Editorial Review

Polly Pocket is slowly building an empire of accessories and alternative homes that may soon rival her more famous colleague Barbie. But unlike Her Pinkness, Polly doesn't seem intent on pursuing a wide variety of challenging careers, preferring instead to just hang out and enjoy all her cool stuff. In this sprawling set, Polly has a bike with which she can haul around a small popcorn cart, enhancing her popularity in the resort setting depicted in the rest of the set. Also included is a four-room hotel setting with bedroom, living room, bathroom, and patio. And capping it all off is a sort of combination Ferris wheel and roller coaster where little cars are spun to the top of a wheel before rolling down a curving ramp to the wheel's base. As with any Polly Pocket set, there are zillions of tiny accessories; this makes pretend play all the more fun but parents should make sure very young kids get nowhere near. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Amazon.com

Young caregivers can rock their babes to sleep in thisminiature cradle. Mounted to a sturdy, wooden base, the woven rattan- like sides are actually constructed of heavy-duty paper and cord.Measuring 15 inches long and 10 inches wide, the cradle doesn't take upmuch floor space, and it can accommodate a variety of dolls or stuffedfriends. Whenever freshly washed sheets are needed, remove the pink andwhite gingham bedding and pop it into the washer and dryer. --LaurenBernard. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Mommy of 3 year old
I bought this almost a year ago for my daughter's third birthday. She loves to put her 'Hanna' down for her nap. (Her two year old brother does too.) It is not the kind of toy that entertains for more than a few minutes at a time, but it gets regular use. It is very cute. A little fragile, but as long as they are not standing in it, it should be fine. We have not had any trouble. She loves using the little pillow and blanket. A nice addition to a little girls room and bed time routine.

I love baby dolls!!!!!
hi im about to be 13years old and steal love baby dolls and other doll stuff

OK for the price
This is a very functional toy for a child to have in their collection. Though it does not provide hours of entertainment, this toy has become a part of my daughter's daily ritual. She gets her doll in the morning, puts it down for nap, etc. I am overjoyed to see my daughter play with a toy that does not need batteries, only imagination.

I was happy to see that the cradle came with a liner- so many of the more expensive cradles have accessories that must be purchased separately.

It is the not the sturdiest toy, as it is maily cardboard, but if you child is not too rough, it should be OK.

mom of 2yr old "little mommy"
i purchased this cradle and returned it a few days after. the box said "wicker" and the "wicker" was made of paper. the bottom of the cradle is cardboard. i thought about spraypainting it with an enamal paint for durability (because it is so cute) but decided to keep looking for a pretty, heirloom quality, toddler proof doll bed. such a shame, because this cradle is very pretty to look at, but kids under five can be so rough with toys without trying to be.

3 year old loves to rock her baby
I bought this cradle for my 3 year old daughter and she loves it. She enjoys rocking her dolls and taking them out, then laying them back down. The fabric is machine washable. I think this will be the type of toy that will look great sitting in her room when she is 17 years old. ... Read more

Features

• No tools needed for assembly
• Working door
• Front and back curtains

Reviews (3)

Fun, Colorful and Durable!
I bought this last year for Christmas and my girls use it virtually every day. They have put on puppet productions, used it as a lemonade stand, a club house, a shop and a thousand other uses. As you can see, it is extemely colorful and surprizingly durable. This was money well spent. I highly recommend it.

Great imaginations at work!
This is a great puppet theater, sound stage, restaurant, play house, etc... My daughter was 4 when she received this from Santa. He only wished he had found it sooner! My daughter continues to love it, and will now be sharing it with her younger sister. Many hours of pretend have been spent inside and outside this theater. We especially love it because it is large enough inside for two or more children. All the others we researched were too small for our needs. The colors are so vibrant and fun, we get tons of compliments from all our company. All the kids gravitate towards it!

Playhouse sparks imagination!
This playhouse theater is an excellent way to spark your child's imagination. My son received this as a Christmas gift last year and it has not only been a theater, but a house, cave, secret hideout, restaurant, and schoolhouse. Very colorful and the front chalkboard is excellent for strenghtening writing skills! The only downside I have with the theater is that it is not very durable. The theater is made of some sort of flimsy plywood and it is not secured with screws, etc. It slides together and a child can easily disassemble it. The front panel that the child rest's his/her arms on broke after two weeks of having the theater. Other than the durability factor...great product! ... Read more

Editorial Review

There are few toys quite as fun as that old standby, the pretend cash register. But as anyone who’s been in a grocery store in the last few years can tell you, the technology has changed a little bit. Gone are the days of punching in each individual price by hand, replaced by high-tech scanners and coding. Fortunately, Barbie rolls with the punches, unveiling this souped-up shopping cart, brimming with products, and scanning system for any kid looking to play grocery store in a more realistic way. 24 pieces of pretend food are included, with a heavy emphasis on snacks like popsicles and cookies, along with a small scanning station. Other shopping items, featured in a flip-book catalog, are also able to be scanned using a special electronic pen. This kit may lack the satisfying clunking sounds of the old fashioned toy cash register, and the American Express co-branding seems to be a bit of unfortunate marketing that does little to enhance the fun, but the use of modern shopping gadgetry will likely be a hit with kids. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Editorial Review

Halloween is likely to feature scores of boys and girls dressed aswizards or witches in training.This Harry Potter costume from Rubiesis a one-stop costume solution.The black polyester 40 inch cape is light, machine washable, sports the crest ofHarry's Gryffindor House at Hogwarts, has a wide collar and roomy sleeves. Magicians will want to wear clothes underneath as the cape gapes openand isn't exactly warm. Accessories include Harry'swand and glasses (of course) and assorted stickers. They may wish to conjure up a pointy hat to complete the effect. Size 6 to 12. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Excellent buy for any Harry Potter fan!
This was a great find for my 6 yr old son. He loves Harry Potter and was thrilled with the robe, wand, glasses and stickers. The robe was a nice soft material, not that itchy stuff that costumes are usually made of. The glasses were made with real glass and metal, not cheap plastic. The wand is plastic, but still pretty durable. My son wore the scar tattoo and was thrilled he was "just like Harry Potter".

The costume came in a nice box, and for $13.88 was a great deal! My kids are still playing with it even after Halloween.

Great For Harry Potter Wannabe's
I purchased this as a halloween costume for my 5-yr old son and he absolutely loves it. He runs through the house casting spells with the wand that comes with it. The glasses are made with real glass lenses so you need to be carefull with them.The only problem we had with it was the clasps for the robe that came with the set were flimsy and the glue that is used to hold the decoration onto them is very weak. All in all, this was great fun for my son!!

Halloween Dad!
This was a great find for my son's trick or treating, despite it's quality. He is fascinated by Harry Potter. The kit includes a robe, wand, glasses and stickers. The stickers don't really fit with the set and should be played with separately, but a nice bonus. The wand is decent quality, simulated wood grain plastic. The glasses are quite huge on my 4 yr old as is the cape. The cape itself is of good quality, but needs hemmed...big time. The clasp came unglued immediately and needed fixed. Overall a good value and comes with a box, which I guess for the avid collector is a bonus. This was on sale for $13.88 which made it a better deal. Beware when you find accessories...scarf, tie, vest to complete the set...they're not as cheap.

Real cute on Little Harry Potters
I bought this costume for my son for his second birthday party, which had a Harry Potter theme. (See my "How To" guide for organising an unforgettable Harry Potter party in the "So you'd like to ..." section)

The one I got came with a fancy clasp to hold the front of the cape together. It was a little big, so I had to hem it and roll up the sleeves. Even after hard wear and much abuse at the party it washed well, and looks like new. He will probably still have this costume when Books 6 and 7 come out.

The wand is realistic, but with young children you have to watch out for them hitting other children with it, as it's pretty solid.

The glasses are also very authentic looking, and fits all faces (mine included). Again you have to be careful with younger children as it tends to slide off little noses, and the glass might break. I haven't had any problems with it mind you, but it could happen. The lenses get dirty quickly also.

The transfers are a very nice touch, and they go on easily with a little water. Even squirmy kids can be decorated without too much fuss. They last a couple of days if you don't scrub them too hard in the bath. I removed my son's own, because it was so realistic that people kept coming up to me asking if he had fallen and hurt his forehead. (Muggles no doubt!)

A great buy for your little Harry Potter

So much fun!
This is a great set! The glasses have clear glass in them, the wand looks like wood (but is plastic), and the robe has the Griffindor seal. The one we ordered came with lightning bolt tatoos which really completes the Harry Potter look! My son has worn this costume for the recent book release party (where he won 3rd place in a costume contest), Halloween, watching the movies, playing the computer game. It is durable, lightweight, and LOADS of fun! A great gift for all Potter fans... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My two year old loves this!
My two year old (27 months to be exact) loves these shoes! She thoroughly enjoys putting these shoes on and walking around the house listening to them clip-clop on the floor. She feels like a big girl and loves to show them off to us. We also bought the trunk of dress up clothes. She plays with both of these toys together. The shoes are colorful and adorable and have held up well through all the trying on and running around the house. Great buy! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Busy little hands will discover plenty of projects to completewith this sturdy, pintsize workhorse. Less than 2 feet tall, it standseasily on the floor or on a table. The tan pounding bench has five holesinto which young carpenters can pound two chunky plastic nails or securetwo colorful screws hidden under the bench's flip top. Easy-grip plasticscrewdriver, hammer, and wrench also store under the pounding bench, oryou can hang them on pegs. Three interlocking gears give youngsters aglimpse at the mechanics of cause-and-effect actions. Although theworkhorse does not collapse for compact storing, a built-in handle doesallow for easy toting. --Liane Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Tipsy Tool Bench
After a few months, I put our workhorse out with the garbage collection. The item was entirely too tipsy. Not flimsy - it is well made, but if your child leans on it, over it goes. So out it went. Don't recommend this item - get something with a square top so that it is secure - the A frame on this toy is a very bad design.

not worth it
This toy should be a lot sturdier than it is. It frustrates me and my toddler because it constantly falls down. It isn't a very interesting toy because there are many toys on the market that intrigue toddlers much more. I do not recommend this toy!

Avoid this toy!
This workshop appeared to be a great toy but it will not stay open. Whoever created this toy did a very bad job. It needs something to keep it open otherwise a soon as your child plays with it, it'll fall over. Look for something else!

Fun toy for creative play
Bought this toy for my son 1 1/2 year old son. He loves it. unlike other reviewers we have not had a problem with it staying up or with the legs collapsing. I have a large boy and he even climbs on it without a problem or injury. this toy is durable, in nice bright colors and fun to play with. My son was frustrated at first because the screws would not push in or pull out as easily as the nails but he soon got the hang of the turning function. Now he spends time moving the screws and nails from hole to hole and uses the diffent tools for banging on everything he can. Lots of fun at a good price.

Great Toy
My son got this for Christmas... At first it kept tipping over and along with a lot of the other reviews, i was getting frustrated. But then realized that if i pulled hard enough the legs lock into place and problem solved. My son likes the hammer and nails the best! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Beautiful, Well Made Barn
My girls; 4,3,&1 years old; received this for Christmas. It's been a hit. Nothing has broken, even when being played with by 5 horse crazy girls. I purchased Schleich horses to go with it, and most (just not the biggest draft type horses) fit perfectly inside. The animals that came with it are fine, but a few of them are pretty scary with orange/red eyes. The animals I remember coming with it were horse, pig, cow, dog, and turkey. HTH

A Terrific Toy for Imaginative Fun!
I got this for my 2 year old twins. They love it. They put the animals in different compartments of the barn, open and close the doors, stalls, and the barn itself. It's a little pricey, but it really is a beautifully made toy. The animals are also very nicely detailed, very sturdy, and no small parts.

It's holding up wonderfully, with nary a scratch. We got this as a follow-up to a disappointing purchase with a plastic Noah's ark toy, whose doors were always falling off. (Okay, I'm probably spoiling my kids a bit...) At any rate, the ark is in park, but Noah's animals are welcome to come visit the barnyard.

Durable (and SAFE) Toy!!!!!
I am not sure what the previous reviewer is thinking! Of course there are no nails - This company clearly knows what they are doing! They only make safe products.... I also found the barn to very durable. My son is very rough with his toys and this barn has stood up to the test!

handle and doors broke after 1 day of rough play!
This is a great barn, lots of fun with lots of opportunity for imaginative play. That being said, I'm very disappointed in the way parts of it are put together, the handles are glued on with no screws or nails. My son is very tough on toys, but even if he wasn't, how long could you carry this around by the handles before they came off? The runners that hold the sliding doors on the front and back are also glued on. My son hit one at the wrong angle and it popped off. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Love this toy!
My son is 20 months old and when we got him this Vacuum a few months ago he was immediately drawn to it! He plays with it every day and wants to take it every where. The brush attachment did break off rather quickly but he loves it any way.

great toy for toddlers
I got this for my daughter when she was one, and she has enjoyed it more as she's gotten older. It is very sturdy, and she loves the voice. It's a good present--at her 2nd birthday party, everyone was playing with it including the boys. I know what to buy as gifts for them now....

A Great Birthday present
I saw the reviews weren't that great for this toy, until I got to the last one in which they said the handle was fine and they must have fixed the problem. So I bought it to try for myself. I noticed an extra assembly notice in the box dated in 2004 with the instructions stating information specifically about the handle. It seems that they have fixed the problem and it does stay on. My daughter loves it! Once she opened it, she didn't even want to open her other gifts!

Great Sturdy Toy
I just purchased this for my 11 month old who loves my vacuum cleaner. he loves to pretend to vacuum like mommy and it is so cute. It is very sturdy and I have never had the problem of the handle falling off. Maybe they have fixed this problem?

poorly made!
My child can never use this because the handle constantly falls off. Glue or tape has not helped. Terrible purchase! Buy a different vacuum. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Beautiful! Wish I was a kid again!
I give this toy the higest rating possible.

First of all, it is beautifully made. Unlike most toys today, it is not made out of cheap, breakable plastic, but out of sturdy wood. I was very pleased with how well it was made. It can be moved into different configurations, and is very cleverly made, with very attractive detailing. The horses and people that came with it are also very attractive and well made.

Secondly, it is what I call an "open ended" toy. That is, unlike many toys that become boring quickly because there is only one way to play with them, this castle naturally stimulates creative and fun play that has no end.

To me, this is the best kind of toy, one that engages your child and encourages them to make up their own stories.

And this is a toy that I can join a child in playing with, too, as we make up stories together.

This will be a toy that will last for years, and that will be a favorite for years. Wish I had had this when I was a child!

great castle!
This is a great toy! It's well made & sturdy. My 2 & 3 year olds love it, as do any other kids that visit. I can see it lasting for years to come. Well worth the price.

Best Castle Ever!!!
This is my son's favorite toy - bar none! He plays with it all of the time and with the included figures and all of his other action figures. There is so much for him to do with it because it unfolds to about twice the original size! ... Read more