Reviews (15)

How can I say this....
If you dont even like Starwars this a must have. I play with GI joes but since I got this Anakin thats changed

THE ABSOLUTE BEST STAR WARS TOY EVER
I bought this toy for my son and he absolutely loves it.All of his toys seem to get a one or two day play/attention lifespan from him which is pretty normal for most young kids.But this toy has yet to fall from grace.It's played with almost all day, everyday.

The attention to detail is great and it has amazing posing possibilities.It's a versatile toy if you have some of the Original Trilogy figures... no need to buy a Darth since this Anakin doll can be transformed into the evil Lord Vader.If only Hasbro and Lucas would issue a similar figure for Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in which he could transform into Darth Sidious.

The only draw back to this toy -- AND THIS IS A BIG ONE -- is that the top of the helmet doesn't secure to top of the Anakin/Vader head and constantly falls off during play.And of course, as mentioned in other reviews on this page... those darned boots (for both the Anakin and the Darth costumes) are almost impossible to get back on once taken off.

asombroso muñeco de coleccion
este juguete es perfecto para los fans de estr wars como yo solamente de coleccion porque se transforma en darth vader y es muy bueno

The best toy in the world no galaxy no any solarsystym
ONLY ONE WORD CAN DESCRIBE THIS TOY THE BBBBEEEESSSTTTT!!! IN EVREY GALAXY

Great figure for Star Wars fans!
Previously I got him as part of the Sith Lords 2-pack from Hasbro. The head sculpt on that was the older Anakin and the suit doesn't come off (Not that you can't try).

With this, we get a young Anakin head sculpt, additional crispy head and removable clothing. That in itself is worth the purchase. However, my qualms about this is due to the fact that the Vader suit is the exact SAME version as the one included in the Sith 2-pack. Good thing? Not really. The problem with both Vader suits is the HELMET! Its too big and extended too far towards the back. Definitely something to consider if you are an avid collecter of Darth Vader figures.

Other than that, its actually one of the better 12" figures from Hasbro besides Ultimate Jango Fett. Quality is ok and its very playable with interchangable clothing. If you really want a good Vader, then I recommend the upcoming Medicom Darth Vader, though very pricey. With ample Vader figures coming out, this one has to be a MUST GET despite its poorly scaled helmet.

... Read more

Reviews (21)

Baby Loves These Blocks!
Our 9 month old baby has been playing with these for the past 5 months. The colors are bright, and the textures are varied - he loves putting them in his mouth. He especially loves the yellow one with a quacking duck and will look around for it if he can't see it. They're nice and soft, so when he knocks them down if they're stacked he won't get hurt. I was pleased to see that they even have them at his day care.

So much fun!
My daughter is 4 months old and she just loves these! When I took them out of the box she got so excited. They are easy for her to hold and to eat! They are bright and each one does something. The green one vibrates, the yellow one quacks and has a mirror, and the blue and red ones have bells inside. They are soft and light, so they are perfect for babies learning how to hold toys. I highly recomend these blocks!

AWESOME TOY - GREAT LANGUAGE TOOL TOO!
Since my son was a week old we've been using these blocks every day. His favorite is the "quack quack quack" sound - his eyes get so big! They are a great source of entertainment and teach baby at the same time.
They are also a great way for baby to learn to reach with both hands and bring a toy up to his mouth - they are just the perfect size and so soft.
My husband and I are teaching our son both English and Afrikaans. Talking about the colors, animals, fruits and textures in two languages is a great tool for bilingual babies!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

So cute
This blocks are so cute! They do all different things. My son loves to play with them & we have also given them as gifs. It's a wonderful toy.

Cute, soft, fun!
I bought these when my daughter was 4 months old - at the store I pulled the frog's leg and she started giggling. Who could resist? There's a quacking duck, vibrating frog, mirror under a sunny flap and jingling blocks. The six sides have different textures, and our daughter loves the feel of the soft side on her cheek. The duck keeps her entertained during diaper changes, and she loves to chew on the mirror flap. I stack the blocks for her to knock down with glee. They're soft so she can throw them, chew on them, no worries. At this point she can't pull the frog leg or make the duck quack, but that's probably what gives these toys a long life. We love these blocks! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Could not have given my 4 year old a better birthday gift!!!
My husband and I bought this jeep for our "future firefighter" for his 4th birthday. He had been asking for it for over 6 months! He cruises around the yard putting out "fires" and giving the dog a blast of cool water. He loves this jeep! He entertains himself for hours. He could not have been more surprised or happy with his jeep! He drives around really well. We already have one jeep but this one was a fire rescue jeep which makes it twice a nice! Great toy!

Great Buy!
I just bought this for my son's 2nd Birthday. I also have a 5 year old. They both just love it. Very easy to handle. Lots of fun! It goes through our grass and bumpy ground really easy. It's even better then the dum buggy my other son had. I would highly recommend this. Good buy for the money.

Watching your kids "drive" like mom & dad: priceless!
We wore out a 2nd hand Barbie Jeep so this one was a replacement, but it's 1000x better - faster and more room. I would pay the $20 to have it assembled next time tho! Considering buying a 2nd battery since they need 12h recharges. 5 stars on quality and value; they never go on sale so don't wait!

Glad I chose this over the gator
Thought long and hard about this and Peg's John Deere Gator. Read the bad reviews on the Gator shift, liked everything else about it. Went to the story and the Gator Shift seemed flimsy. A Power Wheels jeep was the store's play model. Shifter was intact and seemed strong.

Ended up buying the Fire Rescue Jeep for my 3yr old son. He loves it! Took him 1-2 hrs to understand how to steer & use reverse, no drives out of jams. Plays hard in it daily. We have various terrain, and no pavement, no problems with traction. Good purchase. Easy to take the battery out and charge it in the house.

A child's Dream Toy
We got the Power Wheels Fire Rescue Jeep yesterday for my son's birthday. He absolutely adores this jeep and dreams about it at night. To be safe he is only allowed to drive it in the backyard. I only have positive comments about this toy except for one thing. It is a rear wheel drive and sometimes even on the slighest incline or bend, the back wheel spins and the jeep does not have much traction. My son is only 3 years old and does not weigh much. I am hoping that as he grows and gains more weight, the back wheels will get better traction.
Yes the Water Canon and the Shovel is a great hit, though instead of spraying the lawn he sprays us, brrr. ... Read more

Editorial Review

There's lots to see, hear, and do with this toy that willfoster the developmental skills of a toddler. When little ones push oneof the five plastic balls through the hole at the top of this tower,lights flash and music plays. From there the ball travels down a spiralpath all the way to the bottom--unless your toddler chooses to redirectit with the dial on the side of the ramp. Some babies will simply enjoywatching the ball swirl down the ramp. But as babies get a bitolder, they will also be able to observe and anticipate the actionof the balls and realize that their actions have an effect onwhere the balls go. How cool is that? For a toddler, very cool! Onedrawback to this toy is that it probably isn't sturdy enough or heavyenough for babies or toddlers to use it to pull themselves from asitting to a standing position, though the "Pull-up" portion of thename implies that's possible. There's plenty more to do with this toy,so that is only a minor consideration. ... Read more

Reviews (591)

My daughter's Favorite of all time
I bought this for my daughter when she was 8 months old and she showed no interest in it at all. When she was 9 months she loved to pull herself up and hit the button to hear the music. When she was 10 months old she loved to stand by it and push the balls in, Now at 11 months it is one of the few toys she plays with for more than 10 min. She chases the balls around and even has figured out the knob on the side that changes the directions. She dances to the music and looks for the balls to come out. KEEPS HER ATTENTION! The only thing was it did tip over when she first started using it and she would hit her head on the floor but a toy I almost took back has been one of the best toys yet. She has learned how to use her hand eye cordination and she has learned to stand and dance. I would recommend it to anyone but keep and eye on the smaller children and hold the base down so they don't get hurt;)

Its ok
My son got this for christmas last year and He plays with it about every other day. I think its a cute toy but not a must have, there are better toys out there.

A must have your child will love!!
I bought this product when my child was 7 mths. old and she learned very quickly to pull up on it, it is very sturdy. She is now 9 mths. old and is always playing with it and she weighs 20 lbs. and it holds her up just fine it has never tipped over with her. This was a very good investment. Putting it together was a little complicated but as far as that I would recommend it. Your child will absolutely love it!!!

THE ORIGINAL BALL BLAST
wHERE CAN i FIND THE BALL BLAST WITH THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE, THAT THE BALL GOES THRU. i BOUGHT THE OTHER ONE AND WAS VERY DISSAPPOINTED???

Truly a "must have"
My son was only 6 months old when he received this the "ball blast," it was a Christmas gift for him from friends of ours. My husband put it together and we left it out in the living. Our son when right over to it and quickly learned he could pull himself up by using the toy for support, he was walking by 9 months. My husband and I believe it was because of this toy.
Our son loves playing with the balls on their own AND together with the "blaster", he even tries to put other toys (blocks) down the shoots. My son is now 13 months old and he STILL plays with the Ball Blast everyday, he LOVES it! In our opinion, EVERY child should have one of these. This toy has now become our new gift of choice for our friends and family. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent!! Excellent!!
Defenitly looks like the real one, the movements of the face are great, my little daughter(2 year old) she thinks that is real and start talk to it.
This toy is defenitly a keeper, you should have one....
and the force be with you.

the best star wrs toy by far
this is an awesome star wars toy i like the storytelling part the best so far i have listend to episode 4,and 5. 1 problem though it is not a good toy for kids under the age of 7 or 8 years old although he speaks very broken english like another reviewer said somebody around 10 years or older should be able to understand like me. in wisdom yoda answers your yes or no questions although you should know he has no brain of course so he answers your questions randomly. once i asked him yoda should i have bought you he said no than i asked him is your name yoda he said no to that one to. on trivia he asks you easy questions
that might give a 4 year old a hard time but not me well i had
better get going because my brothers are bothering me goodbye.

interactive storytelling jedi master
coooo-ooool! this toy says over 500 phrases,moves its computer animotronic arms to push,and actually opens its mouth!! it has stories,not buisness, questions, not buisness,and activities galore! this computer animotronic robot has a "yes" and"no" button on its hands, that`s all i want to tell you for today.
your friend, evan

The Force Is Strong With This One
I was surprised to see how lifelike, detailed, and animated Call Upon Yoda is.Yoda will occasionally nod his head, blink, move his arms, and even wiggle his ears while speaking to you.With the exception of Story mode, Yoda is very entertaining and fun to interact with.The Trivia and Answer Question modes are fun and easy to navigate through by pressing Yoda's left hand for "no" and right hand for "yes."

I do, however, have a few minor complaints.Because Yoda's eyes never really fully open, it appears as if he is always sleepy and staring at the ground.Also, the motors that move Yoda's head and arms are rather loud and detract from his realism.Finally, in Story mode, Yoda speaks with such "broken" english that the stories are very difficult to understand and not enjoyable to listen to.

All in all, this little guy is pretty cool and he looks great standing on a desk or shelf.I would recommend Call Upon Yoda to any Star Wars fan young or old.

It's fun to pla... er ... consult with
I was originally thinking of just getting the "Ask Yoda" version of the toy, but I found that this version has the "Ask Yoda" feature, PLUS 4 other interactions.It's too cool to NOT buy one.

I think an option to reprogram the sayings by sending new sayings to it would be even cooler.I want my Yoda to combine the wisdom of Billy Bob Thornton and throw out lines from "Sling Blade" for those 'special' occasions (maybe if I double click his hand...)

Anyway, if you're getting an exective desk toy, you might consider the simpler "Ask Yoda".If you're getting a toy for someone under 20, get this one.And if you work for an executive under 20, quick shopping amazon and get back to work :-)

The only drawback of the new version is that it takes C size batteries, not the more universal 'AA' battery. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Young children have a seemingly infinite capacity for exploration, investigating everything thoroughly and relentlessly as they try to learn about their world. While this Fisher-Price set is not likely to fully satisfy that curiosity, nothing ever will, it is likely to keep young kids quite busy and occupied. Eight blocks are included in the set, the clear cubes found in many modern Fisher-Price sets, and they are the key ingredients in the five interactive sides of the cube. There are options to stack the cubes up on a rack and then release them to tumble down with a turn of a lever, put them though holes to initiate perky sounds and flashing lights, and plenty of other fun games that should delight toddlers. Inside the block is room for up to 30 Fisher-Price blocks. There is some cause and effect teaching going on here but, as with all good educational toys, toddlers are not likely to think much about the learning; theyre too busy having fun. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Editorial Review

This interactive learning toy will grow along with your infant. There are two modes: one for infants and "lie-down" play and the other for older babies and "sitting-up" play. Lie-down play consists of a musical mode and a learning mode. In learning mode your baby can listen to the "Hello World Song" sung in five languages while watching the bright primary colors of the motorized mobile whirling away. In music mode your baby will hear over 10 minutes of music from around the world. For sitting-up play, detach the mobile and your child will be ready for some of the following hands-on learning activities: spin the world ball to hear "hello" in five languages, play peek-a-boo with the mirror, spin the animal roller to hear animal names, colors, and counting. These same buttons will play songs in the music mode, the most impressive of which was the world vocal chorus we heard when we opened the mirror. Thoughtful and engaging, this toy should hold your child's interest for a long time. Requires four "AA" batteries (not included). --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (69)

My baby LOVES this!
This learning gym is awesome! I love that it's versatile enough so my baby can use it now, at 3 months, and continue to use it as he grows and learns to sit up. My son is a cranky baby because he has acid reflux and this is one of the few "toys" he has that he thoroughly enjoys!! He spends lots of time on the floor kicking his legs and arms about, chatting and smiling away at the blinking lights. He loves the music and really enjoys watching the spinning globe. I've read reviews of this toy with parents complaining that it's no good for an infant because they can't reach the buttons and such, but if you just invest the time in your child and help them play with it (spin the globe for them, push the buttons, etc) you will see their little faces light up with pure joy. I highly recommend this product!!!

A new mom
This toy was mildly entertaining for my daughter when she was about two-three months old. She was interested in the spinning mobile. Now that she can sit up independently, she really enjoies it. There are many buttons to push and flaps to roll and open. I can expect her to play with the LeapFrog gym for 10 to 15 minutes at a stretch. For a six month old, I would say that is an incredible feat! It keeps her busy just long enough for me to switch the laundry or make a quick phone call. The toy automatically stops after a few minutes of being idle.

Fabulous Learning Toy!
I give the Learning Gym 4 1/2 stars! I may be a bit prejudiced (I love LeapFrog products) but my son adores this gym. In the beginning he was content to listen to the songs and watch the mobile. He cracks up laughing whenever we sing the "Hello!" song to him. As a bonus, his big sister also enjoys sitting with him, playing and singing along. It's given them another way to bond. As he's grown, the mobile encouraged him to reach and excerise those tummy muscles. Now that he's sitting up it's as if he has a new toy since you change the learning mode. The only reason I didn't give the product 5 stars is because if you have a very active baby this product may not hold their attention for as long as you'd like. However, we made sure to purchase an activity gym for that purpose.

NOT FOR NEWBORNS!
My son wasn't to excited about this just lying under it. He loves it now that hes learning to sit up though. I would definately recommend it if your baby is sitting up! GREAT BUY :)

We like it but...
I bought this when I was pregnant with my first baby and couldn't wait to use it once my son arrived and was willing and able to play with it. It was useless for us until he could sit up on his own though. Even though it adjusts and is supposed to accomodate younger babies too, my son would get frustrated within seconds of not being able to touch anything before he was able to sit up. I pushed, pulled and did all the 'mechanics' for him but he really wasn't interested. So I didn't push it on him. At about 4 months old my son was starting to sit up (with help) and to encourage him I pulled this toy back out and adjusted it to the sitting position and used a boppy to support my son. YOU DO HAVE TO PLAY WITH YOUR BABY SO YOU CAN SUPERVISE! It's not a babysitter, at least not until your child has very good head and upper body strength because they can and probably will bump their little head on it. My son did but he absolutley LOVES it! He is now 5.5 months old and still loves it. He can sit all on his own now (working on crawling) and he really enjoys pushing, pulling and playing with this toy now that he is able. I hope this helps, I WOULD RECOMMEND PURCHASING THIS TOY! I love the idea of introducing different cultures to my baby through music, language and playing. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Toy!
We just got the bear yesterday in the mail and my daughter LOVES IT!I had to wash it already last night!We had to go to the Dr. this morning and the bear kept her very entertained in the car and while we waited in the office.Now that is GOOD since she is 3 yrs and very active.I also went and bought washable markers because like another person said it only comes w/2 markers.Other than that its a pretty good toy!

Neat Idea!
My 3-year-old had been seeing this commercial and since she had some b-day money, she got a Doodle Bear.She picked out the pink one!They are all very cute in color.Have just gotten it, but have to say love the idea of doodling on this bear!She loves to draw and is quite the little artist!Great pasttime and is fun for me too because I get to draw with her.Not sure on durability as this little bear is getting her first trip to the washer tomorrow!!My only complaint so far is the markers.Only comes with 2 colors for the markers (green & purple with ours) and 2 stamp ends (orange sun and blue star), which are very faint and hard to see.The lids on the markers are very hard for my 3-year-old to remove by herself or to put on by herself, as they snap very tightly.Very frustrating for her to do by herself, as she tries to be independent a little too much!! I see from some others though that the company has said that other washable markers will work on the bear, so will have to try this out.Still think an assortment of colors with the markers would be more helpful and to make the quality of the stamps better and brighter, especially for the price range of these bears $15-$17.But all in all a great bear for lots of fun, especially if your child loves to draw and create!

doodle fun
This toy is a great idea, it is fun, i love drawing so this is cool because im always running out of paper but with the doodle bear you just wash it then you can draw alover again, it is also helpfull with school work because if you are learning a word you can practise writing it on the bear then when you can write it propally you can write it in your school book, also because the pens are washable markers you don't have to worry if you get the pen on you also if the pens run out you can bie some more, also the bear is soft and cuddely.

hi
i think this toy is reallycool
i finnally found a way to keep my kid sister entertained
i'd like to thank the person who came ^ with this idea it saved my life i was in a car crash and i was using it then i could have broken my neck but it stoped the crash

Markers
I emailed the company about the marker issue and they informed me that any of the washable markers on the market will work on the bears. I hope that helps someone make their decision. It sure helped me. The company replied to my email within hours. Very good customer service! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This durable case is designed for toting the popular Leapster around on car trips, plane rides, or anywhere kids might travel. It holds up to six Leapster cartridges in a rear pouch and has room for the Leapster itself in the main zippered compartment, which sports a soft fleece lining. The case is relatively lightweight and doesn't feature the hard shell that some might like for protecting the Leapster but the soft plastic covering should provide protection for most accidental knocking around. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (34)

The Backpack is much better
Overall, I think LeapFrog is the best source for kids' game-type learning. The kids think they are playing, but we all know they are learning along the way. We were looking for a safe way to carry around my daughter's Leapster when we found the GameBoy backpack, and the backpack is a much better find than the Leapster case. Believe me -- this is the ONLY time I am not recommending a LeapFrog product, but rather am in favor of something else. The backpack fits tightly at first, but stretches just enough that my daughter can now easily zip and unzip the game area herself. There is quite a bit of storage for games (she has 5 now and there is still room for more...) Before you buy the Leapster case, try out the GameBoy backpack.

PREFER the GBA backpack
I looked at this in the store. I was afraid my daughter would drop her Leapster on the floor while she was trying to unzip it. Also, it seemed a bit expensive for what it was or wasn't; I went hunting for a backpack instead. I found the GBA BACKPACK for the Gameboy; IT IS GREAT!!! It is a small backpack with three zippered compartments. Although it is made for the Gameboy, the Leapster fits TIGHTLY in the large compartment, which my four-year-old can zip up without problem. The middle compartment is great for cartridges or headphones. The front pocket has a mesh net inside that keeps more games in place. We also bought some inexpensive Koss folding headphones, which fit nicely in this front compartment too. It is great for my daughter who loves to carry around the small backpack. I think the padding keeps the Leapster fairly secure. Check out the GBA BACKPACK instead--great design and color options (except no pink)!

not what it appears
I too was dissapointed about this case although we love the leapster. I purchased the case for a road trip and thought it was a hard plastic. I bought it online with a very poor discription from leapster's website. The extra cartridge storage isn't as secure as I feel it needs to be.

I thought this was great!!!
My son got his Leapster for Christmas and brings it everywhere. Until now we were keeping his cartridges in a sandwich bag. This case is great - it protects the unit itself and has a pocket to keep the games. I think that it does a great job of keeping everything all together especially when the Leapster is on the go with us! I know some are disappointed that the case isn't hard plastic, but I think that for the price it's great (and some protection is better than no protection and at least the games aren't just lying around everywhere). Definately a must have if your child has the Leapster!!!!

Better Option than Gameboy
We bought a Leapster for our 4 year old and he LOVES it. We've taken it on long road trips, to the store, to restaurants (a welcome diversion while waiting to be seated) and he never gets tired of it. He thinks he has a handheld video game just like his older cousins, but he's learning his letters and numbers, money, phonics, math . . . the list goes on. Leave it to LeapFrog to come out with an educational video game that can hold the attention of a young child for hours at a time. I just hope that they come out with more titles soon. This is something I can see my son (and later, his little sister) using for years. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Good First Dollhouse
I like this product as a little girls first dollhouse. My daughter has played with it several times over the last year. We have added to her set by getting her the Garage for all of her cars and she plays with that alot, too. When I was a little girl, I played with my Little People Dollhouse for hours at a time and now watching my daughter play with her interactive sounds dollhouse is an enjoyable experience. I recommend this product to parents.

Love It!
My daughters absolutley love this little doll house. My 3 1/2 year old will play with it for a very long time. My 21 month old also enjoys moving the little people in and out the door and making the phone "ring" and the other sounds go. All the Little People toys have been a big hit in our house.

great for little ones
Any toy which sparks the imagination and encourages role play is educational. Education is not all ABC's.
This is a great toy all around and is very durable. My girls (2 years old) love it and play with it every day.

One HUGE Problem...
My mom bought this toy for my one year old daughter, and although I agree with the other reviewers that this toy is fun and the sounds that it makes are really cool, I do see a big flaw that Fisher Price must correct. WHY is the mom of the house holding a baby bottle and has a burp cloth over her shoulder and the dad has a permanent cell phone in his hand?!?!?!!? I am not a feminist by any stretch of the imagination but I think it is just stupid that the designers of this toy felt the need to imprint a stereotype on the little people characters! Why isn't the DAD holding a bottle? Is he too busy on the phone with his clients to help with the baby? What happens when mom goes back to work and she has a burp cloth stuck on her shoulder? It might be hard to trade stocks on Wall Street when you have a bottle permanently affixed to your hand. Why have them holding anything? I think that if I was a kid, I would be bummed that these characters are forever stuck inhabiting the stereotypic roles that we are so trying to dispel!

Nothing to rave about!
Although I'm a great fan of Little People toys, this is our least favorite one. It doesn't have the educational value that the farm and the zoo have. It's a cute toy and hopefully my daughter will play with it more as she gets older (she's 15 months). She tends to become bored with this toy, unlike the farm and the zoo. This set only comes with a mother, a father, and a baby, along with some furniture and accessories. The phone rings, the toilet flushes, the popcorn pops, etc. but it doesn't make up for general lack of play value. I recommend this toy if you already have the other Little People toys and you want to add to your collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

IlluStory is a multi-award winning kit that lets you write and illustrate your very own professionally typeset, hardbound book! This kit includes markers and special book pages for creating an original story that is mailed to the publisher in the postpaid envelope provided. Each book features up to 12 pages with 20 typeset words, and includes a Title page, Dedication page and a special "About-the-Author" page. The author's name, book title and illustration are laminated onto the cover. You have your choice of six cover colors to choose from. Additional reproductions and rush service are optional. The IlluStory kit now offers an Internet production option that includes online drawing tools and allows for more words per page, a choice of font styles and colors, and faster delivery times at no extra cost. IlluStory has won many prestigious awards such as the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award; Dr. Toy Best Toy Award; Parents' Choice Classic Award and the Family Life's Best Learning Toy Award. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A fun and educational gift!
As a teacher, I had to buy this gift for my seven-year-old niece. She loved making her own book, and the finished product that they send you is very professional looking, like a book that you would purchase from a store. They even included some tips and activities to help children write their stories, including diagrams for pre-planning and brainstorming. My niece loves her book and shows it off to everyone - she even took it to school and got to read it at storytime. This is a great educational activity that really gets children to be creative, and they love it. Buy it for all of your favorite kids!

This is fabulous!!
My daughter received this as a gift. She LOVED creating her story. We had lots of fun together with the planning and the layout and she really enjoyed being able to express her creativity so freely. When the final product, a hardbound copy of her story arrived, she was so excited. Now we read her story often and it is so neat to know that the words and illustrations are her own. We also bought this as a gift for my friend's son (his sixth birthday) and he loved it as well. My daughter recently asked me if we could get another kit so she can make another story. I definitely will get this for her again. It is a wonderful gift and also a great keepsake for years to come.

The Perfect Gift
This is one of the greatest gifts my 5 year old daughter ever received. It kept her occupied for hours, not to mention the days when she likes to go back and read it. It was so interesting, that my 7 year old nephew helped her create the book. They drew a line down the middle of each page so they each had a side. Then they just created their masterpiece-no arguing-just sharing and imagining together. I now give this as a gift to anyone around the ages of 5-7 years.

Inspiring for Young Authors
We bought this for my son, who loves to write books of his own. When he received the finished version of this book, he was so proud and wanted to write more books. The finished product makes a great gift for grandparents and other loved ones. It also inspires a love of reading and writing in children. What a wonderful do-it-yourself project for children!!!

A fabulous idea!
I bought this for my 8 year old niece last Christmas. It was a HUGE hit with her and everyone who has come in contact with her finished masterpiece. Everyone wants to know where I got it. This really helped my niece become more sure of herself and she now loves to write! ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Great for in the car too!
I bought this versatile (and fairly inexpensive) little mirror, not for in the crib, but for in the car and it works great! I was facing a 500 mile drive, alone with a 4 year old and a 2.5 month old who hated the car. Literally screamed every time (for the whole time) we were in it. I was desparately browsing through the toy store and came across this. I attached it to the head rest posts with the crib ties and it sits at just the right angle for my little one to see. I'm not sure whether she likes the patterns or seeing herself but she clearly loves the mirror. We made the trip (both wasy) with a bare minimum of crying. Love it, love it, love it. Did I mention that I love it?!

My daughter LOVED this!!
When my daughter was a few weeks old, my husband and I went to the store to get her a mirror, because we'd read that babies like to look at faces. We chose this one because of the fact that it can either tie to the side of the crib or fold out to stand upright on the floor. The toys were also a big factor in the sell, as they meant that she could keep playing with the mirror when she wasn't content to just stare at it anymore.
We took it home, and she loved it! We laid her on the floor and set it up next to her, and she stared at her reflection and reached for the baby and was pretty happy for quite a while, just looking at herself. As she got older and discovered her hands, she started playing with the toys, the bird being her favorite. It has a bell in it, so she'd shake it to hear the bird.
Now that she's 9 months old, she still loves it. The mirror hangs in her crib now, and when she wakes up in the morning, she talks to her reflection. This was definitely a good buy and I would (and have!) refer it to anyone.

My daughter loves this mirror
We bought this for our daughter when she was around 3-4 weeks. She would just stare at this mirror forever. The colors really keep her attention, and she loves to see a pretty baby looking back at her. There was fingerprints on the mirror within a couple of weeks already. She started "talking" to herself a lot more when we got this mirror. The first time she laughed was at the ladybug, when we spun it. She's just over 4 months now, and still loves to look at it. She rolls over just to get to it. The only bad thing (which isn't really all that bad) is that it tips so easily. It's a good toy, and a good price.

Loves It!
My daughter absolutely loves this mirror. I bought it when she was still sleeping in her bassinette and so put it next to her changing table. She stares at it constantly while I'm changing her diapers and grabs for all the bright colors. Now that it is hanging in her crib, she still loves to look at the baby in the mirror just as much as she did before.

My son's favorite!
My son can spend an entire hour playing with this toy. He just LOVES it. He talks to himself in the mirror, smacks the little ball round, and tries to pull off everything else. It's nice because you can take it out of the crib and stand it up on the floor with the baby too. When folded out, it's in a triangle so if the baby is laying in the crib, he can see himself. I put a photo of his dad and I on the other side, and I notice the baby likes to lift up the toy to look at it. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Throw away the Instructions....
My husband and I got this swingset for our 5 year old daughter and 4 year old son. The instructions are TERRIBLE and don't help at all! My husband spent 3 hours putting it together before he finally gave up using the instructions and put it together by looking at the picture. He had the whole frame together and had to take it all apart twice because the instructions were not a help at all. It took 5 1/2 hours to finally get it all together. Once together, the kids enjoyed it but they do get bored pretty quick with it. It seems to be holding up pretty good, but if your children are like mine and get bored easily, I would recommend a bigger swingset with more to do.

So far, no real complaints
We bought this swingset a couple of weeks ago, on sale, and finally got around to putting it together this weekend. I was anticipating problems, after reading the other reviews, but we had all the necessary parts and hardware, and other than the hard to follow directions, the set went together pretty smoothly.

My 3 year old loves the slide and swing, and we put up an infant swing for my 10 months old and she loves that as well.

Instead of trying to put in anchors as the directions state, we just sunk the entire thing in concrete in the ground about a foot deep. That is holding up well, even with both kids swinging at one time.

All in all, we're happy with the purchase.

Putting it together
Well, I've read all of the reviews and I gave it a whirl.This set comes with the WORST set of installation directions I have ever seen in my life!It is a literal photocopy included in the box.I downloaded a copy to my computer so that I could get a better copy and be able to see some of the illustrations.The directions breeze through set up not reminding you to put the arm for the slide on the right and the see-saw on the left rear.So, I had to take it apart- twice.All in all, it is what it is.It's a metal swing set.My daughter loves her swing and slide.She is learning what the other pieces are and how to ride on a "big girl" swing.The only downfall is that it doesn't come with anchors for the ground and I am having a hard time finding them.

Happy with swingset
I read all the reviews and warned my husband of possible problems before we bought it. My husband drilled his own holes in the piece with wrong placement holes to save us time.Plus to prevent rusting he painted each piece with epoxy paint before putting the swingset together.(extra two hours but well worth it)

Also ToysRUs gave us a form to complete and mail, email or fax into the company as they are aware of the part with the wrong placement holes and will send a new one to you immediately.I faxed paper and got the part in eight days. As mentioned before we had all ready drilled our own holes but we are saving the repalcment piece for possible problems in the future.

The grandchildren love the swingset and we are happy we had read the reviews so we could bypass any possible problems.The epoxy paint has held up and so far no rust.

Great swingset, great price
We purchased this swingset for our two year old and seven month old.I bought a baby swing and used that and my two year old uses the swing that came with the set.Although this set took eight hours and a whole case of beer to put together, it's worth the money.It is well made and all the pieces were there.The directions were bad, though, which made the assembly a little rough.Regardless, I would buy it again!Everyday my son begs to go outside and play!It is safe and sturdy.I had to write this because of all the unfair reviews.This isn't a bad swingset, I think perhaps these customers just had bad experiences, and that can happen to anyone. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Fully equipped for looting and plundering across the high seas, this pirate ship sports a massive wooden hull powered forward by six sails, three adorned with skulls and crossbones. Triple-firing cannons lay above and below deck, while a sword-wielding captain commands two crew members. A parrot can rest atop the captain's shoulder. There's also a working wench for hauling up all that misbegotten treasure and a removable dinghy for one-off raids. Other elements include a deployable anchor, a walking plank, and a yellow guard rail that circles the deck. The boat measures over 2 feet long once assembled, and can be put together in several ways, outlined in the accompanying booklet. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (8)

the raccoon in boston
We got the pool and thought it was a great value until a raccoon jumped on it and clawed the whole tube up. We never had trouble with them until the pool came and within 2 days the pool was gone. It deflated and water poured all over my yard twice. I called the intex to let them know but i don't think they understood. I do think the pool is a great value but it dosen't hold up to the durabiaty as a metal framed pool.For a hundred dollars more i think the metal one is the way to go. Now my 3 year old is stuck without a pool.

My experience
We had a 24'x48" pool and it was more difficult than a permanent pool, or the 18'x48" intex pool to keep clean. Once set up it wasn't 48"deep at its fullest either. We went and purchased a 18'x48" that has an automatic skimmer and sprayer with it and it is WONDERFUL. Infact it has became a "fashion statement" in our town everyone wants one. I think in time you will find the 24'x48" pools to suck. You get more for your money you might say by getting the 18'x48" pool. Not always is biggest better.

Happiest kid on the block!!
Most difficult time leveling yard. Very pleased with the overall result. Our 9 year old is now the happiest kid on the block! Depth/size great for my backyard. Will keep for 2-3 years and maybe move to a permanent pool. Hope it last, as it does seem very durable. Looking forward to a long weekend to really try it out!! I don't believe anyone believes these things can be ready in "30 minutes" (even without leveling yard). Still a great buy and will recommend to friends and family.

Awesome
My sister bought this pool last year and we have since had to relocate it from the original spot was not easy to move by yourself but well worth it my dogs and kids have played hard with this and it is still like new now holes or punctures even with 6 dogs and three kids I would absolutley by another again this SIZE because you have more than enough room to get out of the way of rambunctious kids and enjoy the sun. A++++ for this product as easy to put up as stated 1-2-3 thank you

This pool is huge!
We love this pool. It's great for all ages - it accommodates everbody, from our three year old daughter to our teenagers and a couple dozen of their closest friends (along with assorted inflatable toys, loungers, balls, etc.) Set up is fairly easy, but taking it down for the winter is a major ordeal. It can make for a very bad day as the pool is REALLY heavy, awkward, and unwieldy to deal with. Maintenance is not quite as simple as for other types of pools as you can't use most automatic pool cleaning systems and vacuums. The ladder is a little flimsy, and the cover is more trouble than it's worth. Overall, however, we've been delighted with the pool and it's been worth every penny. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

What a fantastic experience!
Raising butterflies with the Butterfly Pavilion was an experience that my kids and I will never forget. I'm a single parent trying to raise two young kids on my own. I'm busy and don't have much time to take them outside to experience nature. I wanted to give them something that would nurture their respect of nature. Boy did I pick the right item. We mailed our free certificate and about 10 days later, we received our caterpillars. Within about 7 days, they changed into chrysalides. We waited about a week, then suddenly, the butterflies started hatching. In fact, we got to see 4 of them come out within about 30 minutes of each other. It was the most fantastic experience. We kept the butterflies inside the netted habitat for about 5 days, then released them outside. My little 4-year-old girl cried as she had to free her "butterfries", but understood why it was important to do so. We'll never forget this experience and highly recommend the Butterfly Pavilion to everyone.

THE best summer project!!!
The kids have never been so excited about what will happen next. We couldn't wait for the caterpillars to come in the mail...counting the days. They all (10) did what they were supposed to do: eating, growing, spinning web, hanging. One did not turn into a chrysalis, and one chrysalis did not hatch, but we had 8 butterflies. They are easy to care for. They even lay eggs and the eggs hatch into tiny caterpillers. We haven't past the 2nd set caterpillar stage yet, but are hoping...

FUN, EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING
I AM VERY HAPPY TO SAY THE LEAST. WE GOT THE CATERPILLARS A WEEK AFTER MAILING OUT THE CERTIFICATE. THEY TURNED INTO CHYSALIDES ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER AND IN A WEEK AND A HALF OUR 1ST BUTTERFLY "PENNY" EMERGED. MY 5 YR OLD WAS EXCITED AND ANXIOUS TO SEE HER OTHER BUTTERFLIES. BY THE NEXT DAY THEY WERE ALL OUT. MY 1 YR OLD GOES CRAZY SEEING THEM FLY. WE JUST REALEASED THEM TODAY AND ONE FLEW ON KAELA'S SHOULDER AND SHE WAS DELIGHTED THAT "PENNY" AS SHE SAYS KISSED HER GOODBYE. WE WERE SAD TO HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE BUT LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM AROUND. WE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT WE ARE ORDERING MORE CATERPILLARS. I MUST SAY THAT IT IS SUPER EDUCATIONAL. MY DAUGHTER LEARNED ALOT FROM THE STAGES THEY GO THROUGH TO THE AMOUNT OF EYES THEY HAVE, HOW LONG THEY LIVE,HOW THEY BREATHE...ETC. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERYONE. ESPECIALLY SINCE NOT ONLY DO YOU EXPOSE YOUR KIDS TO NATURE BUT YOU CAN REUSE THE HABITAT OVER & OVER AGAIN. MY CHILDREN LOVED IT AND SO WILL YOURS.

Spendid
Spendid!! Simply, spendid!! Creative,educational-fun!!
(Coin a new word: Educational-fun!!!) As well as affordable
and very cleve!! Good show!!

I enjoyed this as much as my son!!
Both of us being 'nature buffs', my 6 year old son and I had a wonderful time with this.
We sent away for our catarpillars (every day he would say, 'have they come in yet'?) and when they arrived, put them in the habitat.

When I was a little girl, I caught a bunch of catarpillars, put them in a shoebox, with grass, leaves and whatever else I thought they might eat. I punched holes in the shoe box lid and then covered the box, and basically forgot about it until a few days or so, opened it and saw my catarpillars had made cocoons. Before long, they were moths and I remember how excited I was to see them!

With this habitat, you get to WATCH the whole process of metamorphosis and it is truly amazing AND educational!! When they finally transformed into butterflies, my son was so thrilled, altho a little saddened when we had to set them free.

I'm thinking about purchasing this again, one for my son and myself, and also one for his second grade teacher so his whole class can enjoy the experience.

If your child enjoys the wonders of natures and would love to witness the miracle of transformation of catarpillars into butterflies, this is DEFINATELY well worth the money! ... Read more