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The Aquadoodle isn't a pool or tub toy, but without water it's no fun at all. It's just a drawing mat after all, but kids will like the novelty of its disappearing colors. The 81 by 53-inch drawing mat is large enough for several kids to doodle on at a time, using the included magic marker pens that do not transfer color to other surfaces (to our knowledge …). Color from the pens appears when water touches the mat; it then fades out without a trace in 60 seconds or so. That's it: no ink, no paint, and no mess.Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Love it!
I bought this today at target for my 2 year old daughter. We absolutly love it! She can doodle and draw to her hearts content and never run out of paper.....or be told to be careful to not color on the table. It is just water.....no mess what so ever! The drawings took about 2 minutes to completly disappear. What a great invention! Highly recommend!

What a great idea!
I recently bought an Aqua Doodle for my 2 year old nephew, and it was a huge hit! He was immediately drawn to the mat, and understood how to use the pens right away. The best part was that his 3 year old cousin was able to sit with him and they both had a blast. This is a great toy, because there is absolutely no mess.

I would NOT recommend this toy
I am a frequent buyer/reviewer for toys online and I am generally quite happy with them. This toy has a great concept, but I really wasn't thrilled with it. As the other reviewers have stated, it is a great toy...that is, until it's all wet. I found that the manufacturer SAYS, "image disappears in approx. 20 seconds.". This is where they are wrong. My kids LOVED playing with it, until they ran out of room to write stuff. It took so long to dry to become clear again, that I had to bring it in and put my hairdryer to it for an additional FIVE minute to dry it in order to continue using it. And this toy wasn't even drenched, just regular use. The idea of this toy is great, but has a big inconvenience. Maybe when it's a hot day it'll be better....I hope! I bought two, one for my daughter and one for my niece. I'm returning the unopened one.

Happy Mom
This toy is awesome....Hats off to SpinMaster....I saw this toy online a month ago and went to Toys-R-Us to purchase it and they did not carry it yet...I was just there today and was so happy to see it on the shelf....My kids just opened it and they love it....They are 4 and 19 months old and this is something that they can play together and enjoy....My 4 year old loves to trace the alphabet...If anyone has preschool aged kids or younger this toy is a true winner!!!! Definitely worth the money....

Very Special Toy - Highly recommend
This is a WONDERFUL activity toy for children of all ages - even adults! Several kids can play together on the large size mat and it is very neat, easy to store,very educational,provides hours of fun. The unique technology allows for children to draw with water so you never have to clean up or replace any pens etc. The images disappear after a few minutes so you always have a new writing area. I highly recommend this toy to everyone!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sally, Stevie, Stanley, Sophie, Stewie, and Sid are six colorful, lightweight bowling pins--each with their own personality--that talk to kids while they bowl. Taunts such as "C'mon!Roll the ball already!" get kids started, and phrases such as "Whew!That was close," keep them aiming for the pins. Bells, whistles, and cheers are heard if a spare or strike is bowled. The tan plastic base has six colored circles to hold the pins in place, but it is not required that colors match up for a game to begin. Silly 6 Pins only keeps score one frame (two balls) at a time, so keep a pad of paper nearby if you're playing as a family. Three AA batteries are required, but not included. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Best Kids' Bowling Toy
As a mother of four, I found this toy great for my 2 1/2, 4- and 5-year-olds. It's extremely durable. The kids can set this one up by themselves. My 4-year-old hates playing by himself, but sets this one up for himself to play everyday. We've tried other bowling sets but the pins fall down before they let go of the ball. It can be set up on carpet. It helps my toddler with her colors. It can be played with alone or with others. All the kids laugh hysterically at the pins' talking and teasing. It's a winner!

Great game!
My son recieved this as a present for his 3rd birthday. He absolutely loves it! I also think it is really cute how the pins move and talk. My son has been playing with it non-stop since he got it.

2 year old proof
I bought this toy for my son this past christmas. It is the only remaining toy he has from his presents. He loves it. The only bad thing I could say about it is it needs more phrases. He loves it though, he lines them all up by the colors and then shakes his hiney with it as the pins shake. It really truly is a great toy.

Great toy
I bought this toy for my 2 1/2 year old daughter and she absolutely loves it. She takes turns bowling with her little friends. It's a big hit at playgroup. She says "gutterball" whenever she misses the pins. She already knew her colors and numbers before getting this game but I think it reinforces her knowledge. It has also helps with her coordination. She used to roll the ball from a couple of feet away but now stands at the other end of the room. Overall, I think it's a great toy.

Great toy!
My three year old daughter loves this toy! She sets it up by herself (color coordinated) and has a blast trying to knock the silly pins over with the plastic bowling ball. The pins tease you by wiggling around and talking. They even snore when you take to long to knock them down! Great for counting, turn taking and color recognition as well as eye hand cooridination. Lots of fun for the tots and grown ups too ;-D ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Kids really love this toy
My daughter was 3 1/2 when she first played with her 10 year old sister's B&W Pixter, and she loved it. So I got her the color Pixter, and she plays with it every day, especially in the car. There are educational games available for it, as well as entertainment games. It also plays all the older black and white games for the older versions of Pixter.

Disappointed
We bought this for our 4 year old because he's not quite old enough for Game Boy. We have already had to return it twice due to it malfunctioning within a short period of time. The first one, the stylus didn't work and the second one the stylus worked on only half the screen after a couple of weeks. For as much money as we spent, I had great expectations. The kids, 4-9 years, enjoyed it while it worked, it just didn't hold up very long. I'd spend my money else where.

Take Care
My kids love this toy!! But do be careful because it is needs to be well taken care of. I would not reccommend this to any child who just throws things down where they may.

worth every penny
My 4 year old is one of those kids who can't play with anything for more than 5 minutes, except the Pixter. It is the best toy I've ever bought for her, and we've tried everything (thanks to used toys and bargains...). I bought her the Pixter recently because I was pregnant and too tired to keep her busy. It is well designed, challenging but not frustrating, is adaptable to her growth and needs, etc.

Pixter Easily Broken
I got my daughter the Pixter Color. Her little sister dropped it on my oak floor a few hours after we opened up the box. Now only half the screen works. I know it was dropped, but kids drop stuff. There must be a way to make these things more breakage-resistant. Spending 80 dollars on a toy that worked just one afternoon is bad enough. Listening to my daughter sob all evening was worse. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Classroom Teacher
This product has provided hours of entertainment to my Kindergarteners and my first graders in the last two years. I can't believe how rough they can be with the toy and nothing breaks.

Really neat...even fun for mom
I bought this set for my son when he turned 4. He didn't attempt to play with it by himself until one day I got it out, sat on the floor with him and started building really neat stuff. When he saw what I had done and watched all the colors of gears turning round and round that was it, he loved it. This set has so many options; you can build 1,000 different things. We will have this set for a long time.

Start with the Under Sea Adventure set, this as add on!
We received several gears, gears, gears sets at the same time, and found that the plain set ie Super set although initially fun looses excitement without some add ons. If I were to buy just one set I would start with the Under the Sea adventure set first, then add with the fantasy play park. The Undersea set has parts that move the gears in interesting ways from the standard set. It also comes with regular gears for building, although in limited number so the super set still helps extend the play.The motorized monstors sounded more intteresting than it was, but the parts when added to the Undersea adventure set was great fun! The gears are an interesting way of learning how things work. If your child is mechanically minded any of these sets will provide a wonderful new constructin opportunity. If your child hasn't been inclined towards let's say lego's etc.. This toy may provide some interest initially in being able to create a design that moves. However, construction with this set is more complicated than legos and for the less mechanically inclined child will still need paren'ts help beyond the age minimum's recommended.

Love! Love! Love! Gears! Gears! Gears!
My kids love their Gears! Gears! Gears! My sister bought them this set for Christmas and they are still enjoying it. The gears seem very durable and the colors are vibrant and look great in their playroom. There are so many things they can make, and the gears are a nice change from all the legos.

Kids feel like they've made a real "machine"
This set of "gears" is really neat. There are lots of pieces, very nice bright colors, and countless configurations. I really like that the set didn't include patterns to follow or directions--it just told you how to make flat gears, upright, etc. My oldest child is 3--his main fascination right now is how everything moves together. He yells at me to come see the "machine" he has made. I think it will stay interesting to him for several years. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Has entertained my child for 3 years!
We first bought our pixter in 2001 while taking our 4 year old on a three week trip to Europe. It entertained her the ENTIRE time. We even had people coming up to us to take pictures of her playing it because she was so quiet for such a young child! Of course, the next year, we upgraded to the 2.0 version (giving her old one to her cousin). She still plays with it constantly. We have a large variety of software (which I buy on sale every so often) that she keeps attached to the carrying case (I do recommend, it keeps everything in one place and is handy to carry everywhere) in a small mess bag I had. She plays it with or without the sound depending on where we are. I asked her if she wanted a gameboy or a pixter 2.0 in color for Christmas and she immediately said Pixter! It's much more imaginative and allows her to be creative. It also is great for us to play games while trying to pass time like when we are waiting at a doctor's office. We can draw, play tic-tac-toe, bingo, etc... and she doesn't make a fuss. She loves it so much, that she shows every kid she sees how it works and lets them play. It does wear the more she plays, but what doesn't? Her current one has lasted for over two years with almost daily use. All ours have lasted through tons of train, plane and automobile rides, many of them over 10 hours in length. I would definitely buy it for the 3-7 year range. I'm sure the older children may not get as much entertainment out of it as they would other systems. We'll be buying her the color version for Christmas this year!

Pixter-Color
Great toy better that the monochrome version. However, it lacks durability. My 5 year old son got one as a christmas present in 03'. We have had to exchanged it 3 times in 8 months. The primary problem been accuracy of the touch pad. Even after recaliburation the accuracy slightly improves if at all. There is no place for light as in the previous version. My son loves it when it works but gets very frustrated when it doesn't.

Broken on the second day....
We used to own the pixter but it quit working after just a few months (I was disappointed but assumed that it was just my child's overuse/rough handling) so we thought we would upgrade to the color pixter as they had since been released. We should have learned from our mistakes about the durability of this product. My daughter had it out of the box for not even 24 hours, it slipped out of her hands onto the floor, and the screen cracked and the product no longer works. This drop was only 12 inches to the floor. This is quite an expensive toy to not be able to withstand more. My children own gameboys and have dropped them numerous times and even left them in the car on a hot day, and they still work. In fact, my friend's child left his out in the rain and after drying it out, it continued to work! I am truly disappointed with the inability of the Pixter to stand up to a child's environment. I would think twice before buying this toy.

Not a satisfied customer!!!
I purchased a Color Pixter for my neice's 5th Birthday. She already owns and loves her Leapster so I figured she'd really enjoy the Pixter.Before I gave it to her I myself tried it out and honestly thought it was kind of neat but a bit limited. I know the Leapster talks to you and the Pixter doesn't. For over $80 this thing should talk. Anyway, I give it to her and she literally had it out of the box for 5 minutes and I look over and the screen has been scratched beyond belief!! I know for a fact she used nothing but the stylus on the screen. Obviously she pressed too hard which they do warn you about in the owner's manual but lets be reasonable! She did exactly what she usually does to the Leapster and the Pixter can't withstand anything but a very gentle touch which is not what you're going to get from 4 and 5 yr olds. This is not the quality that I expected. She's not a destructive child with her toys. She's had the Leapster since Christmas, has no problems with it and loves it. I had read the reviews that these Pixters don't seem to hold up very well but for heavens sake...I paid well over $100 for this thing along with another software cartridge to use with it and it's in her posession for literally 5 minutes and this is how it holds up?? Fischer Price states that this toy is for ages 4 or 5 and up but take heed!! Unless you're buying this unit for a child who's older, I would not recommend it. In fact, I don't recommend buying it at all. I do highly recomment buying a Leapster and then buying the "Draw and Learn" software cartridge for about $25. It's very nice, and the Leapster is extremely durable. If I'd known they even made such a cartridge for the Leapster, I wouldn't have even bought the Color Pixter in the first place. Anyway, I returned the merchandise and recieved a full refund so no harm done but just a warning to all. When they say the screens will scratch, they're not kidding and it doesn't take much to scratch them. The Leapsters the way to go....hands down.

A nother *GREAT* toy,
Hey ya people. I bought one of these things and I say it is the best toy ever! O.K. here is the detales about this toy: 1:There is tons of other feachers on this than the first one. So don't go out and buy the older one. (It will bored to death!) 2: It is color. (duh,I don't know why I put that.) And the old one is, well, black and white. Witch can sometimes stran your eyes. 3: There is better games included with the color. For instince, pick a seane and draw and put stamps and stuff. create words and put them as stamps. (witch is cool.) color the number. Draw by yourself. And conect the dots. wonce you conect the dots a mini show like-thingie will have to do some thing about the picture. 4: Now this is about the batteries. Well, I played it A LOT and I repeat A LOT and STILL HAVEN'T HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERIES! And to tell you it takes four of those batteries. 5: Here is a kind of cool feature. It tures off when you don't play with it after a while. 6: It can take both black and white softwere and color softwere. So make sure you have the adapter. And wene you want a color softwere make shure you pick up a color one beacause I picked up a black and white one on accident. That's all about the stuff about it! About the learning,well what I think is educational is if you don't have paper at home you can use it whoa, I was talking about education, It teaches you to be a good artest. Durability, you know you wouldn't want to damage a PDA for kids. I don't know what will happen but DON'T TRY IT! It also makes a prefect gift for Chistmas! So go out and buy it! You will be satisfied and so will your kids. Oh goodie! I got more things about this toy! You can save one, I repeat ONE piture or something you can save in a file. Which is a drag beacause you want to save more than ONE. And I tried to set the volum because it was noisey and it got scrachey. Eventually, it didn't scratch no more. And if you look on the bottom, you can put headphones. Which to me is nice. And once you get your pixter color, just follow the dierections you ain't going to be confusied. There are SIMPLE! Later dudes and evreybody else! P.S. Hope this review helped you! A LOT! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

great design, great fun
This preschooler variation of the old favorite Bingo is a real winner.

Zingo cards have a 3 by 3 grid that shows pictures and words. Cards have a yellow side (easier, for younger kids) and a red side for the odler ones. The plastic game piece dispenser is well-designed and fun to use. Players shout out to claim a piece, which is then placed over the appropriate square on the player's card. There are several play variations.

Excellent game for the younger set, and fun for older children and adults as well.

Wonderful toy - kids love it!
My son got this for his fourth birthday and still plays with it regularly (he's now over 5). He'd just started to read when he got it, and the game helped him add many new words to his vocabulary - but more importantly, it was fun! His friends loved it so much that several of them asked for their own sets as gifts. We play until everyone wins and gets to shout Zingo!, and the kids help each other get there. And my son even plays it sometimes by himself. It's really wonderful, very very fun, and would be great for kids from about 3 to at least 6.

game enthusiast
my 4 yr old daughter received this game as a gift. she hasn't stopped playing it! Everyone in the family has fun with Zingo! from my 8 yr old daughter to my mother in law! Great family fun!

Let's Zingo!
Our children love this game and it is by far their favorite. Though the recommended ages are 4 and up - my 4 year old and my 2 1/2 year old both enjoy playing this game and it is one that they never seem to tire of. The playing pieces are all very durable and well constructed. I highly recommend Zingo.

Excellent game that even parents enjoy!
This game is great. Since the day we got it, it has been played with all the time. The kids love being able to yell "Zingo" when the win. The design is great since you can keep all the pieces neatly tucked in the dispenser.

A great fun, educational game for game nights and rainy days! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (9)

We LOVE It !!!!
My 2 year old was given the Pixter from her aunt right before we moved out of state,We love it!Shes 2 and can find her way around websites better than most 20 year olds but I thought this might be a little harder,well I was wrong,she taught me how to use and shes 2! I recommend this for all toddlers b/c they will want to learn how to use it and when they do its worth it when they come to you with a big smile and show you what they did!!!!

The best everything toy
My son recieved this for christmas and he has not put it down since. He is 3 years old and just loves everything about it. He counts and recognizes numbers and just loves it. I highly recommend this toy for children. We haven't left the house without it since we got it.

Great Toy
I bought the Color Pixter for my 6 year old at Christmas and she loves it. I am glad I paid the extra and got color. My only complaint is the lack of additional software. I talked to Mattel/Fisher Price and was told that they sold so much of these products at Christmas they are behind in getting the stores stocked with the software (I was afraid they had quit making them). We did get one of the black & white software cartridges and it wasn't worth the time or money, I'll hold out for the color. Hard to tell how educational without additional software. As for durability, so far so good. Great entertainment!

Great toy!
I purchased the Pixter Color for my daughter. She just loves it! The color cartidges are hard to find. I was able to purchase the Dinodraw, Barbie & SpongeBob for Christmas. They are typically sold out so you have to keep checking. Fisher Price does make a carrying case for the pixter color and all of your cartidges. It is a MUST HAVE because this is an expensive toy but a wonderful one. The case keeps the pixter and the cartidges safe and clean. (I bought it [online]) My daughter brought her pixter on a long car trip and really enjoyed it. She also brings it to her brother's wrestling tournaments which can be very long and boring for a little girl. It is a great toy. I will purchase additional color cartidges when available! Enjoy!!

The favorite toy under the tree!
I bought this for my 4 year daughter for Christmas this year. She is really into coloring and drawing, so this appeared to be the perfect gift for her.

This is definitely for the 'under 8' crowd. As a matter of fact my FOUR YEAR OLD has mastered this in two days! When I say mastered, I'm referring to the ability to use Pixter unsupervised. She will ask questions here and there, but it surely didn't take long for her to figure out what each of the icons do. So I will even go further and say that I can see the 4-6 age group reaping the most benefits from this without getting bored.

There was mention in a previous review about no "undo" feature....it DOES have this feature, but you may only undo once. Still, it has the feature so you may 'erase' what you just did without erasing the entire picture.

For each of my nieces I purchased the Pixter 2.0 for Christmas, the black and white Pixter. I must say that I'm glad I spent the extra money and purchased the color version for my daughter. The pixels appear to be greater which makes the quality of the pictures so much better. The color choices when coloring is probably the best feature. My daughter likes the built in coloring-by-number feature the best. She also love the ability to use all the built in stamps to add to her pictures. To me it's like a elementary computer Paint program....

Now...educational? Not necessarily, but it has potential depending on the cartridges you buy. For example, I purchased the Barbie Color, the Spongebob Color, and on clearance I bought a b&w "learning fun" cartridge. The Barbie and Spongebob are games, plain and simple. My daughter enjoys them, especially the Barbie one, but aside from a matching game I don't see these as educational. The 'learning fun' cartridge lets your child practice writing upper and lower case letters and numbers. There is more to this cartridge, but we haven't delved into the entire cartridge yet as it IS in black and white and doesn't hold my daughter's interest as well. Based on this cartridge I WILL be buying the new COLOR Smart Start cartridge, which appears to be an updated version of this b&w one.

I realize that since this product is fairly new that the accessories are probably still in the works, but I would love to see a carrying case for the Color Pixter. I am hesitant to allow my daughter to carry this around outside of the house for fear of dropping it. At $80 it's a chance I don't want to take. I also would love to see a bigger selection in software....dinosaurs and Rescue Heroes holds no appeal to my daughter and that leaves a VERY limited selection for girls in my opinion.

All in all, if your child is a budding artist this is a great tool for them and it will hold their attention. I have to be honest in saying that my daughter's number one request for Christmas was "go go my walking pup" and didn't even know what Pixter was......Go-Go is sitting still under the tree all alone and Pixter Color is the favorite. It's the toy she picked to take to her cousin's house...(she gets to pick ONE toy to take)

I'm glad I purchased this and I would do it again...... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Ever wish you could see into the future? If you answered"without a doubt" or "signs point to yes," you are in luck. It is easyto get a sneak preview into the future with Mattel's Magic 8 Ball. Takeall the guesswork out of finding the answers to life's more perplexingquestions. Yes, this is the same Magic 8 Ball you remember from thepast, and it is just as reliable as ever. If you don't get the resultsyou are after, you can always "ask again later!" --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A toy that uses the imagination
The Magic 8 Ball is a great toy for kids who have a good imagination. Sometimes when I'd see one of them in a store when I was a kid, I'd pick it up for a minute and asks questions and shake it up to see what it would say. Now my little sister got one and plays with it all the time. She'll ask something like "Is it going to rain today?" or "Is my brother stupid?" and then she'll shake it up and laugh at the answers that come up. All you do is ask a question out loud or in your mind, then shake the Magic 8 Ball and a prism shaped object will float to the top of the water inside it, revealing an answer such as "My guess is no" or "Can't decide, ask me later."

So pretty much, the Magic 8 Ball isn't a game you play or anything like that, it's just something that kids can use their wild imaginations with and actually have a little fun while they're doing it. The Magic 8 Ball doesn't really have much educational value, but it is durable. You don't have to worry about it tearing up after somebody drops it or if it falls on the floor or anything. I recommend the Magic 8 Ball to anyone who has any kids in their family that have good imaginations.

A way better friend than miss cleo! Especially for singles!
I have never seen an oracle more accurate than this toy! I mean I trust this toy with all my intimate questions I would never ask or tell anyone else. For example when I was 12 I would ask if so & so liked me as a friend or more only to find out the accuracy of this ball is 93% true, (for me at least) sometimes I would ask the same question twice if I got an undesired answer, to me, this means a maybe or it could go either way type of thing. But still trust us reviewers on the accuracy. I recommend this ball for personal questions, everyday questions, etc. But as for business which I rarely used it for, I hope your a careful desicion maker. You know, don't gamble your stocks or anything on this ball! If you want, I hear there is a financial 8-ball from the reviewer below.

A great & honest companion recommended for people Age 12 and up!!

The best of the best!
I love magic 8 balls! I can sit for hours asking ridiculous questions! I'm telling you, this is definitely something you want to look into! Also, it's not tiny,like most. 4 inches is huge for an 8 ball!

Withstood the Test of Time!
I loved this toy as a kid back in the 60's and my daughter loves it just as fondly in the new millenium.Great toys never go out of style.Ask questions and find out what's on the mind of someone close to you.Use it as a mediator when you can't all decide what to eat for dinner.Just don't shake it before you ask it!

So Much Fun
Hi, I am 11 years old. My friend has one of these, and he let me try it and i asked some questions on it and they were true! I would say that the magic 8 ball is 90% correct! ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Don't buy this toy, ever!
What a cute idea this would have been if only Fisher Price would care enough about the quality to take it off the market and redo the thing. Ours never did make a bubble, not once, didn't even think about it. Now, the handle won't stay on and absolutely forget about using it in the grass. The wheels just won't go through it at all. One would think with all the complaints that Fisher would do something about it but so far, nothing has materialized. It's made very poorly, falls apart very quickly and ours didn't even last a year. If you use it in the house without trying the bubbles, it's just fine. But then again, the mowing sound will quit very quickly on you and the rest of it will follow. I really want my money back. We replaced it with a John Deere toy lawn mower and boy, what a difference! There is no comparison in the quality between these two toys. That John Deere is just so much more substantial and heavy! It goes right through the grass and makes a very, very realistic lawn mower sound. My little guy hasn't stopped using it since we brought it home. I highly recommend that one! Guess it's true for their toys too - "Nothing Runs Like a Deere."

Not as exciting as we thought...
Our 2-year old daughter loves bubbles and we thought this would be a great toy but the bubbles do not come out right away. This toy is not for use in small spaces or the bubbles don't fly, you have to walk several feet before the bubbles appear. One other down side is that it doesn't hold much bubble liquid so we are constantly refilling it. And it doesn't work well on the grass as it's pictured, you need to use it on the sidewalk or something flat. Overall, she loves it but it does have some drawbacks.

Does not work !
We just bought this for our son, what a great combination bubbles and a little mower! We put it together put the bubbles in and away he went. He pushed the mower for an hour and never got one bubble, he still loves pushing the mower, even though there were never any bubbles. That would have been a great bonus.

it would be okay IF all the parts were there!!!!!
I got the double blash mower for my daughter, she has mine when i was little but i wanted her to have a new one so i got this one for her.. it's a really good toy, but not everything came with it. like the bubble wands, the stickers,and one side of mower where bubbles are supoosed to come out..not a single bubble comes out.

bubble mower is awful
THIS IS THE WORSE TOY WE HAVE EVER HAD. IT DOES NOT WORK. WE GOT 3 BUBBLES OUT OF IT AND THAT WAS IT. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF TRYING TO GET BUBBLES WE GAVE UP. WE SHOULD OF JUST BOUGHT A CHEAP MOWER THAT DOESN'T CLAIM TO MAKE BUBBLES. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS MY AUNT SAID "THOSE MOWERS NEVER WORKED WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNG". I GUESS THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. IT REALLY FRUSTRATED MY KIDS AND WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THEM. TRY AGAIN FISHER-PRICE. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Our favorite toy
My 2 year old son was first introduced to this toy at our Montessori class...he was hooked immediately!!! It was easy for him to figure out how to put the pieces together and attach the gears (he loved being able to do all of this himself as opposed to other gear toys where most of the building is already done for you) He sat and happily played with this fantastic toy for almost an hour before we had to leave. The learning possibilities of this toy are immmense as is the "fun value". With no "bells and whistles" this toy ranks very high on our list of toys due to the fact that our son has complete creative control...it's all up to him. All in all, it's a fantastic toy that we highly recomend.

Almost perfect...
My son received this toy for Christmas, and we gave one to our niece. The verdict is that it is almost, but not quite, perfect.

The toy is a set of interlocking squares of various colors that are perforated to hold a four-pronged hub that can support one of four sizes of gears. Everything is made of a durable plastic that has some flex to it. You can create systems of gears that spin around and even construct things like gearboxes. (The cover of the box--shown above--will give you a simple idea of what can be done.) There is a manual aimed at parents that helps them teach their child how gears work, too--a nice touch.

The quality of the toy is high: the colorful stickers for the gears are plastic coated, the injection-molded pieces are free from excess plastic, and the pieces fit together solidly. It's everything you would want from a European-made toy. (Quercetti, the manufacturer, is based in Italy and the toy is actually made there.)

It's a mesmerizing little toy and its variability is virtually endless. There are other kits in the Gear line that include such things as universal joints and 3-D parts, so it is highly expandable, even as your child ages.

My quibble? Our three year old niece adores the toy, but our three year old son only plays with it in fits. Truth be told, I play with it more than my son does. So as with anything, your mileage may vary.

It's nice that toys like this one are still being made. There's a lot of learning that can occur with it, too. Factor in the expandability and how can you go wrong?

Now if only I could get my son to join me more while I'm playing with it!

Bit tough for little hands to put together, but beautiful...
The base pieces of this toy are a bit stiff for my kids' little hands to put together. Also, the pegs that hold the gears onto the base are a bit tricky, but will build good fine motor skills if not discarded in frustration. I was just as entranced by this toy as they were as we played with it together for the first time. The brightly colored decals are trippy and fun. And learning that gears transfer energy they supply to move other gears of various sizes "on down the line" is... priceless. *grin*

we can go earlier
My daughter has always been drawn to visual spatial toys and loves playing with gears. She started getting independent with this around 3 years of age. I love the Discovery toy version as well.

Kaleido Gears Review
Originally purchased for our 5 year-old granddaughter, this toy is a little above her developmental stage, and apparently above her grandparents as well! She and we became frustrated in trying to fit the white gear connectors to the gear pieces, and then attaching the coupled piece onto the frame. Our 8 and 11 year-old granddaughters, however, love it and fight over playing with it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This microcosm of Neopets is a portable world for your pocket. Meridell, the land of heroes and legends that was long hidden within Neopia has now been uncovered and is delightfully rendered here in miniature. The pocket Neopet world folds up into a small gold colored pod that you can take anywhere. Open up the case and you can play with your three Neopets: Lupe, Draik, and Lxi. Name them, choose their personalities and preferences, and then proceed to play with, feed, and generally care for them. The sensors in the electronic ports they sit in know which pet you're playing with. There are six games you can play on the small LCD screen with four toggle buttons--they aren't the most engaging games, but winning them scores you points you'll need to buy food and toys for your pet. If you don't give your pet everything it needs, it will run away. Of course, you can always reprogram it to come back to you. There are three little slots to tuck the pets neatly into when you close up the case and hit the road. --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (28)

This game is OK...
This game is very cute, but the instructions that come with the it are not clear. The game can become frustrating after a while. It is also a low-tech game and can have some problems.

Awsome toy
This toy is so cool,i couldn't find it in stores so i ordered it online,i have a regular pocket neopet,but this one is cooler.I do not no what those other people are thinking,well duh the graphics are bad,what do u expect for 20 dollars,A flatscreen moniter?I think it works just fine the way the graphics are,and the neopoints aren't hard to get ,it a fun challenge,and that's what teaches you responsibility,so if you don't care about it it will leave you,and if yo have skewl,you can just turn it off,thats a good feature for when you are goin somewhere and you don't want to take it with you,It really makes you think about about the responsibiliy of taking care of a real pet,over all this is a worth it toy if your into neopets.

I bet this will be fun...until your pet runs away.
What i have heard is that the pet runs away and has specific times for everything. That is definitly a con. Some people have school ya know!

pros: fun, and teaches responsibility
cons: your pet runs away, has specific times, and neopoints are hard to get.
I recommend the voice activated neopet instead

Only mediocre.
I am an avid Neopets fan and when I heard they were coming out with merchedise, I was quite pleased.
This product, however, disapointed me. The screen is too smal to do anything with. THe games are fun, yet the graphics are someof the worst I've ever seen. In the ned, I endd up taking the Neopets (A Lupe, Ixi, and Draik) and playing with them without the set. I would recomend a voice activated pet, rather then this game.

Fun1
This toy right here was sooo kewl and fun! It teaches you how to take care of pets very good. You can play fun games to earn money and such to buy food,toys,and petpets. I would recommend this to any kid who is 8 and up and is hooked on neopets ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you've seen "The Exorcist" lately, the folks at Parker Brotherswould like to extend a heartfelt "Captain Howdy-Ya-Do?" courtesy of theirnewly luminescent classic Ouija Board equipment. It's the same traditionalsetup as it was decades ago: the alphabet-and-numbers board with "Yes," "No,"and "Good Bye" spelled out in turn-of-the-century mysterious script; theheart-shaped "Message Indicator Oracle" with the readout window; the numerouscoy references to Ouija being "only a game--isn't it?" So if this editionseems to comprise a bit more plastic than we remember, the promise of theboard and indicator glowing in the dark for half-an-hour (after exposure tolamplight for 10 minutes) more than makes up for it. Of course, in the darkyou'll never know for sure whether the person across the board is the onepushing the indicator, now will you? --Tony Mason ... Read more

Reviews (124)

It really works.
This is very real it, and it is NOT a toy. It may seem like fun, but many people who use this thing often eventually get involved in the occult (not everyone, but you run that risk if you use it enough). I would really not recomend using it. Even though it is not a "devil communicator," you are communicating with demons, not spirits. Ouija Board users: If you don't believe me, ask your "spirits", in the name of Jesus Christ, if they're demons. Don't doubt me until you ask. These boards are very real and very dangerous. Demons are not something to mess around with, and there is only one way to get rid of them.

DANGEROUS
Ouija boards are dangerous if not used with caution! Here are some things you should know before using your Ouija...

1. NO NEGATIVITY! Dont be angry, depressed, or feel or think any negative thoughts when attempting to communicate. This could attract a negative spirit. Keep your thoughts and emotions positive.

2. LIGHTING- Don't dim the lights, use candle light, or at night, or in a thunderstorm, or anything like that to try to set the 'mood'. That will likely just frighten you. Fright is in this case a NEGATIVE feeling. Avoid it as best you can! Use with plenty of light in conditions you feel most comfortable in.

There are three types of spirits. The Good, the Mischevious, and the Bad. The Good are friendly. The mischevious may lie, or play around, perhaps in ways that may frighten you. The Bad are the dangerous ones.

3. If at any time while using the Ouija board you suddently become very afraid or cold, discontinue use immediately! These are signs of a negative spirit.

4. Treat spirits with respect! Be kind, polite and considerate. Most spirits find it rude to dig too deeply into their death. It may be wise to ask permission.

5. When talking to them, remember that spirits were once living people too. They have personalities, interests, friends, and opinions too.

6. ALWAYS say good-bye before you leave! After saying good-bye, let the spirit move the planchette (the pointer) over to the Goodbye also.

7. Dont go CRAZY. Watch for signs of obsession. If you notice that your becoming obsessed with the Ouija, don't use your Ouija for awhile. Take a break for a few weeks. The reason being, you run the risk of going insane. No joke. Susy Smith in "Confessions of a Psychic" (1971) claims that using a Ouija board caused her to become mentally disturbed. In "Thirty Years Among the Dead" (1924), American psychiatrist Dr. Carl Wickland claims that using the Ouija board "resulted in such wild insanity that commitment to asylums was necessitated." I started to experience some wild mood swings and unstability after constant use in a very short span of time.

8. I believe that houses can become haunted through the use of using the Ouija. If you dont want to run the risk of that, just dont use it in ur house! Use it in some other building where there will be litle destractions and you can concentrate.

THIS IS AWESOME!
My cousin and I just got this game and we opened it up only to find......
That it was spooky, creepy, and fun all at the same time! We talked to a spirit that was pretty smart. I asked it what my name was and it spelled out my name! We asked it what its name was and it replied "DVD Player". This was a little odd considering that I thought that my cousin was moving the seer, and she thought that I was moving the seer. After the responses turned out clear, we thought about the "most likely reason", and turned to each other. It ended up that something was dragging both of our fingers. This game is so neat and if you are just sitting here reading this review than you need to take action and buy this great one of a kind game! I hope that this helped. Have a great day. :)

Fun,Creepy Definitley Not For The Faint Of Heart
The ouija board is great and is not for people who get scared really easy. and the people who say it is the devils tool or a devil communitcator dont (...) listen to them because they are just to religious and probably christian.

Extremely Creepy!
If you get scared easily than DO NOT get this game. I only used this game for less than a week because I was so creeped out by it. I haven't touched it since. I cringe every time I hear its name. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun play rug
We bought this rug for our 17-month old daughter, who is the recipient of many of the toys we wish *we* had. Right now, she's more enamored of having her own play space than she is interested in the neighborhood aspect. But, the rug is quite fun, with houses, a duck pond, zoo, park, school, etc.--all in slightly "off" perspective. The lanes on the streets are the perfect size for matchbox-sized cars, for when your little one is older, but toddler-sized cars work just as well.

All in all, I'm very happy with this purchase. It seems a durable, colorful rug. It's long, providing lots of play space. Its no-slip backing should provide safety on tile or wood floors (though we have it on the carpeted floor of our living room). The best aspect? Our daughter keeps her blocks and cars on the rug--instead of everywhere else underfoot. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great "old style" toy.
Thought the toys I had as a child were lost forever, however this one comes very close! Solid tin box with very happy looking clown and the obligatory "pop goes the weasel"! My daughter loves it.

My Son's New Favorite Toy
My son LOVES this toy. He is 2 1/2 and it only took him a time or two to figure out how to get Jack back in the box by himself. He plays with it all the time, and never fails to get excited when Jack jumps out at him. You don't have to completely finish the song to get jack back in, you just have to make sure the song finishes the "pop" note. The music is a very traditional music box sound, and not annoying in the least. We suspected he would love a jack in the box, and had trouble finding one that worked well. This one is fantastic.

Love it and leave it
This is a great toy...for a small amount of time. After a minute or two my son gets bored of it because it only does one thing and only plays one tune. Not great for younger kids because jack is hard to get back into the box and I think the young ones will have a hard time (sometimes I have a hard time...lol). Not worth the money I spent on it, but still a fun toy...and a classic.

Great, Old Fashioned Fun!
This toy has a beautiful look and is very sturdy---made of metal, not plastic. The music sounds wonderful and both our sons love it! So do we---Mom and Dad! We are very happy with this toy, there is no other like it. Made the old fashioned way---to last. Bright colors and such a cute clown. I have not seen one like this since I was a little girl---many years ago! Well worth the money spent. Get one!

there is a trick to getting it to "reload" that is too hard
In order to put jack back in the box it must be in between songs. If you try to relatch it once the music has begun it doesn't work. That is clearly stated in the instructions but is very difficult for a one or a two year old to understand.

I feel that the kids who enjoy this the most are babies through age two. The sad thing is that the "reloading" of Jack is nearly impossible for these aged children. Even when they "get" how to push Jack down, hold him there, close the lid and snap the tiny latch, they have difficulty stopping the music at the exact point in which "reloading" is possible. All kids I've seen use it love to continue to wind the crank and make the music continue.

Perhaps they could redesign it so that the music won't play until Jack is back in the box. Then the kids would understand when to put Jack back in the box.

I bought this when my first born was one year old and he loved the toy but became frustrated with putting Jack back in the box.
The challenge with "reloading" extended to my second child and for every child-visitor. Frustration abounds! The only way to successfully use this with the very young to avoid tantrums is for the adult to sit with the child and help them as they need it. When they were very young and most-upset about this, I put it on a high shelf until the next time.

When my first turned three he finally "got it" and was able to play with it by himself.

The beauty of this is that it has a classic look. Other jack in the boxes I've seen have TV characters on them or other non-traditional characters. Also I like the "Pop goes the weasel" tune. I have seen others with different songs and even with electronic sounding music---YUCK!

We've owned this for over 4 years and it has not broken yet. The paint is in very good shape, it is not peeling from some defect (as others have reported). Most times now it is not stuck on a high shelf, so it is played with often. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Liked it a lot
I think these bubbles are great fun, as an outside toy only. The drip top could have lasted longer - it fell into the jar pretty quickly, and then the bubbles dripped all over me. Still, a lot of fun, especially for the money.

Hunter's favorite thing!
Our Westie, Hunter, loves to catch bubbles. These bubbles stick around a while so he can keep catching them. This should be a dog or cat toy too!

"they loved them"
My sister's response to the bubbles sent as a birthday gift (her children are 3, 7, 9 and 12): "They loved them. The bubbles do harden after being blown and can be caught carefully with an open hand or on a flat surface. If you use 2 fingers or squeeze them just the slightest bit, they get squashed right away, and they weren't able to stack them. But they were great fun anyway, much better than regular bubble soap."

A Disappointment
I must have received a defective batch - the bubbles were just ordinary soap bubbles. They didn't last any longer than any other bubbles. Also, the bubble wand in one of them came apart before I even had a chance to use it. All of the other reviews are so positive that I can only conclude that I got a dud!

very cool bubbles
I picked these up for my niece & nephew, but curiosity got the better of me and I opened a package. One blow on the wand and you get dozens of shiny little bubbles. A few pop right away but most dried up as they floated down and clung to the floor, table, couch etc. My two cats were fascinated, especially when the bubbles on the floor started rolling around. When you pop the bubbles, they actually make a little popping noise, and the residue is very easy to get off your fingers, floor, clothes & furniture. Probably better to use them outside, though! ... Read more