Editorial Review

Watch out for falling rock! Railroad construction ahead!Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Big Loader will bring out the train conductor in any child. When the big loader is running, use the control buttons on the track to make the train change direction. Itsy-bitsy engineers control whatever it does next. The track includes hoppers, loading docks, and transfer ramps. The motorized chassis fits under Thomas, Percy, and Terrance, the toys' included companions. After parents take a few minutes to read the simple instructions, make sure a 2-by-2-foot space is available for construction. Requires one AA battery for operation. --Andrea Linsky ... Read more

Features

• Thomas, Percy, and Terrence cars included
• Requires at least a 2-by-2-foot space

Reviews (85)

Not very happy
We got this train for our daughters 4th Birthday and when we took it out of the box the main train that pulls the rest was broken. We tried to figure out how it goes together and never did so she has not got a chance to play with it! The box was in great condition so I really do not know how it was in so many pieces when we got it! I am not happy about that, but as far as fun...can't say due to it never working!! I hope others that purchase this toy have better luck that we have had.

GREAT GIFT!!!!
My son received this toy for his 3rd birthday- and it is, by far, his favorite gift. He loves watching the trains do their jobs loading and unloading the "rocks." And, after it goes around the correct way a few times, he likes to switch things up and see what happens if he puts the trains in the wrong places. The parents who are complaining that this is not an interactive toy need to realize that it is interactive if you let your kids try different things with it. It doesn't always have to work in the right order for the toy to be fun. As a matter of fact, by putting things in the wrong order to see what happens, my son gets a great lesson in cause and effect.

Took a while to assemble but IT WORKS!
My son is 2 and a half. I'm a 34-year-old Network Engineer. I had not heard of the original "Big Loader" toy or how it worked, but my son saw the box in the store with Thomas, Percy, and Terence the Bulldozer - and that was it. He was sold. He didn't care what the toy actually did, as long as it had these three characters. So I figured "What the heck" and purchased it.

First off, I will also agree with many of the opinions - the included instruction page (note: singular) needs some more detail. I also had to resort to the box illustrations for help.

However, I *DID* manage with the instructions. I didn't have any problems with the battery compartment, the tracks fit nicely, and the whole track stayed assembled.

The next challenge was to figure out the motorized routine. After about 10 tries, I finally was able to coordinate the motor's direction, orientation, and the train-cover layout to get it all working.

And me and my son just stared at that toy for ten minutes straight. Whenever the train changed from Thomas to Percy, he would giggle. Same for when the bulldozer activates. He does appreciate the "fragility" of the system by telling everyone to "stand-back" while it runs. I also think a lot of it had to do with me having fun with the toy as well. Since I didn't get (too) frustrated with putting it together, he wasn't afraid or put-off by it either.

Tomy also has an even larger kit that adds-on to this one. I might have to save that for another day....

BOTTOM LINE: Not a typical train-set. Takes some effort to construct *AND* operate. Features 3 popular Thomas characters.

He played with it once & all the pieces are everywhere
My mom bought this for my son. It never really ran right, wouldn't stay on the track, & the pellets go everywhere. He would get frustrated & so did I. We put it away the first day & no one ever asked for it again, thank goodness.

Happy with thomas
Our 3 year old son got this track a year ago and hardly played with it because we only let him watch and touch the levers. However, once we stopped worrying about what happened to the toy and let him be hands on, he has played with it nonstop for two weeks. He doesn't even need the train to be turned on, and will push it around manually. It is incredibly durable to deal with his handling, and after the first couple times to figure it out, very easy to put together-he even knows how it works. Great toy! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This little cop cycle can rock. Hang onto the handlebars and blast alongon a blue police cycle complete with a transparent blue windshield and flashingred lights. This toddler rocker has a seven-function instrument panel thatincludes ignition key (with revving engine sounds), flashing lights, a siren,and three message buttons (e.g., "Calling officer: report to headquarters.") Theengine sounds rev faster or slower depending on the rocking motion. This cycleholds up to 50 pounds. It is 32 inches long and about 6 inches high at thesaddle-style seat. The sound effects require three AA batteries (not included).--Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (22)

My Son Loves This Toy...
I was excited to get this toy for my son when he was 10 months old. I rocked him in it at first, but he is slowly learning how to do it himself, which is fine. The loud noises don't scare hime, he loves to push all the buttons and hear the noises and see the flashind lights. The only problem that I have with this toy is that when the key is turned the noises go on, but they don't stay on while my son is rocking, even vigorously. They do however stay on if he is off of the rocker and I am rocking itwith my hand. My son is 12 months old and 21 pounds, I don't think that he is too heavy. I have read other reviews where they say that the sirens and the engine sounds go off the whole time that their child is rocking. I don't know whats going on, but all in all my son loves his cycle, and that is all that counts.

Quite Addicting!
My son received this as a gift for his first birthday - and he rode it ALL day. I felt bad b/c he wasn't interested in his other gifts. It makes the coolest sounds, and the harder you rock it the more "revving" the cycle makes. When you reach "Maximum" speed....the sirens come on. He goes crazy over this thing! It's a great toy. I would recommend it to anyone!

Fun but noisy!
I wish there was a volume control on this toy! It's got great sounds but they are loud. My son was given this rocker for his 1st birthday. He cannot get on and off by himself yet (he doesn't walk yet) so it's hard for him to use. He's not real keen on the rocking yet but I think he will be when he has more balance. He still plays with the buttons, of course. I like that this rocker is close to the floor in case he falls off.

The best gift!
My son got this for his first birthday. He is now almost 21 months old and still LOVES it! He brings it out all the time and plays on it. He loves to turn the key and push all the buttons. The faster he rocks it, the more it "revs" up! When our friends bring their kids over, they want to play on it too. We think it was the best gift ever!

Very loud!
My step son got this for his first Christmas in 2002 and he LOVES IT! It has held up very well and when he has it out its all he'll play with. We have had many tantrums when we have to take him off to eat or change his diaper because he loves it so much. He prefers it on carpet because the way he gets on and off he slides it in all different directions and he winds up doing the splits most of the time and isnt happy. I, however, highly recommend buying a bottle of Advil BEFORE you let your child play with it because it is very loud and it gets very annoying after a while. Ours "lost" its batteries. Maybe ear plugs to go along with the Advil too. It's a fun toy for kids and teaches them how to sit in a way that is different for them and it's a cause and effect toy too. All in all, great for kids, bad for parents heads. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Perfect Jay Jay
The replic is perfect. My 2 years old boy likes this toy very much, although it is not his favorite (he loves Jay Jay on TV but he doesn't love as much his toy). Besides, one of the engine is broken. I think is very delicated toy for a 2 years old. Anyway, it is really beautiful. I think is a toy to exhibit, not so much for playing at this age.

jay jay
My son loves this toy, but he also loves the series. We have had jay jay since Christmas and he has played with it every day.
Very durable except for a few chips of paint off the wing tips. Comes with a 100 year gurantee in the package. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This sturdy plastic car gives toddlers and young preschoolers the basic thrills of a real car, while parents can relax, knowing that this cherry-red sports car can go only as fast as their kids' little feet can carry them. Children sit on a bench-style driver's seat and poke their legs through to the ground. When they start walking, the car begins to scoot. The front wheels swirl like stroller wheels, making them especially responsive to the steering wheel. The front dash features a pretend key with a Little Tikes key chain and a horn button that beeps when pushed. A small storage bin in back can carry traveling gear or simply a stash of road snacks. Approximately 35 inches tall, 25 inches long, and 16 inches wide. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Editorial Review

Unzip this 10-by-14-inch, bright turquoise, soft cloth book, and you'll find two animal-packedalphabet trains spanning both pages. Each train car is a pocket, and each pocket is embroidered with aletter of the alphabet. Inside the pockets you'll find friendly little pillow animals, each one marked with aletter of the alphabet: the pink elephant rides in the E car, and the green alligator rides in the A car.Your child will love taking the animals out of the pockets and stuffing them back in (a favorite toddleractivity). You'll have fun teaching your child the names of the animals and letters, such as N for newtand X for xenops. When playtime is over, your toddler can zip the whole gang safely inside, grab thesturdy handle, and tote the little animals to their next destination. --Elisabeth Fredrickson ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My favorite toy for my kids!
This was a gift to my newborn boy, but my 2 1/2 year old adores it!
Pros:
1. helps teach letters (each animal has the letter that starts its name on its back)
2. compact, portable
3. cute!
4. animals good for other play (my daughter likes to pretend to "save" them when they are stuck in a tree, or have them ride in her "airplane" (shoe)... and much much more
5. OK for babies (although the animals are smallish, ~ 3inches tall, they never presented a choking hazard for my son -- who likes to chew them)
6. The animals machine wash well (see chewing note above :) )
Cons:
1. Lots of pieces to lose -- we lost the lion for quite a while, but he showed up behind the entertainment center
2. Some of the animals are not so recognizable -- I think "N" is a newt, but it's hard to tell.

Despite the few cons, this is probably my favorite toy that my kids have. Thus, 5 stars all around!

A worthy investment
I bought this for my daughter at 17 months and she loves it. Not only is it beautiful, it's the best quiet time toy ever!!

Just an FYI
We've owned this toy for over 3 years. The manufacturer (Pockets of Learning) replaces missing pieces at no charge, not even shipping!

Great Old MacDonald Cheat Sheet
We love our Animal Train. We sing Old MacDonald Had a Farm and use all of the animals in alphabetical order. Some are a little hard to come up with sounds for (like newt, for example!!!) and some of the animals are hard to recognize, but still, this is a wonderful idea and a nice implementation of it.

My 16 month old loves this learning toy!!
I bought this when my son was 14 months old and it immediately became his favorite toy. Within a month he knew at least 10 of the animals and could point to them when I asked where they were. He even knows exactly where to place his favorite 4 animals when all of the pockets are empty. This toy has helped his dexterity too as he has learned how to slide the animals inside of the pockets. These soft animals are just the right size for little hands and at any point during the day our son can be found carrying 2 or 3 animals all around the house. They have even helped with nap and bedtime!! Putting him down for sleep was a dreaded event as he would always cry. I began to place the entire "book" in his crib, telling him to talk to each of his animals. He becomes so focused on taking them in and out of the book that he forgets about going to sleep and ultimately falls asleep within 15 minutes. When I go in to check on him he is always sound asleep with one still in his hands! I HIGHLY recommend this toy as it teaches colors, letters, animals and helps increase dexterity. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rockin'!
Although it's supposed to be for three years and up, I bought it for my daughter's first birthday. I figured that we could have fun with it anyway. I couldn't have been more right. From the moment she saw it, she only wanted to play on the horse. Initially it started with me putting her on the horse and helping her rock, however within a few months she was climbing up and down and rocking on her own. I am not sure if her climbing skills were accelerated due to the horse, but she sure is more daring than many of her similarly aged friends. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great toy, worth the extra money for lights and sounds!
We bought this for our son's first birthday. He LOVES it! I wasn't sure if the lights and sounds were worth the extra money (above the older version of this toy) but it definitely was! The music and lights are what make this toy one of his favorites! He loves to sit on it and rock. It's great that the music starts (in ROCK mode) as soon as he moves it. I can see that this toy will be one of his favorites for a while! I also like that this is a good replacement for a regular rocking horse....we don't need one now since we have this. Plus, this will be used for many more years than a small rocking horse. We'll probably get him a wooden one when he's 3 or 4 years old, but for now this is enough rocking for him!

Horrible
The foot pedals disappear and my sons feet drag and go under if parents don't notice right away which is painful. The handle for parents doesn't stay in place which is a pain. And it is almost impossible for parents to turn when they are dealing with kids who still can't steer or pedal yet. My husband and I took our son outside with it once and never again. It isn't safe since it is such a struggle for parents to turn we have to practically drag it from left to right and since it doesn't have a seat belt my son almost fell off the side. He only uses it to rock on at home and will not be using it outside until he can pedal and steer on his own.

Extremely pleased
I bought this bike for my twin nephews for Christmas this past year. They were only 11 months old but loved them as they had just started walking and could climb all over them. Now that they are really mobile they love to push them while they are outside. It is great for them and easy on mom. The noises are great and one loves to rock to the music while the other likes to figure everything out on it. Definitely a great purchase!

Great item, but watch for the windshield
My 18 month old daughter received this item for Xmas. As she gained more confidence in rocking on it, she would rock faster/harder. As a result, she has had serious bumps and bruises from her head hitting the windshield. I have since removed the windshield. This has not used this as a tricycle yet, The musical capabilities are cute and not annoying for indoor use.

Three-in-one!
Gift was for our 1 year old grandson from a close friend of the family. It only took two (2) days for our grandson to figure out how to rock with it! The noises were appealing to him and not annoying to us. His mommy put the item together by herself within 20 minutes. Very easy to assemble. Can get himself off with some help from us but needs help getting on. Age bracket of 18 mos - 3 years is a good bracket. We have another grandson who will turn 1 in May. He will be getting one for his birthday as well. I love the idea of giving them their "first big wheel"! Don't have to wait until they are older. This toy grows with the child. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Fantastic Pirate Ship!! The Best Toy Pirate Ship Ever!
This is a tremendous pirate ship. Playmobil is by far the best maker of toy ships. What is so great is that it looks so good and realistic while still being a toy. Disregard other reviews that say "my kids destroyed it". I taught my son, 6 at the time, to take care of his things, and after years of use it still endures. My daughters love it also. The winch, the cabin, the hold and all the other details are awesome. Clearly a classic. I have BestLock, Disney Treasure Planet, Fisher Price and other brands of Pirate ships and this is clearly the best. We even attached the Playmobil motor and sailed it around the pool. It goes so well with the other Playmobil themed toys. I wish they would come out with an even bigger ship, but this is clearly the best available and it looks so good on the bonus room shelf when not in use! As for assembly, you wouldn't expect something this great to assemble in 5 minutes, but it is soooo cool with the rigging and sails. It's the kind of toy you can display. It works great with Playmobil or Papo figures. Clearly one of the best toys in "our" collection.

Perfect Pirate Ship For Older Kids
I debated buying this ship for my son's 8th birthday (thought maybe it would be too 'young') and decided to get it after my 10.5-year-old daughter insisted that her brother would love it.

Always trust a child's instinct. My son received it today for his birthday and it kept both of the kids busy for HOURS. They didn't want to go to bed because they were still playing with the ship. Also, my 10.5-year-old daughter did most of the set up. She was able to follow the instructions without a hitch; I know younger children would not have the attention span and fine motor skills to do all of the constructing.

This is my son's first Playmobil set and it is a winner. He's already perusing the catalog to see what other pirate sets he wants!

PIRATE SHIP
THIS TOY IS CLASSIC! I FIRST GOT THIS SHIP WHEN I WAS 9. I'M 28 NOW, AND WOULD HAVE JUST AS MUCH FUN WITH IT NOW AS I DID THEN!! I PLAN ON BUILDING AND ENTIRE PIRATE KINGDOM VERY SOON. PLAYMOBILE IS TOPS IN MY BOOK. I WOULDNT REALLY RECOMMEND IT FOR KIDS, THOUGH, THEY MIGHT GET A CANNON BALL JAMMED UP THEIR NOSE OR SUMPTHIN'!!

Fragile Fun
Playmobil toys are wonderful, no question, but the more elaborate they are, the more problematic. This ship is gorgeous and has great detail, including real string rigging. This toy took forever to assemble, especially that pesky rigging, with the usually excellent insrtuctions falling short. After about a day of playing, my two boys had dismantled the ship enough that it wasn't fun anymore, and after three days I could no longer get all the parts back together. It is now a somewhat expensive box filler. The other Playmobil Pirate sets are still much loved, and have been conscripted on the nearly invincible Good Ship Fisher-Price.

A fun, imaginative toy.
My son has played with this toy constantly since he received it a month ago. This is a quality toy with amazing detail! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great 1st helmet
We just bought our 2 year old daughter her first tricycle, radio flyer 10 inch easier to pedal than the plastic ones.

This helmet is comfortale wih the padding inserts easy to clean and great design. I trust the make and have read through different safety magazines.

This helmet is a great value and will last until she grows out of it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Liked it a lot!
We bought this toy for our 2 year old son and he loved it to begin with...the fun kind of wained after a few weeks of use so we went out and bought a new Trax Pack for it and he loves it again. It is like getting an entire new toy for him...and not an expensive one either for what you get! ... Read more