the Review Source
Certainly while toys are a main item for Christmas gift giving, we are all concerned about the current toy recalls. Be sure to check out manufacturer's websites for current recall items - I'm pleased to see manufacturers stepping up and offering full refunds and/or toy vouchers.
Sassy Baby
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Whirly Twirly Twosome Ages - Birth+ |
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Favorite Features -
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encourages thinking skills
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colors, shapes, textures, sound, movement combine for a great first toy
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Jungle Jamboree Ages - Birth+ |
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Favorite Features -
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eight activities in one
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encourages thinking
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colors, sounds, movement and textures combine for a great first toy
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Mam Pearl orthodontic pacifier Ages - 0-6 months |
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Favorite Features -
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ventilation holes
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soft ortho nipple
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studies indicate pacifiers may reduce s.i.d.s.
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Itty Bitty Orbit Ages - 3+ Months |
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Favorite Features -
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encourages finger/hand muscles/coordination and fine motor skills
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sound, movement, colors and textures combine for a great first toy
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Happy Giraffe Ages - 3+ months |
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Favorite Features -
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soft, rubber feet make great teethers
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encourages thinking - cause/effect
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colors, textures and sounds combine for a great first toy
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All Around Abacus Ages - 9+ months |
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Favorite Features -
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encourages hand/eye coordination
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colors, sound, movement and textures combine for a great first toy
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Sassy Baby toys are known for setting the standard for baby's first toys! These items combine colors, shapes, textures, sound and movement to encourage learning from the first days! Moms love Sassy Baby toys as they are easy to care for and very portable! Tremendously well done, Sassy Baby!
infantino
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Shop & Play | |
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Favorite Features -
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microban antimicrobial protection inhibits growth of odor causing bacteria
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storage pockets for cell phone, keys, toys, etc
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lays flat for tummy play time when you are out and about
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machine washable
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roll it up, secure with Velcro and take or store in your car
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includes rattles, teether and pillow
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excellent use of color and fun characters
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encourages reaching and hand/eye coordination
This is an absolute "must-have" item for parents of babies and young children! Put this on your list for new parents and parents-to-be! Tremendously well done, infantino!
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Sling Rider | |
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Favorite Features -
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adjustable, padded shoulder strap
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elastic opening expands as baby grows
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secure harness
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fits babies newborn to 20lbs
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perfect for nursing moms
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Smart Rider Ergonomic Carrier |
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Favorite Features -
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fits babies 8lb to 26lbs
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"intelligel" cushioned straps evenly distributes baby's weight - reduces pressure
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contoured shoulder straps
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pull-out rain/sun hood
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head support
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babies can ride facing in or out
These baby carriers are must-haves for parents on the go! Quality, thought, usability and style clearly the driving forces behind these carriers and definitely contribute to the reasons parents will love these carriers! Tremendously well done, infantino!
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Barn Babies Ages - 0 months+ |
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Favorite Features -
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encourages exploration, playing and touching
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clip on links with a chick, pig and cow
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built in teethers
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colors, textures, sound and movement combine for a great first toy
Fun first toys combine function and fun for a great items for our littlest ones! Perfect exchange gift or stocking stuffer! Extremely well done, Infantino!
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Manhattan Toy - Manhattan Baby
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band-a-ball Ages - 3 months+ |
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Favorite Features -
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light-weight, easy for little hands to grab hold of
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encourages small muscle coordination, reach/grab playing
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sounds/bells, colors combine for a great first ball
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Tiger Activity Toy Ages - 3 months+ |
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Favorite Features -
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suction feet fasten to many surfaces
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movement, sound, color and textures combine for a great first toy
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teether ring
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encourages reaching and moving
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Royal Jungle Giraffe Stackers Ages - 9 months+ |
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Favorite Features -
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five pieces to stack
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colors, textures combine for a great first activity toy
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encourages discovery and small muscle coordination
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Manhattan Baby combines unique toys with balls, animals, colors, sound and more to make great first
toys children will love to play and learn with! Extremely well done, Manhattan Baby!
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Cirque Du Soleil Ages - 2+ |
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Favorite Features -
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seven piece play set
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encourages imagination
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colorful, unique and fun
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Cirque Du Soleil Ballencio Ages - 3 + |
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Favorite Features -
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six soft, colorful, clown beanbags and a wooden base
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colors, textures, balancing, counting and sound combine for a great toy
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this toy would also make a unique and fun gift for a conversation starter, stress reliever for the office of an adult on your gift list!
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I love the Cirque Du Soleil toys from Manhattan Toys! Fun, unique and colorful - children will love these
toys! Tremendously well done, Manhattan Toys!
Schylling
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Teddy Bear Musical Jack-in-the-Box Ages - 18 months+ |
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Favorite Features -
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classic, old toy for a new generation to love
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wind-up handle plays, "All Around the Mulberry Bush" and the bear really does "pop" out
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colorful tin shows bear's busy day
This toy is sure to put a smile on your face and the face of the child who receives it! Very nicely done, Schylling!
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Hasbro
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Mr. Potato Head Ages - 2+ |
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Favorite Features -
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includes Mr. Potato Head with Spider-man parts as well as Peter Parker parts
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encourages imagination, hand/eye coordination
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great, unique gag gift for adult Spider-man fans!
Mr. Potato Head has long been a staple of children's first toys - for good reason! Combining Mr. Potato Head with Spider Man makes for a fun toy children - and adults with a sense of humor - will love! Extremely well done, Hasbro!
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HaPe educo
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Beads in the Barnyard Ages 2+ |
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Favorite Features -
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encourages hand-eye coordination, color/size/shape recognition, counting, imaginative play and patterns
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lots of color, movement and fun
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three wires with beads a tractor, cow, horse, pig and chick
This is the ideal toy for a child to play with at grandma and grandpa's house! Parents and grandparents can be confident in the safety of HaPe toys as they use inks free of toxins and lead rather than paints on all their toys. I found HaPe to have a wide variety of fun, challenging and educational toy options children are sure to be engaged and delighted by - great gift options for the little ones on your list! Tremendously well done, HaPe!
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Fisher Price
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Snuggle-kins Age 3+ |
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Favorite Features -
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includes soft, cuddly, adorable baby monkey, pascifier, "swing"
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safe batteries - accessible only with a screwdriver
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lights, moving mobile, sounds, five songs and moveable eyes on the baby monkey combine to engage children
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encourages imaginative play, nurturing, role playing and creativity
Any little girl will love this toy! I appreciate the steps Fisher Price/Mattel has taken to assure the toys our children play with are safe. This toy is safe and has not lead-based paint. Creative, adorable and fun, tremendously well done, Fisher Price!
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Easy-link internet launch pad Ages 3+ |
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Favorite Features -
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easy internet access for preschoolers - just "plug" smart key in for immediate connection to a specific child-safe website - includes plugs for www.sesamestreet.com, http:/pbskids.org/dragontales and www.fisher-price.com with additional plugs available for Thomas and friends, Bob the builder, Clifford, Arthur, Wiggles and Barney
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Totally safe/secure - pad blocks other sites, links and pop-ups as well as blocks access to your computer
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includes cables and software
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parental controls
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encourages learning and introduction to computers
This really is so easy to use - even I, a totally computer-challenged person, was able to make it work! I'm beyond impressed! Children will have fun learning and playing with this unique item - great gift for your young ones! Tremendously well done, Fisher Price!
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Car-Nivores Ages 3+ |
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Favorite Features -
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king ape truck "transforms" into an ape
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transforms at the push of a button
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push direction button - press go and the vehicle takes off
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sounds, movement combine for a toy boys will love
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encourages interactive play, movement and imagination
Young boys will love this toy! Creative and fun, Extremely well done, Fisher Price!
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Blue Box Toys
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VeggieTales Nativity Set Ages 3+ |
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Favorite Features -
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loved Veggie friends are all dressed up as characters in this fun nativity play-set
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16 piece set
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encourages imagination and interactive play
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musical Laura the "angel"
This is a great item to set out each year for your children to have their own nativity set - one they may touch and play with so they don't break pieces in your collectible nativity set! Fun Veggie friends make this a set your children or grandchildren will look forward to enjoying each year at Christmas! Extremely well done, Blue Box Toys!
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Mix-up Larry Ages 3+ |
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Favorite Features -
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set includes Larry and four outfits/parts from favorite Veggie stories
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encourages hand-eye coordination, imagination and creativity
Fun way for kids to "play" some of their favorite Veggie stories - Lyle the Kindly Viking, King George and the Ducky, Larry Boy and Little Joe! Veggie fans, especially young fans of Larry, will love this toy! Tremendously well done, Blue Box Toys!
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Favorite Features -
Easy to hold, fun design - perfect flashlight for little ones! Extremely well done, Blue Box Toys |
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Clever turtles stack and combine to make five instruments with flashing lights, music and rhythm all combine for a great toy for little ones! Tremendously well done, Blue Box! |
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Like with the Turtles Tune Stacker, this toy is clever, fun and engaging for little ones! Tremendously well done, Blue Box Toys! |
Spin Master
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Li'l Luvables Ages 4+ |
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Favorite Features -
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includes three bear "skins", fluffy factory, fluff and more
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easy to follow instructions provide the information you need to make three bears
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encourages creativity, imagination and hand-eye coordination
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no sewing skills necessary
Unique and fun little girls will love being able to make their own stuffed toy bears! I like the "key" to the zipper opening - this allows young children to make their own bear without needing to sew. Extremely well done, Spin Master!
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Moon Sand - Adventure Island Ages 3+ |
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Favorite Features -
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moldable sand in a variety of colors
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won't dry out - reusable
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includes a sand box/carry case with raised "settings" - Adventure Island has a jungle scene on one side and a beach/ocean scene on the other
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set includes sand box, three colors of sand (2.5 lbs), nine molds - I love the giraffe - boat and directions
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easy to use and clean up
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encourages imagination, interactive play, creativity and small muscle coordination
This is similar to play clay items, but better and unique! What child doesn't love to play in the sand? This sand toy combines the enjoyment children find in playing in the sand with the fun of playing with clay as this unique sand is moldable and will provide hours of fun and imagination! Tremendously well done, Spin Master! My reviewers loved Moon Sand!
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Play Hut
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Cars Hideaway Limited Edition Ages 3+ |
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Favorite Features -
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easy to set up and take down
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room for two children
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fun design shows friends from the Disney movie, "Cars"
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encourages imagination, interactive play
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Disney Princess' Mega Castle Ages 3+ |
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Favorite Features -
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easy set up
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over five feet tall - room for six princesses
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artwork includes Disney Princesses
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encourages imagination, interactive play
PlayHut has long been known as the innovator and creator of play environments designed to encourage a child's imagination while appealing to parents with the portability and ease of set up for their products! Any child who receives a PlayHut will be thrilled - especially with their "friends" from Disney and Nick Jr! Tremendously well done, PlayHut!
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Mattel
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DC Super Friends Batman Power Prop |
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| My First Batmobile Vehicle | ||
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Favorite Features -
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power prop includes Batman. color card and power prop
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Batmobile has push button for seven sounds and lights
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Batmobile holds two action figures and includes a new launcher
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encourages fine and large motor skills, imagination and interactive play
Large size for small hands - great first action figures and vehicles! Little ones will be thrilled to be big enough for cool action toys! Extremely well done, Mattel!
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The Review Source
Copyright © Lynda Freeman
Last Updated Nov. 1, 2007
Web Page by Lynda Freeman
Send an e-mail to Lynda at Lynda@thereviewsource.net
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