Chugga Chugga Choo Choo
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (20 May, 1999)
list price: $12.99 -- our price: $10.39
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Editorial Review

Kids love trains, and Kevin Lewis and illustrator Daniel Kirk's Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo will do nothing but encourage the obsession. "Sun's up! / Morning's here. / Up and at 'em, / engineer," cheerfully begins this rhyming picture book. As the simple large-lettered text chugs along, Daniel Kirk brings a child's playroom and train set to life with bold, bright illustrations reminiscent of his work in Bigger. In the course of the book, the toys bustle about to make sure the steam engine is loaded up with freight and finds its way (through the country, 'round the mountains, into tunnels, and across the river) to its destination--the city. There the "sleepy-sleepy choo-choo" rests, right next to a tired little boy, until the next day's work begins: "To theroundhouse/ you are bound. / Good night, engine, / safe and sound." (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Fabulous over and over again
This book is magical in its rhythm and color.My children wanted it read again and again and then they read it themselves.They are too old for it now, but I am online buying a new copy for a friend's baby.Even if my kid's copy hadn't been loved to death, they wouldn't want to part with it.

My boys love this book!
If you little one loves trains I highly recommend this book.It is my favorite book to read my twin boys (2 1/2 yrs old).The illustrations in the book are exceptional...simply put it is a great book for little train lovers.

My son's favorite Book!
This is a GREAT BOOK! I highly recommend it for all parents of little boys aged 1-5.My son loves trains, and we have so many train books, but this is his favorite.It's a little boy's train that goes around his room - very clever story.My son has memorized the entire book.GET IT! ... Read more

Isbn: 0786804297
Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Picturebooks    2. Children: Preschool    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Railroads    6. Stories in rhyme    7. Toys    8. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets    9. Trains    10. Transportation - General    11. Transportation - Trains    12. Juvenile Fiction / Transportation   

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book
Average Customer Review:
Board book (01 March, 1994)
list price: $9.99 -- our price: $8.99
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Editorial Review

"In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf." So begins Eric Carle's modern classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.More than 12 million copies of this book have been sold in its original, full-sized edition, and the beloved tale of science and gluttony has been translated into 20 languages. This five-by-four-inch miniature edition is truly tiny, with tiny type, but it is a nice size for small hands to hold and flip through the pictures. Despite its diminished state, the book is complete in every detail, following the ravenous caterpillar's path as he eats his way through one apple (and the pages of the book itself) on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday, and so on, through cherry pie and sausage--until he is really fat and has a stomachache. And no doubt you know what happens next! Kids love butterfly metamorphosis stories, and this popular favorite teaches counting and the days of the week, too. A fun gift package for caterpillar fans. (Baby to preschool) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (163)

Most suitable for young babies!
My son is an energetic eleven-month. He is never tired of crawing and climbing, shifting his attention from one toy to another. However, this book, and only this book can catch his eyes from first page to the last. The drawing is simple but attractive. Very suitable for little babies. My husband was so surprised yesterday to see our little boy sitting on my laps quitely when I was reading the book to him for two times.

Very cute book
This book teaches basically, about life.It's neat to see the little egg on the leaf, and then the catepillar hatches on a Sunday.He then goes on eating various things, but he's "still hungry."So on Saturday, he eats a bunch, and I mean a BUNCH of junk and gets sick that evening.No wonder!Mixing salami with a lollipop, cake, ice cream and watermelon just doesn't make for a great outcome.But on Sunday, he eats another green leaf and feels much better.I think that says a lot about how important it is to eat good things.It's also fun to see how many of the colorful things the catepillar ate wind up as the color of his wings.My little one enjoys this book and we read it quite often. A classic.

A CLASSIC BOOK ON SEVERAL LEVELS
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is simply a classic of childrens literature because it does so many things in one little book.It teaches children about counting as the caterpillar slowly eats his way through multitudes of different foods.It teaches the days of the week, as each day passes and the caterpillar eats more and more...It can teach colors as each food is easily identified by it's colors such as the bright red apple.And it even teaches some beginning science as we see the caterpillar hatch from an egg...then build his cocoon, and emerge a beautiful little butterfly.

Carle spins this tale in a manner so easy for pre-K kids to understand and follow along with perfectly simple and colorful illustrations to complement the text.This book is one of my 2 year olds true favorites to read at story time.It's been around for quite awhile but this book is always a winner.All of Carle's books are highly recommended! ... Read more

Isbn: 0399226907
Subjects:  1. Animals - InsectsSpidersetc.    2. Carle, Eric    3. Caterpillars    4. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    5. Children: Preschool    6. Concepts - Counting    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Preschool Picture Story Books   

Best Word Book Ever!
Average Customer Review:
Library Binding (01 September, 1999)
list price: $15.99 -- our price: $10.87
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Reviews (32)

words
this book helped to teach our two year old so many more new words it is the best word book ever!!!There are so many more words and pictures than any other word book I have found.

The Title is Right On
I think I have to agree with the title of this book.Richard Scarry wrote and illustrated what might be the best word book ever for kids.I love Richard Scarry, especially his story books.His pictures give just enough detail and complexity without overwhelming a child and he has a variety of ideas that keep things interesting.

"The Best Word Book Ever!" is great for young children who are really starting to manipulate things well and are recognizing more and more of the world around them.My son is 17 months old and he loves the size of this book.The pages are big and easy to turn (although the size lends to the pages ripping easier so keep the tape handy) and it fills his lap for a big viewing area in front of him.

Scarry has filled the book with more than enough themes to make this a book you can go back to again and again.From pages that just list items like colors, parts of the body, kitchen items, the alphabet and numbers to scenes that bring in a wide array of related and unrelated words and pictures.This includes one and two pages spreads of neighborhoods, firefighters, the beach, the city, the countryside, rooms in your house and more.So if a child or parent is done with or bored with one page, the next page brings a different presentation.

The animal characters in the book are familiar to anyone who has read Richard Scarry and work well in presenting an everyday view of the world, even if rabbits don't really wear pants.This helps when pointing out actions on the page (Where is the bear?Who is driving the truck?).

As for negatives, they are few.Yes, the books do seem to wear out and tear but I believe that is from the size and from the attention they receive from eager children.Nothing wrong in that to me.Also, I have no reason to compare this version to older versions.If pages have changed or are missing, I don't notice and my son definitely doesn't notice or care.He loves what is in there now and 72 pages is more than enough for him.If this were a storybook, sure, I'd take issue, but this is still a Word book that has a big horizon of words and fulfills its purpose well.My copy does not note a new edition but does mention new illustrations approved in 1980 so maybe the author updated it. (It is possible that some people are confusing this book with the similarly titled, "Richard Scarry's Biggest Word Book Ever!"That may explain why it seems like pages are missing.)Also, since the whole book is illustrated, if you want actual photographs of objects, it would be good to have another word book to cover that base.And like any book, some of it might seem dated but it there is not much.A rotary telephone still is recognized as a phone.

I'm sure this book will continue to get lots of use and love from my toddler and I'll be there with him a lot, looking at it too.

Another fun time for my toddler from Richard Scarry
I bought this book after my son fell in love with "Cars and Trucks and Things that Go". He loved it but not as much. A few of the pages here that just teach words and don't show a detailed landscape scene aren't as interesting to my 21 month old. But still, he's learning words and shapes and colors here. We've got spiders and police cars down, thanks to Richard Scarry. I can see this one being a book my son will enjoy for a while as he starts to learn his alphabet and to count. My son enjoyed this one enough to motivate me to start collecting all the R.S. books for him. This book is hardcover with paper pages. Watch out because little hands can rip those pages quickly. ... Read more

Isbn: 0307155102
Sales Rank: 1475
Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Preschool    4. Classics    5. Concepts - Words    6. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You : Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises (Bright and Early Board Books)
Average Customer Review:
Board book (26 November, 1996)
list price: $4.99 -- our price: $4.99
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Editorial Review

Oh, the wonderful things Mr. Brown can do! In this "Book of Wonderful Noises," Mr. Brown struts his stuff, as he imitates everything from popping corks to horse feet ("pop pop pop pop" and "klopp klopp klopp," respectively) while inviting everyone to join him in the fun. Young readers who are still learning their sounds and letters will get a wacky workout as they follow along with the very serious-looking, squinty-eyed Mr. Brown. Whether it's eggs frying in a pan or a hippo chewing gum, the skillful Mr. Brown just keeps topping himself, with a "sizzle sizzle" or a "grum grum grum." "Mr. Brown is so smart he can even do this: he can even make a noise like a goldfish kiss!... pip!" As usual, the words and pictures of Dr.Seuss make reading (and making all sorts of funny noises) impossible to resist. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? will stay fresh through many a giggling reading. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (94)

My boy loves to repeat all the noises with Mr Brown
My boy loves this book. He has had it since he was just two months old, but he never seems to grow tired of it (he is 18 months old now). He loves the different noises, and anticipates some that he know he can do really well, like the "knock knock" sound.

One of the best memories I have of my daughters babyhood...
...is connected to this book. When she was a baby into early toddlerhood, I read this book alot....really exagerating the noises...herfavorite was the thunder but really with all the noises, she got such a kick.....I have a picture framed of her when she was about 9 mos. old - I am reading the book making some stupid hand motion and she is just CACKLING with laughter....I suggest to parents who buy the book not just to read it but to make the sounds interesting....when it says "Knock knock", rap gently on their heads....When it says Pop pop, make hand motions to the popping....babys and toddlers will be entranced....as she got older, like 18 mos.,I paused and she 'd make thecorresponding noise!

I had the board book form....great for smaller hands btw....

Great First Dr Suess book!
Very entertaining and short Dr Suess book. My 3 year old loves it. She can't sit still for the longer books. ... Read more

Isbn: 0679882820
Subjects:  1. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    2. Children: Preschool    3. Concepts - Senses & Sensation    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Sound    8. Stories in rhyme    9. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Senses & Sensation   

Thomas & Friends Handcar
Average Customer Review:
Toy

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Reviews (1)

A great piece for your Thomas set
At first my 4 year old wasn't too excited about this one, mostly because it doesn't have a face, name or "personality". But it has become one of his favorites due to the up & down action of the handcar "arm". Not the first train car I'd buy, but a cool addition to any kid's Thomas collection. ... Read more

Asin: B00004T2X7
Sales Rank: 7733
Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Trains    3. Wooden Train Sets    4. TV Characters    5. Movies    6. Preschool    7. Push and Pull Toys    8. Activity    9. Train Accessories   

Fruit & Veget Able Play Foo
Average Customer Review:
Toy

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Reviews (8)

This is the best toy I bought my little boy!
This is a great toy!The fruit is very realistic.In terms of durability, they are pretty good but are crushable if a child is rough enough. My little boy loves this toy in the bathtub too.The only thing I don't like is that the fruit pieces wound up all over the house and we just can't find the apple! : )
Very fun!

Play with your food!
This is a wonderful product!I bought this for my daughter when she was 1 year old and she plays with it constantly! The food is very realistic and actual size.It's by far, the best play food I've seen.It's a little pricey but definately worth it.

Makes my tummy growl!
This is absolutely the best play food ever! The pieces are so realistic, they're better than the ones you find in craft stores. The hard plastic is great for all of life's hard knocks and the basket is perfect for hauling them all over the place. ... Read more

Asin: B00005J38T
Sales Rank: 8097
Subjects:  1. Pretend Play    2. Play Sets   

Shopping Cart With Groceries
Average Customer Review:
Toy

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Reviews (12)

She loves it
I was not sure if my 2 year old niece would like this...but its a smash. She loves to go shopping in my sisters cubbords. Very durable, great groceries included. Great size for a 2-6 year old.

Great toy, but very flimsy
I bought this for by daughter for christmas when she was 18 months old.She loved it!She uses it everyday.However, the cardboard "fake food" boxes were everywhere in the house and became a pain to gather up everyday.I eventually threw them out.My daughter didn't have any interest in them anyway.I bought some more fake fruits and vegetables and she liked to play with those better.Also, the handle broke off after a year of playing with it.But she still pushes it around without the handle anyway.Although the toy isn't durable, it does add value.I will be buying LeapFrog's shopping cart this year for christmas.

We got more out of this toy than we expected!
Our younger son received this as an impulse buy one day from Grandma, and it was apparently just what he needed. To us, it looked like a flimsy shopping cart with too much playfood for our 2yo to lose. To him, it looked like the best toy ever. Surprisingly, he was more right than we were. We did leave the mesh casing on, which looked odd and garnered comments from aunts and uncles, but it kept the food in the cart. Our son was not unhappy with our choice - we would have taken it off if he'd asked, but he never did. What he did, nearly every day for about 2 years, was push this little cart all over the house, from his play kitchen to our real kitchen and from person to person to person, pretending to shop, pretending to fill his cart, pretending to put groceries away, and pretending to feed us from it. Everyone's favorite game was pointing to the box of food (Chips Ahoy, Oreo, Ritz, etc) and asking for their treat. He would go to the correct box and feed you your cookie, or suggest a different treat, and really hammed up the play many days.
After nearly two years, he decided to remove the mesh "food protector" as we had come to call it. Much was fun was had putting away and bringing out and pretending to eat from and putting away again those little boxes. Alas, one by one they were crushed or lost and now are all gone. Last week, the handle of the cart broke off during an overzealous room tidying, and we will have to say goodbye to our old friend.
I was shocked at how much play value, versatility, and just plain USE we got from this seemingly cheap little toy. I'm considering getting another, although at 4 1/2 he has probably outgrown it. ... Read more

Asin: B00004YRPO
Sales Rank: 19039
Subjects:  1. Pretend Play   

See Inside ABC Puzzle
Average Customer Review:
Toy
list price: $9.99 -- our price: $9.99
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Reviews (10)

Great for a 2 year old
My son started with this puzzle just before his 2nd birthday and now just 4 weeks after his birthday, he already knows all the letters and the sounds they make.

I agree with the other posters that some of the images under the letters could have been more thoughtout.A for Airplane and J for Jet is confusing.L has a Ladybug on a Leaf...but still not really concrete.W for wagon, but there is also a horse in the picture...Issues like this can be overlooked because of the quality of the puzzle however.

Overall, I think it's a great starting tool for ABCs.

Great Buy!
I got this back when my son was only about 9 months old to supplement my home-made flashcards & the educational videos. I didn't take out the plastic at that time since I know he'd just eat them. I just let him point out the letters besides the alpha blocks that he's also learning from. To make a long story short, my son's mastered the alphabet at 14 months old (& to think he was 5 wks preemie when he was born) both the upper and lower case letters and all the letter sounds.Also, the main thing that made him extremely excited and interested are the animals behind the letters since he's familiar with all of them.Now at 18 months and with a vocabulary of over a hundred, he's reading the words that he used to know by recognition only.He can actually read now and builds the words using the letters on this puzzle.It's cheap but learning with it lasts a lifetime! Great buy indeed!

Alphabet Puzzle
We puchased this puzzle for our daughter's third birthday.She already knows most of her letters and which words begin with what letters, so we thought this puzzle would be good practice.The pictures under the letters were not always chosen well.For example, A is an airplane with jet engines and J is a jet plane.L is a picture of bugs - one of which is a ladybug and W is a horse and wagon.She actually has to know the letter to best decide what the picture represents.A good product, but not the best it could have been. ... Read more

Asin: B00004R7OJ
Sales Rank: 268
Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. Learning    3. Wood    4. Alphabet    5. Preschool    6. Jigsaw Puzzles    7. Easy Puzzles    8. Pegged    9. Activity   

Set Of Wooden Knob Puzzle
Average Customer Review:
Toy
-- our price: $19.99
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Reviews (9)

Fun, but kind of cheaply made
My boys are 3.5 years and 18 months. Theylove these puzzles and never get tired of them. My only complaint is that they are rather cheaply made. The paper peels up and I've had to glue it down on the actual puzzle board as well as the puzzle pieces themselves. Other than that, they take a lot of wear and tear and have held up OK so far.

Well made toy
I am impressed with the way these puzzles were made.I was looking for wooden puzzels and these have painted on pictures, not decals.I am not worried about my daughter ruining them.I am a little disappointed as others have said with certain aspects.I didn't read the reviews before I bought this one.I will be more careful next time. I just bought it for the good price.One puzzle does not have pegs.None of mine have the pictures under the pieces, only the words.My daughter doesn't mind as she can't read; however, I think that the pictures would better facilitate her learning and the pegs would make it easier to use.

Great Toy
I bought this toy for my 2 year old daughter and she just loved all four puzzles.These puzzles also served a valuable purpose in that my daughter thought she was playing, but she was actually learning the different animals, foods, transportations, and so forth.She has never got bored with these puzzles . . . and these were all she had!! ... Read more

Asin: B00005LACZ
Sales Rank: 1257
Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Puzzles    3. Wood    4. Pegged    5. Toddler    6. Activity   

Painted Puzzle Storage Case
Average Customer Review:
Toy
-- our price: $29.99
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Reviews (8)

A Great Puzzle Rack for All Those Peg Puzzles
I originally purchased the wire puzzle rack by Melissa and Doug only to discover it didn't work for my toddler's peg puzzles.Then I found this racks.It is perfect!!!We love this puzzle rack for the following reasons.

1.It is one of the only racks on the market that will hold peg puzzles with the small pegs.

2.It hold twelve puzzle - more than your toddler will ever need.

3.It also works for traditional wood puzzles so as your child switches from one type to puzzle to another, your puzzle rack doesn't become obsolete.

4.It is sturdy and holds up to daily use by my active (and rough) toddler boy.

5.It is easy for toddler to remove and replace puzzles on his or her own.Especially nice if your toddler is in the "me do" stage of life.

Expensive but worth it
I hated to pay $30 for an empty puzzle case - I wished I'd just bought a "loaded" case for almost the same price. But we already had a variety of puzzles that we like, so I bought this (in natural). It's worth it. It is lovely and very well made. It fits all kinds of puzzles - even our huge oversized ones which I never expected to fit. It's much easier for our 21-month-old to access her puzzles and she's using them more!

Great storage for yourwooden puzzles
I love this puzzle storage case.It holds all of my kid's wooden puzzles and they actually like putting their puzzles away in this case.It's also colorful and looks great in the play room. ... Read more

Asin: B00004R8M2
Sales Rank: 5483
Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Jigsaw Puzzles    3. 100-999 Pieces    4. Puzzles    5. Accessories    6. Wood    7. Preschool    8. Pegged    9. Learning    10. Toddler   

Floor Easel with Paper Roll
Average Customer Review:
Toy
list price: $89.99 -- our price: $89.99
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Editorial Review

With this well-designed, double-sided easel, preschoolers can enjoy theadvantages of creative expression on an upright surface. The easel's frame ismade from sturdy wood left in its natural state, with thick pressed board usedas the bases for the art surfaces. One side of the easel has a 24-by-24-inch,green chalkboard, and the other side has a 24-by-24-inch, white dry-erase board.Two removable, washable trays are included to attach to the easel (one withmolded spaces to hold paint jars and brushes). The easel requires simpleassembly, but no tools are required and all bolts and plastic bolt covers areincluded. Some thoughtful design aspects include an adjustable height feature, aconvenient, built-in paper roll dispenser (with paper), and two metal clips to attach paper forpainting. This set was a winner of the Dr. Toy Best Classic ToysAward, and it would be a winning addition to any playroom, family daycare home,or preschool. --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Quality product
The person who complained about the height adjustment didn't understand how to put it together.The height of the easel doesn't change, the height of the trays does.It is very stable in either position.

Do not buy, not worth the money
We bought this for our son's 8th birthday.I chose this one because of the height adjustment and the size.It is a joke.It does not want to stay standing with it on the tallest height.My husband is very handy and was able to make it work.Basically though I paid for height adjustment and not able to use it.If I had known this, I would have purchased a cheaper easel.With the easel in the highest height adjustment the legs are basically like hinges and are constantly hinging and falling down.We picked it up numberous times until my husband just put it in the lower position and attached the trays where the legs attach.Also some of the screws were too long the first time we put it together, and I went exactly by the instructions.Now that we have it put together a little different, I have to go and purchase a set of longer screws.With the 79.99 price, this should not have been the case.I was going to send back, and I may still.Again, I reiterate, DO NOT BUY THIS, especially if your child is a taller child and you think you are going to get some years of use out of this.I figure one year will be it for this easel at the lowest height adjustment.SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY THE CHEAPER ONE OR EVEN ONE OF THE LITTLE TIKES PLASTIC SOLID SURFACE EASELS.

Hours of creative fun!
My daughter received this easel for her third birthday two months ago. We keep it in our main living area and she spends half an hour to an hour each day creating masterpieces in chalk, marker or paint. While one side of the easel is set up for dry erase markers, we use the included roll of paper (which fits the easel perfectly) and give our toddler washable markers instead. We also use washable paint. A tray on either side holds all the supplies your little one will need--and removes easily for clean-ups. Replacement paper rolls can be found through art supply stores.

One note: You have to "pre-season" the chalkboard by thoroughly rubbing chalk over the surface.And of course, this type of toy requires a lot of adult supervision, especially during painting sessions. ... Read more

Asin: B00005IX8K
Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Arts and Crafts    3. Easels   

Long Sleeve Artist's Apron
Average Customer Review:
Toy
-- our price: $9.99
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Reviews (3)

not worth it
Harder to get into than I first thought.The kids are anxious to get to "work" and fidget getting into this, the arms are a bit too tight.It seems bulky as well.Better off going old school - daddy's old shirt on backwards!

great for art class
I bought this for my daughter to use in her 1st grade art class 2x/week.We are very happy with this product.It is easy to slip into and out of.It is durable and protects her clothes from the paint.The sleeves have elastic around the cuff which stops her shirt from slipping out.

apron
I didnt care for this item to much, the sleeves were to tight, and they are plastic, which made it very uncomfortable for my 7 year old to wear. ... Read more

Asin: B00004U3F0
Sales Rank: 2078
Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Painting    3. Activity    4. Easels   

Toddler Favorites
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (17 March, 1998)
list price: $6.98 -- our price: $6.98
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Reviews (50)

Cute cd for the $
Very cute. Our 15 month old loves it! Not the best singers in the world, but appealling to little ones. Easy on adult ears and tolerable unlike many other similar cd's Toddlers does not care about singers being in tune etc, its all about fun. Both my husband and I are probably the worst singers in the world, but our son loves our voices! Recommended!

Great for kids and easy on adult ears
My daughter loves this CD.I have heard it a million times and even though the tunes get stuck in your head the ladies voice is lower pitched and pretty tollerable.It is a good buy.

SO Great!
My 2-year old girl, 4-year old boy, all the 3-5 year-olds in my Kardio Kids class and ME absolutely LOVE this CD.It's fun, funky, silly and it gets us all moving and singing together.The overall favorite is "Monkeys on the Bed."It has a funny twist at the end!I noticed one reviewer complained about some of the singers being off-key.I also have 12 years of piano training (what are the chances?!) and I didn't notice that.All of the singing is appropriate for the songs.I haven't noticed any pitch problems, but they may be on purpose because a lot of the songs are Silly!I also may not have noticed because I'm generally singing off-key with my kids while listening.I don't believe we have the "curse"? of perfect pitch. ... Read more

Asin: B0000063EY
Sales Rank: 683
Subjects:  1. Childrens    2. Pop   

Songs from Jim Henson's Bear in the Big Blue House
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 August, 2000)
list price: $12.98
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Editorial Review

Songs from Bear in the Big Blue House, which sends kids 2 and older an open invitation to a gigglefest, is bursting at the seams with simple melodies, goofy voices, and loopy, encouraging lyrics that linger. This 24-track is a testament to the late Jim Henson's genius for conjuring characters that bounce off one another with a just-right mix of confusion and harmony. An offshoot of the Disney Channel television show of the same name, Songs boasts the familiar Muppet-like housemates--caring and compassionate Bear; Tutter the high-strung mouse; orange Ojo, a junior bear; otters Pip and Pop; and Treelo the lemur. Bear's warm baritone finds its way onto every last track--he's clearly the head of the big blue household, though hardly its pluckiest resident--but each of the other characters comes clean about a kid-pertinent issue or two on these songs, too. Ojo, for example, relates the unfairness of getting spooked by big, scary monsters every time she goes to bed on "Go to Bed, Sleepy Head," and Tutter tackles his type-A tendencies on "Take Time to Smell the Cheese" and "Quiet Time." In contrast, some of these songs are pure, message-free fun: Pip and Pop momentarily become the Salt 'n' Pepa of the puppet kingdom on "Otter Love," a hip-hoppy ode to the warm fuzzies, and Bear and Treelo bust a toe-twitching move on "The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha." Fans of the show will know most songs and appreciate their accessibility and portability on disc or tape. Those who aren't already tuned in, on the other hand, will take a shining to this oddball crew given this smartly accessible musical introduction. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (37)

THIS CD ROCKS!!!!PARENTS will LOVE this as much as kids
This is a great CD and we owned it a couple years prior to seeing the show.The songs have great lyrics and fab sounds.buy this for yourself and everyone you know.This is not your typical kids CD.My 4 year old loves this and now my 14 month old wants "Bear" when she is in the car. My husband even finds himself singing the songs in the house.Listening to "their music" will not be torture any longer.....

Just TRY not to sing along!
We've only had this CD a few days, and have probably listened to it 100 times already. My 2.5 yr. old daughter has only seen the BITBBH Potty Time video and a few other episodes, so you don't have to be a regular viewer to love this music. The only song that I could do without is "Go to Bed, Sleepy Head", and not because it's not a good song (it is), but because Ojo is discussing how when she tries to go to sleep at night, these scary monsters keep coming in her room making scary noises. Of course, the rest of the song is Bear reassuring her that everything is OK., etc. But it seems to have planted a seed in my daughter's head that there could be scary monsters in her room! Yikes! We hadn't quite gotten to that stage of development yet, but it was sure to come at some point. So for now, I try to skip it if I can. Having said all that, I still give it 5 stars; it's that good! The rest of the CD is a a nice mix of different styles of music, including a rap tune (Otter Love) that at first seemed a little out of place, but it grows on you. The best are "That's My Name" and "Oops! I Goofed Again", but really they're all great!

AWESOME Kid's CD!
Our family LOVES this disc.We ALL sing along with it!Definitely be warned, lol, it will take you by surprise!!Have fun - this is WELL worth your money!! ... Read more

Asin: B00004WK2N
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Soundtracks & Film Scores   

Sesame Street - Do the Alphabet
Average Customer Review:
DVD (09 November, 1999)
list price: $12.98 -- our price: $9.74
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

When Baby Bear must learn his alphabet in one day, Big Bird patientlytakes him under his wing in Do the Alphabet. Only "The Method," (ahilarious combination of dance, song, visualization, and group therapy) can helpBaby Bear on such short notice. The result is 40 minutes of ABC's SesameStreet style, where vibrant educational cartoons, enthusiastic kids, famousguest stars (here, Billy Joel), and harmonizing Muppets make lasting educationalimpressions. Children age 2 to 6 will enjoy the upbeat musical numbers dedicatedto various letters; a favorite segment features the Boogie Woogie Piggies andtheir flashy rendition of the alphabet song. Throughout the well-paced show, BigBird offers just the right blend of coaching and friendship, much like the acesupport group leader he's mildly spoofing. Hats off to Sesame Street forhelping Baby Bear--and his viewing audience--understand that learning takestime, patience, and a team effort. --Liane Thomas ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (85)

Just so-so
My 2.5-year-old loves Sesame Street and is really into Big Bird right now, so I thought she'd love this. She already knows most of her letters, sings the Alphabet Song, etc. But the story didn't really hold her interest. As with some other SS videos, I found the production a bit weird and disjointed. When Sesame Street's morning show has so many wonderful approaches to letters and alphabet, I wonder why they didn't incorporate more of those appealing segments.

But what do I know. I thought "Big Bird in Japan" was really lame, too, but my kid loves it.

I love this dvd
This DVD is the reason my son new his ABC's and recognized the letters when he saw them when he was JUST 18 MONTHS OLD! It shocked the pants off of me and impressed my whole family. The tunes are catchy and keep the kids interested. Start your kids on these DVDs at an early age and they soak it up!!!

KIDS LOVE IT!
My dd loves this video.We watch it everynight.My daughter just turned 2 and doesn't really talk that well.But she has picked up on a few of the sounds of the letters. She gets so excited when they get to "Z" (she will scream it.)I believe this video will help her to vocalize different sounds and altimately get her talking faster. ... Read more

Asin: 0738920770
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Sesame Street - 123 Count With Me
Average Customer Review:
DVD (07 December, 1999)
list price: $12.98 -- our price: $9.74
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Join Ernie at The Furry Arms Hotel for a musical lesson in just howuseful counting can be.When Ernie finds and returns a misplaced key, heuses his knowledge of numbers to return the key to the correct guest.AsErnie begins to learn about the hotel business, he finds many common situations in which counting is essential. Throughout the 30-minute video, Ernie and his friends help children learn tocount from 1 to 20 with such songs as the jazzy "That's How the NumbersGo," an original version of the Chorus Line show tune "One," and"Rap Song #11."Favorite Sesame Street characters Elmo and TheCount are joined by new characters including Ding the Dinger, a furry fellowwith a bell on his head, and Benny, the bellboy that responds to Ding theDinger's dings.Children as young as 18 months will bounce happily alongwiththe catchy tunes and 2-year-olds will be inspired to count aloud withErnie. Kids up to age 5 will hone their counting skills and laughat the increasingly frustrated Benny as he delivers everything from1 bucket of ice to 15 stampeding elephants!If you're looking for afunvideo that teaches counting skills, here it is. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (69)

The music is great
Great show...but the bellhop is quite abrasive and annoying. My son loves the counting songs.

Educational & a bit expensive
Educational DVDs should be cheaper (at least USD 6.00) & it'll help all education-concious parents to buy them. Besides, their DVD running time is approximately 40 minutes. My 12-month-old niece is into cartoon in the first place. My sister-in-law's mistake. Cartoon offers her entertainment. And my wife told her younger sister that Sesame Street DVD can be a good tool for babies/kids to learn & promised her it'll be a birthday gift for her daughter. Sadly, we can't find any Sesame Street DVD in Malaysia & if there is any, the price will be around RM 80 (USD 20.00). That's when I logged on to Amazon.com & purchased it. Now she has gradually developed big interest in watching the DVD. The only dissatisfaction I have is that the captioning doesn't appear (only the subtitle appears). The captioning is good for impaired-hearing people & kids to learn about reference to situation (eg. "chattering", "laughing"). I've bought few DVDs from Amazon before (eg. American Me) & the captioning appears as just fine on my region-all DVD player. Regards, Irwan Shah from Malaysia.

just OK
my 2 year old won't watch this video. i bought it about 6 months ago, and she watched it maybe a half a dozen times then, but if i suggest it now I get an emphatic NO. she loves counting books and activities, so my guess is the Furry Arms, the monster couple that run it, and benny the bunny just don't resonate with her, because she typically loves ernie. I wish i'd gotten the count's counting DVD instead. ... Read more

Asin: 0738920762
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Richard Scarry's Best Counting Video Ever!
by The Busy World of Richard Scarry Richard Scarry
Average Customer Review:
DVD (16 October, 2001)
list price: $12.98 -- our price: $10.38
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Lily Bunny practices counting by starting with herself as one andworking her way through her Busytown neighborhood until she counts 10 hatchingchicks at Farmer Fox's farm. But the stakes rise when Lily's parents suggest shego for 11 through 20. This takes the help of Huckleberry Cat and Lowly Worm, andsome adventures involving balloons, grocery store trips, and the like. Thenumerals appear on the screen each time Lily counts, and she recaps in songafter counting to 10 and then to 20, making it easy for young counters to followalong. Richard Scarry's classic animated characters provide a fun andeducational 24 minutes for kids ages 2 to 5. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Animated
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (25)

Fun video
My kids really liked this video.Cute video and very educational.My 5 year old already knows her numbers and can count and everything, but she seemed to enjoy the video.I bought it for my 3 year old who's now learning letters and numbers.Good choice for the preschool kids.

best counting ever
My 2-year-old was never interested in counting before, but she counted up to 4 right after watching the tape once. Two weeks later she counts all the way to 10. I usually don't write reviews but I am so impressed I had to do it this time.

So cute, sweet.Enjoyable to watch. Much more than most.
I love this video!It has sweet songs and characters.Someone with actual talent must have written the songs.I can hardly stand to watch the leap frog videos because of the horrible song lyrics.
The characters are adorable and the setting is calm and not flashy.A little rabbit walks along through town and counts things up to 20.As she counts it clearly shows the numbers.It keeps my very active 2 year old enthralled and learning. ... Read more

Asin: B00005QFDZ
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Richard Scarry's Best ABC Video Ever!
by The Busy World of Richard Scarry Richard Scarry
Average Customer Review:
DVD (16 October, 2001)
list price: $12.98 -- our price: $9.74
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

A delightful tool to help kids learn their letters, Richard Scarry's Best ABC Video Ever finds Busy Town pals Huckle and Lowly Worm discovering that it's Alphabet Day at school. Their teacher, Miss Honey, invites her students to join in a spirited rendition of "The Alphabet Song." Next comes a series of 26 vignettes developed around each letter and cleverly intertwined with Sergeant Murphy's investigation into the mystery of some stolen bananas. Simple, sweet, and as entertaining as it is instructive, this production exemplifies the great care put into the Richard Scarry video series. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Animated
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (31)

My toddler's favorite as well
Go figure - it's hard to judge toddlers' taste sometimes. At first glance, there is nothing impressive about this title, with crudely drawn artwork that betrays its low production value. I rented it from the library for my son and finally had to buy it due to his repeat viewing.

Since I was forced to view it along with my son, I tried to figure out what was about this video that was so appealing to toddlers. First, the simply drawn characters radiate joy to which toddlers respond well. There is also an old-fashioned gentleness about the story line and the characters that bear well through repeat viewing, and even encourage young viewers to speak up and sing along.

A diamond in the rough that's worth purchasing for your own toddler.

Fun video
My kids really seemed to enjoy this video.Cute story and they taught the alphabet in a developmental and slow way that kids could pick up on.Good video.Educational

Love it!Adorable and a great no frills way to teach ABC's
I am so happy I bought this video. My son is very active but this sweet, soft spoken video keeps him very interested.It goes throught the alphabet clearly displaying each letter as it names many things beginning with that letter. The characters are adorable.You'll be happy with this one. ... Read more

Asin: B00005QFDY
Subjects:  1. Children's Video   

Bear in the Big Blue House - Potty Time with Bear
Director: Richard A. Fernandes, Mitchell Kriegman
Average Customer Review:
DVD (28 January, 2003)
list price: $14.95
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Editorial Review

This video for teaching little ones about the potty is one of the most successful because kids can easily relate to the characters from the popular series Bear in the Big Blue House. Even though each character has a specific problem (asking for permission, fear of the unknown, bathroom etiquette), the video scores points for the gentleness and calm it communicates to kids. Bear is always upbeat and helpful, a great coach for kids. The songs are catchy too--"Potty Chair" has a rhyming scheme that goes from "underwear" to "millionaire," and there's a hysterical psychedelic '60s number. Older kids may benefit from watching as a confidence builder. By the end, the kiddies may be running to the bathroom to practice their talents, shouting, "I'm a Toileteer!" Ages 2 to 5. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Animated

Reviews (123)

MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN ATTITUDE
We got this video when our son (almost 3) was already in the middle of potty training but had started balking and wasn't quite "getting it".It made a huge difference in a couple of key areas, most importantly the part where Tutter the mouse has to stop what he's doing to use the bathroom.Almost overnight, our son would stop playing and say "I have to use the bathroom, just like mouse in the big blue house!"Within a week we had no more accidents due to dawdling.It also helped him understand how to ask to use the bathroom when he's in an unfamiliar place.Rather than being a "how-to" documentary that explains the nuts and bolts of using the bathroom, this video addresses the emotional side of things and the finer points.The songs are hilarious, especially the big production number at the end where the characters join the "Mystic Order of the Toileteers". If you are looking for a "how to" video, this isn't it.But if you are looking for positive reinforcement, this is not only great but also entertaining enough that watching it over and over again is bearable.

Not the best video for children under 2
I started having my son watch this video when he was about 20 months old, and I think it was over his head. He'd sing the songs and such (which are pretty catchy), but I don't think he in any way got that this was what we were trying to do with him. I can see how it'd be great for kids who are pottying at an older age, though.

Enteraining, but not motivating.
My son loved the video.He can sing all the songs to it!However, it in no way made him want to use the toilet.He thought it was funny that the mouse used the toilet, but made no connection to the fact that he should be using the toilet too.I would recommend the book if you want your kids to learn some fun songs while on the potty, but not for much else ... Read more

Asin: B00000F4JA
Subjects:  1. Children's Video