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   

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

What's the No. 1 group dance for the pre-school set? Hint: it's not the "Electric Slide" or "Cotton-Eyed Joe." You guessed it, and so did Elmo: the "Hokey Pokey." Though Elmo doing the "Slide" would be a sight to see, he masters the Pokey quite convincingly, to the probable delight of his toddling fans. After loading his foot with four "AA" batteries, press his hand and he performs the popular jig. He sticks out both his right hand and foot, shakes his body all about, then smoothly spins in place, thanks to a rotating platform under one foot. Elmo even spices up the beat, and sporadically speeds up the action; both innovations crank up the fun factor. The only downside: he was de-plushed, presumably because of all the mechanisms needed to help him dance and maintain balance. The result, still, is an impressive performance. He's just not very cuddly. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (98)

oh my gosh!!!
Can we say neverstop!! - she ran this thing into the ground!! played with it alllll the time and still does - highly recommend

My todler loves it!
I bought this for my son about two months ago. And I believe I must have gotten the most durable one. My 20 month old son was only dancing with him the first two weeks, until he discover that it's more fun to squeeze him, while he shakes, then throw him against the floor or wall. So far it has been over a month, and the Elmo is still singing, dancing, and saying oops or thank you. I would recomend this toy to any one.

Good times for kids
My 2 year old has this and loves it. He's already a huge fan of Elmo, so I'm sure that helps. The toy itself is rather neat since it pretty much does the hokey pokey. Elmo puts in his hand in, his leg in and he shakes all about, then he turns around in a circle. Doesn't work so good on carpet, better on smooth surfaces. The sound it good and lucky for us parents, the song doesn't last too long. If you tip him upside down he says "whoopsie!", and something about needing to be turned back upright. Cute toy. My son thinks Elmo is dancing with him. ... Read more

Subjects:  

Reviews (29)

Great Toy
I had read a lot of reviews on this toy. My husband and I purchased this for our 4 year old daughter. It took us awhile to finally decide. What a great toy and made very well. The battery last very long. I just let her play with it and the end of the day we take in the battery and recharge it. She loves it! It does spin wheels are certain surfaces,but she has figure it out back and it up a little and move forward again. We are glad that we decided to get it and it made her birtday complete.

go go power-wheels, Power-wheels power makes 'em go!
We love this truck, my daughter just got this Barbie Jeep for her 3rd Birthday and she is just thrilled with her new toy. Assembly was a bit more work then the reviews made it out to be. My first thought was to let the store put it together but after reading the reviews on this website that said it was "quick+easy" my husband and I decided to give it a try. It took about two hours (we took a few break's.)
We took our daughter to abig field where she could practice her steering and get a feel for the gas pedal.
This toy also has great developmental benefits such as eye-hand & eye-foot coordination. It also helps to stimulate their imagination.

great fun for all kids
I loved this jeep it fit's two kid's witch is great so if your child has a friend over they will not feel left out my daughter drive's her 2yr ols brother around in this jeep all the time they drive it every wher. My 2yr old climb's on it all the time is very durable I have even drive it. It is alot of fun and it help's my daughter how to pay attention to wear she is going sence she has to watch where she is driving. I would recomend this jeep to anyone it is well worth the money
... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Guess what! Dora the Explorer has jumped on the royal bandwagon! This intrepid explorer is now a fairy tale princess with magical hair that grows when the jewel in her crown is pressed with a wand. Dora talks and sings, too, in both English and Spanish: "Vamanos! Let's go to fairytale land! Will you brush my hair?" The 14-inch-tall plastic doll is not designed to be cuddled so much as played with and groomed. She is attired in a satiny yellow gown trimmed in pink and purple, and has a brush, barrettes, and magic wand. The magical tresses emerging from the hair-growing tube are quite realistic, although grownups, at least, might be a little unnerved at the sleek brown hair oozing in and out of Dora's head. Still, children are experts at suspending disbelief and accepting weirdness in the world, so they probably won't mind a bit. Four AA batteries required (included). --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Not as happy as I thought!!!!
We bought this for our daughter Brittney (39 months), she wanted it so bad, then after a few days she just stopped playing with it. I don't think she's into the hair brushing and that sort of play just yet. She still loves dora's house, and her other dora dolls which include star catching dora, cowboy dora, buenas noched dora, magic surprise dora and some other ones.

A review for my Sister
The first day my sister ever saw this item, she wanted it for her birthday, but she got it for Christmas. Thanks to our best friend, Pat, now living at Bethel Retirement Home. When my sister got this, she thought that Dora looked cute in the box. My sister really likes the song that Dora sings. One time, my sister combed Dora's hair too much and too hard. Then it didn't work. My father fixed it on the day he got batteries for my MindMania Spelling Clip. Last, my sister doesn't play with Dora oftenly. Dora uses 4 "AA" batteries (included.)- Cristian and Alejandra Mojica.

3 yr old likes maybe too much
Dora is still doing okay considering what she has been through since Christmas.Her pretty hair do was taken out of its rubber bands fairly quickly.She has gotten an unrequested hair cut, luckly not much was cut because I caught my daughter in the act.She gets played with somewhat often even by visiting children.I do sometimes have to take Dora away when the kids start fighting over her.She doesn't look as good as new anymore, but well loved. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls    2. Fairies    3. Princesses    4. Toddler Dolls    5. Ethnic   

Reviews (15)

My kid loves being top dog!
I got this for my 8-year old and she instantly got on it and started running over other kids!
she loves it!
she is the master of our street and if you mess with her you get run over!!
so any other people who get this,my Little susie wants a piece of you!

Great 1st timer
We bought this for my daughter's 1st birthday which was yesterday.She loves to climb on and off of it just after 1 day.She can't push the button herself yet but likes for us to push it so she can ride. She did accidently push it once and laughed when it started moving. After she realized the button made it move she pushed it and let off several times and laughed about it.I think she will really enjoy it this summer when she knows how to make it go on her own.

Excellent ride for the money
We purchased this for our 1 year old daughter on her 1st birthday. & she already was able to figure out how to manuever it. I was very impressed by the product for this age group. Reverse might be nice but at this age I dont know that she could figure it out. My only concern is the seat comes off fairly easy if the lock isnt just right. Excellent purchase for the 1 year age group!She loves it ! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Motorized   

Reviews (3)

Gundam NT-1
I must say, if your a gundam enthusiast, you have to get this model.This Skill Level 7 was my first and it took me about 3 hours.One completed I was very pleased with how it turned out. So many parts of articulation and the oerall durability was excellent.Though I wouldn't recommend playing with this, it is a model.Overall I gave it a five.

The least favored Master Grade kit...
You might like it or hate it. I don't really know. I have one and I am not quite sure about it. The detail of the kit is rather mush compared to other 1/100th scale Master Grade Gundam kits from Bandai. You really need to paint (preferably with an airbrush) it to make it look cooler. And, no. It's a model kit not a toy. It's so fragile that you don't want to play with it.

The Cool Toy
This is a great toy.People who enjoy building models,well this is the model for you.It stands up tall and does not fall over.I had a lot of fun making this toy.I know you will too.It is a fair price and it is well worth it.Buy it! You will be satified! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action Figures    2. Anime   

Editorial Review

Stand in awe as Hasbro adds the most powerful villain known to Transformers to the Energon Supreme series; the planet devouring Unicron! With just a glance at this goliath you can already see the added improvements from the old Armada version. The new vibrant colors add the right amount of sci-fi menace to Unicron's look, complimented with glowing red eyes and hands (batteries are included). In robot form you’ll find he’s simply huge with a range of motion almost unheard of in Transformers. Just about everywhere on him, from his chest to his legs, you’ll find an arsenal of rockets ready to fire. With the help of the Mini-Con Dead-End figure (also included) you can even make that happen. Once transformed into planet mode you’ll find he can easily hold up to 27 individual Mini-Cons at once. The instructions are detailed perfectly so you’ll have no problems with his transformations.--Chip Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Chaos Bringer
Well if your a fan of Unicron this guy's for you,very well detailed,posiable, and just kool to look at, One best transformers i ever purchased

A New Unicron?
What is the difference? So it a cooler looking Versian than the armada. They do everything the same way[ the only part I like is the big missle and all the capartments!]. If you want to make a armada cooler paint it! Well thats all I got to say.

Be careful!
A terrific Generation 1 (or any generation) Transformers toy.this is a black-version of the previously issued Orange Armada toy, with the exception that this appears to be black and has a missile launcher from the chest.Be careful though, TOYS R' US seems to have gotten a whole bunch of their ENERGON UNICRON boxes mis-packed with the ORANGE ARMADA UNICRON.other than the mis-packing (which may or may not prove collectible in the long run), this black version is generally produced in much lower quantities than the first orange version.A MUST BUY!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action Figures    2. Movies   

Reviews (27)

Yeah - Lots of People Complain with Dumb Reasons
People complain about that 'fake grin' on the dolls' faces.WELL, GUESS WHAT?I'd be shocked to find the Bratz's or even Barbie's makeup-coated 'collectible' faces on dolls that are supposed to represent eight-year-olds!I like to see eight-year-olds smiling, even with teeth showing.It shows that they're happy, and enjoying their childhood.

"I played with Stacie as a child, and she isn't the same anymore." Well, maybe she's changed for the better.She has more friends now, and I like her unbendable legs.That way, she can stand up.See how the label isn't "Stacie" anymore, but rather "Wee Three Friends"?More diversity, people!

"Breasts on eight-year-olds?"I had those TINY BREASTS when I was eight.

"They're so cheap!"Hmmm...maybe, because they are TOYS, not meant to be 'collectibles'?I don't see the freaking need to make girls' toys into collectibles.These are just being modest toys, not idols, or collectibles.Keep it simple.

"They are such wannabe fashion dolls!"(Sigh)These people completely miss the point.These are FRIENDSHIP DOLLS, not fashion dolls.They are not wannabe fashion dolls, because they are NOT TRYING TO BE!

Don't ask.I'm a Bratz fan, but I think these are better for children.

HORRIBLE PHOTO!
Don't worry about the photo.The dolls come with a lot more than just that.There's plastic bottles; cameras - a lot more than what the photo shows.
The dolls are very strong.They have feet, and they stand up alone.They have an excellent friendship theme.Amd they are not anorexic.
The dolls are fun.I like them better than bratz.

SomeoneSaid "No Diversity."
Here's something else.I hate Bratz.And Bratz are anorexic too.They show no diversity except skin colour and hair as well.So be quiet about it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls    2. Fashion Dolls   

Reviews (11)

Fun toy!
This is a fun toy... My daughter is a Thomas fan & she loves this. She plays with it for hours at a time. It could be a little more stable, but these kind of toys never are!

Great toy for Thomas Lovers
I bought this toy at another store $10 cheaper than remarked online here. Its great! My son is 21 months old and he absolutely loves it.Being an active 21 month old the toy can withstand his activity level! I would have prefered nylon myself, but the material used is not really that flimsy at all. I've three very large dogs that climb in and out of it too! So that should account for something also. Great toy, colorful, large and fun for all!

Not worth it
My 4-year-old is so disappointed. Thomas is ripping after only a few uses. I was disappointed when we opened the package and saw that it was made from the thin papery material used in disposable medical booties and gowns.

While I'm sure I can return it, that won't fix my son's disappointment. This toy was not worth it. ... Read more

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

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)

Lemon of a toy
I bought this ride on toy for my 3 year old daughter since she enjoyed her older sisters' jeep, I thought it would be fun for her to have her own.It worked for about a week and then never worked right after that.I bought new batteries for it, but nothing worked.It does not run very fast, if at all.It would go and then stop, needless to say my daughter will not even go in the car now.Maybe I just got a lemon car, but I was very disappointed in this product and would not waste the money on another one like it.

Grocery Getter
This VW was purchased for my daughter when she was too young to drive it. At 1 yr she was afraid of the electric engine noise. At 2 she could push the pedal but did not understand to keep her foot down and she had not enough strength to turn the wheel. At 3 years she was ready to drive! It has been reliable and durable. The batteries are still good after all this time but I have kept up on keeping them charged throughout the year even when not in use. This car is one-wheel drive and therefore does not go on anything except for carpet and perfectly level pavement. Does not go in grass or gravel at all.

Small Enough for Indoor Use
We got this car for our 22 month old daughter as an early Christmas gift.She loved opening and closing the door and going in and out of the one in the store.Fully assembled it is approx 3ft by 2ft so it's small enough to use and store in the house, which is nice because we live in a condo.My daughter can't steer it yet (it's harder to steer on carpet than vinyl)but she can push the pedal and foward/reverse buttons.She likes to store "treasures" in it and we often find our missing items in there.It's not that fast or powerful but it was able to pull me around in it.I think it's good for younger children and indoor use. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Motorized   

Reviews (15)

RE: bad rebound
UM it's NOT the 1800's anymore! And if a women doesen't wanna dress in some turtle neck and grandma pants, than whatever!!!
So you are saying that these dolls are BAD role models??? LET ME CLUE YOU IN--DOLLS AREN'T ROLE-MODELS!
You 1 star reviewing, Christian mothers are just flat out hags!

I mean, ACTORS wear stuff like this, too! (I am taking acting next year and I'LL be wearing stuff that that, and im 12!!)

My mom dresses in tank tops, short skirts, and sandles, because it is NOT THE 1800'S ANYMORE! DUH! Fashion's changed over the past 200 years!


Right now, in my school, (and I go to an Elementery school) make up, and knee high boots are the popular trends from grades 4-6! I wear dark make up, long, dangling earrings, leather bracelets, black boots, and short skirts because i dress how i feel like(my parents also think it's okay, because we are only young for a while)


Fashion for all ages has CHANGED. It is NOT like we're reacting little house on the prarie!!!!


this is a nice doll, i like it, i recomend it!!!!!

M~

Kid tested and approved!
My husband and I took our 3 1/2 yr old niece to the toystore Barbie isle and let her pick any toy she wanted and this was the one. She absolutely LOVES it! She hesitated between this one and another Fairytopia doll but since pink is her favorite color I think she chose this one in particular.

I gave 5 stars simply because of how much she loves it, 1 star because it's not educational at all as far as I can see. 3 stars for durability and 4 stars overall.

A big hit at my house!
One of my daughters got this from her grandma for Easter and the other HAD to have one too!We got it and they both love them.More than a month later the wings are still lighting up...amazing!

My daughter's favorite part about this Barbie was the little Bibble doll that came with it. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Portuguese mom
I bought this lovely doll for my mother,who is Portuguese.She was thrilled. I ended up having to buy several more for the grandkids, as she won't let them touch hers! She is one popular and beautiful doll and everyone that has recieved one has been delighted.

This doll is ugly!
Omg! This doll is sooo ugly when i saw her i got freaked out but her dress nice. But her face is soo ugly her make up is yuck(barf)i gave this doll a one. She deserve it!

Portuguese Princess
The Portuguese princess is overall a lovely doll. There was nothing that jumped out at me that was postive or negative about this doll. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls    2. Fashion Dolls    3. Collectible Dolls   

Reviews (16)

Worth every penny!
Because this was such an expensive item I did my homework before purchasing the table. I looked at some cheaper tables to begin with but found that they couldn't come close to the Thomas table by Learning Curve. This table is made of solid wood and took me about 5 minutes to put together. I was able to get the playmat for free with the table through a promotion Toys R Us was having at the time of purchase. Another thing that sold me on the Thomas table was that this is the same table they have at Barrnes and Noble and you can imagine how many children play on that day after day. We have the table set up in our son's playroom since it is such a large piece. Unlike many other toys we have purchased in the past, this is one that we will save for years to come. They are expensive, but they are also made well and come with a lifetime guarantee. If you have a problem with one of their products you simply send it to them with a letter and within about 1-2 business weeks they will send you a brand new item. If you are looking to buy a train table I would highly recommend this one. Though it is more expensive, it is worth it in the long run. Why spend $80-$100 on a table that is only going to last a year or so when you can spend a little more and save it forever? One other hint...Michael's Arts and Crafts and A.C. Moore Craft Stores also carry a decent amount of the wooden Thomas toys. Look in your local paper for their 40% off coupons. They apply to Thomas and Friends which makes it a lot more affordable. :)

$$$ TRAIN TABLE PRICE IS EXTREMELY TOO HIGH****
Hello, my son is 3 and just was newly introduced to Thomas, he loves it, there are so many trains to collect from 2004 and past years. This table is so over priced, we decided also to build one $60 for materials (all oak) and a few hours and its done, personally its beautiful and stained it looks like an expensive piece, (thanks to my brother-in-law builder and my husband), if you are not as lucky to have someone in your family build it for you here is a suggestion..get in touch with your local school, or the woodshop teacher and see if you can get one of the students to build it as a project (they get graded for this) and your helping that student learn, or get plans and build it yourself, dont have the saws? your local home store may cut the wood for you. Its just a suggestion because thomas stuff is great but I would rather spend my money on the trains (which is the REAL enjoyment. Hope this helps

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.)

... Read more

Subjects:  1. Furniture    2. Wood    3. Train Set Accessories    4. Preschool    5. Vehicles    6. Trains    7. Train Accessories   

Features

• LAST ONE! Star Wars - The Original Trilogy Collection Ask Yoda.
• Includes vintage-style packaging that resembles the original line of Kenner Star Wars products. Now you have the Wisdom of the Force in your grasp.
• Let Yoda guide you through the ways of the Force and the questions that trouble you. Ask Yoda a "yes" or "no" question and he will use his skills and knowledge of the Force to answer you.
• But be mindful, the Force is always in motion. Answers may not always be what you seek, but instead what you need.
• May the Force be with you.

Reviews (5)

Yoda the 8 ball
I grew up with the "8 ball" - asking it Yes or No questions to see how it would answer.Now we have something even better!Yoda!!I got this as a gift this year and absolutely LOVE IT.Ask a Yes or No question - press his left hand and he has like 20+ different random answers!I had some friends over for dinner and we kept passing him around - everyone found this to be very entertaining.This is great for adults and young people.I may even take Yoda to the office!This is a MUST HAVE for Star Wars fans and collectors.

I love this thing!
From the first time I watched Star Wars Episode V, and saw Yoda, everybody else in the theatre thought he was a stupid little green alien, BUT I KNEW! Yoda is the wisest of all the Jedi Masters, and this toy is so cool! So far, he's helped me find $20 on the street, avoid a party where everybody was caught drinking, and get me a girlfriend. It worked for me, it'll work for you, too!

Oooahh! Scary this is!
Got this for mother for Christmas I did, mmm! Very reminiscent of the interactive furby-type Yoda toy from a few years back this is, only not quite so interactive, mmm hmmm hmm hmm! Like the Magic Eight-Ball this is, only a little more disturbing, yet kinda cute, yeess. Like Grover from Sesame Street after a weekend bender his voice sounds like! If built like the aforementioned Furby-ish toy, disintegrate his eyelids will after a couple years you should expect! Then always watching over you he will be, constantly staring, yeeess. Into the darkest, deepest pits of your soul he will gaze, your sickest, most depraved secrets and fears he will uncover, against you one day he'll use... oooaaahh! Bladder control I'm almost losing from such disquieting thoughts, mmm, yeess!

Speaking of bladders: leave now I have to, yeess. Perform the "drawing out of the dark side" I must, if what I mean you know, heh...

`Late ... Read more

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

Reviews (6)

Princess ofthe Danish Court or Cinderella?
I found this particular princess looked similar to the Disney version of Cinderella. I do not know if that is either good or bad. I just think that Mattel could have been more creative and designed a doll that doesn't look like Cinderella. She is pretty and worth the money if you like the doll.

Not-quite-fabulous
I've loved Barbies since they first came out, and I still believe dolls are to be PLAYED with, which is why I don't completely love this doll. She has awful hair, and what would it have cost them to throw a few snaps or some velcro on the back of her dress?

On the other hand, the dress IS gorgeous, and the shoes are fabulous. And I love her grave and dignified expression.

Very Beautiful,Historical....
...And cheap!And I don't mean $$$ cheap. Unlike the other 'European' looking Dolls of the World that I own, this one is a little chinsy and it gets messed up. For example, the plastic rod in the bodice kept popping out and I didnt touch it, her hair uncurled and her hem between the blue and the goldish petticoat unraveled. I was suprised that all happened and I had to purchase a new one because my others D.O.T.W arent like that.But it is really pretty and fun to play with!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls    2. Fashion Dolls    3. Collectible Dolls   

Features

• Trade or battle Pokemon among Ruby, Sapphire, and Colluseum editions of the series
• Breed Pokemon to take advantage of evolved characteristics
• For 1 to 4 players
• Card-style role-playing game
• Includes wireless adapter so you can join up to 39 other trainers for battle

Reviews (89)

I can't believe i'm going to write this...
OK, I'm 18 years old and i'm obsessed with pokemon, have been ever since I was 11. but after a long wait I finally got my hands on firered and i'm afraid to say I was disappointed, not because it was poor quality, because it was excellent, but because it lacked a challenge, everything was the same as the original but it had just been revamped, don't get me wrong I love it and everything but I want something new. if you haven't played the original then definitely buy this game but otherwise don't expect something new

freakin fun!
i have so much fun with these games, it's like the #1 thing to play during travel, or just when you have a boring time at the airport. the funniest thing i did was name my pokemon and rival funny names. my rival's name is mud. while my pokemon have names like dumpface. this game will blow you away with the new islands
and hidden pokemon from new pokemon games.

great game!
you know, it's strange. when two pokemon games come out, one eventually outsells the other one! this may be a remake, but has added features, like the six islands you can venture to and find new pokemon from silver, gold, ruby, and sapphire! yipee! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Gameboy)    3. GBA    4. Action    5. Adventure