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Dr. Seuss | Radio Flyer | Trains
| Tonka Trucks | Tin Toys
 Cabbage
Patch Kids (PlayAlong Toys)
Ages 3-6, $29.99
Cabbage Patch Kids dolls are back! Our 3 1/2 year-old tester loves her Cabbage
Patch Kids doll, Nelida Ollie (each doll has his/her own name and comes with
adoption papers). Nelida brought a big smile to our tester's face along with a
couple of "wows" when presented to her. Since then, her mother reports
that, "Nelida has remained pretty much constantly by her side: at
preschool, at mealtime and at bedtime." Nelida is cute and cuddly and her
clothes and shoes are removable, so our tester enjoys undressing and dressing
her as well as playing with her hair. This is a perfect gift for a little girl!
 My
Little Pony (Hasbro)
Ages 3 and up $4.99
Introduced in the early 1980's the My Little Pony toys were the rage. Well
they are back and the are bigger than ever. A whole new generation of
children are being introduced to these cute little ponies with names like Star
Shimmer, Bumblesweet, and Cherry Blossom. Little girls seem to really
enjoy brushing their manes while playing with their friends.
Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss has been popular for years, but now with the new
"Cat in the Hat" movie coming out it's even more popular!
at
in the Hat in the Box (Schylling)
Our testers just loved this Jack-in-the-Box. It plays "Pop Goes the
Weasel" which is a favorite anyway and then up pops the Cat in the Hat!
He's soft and squishy and the box is classic tin. It made our testers
smile every time! Ages 2 and up. $24.99
100
Years of Cat in the Hat (Manhattan
Toy Company) Puppets are just plain fun and this one takes the cake!
This hat comes complete with the Cat in the Hat, Boy, Girl, Thing One,
Crinklebin and the Fish! It makes for a lot of entertaining fun for the
little ones! You can pop them up all at once or one at a time and the hat fits
many sizes! Ages 3 and up. $25.99
 The
Cat in the Hat (Manhattan
Toy Company) 14" of huggable fun! This Cat in the Hat is the perfect size to
crawl into bed with. He's soft, fluffy, colorful and cute. Buy one to go
with the book by "The
Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss! Ages 3+,
$19.99  Horton
(Manhattan Toy Company)
"Horton Hears a Who" is one of my daughters favorite stories and
this plush Horton is no disappointment. Made of soft-blue fabric this
Horton will be snuggled with for years - mark our words! Buy one to go
with the book by Dr. Seuss! Ages 3+,
$19.99 The
Grinch (Manhattan
Toy Company) What Christmas would be  complete without the "How
the Grinch Stole Christmas?" This cute little green toy is just
the perfect little stocking stuffer. The right size for little hands, made
beautifully by the people at the Manhattan Toy Company. Buy one to go
with the book by Dr. Seuss. Ages 3+,
$11.99
Radio Flyer
 Radio
Flyer - Retro Rocket (Radio Flyer, ages 10 months and up, $49.99)
This gorgeous retro rocket was tested by a 16-month-old and has
one rave reviews. Initially the noise scared our tester, but after
he got used to it he loved it! He loves the vibration, the lights, the
sounds and the fact that he can roll it around his living room. His
parents love the retro look and feel and extra storage under the seat.
 Pathfinder
Wagon (by Radio Flyer, Ages18 months and up, $79.99)
This wagon was tested by a family with two young children aged 18
months and 4 years old. The kids loved it, in fact the mother commented
that "her daughter seemed happier in the wagon than in her regular
stroller." The family has really used it a lot and really liked the
fact that it has seat belts, cup holders and storage. The set backs really
supported their 18-month-old well and they felt comfortable going for both long
and short walks. The wagon has an extra-long handle for easy pulling,
handles that folds under for easy storage, front axles that are designed for non-tip turning
and Dura-Tread® rubber tires for super soft, super quiet ride. This is a
great gift for a family that will be used for years!
 Trains
Buying a model train set
A guide for selecting the right one
Courtesy Kalmbach Publishing
Co.
Train sets are fun, no matter what your age. Your first train set will provide countless hours of enjoyment and may even spark your interest in model railroading as a lifelong hobby. To get the right set for your needs, it’s important to be an informed consumer. Here are some tips to make your train-set buying and “playing” experience more enjoyable. Read
more.
Thomas
Mountain Overpass Set: (by Learning Curve, Ages 3+, $79.99)
This set has
32-pieces and features Percy and Butch, the tow truck.. Our tester a
5-year-old, already a Thomas fan, loved the fact that this set makes a "choo-chooing"
sound. He's been playing with it every day since, which makes his parents
very happy! A great gift! There is a tunnel, crossing gates and
more. A great set for any Thomas fan!. Click
here to find a store near you!
Thomas "Lets Have a Race" Set:  (by
Learning Curve, Ages 3+, $199.99)
Our little tester couldn't believe his eyes -- his parents reported. He acted like he hit the jackpot! His parents said this was a winner before the box was
opened! This great set brings the Thomas together with the story of "Thomas and Bertie's Great Race".
The set features a hilltop station that sends both characters on a race across the railways!
The set includes an exclusive bridge/tunnel, a hilltop station, Bertie, Thomas, Annie,
Clarabel,
as well as track and accessories. Click
here to find a store near you!
Trucks
Tonka Mighty Dump Truck
(by Hasbro, Ages 3+, $16.99) Our tester had these as a child, so he was thrilled when he could give this
to his son, a 4-year-old to test. He said that although his was made of
all metal, this was still pretty cool. His son absolutely loves it and
it's in the back yard, constantly full of dirt, mulch and rocks! The
father reported that the only downside was that he had to buy the Tonka Mighty Front Loader
and
Tonka Mighty Yellow Crane, which he also said were excellent!
Tin Toys
Push
Chimes / Circus Top (Schylling)
Did you play with either of these toys as a kid? Well, our testers
got to play with them and they enjoyed them as much as the new fangled
electronic toys! Our 2-year-old tester had a blast playing with these toys
and their grandmother loved them too! Ages 2 and up, $11.00 for the Top
and $15.95 for the Chimes. |
