for thinking that I had the skill and perception to solve it. Sure, I coulda' done what everybody else did-- take the thing apart and then put it back together so that each face was a solid color-- but that was a coward's way out. And besides, I was afraid I was gonna break the thing. And replacing it would've been a bit pricey for someone who was only gettin' a dollar allowance each week...

Fast-forward to the modern day. I see this booger for a really good price, and decide to purchase it. Why did I get it after all of the aforementioned childhood frustrations, you ask? Well, part of it has to do with my endless desire to re-live my childhood. Another part of it has to do with my masochistic tendencies. But the biggest part of it has to do with me having an excuse to write a review of the product, and annoying you with my memories and opinions about that product. Which of course is what I'm doin' right now. Anyhoo, this latest incarnation of the immortal Rubik's cube resembles and works like the original in just about every way. The only difference I can sense is a cosmetic one: the white center cube features the product's logo and website domain (www.rubiks.com). Also thrown in is Solution Hints booklet, which supposedly can help the user straighten out the jumbled mess he's created. After mixing up the new cube really good, I decided to take as much advantage as I could of the booklet's hints. The suggestions it revealed were somewhat helpful; with them I managed to arrange one face into a single solid color. Other than this small victory, however, I'm still workin' on the other faces. With luck, patience, and several shots o' caffeine, I'll probably have this bad-boy knocked out by the time I'm eligible for Social Security benefits...

Post Script: Anybody remember that segment of "That's Incredible!" where this teenager used his feet to solve a Rubik's cube while he whizzed around on a boogie board being towed by a speedboat? Man, was that whacked out or what?! And people call ME a weirdo...

'Late

An Almost Indestructible Burst of Mind-Boggling Fun
The challenge of Rubik's Cube is simple to explain: take the 3 X 3 X 3 cube (54 squares) of scrambled colored tiles and twist, turn, and rotate the sections until you arrive at a cube with each side having all tiles the same color. Deceptively simple. The task actually requires good spacial reasoning and mental imagery (right cerebral hemisphere) combined with strong nonverbal logic (left cerebral hemisphere), as well as good fine motor control and enduring patience. Some players will be tempted to expedite the process through creative methods (Xacto knife and Super Glue to remove and repaste the tiles), some will seek even quicker means to ease their frustration (ball pen hammer), and others will choose to purchase the monochromatic version of Rubik's Cube and enjoy the Zen-like peace of a conflict artfully avoided.

Rubik's Cube is nearly indestructible (I've seen very strenuous attempts fail utterly) and, for those who do master the main solution, the instruction book offers other challenges (e.g., rearrange the cube so that each side has a center square of one color and all other squares a second color).

Is this product fun? I think that many players will enjoy the Cube greatly until they first solve it, and then put it on display in a convenient spot for purposes of tormenting peers. Enthusiasts will continually re-scramble and re-solve Rubik's Cube, just as cats will endlessly swat at dangling bits of yarn. Fanatics (a.k.a. "true lovers of the game") will try the alternative solutions.

Dolphins tend to enjoy Rubik's Cube as a tool for removing dental tartar.

*gnaws on the yellow and green sides of an already well-gnawed cube*

There's a Reason Why This is a SOLID 5 Star Toy!
Ahh...the memories! If I had to pick just one icon of the 80's, it would be Rubiks cube! If you think about it, this cube sums up an entire decade in one masterful stroke of genius! Like this cube, the 80's were FUN, Colorful, confusing, and sometimes frustrating!
I don't know how many people know this (and I haven't read every review), but this cube was actually invented behind the "Iron Curtain" in the early 70's. Yep, a Commie made the worlds best selling puzzle in Hungary! The irony kills me! At the height of the Cold War! It was just blind luck that the Cube made it to the US after touring toy shows throughout Europe with little interest.
I think the last count of cubes sold worldwide since 1980 was somewhere between 500 to 800 million! Sheesh! Gives me hope that there are some people who are actually interested in exercising their brains!
The best memories I have of this cube was getting in trouble at school for bringing it to class! Back in 1981 the teacher would usually start the day off by confiscating everyones Rubiks cube! She would have a whole drawer full of cubes before class even started! Also, there were kids who made a lot of money off solving the cube for you!
I HIGHLY recommend you buy this for your child and just watch them play with it! It's so much fun! To date I still have NEVER solved this thing without taking it apart and I still have my mini Rubiks key chain which comes in handy, especially when you're waiting in line somewhere! People crowd and around and EVERYBODY has a story about this incredible toy!
There were more Rubiks puzzles that were put out between 1980 and 84 including the Pyramid, the Missing Link, and The Snake!
Note: You can still find original, early 80's, books on solving the cube! Just check for used online bookstores. I found one! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great First CD player/radio
My sister purchased this cd player/radio for my daughter for her fourth birthday.She loved it.She was always turning on my clock radio and dancing in my room and now she can play music of her own.For the price it is a great product and has provided much enjoyment. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Liked it a lot
I think these bubbles are great fun, as an outside toy only. The drip top could have lasted longer - it fell into the jar pretty quickly, and then the bubbles dripped all over me. Still, a lot of fun, especially for the money.

Hunter's favorite thing!
Our Westie, Hunter, loves to catch bubbles. These bubbles stick around a while so he can keep catching them. This should be a dog or cat toy too!

"they loved them"
My sister's response to the bubbles sent as a birthday gift (her children are 3, 7, 9 and 12): "They loved them. The bubbles do harden after being blown and can be caught carefully with an open hand or on a flat surface. If you use 2 fingers or squeeze them just the slightest bit, they get squashed right away, and they weren't able to stack them. But they were great fun anyway, much better than regular bubble soap."

A Disappointment
I must have received a defective batch - the bubbles were just ordinary soap bubbles. They didn't last any longer than any other bubbles. Also, the bubble wand in one of them came apart before I even had a chance to use it. All of the other reviews are so positive that I can only conclude that I got a dud!

very cool bubbles
I picked these up for my niece & nephew, but curiosity got the better of me and I opened a package. One blow on the wand and you get dozens of shiny little bubbles. A few pop right away but most dried up as they floated down and clung to the floor, table, couch etc. My two cats were fascinated, especially when the bubbles on the floor started rolling around. When you pop the bubbles, they actually make a little popping noise, and the residue is very easy to get off your fingers, floor, clothes & furniture. Probably better to use them outside, though! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This handy blue briefcase (cunningly labeled "Spy Kit") contains every tool a budding agent needs to root out any secret. The most vital piece of equipment is a listening device that amplifies distant sounds, perfect for eavesdropping on the enemy! Simply plug in the earphones, unfold the microphone, and point it at your target. Press the button, and you can hear every whisper. The kit also includes a penlight (requires two AAA batteries), and a combination telescope/microscope that can be attached to the listening device for more advanced espionage activities. Agents can keep track of everything they see and hear in the included notebook. The listening device requires one 9-volt battery and you'll need a screwdriver to open the battery compartment, but once everything is set up you'll be ready for action. Winner of an award from Child magazine. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

For pint-sized spies everywhere...
My son loves this toy! My husband and I thought that for what you get, its a bit pricey, but my in-laws bought it for our son this Christmas. It's pretty neat. The listening device works well. The microscope doubles as a telescope (you just look in the opposite end for each tool.) The whole thing snaps together into one cool looking spy instrument.

My second favorite!
I got this toy and it is so cool!

The listener works really well and has been dropped a 100 times but it never broke.

The light is cool because if you aren't alowd to be up or in a place your not supposed to be you can go there.

The microscope is tiny so no one knows what it is ( unless you tell them) at all which is cool.

The note pad is I think edible so try it.

The pencil is gold so that you can see it more cleary.

All in all, get this now!

Really works
The microphone works suprisingly well, and I didn't encounter any quality problems the other reviewers commented on.

In fact, this is the one toy my 8-year-old son played with the most after Christmas.

can you call this good?
it is not good.it is the badest toy i ever layed my hands on and a am not lying it is bad bad bad

Great SPY toy
This toy reall does work. There is a spy listner inside and it does help you hear sounds from far away. Also it has a flash light and a tiny looking glass.Along with that there is a note book to write down what you hear and it all fits into a little spy case. My brother, cousins, and i all played "spys" with it. My brother and i also spyed on our neighbor, but he cought us. It's a lot of fun to play with.

---Katie L. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Few toys are more majestic than this charcoal-gray plush elephant. Bonus: this gentle giant is also a puppet. He boasts an extendable trunk, protruding horns, wrinkled eyes, and soft, floppy ears. With his velvety body and big belly, he's the perfect pachyderm for puppet shows, naptime, or cozying up with to read a book. This unforgettable elephant stands 17 inches tall from head to hoof. --Melissa Wilson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

super soft, an excellent puppet!
I knew Folkmanis would never disappoint but was still thrilled at the high quality of this puppet. Folkmanis puppets are consistently great quality, of beautiful design, and fun to use. This puppet, however, is exceptionally soft, almost velvety in texture. A great toy for little ones to hug and hold as well as a fun puppet. Using your hand, one can move the mouth and swing the trunk a bit.

My children love this puppet! This large puppet is a must-have for puppet lovers and elephant lovers!

jumbo fun!
I love this elephant! I use it for storytimes and you can not only move it's mouth but also put your hand/arm down the trunk and move that too. It's big and soft and a beautiful grey. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great toy, easy to put together.
I love Lego sets because you can actually "play" with them when they are done. I bought this set along with the big Air comp and my son and I raced for a while with it.

Snowboard Boarder Cross Chase is fantastic!
I bought the Snowboard Boarder Cross Chase for my 10-year old on his birthday last week and he just loves it! He plays with it every day -- he had great fun building it and has had an amazing time playing with it. He has quite a lego collection and this has to be one of his all-time favorites. An excellent lego and highly recommended!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Lite Brite offers a whole new dimension to creative play with the latest rendition: the Lite Brite Cube. While the space to create on is a bit smaller, artists now have four pegged panels into which they can poke colors. The cube requires adult assembly, but once that’s done, it’s just like you remember. Choose a design sheet from the eight included--or go freeform with solid black paper--and start plugging colored pegs into their respective spots. Over 500 pegs are included in a rainbow of colors, and the cube has two drawers to store them in. (These drawers fall out quite easily and can cause a mess of spilled pegs, so be careful when transporting.) New to the peg world are Power Pegs--up to four of the same colored peg molded together for quicker completion. The Lite Brite Cube has a blue plastic handle at the top so artwork can be carried around (and shown off) easily. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (57)

No Refills Available
The lite brite cube is great, but refills are impossible to find. I tried ordering them directly from Hasbro and have been told I will be receiving a refund check because they are out of stock. They said to try Wal-mart and Toys'R Us, but as we know, they don't have them either. Very disappointing!

Lite Brite
My daughter loves this toy. She is now 4 years old. I would not recommend it for small children because the lights are small. Sometimes they are hard for my daughter to handle. It comes with many different templates to make all sorts of things, all you have to do is punch the lights through the black template. However, this toy is different than the ones we remember because the lights do not stay in well if used without the templates (making your own design). Also if you use it this way, it is not as easily seen since the background is white.

No Refills Anywhere!
I would recommend that anyone looking for a lite bright buy a used one on e-bay. They are great, but refills are no longer available in stores or from Hasbro. Once you have used up what it comes w/, you have no additional refills available for purchase EXCEPT on e-bay where they are going for $12.95 + shipping.

Therefore, do to the lack of refills, the life of the toy (in my daughter's eyes) is short & not worth buying new for $20 some dollars!

FIND REFILLS HERE!
Liked the toy, but like many others, disliked the fact that I couldn't find picture refills. After hours of searching online(and finding that you have to print out a hard copy of an order form and mail it in with a check to hasbro to get refills directly from the company) I found an online store that has refills. www.zooscape.com has picture and peg refills for the lite brite cube. Mine arrived in good time and great condition.

refill solution
I found out how to get refills for this toy.

Go to Hasbro.com, then click on customer service, then replacement parts. Find Lite Brite Cube, Print out order form and mail!! Cost $7.00 ... Read more