Home Depot Chainsaw with Sound
Average Customer Review:
Toy
-- our price: $9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Here's a realistic toy chainsaw, made of sturdy orange plasticwith a black handle and a blue knuckle guard. The "blade" is made ofsilver-colored plastic and has a kid-safe plastic chain. The chainsawhas three blue buttons. One press-type button makes an engine-y sort ofnoise that is truly loud and could be very satisfying for the would-belogger. Luckily it stops on its own after about five seconds. So doesthe trigger-type button on the handle that makes the chain on the blademove while making more saw-like sounds. This is where the realaction of the toy is, and it sounds very much like a real chainsaw. Thistoy has some nice heft, but it isn't too heavy for a preschooler. Itrequires two AA batteries (included). --M. Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Not ideal for cutting up bodies...
When I got this I was like, REALLY excited, because I could finally hack up all those bodies I was hiding in the garage. Much to my surprise, the thing didn't even work! All it did was make "realistic" chainsaw sounds! What good does THAT do?! None, I say! I'd be better off using the dull pocket knife that one guy used to cut half his arm off with.

Great entertainment for a little boy
We bought the chain saw for a 2 yr old and he loves it! He still plays with it after a year.

Received this as a gag gift.... NOT funny!
My son (3) received this as a gift from my uncle who lives more than 100 miles away so he will never have to hear the racket that this toy makes. When my son opened this toy and started it up my uncle let out an evil laugh and and said "Do you wanna' kill me?!?!" He then told me that he only bought it as a joke to annoy me and gave my son his "real" gift.Anyway, this toy is waaaaaay too loud. I even think that it might exceed the acceptible decible level for a child's toy but that's just my opinion.Would I buy this toy for someone elses child? Well.... yes. Only if I was trying to pay back the parents for some type of wrong-doing, lol! Oh.... I made the batteries disappear out of this toy right after he received it. He plays make-believe and is very content with that. ... Read more

Asin: B000059LBH
Subjects:  1. Pretend Play    2. Tools   

Jack Hammer
Average Customer Review:
Toy

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Reviews (1)

dependable and gets the job done
I have used this toy to demo a flagstone/concrete patio and about 80 feet of sidewalk. I first tried the sledgehammer/prybar route, but that was too slow and tiresome. I got the job done by myself in less than 8 hours with this toy. It is quieter than gas/air powered hammers, but I still wore ear protection. It is easy to operate and not very fatiguing-the most tiring part is picking it up and setting it down. It is heavy, but I could lift it into the trunk of my car by myself. With 2 people lifting it is a breeze and the cart makes transporting it very easy. I ran it hard all day and it never complained- and this was a pretty beat up rental tool. I highly recommend this toy if electricity is available-it is much more convenient than gas and compressed air hammers. Plus it is powerful and durable enough for all but the biggest demolition jobs. ... Read more

Asin: B0000945KV
Sales Rank: 22380
Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Die-Cast    3. Play Sets   

Finding Nemo (Collector's Edition)
Director: Lee Unkrich, Andrew Stanton
Average Customer Review:
DVD (04 November, 2003)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $22.49
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Editorial Review

A delightful undersea world unfolds in Pixar's animated adventure Finding Nemo. When his son Nemo is captured by a scuba-diver, a nervous-nellie clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) sets off into the vast--and astonishingly detailed--ocean to find him. Along the way he hooks up with a scatterbrained blue tang fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who's both helpful and a hindrance, sometimes at the same time. Faced with sharks, deep-sea anglers, fields of poisonous jellyfish, sea turtles, pelicans, and much more, Marlin rises above his neuroses in this wonderfully funny and nonstop thrill ride--rarely does more than 10minutes pass without a sequence destined to become a theme park attraction. Pixar continues its run of impeccable artistic and economic success (their movies include Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, and Monsters, Inc). Also featuring the voices of Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, and Allison Janney. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Features

• Animated
• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (872)

A MOVIE WORTH SEA-ING
This is a great animated movie. It looks amazing in HD!
You'll want to add this one to your dvd collection.

good.very good.
It's about one parent's quest to find his child against all (well most) odds.Well, the father gets a lot of help from all sorts of animals.And there's a lot of luck involved.

The nice thing is that Nemo is a fish with a disability, and it's always nice to have characters whose lives are not perfect that nevertheless can find happiness and love.

I like the idealism, and the portrayal of success of characters whoare not perfect.I think the coincidences and luck are outrageous, but during the movie my suspension of disbelief managed to stay intact.

I think it's a lot healthier than a lot of other stuff that threaten to stick themselves in childrens' heads.

What's the big deal?
While Finding Nemo is visually stunning, it really wasn't all that good. In fact, the only good part for me was when the little girl walks in and the Psycho theme plays. If you want to see an outstanding Disney/Pixar film, see The Incredibles, it was actually entertaining. I know my view doesn't count for much, seeing as how everyone else absolutly loves this movie, just keep in mind, it really isn't all it's cracked up to be. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JM02
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

Monsters, Inc.
Director: David Silverman, Peter Docter, Lee Unkrich
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (17 September, 2002)
list price: $24.99 -- our price: $21.24
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Editorial Review

The folks at Pixar can do no wrong with Monsters, Inc., the studio's fourth feature film, which stretches the computer animation format in terms of both technical complexity and emotional impact. The giant, blue-furred James P. "Sulley" Sullivan (wonderfully voiced by John Goodman) is a scare-monster extraordinaire in the hidden world of Monstropolis, where the scaring of kids is an imperative in order to keep the entire city running. Beyond the competition to be the best at the business, Sullivan and his assistant, the one-eyed Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), discover what happens when the real world interacts with theirs in the form of a 2-year-old baby girl dubbed "Boo," who accidentally sneaks into the monster world with Sulley one night. Director Pete Doctor and codirectors David Silverman and Lee Unkrich follow the Pixar (Toy Story) blueprint with an imaginative scenario, fun characters, and ace comic timing. By the last heart-tugging shot, kids may never look at monsters the same, nor artists at what computer animation can do in the hands of magicians. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Features

• Animated
• Color
• Closed-captioned
• NTSC

Reviews (769)

Sustos que dan risa
Es de noche. Mamá te da un beso de buenas noches y cierra la puerta a su salida. En silencio, tratas de dormirte cuando de pronto sientes el crujir de una puerta. El armario se abre. Y de pronto un monstruo sale para robarte un grito.

Para ti es una pesadilla. Para el monstruo, sólo una manera de producir energía.

Esa es la original premisa de la nueva cinta animada de Disney/Pixar, titulada Monsters Inc.

Monstrópolis es una ciudad ubicada "al otro lado del closet". Criaturas diversas y extrañas deambulan por las calles en sus rutinas diarias, la mayoría sin interactuar con humanos. Una compañía en particular, Monsters Inc., transforma los gritos nocturnos de los niños en recursos energéticos para mantener el funcionamiento correcto de esta urbe particular.

Los empleados de Monsters Inc. están entrenados para asustar, y ninguno de ellos lo hace mejor que James P. Sullivan, alias "Sully", quien junto a su compañero Mike Wazoswki son los máximos recolectores de gritos que tiene la empresa. Empleando puertas que los llevan al mundo humanos, los asustadores recolectan su cuota de energía.

Los monstruos deben evitar a toda costa el contacto con los niños, pues creen que son contaminantes; tampoco pueden permitir que los pequeños vayan al mundo de los monstruos, pues no se sabe qué terribles consecuencias acarrearía.

Y exactamente eso es lo que sucede. Una pequeña atraviesa la puerta y envía a Mike y Sully en una aventura si precedentes.

Llena de momentos de franca risa, cálida y divertida, Monsters Inc. es una película encantadora con una historia tan original como sus predecesoras, Toy Story y Bichos.

En esta mágica aventura, Pixar elevó nuevamente el nivel de excelencia en lo que se refiere a tecnología de animación, utilizando 2.5 millones de rendermarks, comparados con los 1.1 millones que se usaron en Toy Story 2. Tales logros son evidentes y admirables en secuencias donde se ve la piel azul que recubre a Sully en pleno movimiento con el aire, el cabello de Boo, o las expresiones faciales de Mike Wazoswki.

Monsters Inc. es una cinta alegre, llena de energía y una bonita moraleja (sello clásico de Disney). El miedo crea poder, pero es un tipo de poder negativo, que inhibe. Y como descubren los personajes de esta cinta, existen fuentes de poder mucho más fuertes, como el de una risa franca, para enfrentar monstruos (reales o imaginarios) y salir triunfadores de la batalla.

Pixar Does It Again
Monstropolis is experiencing a power shortage. They use the screams of human children to power their city. But the numbers are off and Monsters, Inc. is really pushing the people who work on the scare floor to create more energy. James P. "Sulley" Sullivan (John Goodman) is the current leader. A large, fuzzy bear-type creature with horns, Sulley works with Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), a round green guy with one eye. As a team, they are the current leaders. Randall (Stave Buscemi) is consumed with jealous rage and wants to be the top earner. Everyone in Monstropolis has been taught that the human children they scare are also toxic to the monsters. This leads more than a few monsters to become afraid of them and quickly call of the visit. One night, after everyone has gone home, Sulley revisits the scare floor and finds that a door to a child's room has been left behind. He pokes his head in and sees nothing. When he returns to the scare floor, he finds that the little girl who lives in the room has grabbed onto his fur. He nicknames her Boo and has to figure out a way to get her back home without causing the city to becomes panicked.

"Monsters, Inc.", the newest film from Pixar, is a brilliant addition to their library. Directed by newcomer, Peter Docter, a John Lassiter protégé, the film starts with a brilliant concept, adds a delightful screenplay and tops it off with some of the best computer animation yet.

Much like the previous Pixar films, the attention to detail in "Monsters, Inc." is simply staggering. Monstropolis is basically any large American city, down to the power crisis and potential rolling blackouts. The only difference is that it is populated by monsters of all shapes and sizes. The buildings are given brick detail, the cars are given grills, the interior of Monsters, Inc. has a large lobby. It makes it seem very real. The attention given to the characters is actually even more impressive. Sulley's fur coat seems to be very real and life-like. Every strand of fur seems to move individually. In a couple of scenes, his coat is buffeted by wind and seems to ripple like waves. His facial expressions are also very good and exhibit a whole range of emotions. Mike, the little round assistant, is given more of a goofball comic look, fitting the voice that Billy Crystal uses. His eye and mouth movements are very expressive and help to create an impressive character. Every monster has a different look; Celia (Jennifer Tilly), the girl Mike has a crush on, looks like a sort of Medusa slug, Mr. Waternoose (James Coburn), the head of Monsters, Inc. looks like a crab. This level of inventiveness never fails to amaze the viewer.

The story is very involving, providing amusement for the adults while the kiddies are amused by the animation. The story opens with a little boy going to bed, as his parents close the bedroom door. Immediately, his eyes widen as he imagines the closet door open a crack and a shadow flowing from it. It turns out to be pajama sleepers, hanging on the inside. Then, a monster appears, ready to frighten the child, only to get frightened by the child instead. But all of this is actually happening in a simulator in Monsters, Inc., to train the monsters about frightening the children. The method used for getting into the children's bedrooms is very inventive. The story involving Boo, the human child is also very amusing. A chase through various children's doors is also an amusing highlight. Just these few elements represent more thought and inventiveness than that which is invested in most other Hollywood films.

There are also a lot of jokes aimed at keeping adults occupied. First of all, the entire film is basically a tribute to baby boomers. Everything in Monstropolis is growing old and weathered. It is the children of today, harder to scare because they are desensitized, that are the problem. The children of the baby boomers are the problem, inferring that the baby boomer period was just fine for Monstropolis.

Ultimately, "Monsters, Inc." has a message or moral and it is presented in such a way that all viewers can get the message and retain it. The message isn't rammed down our throats and forced upon us.

"Monsters, Inc." is an enjoyable film for everyone in the family. The characters, animation and story will surely win over everyone who watches it. 4 ½ stars.

One of Pixar's Best
This is such a great film, I was having fun right along with my kids. John Goodman and Billy Crystal are wonderful and hysterical in the parts of Mike and Sully. Its a fun movie, seemingly set in another world. Monster City is, of course full of scary looking monsters. The entire city is powered by children screaming! But, ironically, the monsters are even more afraid of the children then they are of them. And when one of those children, the delightful Boo, breaks lose into their world, problems of course ensure. The ending is sweet, and the whole movie is very enjoyable and loaded with great scenes. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JKDQ
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

The Iron Giant
Director: Brad Bird
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (03 June, 2003)
list price: $9.94
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Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby
• Animated
• NTSC

Reviews (6)

Best. Animated. American. Movie. Ever.
I'm 100% serious. This isn't just a great animated movie, or a great kids' movie. (It is NOT just for kids, believe me.) This is one of the best movies of the 1990s. Period. Absolutely superb.

Love it on many levels
I saw IRON GIANT for the first time today and fell in love with it. Sure, it's a cartoon, mainly for kids, but it didn't strike me as childish (which kids may appreciate).

There's plenty of action and laughs for kids.

The animation is wonderfully done, and the music meshes well with the action yet is unobtrusive. Both do a good job of expressing emotional nuance. Keep an eye out for symbolism and *occasional* thought-provoking philosophy. Or don't, and just enjoy the movie!

Fe, Fi, Fo--Fun!
Hogarth Hughes, 9, has a secret he's keeping from his widowed mom (Aniston) and the other folks in his small town in Maine. His best friend is a 50-foot robot from outer space. The metallic monster is a big sweetiepie, though once the giant is spotted, it takes Hogarth a while to convince a cool beatnik (Connick), townies, snoopy government agents, the military and his mom of this salient fact.

The Iron Giant, set in 1957, is a well-told and beautifully drawn tale of friendship and fortitude based on a novel by British poet Ted Hughes, who wrote the story to comfort his children after the suicide death of their mother, novelist and poet Sylvia Plath.

Inspiring animation with well drawn characters and audio delights fromAniston and Harry Connick, Jr. ... Read more

Asin: B00004UGAV
Sales Rank: 13203
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Toy Story (Special Edition)
Director: John Lasseter
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (11 January, 2000)
list price: $22.99
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Editorial Review

There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces--we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call "movie magic," and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys on the cover of Toy Story looks intriguing, reawakening the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter's shorts (namely Knickknack and Tin Toy, which can be found on the Pixar video Tiny Toy Stories) illustrate not only a technical brilliance but also a great sense of humor--one in which the pun is always intended. Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.

Lasseter's story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they're not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Bright and cheerful, Toy Story is much more than a 90-minute commercial for the inevitable bonanza of Woody and Buzz toys. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. --Doug Thomas

... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Animated
• NTSC

Reviews (87)

Great for kids & adults too!!!
We just recently pulled this out of our collection of movies to let our 2yr old watch...we could not get her away from front of the television. Since we just got Buzz & Woody in McDonalds happy meals...now she knows who they are.
This is a great movie and so enjoyable to watch.

Amazing
Toy Story is an original story about toys who are actually alive and have thoughts and feelings of their own.With voice overs by Tim Allen and Tom Hanks to give the animation its character this movie becomes more than just another animation film.It becomes a part of our own entertainment of what it could be like if we were toys.A must see for anyone of any age.

IT SET THE STANDARD, FOR ANIMATED FILMS!
This is without a doubt, the best animated film, there is!
I saw this classic in the movie theater, with my 5 year old,
and we both loved it! Finding Nemo, and Shrek, were really
good, but don't compare to this one. I'de like to buy Toy
Story on dvd, but you have to buy, Toy Story 2 with it, and
it's $60.00, and not even in widescreen format! Oh well, I'll
have to watch it on the vhs tape I have for now. ... Read more

Asin: B00003W8NO
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

Toy Story 2
Director: Lee Unkrich, John Lasseter, Ash Brannon
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (15 April, 2003)
list price: $22.99
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Editorial Review

John Lasseter and his gang of high-tech creators at Pixar create another entertainment for the ages. Like the few great movie sequels, Toy Story 2 comments on why the first one was so wonderful while finding a fresh angle worthy of a new film. The craze of toy collecting becomes the focus here, as we find out Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is not only a beloved toy to Andy but also a rare doll from a popular '60s children's show. When a greedy collector takes Woody, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) launches a rescue mission with Andy's other toys. To say more would be a crime because this is one of the most creative and smile-inducing films since, well, the first Toy Story.

Although the toys look the same as in the 1994 feature, Pixar shows how much technology has advanced: the human characters look more human, backgrounds are superior, and two action sequences that book-end the film are dazzling. And it's a hoot for kids and adults. The film is packed with spoofs, easily accessible in-jokes, and inspired voice casting (with newcomer Joan Cusack especially a delight as Cowgirl Jessie). But as the Pixar canon of films illustrates, the filmmakers are storytellers first. Woody's heart-tugging predicament can easily be translated into the eternal debate of living a good life versus livingforever. Toy Story 2 also achieved something in the U.S. two other outstanding 1999 animated features (The Iron Giant, Princess Mononoke) could not: it became a huge box-office hit. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Animated
• NTSC

Reviews (472)

Abosolutely Marvelous!
In this review I actually have 3 subjects to brag about! First I am going to brag about Amazon.com. I really don't think they get enough praise for the work they do for us!
I went to the new 'Overstock' and they had one of five things I was looking for. The price was a couple of dollars lower but Amazon.com had ALL of the items and because my order was over $20 I got FREE SHIPPING! I have dealt with this company in the past and any time there has been a mistake it has been fixed immediately and the mistakes have been VERY MINIMUM! THANKS AMAZON!
Now for Toy Story. I never got to go the the movies to see it but being a Toy fanatic and having a broken leg at the time I ordered it from Amazon.com (who else?) and had it delivered straight to my door. It was fantastic and I do believe it could be Disney at his best!
So then part two came out and I had to go to the theatres to see it plus put it on pre-order from Amazon.com. So I went and saw it and it was so much better then the first. I'm not a Star Wars fan at all but I did get the little jokes in the movie and I can't help but be impressed but the 'life-like' impersinations of the human world. It was abosoultely marvelous.
Old and new characters and a similar but different story-line make this movie one of the very best from Disney. I can only hope they will make a part three.
Thanks a lot to Amazon.com and Disney for allowing us to get what we want when we want it!

Buzz Light Year impostor ruined it for me
This movie was going good until the whole Buzz Light Year impostor apsect came into the movie and the secret of Zorg being revealed. This movie wasn't clicking on all cylinders like the 1st one. Toy Story 1 fans you're in for a let down. Don't waste your time with this movie!

Entertaining.
A good sequel to the smash hit Toy Story. A great family film in which the whole family with enjoy due to the humor and the charismatic characters that are involved.With great voice overs by actors and great directing that made this a great film. ... Read more

Asin: B00003CX7L
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

Maggie and the Ferocious Beast - Let's Play a Game
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (02 September, 2003)
list price: $9.95 -- our price: $9.45
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Animated
• Color
• Closed-captioned
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

A must for the collection!
I fell in love with this cartoon the first time seeing it, the episodes this disk include are Spot the Spot, Hide and Go Beast, Louder! Louder!, Dont Dump That Junk, GUESS WHO I AM!, and Three Little Ghosts. ... Read more

Asin: B0000A7W17
Sales Rank: 37689
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

First Grade Vocabulary Book: Richard Scarry's Best Little Word Book Ever
Average Customer Review:
Toy
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $12.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Learning to ride a bike is small potatoes--at least compared to a kid that can rattle off more new words this month than last month. LeapPad's multisensory, experiential interface allows a child to do just that. With Richard Scarry's Best Little Word Book Ever, kids see, hear, say, and touch throughout the book, making it easier to retain and enhance oral, vocabulary, and phonics skills while learning new, useful words. Scarry's characters (like the familiar Huckle Cat) help to identify and pronounce both new and old words correctly.

It's simple to use (just insert the cartridge and book into a LeapPad, and use the attached stylus to hear information), but this system is an innovative technology that provides entertaining, effective learning, designed by a Stanford-trained reading expert. As well, the system has been credited with the TMA's Educational Toy of the Year and People's Choice awards.

Two notes: Make sure the LeapPad book you get is appropriate for the child's educational level; this one should be a challenge for kids up to age 6. As well, know that some LeapBooks, like this one, work on both LeapPad and LeapPad Pro, but some books only work with one system. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great book
This a wonderful book to help expand the vocabulary of young children.The pages are not cluttered with unnecessary background images.The sounds a funny noises are cute too.I recommend this for any child.

Very Cute
I am not usually a fan of Richard Scary stuff. The animals are a bit wierd and the books are just way too busy for my tastes. Furthermore, my son hasn't been too interested in RS stuff either.

However, we got this book as a gift and my son loves it.

The book is not too crowded that my son can't pick out the page what he wants to touch. Each animal says something or makes a cute sound. There are some fun games that have been quite a challenge for my son.

My son is 2 and 1/2 and this has been just right for himas he begins to learn. Now, if there were a Richard Scary ABC that was just like this, I'd probably buy it too.

Enjoy ... Read more

Asin: B00005BYRE
Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Reading    4. Preschool    5. Electronic    6. Alphabet   

First Grade: Scooby-Doo and the Disappearing Donuts
Average Customer Review:
Toy (30 November, 2001)
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $14.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

"Rut-roh!" There's nothing more frightening to Scooby-Doo than losing his munchies. Kids can help him and his human companions figure out a culinary mystery using LeapPad's multisensory, experiential learning interface. In Scooby-Doo and the Disappearing Donuts, kids see, hear, say, and touch throughout the book, making it easier to retain and enhance oral, vocabulary, and phonics skills while developing concrete reading-comprehension skills.

It's simple to use (just insert the cartridge and book into a LeapPad, and use the attached stylus to hear information), but this system is an innovative technology that provides entertaining, effective learning, designed by a Stanford-trained reading expert. As well, the system has been credited with the TMA's Educational Toy of the Year and People's Choice awards.

Two notes: Make sure the LeapPad book you get is appropriate for the child's educational level; this one should be a challenge for kids up to age 6. As well, know that some LeapBooks work on both LeapPad and LeapPad Pro, like this one, but some books only work with one system. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (18)

love that leap pad
Alex got this for his birthday and it was the ONLY thing he wanted to pay with for the rest of the day!

Lots of fun..
My 2 kids love just about every LeapFrog book that we've purchased.This particular Scooby Doo story is a lot of fun and the games that are included in the book keep the kids attention.

I give 3 stars for durability, as I will for all Leap Books, only because the book does not provide storage for the cartridge. It sure would be nice if the books had small plastic sleeves for the related cartridge. We have a number of books and keeping the books and cartridges together are a little tough. The chances of losing the small cartridges will keep my durability rating lower than 5.

Also, the 3 stars for durability is related to a design "flaw". The wire from the pen and the bottom of the book are constant fighting for space. To turn the page, without possibly bending the page, requires you to hold the wire down so it doesn't interfere with the page. Easy enough for an adult to do, however my 5 year old doesn't remember to hold the wire down all the time. 50% of all of our pages have creases in the bottom of the pages...all in the same spot!

another winner
The best part about this was that Uncle J was paying more attention to it than A - he said he just wanted to know how it ended. ... Read more

Asin: B00005BYR8
Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Reading    4. Preschool    5. Animals    6. Dogs    7. Electronic    8. Alphabet   

Pre-K & Kindergarten LeapPad Book: Thomas the Really Useful Engine
Average Customer Review:
Toy (01 December, 2002)
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $14.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (9)

Son loves Thomas
I bought this for my 6 year old, but my two year old son has taken it over.He sits there and listens to it all day.

If your child loves Thomas....theywill LOVE this book too!
My son is a 3 1/2 year old Thomas fan.Usually I have a hard time getting him to read books independently, but with this book and Leap Pad System....he reads it at least once a day.He also likes the games and other fun things to do listed on the bottom of the book (like the different whistles sounds, Henry's emotions, etc.)

Great Book!
My 4 year old daughter absolutely loves this book.She has 4 other leapstart books, but always chooses this one.She has used it so much that it is now starting to fall apart.She takes it everywhere she goes, even has to sleep with it.She also enjoys listening to her daddy read it to her before bed!Can't say enough about this book-recommend! ... Read more

Asin: B0000696AT
Sales Rank: 3319
Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Math    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Alphabet   

Pre-K & Kindergarten LeapPad Book: Bob and Lofty Save the Day
Average Customer Review:
Toy
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $14.99
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Reviews (5)

Great book for Bob fans...
This is a great book if you have Bob fans in the house.The only concern that we had with it is that it does teach insecurity through Lofty. Saying things like, "I'm not any good for anything," really doesn't do much for the self esteem in a child.As a teacher, my husband was quite concerned about comments such as those stressed by Lofty throughout the book.We also didn't like hearing Spud saying, "nay, nay nay nay nay" -not something you want to hear repeated by a three-year-old.Anyway, my son loves this book and plays with it throughout the day, almost daily.I just wish I could edit out those things that are insecurities and it would be a great book.Whenever Lofty says that he can't do something, my son says, "yes you can!"So, keep that in mind before buying the book.You're going to have to explain a few things as the story goes along.They really need to make more of these books with characters such as Bob.They're a bunch of fun and the music/voices are the same as the show.

Favorite Characters and Lots of FUN
This is a great leap pad book.My 4 yr old son loved it instantly.The familiar characters from the Bob the Builder show make this book lots more fun than the ones featuring the Frog.I especially liked the fact that this book helps to teach that teasing is not a nice thing to do.There are at least 2 games on every page and it has the music from the show also.It is definitely worth the price and I hope they make more Bob the Builder books for the Leap Pad.

Wonderful way to teach reading skills!!
My son is 4 and he loves this Bob book. He prefers it to his Bob videos since he is playing with the characters as he reads the book. It's wonderful that Leap Frog makes books that go beyond teaching ABC's for kids because there are so many important things they need to learn, and this book has loads of them (bigger vocabulary, comprehension, numbers, shapes to name a few). As a former teacher, I highly recommend this book for the entertainment AND education. ... Read more

Asin: B0000630M1
Sales Rank: 3051
Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Math   

Tonka Lights and Sound Tow Truck
Average Customer Review:
Toy
-- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Always ready to help out stranded drivers in the playroom or onthe back patio, this Lights and Sound Tow Truck is a good vehicle to addto your car and truck collection. An all-plastic, hand-powered replicaof a real roadside service vehicle, this 13-inch truck is equipped witha working winch and four different light and sound effects, includingtwo horn sounds, a rumbling motor, and the sound of the truck's towingwinch being cranked in. All four sound effects are accompanied byflashing emergency and front headlights, and you can activate thetruck's winch sound by hooking a car, or simply tuck up the towing winchand reeling the car in by hand. The tow truck is powered by two AAbatteries (included). --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (4)

FUN! FUN!!
Our son loves this Tow Truck!He is always towing his cars around his room. Great gift.

St. Louis, MO.

My 2 year old LOVES this toy!
Last Christmas I brought this toy for my 2 year old son and he LOVES it!The lights and sounds give him the real feeling of being the driver of the truck.He's had this toy for 11 months now and so far nothing has broken and the paint has not chipped.It still looks like new.I am so impressed that I am also going to buy him the lights and sound fire engine.This toy was well worth the money!

Grandson LOVES This Toy
While my almost-3-year-old grandson and I were opening the box, Jacob was already looking for the buttons to press on this tow truck.He loves the sounds!Then I explained to him the tow truck's job -- to help cars that can't "go" anymore.This truck will take the broken-down car to a garage to get fixed.So, we found a little car he hooked onto the tow truck.Right now, he's learning how to work the winch.And, the lights on this toy are VERY impressive!I told him this truck is not afraid of the dark.It has to help people all day and all night long.Last, but not least, we put M&M candy in the "secret compartment" in case SOMEONE got hungry while on the job.Great toy!Loads of fun!Well made, very colorful, not too heavy. ... Read more

Asin: B00004YTN6
Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Vehicles    3. Die-Cast    4. Trucks   

Dumbo (60th Anniversary Edition)
Director: Ben Sharpsteen
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (23 October, 2001)
list price: $22.99 -- our price: $21.84
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Editorial Review

A Disney "classic" that actually is a classic, Dumbo should be part of your video collection whether or not you have children. The storytelling was never as lean as in Dumbo, the songs rarely as haunting (or just plain weird), the characters rarely so well defined. The film pits the "cold, cruel, heartless" world that can't accept abnormality against a plucky, and mute, hero. Jumbo Jr. (Dumbo is a mean-spirited nickname) is ostracized from the circus pack shortly after his delivery by the stork because of his big ears. His mother sticks up for him and is shackled. He's jeered by children (an insightful scene has one boy poking fun at Dumbo's ears, even though the youngster's ears are also ungainly), used by the circus folk, and demoted to appearing with the clowns. Only the decent Timothy Q. Mouse looks out for the little guy. Concerns about the un-PC "Jim Crow" crows, who mock Dumbo with the wonderful "When I See an Elephant Fly," should be moderated by remembering that the crows are the only social group in the film who act kindly to the little outcast. If you don't mist up during the "Baby Mine" scene, you may be legally pronounced dead. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Animated
• Closed-captioned
• NTSC

Reviews (139)

Intact after almost thirty years without watching it
At shortly over an hour of runtime, "Dumbo" will always leave you wanting to watch it again and again. I watched it again yesterday, after close to thirty years without watching it, and the same feelings I had when I first caught a glimpse of it came back intact. The storyline is simple: a baby elefant (Dumbo) gets separated from his mother, and he works his way through obstacles with the help of his mouse-friend (Timothy), to get his mom back.

The animation from 1941 couldn't be more basic: simple figures, pastel backgrounds most of the time -nothing fancy. Yet the combination of it all, with some classic music tracks and unforgettable lines, make out of "Dumbo" a movie for the ages, one that has survived time, and that will continue to appeal to everyone no matter how old, no matter when. In particular, since I first saw it in Spanish when I was a kid, I loved being able to play the Spanish language track, and relive the dialogues the way I remembered them. This 60th Anniversary Edition DVD truly belongs in your collection.

I be done seen about everything when I see an elephant fly
The stork delivers a baby elephant to Mrs. Jumbo, a female elephant who is a veteran of the circus.However, when the newborn is ridiculed because of his truly enormous ears and dubbed "Dumbo," Jumbo just can not take it.One day a circus customer over steps his boundaries, Jumbo protects her baby, and punished by being locked away.She is kept separate from Dumbo and the other elephants.Dumbo is left with the other circus elephants that quickly segregate themselves from him.Dumbo's act is relegated to the butt end of jokes with the circus' clowns.Nevertheless, Timothy Q. Mouse sees more then just big ears in Dumbo. He assists Dumbo in achieving his full potential, and once again seeing his mother.

"His disgrace is our own shame."

Ben Sharpsteen (Fantasia and Pinocchio) directs Dumbo.Dumbo is a much underrated Disney classic.The film delivers a life lesson: everyone is different.One should not make fun of someone because they are different.Once they spread their wings and fly, it is a beautiful thing.Sharpsteen began the film in a dark fashion that included thunderstorms.By the end of the film you had dancing elephant, pink elephants, and funny crows.Dumbo had sharp contrasts, but the movie came full circle.

"Those city folks are sure in for a surprise."

Dumbo does more then just teach one of life's most important lessons, it is also fun.The film includes multiple animals.I remember last year while watching this film again for the first time in a long time I had forgotten what a great character Timothy Q. Mouse was.He is the type of character you emphasize to children: "this is the type of human being you want to be, one who sees the good in everyone."The crows are also extremely fun characters, probably my second favorite in the film after Timothy Q. Mouse.They provide additional comic relief.The scene where Timothy Q. Mouse and Dumbo gets drunk, and they see dancing and pink elephants is very similar to the Alice in Wonderland scene with strange creatures.

"Your Mom ain't crazy, just broken hearted."

I believe Dumbo is a must have for your DVD collection.Despite being underrated, it is a very, very solid film.I am not saying it is a top five Disney film, maybe not even one of my top ten favorites (right on the cusp).However, it is an extremely well done and well put together film.I also credit this film as being a film for all ages.

"You're a climax!"

Grade: A

Not only for the kids.
"Dumbo" was the first Disney's film I view. It was sorrow and beautiful. The story of Dumbo told the children that mother's love is pure and deep, and it will last forever. The story told us that we should learn how to love people around us. And it told mothers that children need mother's love no matter they are young or grew up. I think the story told me that if I try my best, don't afraid of anything, I will succeed! ... Read more

Asin: B00005KARJ
Subjects:  1. Classics (Silents/Avant Garde)   

Hercules
Director: John Musker, Ron Clements
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (01 August, 2000)
list price: $22.99 -- our price: $21.84
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Editorial Review

Not the egregious foul it seemed to be in theaters, Hercules stands up as an entertaining spritzer of an animated feature. The continual peppering of in-jokes and cultural references becomes less irksome on video. That there's no majesty or awe invested in the beloved Greek legends also seems less of an error. Also on the plus side is the bounciest Alan Menken music since Little Shop of Horrors. With Zeus's blood in his veins, young Hercules's amazing strength makes him an outcast (sorry, that still doesn't fly), so he trains with a satyr named Phil to become a hero. Along the way Herc meets Meg, a common mortal who falls hard for him. They're both against the jocular Hades, who has to destroy Hercules to take over Olympus. The hydra is the computer-animated set piece for this little number, a no-chance attempt to beat that wildebeest herd from The Lion King. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Animated
• NTSC

Reviews (135)

Not the best Disney, but it's still excelent.
I am a somewhat animation aficionado and I would like to put some things in pesrpective regarding this movie.
First off, I would like to say to all of you that wrote a review based on the way Disney follow the true story of Hercules: GET A GRIP. Everybody knows already that Disney has the right to take their own approach when it comes to stories. If you want to learn about Greek Mythology, GO TO THE LIBRARY. If you don't like to read, then you can always buy one of those horrible and boring to death movies with real actors. (Kevin Sorbo as Hercules? Talk about imagination!
About the animation, I would like to say that Disney's animators are the some of the best out there. The studio reached its peak when it comes to technique with the Lion King.
The only thing I can criticize about this movie, is the scene with the computer monster. In my opinion, it looked pretty plastic. I would have tried to make it into regular animation, but I understand, they got excited about trying something new. Oh well!
I think this movie is excellent for kids and adults. It's funny, the songs are great, the design of the characters is appealing, it's fast-paced and, why not?, inspiring.

Zero to Hero
First, let me start off by saying that I am quite aware that this movie very much alters the original story of "Hercules".But I have learned over time that Disney does that with movies.They sugar-coat the story until it is simple and appropriate enough for children to enjoy.They did it with "Pocahontas", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", and probably some other movies that I don't know of.In the true story of Pocahontas, Pocahontas was just a young teen when she met the older John Smith, and the original "Hunchback of Notre Dame" ended up being one of the most disgusting, disturbing books I've ever read in my life...okay, now that I've said that, on to my review!

"Hercules" is a really good movie!It has comedy, romance, great animation, a good plot, and great songs."Hercules" used to be one of my favorite movies, even though Hades, God of the Underworld, scared me (I was three or four).I loved the romantic parts with Megara and Hercules, and I thought the part where Zeus makes Pegasus was cute, and...if you like Disney cartoon movies, then I suggest just seeing it for yourself!And don't be surprised if some of the songs get stuck in your head!

Who put the glad in gladiator?
i love greek mythology , and I don't care how "inaccurate" the story line is!! Its a kids movie!!! Everyone seems to go haywire if anything is inaccurate, please save it for the people who are snobs like you. This movie has an awesome score and is hilarious. I think it's a great adaption of the Hercules Legend, why are you even reading this?!!? go see it!! make your own opinion!! "Whose daring deeds are great theater?" ... Read more

Asin: B00004R99R
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family   

Alice in Wonderland (Disney)
Director: Wilfred Jackson, Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (04 July, 2000)
list price: $22.99 -- our price: $21.84
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Editorial Review

Imaginatively rendered but slightly chilly, this 1951 Disney adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic is also appropriately surreal. Alice (voiced by Kathryn Beaumont) has all the anticipated experiences: shrinking and growing, meeting the White Rabbit, having tea with the Mad Hatter, etc. Characterization is very strong, and the Disney team worked hard to bring screen personality to Carroll's eccentric creations. For a Disney film, however, it seems more the self-satisfied sum of its inventiveness than a truly engaging experience. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Animated
• NTSC

Reviews (158)

classic
A classic disney tale of the classic book.A great film for the whole family to see of a little girl who goes into her own little fantasy world of white rabbits, a mad hatter, and the evil queen of Dimands.A great way to spend time with the kids and entertaining enough to keep your attention throughout the whole movie.

Even More Curious...
Now this is what I'm talking about. I do have one of the original classic versions of Disney's: Alice In Wonderland on DVD. This; however, is what I've been looking for all along!

The film is still a beautiful little story that Disney animation brought to life of Lewis Carroll's classic tale of a little curious girl with a wide imagination called Alice. Who one day enters a world called Wonderland. And upon entering she finds herself growing up, growing small, meeting unforgettable characters such as: The Mad Hatter, The Caterpillar, The Cheshire Cat, Tweedledee/Tweedledum, The White Rabbit, and everyone's favorite mean queen The Queen of Hearts. Not to mention the talking and singing flowers & the loveable story of The Walrus & The Carpenter.

It's all about the beautiful extra's in this DVD. Generally if I'm happy with the old version of the DVD I don't buy another similar version. This was one of those exceptions - not too mention it's Disney. Mainly because it has: Thru the Mirror (my all time favorite short original Mickey Mouse feature), all sorts of games with songs & more, trivia, a new additional song, An Alice Comedy, Operation Wonderland (which is featured on the original VHS/DVD version I believe), & just tons more! If your a fan of Alice in Wonderland this is the DVD to buy!!!

Off with her head!!!!
My kids watched this movie so many times over and over that I'll bet we are burning out the DVD player and the disk. The digitally remastered version is much nicer to watch than the old version-it is much more crisp and sharp. I would recommend this movie to kids who are 3 or older-the story would be a bit too confusing to kids younger than that. It is a no brainer on this one-get it for your kids!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00004R99K
Subjects:  1. Feature Film Family