Editorial Review

Honk! Honk! It's gridlock and the little red car can't move.The player is a traffic cop in the Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle wherethe objective is to get the red car off the road. To play, pick one of40 challenge cards; solutions are printed on the back of each card.Then set up the cars and buses in a specified pattern on the6-inch-square road grid. Move the vehicles one by one (obey those trafficlaws!) until the red car can escape the traffic jam. There are fourlevels of difficulty. Kids can alternate turns with another player orjust "play in traffic" alone. The game from Binary Arts received anational award from Mensa and is used in elementary school mathclasses. The design includes clear instructions printed on the sturdybox, which can be used both as a playing tray and for storage. The gamecards stow away in a drawer in the road grid. This is a 1999 Parents'Choice recommended toy. --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (89)

Hours of Fun Fun Fun
This is a great puzzle. Since it is a game only one can play at a time, my nieces, ages 6 and 8 and my nephew age 11 took turns getting the red car out of the traffic jams. They even enjoyed watching each other find the solution to each "jam". Incidently the 6 year old is almost through solving the "Advanced" puzzles and I am about to buy both additional card packs. Kids and adults will love this game.

Great "toy"
Add us to the host of folks who love this puzzle toy. I generally consult Amazon ratings before purchasing new items and any item that has this many positive ratings always catches my attention. And it lives up to the promise. My almost 7 year-old son is ADHD and I was AMAZED at the way this toy captured his attention. I expected him to become quickly frustrated and give up. But after a few successes, he was hooked. I coached him a little bit at first (and then I was hooked too!) and before I knew it, he was solving puzzles by himself and doing a better job than me! He did the first 20 in one sitting. I was amazed as I watched him begin understanding which cars had to be where in order for him to get the red car out, then he started working out his plan to get there. You have to think ahead to be successful and he was doing it!

His persistence and concentration surprised me, so if your child is having any problems sitting and concentrating on a task, don't be afraid of this toy! But, alas, as with many ADHD kids, he's also been tested as gifted, so he's already run through the first 3 levels and is now nearly done with the expert level - solving puzzles that I can't do! I have to wait until he goes to bed to even get a chance to play! There's 40 cards in the first pack. The beginning levels are pretty easy to remember the solutions, but as you go higher in difficulty, you could probably do the puzzles more than once and still be challenged. But do be prepared to buy the 2, 3, and 4 Gift Pack (a great deal for $12 on Amazon)

I LOVE the fact that you store the cards right in the bottom of the tray. However,I wish that they would put a more permanent kind of cover on the tray. Also, you cannot replace the cover when you are in the middle of a puzzle, the cars have to be in the tray in a certain way in order for the cover to fit properly. But those are extremely minor drawbacks considering the hours of entertainment my son and I have gotten.

grate!!!
I love this game and so do my familly from ages 6 - 35. you will enjoy playing this game alone at home. the greate part is that even once youv memorized this toy and all the levels (wich you will.) you can buy more cards! it is a grate present for anyone not too lazy to think a bit. everyone has their own level. Also other games such as the one croosing the river from this manufacturer are fantastic! really worth the money!

GREAT GIFT IDEA
We just got this game today and we were all instantly addicted! My 7 year old loved the challenge of the game, didn't get frustrated at all, and wouldn't even think of giving up on trying to solve the puzzles! This is a great gift idea for birthday parties, as it's inexpensive and parents will appreciate the educational value of this puzzle game.

Greatest Game Ever!
I am in the Gifted program in school and it is a lot of fun! I play this everyday. It is very challenging but an awesome game! I would reccomend it to anyone! ... 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

Reviews (16)

Fun for the entire family!
We bought this for my 6 year old daughter for Christmas and everyone enjoyed it! I was amazed how well she did moving through the easy to more advanced levels. Her enthusiasm was contagious and everyone began trying to do the puzzles. My daughter felt a strong sense of accomplishment when she actually did better than many of the adults! It is a durable, compact, challenging puzzle that is so enjoyable that you will get hooked! In fact, I am looking for additional cards to continue the fun!
This is definitely a 5 star game that has educational value and is also appealing to kids.

A game help children learn to use their minds!
I bought this game for my 5 yr old. She loves it and is challenged by the game. Even some of her older cousins enjoyed playing with it over the holidays.

great toy
We bought this toy for our 3.5 year old son, because he really loved it when he saw it in the store. He's been at it all the time after he got it and needed only minimal instructions to start playing. We really appreciated the fact that the difficulty levels were so appropriately designed. My son simply moved from one level to another with great enthusiasm and would never quit playing the game on his own.

Fun & Educational
I've never played Rush Hour, but the Junior version was a big hit with my 5 and 8 year old kids (and me!) this Christmas. It has 4 levels of difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert, with 10 cards in each level. You pick a card and set up the grid with vehicles as depicted on the card. The object is to get your ice cream truck through the traffic and exit the grid.

The rules are: no moving cars sideways. You have to move them forward or backward based on the direction the vehicles are facing. The beginner cards typically require each vehicle be moved only once before you are able to get the ice cream truck through the traffic. With the advanced cards, you may have to move vehicles a few times as you strategically plan your escape.

This game is not only fun, but helps with organization (setting up the grid) and planning (figuring out how to get your ice cream truck out of a jam). It also gives the kids a sense of accomplishment as they move on to the more difficult cards.

I highly recommend it and we plan on buying the adult version soon!

Great whole family fun!
After reading about Rush Hour, Jr. on this website, I decided to get it for my sons, age 7 and 4. They are both a year older now, and still enjoy it. My oldest is now ready for the "adult" version but the more difficult puzzles of the Jr. game still provide some challenge. An unexpected benefit from this "game" is that my sons love to watch each other play and offer encouragement and sometimes advice, and neither gets discouraged when he gets stuck--how great is it to see that?

It also travels really well, we take it in the car for our frequent long trips and take it on the boat to play during snack time.

Parents--I definitely recommend both Rush Hour versions and the booster cards. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Even if you've been living on Mars since the 1970s, you've probably heard of Rubik's Cube, the bestselling puzzle in history. Just in case, though, here's a recap: it's a 3-by-3-by-3-inch cube with rotating faces made up of nine squares that can be scrambled into (so it's said) 43 quintillion combinations. Getting the cube back to its original position (so that all nine squares of the same color make up each face) is incredibly challenging for most, though it can be mastered and solved. For those not gifted with superhuman spatial intuition, this mindbender comes with a solution hints booklet, which examines the cube's properties and offers clues for solving the puzzle. Whether it's a difficult toy or retro '80s kitsch you're seeking, Rubik's Cube is for you. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (37)

You can do the cube!
...Was the title of a book I bought out of sheer frustration when I was a kid in the mid-eighties, stuck with a mixed-up Cube I couldn't solve. Well, the book was very helpful and allowed me to solve my Cube on a regular basis, so eventually I got bored and put my Cube aside.

I left home in 1992 to join the Army and my stepmom put all my childhood stuff in storage. I didn't get a whole lot of my stuff back til I came back to the Memphis area (for the second time) in 2001... and there, amongst my things, was that selfsame Rubik's Cube.

And lo and behold if it doesn't still work beautifully after nine years in storage! Doesn't even need to be lubricated, all the stickers are still intact (even if some of them have nicks in them) and... it's still mixed up, doggone it, and now I wish I had my book again!

Definitely a fun toy. I have heard most kids these days would rather zonk out on the computer than play something that might actually provide an intellectual challenge. It's a shame, too.

The one--the only
We've all see this toy before, haven't we?

Although I owned Rubik's Magic rings as a kid, a similar but easier-to-solve toy, I never owned the most famous, the original Rubik's cube. I tried, but always got stuck after figuring out one of the sides.

Fast forwarding to a few months ago, I saw it again at a friend's house and was inexplicably hooked. I knew it was only a matter of time before I ordered it.

This cube has proved to be reasonably durable and is fun if you like puzzles. Don't bother to buy a guide to how to figure it out, as there are TONS of solutions on the Internet, from the basic ones to the fast solutions which require a lot of memorization. Whether you cheat or figure it out yourself, it will certainly keep you entertained and is a good value for the money.

O why dost thou torture me so?!
Like everyone else who grew up in the 80s, this hellish nightmare of a puzzle briefly held a prominent place among my collection of playthings, right between the Legos™ and old-school TransFormers®. Sadly, unlike the Legos, I was never able to match my cube's colors up too well. And unlike my TransFormers, which were fairly simple to convert from one mode to another, I was unable to convert this import from Hungary into its proper mode (AKA all faces made up of the same color). After jumbling it up I spent the next several weeks tryin' to get the thing back to its original solid-color-faced state, to no avail. Which I'm sure is the same experience everybody else who grew up with this symbol of the "me" generation had to contend with.

Like all fads, my interest in the cube eventually began to wane to the point where I'd pick it up only on a rare occasion & spend a little bit of time trying to figure it out. Needless to say, I was no more successful on these occasions than I was before. In fact, as I worked on it more and more, in my mind I could hear this demonic puzzle mocking me, and belittling me for thinking that I had the skill and perception to solve it. Sure, I coulda' done what everybody else did-- take the thing apart and then put it back together so that each face was a solid color-- but that was a coward's way out. And besides, I was afraid I was gonna break the thing. And replacing it would've been a bit pricey for someone who was only gettin' a dollar allowance each week...

Fast-forward to the modern day. I see this booger for a really good price, and decide to purchase it. Why did I get it after all of the aforementioned childhood frustrations, you ask? Well, part of it has to do with my endless desire to re-live my childhood. Another part of it has to do with my masochistic tendencies. But the biggest part of it has to do with me having an excuse to write a review of the product, and annoying you with my memories and opinions about that product. Which of course is what I'm doin' right now. Anyhoo, this latest incarnation of the immortal Rubik's cube resembles and works like the original in just about every way. The only difference I can sense is a cosmetic one: the white center cube features the product's logo and website domain (www.rubiks.com). Also thrown in is Solution Hints booklet, which supposedly can help the user straighten out the jumbled mess he's created. After mixing up the new cube really good, I decided to take as much advantage as I could of the booklet's hints. The suggestions it revealed were somewhat helpful; with them I managed to arrange one face into a single solid color. Other than this small victory, however, I'm still workin' on the other faces. With luck, patience, and several shots o' caffeine, I'll probably have this bad-boy knocked out by the time I'm eligible for Social Security benefits...

Post Script: Anybody remember that segment of "That's Incredible!" where this teenager used his feet to solve a Rubik's cube while he whizzed around on a boogie board being towed by a speedboat? Man, was that whacked out or what?! And people call ME a weirdo...

'Late

An Almost Indestructible Burst of Mind-Boggling Fun
The challenge of Rubik's Cube is simple to explain: take the 3 X 3 X 3 cube (54 squares) of scrambled colored tiles and twist, turn, and rotate the sections until you arrive at a cube with each side having all tiles the same color. Deceptively simple. The task actually requires good spacial reasoning and mental imagery (right cerebral hemisphere) combined with strong nonverbal logic (left cerebral hemisphere), as well as good fine motor control and enduring patience. Some players will be tempted to expedite the process through creative methods (Xacto knife and Super Glue to remove and repaste the tiles), some will seek even quicker means to ease their frustration (ball pen hammer), and others will choose to purchase the monochromatic version of Rubik's Cube and enjoy the Zen-like peace of a conflict artfully avoided.

Rubik's Cube is nearly indestructible (I've seen very strenuous attempts fail utterly) and, for those who do master the main solution, the instruction book offers other challenges (e.g., rearrange the cube so that each side has a center square of one color and all other squares a second color).

Is this product fun? I think that many players will enjoy the Cube greatly until they first solve it, and then put it on display in a convenient spot for purposes of tormenting peers. Enthusiasts will continually re-scramble and re-solve Rubik's Cube, just as cats will endlessly swat at dangling bits of yarn. Fanatics (a.k.a. "true lovers of the game") will try the alternative solutions.

Dolphins tend to enjoy Rubik's Cube as a tool for removing dental tartar.

*gnaws on the yellow and green sides of an already well-gnawed cube*

There's a Reason Why This is a SOLID 5 Star Toy!
Ahh...the memories! If I had to pick just one icon of the 80's, it would be Rubiks cube! If you think about it, this cube sums up an entire decade in one masterful stroke of genius! Like this cube, the 80's were FUN, Colorful, confusing, and sometimes frustrating!
I don't know how many people know this (and I haven't read every review), but this cube was actually invented behind the "Iron Curtain" in the early 70's. Yep, a Commie made the worlds best selling puzzle in Hungary! The irony kills me! At the height of the Cold War! It was just blind luck that the Cube made it to the US after touring toy shows throughout Europe with little interest.
I think the last count of cubes sold worldwide since 1980 was somewhere between 500 to 800 million! Sheesh! Gives me hope that there are some people who are actually interested in exercising their brains!
The best memories I have of this cube was getting in trouble at school for bringing it to class! Back in 1981 the teacher would usually start the day off by confiscating everyones Rubiks cube! She would have a whole drawer full of cubes before class even started! Also, there were kids who made a lot of money off solving the cube for you!
I HIGHLY recommend you buy this for your child and just watch them play with it! It's so much fun! To date I still have NEVER solved this thing without taking it apart and I still have my mini Rubiks key chain which comes in handy, especially when you're waiting in line somewhere! People crowd and around and EVERYBODY has a story about this incredible toy!
There were more Rubiks puzzles that were put out between 1980 and 84 including the Pyramid, the Missing Link, and The Snake!
Note: You can still find original, early 80's, books on solving the cube! Just check for used online bookstores. I found one! ... 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

Editorial Review

The aMAZEing Labyrinth uses a clever board design to create aseries of ever-changing mazes that one to four players must movethrough. The object of the game is for each player to collect asquickly as possible all seven treasures depicted on their individualtreasure cards. To add to the challenge, players know what the nexttreasure is only after they find the one before it. Before each turn, amaze card is pushed into the maze in a strategic place, helping theplayer make his or her way to the prize. This means that the entiremaze shifts and changes on each turn, confounding some and helpingothers. Players will need to think ahead to choose just the right spotto shift the maze in their favor. This is an excellent game to get lostin. A simpler version can be played by younger children. --LeeStrucker ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is a strategy game with a twist--if you lose, you'relunch. You've taken your trusty Safari Rover deep into the bush; nowmaneuver it through the maze of hungry animals and get back to camp inone piece. An 8-by-7.25-inch plastic game tray forms a kind of grid foryour vehicle and the 3-D plastic animal pieces (including elephants,rhinos, and a termite mound). Draw one of 50 cards (10 of which areextra-easy, for younger players) to determine the initial board setup.Then move pieces, according to strict rules, to make your escapethrough the only exit. A cloth bag for all the game pieces is included.--Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Fun but bulky
Our family truly enjoys the Rush Hour game and tried this one as well - it is bigger and bulkly and convenient for travel. I alos find the puzzles to be a bit easier. The pieces don't slide as well as Rush Hour.

Good toy for everyone
I knew this game at a friend's house and love it even I was 30 already at that time. I bought several when I went back to visit my family and they all love it. When I told my mom that I would give my brother's 1st grad boy a set, she told me he won't like it since he doesn't like the brain games. But he loves it soon after my sister explain to him the rules and he enjoys to do it. My little one, almost 23 months old now, likes those animals and loves to put all of those animals to the board one by one and kind of learn the size and arrange the place. It's not only for 8 and up.

Great game; an attention grabber
I bought this for my 6 year old. She played with it for an hour the first time. It is a game she can play solo. After using the Junior cards, she went on to the beginner. She is still progressing. This is a great thinking game. I highly recommend it.

The best Rush Hour game ever!
This game is so much fun!Let me tell you a secret about this game.You can look on the back of the cards to get clues to beat the level that your playing if your stuck.So this game is so fun!

A Wonderful Way to Play Together or Challenge a Child
My 7-year-old daughter loves this activity. There are so many active toys available, but Binary Toys has the best strategic-play games around. We play together often with this toy; I find it as much fun as she does. But, she would just as soon sit at the kitchen counter playing it by herself. We take it on trips, and all the relatives enjoy it, too. Since the "solution" shown on the back of each card is straightforward to follow for an adult but not for a child, she is never tempted to turn the card over and "cheat." Instead, through trial and error, she eventually escapes the safari and moves to the next card. Having the wide range of skill level cards helps keep everyone interested. Having the handy cloth case for storage is appreciated as well. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Learning FUN!
I highly recommend this game! Very fun while still being extremely educational. The best way to learn is while your having a good time doing it. My son (4 years) has this game and we have given the Jr. version as a gift. The Jr. version is appropriate for pre-readers.

Great for all ages
My son started playing this when he was 3. At 4, he can name all the states, abbreviations, capitals and most of the state birds. He can tell you where the major points of interest are without looking at the map. It helps to teach the concept of distance, such as "which state is closest to Maine". It also teaches the concept of compass direction, such as "which state is north of Texas". The game can be played with or without a board for portability. All in all a great educational game for children as well as adults.

Great for Adults!
You don't need the board to play this game, just take the flash cards with you to travel, etc. Make up your own rules, as you'll have fun 'refreshing' your memory of states, capitals and landmarks. I'd even recommend it for kids ;)

Love this game
I've enjoyed playing this as much as the kids. Very educational and fun. The kids don't even realize they're learning, but their interest in and knowledge of geography has improved immensely! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Friendly farm animals surround the barn and tractor in this handcraftedwooden puzzle. This is a terrific puzzle for the very young--it is made of sturdy wood,and each of the nine pieces features a grip knob to help maneuver the pieces into place.Each piece is approximately 1.5 by 3 inches and fits easily into its own hole; the identicalpicture in the hole makes finding "where it goes" easy. The farm animals pictured includea duck with chicks, a sheep, a horse, a cow, a rooster with hen and chicks, a pig withpiglets, and a goat. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (12)

High-Quality Starter Puzzle
This is a high-quality starter puzzle that depicts a traditional barnyard scene. Under the pieces are a cow, horse, dog, cat, pigs, sheep, ducks, and a farmer sleeping beneath a haystack. It's a great choice for one-year old and up because the pegs make the pieces easy to manipulate, and the varied shapes adds a bit more difficulty. Overall, though, this is definitely an easy puzzle.

I also appreciate the way that the animals are depicted in a realistic fashion--they look like real animals instead of the fake caricatures that you sometimes find with children's toys.

In general, I think it's nice to have a collection of puzzles with varied features...some with pegs, some wood, some foam, some inter-locking pieces, some that feature colors, shapes, animals, vehicles, etc. This puzzle is definitely tops for depicting a farm-yard scene.

Toddler Confidence-Booster
I searched high and low for high-quality wooden puzzles and found them with Lights, Camera, Interaction. My 21-month old son loves this puzzle and is so proud to show me where the dogs, ducks, or farmer is "hiding". The pictures are well-drawn and colorful, and the wood is sturdy. I believe this will be one of those toys that my son will be able to share with his children someday.

very good
Why can't this be shipped to countries other than US.Is there any Indian agents for this.If not I would like to be . send your feed back
regards
sudha

Loved it
I bought this and four other peg puzzles for our son and they were a great success. Our 10 month old loves playing with them. He can pull out the pieces, but cannot put them back yet. He likes the colours and imagery. They do wear a bit on the edges, especially when put in the mouth. But other than that we love them.

Puzzle Mania
I bought this and the geometric shapes puzzles for my daughter when she was 14 months old. Although she figured out how to complete them after a couple of weeks, she still finds amusement in dumping out the pieces and replacing them, now at 17 months. It is great stimulation for mathematical part of her brain and puzzles are now her favorite toys. The realistic pictures of the farm animals are educational and the pieces are odd shaped and challenging. I would suggest lowering the recommended age because I saw how quickly my 14-month-old enjoyed it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Like well-illustrated books, Tell-A-Story offers worlds forchildren to enter. In this game, 50 picture cards teach memory, reading,and storytelling skills as children invent stories to match thepictures. Whenever a player collects five cards with the same character,he or she arranges the cards to create and tell a story. Parents mayneed to help little ones lay out the cards, but once they're launched,kids will want to return to the same story over and over again.--Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Editorial Review

Pop Up Pirate! promises hours of amusement. After all, who doesn't like to see a pirate get shot out of a barrel? The game is simple. The unlucky pirate is pushed into the top of a brown plastic barrel, readying the spring mechanism for his eventual launch. Players then take turns pushing colorful plastic swords into holes on the side of the barrel, one by one until finally someone releases the spring and sends the poor little pirate on his way. Whoever makes the pirate pop loses, until the next round at any rate. The game includes a blue plastic base, the brown barrel (the sort that pirates would use for grog), and 24 plastic swords--six each of yellow, red, green, and blue. There's also lots of stickers of birds, smiling sharks, and even an ogling octopus, although they don't stay stuck very well. The pirate himself has a big black mustache and wears an eye patch and a purple plastic scarf over his head. Luckily, he doesn't seem to mind getting jounced around so much, since he also has a gigantic, if somewhat cautious, grin. --David Morel ... Read more

Reviews (6)

One of my son's favorites!
I was skeptical when I first bought this for my three-year-old, but we were looking for games to play together and he really wanted this one. I'm so glad I gave in because we've had it for six months and he still loves it. I have no idea why the manufacturer recommends it for ages 5+ because it is perfect for younger kids.

A game for children in the morning and adults in the evening
This game is great for children. The more amazing part is how easily it becomes an adults drinking game. I feel this brings new meaning toy for all ages. You may find that you are fighting with your children over who gets to use the pirate so I recommend buying two.

A Toddler-iffic Game!
I have two boys, ages 2 and 5, and it has been very hard to find games that my two year old could also play. We had really given up playing board type games until my two year received this for a Christmas present! This game is so easy (no reading and simple concept) and the kids love anticipating the pirate popping up! We call out the color of the swords and count how many we have put in etc. to bring in educational values. I admit I was hesitant about the game working since it requires no batteries (hooray) and I wondered about the durability. Well this game has exceeded all expectations and is truly a family favorite! GREAT GAME!

Easy to play with young kids
My four year old loves this game. We bought it for him when he was three and having a hard time focusing long enough to play most games. He loved the idea of playing a game, but couldn't make it through Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders. He still laughs every time the silly pirate pops up!

Great family game!
This game is a really good one. There is no reading involved and it goes by pretty quickly so you don't have to much whining in between turns. It is really funny to watch our kids (ages 5 and 9 months) scream in glee as the pirate pops out of his barrel. Set up is a breeze. The only problem we had is that one time we played and the pirate never popped out, even though all the swords were in place. We found out that someone didn't puch the sword in all the way, this would be something you would just have to make sure was done during wach turn. Other than that, this is a cool game and takes a pretty good beating with out breaking. ... Read more

Editorial Review

So many children's games require an adult to help out or setthings up. Not this one. The Snail's Pace Race is a simple game thatproceeds at a child's pace. Everything is based on colors, including thedice, without a printed word in sight. Players roll the dice to seewhich two of the colorful wooden snails they'll move forward one spaceon the board. No matter how many children play, all six snails enter therace. The goal is to guess which snail will be the first--or thelast--to cross the finish line. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Surprising fun
I bought this game because my youngest (3 yrs old) was feeling left out of the games her older siblings were playing. Well, she love it and my 5 and 8 year old loved it too. Since, the outcome is dice dependent, sometime the youngest can win over her older siblings and she likes that. Also, though a little junvenile for the older kids, they like playing a game that everyone can play.Very simple, but it is engaging. I recommend making a 'big deal' out of racing snails, it adds to the drama. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Everybody knows kids get into manias, where they have to play the same game over and over,be it jacks, marbles, or... hopscotch. The only problem with hopscotch is that it's subject to the whims ofthe weather gods. But with this indoor/outdoor hopscotch mat, kids can hop from 1 to 10 any time theyplease. At 83 by 25 inches, the thing is as generously sized as one you'd draw on the sidewalk, and with itsred, blue, orange, and green squares of washable polyester, it's twice as colorful. The set even includes acouple of stuffed markers, for equal opportunity hopping: one's a boy and one's a girl. --ClaireDederer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Lasting toy
I got this for my daughter several years ago. When a friend and I were recently discussing all the toys we had bought that the kids never play with, this came up as one of the few purchases that I felt I got my moneys worth and the kids have played with it over the years. It has held up great. It's perfect for cold, rainy days when the kids have energy to burn. It helps with coordination. I don't know if it still comes with the plastic carrying case, but the case is good for keeping it clean and taking it where ever you go.

The best for your money; Hopscotch playmat is the answer.
We have 5 years old twin daughters, that are to say the least not easy to please. Yet from the first day on that their Uncle presented them with the Hopscotch playmat, they routinely play the fun game over and over again. When they're done they place it inside the vynil bag, it came in. Good price,Very practicle, Great educational value, Clear instructions, Machine washable and best of all our kids love it! Thank you Amazon and Thank you Let's Learn Educational toys - Keep up the good work! Johann Kaizer ... Read more

Editorial Review

With five levels of play, from junior to expert, Railroad RushHour offers a challenge for kids and grownups alike. The puzzle consists of a sturdy plastic grid, 40 puzzle cards (with solutions on the back) for ages 8 and older, 10 junior challenge cards for ages 6 to 8, 17 brightly colored blocking trains, two blocking baggage platforms, a blue-and-white striped travel pouch, and "you," the little red escape locomotive. Trains are placed on the grid as indicated on each puzzle card. The object is to steer your escape locomotive through the freight yard and out the exit gate indicated. You can warm up your problem-solving skills by getting the puzzle out of the box. All aboard for fun! --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Teriffic fun, great value
This game really is great. My autistic 11-year-old gets
a good mental challenge and feeling of accomplishment out of it,
and I have fun as well. My only negative comment is regarding
travel. We've taken it on many plane trips, and it's great
because it fits in a small area to play as well as store, but
it has a lot of small parts (duh! :-), and they are easy to lose
track of when travelling. So be vigilant, and find all those
train cars when putting it away! :-)

Railroad rush hour - a great game for all
This is a fabulous game for people of all ages. Even little kids can play the easy cards. The harder ones can be very engrossing for adults. My son started playing it when he was 4 years old. I have also given it to somebody as a present for their 40th birthday. I recommend it for anybody who wants a bit of a mental challenge.

More Cards Please
This is a great puzzle game. Kids learn problem solving and adults practice their own problem solving; all of this brain work is neatly disquised because they are having fun. I wish that Binary Arts would come out with more card sets for their Railroad game like they have for the Rush Hour game. I want extra puzzles! It would make it more rewarding to own.

Best Game of all Time
This game is like rush hour except a heck of a lot better. This game is so much fun. Me and my family sit around it and try to figure out the puzzles.

Trains! Trains ! and more trains!
From the creators of Rush Hour, Rush Hour2 and Rush Hour 3 comes Railroad Rush Hour, than train game. Binary has come up with yet another thinking game and another great time.

Given 40 cards, from beginner to expert, and 10 junior cards, for those under 8 years old, you'll spend hours trying to get you train out the maze and to the station.

The game includes a cloth holding sack for easy storage and travel, making this the perfect home, road or away game. Kids and parent will both enjoys the hours fun.

I like the idea of the platform blocking pieces moving in any direction, this adds the strategy. Also this gift is priced to fit any budget and makes a great gift for the hard to buy for. Congratulations Binary Arts on a job well done! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fast-Paced Fun For All Ages
This game was tons of fun...I purchased it for my 15-year old daughter for a birthday gift. I ordered Smart Mouth from Amazon.com after reading about it in an issue of Real Simple magazine. We opened it up at her party and everyone from my daughter to her 7- and 9-year old nieces to her aunt and myself just loved this game. It was fast-paced and the youngest girl had the quickest answers. Best of all, they had a blast while spelling words!!! A great game, both educational and fun.

adult party game
It's a shame this is lumped in with educational games. Although I can see it has great potential a as a vocabulary builder, it is one of the most fun adult party games I've ever played. It's similar in dynamic to Jenga, but requires a loose tongue instead of steady fingers, so it's a better choice after partaking of adult beverages. You can set the rules however you want--minumum 4 letters, only 3 letters, only place names, pick another language, anything!

Fun but there are better games out there
I had recieved this game for Christmas and I find it quite enjoyable. The concept of the game is very simple:

You slide the box forward and then back again revealing two tiles. You must think of a word that begins with the first letter and ends with the second. Example
Letters are:A L
Word Possible: Animal

Who ever yells out a word first that works gets the tiles. When the tiles dispencer is empty, you count up your tiles and whoever has the most wins.

If you are looking for a good travel game I do not suggest this one because the tiles can be lost easily. I do suggest this game for kids ages 7+ because you have to have a good vocabilary of words.

Good idea, poor design
Smart Mouth is the perfect name for this word game in which players must make words using the pairs of first and last letters. Though you really do not need the game pieces to play, having the tiles and dispenser helps ramdonize the letter choices and reloading the dispenser gives younger kids a kick. The instructions are clear and offer a variety of options for playing so that the game does not get stale too fast.

Thought the concept is pretty neat, the game itself it poorly designed. Once you dispense a pair of tiles, you have to remove them from the base, and then you loose them---all over the car, the floor, the table. It would have been simple and useful just to create a bigger base for the game.

The packaging is wasteful and ridiculous. The game comes in a large box, but it would easily fit in a box one third the size. There is no excuse for wasting this much cardboard or ink.

Great Fun and Educational!
My 9-year old and I love to play this game. Like Scrabble, it helps to stretch one's vocabulary and requires quick thinking. It would also be fun with a group of adults. Other than the letter tiles that get stored in the main compartment of the game unit, there are no other small parts. With bags for each player to keep "won" tiles, it would be a good travel game. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Brian Busting Toy
The object is to get your logger from one end og the board to the other while following pretty obvious rules. 40 different cards provide a challenge for all levels. Loads of fun. ... Read more