Toy Review - Praying Mantis Finger Puppet by Folkmanis

I have always been fascinated by the praying mantis.  Their swiveling heads, spiked forelegs, and big, bulbous eyes seemed cool to me as a kid.  Even as a grown up, I would have to list them high on the list of cool insects.  A lot of people don't think that insects are cool.  Some people don't like "bugs" at all.  Can you believe that?  As much as I like insects in general, and the praying mantis specifically, I never really thought about a praying mantis finger puppet.

Fortunately, the imaginative people over at Folkmanis didn't wait on me to come up with puppet ideas.  The Praying Mantis Finger Puppet is only one of many finger puppets by Folkmanis.  They are all totally cool, but I really like the Praying Mantis.  You wear the Mantis by slipping a finger into what would be the insect's thorax.  The eyes are not exactly where they should be, on a real mantis, but I think that the eyes seem more "approachable" in this configuration; it is almost like it is a friendly, cartoon-like mantis.  The legs are kind of stiff and yet made of soft material, so it won't scratch you like a real mantis would.  It is a full seven inches long - a pretty big finger puppet, if you ask me.  If you like insects at all, or if you know someone who does, pick up a little finger puppet friend today.

For more information about the Praying Mantis, check out the wikipedia entry.

Toy Review - Gobblet Gobblers by Blue Orange Games

The following is a special review by toy tester, Micah, age 13:

Now, there is a very popular game that most people know about called tic-tac-toe. Tic-tac-toe was easy to learn and quick to play. Now it’s been redone and made even better in the great new game, Gobblet
Gobblers.

Now the rules of Gobblet Gobblers are very simple and easy to learn, but first: setting up the game. The game involves two people which choose colors and set up their pieces. Each player starts with six pieces. The pieces are divided into the sizes large, medium, and small; two for each size. The pieces are designed to slip over the pieces smaller than itself.

Now, to play the game. The board and goal are exactly like tic-tac-toe. The board is four pieces that you can put together to make nine squares. The goal is to get three of your pieces lined up. To start, the person who is going first, places any sized piece of his anywhere on the board. Now, the second person can either place on of his pieces on the board, or place another piece on his opponent’s piece, if his is a bigger size. Then, the first player, if his piece has not been eater, can either place a new piece, or move an existing piece to a different spot. This continues until one person gets three in a row.

The reason I like this game so much is you’re learning great tactics and having fun all the time, in less than five minutes per game.

Toy Review - LEGO® Star Wars V-19 Torrent 7674

The following is a special review by toy tester, Caleb, age 12:

The Lego V-19 Torrent is a cool set with cool features. It comes with a clone minifigure and a ship. The ship has foldable winds and automatic landing gear. The cockpit can open up and hold a minifigure. The minifigure is a clone pilot. He looks like a normal clone with yellow markings on his helmet. I think that this is a really cool set for kids my age.

Toy Review - Luck of the Draw by Game

So, we brought this game home last Friday night and played it with the kids.  I have to say that it was a lot of fun.  It was more fun than I thought it would be, actually.  It is like Pictionary, but with a several key differences; and, therein lies the extra dose of fun.

You see, in Luck of the Draw, you don't take turns drawing.  Everyone draws together!  It is crazy.  And, you don't get the chance to take your time either.  The timer is set for about 45 seconds!

Each round, you take turns rolling the die and picking a card.  Based on the number on the die, everyone draws whatever subject corresponds to that number on the card picked.  So, if the die rolls to a "3," everyone will draw the 3rd thing listed on the card picked.

After everyone feverishly draws for 45 seconds, when the time runs out, you all place your drawings, face down, in the middle of the table.  They are mixed up, so no one knows whose is whose.  A colored chip is placed on each one.  Now, the die is rolled again and between one and three descriptive cards are drawn.  Everyone votes, using cool color wheels, on which drawing best matches the descriptive card(s).

That is the beauty of the game.  It doesn't matter how good of an artist you are, or how bad of an artist you think you are.  You may be voting for the "neatest" or "cleanest" drawing, or you may be voting for the drawing that "most looks like it was drawn with the wrong hand" or "cutest."  Anyone can win.  It's the Luck of the Draw!  Get it?

Just to put it all in perspective:  the game says it is for 10 and up.  We played with our two teenage boys and our six year old daughter.  The six year old won.  But, we all had a blast.  You will too; try it out today.

Toy Review - Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center by Melissa and Doug

This toy review is also a bit of a construction review for the Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center by Melissa and Doug.  You see, toys don't just make themselves.  Every once in a while, I get the Elf like task of building toys at Town Square Toys.  Don't get me wrong, I love it; especially since I don't have Ming Ming asking me how many Etch A Sketches I made.  So, since I have this inside scoop, I thought I would share it with you.

Building the Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center is fairly easy and not terribly time consuming.  I was able to complete construction in under an hour, easily.  I didn't try to rush.  The bolts that you need are all included in a sealed plastic container and clearly labeled.  The only tool you really need is a small hex wrench that is also included.  Instructions are clear and easy to follow.  Melissa and Doug includes extra nuts and bolts just in case you lose some. 

The Play Center is held together with the type of hidden nuts that fit into pre drilled holes.  The bolts connect themselves through other predrilled holes.  I found that the holes and nuts and bolts all lined up very well.  I have built a fair amount of Melissa and Doug toys and find that they do a great job of having parts pre drilled accurately.  The only part of construction that really slowed me down was sinking the nuts in the holes that are pre drilled into the dowels, which serve as the bucket holders and the primary support of the Play Center.  The nuts have to be pushed deep into the holes and it takes a little bit of extra effort.  Once sunk in to the correct depth, they hold just fine.

The Play Center itself is very nice and sturdy once it is all put together.  The surfaces are nice and smooth and the joints are tight.  I would recommend waiting until the whole thing is put together before snugging all the bolts down.  The awning is reversable by the way; the picture shows the Grocery Store side, but the Lemonade Stand sign is on the other side.  The bins are bright and fit well in the Play Center.  You can fit all kinds of stuff in those bins.  One slick idea, I think, is the addition of small, chalkboard signs that fit on little hooks that are built into each bin.  You can change and rearrange them however you want.  Kids can totally customize their stand.

Overall the stand is a great addition to the line of Melissa and Doug pretend play toys.  I enjoyed putting it together.  You may too.  If you have no desire whatsoever to build one of these, but think your little one would thoroughly enjoy having one, come by Town Square Toys and get this one, or let me know and I will build you one.  See you soon!



Toy Review - The Magician's Apprentice Card Tricks Unshuffled by Melissa and Doug

The following is a special review by toy tester, Micah, age 13:

The Magician's Apprentice Card Tricks Unshuffled by Melissa and Doug is filled with very cool magic tricks all containing cards. It comes with four different card decks, an x-ray deck, secret code deck, duplicate deck, and a stripper deck. I can’t tell you too much about them because your friends might be watching. This product also includes trick cards and a very detailed book of tricks. With a little practice and patience you’ll be tricking people in no time. So have fun and go fool someone.





Oppenheim Toy Awards

The Oppenheims started reviewing toys back in 1989. Unlike other groups, they don't charge to review, nor do they accept ads from toy manufacturers. Consequently, they give out some of the most unbiased toy reviews and awards. You can find out more about them at their site. I thought that I would include some of our toys that are Oppenheim award winners. Watch for upcoming reviews.