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Adventure
Tunnel
BRIO
Corp.
If your child has a wooden train set look no further for a
great new addition than the Adventure Tunnel from Brio.
This very cool molded plastic tunnel attaches like a track piece to your
existing layout, but as your train chugs through the mountainside setting,
you'll hear great sound effects like a chugging engine, clattering tracks or an
authentic train whistle. The magnet
on the train sets off the sound like magic and it really gave our testers a
charge. The sounds are quite impressive but be warned they are also
quite loud, who ever heard of a train with a volume control, and don't expect to
find one here. One tester who was
quite the aficionado despite his tender age, looked as if he had discovered the
holy grail, "this is perfect, it's the last piece I'll ever need for my
train set", who can argue with that?
Suggested Age: 3 and Up
Price: $35.00
Lasy
Clic - Fire EnginesLasy-Cameleon
We discovered some time ago that parents cast a skeptical
eye at building toys that claim to be toddler friendly.
Perhaps they feel that the hand eye coordination is not quite ready for
construction projects. Those
opinions changed as parent were introduced to the Lasy Clic system that is made
up of smooth plastic pieces that glide and snap into place easily and create
very fun, useable toys. The pride
that young children showed in their creations were remarkable making $14.95 seem
like the bargain of the century.
Suggested Age: 3 and Up Price: $14.95
Country
Crossing Play SetBRIO
Corp.
This wooden train set, complete with track, trains and
accessories is everything you need for a first railroad playset.
With two levels, a bridge that trains can pass over and under and y-split
tracks there is everything here for engaging play.
There are even two layouts to choose from.
If you have extra track there is no end to the size and complexity of
your set-up. Brio quality remains
exceptionally high as this set represents another in a series of award winning
products. Parents told us they feel
comfortable with the higher end price tag since they are aware of Brio's
reputation for quality.
Suggested Age: 3 and Up Price: $100.00
Remember when you first saw a bar code, you know those
apparently random vertical lines on every product these days.
The mystery of what those lines meant is beyond any level of
comprehension for most of us, apart from the fact that they talk to the
supermarket checkout machine and speed up that process.
Along comes this play scanner and it all starts to make some sense.
Given a tool like this there is no limit to the kind of fun enhancements
for kids when they play "store".
Our testers played space station, post office and found the scanner could
fulfill all kinds of imaginative uses. The
LCD price readout and a satisfying, realistic beep sound on this handheld toy
were big plusses that added up to a great toy.
Suggested Age: 3 and Up Price: $16.95
Lasy
- Junior Starter Set
Lasy-Cameleon
We were introduced to the Lasy building system for the
first time and were so impressed. The
smooth, solid plastic pieces in this building set fit together perfectly so that
in no time we were building any of a number of well-illustrated contraptions.
The instruction book takes the builder step by step with great detail and
the results were great. The system
of pieces that glide together and lock in place made for sturdy results, many of
which can stay together and used in other play settings.
There are 15 different models outlined in the instruction book, but there
is no limitation to the imagination we saw our testers demonstrate.
The box has its own built in handle for carrying and cleaning up, which
always draws high praise.
Suggested Age: 3 and Up Price: $49.95
Hopscotch
Play MatLet's
Learn Educational Toys
The game of hopscotch transcends so many generations that
almost anyone with a piece of chalk and a sidewalk can draw those familiar boxes
in their sleep. The only limitation
to the game was the fact that it needed to be played outside.
No longer. This non-skid
cushioned playmat is ready for play, day or night, no matter what the weather.
The mat features bright, colorful boxes and the set includes two player
markers as well. This is a great
set for classroom settings and parties. The
mat folds away and back into its carrying case with ease.
Suggested Age: 3 to 8 Price: $24.95
Upside-Down
OverpassDarda
Inc. USA
In the world of miniaturized car racing, nothing says cool
like loop-d-loops, or so our young testers tell us. And if we are to believe their expert opinion, then the
Upside-Down Overpass is the coolest. Four,
count 'em, Four loops are featured in this track set that includes a self
winding, no battery using, race car to defy gravity time and time again.
The track can be built quite easily, the only suggestion is that you may
need to secure the bases to the ground since the g-forces of the car can leave
you with a twisted track. Kids
played with this race set over and over, wowed by the speed and sounds.
Suggested Age: 4 and Up Price: $29.95
Go-Go
HoopThink
Of It!, Inc.
Have you ever wanted to take your hula-hoop somewhere
other than your own home? Ever
tried to stuff it into a 4 door car? This
apparently kept the folks at Think Of It! up at night and darned if they didn't
come up with a great solution. This
collapsible hula-hoop comes in a neat carrying case and when the urge strikes to
swivel your hips all it takes is a very quick snap together process and you are
in business. The colorful design
and sturdy construction of the Go-Go-Hoop withstood all kinds of abuse in our
centers. When the fun was over each
night the Hoop came apart and packed up with no problems at all, ready to hit
the road and bring Hoop joy wherever it went.
Suggested Age: 5 and Up Price: $9.99
Monopoly
Junior: Deep Sea Adventure EditionUSAopoly
This newest incarnation of the Monopoly franchise,
designed specifically for the youngest board game players, is a superb
adaptation of one of the greatest games of all time.
Fun for the whole family to play together, parents told us that they
rediscovered how much fun it was just playing together with their kids.
The Deep Sea Adventure theme adds a unique twist to the experience, but
the idea of acquiring property and collecting cash is still at the core.
There are fact-filled property cards that identify each marine species,
these are really fascinating and add a whole new dimension to the game's play.
Suggested Age: 5 to 8 Price: $20.00
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Last Update: August 15, 2000