Editorial Review

Pokémon Sapphire's updated graphics with weather effects, amazing sound, more than 200 Pokémon with over 100 new species--as well as its faithful adherence to the existing series of Pokémon games--makes for a welcome evolution in the series.

First, the game has a lot in common with Pokémon games Silver, Gold, and Crystal. For example, players can choose to be a boy or a girl trainer, an internal clock sets events at certain times, and the game's handy-dandy Pokédex helps players keep track of the many stats. You're main goal is still to beat all the Gym Trainers and become the Pokémon Master. If you've played the old games, you will be right at home. But not all is the same.

The most obvious change is in the battles themselves. Now that two Pokémon can fight on your side at the same time, you can tag-team them against an enemy by taking advantage of the strengths of your Pokémons while covering their weaknesses. For example, you can now have a water Pokémon watch your fire Pokémon's back.You can also attack more than one Pokémon at a time.

A whole new element to the game focuses on how berries are used in battle. And if you collect enough berries, you can take them to a Berry Blender and make a PokéBlock, which is a little super-charged candy that raises your Pokémon's "Condition" attributes. You can then groom your Pokémon for regional contests and compete for ribbons like "Best of Show," which will unlock additional contests. There's even strategy in how to best use your berries: pick too many and the berry tree will disappear; plant berries, though, and a tree will grow. You can also build a Secret Base in special areas of the game, which you can decorate just like you can your room.

And let us not forget that Pokémon Sapphire has a kickin' multiplayer system, too. You can trade Pokémon, and link up to four players for incredible battles. The only downside is that you can't link up with the old Game Boy Color games. --Bryan Karsh

Pros:

• You can control two Pokémon in battle
• Much needed graphic and sound facelift
• Nice multiplayer feature (requires link cable and extra game cartridge)

• Can't trade Pokémon with Game Boy Color

Features

• More sophisticated graphics on Game Boy Advance
• more varied game play, and more than 100 new characters!
• The games include two-on-two battle capabilities and a variety of battle modes. One player can take on two Pokmon simultaneously, and using a Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable, two players can control two Pokemon each, or four players can play one each, providing deeper and more strategic game play.

Reviews (252)

Sapphire Version
You might not be able to catch all the first 150 PokeMon, but the cool new pokemon and a one-of-a-kind plot, it makes up for it!This game is cool!

BUY THIS
I got this game 1 or 2 years ago and i loved it. I would recomend you start out with Mudkip. I would recomend this game Pokemon fans.

pokemon
i think this game is cool game ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Gameboy)    3. GBA    4. Action    5. Adventure    6. Role Playing Games (Game, RPG, RPGs, CRPG, CRPGs)   

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Pretend Play    3. Playtents    4. Camping   

Reviews (1)

my boys love this!
I have a 2 and 3.5 year old and they both love this toy- I'm ordering another one because they fight over it.We put it in the sandbox and it's easy for them to control and they have literally spent hours playing with it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Preschool   

Features

• Visit the village often throughout the day, because different activities happen at different times; plus, special things sometimes happen on holidays.
• Interact with others-up to four other players can move into the village and take turns playing in a shared village, cooperating and competing on one game pak.
• Swap Memory Cards with friends who have the game and travel to their villages to interact with different characters there. In other villages, players find different assortments of items and build new relationships with different groups of villagers.
• Pay off and improve your house by returning daily, adding floors and new furnishings; and watch how other human characters improve their houses, which adds a competitive element.

Reviews (523)

What a Game!!!
WOW! I can't believe how much fun this game is! The whole 'real time' thing is really cool. You get on, and if it's dark outside, it's dark on the game.Tom Nook's general store "Nook's Cranny" closes at 10:00 and re-opens the next day at 9:00.
When you get in the game you have to name your character and the town you live in, the only problem is that you only have 1000 bells (the currency in the game) and the teeny tiny house you get costs 19,800 bells. So you have to work part-time in Nook's store. He gives you lots of odd jobs to do, such as posting adds for his store and running packages to and fro.
There are endless things to do, you can fish, shake trees for cherries, 100 bells and other things (but be warned! You can knock a beehive out... and I'll let you figure out what happens next!) You can change your clothes, do favors for neighbors,mail letters...
There are lots of neighbors to talk to, and new ones are always moving in. Sometimes they'll send you letters with gifts attached!
I'm yet to find the 'end' of THIS game!
This is an awsome game I'd reccomend to ANYONE!

BANANAS
I recently left home to live on my college campus and let's just say that Animal Crossing soon became the only education I would be receiving. Yeah, I know it sounds bad...but it really wasnt! (I managed scrape up A's and B's at the end of semesters). I was introduced to this delightful game by none other than my lovely room-mate and the bubbly town of OBX soon became my home away from home! This game is superb and should be ranked in a class by itself...at times it doesn't feel like a game but like LIFE. There are neighbours with various personalities, traveling guests, a local shopping center, fishing, fruit-collecting, and so much more that are simple but heart-warming. NOW! Stop reading reviews and go buy the game TRUST ME on this one, it is worth the buy...:-)

Strangely addicting
Back before this came out, I remember being excited to give it a try mostly because I wanted to get those old NES games on here. Well after I got it, I became hopelessly addicted to further expanding my house and its furnishings as did some of my other friends. If you've somehow managed to stay away from this game, you really do need to give it a chance. Don't be turned off by the graphics because although they look kiddie and dated, they get the job done. Animal Crossing is one of the reasons why Nintendo is so good at delivering an innovative experience that no other company, besides a small few, can seem to create. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Game Boy (Gameboy)    3. Gamecube (Game Cube, Game-cube)    4. Action    5. Adventure   

Reviews (13)

My Little Pony
These ponies are totally adorable! Princess Peppermint is the red one, Tropical Delight is the purple one, Flutterbutter is the white one, and Banjo Blue is the blue pony. My favorite is Princess Peppermint, I think she's the prettiest. They are'nt hard plastic. Their made of a soft rubber. I think its pretty good, that you can get 4 ponies in one giftbox. I reccomend in addition to these ponies, getting Fluttershy, Sew-In-Sew, Strawberry Swirl, Serpendity, Bumblesweet, Daisy Jo, Forsythia, Merriweather, and I have one named Golden Delicious. I would recommend more, but I forget their names. Anyway I hope all MLP fans, enjoy the ponies and their accsessories as much as me.:-D

A Collector's Review
There isn't much to say about these ponies. They're simply adorable... and you really can't beat the price. It's like buying three ponies and getting one free. Plus, the fact that this is a TRU exclusive set adds to the collector value of it. All-in-all, it's a good value for your money and a fine addition to any collection.

I also think little girls who are fond of MLPs would enjoy this set, as well. It's nice to get so many ponies at once - and at this price, it's fairly cheap, too! :)

Collector Note: This set only comes with 4 pony points, which is a bit of a disappointment. With four ponies, you'd think it would have 8. Or at least 6, since you're paying the same price as three regular ponies (which each have 2).

My Little Pony Rides again!
These wonderful little ponies hold a special place in my heart.
My niece has started collecting them along with me.
This year Im taking her to the My Little Pony Convention in Minnesota www.mlpfair.com
This toy is great for the kids as well as the adults as it brings back wonderful memories and promotes such a positive attitude! I definatly recommend them to moms and daughters! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Dolls    3. Pretend Play   

Editorial Review

This electronic writing desk teaches kids the alphabet, letter sounds, letter formation,spelling, and word creation in a fun, interactive format. Kids can choose from sixgames: letters, a letters quiz, phonics, a phonics quiz, spelling, and "create-a-word."In the letters game, children push a letter to hear its name and see how it is formedon the LCD screen; players can also write their own letters on the "magic" writing screen.In the spelling game, children learn to spell simple words. In the phonics game, childrenfirst hear a letter and then are given a short word as an example. Along the way, thealways-helpful LeapFrog "coach" offers lots of cheerful hints so children won't getstuck in any of the exercises. Additional features include an automatic shut-off, anoversize pullout handle, a variety of comical sounds for incorrect answers, and atwo-position volume control. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (84)

A Fantastic learning tool!!!
My first son received this when he was 3 and loved it..it really solidified what he knew about letters and helped him to learn the difference between upper and lower case. Now, my second son, who just turned 2, knows all his letters simply from playing with this desk, and I am amazed! He played with it and still plays with it constantly, and just from playing with it was able to learn them all on his own...which is great for me, a mom of three, who doesn't always have the time to sit down with him. This toy occupies him for hours and is so educational, and I know that as he gets older, he will love using more of the many options it offers. This is such a great learning tool, I would buy another if this one broke tomorrow!

My sons new favorite toy...
I ordered this for my 4 year old son last week and ever since I gave it to him he loves to practice his writing on it.This desk has a lot of different activities on it that the child can play with and still have fun learning.Like the other reviewers, my only complain is that it times out too quickly.But still it's a great teaching tool for kids learning to write letters and words.

Excellent Preschool Learning Tool
My son is 4 years old and in preschool, this product has significantly helped him to not only recognize the letters in the alphabet but also how to write them.My only complaint is that it "times" out too quickly and asks them to play again later.Other than that, it is an excellent product. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    2. Alphabet    3. Phonics    4. Reading    5. Preschool    6. Learning    7. Games    8. Electronic   

Editorial Review

This lightweight, sturdy, flame-resistant nylon play structurecan be set up in 30 seconds. There are no poles to piece together andinsert (or lose or break). The Crawl N Play pops open and keeps itsshape, thanks to the sewn-in spring-action frame. Indoors or out, thethree modular units--one 32-by-33-by-33-inch block with four roundopenings and a roof window, plus two tunnels, each 18 inches across and20 inches long--fit together with hook-and-loop tabs. Kids can create aclubhouse, a castle, a dungeon, a tower, a jail, a rabbit burrow, abear's den, a pirate ship, an outlaw hideout, Aladdin's cave, ahouse on the prairie--whatever a game of make-believe seems to demand.The structure folds up to fit in the included nylon carry case, and itcan be connected to other Crawl N Play modular sets to form largerstructures. --Ava Natov ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Lots of fun, but the tunnels weren't durable
I got this toy to use in my daycare.ALL of the kids love it (ages 2-9).It has gotten used every day and has been everything from a space ship to a school bus.

The main tent part has been very durable and folds up very small.I usually fold it flat and don't twist it and put it in it's case, but it's easy to do.

The problem I've had with the toy is with the tunnels.They have a wire coil in them and the ends have poked out through the fabric.I haven't been able to get them back in so I've had to get rid of them.Granted they got ALOT of use with my daycare, so they may hold up fine with just one or two children.

My 1 year old son loves it!!!!!!! VERY PLEASED.
My 1 year on son received a gift card for xmas and I've decided to get him one of this play tent. Since he loves crawling under the tables and such. I have seen a lot of tents and tunnels like this but usually they need to be assembled, but not this one. I love it that it (1) folds so small and thin, (2) very inexpensive, (3) you can take it anywhere, (4) easy set up (takes 1 minute) and (5) if a child lands on it or leans on it, it just pops right back into place.

This is the best ever...

lots of fun
We bought this as a joint gift for my son who is 3 and my daughter who is 7 months.Both love it.My daughter who crawled early, really enjoys it!no problems at all.I did find it at Toys r us mis marked for 19.99 so I feel I got a great deal... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Gyms    3. Outdoor Play   

Editorial Review

Move over, Tiger Woods! Get your tyke into the swing of thingswith the Easy Hit Golf Set. The rolling cart holds two clubs (a putterand a driver) and three oversize golf balls. The set comes with its ownall-surface "hole," allowing for easy play anywhere. All components aremade of durable heavy-duty plastic, ensuring that this set will standup to your little pro's heavy hitting. Some assembly is required.--Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (16)

still a favorite after all these years...
I just bought this item for my nephew's 2nd birthday.It was a no brainer because I remember how much fun my own 2 boys had with this very same set when they were younger - they're both teenagers now and have graduated to the "real professional sets" although I'm confident their first Little Tykes set was fun & encouraged them enough to make them want to continue enjoying the game!

Top ten toy for toddlers
We received this toy as a gift when my son was almost two. Now a year later, I'm buying a replacement - we have played with this so much in in our driveway that he's worn a hole in the bottom of one of the clubs!Not that this set isn't durable, but it has seen a lot of action at our house. It's been one of if not the most popular toy with my son for an entire year. It's nice that there are two clubs as well so that other children or mom/dad can join in.We lost the balls that came with it quickly but wiffleballs or practice golf balls work great as replacements.

Very good golf toy
My mom gave this set to our 3 year old daughter last year. She played with it as soon as she saw it and still plays with it every day. The set is composed of a pretend iron, a pretend putter, a golf cart, an inverted cup that serves as the hole and 3 balls.

Since I, my husband and her older sister play real golf, my now-4 year old has graduated to a real putter and hits with adult golf balls. Whether or not you plan to introduce your child to the sport, it's still a good toy. She still pays with this set inside the house. It's made of plastic so it hasn't damaged the furniture and yet it's sturdy enough not to fall apart. Just make sure you assemble the golf cart correctly or else it can turn into a little surfing board. ;) When it's not golf, the cart has been used to transport various toys from room to room and outdoors.

Also, even though it's bigger than a regulation hole in a golf course, we've all used the inverted cup to practise our putting. I highly recommend this set for golf, its versatility, sturdiness and fun factor! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Sports    3. Sports Equipment    4. Golf   

Features

• Plastic outdoor playhouse
• Ladder and smooth slide
• "Rock" walls for climbing
• Rotating steering wheel inside
• For weights up to 240 lbs.

Reviews (33)

The right climber
I looked at lots of climbers and finally decided to go with the woodland climber. My son loves it! It was extremely easy to put together even without instructions. Pieces snap in to place with a little force and you're ready to play in no time. It's compact enough that we have ours in the den for the winter yet it still has plenty for my son to do. I put balls in the space beneath for added fun. The best thing about this climber is that my son, who is only 12 months (early walker and climber), can play on it now. I have to help him slide but he has a blast climbing the ladder, turning the wheel, and playing in the balls. The two climbing walls will be great as he grows and will keep him from getting bored with it. It's little kid friendly so little ones can play with help but offers enough of a challenge for older children to enjoy as well. I do think 8 may be stretching it on the age range though. The platform does bow a bit but I agree with other reviewer that this is not a problem and it held me just fine. This is a great climber for the money and one that will grow with your child.

Very easy to put together
When I was shopping around for a climber/slide combo for my two year old son, all I wanted to know was, "Can I put this together by myself?"

My husband is currently in Iraq and I'm a nightmare when it comes to tools, so I had to choose wisely.

This ended up being a great choice.All the pieces snap together fairly easily and I didn't need to bother any of the neighbors for help.It's not stated in the directions, but I did use a rubber mallet to make the connections tighter and that made all the difference in the world.

I did not pre-drill the holes for the four screws as others here have.However, had I known about that little tip, I would have.

Thirty minutes after I received this delivery, I had it set up and my son was playing on it.Perfect!

[...]

Great climber
My husband and I bought this for my 2 year old son to play with indoors for the winter.The minute we set it up he started playing on it.He really loves this climber.Although, there is a slight bow in the platform as other reviewers have stated, I do not see this as a safety problem.The platform is very sturdy.I have climbed on it myself to see.I'm glad in one of the reviews that I read that someone mentioned that you had to pre-drill the 4 screw holes.Knowing this saved a lot of frustration in setting it up, since the instruction manual does not mention needing to do this.Overall, this is a very safe, fun toy and my son really has a lot of fun playing on it. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

My daughter's favorite!
How fun is it?My mother-in-law gave this to my daughter for her 1st birthday.Now, one year later, this is still one of her very favorite toys.We put it under a tree for shade (since Florida summers can be very hot) and she can sit for hours in the "box" (as she calls it) without tiring of the fun!Another funny point -- my beagle thinks it's a great platform for his squirrel chasing adventures!We've caught him up on top of the lid numerous times!(Strong lid!He weighs 30 pounds!)How durable?This sandbox also survived the 2004 Florida hurricane season unscathed!My one tiny complaint is that the lid is apparently not secure enough to prevent bugs and leaves from getting in.However, I guess that's hard to prevent right next to a tree.Educational value?If you read about children's brain development in early years, you learn how important sand and water play are for preschoolers.I'd much rather have my daughter play in the sandbox for hours than sit and watch a movie or even educational TV!As someone else said, though, be prepared for the sand mess -- sometimes we just go straight to the tub for a rinse!

Great Sandbox, does not become a focal point in the yard
My 20 month old really likes this sandbox.I like the fact that it doesn't stand out in the yard.The lid goes on and off easy and the sides are a perfect hight.I can even sit on the corners and play with him in there (165 lbs).

Great for kids and looks nice too!
This sandbox is great.The kids love it and the lid keeps it nice and dry.I was skeptical, but the lid is perfect.I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old and they spend alot of time in the sandbox.It is also a nice neutral color so it's not an eyesore. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Baby and Infant    3. Toddler    4. Activity   

Reviews (26)

We love it!
This is one of our cartridges & my 3yo son loves it.There's probably more versatility with the Nemo cartridge and more learning with the Letter and Word factories, but this is a fun one, not to pass up.

Awesome learning game!!
This was given to our 3 year old daughter as a Christmas present because she got the Leapster for Christmas and she just loves this game.She got 2 other Leapster cartridges and doesn't play with those as much as this one.I don't care what anyone else says, this one is helping her to identify her letters and numbers - which is more important than just playing games and not learning anything.She has already come to me and spelled DADDY and MOMMY all on her own.Thank you for wonderful products Leap Frog!!!

Great Game!!
My three year old absolutlely loves this game - and to think that he's actually learning something too!!This game was accidentally thrown out the window of our car on our dirt road in July (I thought it was lost)-I found it while walking our dog in November and it was squished, had been rained on run over etc. and it still worked in our Leapster.So the games are pretty tough too! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Castle of Morcia was a nice enough place when it was presided over by a kind and benevolent king but it just hasnt been the same since Vladek, the evil scorpion emblazoned villain of LEGOs medieval storyline, took over the place. Now its up to the assortment of good knights to recapture the castle. This set of building bricks from LEGO features numerous tunnels, secret passages, and traps. Also included are small figures of the King of Morcia and all five knights. Of course since this is a LEGO set, the pieces are infinitely interchangeable, so long after youve followed the prescribed illustrated step-by-step plan to construct the castle, youre free to imagine and build an infinite variety of new configurations. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Minifigures in Shining Armor, Rejoice!
To all those Lego Castle-series afficianados out there - who aren't six years old :) - Lego has been savvy enough to bring back the old yellow minifigures-in-shining armor. The Castle Morcia is the creme-de-la-creme of all the available sets. Not only do you get a mildly ingenious, modular castle that can switch alliegences on the fly, but you get seven unique minifigures to populate it (not to mention scorpions, a frog, a day-glo spider and a skeleton!). From the ostensibly good King Mathias and his multi-colored Round Table (each of his four knights not only has a name, but a unique face and personalized sword, shield and facemask!) to the evil Morgoth - Melkor - Vladek, yes, that's it, each minifigure is armed to the teeth and looks the part, enough to intimidate any other medieval Lego minifigures you might have laying around. The set even includes a freaky-looking robotic scorpion/catapult! How can you resist the allure? You cannot, lego-maniac.
If you're a kid at heart, and there's an $80 void in your life that could be filled by little plastic knights in shiny armor and their awesome castle, the Castle Morcia will do it in spades. Or, if you actually have a kid and want to see him doing something non-video game related, the ever-useful trait of building can be fostered with this set. Whatever your age group, enjoy.

Great Lego toy and Great Theme!
I bought this for my 6 year old son.He has been able to put this together on his own and he enjoys it.It's the only toy he will abandon his game cube for to sit and play with.The theme is fun for this age since it focuses on knights, sword-fighting, etc.And since there's additional components and kingdom sets we can puchase, he will become more imaginative.
I'm very pleased with this lego set and would highly recommend it.

A great lego set
My 6 yr old son rec'd this as a gift, and he and my husband put it together over a couple of days.Although it isn't as big as I expected, my son and my 8 yr old daughter play with it for hours on end.His greatest wish is to now have the remaining sets in the Knight's Kingdom group.They even choose to play with this over the Gamecube!Lots of figures make this a great toy.Definitely recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction   

Reviews (8)

i love it
Am going to give the castle to my son on his bday and i know that he'll love it,i can't wait to give it to him.He just loves everything of little people there so cute and educational as well also i like the fact it's for boys and girls.i play with my son alot since i just go to school on and he actually knows all the names.I like that little people is great for kids to play and learn every mom go buy some little people books to their so cute and educational too oh and the tapes or dvds.

All hail the king.
My three-year-old son loves his castle.He received it for his 2nd birthday and still plays with it almost every day.It is a nice alternative to the Little People House playset that is very gender specific.It allows the same role-play (with the table, bed, etc.) without the stigma of being a "girlie" toy.I wish fisher price would make the house gender neutral.The pink and purple colors tend to turn away parents of boys.The sounds of this castle are fun.The trumpets play when the flag is pushed as if announcing the royal couple's arrival.A fun toy.

Fun for any child
I have 3 children....all girls. Twins that just turned 2 and a 10 month old. This is a really fun set for either boys or girls. I love the Little People playsets because all three can play and I don't have to worry too much about tiny pieces for the youngest to swallow like in others. But the castle theme is just neat because it lets them become more creative. Most of the other LP sets they have they often imitate what they see in real life. In this one they love the "dragon" and "knight" and get into some really intreasting conversations with each other. I keep it in their bedroom and they play with it every day. A great investment! I also love how well these LP playsets hold up. Very sturdy and durable. ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Noah, Sarah and the two by twos!
I love this toy.I had requested it for my son's 1st birthday and he got two of them for his second (still 1 year old) Christmas.He continues to play with it and I had to get the two additional animal sets.It's really his favorite fisher price toy to play with.And I could add a few different renditions of the story of Noah to really use it as a teaching tool.He is almost 3 now and both he and his cousin love to play with the animals.I highly recommend this toy for so many reasons!It's well made, the animals are adorable and it's easy to see how children could imagine with this one.
I also suggest for Christmas to get one of the Little People Christmas (creche) sets.It's another learning tool and a "decoration" that can be played with instead of the ornaments!-

Everything about this toy is great!
I purchased Noah's ark as a "stay at Gran's" toy when I first saw it on the shelf (about 3 years ago).My grandson requests it, and plays with it often.From the very beginning, he exhibited a significant amount of time on task, playing with the animals, learning to match them, stringing them in line to get on the ark, feeding the animals.I paired it with a simple version of the story.It is such a nice display, I keep it on top of the bookshelf.It still looks brand new!!!

It was very benefitial during his first play experiences.Initially, a couple of us would sit and play with him.He actually plays with it now by himself.He puts it away as part of his play.....having Noah rush the animals before the rains and the floods start!

Little People are the cats pajamas!
My in laws bought this for my 18 month old daughter for Christmas and she LOVES it to this day. The animals and people are the perfect size for toddlers, and they all fit neatly inside the ark after she is done (which is not often because she is always playing with it!) Excellent toy, will be buying more Little People toys! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool   

Editorial Review

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

Reviews (13)

Expensive...Yes...and worth every penny!
I purchased this roundhouse for my 3 year old daughter.She loves anything Thomas!She began her Thomas collection with the figure 8 set and a couple of trains.As I realized how much she loved Thomas, I began to purchase more pieces to add to her collection.Rather than spend a lot of money upfront on a big set, I recommend starting small on a figure 8 set.As your child's interest in Thomas grows or solidifies, add items such as the table, roundhouse, other buildings, etc.I will caution that when you buy items "a la carte", it is very difficult to have everything fit nicely on the table.The roundhouse is her favorite building and all of her friends who come over to play, love it as well.The roundhouse does come with a 5 switch as pictured on the box, the red turntable is a separate item.The turntable is also a great addition to the roundhouse, but not a necessity.The roundhouse will not disappoint for any Thomas enthusiast!!!

Time For Thomas
The Thomas train sets are great modern versions of the classic indestructible wooden train sets.Simple enough to avoid the toddler age frustrations of getting the cars to run on the track yet complex enough to engage a wide range of ages (up to and including Grandpas).All the stories help with the imagination part....the books & videos provide an endless source of adventures that can be acted out, although most kids are perfectly capable of inventing their own episodes.

Here is my advice, if you are trying to work your way through the maze of start-up options:

First of all, you can spend a fortune on a huge set....even if you can afford it, I would start with something small and give the child the joy of receiving a chain of small but intriguing presents over a long period of time.It fosters the joy of giving/receiving and helps teach them to come back again and again to the same toy...watching it grow, asking for specific items from the stories they hear, etc.Several reviewers suggest painting an old coffee table and this is a great idea.

I suggest the Figure 8 set (the most popular one) or if you want to spend a little bit more, the Conductors Figure 8 set.Both are complex enough to be interesting, but simple enough to give lots of room for growth.Almost immediately I would add a new present of one of the inexpensive engines (you can ask the child which story they like best and get that engine for them....or buy the engine to go with the video or book in the same gift)....these would be Percy The Small Engine, Bill The Yellow Engine, Treavor, (or a bit more $ for:) The Lady Engine, James The Red Engine, Gordon The Express Engine (he's one of the best stories, I think), or Henry The Green Engine.

Now for the good stuff!Give it a month or so, and then reward the child with something really cool like the Barrel Loader or Rusty the Construction 3 Car Set.

I honestly can't see the point in the huge multi hundred dollar system sets.If you want to impress the neighbors or something, go for it, but I'm telling you.....most kids will enjoy a large number of small thoughtful gifts, not a "keep-up-with-the-Jones" effort on your part.

Good behavior can be rewarded with a pick-your-own trip to the store (there are sometimes when a real time shopping trip can't be beat)

By the way, the Thomas stories are based on real restored engines that run in England on the Mid-Hants Railway Watercress line near Winchester (you can read about them an even plan a trip to ride on the real Thomas trains by checking outwatercressline.co.uk).They are a day trip from the London rail stations, although I recommend using a B&B in the Winchester area and staying overnight if you decide to go.Winchester was the center of the old Saxon kingdom of Wessex of King Alfred as well as a major early medieval site (the Cathedral has the tombs of many of the Saxon Kings as well as Jayne Austen and Izaac Walton and it was where Richard the Lionhearted was crowned.)

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

Subjects:  1. Wooden Train Sets    2. Train Set Accessories    3. Wood    4. Preschool    5. Activity    6. Push and Pull Toys    7. Vehicles    8. Trains    9. Train Accessories   

Reviews (6)

perfect
my sister got this for christmas and i have to say it is durable.we live in a remote part of the country, and she took that jeep over 3 alfalfa fields, and two streems and brought it back covered in mud.She was so happy.and it's perfect because she is always wanting to drive my mom's car. :)

Great buy
Great bike. Runs great on grass. It's acutally pretty fast. My husband and I like that it STOPS when our daughter takes her foot off the gas, instead of continuing to coast.

My Child's First Car
My husband and I just got this Jeep for my daughter's second birthday.My daughter was THRILLED to say the least when she seen her "new car."She is a little above average height for her age (a little over 36 inches) and she was able to reach the pedal just fine.She has had it for 2 days now and has gotten pretty good with steering it.I highly recommend taking your child to an open field where they can practice without mowing down pedestrians.:)I gave this Jeep 3 stars for durability because we have only had it for two days and that is not an adaquite amount of time to fully judge it's durablity.However, my daughter id ride it around are small kitchen and hit the stove, chairs, and wall a few times and the Jeep was fine.This Jeep goes over grass, gravel, concrete, and just about anything!We were wuite surprised because we thought she would be getting stuck a lot and we'd have to do a lot of pushing.We had Toys R Us put together the Jeep because though my husband is quite the handyman, he just didn't have hours to put aside to asemble the Jeep.Toys R Us forgot to give us the instruction sheets so when we brought it home, we just winged it.It is very simple to operate, there's one pedal on the right that the child pushes to make the Jeep go forward.By pressing a botton near the cup holder by the floor, the child can make it go in reverse.We haven't showed her how to go in reverse yet because we want her to be able to feel comfortable going forward first.Without having an instruction sheet, we had no idea how long to charge the battery.We ended charging it for about eight hours.We intent on calling Toys R Us to get all the instruction sheets that come with the Jeep that we never recieved.Well I guess we didn't charge the battery long enough because it died about 2 hours later.Our daughter was so upset, she thought she had broken her "new car."So, my husband actually had to push her home in the Jeep-and the Jeep is not light.We fully intend on buying an extra battery and charger so that never happens.I highly recommend it for all of you who want to buy this Jeep for your child.I thought it to be educational because it teaches my daughter forward, backwards, left, and right and improves her motor skills.And fun?This toy is a definite 5 STARS!We could not keep her off of the Jeep.She was the envy of all the kids in the park.This Jeep is a definite MUST HAVE! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Ride-Ons    3. Motorized   

Reviews (28)

Toy was a hit
I had bought this toy for my son's 8th birthday and it was a hit.I have three children and they all loved it.It's been three weeks now and they still play with it daily, it was a definate hit.My only disappoints were:They are plastic now, instead of wood.I recall as a kid, breaking the wood ones now and then.But the plastic is just as breakable, yet without the typical peircing points a broken wood one would have.I bought the large 200 piece tin of them, when I opened it up 2/3rds of the tin was nothing but air (they did take the time to add in cardboard so you wouldn't know.)I was disappointed such a large tin was so empty - but nontheless, the toy was a super hit.I wish I had bought them earlier.

Mom of 4
My son got these this weekend, for his 4th birthday.All of my kids and nieces and nephews LOVE them.They range in age from 2 - 12.This toy has provided endless hours of entertainment just in the last 48 hours.This toy even got them away from the GameCube.There are no little pieces for the little ones to choke on, PERFECT for every age!

broken pieces
I purchased a tinkertoy set for my grandaughter for Christmas. After only a half hour of play we had 3 broken pieces. By the next day we had six. This was not rough or unsupervised play. I contacted Hasbro and they will replace the 6 pieces. What a disappointment. They must not be using the same wood to make the most recent sets. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction   

Editorial Review

Well-designed with lots of terrific detail, Learning Resources' Calculator Cash Register completely satisfies a young child's hunger to play with bills, coins, cash drawers, and big numbers. The chiming cash register features a built-in solar calculator as its keypad, thus allowing kids to act as bankers, shopkeepers, and accountants all at once. A large cash drawer holds life-sized bills in four denominations (1, 5, 10, and 20), and four coin holders make room for embossed plastic pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. There is even a credit card slot that dings when you correctly slide the faux VISA card through it.A suggested-activities booklet is included. Requires a 1.5V button cell battery (included) to make the chiming noise. No assembly required. Winner of awards from Dr. Toy, FamilyFun Magazine, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Solid, Great Toy
I bought this for my 2 year old daughter last year and she has played with it all year.It works well and the voice is not too annoying or loud. When you are cleaning up the money you can open the cash drawer without the voice coming on which, believe me, is a huge plus.It is a real calculator and when she presses numbers it says them out loud which is educational.And when she presses the minus key really fast over and over again, it says "Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine" which cracks us all up :)

This is the funniest toy ever
When I got this toy i played with it for such along time and still do. You only spend $29.99 on it and it is money well spent. You make the right choice if you get this toy. The age group i would say is probably 5-whenever. Let me tell you parents what when my mom and dad got this for me i lovedit and it made me happy for so long.Three words for this toy.
MONEY WELL SPENT!!!!!!!!! FUN
so you should get this toy. KNOW dont think twice get it...NOW
dont forget get the scanner and bar codes* that go with it.
*SOLD SEPARTLEY

A preschool favorite
I'm buying this toy for my son's 3rd birthday because he makes a beeline to it everytime we go to our parent-child preschool class.He usually sets up a toy phone nearby, too. I get to be the customer and bring a basket of toy food to him which he "scans" on the notepad area.It's nice when toys leave something to the imagination.He loves the play bills and coins and pretending to make change.I believe that this toy will grow with my child and still be fun for him in a few years.

I figure that if this toy has survived daily use by multiple 2-4 year olds, it will survive around our house.If it doesn't, then I will update this posting!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Pretend Play    3. Money    4. Learning    5. Math    6. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    7. Electronic    8. Preschool    9. Counting    10. Electronic Learning Aids   

Features

• For use with the V.Smile TV learning system
• Combines educational content, popular characters and a video game platform
• Children help Spider-Man and friends solve problems
• Teaches vocabulary, shapes, number sequence, counting, spelling and logic

Reviews (8)

Good for a 5 yr old too...
My daughter is in kindergarten and she is only 5 years old. She enjoys the game a great deal. When she plays the game I can hear her laughing, counting and spelling. She enjoys this game and loves the fact that she can switch players, she can choose from spiderman, spidergirl and wolverine. There is a part of the game where they are in the grocery store they learn about produce and different section of the grocery store. She likes to come to the store and show me when the fruit section is compared to where the meat section is. Best of all for me is that she is having fun while she learns. The game is good for both girls and boys. My nephew also enjoys the game and he is also five years old.

Hours and Hours of fun and learning!
This game offers a little more of a challenge then some of Vsmiles first games.My 6 year old daughter loves playing it and has already learned so much from it. I often hear her spelling the words along with the game as she moves from area to area.It is definatly one of her favorite games by far!

happy mother
my child is 4 years old and have no problem playing this game. I think this is a great game he learned alot from this game. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Games    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Math    6. Alphabet    7. Preschool   

Reviews (2)

My Son loves it!
I bought this toy for my son and he loves it! We have been playing with it the past 2 days because the weather has finally been so nice out! The bubbles float over our house and when they pop vapor comes out.Truly AMAZING!!He has become the hit of neighborhood boys.

Best Bubble gun ever!! BUY IT!!!!
Me and my cousin loves this thing. But the only thing we hate is when we have to dip it into the cap. It comes with vapor fluid and bubble liquid. I like when the smoke comes out of the bubbles
i think its realy cool. Whoever likes bubbles BUY IT!!! ... Read more