January 7, 2009 6:03:18 AM
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January 7, 2009 6:03:18 AM
TOYDIRECTORY® | TDmonthly™ Magazine | Join
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Recent Reviews: Name: Karaoke EdgeCompany: AUDIOSTREAM INC. Age: 8 and up Price: $14.99 Category: Music What It Is Karoake Edge is a computer game on a hybrid CD+G disc that can also be used in a karaoke machine. It scores singers based on their ability to match pitches and is supported by various albums users can collect to build their karaoke library. In the game, the words of the songs show up as notes on a staff, convenient for sight-reading, and turn red or blue according to whether they're sung correctly or incorrectly. Singers use a microphone that plugs into the computer. What We Thought I enjoyed both the game and the on-screen feature that allows you to sing karaoke as you normally would. I was encouraged to see words like "Wow!" and "Awesome!" over many of the notes when I sang one of Taylor Swift's songs on the "Easy" level, but noticed when I tried to conquer the "Hard" level for the same tune, such praises were few and far between. The program stores scores so that individuals can compete against each other and even try to beat their own best performances. I liked, too, that for those who might be unsure of the notes or their pitch, it offers the option of having the vocals on, or even having a vocal come in when the singer fails to utter a note. My main complaint is that I couldn't see all the notes on the bottom staff of the game, and the window wouldn't expand; perhaps a formatting change might help. Why They'll Want It Who doesn't want to imitate their favorite rock star or country artist? Or better yet, steal the spotlight! For anyone who loves music (and especially loves to sing), this is an ideal gift. It would be a fun and competitive activity for friends to go back to again and again, with different songs, and would be awesome entertainment at a party. — Julie L. Jones, 12/23/2008 Learn more about Karaoke Edge  Name: Zube Tube™Company: ULTIMATE COSMIC TOY COMPANY, INC. Age: 3 and up Price: $12.95 Category: Novelties What It Is The Zube Tube™ is a long tube that consists of inner coils that produce various sounds through vibration. It was introduced 10 years ago and has since been recognized by “Good Morning America,” “The Washington Post” and “Parents” magazine. What We Thought The Zube Tube is very simple yet very enjoyable. It emits a myriad of sounds when one merely shakes or yells into it. During our office breaks, it is not uncommon for someone to pick it up and starting talking — or even singing! — into the tube. It definitely brings out the inner child in everyone who plays with it. Why They’ll Want It The Zube Tube can be shaken, plucked, yelled into, twisted and even sung into to produce “out of this world” sounds. It is simple, but everyone who sees it wants to try it … yes, even adults. — Melvin Chua, 12/2/2008 Learn more about Zube Tube™  Name: Snuggle Bears Baby Journal Organizer & KeepsakeCompany: WS PUBLISHING GROUP Age: All Ages Price: $24.95 Category: Infant & Toddler What It Is “Snuggle Bears” is an all-in-one reference guide and guide for baby’s first years. It has pastel-colored pages with cute illustrations throughout, plus room for photos, space to catalog monumental “firsts” in a child’s life, and special sections for parents’ reflections and hopes for their child. In the back is an accordion file with space for medical records, artwork, birthday mementos and other important documents. What We Thought I was surprised to find that, for being so compact, this book is designed to cover up to a child’s 3rd birthday. Not only is the design of the journal darling, but it also boasts a lot of functionality. My personal favorite is the removable, full-color growth chart that measures up to 39”. There are 27 pages that will accommodate photos, and the simple profiles for mom’s and dad’s family trees are great as well. The size of the files in the back is not large enough for every document, or a wealth of keepsakes, but select items could definitely be folded and stored there. Why They’ll Want It Any sentimental mother (or father) will delight in recording everything from the price of gas and stamps at the time of baby’s birth, to when the child got his first tooth or went for his first haircut. For caregivers who aren’t into designing their own scrapbooks, this journal offers a pre-organized shortcut that still accounts for milestones in a baby’s/toddler’s life and results in a beautiful keepsake to treasure for years to come. — Julie L. Jones, 12/2/08 Learn more about Snuggle Bears Baby Journal Organizer & Keepsake  Name: Lars Ümlaut Guitar Hero Action FigureCompany: MCFARLANE TOYS Age: 14 and up Price: $10.99 Category: Action Figures What It Is The Lars Ümlaut Guitar Hero action figure is based on a character in the popular video game, “Guitar Hero” from Activision Publishing. It is a 5” figure with a removable guitar and various movable parts. What We Thought The figure is extremely detailed and enables kids to use their imagination. My cousin, who is an avid “Guitar Hero” player, appreciated the fact that the figure looks exactly like the character in the game. Why They’ll Want It Devotees of the video game will want to add this action figure to their collection of “Guitar Hero” paraphernalia. Also, there are many other figures in the series, opening up the potential for repeat business. — Melvin Chua, 12/2/2008 Learn more about Lars Ümlaut Guitar Hero Action Figure  Name: DjubiCompany: MoonRacer Age: 8 and up Price: $29.99 Category: Sporting Goods & Accessories What It Is This outdoor toy consists of two racquets and a custom ball with an elastic ring attached called a “Djubi.” It’s a new and exciting way to play catch while at the park, beach or any open space. There is a special hook on the racquet that allows each player to effortlessly launch the Djubi to the other player. A set comes with two racquets and two Djubis. What We Thought Djubi is an innovative game that is fun, versatile and does not take long to get accustomed to. Since there are no rules and no particular way to play, my friend and I made our own rules and created our own game utilizing the Djubi. The ball is soft enough that it would not hurt if it were to hit you. The game definitely has a high entertainment value because it combines the nostalgia of the game of catch with the technology of today. Why They’ll Want It Djubi is entertaining because it can be launched fairly accurately more than 100’. The net on the racquet is large enough to make catching the Djubi pretty easy. It is a great product for people who love outdoor games. — Melvin Chua, 12/2/2008 Learn more about Djubi  Name: Bari Koral Family Rock BandCompany: LOOPYTUNES Age: 2-7 Price: $10.00 Category: Audio & CD Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Bari Koral Family Rock Band  Name: Thaddeus Rex: Shakin’ in ChicagoCompany: THADDEUS REX PRODUCTIONS Age: 4-10 Price: $16.98 Category: Audio & CD Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Thaddeus Rex: Shakin’ in Chicago  Name: Dixieland Jazz for ChildrenCompany: WIGGLE WORM RECORDS Age: 4-8 Price: $15.99 Category: Audio & CD Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Dixieland Jazz for Children  Name: Double Shutter Jr.Company: BLUE ORANGE GAMES Age: 8 and up Price: $21.99 Category: Travel Games Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Double Shutter Jr.  Name: Potions™: A Wizard´s Apprentice GameCompany: DISCOVERY BAY GAMES Age: 8 and up Price: Not Specified Category: General Games Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Potions™: A Wizard´s Apprentice Game  Name: Special Cross 40 Building BlocksCompany: BIM BOM TRADING INC. Age: 3-12 Price: $15.99 Category: Construction Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Special Cross 40 Building Blocks  Name: Hoppers® JrCompany: THINKFUN Age: 5-7 Price: $14.99 Category: Puzzles & Skill Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Hoppers® Jr  Name: PoingoCompany: PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL LTD. Age: 3-7 Price: $34.99 Category: Books What It Is Poingo is a system designed to make reading books an interactive experience for children. When the Poingo pen is touched to select text and pictures on the pages of Poingo books, it responds with sound, music or words — even questions to get kids more involved in the story or complementary activities on the pages. Book titles include “Finding Nemo,” “Cars” and other licensed stories from Disney. What We Thought Poingo definitely has a “wow” factor that catches children’s attention. After all, how many books talk back to you? A 4-year-old girl who tried out Poingo really enjoyed the interactive pen and soundbooks, and especially liked the side games and voices used. She had a little trouble with the directions on her own, but was able to get more out of it with an adult there to explain. Her older sister, 7, most appreciated the feature that allows you to click on the highlighted words and hear a definition. At her age, however, she found the constant repetition (e.g., “How many splashes do you hear?” in a game in the “Nemo” book) annoying and would prefer more grown-up stories. Why They’ll Want It While Poingo isn’t likely to replace old-fashioned reading, it does provide a novel alternative that offers a short-term activity allowing kids to explore stories in a whole new way. — TDmonthly Staff 11/14/08 Learn more about Poingo  Name: Spalding Rookie GearCompany: SPALDING SPORTS WORLDWIDE Age: 6-10 Price: Not Specified Category: Sporting Goods & Accessories What It Is Spalding’s Rookie Gear is a set of lightweight sports balls that is designed in proportion to a child’s size and weight. Each ball can be purchased separately for football, soccer or basketball play. The basketball and soccer ball come in two design choices. The balls are made with the same quality as standard Spalding sports balls, which will give kids a sense of importance and professionalism. They’re ideal for players aged 6 to 10. What We Thought Full-sized sports balls are often too heavy and large for children, which makes young players feel clumsy. By engineering a set of balls to match young hands, feet and muscle power, Spalding is sending the message that growing athletes are just as important as their older counterparts. The balls are approximately 25% lighter than standard youth balls, making them easier to toss or kick to impressive lengths. Why They’ll Want It Strangely enough, kids love kids-sized things! And what could be better than a set of balls that makes them feel like pros? Even if they have to shoot baskets against Big Bro or Sis to avoid vacuuming the living room this week, they’ll be able to hold their own with these balls designed just for their build and weight. The colorful designs will also appeal to their sense of individuality and playfulness. — Alison Marek, 11-6-08 Learn more about Spalding Rookie Gear  Name: JUMBULAYA: The Rearranging, Ever-Changing Word Jumble GameCompany: PLATYPUS GAMES LLC Age: 10 and up Price: $29.95 Category: Board Games Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about JUMBULAYA: The Rearranging, Ever-Changing Word Jumble Game  Name: The Family Dinner Box of QuestionsCompany: THE BOX GIRLS Age: All Ages Price: $19.95 Category: General Games Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about The Family Dinner Box of Questions  Name: Flashflight® SpokeLit™Company: NITE IZE INC. Age: 7 and up Price: $6.99 Category: Safety Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Flashflight® SpokeLit™  Name: Fan-Tastic Teeth PaintCompany: NUDENT LLC Age: All Ages Price: $8.99 Category: Costumes & Accessories Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Fan-Tastic Teeth Paint  Name: Little Passenger BackpackCompany: UNIVERSAL MAP Age: All Ages Price: $21.95 Category: Kits Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Little Passenger Backpack  Name: 32 Artist Color Oil PastelsCompany: eeBoo corp. Age: 3 and up Price: $8.95 Category: Arts & Crafts Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about 32 Artist Color Oil Pastels  Name: Brain Boogie BoostersCompany: THE LEARNING STATION Age: 3-8 Price: $15.00 Category: Audio & CD Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Brain Boogie Boosters  Name: The Wiggles: “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”Company: KOCH ENTERTAINMENT Age: All Ages Price: $18.00 Category: Audio & CD Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about The Wiggles: “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”  Name: Makin WavesCompany: LEONARDO MUSIC Age: All Ages Price: $12.99 Category: Audio & CD Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Makin Waves  Name: The Terrible Twos: Jerzy The GiantCompany: POQUITO RECORDS Age: All Ages Price: Not Specified Category: Audio & CD Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about The Terrible Twos: Jerzy The Giant  Name: Bitty FishCompany: KANE PRESS INC. Age: 3-7 Price: $5.95 Category: Books Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Bitty Fish  Name: Think Green!Company: KIDS THINK BIG LLC Age: 4-10 Price: $14.95 Category: Books Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Think Green!  Name: Johnny AppleseedCompany: HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS Age: 6-9 Price: $16.99 Category: Books Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about Johnny Appleseed  Name: The Three Little Pigs’ ChristmasCompany: PC Treasures, Inc. Age: 3-8 Price: $6.95 Category: Books Please click here to read TDmonthly´s Toy Expert review of this product. Learn more about The Three Little Pigs’ Christmas  Name: Oh, the Wondrous Places You´ll Go! Travel CardsCompany: I CAN DO THAT GAMES Age: 8 and up Price: $12.95 Category: Educational The Dr.’s Impressions This set contains 21 cards, each featuring a different location. Each card shows a beautiful photograph, facts, history and trivia about the location. Kids’ Perspective The kids who looked at these cards, ages 9 and 12, liked the pictures and the strange facts but were a little overwhelmed by the amount of information. Recommendation These cards are beautiful and the facts and trivia are fascinating, but it is a little like reading an encyclopedia. We take one or two out at dinner to introduce a new place, but are usually not able to read through the entire card without getting overwhelmed. — Dr. Tiffany Wright, 11/1/08 Learn more about Oh, the Wondrous Places You´ll Go! Travel Cards  Name: Visiting My GrandmotherCompany: BOYS TOWN PRESS Age: 2-8 Price: $13.95 Category: Books What It Is This interactive book is written to be a collaborative project between a child and grandmother, or completed after a visit to grandma’s house. It allows the child to write, draw and include photos of his or her time with grandmother, providing a unique way for the two to spend quality time while also preserving memories. Why You Should Carry It This book is one to pass down through generations as an information piece and, most of all, a part of heartfelt memories. “Visiting My Grandmother” is only one in a series of interactive books by K.A. Bye. Other titles include “My Trip to the Zoo,” “I Like Holidays!” and “I Like Birthdays!” I love the concept of the series but feel it is more appropriate for ages 4 to 8. Although the illustrations are cute, the book as a whole lacks the strength to meet the needs of the audience that would be most likely to make it into a project. As is, the series might be more easily marketed to parents, as they are more likely to complete each project. What Kids Think Although written for beginning readers, ages 2 to 8, those who experienced the book (2- to 4-year-olds) were more interested in looking at the pictures and didn’t show much interest in committing to it long term. On average, most children aged 2 to 8 will only spend 30 minutes working on it. — Sheri Williams, 11/1/08 Learn more about Visiting My Grandmother
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Toys can be submitted without a fee to be considered for editorial review. However, manufacturers who wish to guarantee that their toys will be evaluated in the Review section should send payment of $150 per toy* along with the toy itself to: Product Review Dept. ToyDirectory.com, Inc. 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 226. Los Angeles, CA 90025 The majority of toys considered for review are donated to children's services organizations, such as Children's Hospital Los Angeles. * Please make checks payable to ToyDirectory.com, Inc. Payment does not guarantee a positive review. Advertising with ToyDirectory and TDmonthly Magazine does not guarantee a positive review. Quality, play value and educational value are considered when reviewing toys and games. |
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