Editorial Review

Be it a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away or right here at home in the 21st century, Mr. Potato Head never fails to reinvent himself. For generations this spectacular spud has wowed us all with his ability to keep up with the times. Now he throws us all for a loop once again to reveal that even he has a Dark Side, taking up the role of the most menacing movie villains of all times: Darth Vader. Donning the trademark black helmet, mask and cape, our favorite tuber wields the infamous red lightsaber to become his own Darth Tater. Of course you’ll still find all the classic accessories like the googly eyes, red nose, and silly tongue we’ve come to love but now with an added twist of Star Wars. As always, all the pieces still fit away inside his body for easy storage.--Chip Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (25)

I LOVE DARTH TATER!
This is the coolest thing ever!He sits on my desk and watches me with those glaring eyes.He sometimes uses the force to manipulate me.Someone please help me!You are my only hope!

Ways to enjoy Darth Tater
Here are some ways to enjoy Darth Tater:

Darth Tater Tots

Au Gratin Darth Tater

Mashed Darth Taters

French Fried Darth Taters

Darth Tater Pancakes

With a shot or three of gin

On a platter of raw veggies, with dip, and covered in sesame seeds

Cut out his insides and fill it with watermelon balls

With Darth Cheeseburgers and Darth Milkshakes

Not at all--Darth Tater is a force to be reckoned with.Get it?Force.Ha!I kill me.(That one was written by ALF)

Luke - Use the Forks !!!
I'd say I'm embarrassed to tell you how many stores I went to looking for this and how many trips it took me to said stores. But I'm not.

Somewhere somone was saying "This is not the toy you want" .... but I ignored that Obi-Wan-ism and prevailed. Unfortunately I've been on the 'wait list' here @ amazon for months....and no luck (not their fault - Hasbro isn't saturating the market I guess). I refused to pay $20 and up on ebay for a less than $7 toy.

But it's not a toy.It proudly sits on my desk at work for all to admire, "oooh and aaah" over and laugh about. And they do.

I could care less about educational value or durability.It sits on my desk!!!!

(and yes, I bought two!...one to keep in the original packaging.)
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action Figures    2. Movies    3. Collectible Action Figures   

Editorial Review

Music stimulates the brain and encourages early learningskills. This interactive cube lets children choose from any combinationof five different instruments--harp, French horn, piano, flute, andviolin--to collaborate on eight Mozart tunes. A solo flute might playan excerpt from "Ah! Vous Dirai-je, Maman (Twinkle, Twinkle)," or aFrench horn intone a theme from The Marriage of Figaro. Otherchoices include "Country Dance #5," "Come Sweet May," "Der Vogelfanger"(from The Magic Flute), "March in D," "Landler," and "LàCi Darem la Mano" (from Don Giovanni). Press the "orchestra"button and hear all the instruments play together. As the songs play,each selected instrument button flashes to the beat. The sound is notorchestral quality, but you get a fair electronic approximation of eachinstrument. Operates on three AA batteries (not included). --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Features

• Features musical instrument sounds
• 8 Mozart compositions included
• Winner of Dr. Toy and Parents' Choice awards
• For all ages

Reviews (140)

Great Toy
We received this toy as a gift when my son was about 2 weeks old. Even then he would accidently set it off with his little jerks and spasms (it is extremely sensitive)and he seemed to enjoy it.It is loud, but it never frightened him and he was brand new.By the time he was three months old he was purposefully setting it off and now he's almost two years old and he still loves it.He is more interested in the way he can make only certain instruments play and how the same song sounds different if a different instrument plays by itself. He recently cracked it though, but we have no idea how.(It is made of very durable construction, so I can't imagine what he must have done to it, but then he is very hard on his toys)We just noticed it broken in his room one day.But, after two years of daily play I'd say it gave our family a good run.I have a new son due in four months and I can't imagine not buying this toy again.I highly recommend this toy.

Boring toy
My daughter got this for Christmas when she was about 6 mos old.She rarely ever plays with it.She was slightly amused with this toy for a month or two.She never plays with it now.When she did show interest in it, it only lasted a few moments.The music does get a little annoying because my daughter liked it when all instruments would play at the same time.Nothing special about this toy and it's loud.Would not recommend.

Fabulous toy
My 6 month old is captivated by this toy. He loves to hear the music and it's easy enough for him to press the various sides. The music and the lights hold his attention. This actually belonged to his now 5 year old sister and it's held up well in the five years we've owned. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic    2. Baby and Infant    3. Electronic Learning Aids    4. Activity    5. Musical    6. Construction    7. Blocks    8. Music    9. Learning    10. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)   

Reviews (29)

Finally a modest Barbie
I have two daughters,a 6 year old and a 4 year old.It has been a struggle finding dolls they can play with that are beautiful, but still modest in their clothing and looks.My girls love this doll and I'm excited to give them a role model that I agree with.As for the old concern of the Barbies' figure being unrealistic, I grew up playing with Barbies and still gained a realistic understanding that a Barbies' figure is unrealistic.It's a toy.Children understand that if the parents explain it to them.

Lovely!
My three year old daughter loves this barbie doll. She has Erika also and loves it too. She plays with these more than her other barbies probably because they sing and she pretends they are sisters. I help her maintain her barbies though; she can be a little rough. Over all good by for barbie fans.

Beautiful Barbie Doll
I bought this doll as a gift and was very happy when she arrived.

She is even prettier than in the picture and very well made. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Princesses   

Editorial Review

Fully equipped for looting and plundering across the high seas, this pirate ship sports a massive wooden hull powered forward by six sails, three adorned with skulls and crossbones. Triple-firing cannons lay above and below deck, while a sword-wielding captain commands two crew members. A parrot can rest atop the captain's shoulder. There's also a working wench for hauling up all that misbegotten treasure and a removable dinghy for one-off raids. Other elements include a deployable anchor, a walking plank, and a yellow guard rail that circles the deck. The boat measures over 2 feet long once assembled, and can be put together in several ways, outlined in the accompanying booklet. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (26)

FUN - BUT ONLY IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY PLAY WITH IT!
I BOUGHT THIS TOY FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD, TOOK A BIT TO PUT IT TOGETHER, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME DOING...PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER. SO, IF YOUR KIDS DON'T ACTUALLY WANT TO PLAY WITH IT, JUST PUT IT TOGETHER, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT'S GREAT. BUT IF THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO HAVE THE "PIRATE ADVENTURE" , IT COMES UP A BIT SHORT.
SAME GOES FOR THE ISLAND.

great for imagination
My son got this for xmas and absolutely loves it, we are now moving onto the knights and castle.He(4) and his sister(3) spend hours having pirate wars and finding treasure. GREAT toy, LOTS of little pieces,so just be careful of younger siblings.Would definately recommend to anyone whose interested in pirates.

This one's for Momma!
Well - we have the entire Medieval line and most of the Pirates.This ship I saw and had to have!! She's a beauty!So, my wonderful husband made sure that it was under the tree for me.The kids are drooling!

We have had battles and voyages for cargo with the smaller ship and then the skeletal crew attacks!Great fun.Again my family is two girls two boys and two parents.We range from 38 to 4 years old and ALL love Imanigext. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Boats    3. Construction    4. Building Sets   

Editorial Review

Young children have a seemingly infinite capacity for exploration, investigating everything thoroughly and relentlessly as they try to learn about their world. While this Fisher-Price set is not likely to fully satisfy that curiosity, nothing ever will, it is likely to keep young kids quite busy and occupied. Eight blocks are included in the set, the clear cubes found in many modern Fisher-Price sets, and they are the key ingredients in the five interactive sides of the cube. There are options to stack the cubes up on a rack and then release them to tumble down with a turn of a lever, put them though holes to initiate perky sounds and flashing lights, and plenty of other fun games that should delight toddlers. Inside the block is room for up to 30 Fisher-Price blocks. There is some cause and effect teaching going on here but, as with all good educational toys, toddlers are not likely to think much about the learning; theyre too busy having fun. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (98)

A great all-in-one!
I absolutely love this toy- and so do my two little ones (twin 11 month-olds).We received this as a gift when they were 5 months old & I thought I would die, as it is pretty big & we have a small space. The babies loved it- all the sounds, lights, and the toys are so cute- the babies loved to hold them in their hands and inspect every them.They seemed to learn to sort & stack pretty quickly after recieving this, and seem to learn a new skill every couple of weeks- all with the help of this one big toy.Yes, it's big, but it also means you don't have to buy 4 toys that do what this ONE will.So sturdy- I will have one baby leaning on this on either side & it won't budge (I'm sure it's capable of slipping, but hasn't happenned yet).OH- WE DID PUT SOME GRIP TAPE ON THE BOTTOM OF IT SO THAT IT WOULDN'T SLIDE AROUND ON THE CARPET OR HARD WOOD- MADE FOR AN ALMOST ACCIDENT-FREE TOY BY DOING THIS.WOULD RECCOMEND TO EVERYONE!

suprisingly pleased
I bought this toy for my son when he was 8 months old. I was looking for some type of stand up play toy since he was trying to pull up on everything. I was torn between this and a play table. My son has been very happy with it. When I first got it open and we were checking it out I was very disappointed at the lack of activities. It seemed that it really did not do much. I was tempted to take it back. but as I watched my son with it I changed my mind. After all it was for him right? He seemed very entertained and he loves to put his weebles and balls on the spinning thing. I also bought the insurance that came with it. I normally would not do that but I had heard about the problems with the music and lights stopping after only a few months. My son bangs on this thing constantly. WE have not even had to change the batteries yet. He loves this toy. and my 5 year old daughter loves it too. They seem to get alot of enjoyment out of it. I was told you could buy more talking blocks for it but I have not seen them anywhere.

peek-a-blocks incrediblock
My 11month old never got interested in it!We would sit in the floor & play w/ it!I would show her the different things it did!
She would loose interest quicly!I think one of the mogor things wrong w/ it is the music is not loud enough to keep there attention!We have it turned all the way up & it still is pretty soft.Her other toys are pretty loud & they keep her playing!The box only has one speaker & it is on the side.So maybe if they put more than one speaker it would be better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Construction    3. Blocks    4. Learning    5. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    6. Electronic    7. Music   

Reviews (49)

My 9 year old son LOVES these toys!!!
I ran into Toys R Us on Christmas Eve last year to find another toy for my son (I wanted him to have a certain amount) and saw these on an end display. I bought a box, wrapped it, and put it under the tree.
He absolutely LOVED playing with these. So did his siblings. They spent hours and hours for weeks making all kinds of cool concoctions. We have since added several more sets to our family.
I came here today to buy a set for a birthday this weekend for a 13 year old family friend who still enjoys building things.
Great toy!!

magnetix is roseart!
100 pieces is a perfect way to build stuff but mixed with the magnetix magnetic building set 70 pieces It's a extreme perfect way to build stuff!When i opened the magnetix magnetic building set(70 pieces) i was shocked.When i opened the magnetix x-treme combo carying case (100 pieces)i was shocked even more!
With the magnetix i can build a sword a boat a 3d triangle a 3d dimond a 3d sqrare a house a dinosar a crazy design a trap and a big playset. If we didn't have roseart we wouldn't be creative!So be smart think roseart and buy magnetix today.

magnetix extreme combo 150 pc. case - where is it?
I have to agree with sbrown.I don't beleive Toys R Us ever had this product.I too, went to the store every day for four days.I was told that this was a "TOYS R US" exclusive and could not be purchased anywhere else.At least I got a rain check for the advertised price but here it is four (4) days after Christmas and still they have NO magnetix toys availabe.I got mine from Super Target the day before Christmas. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets    3. Activity    4. Blocks   

Features

• Two-sided play table
• One side is sturdy building base (blocks included)
• Other side is real-working piano
• Features fun melodies, flashing lights, movable beads and button
• For ages 9 months and up

Reviews (10)

Great Investment!Activities for many levels and interests!
I'm a mom that has to buy one toy that will serve multiple purposes.So you can imagine my joy when I came across the Music n' Play table!On the top side, it's split between a piano and activity center, then flip it over and underneath is a miniature "lego" building table.Plus, it has storage for the lego pieces!I was looking for an activity table for my 8-month old son because he likes to stand and pull himself up on things.We've had absolutely no problems with its stability. Actually, he uses it like a walker, pushing it all around the kitchen.And it easily entertains more than one child at a time.I was hoping it was available at stores in my area, but even with shipping and handling, it was well worth the price.I highly reccomend this toy, I know Colin will enjoy his Music n' Play Table for a long time.

Fun, but what's with the music?
Our 13-month old enjoys this table a lot.However it sounds like all the preprogrammed music was done in Shanghai.Vaguely American pieces are played with distinctly Chinese instruments and arrangements, basically comprising a sad-sounding fiddle, xylophones, and drums.It's some of the strangest music I've ever heard from any kids' toy (and unfortunately it's somewhat scratchy due to poor sampling or tone generation).Also be aware this item takes two sets of batteries: one for the activity area and the other for the music area.Pros: easy assembly, lots of items for the toddler to play with, and unlike many of their other toys it's one they can play with standing up.

Awsome
I'm 11 years old. I went to my cousins house and played with this toy. I couldn't stop playing. It was so much fun. When my cousins got a real keyboard they told me to play with that. I told them I didn't want to. Then they threw it away when their son stoped playing with it. I threw a tantrum ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Blocks    3. Learning    4. Baby and Infant    5. Toddler   

Reviews (65)

Not what I expected.
I have a 19 month girl and purchased this toy for her 1st birthday. She loves to push things around. However, this toy does not steer, so she won't push it. And it is too wide for her to really scoot around on. She has way more fun with the $8.00 stroller I bought for her baby doll. I would not purchase this toy again.

Multi-friendly
These parents of twins are happy with the hippo as a first birthday gift.Even though they were 11 weeks early (which makes them about 9 1/2 months size), they are trying to walk.The hippo does not get ahead of them while pushing in the walker set up.Other walkers we tried at friends' homes would roll too fast and they would fall forward.The gobble action works on carpet or hard floors.The wheels work well enough on carpet for my daughter to continue pushing when my son crawls on top.Any toy that can stand up to these two day after day is a good buy.

"IPPAUW" works WONDERS
** This gobble n' go hippo or my sons way of saying it, "IPPAUW" (This is Pronounced IP and then Ow (like what you say when you get hurt ;) )...is their favorite new toy. Our sons are just starting to stand up (8 months old) and they LOVE peek-a-blocks (we have the wagon, giraffe, hippo, dumptruck, circus set, incrediblock, and shape sorter! they LOVE them ALL). But this hippo is one of their (and my) favorites!
** They squeal when ever they play with it. But I dont really recomend it for wobbly babies, mine are but I have a little technique. My twins seemed very fustrated that they couldnt run and walk like every one else. So they hold onto the couch and then sort of push it alon (with me holding their waist) I think with this help that they are really improving.
** They even love to watch "IPPAUW" gobble the blocks, which I have to say he does surprizingly well, maybe I just got lucky with a good one! I also like that the inside of his mouth is very soft so I dont have to worry about curious hands getting "gobbled" and then hurt.
** What I really love about this is that its stable, (although it doesnt turn too well), yet as another reviewer said, having swivel wheels may just make it harder for a new walker to start taking those first steps. It will be a great and fun way for my babies to learn to walk. I can see no way that this toy could be harmful, it moves well on our carpet, and it doesnt move too fast on tile for a shakey toddler. Its a very stable ride-on too, but I would NOT suggest you ride it outside
** Even my 3 year olds LOVE "Mr. Hippo". They love to ride him all over the house because "Mr. Hippo" is one of the few riding toys allowed in the house. My 3 year olds also think its a lawnmower ever since they saw one at a friends house, and since we only have one shopping cart they use it for that too, and, its so great to see their little imaginations at work, they pretend that they are taking their pet hippo on a walk!All the neighborhood kids LOVE him, even my twins daycare cot one!
** This hippo also gobbles more than peek-a-blocks wich all my kids think is even MORE hilarious, he gobbles other blocks, balls, and whatevers in its path, my 3 year olds say that his tummy is always very full!
** Since we have DOZENS, and I mean dozens, of peek-a-blocks, its a great place to store them other than the toychest (where they always end up on the bottom).
** But what really surprized me was that this hippo excited my sons so much that after hearing us reapeat the word "hippo" over and over again, they said "IPPAUW"!. I was SO excited, (even though they still didnt say "mommy" lol). This is an amazing acomplishment being that they could only say daddy, yummy, and "nehmo" (elmo).
** Its great to see all 4 of my kids enjoying a toy, and I know this will be a key factor in walking because my friends 13 month old gave it a 'spin' and whenever she ended up in a corner, wall, or piece of furniture, she would just stand there and look at us and say " uh-oh"... so cute. (she couldnt walk alone yet)
** Bravo for the Gobble n' Go Hippo for teaching cause and effect, walking (eventually), riding and SPEACH!
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Blocks    3. Ride-Ons    4. Preschool   

Editorial Review

Serafina, the pampered snowy-white companion of Princess Anneliese, certainly does not lack self-esteem. This chatty kitty burbles over with more than 75 one-liners, including, I am quite the talented kitty, and I love looking pretty. Squeeze her paw, stroke her back, kiss her nose, and Serafina responds with words, songs, purrs, head tosses, tail wags, and, of course, meows. Additionally, when her human friends set up Serafina's jewelry box next to a CD player and insert Serafina's Adventure (included), signals from the CD and jewelry box cause Serafina to do her feline thing! She'll also respond to the Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper and other Serafina DVDs and videos. Measuring a good 22 inches from pink-tipped ears to long fluffy tail, Serafina has blue eyes, a gem-studded crown, and a matching heart-shaped locket, as well as a brush to keep that lush pelt sleek and smooth. Her jewelry box requires one 9-volt battery (not included), and Kitty herself requires three AA batteries (Try Me batteries included, but you'll need fresh ones). --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Daughter loves it!
My 5 1/2 year old daughter went on and on and on about wanting this item for Christmas. So, her Grandma and Grandpa bought it for her. She was THRILLED!!! She absolutley LOVES this cat. She pets her, carries her around, and combs her fur. My daughter LOVES watching the "Princess and the Pauper" DVD with Serafina. It does run through quite a few batteries, but even when the batteries have died, my daughter STILL plays/interacts with her. This is one of her favorite toys!

Great toy for $20.00, but I wouldn't pay more
I bought Serafina for my 6 year old daughter at a Wal-Mart store for $19.88 (the website says $27.88).At $20.00, I can say that it was a good buy.Some stores are charging $30 or $40 and I wouldn't recommend paying that much for it.

Pros:Moves, talks, and purrs when you interact with it.Works alone or with the included CD and the movie.

Cons:It sounds a little too mechanical when it moves and the sounds are a little on the loud side.It sheds white fur a little when brushed and it sounds demonic when the batteries are almost dead.

Overall, I would say that it's worth $20, but I would say they could have made the mechanics run more silently.

Cute toy
We got this toy for our daughter's 4th birthday. She wanted a real cat and this was our solution to not going to the pet store. She LOVES it. We didn't buy it for educational purpose's, we got it just for the fun. She doesnt let it outta her sight for long. Her 2 year old sister also enjoys trying to steal it away from her. It is a battery monster, and it definately does sound like a demon when the batteries are running low which is kinda creepy. So we just turn it off when we are needing to put new one's in. The jewelry box hasnt yet worked, but peyton our 4 year old doesnt know that, she pets it and play's with it enough that she gets plenty of interactiveness from it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Princesses   

Reviews (26)

'The King' has broken his arm...
This is the 4th male doll we've owned from Mattel to have a broken arm.We've had three seperate Alan dolls from the Happy Family Collection with this problem.I must say that the company was very good in handling this, so I thought it must have been unique to the particular doll.My 8yr old then received King Dominick as a gift.Lo and behold, his arm was broken in no time at all, but unfortunately not before all of the packaging had been disposed of!So, let's see if I can exchange this with no box and no reciept.I'd like to say I'd never buy these again but the girls beg for them!
I,too, would have liked to see a seperate Julian doll.I have 4 girls close in age who like to play together so someone has to use the 'pretend' character- the Ken masquerading as Julian.

This Ken Doll is U-G-L-Y
This is one of the ugliest dolls I have ever seen in my entire

life.His hair looks like a wig, and his face looks like a

monkey.He makes me sick.I really think this doll should be

taken off the market, as it is probably going to give some

small children nightmares.I hope I never have to look into

the face of this hideous doll again.Thanks.

disappointment
Disappointed that Tutor Julian is not sold as a separate doll.My granddaughter loves playing with her Barbie/Ken doll (Princess and the Pauper) but wants a Julian doll.Can't find one anywhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Princesses   

Reviews (6)

A Glowing review!
All the kids though these were so cool and so did the parents and aunts / uncles. My only complaint is you can never have enough. You just want to keep building and building.

Unavailable
I am very upset that every item in this category is unavailable.
Why have a buy now button if you cant actually buy the item?????????????

Awesome
My son just got this for Christmas, and he has been playing with it nonstop all day. He turns 6 next month, and has already asked for another set for his birthday. If you have a young builder in your family, this will be a sure hit. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets    3. Activity    4. Blocks   

Editorial Review

Little ones with a knack for building and creative play will be drawn tothese lightweight and durable cardboard building blocks. A staple item in many preschools, this set can spark endless imaginative play as children buildlarge, life-size structures. Builders practice mathematical skills as they addthe number of blocks stacked on top of each other, and the various-sized blockscan facilitate a conceptual understanding of fractions. When kids aredevelopmentally ready, parents can encourage them to discover that one large redblock is the same size as two medium yellow blocks or four small blue blocks.Made from 50 percent recycled cardboard, the blocks have a smooth, water-resistant coating that's easy to clean. These blocks won a Parents' ChoiceClassic Award and a Dr. Toy Classic Award. One word of caution: Make surethere's enough storage space to hold all 40 blocks once assembled. --LaurenBernard, mother and elementary school teacher ... Read more

Features

• Durable cardboard construction
• Water-resistant coating

Reviews (19)

Large blocks are best
These are great, durable, fun cardboard blocks for your kids to build structures they can play in (for example, mine like to build walls under tables to make a fort or "rabbit hole" while they pretend they are rabbits, or they build towers around each other which they then love to crash down on their heads.)I like them because they are a nice physical toy that encourages the imagination.They are strong enough for kids to stand on (although I don't encourage it because they will weaken over time) and light enough that they aren't hurt if the blocks fall on them.And kids learn some spatial, balance, and construction concepts as well. Warning: assembly required, and you should take care when assembling to make sure you get them right (don't bend the cardboard in the wrong place or you will weaken them).Also,the best blocks are the larger red ones.The yellow ones are much harder to build with (no stability for height) and the blue (brick-sized) ones are nearly useless.I'm buying more of the red only, and I expect I will actually throw out the blue and yellow ones since they take up storage room but are pretty much useless.These blocks are expensive if you are going to buy enough of them. I recommend that your kids will need at least 30 red ones to really build things that they can play in (even building in an open-space brick-saving fashion)... and that gets costly.They can be stacked awayin a 2x3x4 area... it's helpful to cordon off a section of your room or have a big storage box that helps your kids figure out how to put them away.5 stars for fun and child development, but I only gave 4 stars due to the expense and useless smaller blocks included.

Long lasting
These blocks have been in our church nursery for forty years! I played with these blocks when I was a child and now I am ordering new ones the all the children to enjoy for another forty years!

What They Don't Tell You
I ordered these blocks for my great nephews for Christmas and when they arrived I was very disappointed to see that they required putting the blocks together.No where in the marketing material does it indicate that "assembly is required" for the indivual blocks.

I would never give a gift that requires this kind of assembly.I find the material to be misleading [...]. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Blocks    3. Preschool    4. Learning    5. Baby and Infant    6. Toddler    7. Activity    8. Shape Sorting   

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

Polly doesn't need to hop around town to fill her day with fun. Her way to "vaca" is to do it all in one place. This set allows Polly and her best buds (buds not included) to shop, sleep, and play at one cool "resort", thanks to detailed rooms to be filled with 45 different pieces of furniture, accessories, and clothes. In one doll-day, Polly can hang at the hotel, catch some rays in a hot tub, eat great pizza and cuisine, charge out her credit cards at fancy shops, or catch at thrill on the amusement park's real, 8-inch diameter Ferris wheel. Choking hazard: many small pieces included. Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I love this hotel!
Hi I LOVE this hotel! There are 2 lovely beds so then polly wont sleep alone. At first I was mad at this set I tought the rooms were to small and the hotel was dum well... I was very wrong the rooms are a nice size for polly's. The roller coster is SO fun and you get a ton of outfits. The only thing wrong is that when I opend it the handel of the yellow purse broke but it was kinda of dum anayway! I realy enjoy this set and so do my sisters and we play with it ALL the time. I think Mattel should be proud. I realy think kids of all ages can play with this set like 3-13 years old Im 11 and LOVE it! I gota go now by! - Jackie

AWESOME TOY FOR ANYONE!!
Even though the manufactuor says Polly Pockets are for ages 3-7, I don't really think that is apropriate. 3 year olds could swallow the pieces or something, and who says you have to stop playing with them when you're seven? I am quite a bit older than seven, and I still play with them!! I have a whole collection, and this is one of my favorites!! There are four rooms in the hotel, plus the roller coaster!! For people who say this toy is not durable, I don't know what you're talking about!! My toy stays together perfectly, and the roller coaster always stays on the track. This toy isn't exactly educational, but who cares? Toys are supposed to be fun, not an excuse to force more work on a child. But I guess it teaches you about hotels and stuff....
I also highly reccomend the other 3 playsets to go with this one. I personally think they become a bit boring without the other ones.

So cool!!!!!!!!!!!
I just got this and I already fell in love with it!You can pretend the dolls are staying at the hotel. It has a room with two beds and a closet that pulls out. There is a gift shop with a balcony that pulls out, a desk that you can purchase your items at, a cash register, spots to sell cloths and purses, and a rack that holds a mirror, sunglasses, and magazines. The lobby has a reception desk to check in and out of the hotel, a couch, tv stand, and pull out floor for a cafe. The cafe holds a table, two chairs, and a hamburger tray. Another room has the roller coaster rolling in for the dolls to get off. The roof can have a hot tub and a lounge chair. It is really fun! ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Tinker Toys have entertained kids for decades--ever since their 1913 invention by Charles Pajeau, who was inspired by children playing with pencils and empty spools of thread. This set features 102 versatile wooden spools, connectors, and brightly colored dowels packed in an easy-to-store keepsake canister. Simply add a child's imagination for hours of creative fun. --Jane Snyder ... Read more

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. Wood    2. Preschool    3. Construction    4. Building Sets   

Reviews (3)

Another Winner for GeoTrax
I knew my son would love this as soon as I saw it as he love bridges and things he can make move.

The set comes with a drawbridge, a sailboat and some cargo.The bridge has typical GeoTrax detail with crabs, shells and other things along the edges and the water under the bridge contains a sea turtle.

Bridge action is controlled with an easy-to-grasp handle that small hands can wrap right around.As the bridge is raised, a bell rings and the gates drop.When the bridge is lowered, the gates automatically go back up.The bell can also be rung by pushing down on the chimney of the gate house.

All in all this is a fun addition to a GeoTrax setup, it is easy to set up and use, and it is very durable, not to mention very reasonably priced.

Bayshore Drawbridge
The Bayshore Drawbridge is another great addition to your kids GeoTrax collection.It can be used in place of three adjacent straight pieces of track.It is made from high impact plastic and is very durable.

No batteries are needed for this kit.A lever actuates the raising and lowering of the bridge.Additionally, as the bridge is raised, a little bell rings and two little crossing gates are lowered to block any oncoming trains.

The only difficulty was assembling the lever to the drawbridge.You have to line up the lever with the keying mechanism and push HARD for the lever to snap on correctly.

If you're buying the drawbridge, then by this point, you have probably purchased many of the other additional kits.It gets to be quite a challenge to include everything into a good layout.

For some great track layout ideas, search on eBay for "Geotrax Track Layout".

All things considered...this is a great toy that will keep your kids (and you) occupied for many, many hours.My kids love it!

Outsanding New Series !!!
I've bought all available Geo Trax toys and built a very fun rail road and track system, of course my child spends a lotof hours playing with them.

This New Series, increases the level with air & sea vehicles, planes and boats are added to previously trains, trucks and cars, to be able to expand in an outsanding transportation set. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets   

Reviews (5)

Classroom Teacher
This product has provided hours of entertainment to my Kindergarteners and my first graders in the last two years.I can't believe how rough they can be with the toy and nothing breaks.

Really neat...even fun for mom
I bought this set for my son when he turned 4.He didn't attempt to play with it by himself until one day I got it out, sat on the floor with him and started building really neat stuff.When he saw what I had done and watched all the colors of gears turning round and round that was it, he loved it.This set has so many options; you can build 1,000 different things.We will have this set for a long time.

Start with the Under Sea Adventure set, this as add on!
We received several gears, gears, gears sets at the same time, and found that the plain set ie Super set although initially fun looses excitement without some add ons.If I were to buy just one set I would start with the Under the Sea adventure set first, then add with the fantasy play park.The Undersea set has parts that move the gears in interesting ways from the standard set.It also comes with regular gears for building, although in limited number so the super set still helps extend the play.The motorized monstors sounded more intteresting than it was, but the parts when added to the Undersea adventure set was great fun!The gears are an interesting way of learning how things work. If your child is mechanically minded any of these sets will provide a wonderful new constructin opportunity.If your child hasn't been inclined towards let's say lego's etc.. This toy may provide some interest initially in being able to create a design that moves.However, construction with this set is more complicated than legos and for the less mechanically inclined child will still need paren'ts help beyond the age minimum's recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Construction    3. Building Sets    4. Activity    5. Pretend Play    6. Play Sets    7. Blocks   

Reviews (55)

Great Choo Choo
I bought this toy for my daughter when she was six months old and it's a great value.For the money I couldn't ask for anything better.She loves the train still three months later.It is very durable and has been dropped several times and keeps on choo chooing, it still has the original batteries in it from when we bought the toy.She always gets excited when the train starts rolling and screams with delight then tries to crawl after it and get it.She loves to watch the blocks go up and down and round and round.It is one of her favirote toys and she is almost nine months old.She likes to take the blocks off and pound them together to make noise.She also loves the little blue boxcar at the end she picks it up and plays with the red flap.And tries to turn the wheels with her hand.It is just a great toy and I highly recommend it.

still using it a year later....
My son got this toy on his 1st bday and his 2nd just passed and he still loves it.He puts it in other toys and the train pushed them too.The peek a boo blocks are cute at first but now he likes just the train.It is very cute and keeps his busy and trust me he is a very active boy.He thinks of different ways of using the train.Very highly recommended here.I still have not changed the batteries either.

Neat toy
This toy is too cute.She got it at 10mo old and still plays with it at 15mos.The little blocks spin with the song.Love it!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Blocks    3. Learning   

Reviews (2)

Creative fun
My 5 year old got this as a present. I was amazed at the creative things he made! My 3 year old joined in the fun by making letters of the alphabet. I highly recommend this. Note that these magnets are heavy. If your child throws things, these would REALLY hurt or damage something.

Excellent developmental toy
This toy is great to spur kid's imagination. I was really impressed by all the things my 4 year old build. This toy kept him busy for hours. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets    3. Activity    4. Blocks   

Reviews (8)

Not as good as the original
I bought these for my daughter when she was 3.Now 5, she and her 2 year old brother play with them.They are no where near as good as my bristle blocks from childhood (still at Grandma's).These just don't stay together well at all.The people that swivel and the wheels looked like they'd add great dimension and improve a classic toy, but with the reduction in block quality (ie, they don't stick together!), I have to say these are a so-so toy, at best.

Another interesting way to build things
My kids really like their bristle blocks.I like the bright colors and the different sizes.My 3 year old just likes to put the pieces together--it doesn't matter if it is anything or not.It is just interesting to him that they stick to each other at this point.I built a car for him--from that point on, he has been able to visualize different things--cars, buildings, yards, etc. and put them together.I think that these, blocks, gears, legos, lincoln logs, etc. are all very important to a child's development.These are lots of fun for a reasonable price.

Bristle Blocks are Great!
My grown sons played with Bristle Blocks when they were children. Now my 3yr old grandson loves them as well. We gave him a small set for Christmas when he was two and he has been playing wiht them ever since. This year he gets the biggest set Imaginarium makes. I feel his imagination is fed with every space ship or airplane he creates.
And his Dad & Uncle get a big charge out of them as well, for them its a blast from the past. We love them! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Construction    3. Blocks    4. Activity    5. Pretend Play    6. Play Sets