Reviews (3)

Great toys and storage
My 2 year old loves the pelican and the toys that came with it. The toys can stick to the tub and tile, and he has fun taking them out of the pelican's mouth and throwing them back in. I bought a suction storage for his toys before this one and hated it. This pelican was a clever idea, and my son and I love it.

didn't fit
I think the concept of this toy is great - cute, functional, etc...<br /> <br /> BUT! I received one as a gift and was very disappointed that it did not fit over the edge of my tub even when it was fully extended. My tub is a fairly standard width, so I'd be careful before buying this.

GREAT tub toy holder!
if the walls of your tub are too rough to hold suction cups then this is the toy holder for you! this is great cuz it goes right over the edge of the tub...and it hold a LOT of toys along with the toys it even comes with! the mesh keeps the toys from getting mildewy. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Young photographers won't have to tell their subjects tosmile--the Real Camera does it for them. This colorful, plastic camera usesregular 35mm film (one roll is included) and is so easy to operate thateven little fingers can make it work. About 6 by 5 inches in size, thecamera has a smiling face up front, to provoke grins fromportrait-sitters, and a large handle to help steady the camera. The controlsare simple, focusing is done with an easily gripped knob, and there's alarge button for snapping the shutter. Waiting for the pictures todevelop might be the only frustrating part, because even a one-hourphoto shop seems to take too long for kids. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Lost Memories
My son received this camera as a gift at a "big brother" party / shower so he could take pictures of his new baby brother. He took pictures at the hospital when our new addition arrived and then took it on school field trips. His teacher allowed him to use it on his birthday at school to capture some of his birthday memories. When we took the 3 rolls of film to be developed, not one picture came out. My son was devistated. He has since given it to his baby brother so he can "push the bottons". I overheard him telling his little brother "not to put film in it though because it doesn't work!" Now if a 5 year old can figure out it doesn't work, why didn't someone at the Chicco company wise up and do something about it?!?!

My Son Loves It!!!!
My son has so much fun with this camera. He loves taking pictures - we've already developed some pictures and he gets such a kick out of what he's done. This is a great way to express himself artistically.

DOES NOT WORK, DO NOT BUY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flash did not work, went through 2 roles of film and got no pictures. DO NOT BUY !!!!!!!!!!!

Smile!
I bought this camera for my young son who sees me using my camera all the time. I thought he'd get a kick out of tagging along and taking his own photos. I was right. He loves it. He's only 2 1/2, so I haven't even bothered loading film in the camera. He's just happy clicking away. The camera is wonderful. Absolutely worth the money.

DO NOT BUY!!!!!
My Mother-in-law bought two of these pieces of junk for grand children for Christmas, and neither camerad worked. The film did not advance correctly, the sprockets tore the film and the shutter release did not work on either of them. Both are completely useless, and the kids are heartbroken. AVOID THIS TOY... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Think you've got a good ear for everyday sounds? Then pop Soundscape,the super, sonic party game, into the CD player at your next gathering and getready to pass around the chips, dips, and Q-Tips. Whether two people or 20,individuals or teams, aural sects attempt to identify the five everyday noisesthat constitute one round emanating from the 36-round, two CD set. Is that a gasburner or a coffeemaker? The opening of a pop-top or the cracking of an egg?Okay, that's got to be geese flying overhead... or a dolphin talking. You've gotfive seconds to write down your answer, and believe us, it's tougher than itsounds. A quick once-over of the written rules will get you started, theinstructional voices on the CDs are patient (if a tad stilted) and explainthings well (even indicating when it's time to press "pause" for drinks andmunchies), all designed to quickly turn any gathering on its ear. Here's hopingthe folks at Game Development Group release some additional CDs. --TonyMason ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Made the trip worthwhile
There is no better way to pass the time on a car journey than having SoundScape in the glove compartment. Thank god we purchased this game prior to leaving on a 15 hour road trip. The playing time is variable - it depends how many rounds you want to play. Simply put, you pop the game CD into the CD player and everyone in the car takes their best stab at identifying the sounds in each round. A score sheet is supplied so that you can write down your guess and then points are allotted for whether it is the correct answer, close to the correct answer or not very close at all. We were playing this throughout our journey and it made what could have been a long dull car journey into lots of fun. I can easily see the appeal of this at home party gatherings as well!

Sounds Good
Great sound effects in this game, and very deceptive. You might guess that you're listening to the chatter of dolphins, while someone else might blurt out that you're hearing monkeys (or try figuring out what that prolonged 'swoosh' sound is, etc). The presenters' voices (alternating male and female) keep the flow going nicely and I like the touch of having the ticking clock tell you how much time is left to make your guess. We have played the game at home and in the car to keep the kids (and ourselves) entertained on some long drives. Well put together on the two CDs. ... Read more

Product Description

With this complete set of barnyard animals, kids can turn their imaginative play area into a farm, The outstanding details and realistic painting of the set allow them to develop their own beneficial storytelling play. The durable and high-quality solid plastic material could survive years of play. The whole set is sold in a colorful handy plastic carry case . ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Big Disappointment
This toy is a make-believe metal detector.The panel is only stickers and makes one long beep when you turn the volume up.This is a high priced pretend toy and was a very big disappointment.

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
This metal detector is useless - only registers when it actually TOUCHES metal - it would never find anything even BARELY below the soil or sand. Piece of junk - very disappointed that Smithsonian would allow its name on this product ... Read more

Editorial Review

This may be one of the coolest ways to learn. The LeapPad system's unique, patented, multisensory interface already allows kids to enhance reading-comprehension skills without making it seem like work. But what makes this LeapPad book even more fun is that it's a Superman comic book! Kids can follow Superman: Read All About It! and know that they arereading all about it. They'll be able to distinguish between narration and dialogue (first and third person), follow written directions, learn new words and pronunciations, and give detailed, comprehensive accounts of the story afterward. Most of all, they'll have the thrill of following Superman along as he foils the dastardly Bizarro.

It's simple to use (just insert the cartridge and book into a LeapPad), but this system is an innovative technology that provides entertaining, effective learning, designed by a Stanford-trained reading expert. As well, the system has been credited with the TMA's Educational Toy of the Year and People's Choice awards. The books are designed to correlate with national academic standards for the grade levels they target.

Two notes: Make sure the LeapPad book you get is appropriate for the child's educational level; this one should be a challenge for kids up to age 8. As well, know that some LeapBooks work on both LeapPad and LeapPad Pro, like this one, but some books only work with one system. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (4)

unhappy!
I have an eight year old and a four year old who love superheroes. I thought this leappad book would be perfect for them, but it totally bores both of them. Don't waste your money. Try one of the other books.

mostly entertainment, not up to par with others for LeapPad
This is a comic book with some games. When the green "go" circle is pressed, it automatically reads the first box or bubble of text by itself, in a nice voice, which has proper emotion, punctuation, and sound effects. When that bubble is done, the child must touch the next bubble and it reads the entire bubble again. The programming of this book is different than the Leap 1 series, which has the option of reading all the words on the page at one time or else touching the pen to every single word to hear it spoken. With the Superman book you do not and cannot touch one word and hear it spoken. You touch anywhere inside the box and the whole box is spoken, which can be up to 3 sentences long. Another issue is that there are words for sounds "ka-boom" for example, but when it is touched we hear the sound which doesn't always really sound as the written word. Since this is a reading book I'd think they could simply say the word "ka-boom". I think this has left the realm of having the purpose of teaching reading and entered the pure entertainment realm instead.

Each page has 1-3 games, which I feel are very low in educational value. Examples are "touch as many newspapers as you can in 5 seconds". They are not reading related games despite the title of this book being as a reading book. There are some games at the back, which are mainly auditory in nature. One is a pile of suitcases and the narrator asks to find 2 that make the same sound when touched and it plays the sound one time only. Then you touch the suitcases to find the 2 matching ones. This is almost a memory game but it is not truly a memory game because at the end of each match it scrambles up the sounds that are "inside" of each suitcase. I was disappointed in this, as it could have served as a memory retention-concentration type of game, which is educational-but it does not work in this manner. A frustrating part is the absence of a "repeat" button to hear the directions again-other products from this manufacturer have this function, I don't know why they are inconsistent with the basic format, especially when it makes the most sense! Overall I found the games boring, silly, and non-educational.

I am comparing the quality of this with the phonics line and reading line of LeapPad products and some of the LeapPad math products. For this critique I used the program myself to come to my own judgment. I am knowledgeable about reading instruction and educating children, and am basing my critique on what I know contributes to learning and what deters from it, and what is just pure fluff or entertainment.

It seems the big emphasis here is on just having something with a Superman theme. This product is not at all up to par with other LeapPad products that we own in that it is not really educational, it is pure entertainment. What a huge disappointment, I expected a better quality educational product from the Leap Frog Company.

Boys love this Superman Book!
My two sons are 5 and 3 years. They LOVE the comic strip format, and they are thrilled to have a book about a "real super hero" for their Leappad. They were interested in some of the learning books for the Leappad, but their interest wasn't long-lived. The Superman book held their attention for hours, and they STILL like to play with it. I like it because it encourages them to enjoy reading while still being fun. The sound effects and story lines are "cool" in my boys' words, and it was well worth the money.

Leap 2 Reading : Superman
My son who is almost 4 years old was not interested with his Leap Pad until we bought this book. It is written like a comic book and the leap pad will read all of the words in the story. He really likes the games that go a long with it too even though some are a over his head. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Electronic Playground & Learning Center is a great way to introduce kids to the world of electronics. Easy-to-build circuits teach the operation of over 50 electronic circuits, without requiring the use of any tools or soldering. Learn about the use of voltage, currents, resistance, resistors, capacitors, and about many other electronic principles and components. The Electronic Playground & Learning Center is easy to understand and comes fully assembled with all electronic parts and step-by-step instructions. It requires one 9-volt battery (not included). --Chris Livesay ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great kit ... Well Done... Very Educational
The Electronic Playground reminds me very much of the type of electronics kit I had when I was young. I bought this for my son who is 6. While the instructions and details were a little above his head the kit was not. The projects are very straight forward and the the wiring guides are as easy as "connect the dots" (really!). My only minor complaint is that the frame is a bit flimsier (paper and plastic)then I would like.

My son and I did two projects in about 2 hours (two of the smaller ones) and I was able to use the kit to make some customizations (leverage the variable resistor add a light to the electronic buzzer etc.) and show him how circuits/components can be expanded and improved.

But beyond the ease of use the instruction booklet is really quite an excellent resource on basic electronics. For an older child the kit could/should provide a pretty good grounding (pardon the pun). The combination of straight forward instructions (so you get get things to work) and well written explanations (so you know why they work) is great.

I really can't wait to do more projects with my son or ....
maybe I'll just borrow it at night and do them myself.

The perfect way to start learning electronics!
This IS the best educational toy I have ever seen! With all the bells and whistles you could possibly want, it's the perfect way to start your kid learning electronics. I would suggest being at least 11 years old though because the going can get a little tough for younger kids after the 10th of 50 experiments! The only problem is you might not want to put it on something unstable because it is a little delicate. Otherwise enjoy a nice gift for someone just starting electronics! ... Read more

Editorial Review

By the time they're 10 years old, every kid should experience the wild adventures of the notorious pirate, Long John Silver, and John Hawkins. As characters in this classic story voyage in search of buried treasure, children will learn new, complex words; build their vocabularies; observe complex usage, syntax, and paragraph forms; experience detailed chapter-book reading; and understand plot, theme, setting, and individual character roles.

It's simple to use (kids insert the cartridge and book into their LeapPads, and use the attached stylus to hear information), but this system is an innovative technology that provides entertaining, effective learning, designed by a Stanford-trained reading expert. As well, the system has been credited with the TMA's Educational Toy of the Year and People's Choice awards. The books are designed to correlate with national academic standards for the grade levels they target.

Two notes: Make sure the LeapPad book you get is appropriate for the child's educational level; this one should be a challenge for kids between 7 and 10 years. As well, know that some LeapBooks work on both LeapPad and LeapPad Pro, like this one, but some books only work with one system. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the only Christmas toys we're still playing with.
My 8 year old daughter and I live alone.We spend every free minute doing activities together.Her Leap Pad has been a blessing.She loves Treasure Island and all the Leap Pad accessories.Rather than complain about how much TV our children watch, or how much time they spend playing video games, etc.entice them to be creative by sharing Leap Pad games and accessories with them.

Great learning aid...
I purchased this book to add to the ever growing collection of books, and it is a great addition..They definately help with teaching children to read.The leap pad products are just great. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Why do paleontologists and archaeologists make molds of fossils and artifacts? You'll find out with this unusual Eyewitness Kit that explains the basics of molding and casting. The instruction and information booklet describes different kinds of molds, processes, and materials scientists use to create casts. The kit includes molding material to make a reusable seamless mold of a favorite item and enough casting medium for several creations. Adult supervision is recommended, as this is a somewhat complex and messy operation. Your child could create some unique gifts using this kit--what grandparent wouldn't love a cast of a grandchild's hand? --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good product, good customer support.
I bought this product for my 6-year-old daughter. When I first opened the box, I was a little disappointed. I thought it was a little over priced for 2 small bags of powder and some instructions.

On top of that, the "mixture" didn't harden (even after 5 days it still wouldn't harden). So we threw it away and called the company's customer support number on the instructions. They were friendly and helpful. They shipped a new bag via 2 day air to Hawaii for free.

We tried it again, only this time used about 1/3rd the amount of water listed on the instructions and it worked perfectly. My daughter loved it. She created the mold and painted it.

Overall, it's a good product. It allows children to follow instructions and create something rather than simply "play."

Great and fun!
Mold of hand turned out really well, could even see the fingerprints and fingernails. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

No allowance of creativity
I was very excited to receive this scrapbooking set, but I was dissapointed in it. First off, the kit doesn't give kids (or anyone using it) enough creativity. All it really is, is telling you what to glue where, no real thinking or creative aspect involved. I would recomend just going to Joann's and picking up scrapbooking supplies to fit YOUR needs. This way you can guarantee you will put everything you buy to use and you can stay within your own budget. ... Read more

Features

• Hours of hands-on experiments designed by a team of Harvard graduates, scientists, educators, and parents.
• Award-winning winning science kits designed for children between the ages of 5 and 12.
• Each set contains a 8 1/2" x 11" instruction booklet with dual instructions, one for adults and one for young scientists.
• Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products, National Parenting Seal of Approval, Teacher's Choice Award
• National Parenting Publications Honors Award, Learning Research Institute Outstanding Resource Award