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Archived Reviews
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Recent Reviews:
 Name: Diary of a Worm & Friends Finger Puppets Playset
Company: MERRYMAKERS
Age: 3 and up
Price: $15.00
Category: Books
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
Learn more about Diary of a Worm & Friends Finger Puppets PlaysetBack to top
 Name: Street Smarts
Company: K.C's PRODUCTION GROUP
Age: 3-9
Price: Not Specified
Category: Audio & CD
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
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 Name: Dogs WoW Dogs
Company: ANIMAL WOW ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Age: 3-7
Price: $19.95
Category: Videos & DVDs
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
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 Name: This Little Piggy and Other Rhymes to Sing and Play
Company: CANDLEWICK PRESS
Age: 1-5
Price: $19.99
Category: Books
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
Learn more about This Little Piggy and Other Rhymes to Sing and PlayBack to top
 Name: Ladies First
Company: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Age: 10 and up
Price: $18.95
Category: Books
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
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 Name: In-Jean-Uity
Company: KIDS CAN PRESS
Age: 10 and up
Price: $12.95
Category: Books
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
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 Name: Alaska Scramble Squares
Company: b. dazzle, inc.
Age: 4 and up
Price: $8.99
Category: Puzzles & Skill
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
Learn more about Alaska Scramble SquaresBack to top
 Name: Roll 'n Multiply
Company: EMINES
Age: 8 and up
Price: $24.99
Category: General Games
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
Learn more about Roll 'n MultiplyBack to top
 Name: Zingo! Heroes
Company: THINKFUN
Age: 4-8
Price: $16.99
Category: General Games
Please click here to read this TDmonthly's Toy Expert review.
Learn more about Zingo! HeroesBack to top
 Name: Ruth
Company: CANDY BOX KIDS INC.
Age: 3 and up
Price: $24.99
Category: Dolls
Please click here to read this TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review.
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 Name: GoScope 350
Company: ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS
Age: 8 and up
Price: $149.95
Category: Science & Nature
What Is It?
This is the coolest, most transportable little scope around — good for terrestrial viewing, as well as skywatching. There’s a 70mm achromatic refractor, complete with alt/az tripod, two eyepieces (a 10mm and a 20 mm Kellner), a correct-image diagonal and an EZ Finder II. Everything fits into a backpack for easy transport, and there’s even a DVD version of the Starry Night software, which lets you play astronomer on the computer before nightfall (which my seven year old did constantly for a week straight).
What We Thought
One seven-year-old avid astronomy buff, one nine-year-old smart older brother, and I took this baby camping up at Sequoia National Monument (with a group led by a well-known nature photographer). 7000 feet up with clear skies, sitting in the middle of the sweetest alpine meadow anyone’s ever seen, we could only drool, waiting for darkness. In the group was a professional astronomer from UC Santa Cruz, who brought his expensive apo refractor, GoTo mount and CCD camera (we used this as a comparison with the GoScope 350). The kids couldn’t wait, so before complete blackness, we spotted the 1st quarter moon, and played around with the eyepieces. Score one for us, as the professional astronomer hadn’t even begun to put his scope on his mount yet. Come darkness, and we sighted on Jupiter. Sure, it looked color-perfect in the pro-scope, but we could see the Galilean moons no sweat, and I taught the kids how to find things with the scope themselves – a draw here with the professional. This was July 4th weekend, and mid-summer beautiful. The Sagittarius and Scorpius star clouds were in full bloom, and we were now gathering other kids from the group. All wanted to try their hand at the scope. Open clusters, globular clusters, the Trifid Nebula (M20). It was spectacular. Okay, it was even more spectacular in the bigger, much more costly pro scope with the computer-controlled mount, but no way would the astronomer let anyone mess too much with his scope. I let the kids go wild.
Why They’ll Want It
Hey, this is a beginner’s scope cum backpacker’s dream. There are small super-expensive options out there, but for kids, nothing beats this. Hands-on is hands-on, and this rugged little thing can take a bit of punishment. Plus, it comes in a backpack, so kids can go to their friends’ with it, take it to school, etc. It’s great for nature spotting, too. The Starry Night is pretty incredible, and this is too much fun to pass up.
-- Mark Zaslove, 7/25/06
Learn more about GoScope 350Back to top
 Name: Starry Night Explorer Binocular Stargazing Kit
Company: ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS
Age: 8 and up
Price: $79.95
Category: Science & Nature
What Is It?
These rugged 7x35 binoculars are a great introduction to the heavens and binocular astronomy. With a Star Target year-round star map showing what’s up there, a RedBeam Mini LED astronomy flashlight to read the map by, and the Starry Night DVD software to have on the computer back in the house, as well as a case and strap, this kit leaves nothing to chance.
What We Thought
We tested these babies out on a camping trip up at Sequoia National Monument (with a group led by a well-known nature photographer), 7000 feet up with clear skies, July 4th weekend, and the summer Milky Way above us. I had my seven year old and his nine-year-old brother along, and as soon as it got dark, we let ‘er rip. One thing about binocular astronomy: with a telescope, you spot the object, get it into range, focus and then view a stationary object. Binoc viewing, is totally different: it’s free. It’s like, the wind and the lion. The lion is noble, but earthbound, the wind is free to go anywhere. These binocs let the kids truly see the wonders of the sky. Wherever they turned in the tapestry of night, there were star clusters and nebula, the moon and planets. And stereo-optically viewed, the brain makes it seem 3D. It was amazing, and the kids were immediately fighting over who got to view next.
Why They’ll Want It
Astronomy, at its core, is about a sense of wonder. Ancient man looked up at the stars and wondered what was up there. The freedom of using these binoculars maintains that sense of wonder. There’s no mount to calibrate, eyepieces to drop on the ground, cords to get tangled in. One simply points and looks, and the heavens open up. This kit is a perfect starter for any fledgling astronomer: not too heavy, but rugged enough to take some wallops. Get a dark sky and let your wonder take over.
-- Mark Zaslove, 7/25/06
Learn more about Starry Night Explorer Binocular Stargazing KitBack to top
 Name: Works of Art: Watercolor Workshop
Company: RED FARM STUDIO
Age: 6 and up
Price: Not Specified
Category: Arts & Crafts
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about Works of Art: Watercolor WorkshopBack to top
 Name: Exploring Our United States
Company: GEFFNER - PLAY & LEARN
Age: 6-8
Price: Not Specified
Category: General Games
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
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 Name: The Super Duper Art & Craft Activity Book
Company: CHRONICLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Age: 4 and up
Price: $12.95
Category: Books
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about The Super Duper Art & Craft Activity BookBack to top
 Name: What a Way to Play!
Company: VERY DERRYBERRY PRODUCTIONS
Age: All Ages
Price: $12.00
Category: Audio & CD
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about What a Way to Play!Back to top
 Name: The Funky Bead Chest
Company: BEAD BAZAAR/KID JOURNEYS
Age: 4 and up
Price: $19.99
Category: Arts & Crafts
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about The Funky Bead ChestBack to top
 Name: Magicrayon Coloring Shirts
Company: MAGICRAYON INC.
Age: All Ages
Price: $12.95
Category: Arts & Crafts
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about Magicrayon Coloring ShirtsBack to top
 Name: Glockenspiel
Company: HOHNER
Age: 3 and up
Price: $17.99
Category: Musical Toys
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
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 Name: Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker
Company: INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION INC.
Age: 3 and up
Price: $34.95
Category: Candy & Food
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about Play & Freeze Ice Cream MakerBack to top
 Name: Terri Lee Princess Ballerina
Company: TERRI LEE ASSOCIATES
Age: 3 and up
Price: $24.99
Category: Dolls
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
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 Name: Mighty World: Diego the Firefighter
Company: INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC
Age: 3 and up
Price: $3.99
Category: Action Figures
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about Mighty World: Diego the FirefighterBack to top
 Name: WavyWand
Company: ALIGHT TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Age: 6 and up
Price: $30.00
Category: Electronics
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about WavyWandBack to top
 Name: My Mei Mei
Company: PENGUIN GROUP USA
Age: 4 and up
Price: $16.99
Category: Books
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about My Mei MeiBack to top
 Name: Margaret
Company: ACTION PUBLISHING
Age: 3-12
Price: $12.95
Category: Books
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about MargaretBack to top
 Name: Scrapbookit Baby's Story
Company: AVALANCHE PUBLISHING
Age: All Ages
Price: $19.95
Category: Arts & Crafts
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about Scrapbookit Baby's StoryBack to top
 Name: Little Scrapbook in a Box
Company: S.E.I.
Age: All Ages
Price: $24.99
Category: Arts & Crafts
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.Back to top
 Name: UglyDoll Card Game
Company: GAMEWRIGHT
Age: 6 and up
Price: $10.00
Category: General Games
Please click here to read this special TDmonthly´s Expert Mom review.
Learn more about UglyDoll Card GameBack to top
 Name: Chocolate Chip Bath Cookie kit
Company: KITS FOR CRAFTS
Age: All Ages
Price: $39.95
Category: Arts & Crafts
What Is It?
This kit contains all the ingredients to make a delicious batch of chocolate chip cookies that you’d never dare eat. Following simple instructions, you coat big chunks of rock salt with glycerin and black mica until they look like chocolaty chips. A bit of milk-chocolate scent adds to the illusion. Then mix milk powder, oat meal and baking power with some cocoa butter (Mom or Dad will have to melt it for the kids), add some glycerin, more scent and fractionated coconut oil and … voila! The cookie batter’s ready, too! All of the ingredients are included.
What We Thought
This was a fun activity that’s easy to do. Many of the products are premeasured, but there’s still plenty of chance for kids to learn the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. The finished product smells very much like chocolate and looks something like cookies, too. Included are cellophane gift bags, gold-toned twist-ties and labels so kids can send cookies off to all of their friends and relatives. The cookies make bath time nice and soothing. But not only will kids learn to “cook” they’ll also learn about housekeeping: The mica leaves a very noticeable Cat-in-the-Hat type ring around the bathtub that really requires a bit of scrubbing!
Why They’ll Want It
This is a great kit for a slumber party or other kid get-together. The ingredients even need to be mixed up in two different bowls, which means that one set of kids can make the chips while the other whips up the batter. They’ll especially love being able to give the “cookies” away as a unique and unexpected gift. And what could be better than taking a bath in cookie dough?
— Alison Marek, 6/30/06
Learn more about Chocolate Chip Bath Cookie kit Back to top
 Name: Coocoo the Rocking Clown
Company: BLUE ORANGE GAMES
Age: 3 and up
Price: $19.95
Category: Preschool
What Is It?
Coocoo the Rocking Clown is a colorful all-wood rocking clown who balances colored wooden circles on his arms and head. Kids are challenged to add as many “balls” to Coocoo’s arms as possible, without throwing him off balance. The game includes one wooden rocking clown, 24 wooden balls and instructions.
What We Thought
Judging by the reactions of the kids we showed Coocoo, it’s a great toy! Even though the age grade recommends 3 and up, even the 1-year-old was fascinated (although she didn’t actually understand how it worked!). And the adults liked it, too. The concept is so simple, that you don’t even need the included instructions. One father who looked at it said, “It improves eye-hand coordination; develops kids´ intuition for physical balance and requires thinking and planning.” He especially liked that the playtime was short, the game could be replayed multiple times, and that it takes up very little space.
Why They’ll Want It
It’s nicely made, fun to play and it’s a great kids’ room decoration, too. Kids will want it because it’s an easy game that’s resolved quickly. Parents will appreciate its quality, ease of use, and the fact that it’s cute enough to not need storage. Just let Coocoo rock on the shelf!
— TDmonthly Staff, 6/30/06
Learn more about Coocoo the Rocking ClownBack to top
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