The ten stencil cards in this set provide dozens of vivid superhero-themed artistic bits and pieces that can be endlessly combined in fresh and surprising ways. Kids can easily draw lightning bolts, rocket ships, heroes and monsters, super-magnets, ray guns, even a cityscape with the night sky looming overhead. Each result is a story in and of itself. Add details by hand, use the word bubble and splat-symbol stencils to m...Read more

Kids will take stencil art to new heights of fun and creativity with Suteki Stencils. Each of the four playful designs in this kit consists of three different stencils that are used to apply one layer of paint at a time to the same artwork. With each layer, kids add different details and colors using the Star stamper (a paint applicator with a removable sponge head). For example, the Rockin' Owl design has one stencil for...Read more

tak-tak has elements of simplicity and complexity one often finds in a game destined to be a classic. The rules are extremely easy to learn, but that very simplicity makes possible a surprising depth of strategy. Each piece bears a color and number. Players move one space per turn (straight ahead or forward diagonal), venturing out of their respective Safe Zones into the War Zone. The goal is to move as many pieces as pos...Read more

All the good things we had to say about the Dessert & Display Set (see review above, under 'd' for dessert) are equally true of this Tea Party Set from the same manufacturer. Sized perfectly for doll play, the attention to detail and attractiveness of the items in this set lends them a sense of magic that acts like a beacon for children's imaginations. Included in this 25-piece set are a teapot, teacups, saucers, utensils...Read more

Creativity, cleverness, and bursts of laughter abound in this game that brings Hollywood-like script-pitching to the dining room table. Each round, you (and every other player) will pitch a script out loud to the group. That script is made up of lines printed on cards you hold, so you'll want good cards. That's where the secret bidding comes in, as players try for the face-up cards on the table that would create the juici...Read more

Children can lay down Thomas & Friends-themed train track in the blink of an eye with this special PlayTape, creating expansive play areas that keep them happily occupied for hours at a stretch. It's fast and easy because PlayTape adheres to floors, walls, concrete, even carpeting and upholstery, and leaves no residue, making cleanup fast, easy, and painless. Bachmann's Track PlayTape is decorated with Thomas & Friends ar...Read more

This rocker, which functions as a seesaw when two or three children are on it, is a marvel of engineering. There are no moving parts. Its wide, highly stable, curved base lets kids rock or seesaw under their own power, and oh, how they enjoy the active fun! That stability, and the absence of any sharp edges, make it as safe as can be. The seat area is divided into three segments, so that a single child rocking sits in the...Read more

Thumbs Up! is rapid-fire fun in which players race to stack colored rings on their thumb in the order indicated on a challenge card. A card is flipped, players spring into action, and the first one finished wins the round. Sound easy? Guess again. Each player has 8 rings in 4 different colors, not all of which may be called for in a given round. Adding to the challenge is the fact that the numbers signifying ring order ar...Read more

Whoever came up with the concept for Tumble Train is a playtime genius. At first glance, it might appear to be a simple toy engine with some colorful plastic train tracks. In reality, it's like some miniature wild amusement park ride come to life. Once assembled, the tracks are shaped such that the train traverses four curves - two horizontal and two vertical. Engine guides on the bottom of the train car keep it on the tr...Read more

Mischief is the name of this happy and rambunctious-looking raccoon, one of a new line of plush toys called Tushies. Each Tushies plush animal is playfully posed, with a fluffy tail as one of its most notable features. Mischief is about a foot long, with lovely raccoon markings on his face and tail. Bright-eyed, with shoulders hunkered to the ground and tail in the air, Mischief looks as if he's trying to engage his human...Read more

Kids and adults alike enjoy the playful competitiveness and mental stimulation brought on by this invigorating jaunt into the world of words. The letter cube displays 9 letters per side and has rows and columns that can be rotated with a quick twist of the wrist. At the start of each turn the cube is shuffled and a letter card is flipped. The player whose turn it is must use that letter, combined with any of the 9 letters...Read more

This 12-piece Unicorns puzzle for ages 2 and up is a new entry in Galison/Mudpuppy's line of Pouch Puzzles, so-called because they come packaged in a secure, reusable, zippered pouch for easy transport and storage. Many puzzles geared towards this age group appear rather bland or ordinary, but this one looks good enough to hang on your child's bedroom wall. The piece shapes and color border make assembling the puzzle quit...Read more

It's refreshing to see a construction set so well-suited to young children. The lightweight components consist of EVA foam blocks and ABS plastic parts with VELCRO Brand Dots on the sides, making it easy to adhere them to one another in a way that holds securely yet be separated with a quick pull or twist. That ease of repositioning lets building be the exploratory process it was meant to be. Kids can be kids, veering in ...Read more

Just as with the Basic Monster Truck (see review above), the fundamental connective component in this construction set consists of VELCRO Brand Dots on the sides of EVA foam blocks and ABS plastic parts. Once again, this approach proves very well-suited to the building wants and needs of children as young as age three. The easy-to-follow instructions provide a simple, illustrated guide for assembly. T-Rex has a higher pro...Read more