Editorial Review

Just like the real front loaders you might see working along the highway, the Mighty Front Loader was designed to dig, dump, and haul. With its large working bucket, deep-cleated tires, and heavy-duty steel construction, this solid truck is guaranteed for life and built for endless hours of fun in the sandbox or yard. Two handles let you control the angle of the work bucket so you can dig or dump sand and dirt, or move rocks around. Or you can set the bucket in a middle position when you want to haul things for a while without holding the handle. The cab and engine sections swivel, making it easy to steer the front loader to where the work is. The large wheels (4.5-inch diameter) have been mounted over strong steel axles, tested for up to 50 pounds. Realistically styled, the front loader measures 22 inches long by 8 inches wide by 9.5 inches high. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (19)

LOTS OF FUN FOR BOYS AND GIRLS!
I PURCHASED THIS TOY FOR MY 2.5 YR OLD SON AND HE IS HAVING A BALL WITH IT!I THINK HE LIKES THIS TOY BECAUSE IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE REAL ONES HE SEES ON THE ROAD.IT'S TOUGH BUT LIGHTWEIGHT AND EASY FOR LITTLE ONES TO PICK UP.IT ALSO HAS WORKING PARTS WHICH AIDS IN MANUAL DEXTERITY AND IMAGINATIVE PLAY.I APPRECIATE THAT THIS TOY HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY AGAINST MANUFACTURAL DEFECTS SO I KNOW MY CHILD WILL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THIS TOY FOR A LONG TIME TO COME!

Too Much Plastic Too little metal
The front loader has too much plastic on it. 10 years ago it would have been made mainly of metal and very little plastic used. Of course today it is all about maximizing profits at the sake of durability. Steer Clear. There are still products like this made from metal on the market and I would rather pay a little extra for the quality. Obviously Tonka has lost touch with its customer base.

Buy it
These are the BEST toys in the world for kids who love transportation. I got this on special with the free dump truck and they have been all over the house, yard and even went on display for show and tell in grade K. All the kids love it.

If this is on special with the free dump truck as it is several times then don't hesitate get two and save it for a birthday gift. Both girls and boys love 'em. Great buy.

Built Tonka Tough
What a great toy! Talk about imagination! And then again, there's the Tonka quality. This guy gets slammed around quite a bit and still looks brand new. Plus, it's great imaginative fun in the sandbox and in the house. Don't pass this one up!

YESSSSSSS!
My 2 1/2 year old son loves this truck! He didn't want to open anything else on Christmas morning, and this was one of the first gifts that he opened. He loves it. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Caleb loves it
My son (3 yo) has had this for about 8 months now and still loves it. Whenever his friends come over to play, they all inevitably end up inside the toy and take other toys in to play with. It is fairly durable and has been fought over and pulled from room to room many times. If your child loves Thomas, this is a good (if fairly large) toy to have.

Kids LOVE it!
I have not had the bad experience as the customers below. My son got it a year ago when he turned 3 and my daughter was 1 and they both love it. So does the kids that come over to play. Now a year later and they still love it, also it's still in great shape. I am now getting it for a friends son. I find that it's easy to fold up, although the kids don't leave it like that very long.

This tent is AWESOME!!!
My husband and I ordered this for my daughter's 2nd birthday. Let's just say she doesn't come out of it much. She Loves It!!! It is so cute and worth every penny. She has gotten so many hours of enjoyment out of it. She likes to take her books and her Thomas trains in there as well. If your child loves Thomas, they will love the tent.

HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED
I bought this for my 14-month old because he likes to crawl under tables, chairs, etc. I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened it - what a piece of GARBAGE!!! It is made of some paper-like product (like a Bounty paper towel) and it smells horrible. My son had ink all over his fingers after playing in it for just a few minutes. I am definitely returning this item. How annoying that the material of this product is nowhere to be found on the box or in the online description.

confusing
My 2 year old son got this for a gift, he loves it, but it falls over very easliy, and I spent half the time standing it back up, also the directions on how to fold it and put it back in the bag are not very clear, ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great fun, but....
OK, my son loves Thomas. He really, really loves this starter set. STARTER SET! I had tried to avoid the whole Thomas thing because it is kind of a money pit, but my husband said, "it's just a train, he won't need any more than this" - famous last words. Truth is - he loves it, he plays with it, he wants all of it, every accessory, every car - EVERYTHING!!! It is another in the long line of toys that require fifty additional purchases at 30 bucks a pop - but it is durable, fun and has alot of repeat play value - and collectibility. Someday we can sell it all on eBay! :)

A great educational toy
This was bought this for my little boy at 18months and whilst he was fascinated he hadn't yet developed the patience to use it as probably intended. As such the pieces were often pulled apart or he got frustrated when pieces were knocked out of line. However, the train going under/over the bridge proved an enormous attraction.
Now, a year later it is coming into his own and he constantly plays with his 'Choo Choo truck'. He has learned how to move around the track and keep it in one piece, pretend to start and stop, make various noises and generally capture his attention for at least an hour at a time. He is also keen to get me to play with him at the same time.
So:
An excellent educational toy as evidenced by his use over the past year. It has encouraged hand/eye, patience, construction, imagination and sharing his track with others.
It is great fun to play with. There is a great variety of colours, actions, etc. etc. for my son.
Its only minor issue is durability, particularly when used by a very young child. The pieces do last, but become a little battered around the edges. If you have a table then this can be minimised, but if it's set up on the floor it inevitably gets taken apart and pieces go under sofas etc. etc
Nevertheless, I cannot rate this too highly as both a fun toy and an educational means. And, you can buy all the extra bits to make a truly great train set.

A lot of fun.
I brought this toy for my 3 year old daughter after, a little boy I knew liked Thomas. We went to his house and there was Thomas stuff everywhere. Well she fell in love it. And when ever we go to his house all she wants to do is play with his trains. So I got her her own.

W e Love Thomas!!!
My son got this train set for his 2nd birthday.At first I wasnt sure if he was old enough to enjoy it.After we watched a few Thomas videos he totally fell in love with it and all the Thomas characters!!!We play with it everyday and I think it is safe to say that it is his favorite.I wanted him to have a train and this one is great because his grandmother can add to it for specail occasions!!!With all the different engines/vehicles and locations it will be something to collect for years to come!!!!

Great for 18 months to ages 8 or 9!
We bought this set for our son when he was 18 months old. He immediately loved it. Three years later, he has enough track and cars to occupy our entire dining room table. He plays trains every day--no kidding.

The Thomas train collections are durable toys. Their real value, though, is that playing with the toys allows children to act out the great Thomas and Friends children's stories they read and watch.

Purchasing recommendation:
* Choose which type of Thomas trains you will 'standardize' on. There are three kinds: This size of wooden trains from Learning Curve; larger, plastic, battery-operated trains from Tomy; and smaller, die-cast metal trains from Ertl. The wooden trains have the most products and accessories available.

* The clickety-clack (grooved to look like real railroad) track in the Thomas series is great, but it's expensive; ...

* Buy the Thomas and friends engines separately--and wait for sales. The kids care about the characters, so no short-cutting (ie., Brio or generic trains) here.

* Look for trains bundled with VHS videos. You can get a video and a train (on sale) for about what a train costs all by itself. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Expensive, but great quality
I was really torn over whether this table justified it's price; especially since it doesn't include the play top, which you have to buy seperately. Despite the price, I do have to say, I'm very happy with the quality of the product.

When the table arrived the box was dinged, but thankfully the contents inside were well packed with styrofoam and cardboard protecting each piece.

The wood is high quality with easy to connect fastners. Very stable. The train images on the side of the table and on the legs are great. They weren't stickers, but actually some kind of high quality painted image that has a very durable finish on it. Some of the train images even have a full plastic face piece for Thomas and each of his friends.

The table is well designed for a toddler's height and the allows them to reach to the center.

Needless to say my 2 year old son loves it! He wakes up in the morning, says choo choo and runs out to go play at the table.

Not a sturdy table
My sister in law bought this table for her 2 yr old son for Xmas....it is way overpriced for what it is....i wanted to buy one for our sons but could not see spending that much money on such a cheap table. So my husband ended up buying plans to build your own train table and built our sons their own with built in drawers and (...) and it is way nicer and sturdier than the Thomas one. Yes they can all stand on it...! We painted it in Thomas colors and decorated it and it is the nicest looking table i have ever seen and all the kids love it!!!! you can build one in about 8 hrs or so....worth it!!! this will be handed down to the next generations...

Substitute for the table/frame/
We admired the table for really long time and saw that it's worth spending money but decided to figure out smth cheaper. So we painted our old coffee table almost the same Thomas blue color and attached the board to it. Our 2year son loves it and doesn't really care if it's the same table/frame/or not. We spray painted the table and hope it will work for a long while.

AWESOME TABLE!
Toys r us had a super deal where you buy the table and get the top free. With the price being so high, we feel we got a GREAT deal. My son loves this table. We got for him for his 2nd birthday. It was simple to put together and is so durable. Not like the other cheap pine/particle board tables you see. The graphics are so bright and my son is always pointing to the sides and saying choo choo. Great investment.

Expensive - but worth the money for it's durability
I umm and aahh about spending this sort of money on a train table for my children but after doing my homework I decided this is the one I would buy.

Other train tables I have seen in stores are often wonky and seem quite unstable - and this is after they've been played on in the stores. So after seeing poorer quality tables for similar prices I decided to save up for the Thomas branded one (also bought the one-sided play table board to go with it).

Yes, it's expensive, but as with all any "brand", it's the name you are paying for. If you want a Thomas collection of trains and accessories you are going to have to pay. I'm just starting our collection and am buying the "Thomas" trains and buildings, but found a compatible generic track for less than half the price. I was lucky enough to get this table at almost half price at a after Christmas sale. It's worth waiting for sales and price comparing.

Having said all that - we have found the table to be excellent. It's at the right height for all our children (4, 3 and 1 year old) and me when I'm sitting on the floor playing with them. There is also plenty of room underneath to have some good sized storage containers for all your pieces of train track and other accessories.

The table frame is packed very well to protect the 3D train faces that are on two sides of the table. It's beautifully painted and when it's put together is extremely strong (although I wouldn't recommend standing on it).

Now that we have this table I no longer have to nag the kids about getting their train tracks off the lounge room floor, they can leave their "town" up for days until they want to change it. We also have a great table for their other car/train sets, or Little People towns or Duplo Creations.

It's up to you to spend to decide if you want to spend this sort of money but I see this as something I won't ever have to replace and it's something my son can keep for his children. Toys like this will last! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Nice picture making for an easier puzzle
My 2 year old daughter has this puzzle and thinks its wonderful.

Unlike many puzzles, with just one character on it, the picture is brilliant having lots of different trains, etc on it. It is easy to fit togehter, with parts of a different character or scene on every piece. She can easily put Thomas, the sheds, Harold, etc together thus eventually making the whole puzzle.

This is by far her favourite puzzle. For one, it's Thomas! And for 2, it's well-made and 'easy' to work out how to put together.

Most Beloved Toy
My son who just turned 4 years old in December received this for Christmas. I'm amazed at the beauty and durability of the pieces. He put it together about three times (with help) the first time we opened it! I never seen him so excited about a toy and to my greater surprise--a puzzle! Each time he placed a new piece in (sometimes with my assistance and sometimes not), he'd ask me to turn around and then ask me to look. When I looked I praised him for his accomplishment and he squealed with excitement. He literally jumped up and down almost after each piece was placed! He told me this was his favorite gift for Christmas and believe me he had quite a few more that were more expensive. I'll be buying more Thomas puzzles from this company in the near future as I'm very impressed.

Easy enough for young kids to solve by themselves
My son and I have been doing puzzles together since he was two, but most of the puzzles that claim to be for kids are too complicated or have pieces that are a little too small for him to work with; so he usually "helps" me by talking with me as I do the puzzle and occasionally placing a piece. He likes this big Thomas puzzle because, at age 4, he can do it all by himself. The pieces are big, which not only makes it easier to grasp and manipulate, but easier to comprehend the shape and the picture pattern as well. Of course, he likes that it is Thomas, and he even likes the "cool" box it comes in.

So this puzzle has a lot of replay value, because whenever we start a puzzle session, he will eventually move to this one to show mommy and me that he can do it all by himself, and that makes him feel good.

Big, bright puzzle
My son has enjoyed this puzzle since he was 3! It features a bright picture of his favorite engines. The pieces are large and easy to handle- perfect for a younger child who loves puzzles. It has been great for spacial learning. My son would put this together, again and again. He is almost 5 now and still plays with this. The pieces have lasted for almost 2 years and still look new! (They are a heavy cardboard.) ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mighty indeed! This Tonka backhoe is aptly named. Riding high above the ground (11 inches) on large, rugged tires (4.5 inches indiameter), it's constructed of heavy-duty steel and durable plastic. Realistically styled after a full-size backhoe, it has a long steel arm for digging deep or scooping up rocks and dirt. The backhoe can swivel a full 360 degrees on the truck bed, making it easy to load dirt into other trucks or get to those hard-to-reach rock piles. There's a sure-grip handle on the side of the arm for lifting and lowering, and another handle at the base of the arm lets the "driver" extend or retract the work bucket for scooping and dumping. The backhoe sits on strong steel axles that have been tested with a 50-pound load. With a lifetime guarantee to back it up, the Mighty Backhoe is built to withstand all the rough play your kids can dish out. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The way Tonka ought to be!
I got this backhoe for my 3 year old last year and it has put up with more abuse than any toy should have to face -yet it still works well & looks fine. My son has had an enormous amount of fun playing with it, riding on it, attacking his sister with it, etc. and it keeps coming back for more. Don't bother with motorized plastic, this is the real thig!

My 3 year old grandson loves favorite trucks
I bought the backhoe, dump truck and the back loader and recently purchase the crane for him. He takes them everywhere he goes. His father takes him to see the real ones at work and he know what each one is called.

They are very durable. Great trucks.

Great toy
My boys (2 and 3) love this!!!
(It's metal, so not great for really little children.)

Your kid is going to LOVE this!!
I bought this backhoe, the front loader, and the dump truck for my 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year old boys. The quaility is great and we love the steroid size of these classic construction vehicles! My children really dig these huge toys. They get lots of imaginative and creative play with these construction toys as well as practice with hand-eye dexterity and manipulation. There is so much fun to have in piles of sand, rocks, gravel, or plain old dirt!

Fun and leaning in one toy.
This is a toy that works great in combination with the Tonka Mighty Dump Truck.

My nephew normally is glued to computer games, but this toy actually got him to play outside for a change.

It is durable and works best when the child has access to dirt/sand. ... Read more

Editorial Review

As kids move their Matchbox cars along this circular snowy mountain road, the cars hit the hazards along the way. This playset lets your child control the rescue mission. Easy-to-work knobs operate the motorized lift, which rescues cars that have crashed or sunken into the pool of thin ice in the center of Ice Mountain. An included rescue vehicle assists cars that have been buried under the avalanche on the lower level of the roadway. Kids can use this set on its own or combine it with other Hero City vehicles and play centers to create a bigger city. This set requires three C batteries (not included) to operate. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Must be COMPLETELY & SECURELY assembled to work
I bought this for my 3 year old for Christmas. I spent an hour putting it together with all the stickers. It didn't work. I changed the batteries to be sure. I braved the lines the day after Christmas to exchange it. The first thing I did was put batteries in the control part to see if it worked. I did NOT. I was EXTREMELY frustrated. I came online to see if others were having problems. I found I was not alone. One review said to make sure that all the connections were secure. So I put the new one together checking all the connections. Still it did not work. I then got on my knees beside the toy and put my body weight on it at each joint. I finally got it to work. My son absolutely loves playing with it. My advice is even when you have "snapped and clicked" it together and it still doesn't work, put your weight into it and make sure it's really together. I found that there was one connection that I had heard click together, but the toy didn't work until I pressed down on it REALLY HARD.

Our 4 year old loves this
Ice Mountain has been our son's favorite toy since the moment he opened it 4 months ago. He plays with it by himself, with his 2-year-old sister, with his friends, and even proudly shows it off to any visitor who happens by. We like the noises that it makes, unlike other battery operated toys, these sounds have not yet gotten under our skin.

Not Boy Proof
My 4 year old received Ice Mountain as a Christmas gift. By the next day it was already running sluggishly on a new set of batteries. The gears that run the "ice ring" slipped and made a terrible grinding noise. The problems persisted even after a change of batteries. It totally stopped working, noises and all, about a month after Christmas. Although he continues to play with it and enjoy it, as a parent I was extremely dissapointed with the durability and longivity of the toy especailly for the price.

Bummer for a 3 year old
Hero City Ice mountain was the only toy my 3 year old wanted, We got it for him,put it together with no help from the instructions because they were very hard to understand.The darn thing would not work, wish I new about the secret reset button!
I sent it back to Walmart.com. got credit because I thought I could buy another. Not. It is impossible to find one in stock or have to pay a fortune .Mattel was of no help. ...

Neat
As the other reviewers have pointed out, the instructions are very poor. The poor written instructions don't help with the not to scale diagrams. However, we got it together and it worked! Then a few hours later it wouldn't work. I took it apart with no luck. We wanted to return/replace it finding out like the other reviewers that it can't be replaced. My wife called Mattel and they revealed the secret reset button underneath the crane which solved our problem. Why isn't this in the instructions? Anyway our 3 year old likes it but not as much as his Dad. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Cool but I only wanted the construction cars
What I meant by my title is that I already had Rusty and I just wanted the Construction Cars. The cars sway from side to side and they can survive a lot of damage. I was suprised at how durable these were. The sets are a lot of fun because you don't need any additional things to go with it for immediate fun. These toys are really good for a car trip to keep a child busy when they are bored. I would higly recommend getting this set but don't buy Rusty first.

Rusty is good
Rusty is great. i got him as a present for christmas one year he has 3 cars - rusty a dumper and a cement mixer you can use him with cranky or anything with a magnet. he is also in some episodes on a video.

Rusty & Construction Cars!!
The Thomas & Friends wooden railroad gives you Rusty and 2 Construction Cars. This set provides hours of fun for your children because they can use this set to recreate stories about Rusty and his construction fun. Its educational value shows children how man-made things are built and they will probably use this set with thier Lincoln Logs and other construction kits. This is also a very sturdy set, but sometimes the mixer's top will come off and will need a frequent fix-up! Other than that, it's a wonderful set and a great gift idea!

Great addition to Thomas collection
If your child likes thomas the tank, they will love this little set. My son is crazy about it. He makes little construction sites out of his lincoln logs along his track and then delivers the necessary supplies for building with these trains. What fun! ... Read more

Editorial Review

After longs days of travel and adventure, Thomas the Tank Engine and friends need a place to rest. The Roundhouse is built in exactly the same way as it was when part of the British Railway, solidly constructed in wood and decorated with brick decals. Five trains fit inside the wooden train shelter, and the green plastic doors open and close. It connects to any of the Clickity-Clack Tracks from the Thomas Wooden Railway System with a five-way switch track. There are almost as many pieces to this line of train sets (sold separately) as there are books in the Thomas the Tank Engine series--all contained in carrying cases. All of these toys allow children to engage in imaginative, thoughtful play. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Excellent, durable, fun
As an avid Thomas fan, my son (4) loves this roundhouse. For the unenlightened, this is the house where the trains "sleep." It is durable and easy to put together and immediately adds to the complexity and fun of any track combination. It allows my son to engage more easily into pretend play, as he can put differnt trains back to the roundhouse to take a rest while he plays with others. The only minus of this building is its size--it is quite big and cannot be put apart. But again, as all the Learning Curve Thomas series toys, it is durable (wood), fun, easy to put together and a long term favorite.

Fantasic but Pricey!
When I ordered the roundhouse I believed that the red 5-way switch track was also included, especially when it is pictured on the box, but was disappointed to find that it wasn't. As my 4 year old son believes, as I am sure most do, that this is a very necessary piece of the building he will have to wait until his birthday to receive it (...). A little upsetting.
Apart from this one thing the Roundhouse is a fantastic piece to have on any Thomas layout, my son loves it and plays with it for hours.

ROUNDHOUSE FUN!!!!!
This is a fun piece. You can put your trains to sleep behind 5 different doors (the Special Engine Shed only has room for one train). It is fun to open and close the doors. You can play hide and seek!

Great for 18 months and up! But expensive...
The Thomas train and train collections are durable toys. Their real value, though, is that playing with the toys allows children to act out the great Thomas and Friends children's stories they read and watch.

Kids' imaginations can remarkably supply buildings and water towers and cranes, etc., so that they won't even miss what might be lacking from less expensive sets. And families can build some of these items themselves out of old boxes, etc. BUT I HAVE YET TO MEET KIDS THAT LOVE THOMAS THAT DIDN'T WANT A ROUNDHOUSE.

This is the 'official' Thomas roundhouse, but it is very expensive. YOU PROBABLY CAN FIND A GENERIC ROUNDHOUSE FOR A LOT LESS (MAYBE EVEN 2/3 LESS!) WITH A LITTLE LOOKING.

Purchasing recommendation:
* Choose which type of Thomas trains you will 'standardize' on. There are three kinds: This size of wooden trains from Learning Curve; larger, plastic, battery-operated trains from Tomy; and smaller, die-cast metal trains from Ertl. The wooden trains have the most products and accessories available.

* The clickety-clack (grooved to look like real railroad) track in the Thomas series is great, but it's expensive; I recommend buying generic track. ... You can literally save hundreds of dollars by buying these kinds of sets.

* Buy the Thomas and friends engines separately--and wait for sales. The kids care about the characters, so no short-cutting (ie., Brio or generic trains) here.

* Look for trains bundled with VHS videos. You can get a video and a train (on sale) for about the same price as a train alone.

* Only buy the official accessories (buildings, tables, etc.) if you cannot find generic substitutes for less or cannot make them yourself.

Comes as Shown in the Picture
My kids absolutely love playing with this, and we had no issues with missing parts. The biggest issue with it is the cost. Face it, it's a lot of money. However, if your kids are beginning to get into Thomas, then you're better off buying this than buying more and more of the trains. You can easily spend the same buying four or five of the lesser known trains, but I think that your children will have more fun with this.

I also looked at the Roundhouse by Brio. The Learning Curve Roundhose is less expensive and it is very solid. The Brio Roundhouse has doors at the back of the Roundhose whereas this is open. My children don't mind one bit that it is open in the back. ... Read more

Editorial Review

While Thomas the Tank Engine and his various friends have been featured quite nicely in a variety of toys, games, stories, videos, books, and pajamas, it's as a train set that Thomas really makes the most sense. And this sprawling ensemble is certain to delight any Thomas fan. Measuring 62 by 90 inches when laid out in full, it features Thomas and several of his pals including Percy, Harold, Annie and Clarabel, Terrence, Trevor, and Cranky, all of whom are motorized. Tunnels, bridges, and houses add to the authenticity of the set as do three engine sheds positioned around a large turntable with directional switch. 26 pieces of road let you arrange the town according to the prescribed plan or design your own unique layout. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Editorial Review

The name Tonka means "big 'n' chunky" to many people, and this dump truck doesn't disappoint. Even the plastic chassis and front end are sturdy, and the tipping truck bed--itself nearly a foot long--is a solid slab of yellow steel. The tires are almost 5 inches in diameter and can ride confidently over any random pile of lesser toys. This is not a vehicle with a great deal of sophistication--the truck bed tilts, and that's it--but it is one that encourages, and can take, a lot of rough use. Included with the truck are a sturdy plastic construction helmet with the Tonka logo and two tools, a shovel scoop and three-pronged rake. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Features

• Special Gift Pack includes:
• Tonka Mighty Dump Truck
• Construction Helmet
• Tools

Reviews (4)

Great toy!
This is such a great idea and wonderful addition to our Tonka collection. It is so cute and sparks such imagination for our toddler. You really cannot destroy these toys either - we've tried!

Hee hee... "Mighty Dump"...
Ya know, it's nice to see some things have hardly changed at all since my childhood days. Take this big guy for example: this classic Tonka dump truck still has the same look it did when I was zoomin' one through my sandbox almost two decades ago! I am a bit bummed that the undercarriage is now made of plastic-- a pretty tough plastic, fortunately-- but otherwise things have pretty much stayed the same over the years design-wise. Most of the cab and the dumper bed are still made of steel, and the exhaust stack is still rubberized for your young'un's safety. Then there's the thing that REALLY hasn't changed after all this time: the difficulty I have holding back snickers whenever I see or hear the words "mighty dump". And judging from the previous sentence, my filthy-minded reaction to certain out-of-context phrases hasn't changed all that much, either...

'Late

Tonka Tough
When my oldest daughter was two, we bought her a Tonka dump truck. She is a junior in high school now, and the truck has endured heavy play from two more of our children, not to mention those of neighbors and visiting relatives. It's moved hundreds if not thousands of loads of sand around the sandbox, not to mention carrying sticks, dolls and even kids up and down the driveway, across the basement and through the kitchen.

I am planning to buy one for my nieces for Christmas.

All Toys Should Be Made This Well
My son received this toy for his first Christmas and we have have been playing with it ever since. -- Two and a half years later, fast forward through his third birthday, and we still play with this even though some of the newer toys and gifts remain untouched and overlooked.

I think the reason why has to do with the freedom my son has to use his imagination and to use this in combination with other toys. Also the size and scale are delightfully easy for small hands, and just small enough to be independently carted out to the back yard to scoop up dirt or snow or whatever the New England seasons dish out. The color and finish looks as bright and shiny as ever and I imagine it will continue look good for years to come. -- And now, Tonka has added cool accessories to boot! Your little Bob the builder fan will be as enchanted as mine, I'm certain. -- The other thing, is that since the toy looks so great, requires no batteries, has really nothing to break, and makes no NOISE -- it is a favorite with the parents in this house as well. Makes a great gift for almost anybody. Grab one. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In this sweet and gentle amusement park themed play set from Matchbox, it seems like the cars are having just as much fun as the people have. After all, it's not often that cars get to go on a Ferris wheel or get shot out from a cannon to knock over pretend space aliens and win prizes. With bright colors and soft designs, it's a silly, non-violent toy option for younger kids. One car is included with this particular set but it's compatible with other Hero City gear from Matchbox, affording the possibility of creating a vast and sprawling Hero City empire. Three C batteries are required but not included. A DVD with two Hero City cartoons is included.  --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Editorial Review

Toot-toot! All aboard for lunch with the very functional Thomas the Tanklunch box, which is made of durable plastic and comes in the traditional Thomasblue with a red handle. Inside the generous container are an 11.5-ounce canteenand a Pecoware double-deck sandwich container, which measures 5 by 5 by 3inches. Both are adorned with Thomas scenes. On the front of the lunch box is anifty front panel--decorated with another happy Thomas scene--that clips open.This compartment is big enough to accommodate another sandwich or is the perfecthiding place to tuck away a secret goodie for your child. Press a button on theside of the canteen, and the cover pops up, revealing a straw. No muss, no fuss.The lunch box measures 9 by 7 by 4.5 inches and can hold a lot of food--forchildren or adults! --Diane Tuman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Most Adorable Lunchbox
This Thomas Train Lunchbox is GREAT! My three year old son was so excited when he saw it for the first time. It is spacious and well constructed. The compartments are large and there are multiple options for use with each piece. The kids (ages 3-5) in his preschool class went crazy when he brought it to school. It is a one of a kind.

Retro cool
I gave this 5 stars for fun, because my son loved it from day one, and would not leave the store without it. He played with it for days while we waited for school to reopen after Christmas.

I rated it 5 stars for educational value, because it made him want to go to school, which is a significant educational achievement indeed.

Unfortunately, I had to mark it down, because the water bottle is already broken at the point where the button to press it open meets the cap. Also, the straw is hard to clean, especially after a young child eats a cheesy snack and nibbles on the straw.
Lastly, the front compartment is very difficult to open, especially for a young child, so you end up not using that section at all.

Other than these, it's tough, it's cute, and it's a retro look that parents remember all too well. Substitute another bottle, and enjoy.

now in its fifth year of use and still going strong!
This is THE lunchbox to get! My six year old son received this as a gift for his first birthday. I didn't think much of it at the time. HA! Little did I know how much we would use this durable and practical lunch box set! I can pack his lunch everyday without one piece of plastic wrap or one plastic baggie! A sandwich fits perfectly in the tray provided and stays fresh and soft until lunch time! Under the sandwich I pack fruit, pretzels or other snacks....again without any plastic wrap or baggy! I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!

Cute item for your Thomas fan, but...
A friend of mine bought this lunchbox for my son and he loved it as soon as he got it. He's 4 and not in kindergarten yet, so this only gets used from time to time when we go out to lunch, etc. It can also be used to carry along small toys, trains, or whatever. Another reviewer has said hers cracked after it was dropped. I can't really comment too much on that since ours hasn't been dropped (yet). The lunchbox is pretty roomy on the inside and even has a side compartment too! There's a snack box inside with a little tray which basically divides it into two compartments. I usually put a sandwich on top and put other things underneath. The biggest problem with the whole set is the cup that comes with it. It is really cute, but leaks into the lunchbox frequently and is a MAJOR PAIN to clean. There's a little spring loaded straw that pops up when you open the top, and goes back down when you close it. You basically have to disassemble these parts each time you clean it and let them dry, then put the whole thing back together again. I think they could've included a simple thermos or something that would have been much easier to use and clean. My son loves the design of the box, so I would recommend this lunchbox. However, I would leave the cup at home and throw in a juice box or something instead!!

The Thomas Lunch Box
My 3 year old son has this lunchbox and he dropped it and it cracked. It's not very durable. Also, it has a compartment for an ice pack, but didn't come with one. It is very difficult to find an ice pack for the size of the compartment. On a good note, he loves the drinking cup and snack box. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mighty is right! This Tonka crane, constructed of heavy-dutysteel and durable plastic, rides high on large, rugged tires.Realistically styled, it has a long, steel arm with a bucket attachedfor scooping up and relocating rocks or dirt. With its deep-cleatedtires and heavy-duty steel construction, this solid vehicle isguaranteed for life and built for endless hours of fun in the sandboxor yard. The bright-yellow cab section swivels, making it easy to steerthe crane to where the work is. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Great Christmas Gift
We gave this to our 5 year old grandson for Christmas and he was thrilled. When we left their house 3 days later, he was still thrilled with the crane. I love the metal that Tonka uses, the plastic trucks do not last with 5 year old twin boys. I recommend this crane for any little boys that enjoy Mighty Machines.

unsafe and frustrating
We got this for our 3-year-old son last Christmas, and he was thrilled with it. He played with it for about 5 minutes and was very frustrated because the arm would not stay in place, it kept crashing down no matter how securely kid (or parents) would try to set it in place. Unsafe for fingers or anyone in the way of the arm when it goes. We tried playing with it for a few days and ended up exchanging it for the excavator instead, which was a big disappointment -- this had been his very favorite thing under the tree. Extremely poor engineering on this one.

Doesn't do the Tonka name proud....
While it's not the cool all-metal stuff that I remember, I know my son enjoyed playing with this. At least UNTIL the lever that keeps the crane up broke. It's a shoddy piece of plastic wrapped by a thin tin shell. I'm very unhappy with this. And as for my son.. it's no fun seeing a 3-year-old cry...

A Fix For The String
I recently purchased the crane, excavator, front loader, etc... The very first time he tried to use it the bucket came off the string. He also has the mini one with the same problem. After you tie it back on put a bead of hot glue on both sides of the knot and press it between your fingers just before it hardens. Neither knot has slipped since! We just found a Tonka track bulldozer that my husband played with 30 years ago and it still works! My son has added it to his fleet. I'm confident these will be around for his kids too!!

Simple and Tough, it will be long life toy.
I bought the crane for my son. He is almost 3y old. This crane is his favorite one and so tough against play at out door ground. (I am not satisfied at just 2 points. 1st one is the stripe on the body. It is not paint but paper seal, weak for wash. 2nd one is spring at baggage. It will be too strong for younger children. ) I also love it because of simple and tough concept. I would like to collect other items for construction role play with my son. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Mom of a car lover
My three year old loves all these cars. He takes them everywhere. Not sure I can give more stars to education - not sure what they can do educationally

hot wheels are the [stuff]
i highly recommend this gift to anyone into hotwheels if it wasnt for my godson i would have kept it for myself i think this kids gonna [be very happy] when he unwraps this gift because he loves hot wheels hes going to be 2 years old and he can already tell real hotwheels for [look alike] matchbox cars and other nockoff brand hot wheels is the original and people should only buy hotwheels because any other brand is [not as good]

Hot Wheels are cool for all ages !!!
Hey I am 21 years old and still collect and play with Hot Wheel cars. I have a huge collection of un opened cars but also I have a huge track set up in my shop where I spend most of my time playing with my opened cars when not working. I am always on the look out for new cars I have not got in my collection and I love your new 20 pack of cars. It Is a lot of super cars for only a great low price of under $25 Bucks that makes them a super steal for any age I already have 1 and plan to buy 2 more for myself and a few extra will make super Duper Christmas gifts for family and friends.I think Hot Wheels are for all ages because at times my dad breaks out his 1965 collection for some serious 1 on 1 competion on the track and he usually rocks. Hot Wheels are cool toys for all ages and I have seen many older people break out their child hood memories to play and play as they were kids in their earlier years having a lot of fun. Hot Wheels brings out the Kid in all of us I think That is why they are so cool !! GO HOT WHEELS!!!!

Classic, traditional, yet modern and sturdy
It might seem as if 20 cars is too much at once.

Days as a five year old were best filled with playing in complete abandon. The freedom proffered by youth needed only a few toys to complete the ever-present joy. A few toys which mattered included several tattered but friendly books, a truck or two, an odd shovel and bucket, and, the coup de grace, a Hot Wheels car. Mattel makes a track as well, but a well-made car could take a boy places. This set of 20 is what kindergartners drool over.

A boy has everything in this set: vehicles of all colors, a few truck varieties, some funny looking cars. There are plenty, and frankly, since a few will invariably wind up lost under the couch, eaten by the dog, and buried with other treasures in the garden, having 20 quickly becomes justified.

Why a Hot Wheels car? Because they are made with hard steel. They are painted with a slick color. They hold up to frequent tastings, sand grindings, dirt smearings and other nonsense that comes with power racing in a sandbox. Sticky chocolate wipes off with warm water, and grime comes out with a good spray under the faucet.

The wheels themselves have a bounce peculiar to a genuine Hot Wheels vehicle. That's how my brother and I made sure it had adequate fuel. Ten bounces should be enough, we figured, and usually, we were right.

I fully recommend the "Hot Wheels 20-Car Gift Pack."

Anthony Trendl ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This is a book review for Thomas & The School Trip for MFLP
This is a great MFLP book for Thomas friends old and new. My 3yr.old loves to hear the engines talk while playing the educational games. Thomas and his friends teach shapes, colors, opposittes, matching and problem solving while taking the children on a school trip. After each page is read aloud to your child,(ideally, your child will read along silently) he can explore Thomas's surroundings or choose to play a game. My son loves the games and seems to be appropriately challenged; not frustrated with the content. This is the first book we purchased outside of the MFLP w/ it's initial book. Even so, I think this will prove to be one of the better books.

Great educational toy for youngsters!
I initally bought the regular Leap Pad for my then 5 year old daughter last Christmas. She loves it! But then my 2 year old son started getting into hers, so we decided to get him the My First Leap Pad this past Christmas. He can't get enough of it. He plays with it at least 2-3 times a day, and he has actually learned from the toy. They think they are playing, but they are learning at the same time. I have owned quite a few Leap Frog Products, and every one has been great! I would not hesitate to buy any of Leap's products, they are all good investments in our children's future.

success
I really think the leap frog of thomas the tank engine is really educational. My son loves it and really is learning from it. He has come with new vocabulary everday. Thanks.

Not as authentic as the disney /nick jr theme books
My 2 1/2 year old loves the Pooh bear book for My First Leap Pad, and the Bear in the Big Blue house/Bob the Builder/Dora the Explorer for the regular leappad. Thats because, those include the several theme songs from the actual videos which he really enjoys. And the actual voices of the TV characters. This does not include the catchy Thomas the Tank engine music which is what he, as a toddler, really loves and associates with Thomas! He is usually singing one of the songs as he plays at his train table. The voices too are not Alec Baldwin or Carlin. So, despite featuring familiar characters, since the musical part of this book is on the whole, not very good, he prefers even the Rhyme book. .... the rhyme book for My First Leappad, is much better than the one for the regular Leappad.

a very worthy investment
My two-and-half years old boy loves this! Since we speak Mandarin Chinese at home, he does not learn much English from us. But I was pleasantly surprised that he learned a lot of English words a month after he started playing with this book. I now have all the other books for My First Pad since I am so impressed with its educational value. This is the best return I have gotten from money invested in toys. Now I am concentrating my toy money on Leapfrog stuffs. Thank you LeapFrog! ... Read more

Editorial Review

James the Red Engine is one of the Thomas the Tank Engine series of train cars and is made of real wood. James has a cheery, smiling face on the front of the engine, promising an adventure as soon as the train leaves the station. James the Red Engine pulls his own coal car, so he won't run out of fuel. The cars attach to each other with magnets. This is a toy that encourages imaginative play and requires no batteries. Engine with attached coal car measures 5.75 inches in length. --Margaret Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Better than Thomas
Although my 3 year old loves Thomas on TV, for some reason he loves the James toy more than the Thomas one. The coal car is a big deal to him. His 18 month old brother loves it too. These toys withstand two boys playing with them better than any other I can find. I bought the tracks & engine at Christmas & they still play with it EVERY day!

Hooray for James
James does a great job pulling the coaches along the track. He can pull pretty much anything at a fast pace. I've had my Jame sfor 9 years and it looks almost new. He's a great engine and you can live the episodes with these trains.

Grandma's Magic Accident
I purchased Thomas the engine without realizing that it was not battery operated. I gave it to my 2 year old grandson for his birthday because I had nothing else to give, and the twinkle in his eyes let me know I had hit upon a winner. The adventures for Thomas and his friends have not ended. I have since purchsed, Skarloey, Ben & Bill, Douglas, Percy, Toby and Bertie. The adventures just don't seem to end for my grandson. He plays with this toy for hours. His vocabulary has increased at the same pace as his adventures. The fact that this is not battery operated is the joy of the toy. I need not turn on the television to keep him occupied, he has Thomas and his many friends and that is good enough for me.

JAMES IS GREAT!!!!!!!!
James is one of my favorite engines he is a big engine and the same length as duke edward and mike and he is in a lot of stories like james goes buzz buzz.

Best Investment I Have Ever Made
My 2 year old son loves his James. He likes him best because of the bright red color. His Thomas the Tank train set is the only toy he plays with period and he plays with it everyday. Other than Thomas Trains, he plays outside. When we have guests, he takes them all to play with his train set. To any first time buyer of Thomas trains you will notice the prices seem high for a toy of this size but you have to remember that these toys are not plastic but are made of solid maple and have a lifetime warranty. People have asked me why I buy these trains when they most of the set is not battery powered. The reason is because it has been my experience that children get pretty bored just watching a train go around a track. With Thomas the Tank Trains your little loved one gets to actually participate by moving the trains. All the trains have different colors, numbers and names which help promote memory skills and recognition while having fun. The Thomas Tank Engine books and DVD's teach lessons and morals on hard work, kindness, accepting responsibility, etc, etc, etc...... As your child ages they can begin to build their own track layouts so the toy grows with them. The makers of this series have also included items in the series that are good for people with a tighter budget. If your child likes the trains but you can't buy a full track set, you can always buy a play mat that has track printed on them or you can get Thomas the Tank engine felt boards and stick-ups. I hope this review helps!!!!!!! ... Read more