One of my jobs is to check for toys that may pinch, scratch or just really hurt if you come too close to the wrong part. Here’s an example – we tried out Mattel’s new interactive talking truck Stinky. Report: all good, doesn’t hurt. Watch the video.
Another year of toy testing done! Tomorrow we will announce all of our toy winners. I’ve also been really busy the last few months videotaping the toys that have come through our offices. So throughout the pre-holiday season I’ll be sharing those videos of both our winners and those that just make you wonder how something got made. The official reviews will be posted at www.toyportfolio.com.
With all the news about the new planet Gliese 581g so far far away, I thought this was the perfect moment to share a science toy with a more local bent. I’m always looking for science projects that will appeal to the child that may not be enamored with science but say, enjoys art…so here’s a possible way in. The Crayola Glow Explosion allows kids to make their own solar system. Thanks to the “magic” of the glow pens, the solar system will glow in the dark. Our testers liked that the solar system moves on a motorized base. The glow aspect does not last for very long though–so if you want to have it glow for longer you need to recolor. That’s a bit of a bummer for the long term…but it’s still a neat science toy! Watch our video.
Crayola's Glow Explosion
I just read a book about a dead squirrel that is in full regamortis for the entire picturebook. That right, a picturebook- so the book featured a beautifully illustrated dead squirrel. On the last page (after they’ve buried the seemingly dead squirrel), there is a squirrel running around on a tree. I can’t begin to express how many things I find disturbing about this book.