Reviews (1)

Hippo opens and closes its mouth as you move the train
I wish all the expansion cars had as much thought put into them as this set does.

The Hippo's mouth opens and closes as you move the train. The animal cage car has a sliding door. My 2 year old loves both.

Other cars to check out: The gold prospecting car which tumbles gold rocks as it moves. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful quality toy
I was impressed with the quality of these blocks. They are very well made. I found then to be great for babies and toddlers because of the rounded edges. They are not not sharp like mega Blocks. Great product. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What a life saver this toy was!!
I bought this for my just turned three year old girl. The two of us took a 10 hour car drive with this as a brand new car toy. She spent 8 of 10 hours playing with it on the drive down. She played with it some everyday during a confernece I was attending with her in tow. She spent 6 of 10 hours playing with it on the way home a week later. She would have played with it longer had the daylight lasted longer. It saved our sanity!!

My only complaint is the magnetic pieces were easy to tear when punching them out of their original magnetic sheet. Take care and this shouldn't be a problem. ... Read more

Editorial Review

On a cheery carpet of blueberry-blue-and-white gingham, asparkling porcelain tub stands ready for bathtime. An old-fashionedshower stand sits nearby. The bath tray, resting across the tub, isfully stocked with soap, shampoo, cream rinse, lotion, powder, andperfume bottles for after-bath pampering. A snowy towel is folded atthe ready, and a shower curtain on its own stand provides privacy forcritters in the buff. The Calico Critters Bathroom Set, which includessix furniture pieces and over 30 accessories, is so detailed thatthere's even a plug for the tub and plumbing under the sink. Theslippers fit furry feet and the scrub brushes and toothbrushes fit intotiny paws. Crafted of high-quality plastic, these are working toys:cupboards open and close and the toilet seat raises and lowers. Eventhe mirror is made of top-quality glass. Everything you can think of isincluded, from the fabric seat cover to the cleaning supplies--and yes,there's an extra roll of toilet paper. A great choice for thediscriminating designer who doesn't want to go overboard on price, thisset is 1:1 scale and will fit many dollhouses as well as those inCloverleaf Corners. --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A good gift to give as a present
my girls got this toy from a friend and they love it. They like playing "house" with all the magnetic parts. There are a lot of parts with this toy that can get lost. Some magnets are small, but over all I like this toy a lot. In fact I think I'll buy some to keep and give them as gifts for birthdays, etc ... Read more

Reviews (1)

tanners delight!
The Pirate series was simply a hit with this six year old boy named tanner. His imagination simply runs wild.....The excitement that he generates pulls at the heart of a 45 year old's inner child. I delight in this Pirate adventure!
thank you,
(...) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful alternative to play doh
This is a wonderful alternative to play doh. It is fun, and easy to clean up. It is also an awesome toy to build creativity. My four children, ages 10,8,5,& 2, spend hours playing with it and the other sandboxes. As an elementary teacher, I would recommend this toy to anyone. Students act out different scenarios and can then write them down. It encourages roll playing and the mat that is enclosed is like a map that I use to reinforce directions. Fine motor skills can also be developed with this toy. It is a wonderful toy for both home and school. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Calico Critters - aka Sylvanian Families (remember them?)
These rabbits are SO CUTE! All Calico Critters families have an average height of about 3.5 inches (adults are larger than children & baby sets) . They are covered in a soft downy flocking, are pose-able, and highly detailed. Each family member comes with a removable outfit, with detail & care sewn in. Bright colors, Velcro fastens, ribbon ties, and tiny buttons & lace all add to the charm of their clothing. Children will have hours of fun with all the houses, furniture, and accessories that can be bought. Sets teach kids hand eye coordination (so many miniatures to interact and use) social interaction, Family structure, and creativity. Older individuals can appreciate these detailed miniatures as well. Calico Critters are actually from an older toy line many might recall from the 80's, called "Sylvanian Families". Epoch (maker of both), has started sales again, under a new name in the states. Same old lovable families, with new names. However, the sylvanians of the 80's have been retired in this line (SF is still sold in JP and UK), and replaced with entirely new animals.

Their only downside is the fuzz/flocking. With gentle - normal play, they'll hold up for years and years. However anyone with a child going through a "rough and tumble" destructive phase, may find out that the fur can rub off if heavily scrubbed &scratched. Consider these an indoor toy, and not really intended for rough, outdoor play, or extended bathtub play.

Calico Critters
Calico critters are really really cute! They are soft and fuzzy and come in many little animals-chipmunks, squirrels, cats, dogs, and lots more. I don't own a house, but I just think that having the critters is enough. I have a whole box of them that I collect.
These are great toys. I encourage you to buy them-for gifts, for you, for whatever! ... Read more