ABC
Train
Mega Bloks, Inc.
This wonderfully colorful train is the type of gift you will love to
give to the special child in your life. The interlocking pieces allow your
child to build a train for rolling on the floor. Whether they choose letter or
color combinations, they will build all kinds and be thrilled with each one.
For under $10, our testers felt that this toy was a steal.
Recommended Ages: 1 to 5 Retail Price: $9.99
Applepie
Toys - Spotty the Dog
Pamela Drake, Inc.
There are pull toys that get lost in the bottom of toy boxes and then
there's Spotty. This wooden dalmation stands a full 12 inches, which may not
sound like a lot but to your toddler, this is a big friend who will follow them
anywhere. The design of Spotty is unique in that the wooden sections are
separated and held together with a rubberized connection. This allows Spotty to
waggle behind, in an adorably life-like manner.
Recommended Ages: 1 and Up Retail Price: $25.00
Mega
Bloks Block Buddies My Musical Farm
Mega Bloks, Inc.
Adorable design featuring pieces that are ideally sized for little hands
to playact life on the farm, not to mention a variety of music and sounds
(including volume control), this great playset was a hit with our testers. The
Megabloks design team has created an appealing environment that reacts to your
child in a manner that will often elicit giggles and delight. The bright
colorful set, with its happy cast of characters got lots of playtime and
withstood even the most rambunctious farmhand.
Recommended Ages: 1 to 5 Retail Price: $19.99
Tiny
Town
Habermaas Corp.
Wooden blocks have been staple features in childhood playrooms for many
generations. This new set from Habermaas will delight your little one with the
build-upon design of three wooden pegs. These pegs allow your child to build
any number of designs. The wooden blocks are painted with bright colors and are
sanded down so that there are no rough or pointed edges. The feel of this toy
is solid and strong.
Recommended Ages: 1.5 and Up Retail Price: $35.00
Canopy
Trike
Huffy Bicycle Company
Giving your child the freedom of self-propelled locomotion is a
significant milestone in their development. As a parent, when they struggle you
want to help without denying them the thrill of accomplishing the skill. The
Canopy Trike allows you to do all this while still avoiding a backache in the
process. The Canopy Trike actually does double duty. It starts out as a stroller
with a harness and steering lockout. It is also a solidly designed first bicycle
experience, one that gives parents the ability to provide their children with as
much or as little help as they feel is necessary. Parents appreciated a feeling
of security knowing that they could catch hold of a runaway trike.
Recommended Ages:
1 1/2 to 4 Retail Price: $69.95
Nursery
Rhyme Pal
The First Years
This little piggy is often the first "game" that most infants play. The
giggles of anticipation that it elicits are generally followed by "More!” This
soft velveteen plush toy gives children the opportunity to play along with a
friend who giggles, shakes and moves to the delight of little ones. The lights
were an extra added bonus that our testers really enjoyed.
Recommended Ages: 2 and Up Retail Price: $19.95
Maggie
Raggies Princess & Her Frog Prince
Zapf Creation
Children unfamiliar with the tale of the Princess and the Frog might
find it odd to the see a pretty pink doll holding a green frog with a crown on
his head. This should be viewed as a perfect opening for you to tell the 19th
Century tale first made famous by the Brothers Grimm. Maggie Raggies as the
princess is quite adorable and children loved playing the imagination play
complete, with sound effects, of
kissing the frog and then magically flipping the fabric to reveal a dashing, if
small, prince.
Recommended Ages: 2 and Up Retail Price: $29.99
Story
Reader
Publications International
This interactive reading system comes with one of the most beloved
stories of recent years, Toy Story. That pedigree alone won high praise from
our testers, but when they opened the cover up and started to play they were
equally as impressed. There they found superb audio quality that was spoken at
a pace that made it easy for young children to follow along with. There are
many great additional and familiar titles in the pipeline which will make it fun
to build your interactive library. Parents thought the Story Reader would be
perfect for car trips or quiet time.
Recommended Ages: 3 to 5 Retail Price: $29.99
For more information about The Seal of Approval or The National
Parenting Center
call: 1-800-753-6667
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Last Update: August 10, 2003