Cranium Hullabaloo - Top Christmas Toys 2008

Cranium Hullabaloo - Top Christmas Toys 2008
From Hasbro

# 27 Top Christmas Toys : Cranium Hullabaloo, My kids received this game for Christmas and absolutely love it. In a way it sort of reminds me of Twister. It has a battery-operated voice box that calls out commands and there are all different kinds of pads that you lay out on the floor. It will ask you to do different things like jump to a blue pad, bounce to a red pad, skip to a green pad etc... Each pad has different things on it as well like animals, food, musical instruments etc.. At the end it will announce a winner if you happened to land on the right combination of pad. There are a lot of little things that the game does to get a few chuckles out of your kids. My kids and I give this game 5 stars and I think most kids will love it.

Customer Reviews

A VERY FUN GAME!
We recieved this as a gift three years ago. This game still gets played at least 3/4 times a month. It's a combination between twister and Simon Says that teaches color and object recognition. To begin, you lay down all the mats, that are made of a strong but flexy plastic. Then you push down the big red button on the main unit and the fun begins! The main unit will give you directions on what to do next. The voice is very loud and clear, and there is even a button to control the volume high or low. Kids and Adults will enjoy playing this game together. My son's even like to play by themselves. The winner of the game is the person who is standing on the mat that is called out by the machine. This product delivers exactly what it says it does and will last for many years!

One of the best games for preschoolers.
My 2, 4 and 5 year old love this game an get it out at least once a week. It gets everyone up and moving and helps with color and shape recognition. Our first version only had one level but the second has two which adds a lot of silly twister like challenges. Lots of Fun!

Active fun for 3-6 year olds
This game has been played now for several years. I would say it was the most popular around age 5 (for boys). After that they start to lose interest, but sometimes even a 10 year old will play it. It's the most fun with several players.

Features

• High-energy game loved by kids of all ages
• Simple, out-of-the-box fun - just turns it on and goes
• Encourages listening, problem solving and friendly competition
• Kids play alone or with friends -giggling guaranteed
• Thousands of game variations, so kids never tire of the fun

Nerf Dart Tag Hyperfire Deluxe 2 Player Blaster Set

Nerf Dart Tag Hyperfire Deluxe 2 Player Blaster Set
From Hasbro

Customer Reviews

Best Value. Fun!!!
The price (under $20) I paid for the set at Amazon was awsome! Best value for boy's toys for a long time.
I agree with most of Amazon.com Review. My 9 year old son, his class mates, and his dad, all have lots of fun with them.
They don't use the vest much though. They just like shooting each other and stick the dart to opponents' clothes (it sticks well to fleece).
The set comes with plenty of darts but the extra darts are easy to find at the local discount store.

Totally Cool!
This toys is awesome! Got it for my son's 10th birthday. He wanted ANOTHER set so more of his friends could play together. Now we have four guns and me and my husband play too!!! It is super fun and we've had them for two years now.

Awesome dart battles...indoors and out!
Nerf Dart Tag Hyperfire Deluxe 2 Player Blaster SetThis game is a blast! Blasters hold lots of darts and shoot all the way across the house! Yet, the darts are safe and don't damage anything. My boys love dart tag...way to go Nerf! Vests are actually moving scoring targets. Glasses are for safety...and their really cool looking. This is the perfect Christmas gift for any boy over 5 or so.

Features

• Contains everything you need for a one-on-one Nerf war
• Scoring vest tells you when and where you've hit your opponent
• Set includes dart tag blasters, adjustable scoring vests, 2 sets of dart tag vision gear, 20 tagger micro darts and instructions
• Soft Nerf darts pose no threat of injury or household damage
• For 2 players

Aidan turning "7", December birthday and Christmas list

FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony

FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony
From Hasbro

Customer Reviews

great toy but BEWARE!!!
!!!!!BEWARE!!!!! THIS PRODUCT IS DELIVERED IN A BOX *COVERED* WITH PICTURES OF THE PONY!!!! IF YOUR CHILD SEES THIS BOX (as mine did as we returned from picking her up at day care!) THEY WILL KNOW *IMMEDIATELY* WHAT IS INSIDE!!!

On a brighter note, we were thrilled to get the pony at such a great price and with such speedy shipping. However, the joy of my daughter discovering this Christmas morning was RUINED because of the delivery. That sort of caused me to lose all enthusiasm over it. Sorry...

Holds its play value
My daughter got this for Christmas two years ago, when she was six. I wasn't sure how long it would keep her attention - but now, two years later - she still likes it.

When she first got it, she adored it. The movement is terrific, the expressions and movements are cute and funny. Its great to have a toy that big that she can climb all over.

Now, two years later, she still hops on the horse occasionally. She uses it as a frame for her forts, makes the dog ride it, brushes its hair. I'm amazed its appeal has lasted this long. It is in pretty good shape, too. The rubber in the mouth ripped, but the fur is still nice, legs and head sturdy and attached. We have not had trouble with going through batteries too fast (quite an expense on this large an item).

This product has stood the test of time. I recommend it.

Lil girls dream
Got "Butterscotch for my daughter, age 3, at Christmas. She still plays with it and talks with it daily. Just replaced 1st set of batteries this month but she is turned off each night cause she "needs her west". Love the way she neighs when the lights come on or child makes a noise in her room. Teenage daughter thinks its kinda creepy the way it looks and blinks at you..."too life-like". Bought the accessory pack in June so now Butterscotch has her own socks and blanket. The horse is VERY big but not really heavy (So she can join us in the living room then be carried back to the bedroom).

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Winner of the 2007 T.O.T.Y. Award for Best Girls Toy of the Year, the Hasbro FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony seeks to fulfill every little girl's dream of having her very own pony. Butterscotch is a miniature Shetland pony, and will react to your child's loving care in incredibly realistic ways. More than three feet tall, she will even allow kids to sit on her for a pretend ride. Recommended for ages 4 through 10, Butterscotch Pony will quickly become any little girl's most precious companion.

The Shetland Pony stands over three feet tall and acts just like a real horse. View larger. View Front.

Much like a real pony, Butterscotch loves to be groomed and fed. View included items.

Just Like a Real Pony
With Butterscotch, your girl will feel like she is interacting with a living, breathing pony. Butterscotch is soft to the touch, with a fur coat and mane that feel just like a real pony. Her markings and color are modeled after a Shetland pony. Butterscotch also has built-in sensors all over her body, which enable her to respond to children in amazingly lifelike ways. If talked to, she will cock her head toward the speaker quizzically and blink her eyes.

She will also react to petting, showing her enjoyment by rubbing her head against your child, twitching her ears, and swishing her tail. In addition to her convincing movements, Butterscotch also makes a medley of different sounds. She'll neigh and whinny just like a real pony, and snort when she wants attention. Should the room become dark, she will begin to whimper, letting her owner know that she needs a consoling hug to know that she is safe.

Saddle Up!
At over three feet tall, Butterscotch is more than strong enough to support a rider up to 80 pounds in weight. Your little girl will be overjoyed to sit on Butterscotch's back and pretend to go for a ride. Although she doesn't move her legs, Butterscotch will bump up and down when her hindquarters are tapped, simulating the feeling of a real pony ride. She will also make clomping sounds with her hooves while riding. Your child's imagination will soar as she pictures herself out on the plains with Butterscotch.

Fisher-Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship - Top Star Customer Reviews

Fisher-Price Imaginext Adventures Pirate Ship [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]
From Fisher Price

#4 : Great product for this Christmas. This toy is the hit of my grandsons 3rd birthday.It is very durable and there is a lot to do with this ship.It really gets his imagination going.I would recommend it to anyone.

Customer Reviews

my grandsons favorite gift liked better than a psp
8yr old,s favorite birthday presants it was awesome to see his face light up and liked more than gifts he recieved that cost between several $100-$300 gifts,Its very well made and lets his imagination run wild and have a great time as well as enjoying his favorite gift!At A reasonable price don,t pass this one up!

Birthday Surprise!
The new packaging was a real plus. This is a toy for fun and imagination-my 5 year old grandson has had a wonderful time with it as he is able to operate it once shown how-eg. raising and lowering the sails. The only thing that would have made it better was if it was "MADE IN USA".

Fantastic Toy but SEXIST!!
Before I begin, I want to make one thing clear to anyone who is reading these reviews BEFORE buying the Pirate Ship ...

As far as I can tell, the reviews that refer to the ship coming apart are referring to an earlier version of this ship, which was modular and allowed for the middle section to be removed. (The Imaginext line originally involved playsets that were very modular in design, and were meant to come apart and be reconfigured according to the child's whim. Problem was that a lot of sets sort of ... unconfigured themselves ... at inopportune moments while the kids were playing. Needless to say, the wee ones were NOT amused by toys that kept falling apart as they were playing with them, so the product line was reworked in the last few years.)

That being said ...

My parents bought the pirate ship for my daughter for her 4th birthday. Not only did it stand up to her playing with it, it also completely withstood the enthusiasm of a couple of hyperkinetic 8 year old boys jacked up on way too much fruit juice and cake. Point being, it's pretty durable!!!!!!!!!! Yes, there are pieces (ornamental) on the ship that can be removed, but we have never had those pieces fall off on their own. All in all, it's a fantastic toy that was well worth the money for the durability and enjoyment my daughter has gotten out of it thus far.

In fairness however, I should point out the biggest CON of the playset. Namely that there is a STUNNING and DISTURBING lack of even a single female character not only in this playset, but in the entire Imaginext line ... a point that I have taken up with their corporate office (and I would wholeheartedly encourage others to do the same if this blatant sexism bothers you too -- the only way we'll get them to change this is if enough people let them know how much we object). The real pity is that my daughter has ended up supplementing with female figures from other playsets (none of which were Fisher Price). Fisher Price really dropped the ball here. Not only did they blatantly and chauvinistically fashion this toy only for boys, they missed out on money that could have been theirs. Even if the inclusion of female characters came as a supplemental pack of figures, it's the LEAST they could have done to include the other half of the child population. No offense to the bigwigs at Fisher Price, but boys aren't the ONLY ones who think that pirates (or castles, or superheroes, etc. etc.) are cool.

WowWee Alive Lion Cub Plush Robotic Toy in Tan - Top Christmas Electronics for Kids

WowWee Alive Lion Cub Plush Robotic Toy in Tan
From WowWee

Customer Reviews

A real alternative to living pet animals
I bought this toy for a three year old grand daughter of mine living in San Marcos, CA. I live in Delhi, India. She is treating it as a living being, enjoying every movements and actions. Action toys that to Robotic ones, almost simulating the real life animal behaviour, puts children to yet another dimension of interaction with animals. WowWee alive Lion cub is real creative work of animal lovers, it cannot be a commercial production by few electronic engineers. Its actions are real expresions are amazing, priced out so low.

Lion Cub arrives but only half works
The WowWee Lion Club is wonderful and my 13 month old friend loved it. The eyes and mouth worked great after I changed the original batteries but the purring part did not. What a hassle to have to send it back to Amazon for a refund, especially since it came in a box large enough to hold an Ambrams Army tank. Even so, I am trying again and reordered based on the child's reaction and her parents. They wanted to order all three!

Love the Lion!
I got this lion for my 6 year old daughter before she got her tonsils out. She had seen a commercial ONCE and fell in love. She was hoping she might get it for Christmas, but was tickeled to get it at her "good-bye tonsils" party. She was excited to show the hospital staff how he roared and purred - even his little mouth moves. Most commented that their kids, even older ones, would love to have one (unless they kept it for themselves)! They were amazed at how life-like he is and one nurse commented that she wouldn't be surprised if he pounced! Since she could easily turn it off, it stayed tucked benieth her blankets during surgery. He was a perfect companion to cuddle as she recovered - she still sleeps with him. "Tawney" is still very much a favorite, now a bit more active in her play! I would highly recommend this sweet little lion!

Product Description

Introducing the first friends in a new series of lifelike cubs from WowWee Alive. With super-soft fur and a totally realistic look, this cuddly cub gives little lion lovers a true-to-life experience. Pick him up by the scruff of the neck and watch his legs go limp, just like a real cub being carried by his mother. Requires 4 "AA" batteries, included. Measures 16" long.

More : Top Christmas Electronics for Kids

D-REX Interactive Dinosaur - Christmas Electronics for Kids

D-REX Interactive Dinosaur - Christmas Electronics for Kids
From Mattel

Customer Reviews

Awesome!
We bought D-REX as a birthday present for our 8-year old son and he can't stop playing with it. He wanted "Spike" from Fisher Price until seeing D-Rex on TV. The first time we put batteries in and flipped the switch, it was like being in Jurassic Park. The thing is scarily alive AND really funny. Gave me (a man in his 30s) a big happy chill up the spine. Overall, one of the best toys we've ever bought him. Very durable and realistic. Highly-recommended.

DRex for my Twins
I got this for my twins and they love their DRex. My daughter and son plays hide and seek with it. They both love to pet D Rex and watch him react to it (waging his tail, making some happy noise & moving his eye brows). I do just let DRex do his thing around the kids. But I use the controller when I'm playing with my kids with DRex. I've even shot videos of them playing with their DRex. I'll post them on Youtube. Over all, I'm pretty happy to have gotten this for my twins.

Product Description

D-Rex Interactive Pet Dino is the ultimate pet. A ferocious yet loyal dinosaur with an independent personality, D-Rex combines robotics, proprietary software and reptilian skin to create a lifelike appearance and behavior. He'll walk, chomp, bare his teeth and roar to let you know what he wants. D-Rex might demand food or want to play a game, and he'll hear your voice and respond to your touch. Like the ideal pet, D-Rex will protect your stuff and attack on command. Requires four "C" batteries, included, and two "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 22"L x 8.75"W x 13.28"H.

More : Top Christmas Electronics for Kids

Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board - Top Christmas Toys Department

Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board
From Crayola

Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board - Top Christmas Toys Department

Customer Reviews

Fun Fun Fun ... (n__n)
I originally planned to buy one of these for my Niece for Christmas and I just had to get one for myself to play around with. I had fun animating my own mini cartoon characters and just play around with it. I agree with previous reviewers that the markers are very dry and they could of possibly provided you with BIGGER markers maybe dual tipped *One Broad - One Thin* The Quality isn't very good that a drop could break the fragile plastic and wiping off requires one dry cloth and one damp. But for a creative older child they might have fun with this. Adults too !! I know my niece will Love it. :D

Fun but hard to clean
My six year old son received this for his birthday in April. He's played with it quite often since then. Everyone in our family thinks it's so much fun and the effects are really cool. The main problem is cleaning it. I've tried several different things and none work as well as I'd like. I wish they'd give some better ideas about cleaning in the instructions.

Pretty Good Toy
The kids had fun with this but it is really hard to clean off. Plus the light-up effect only works in a really blacked-out room so they should have made the buttons light up. My daughter complained about that. Overall, it's a so-so toy compared to pencil and paper. Still, a neat effect.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
With the Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board, kids can take their creations to a whole new level of fun. The glow board comes with six vibrant neon markers, which can be used to draw on either of the board's two drawing surfaces. Once their drawing is complete, kids can illuminate the colored inks with the touch of a button, as the board's lights give the ink an intense glow.

Children can illuminate the colored inks with the touch of a button. View larger.

Kids are able to create a multitude of different drawings.

An Electronic Easel
The Crayola Color Explosion Glow Board offers a unique way for kids to display their art, as it lights up drawings much like a neon sign. It incorporates several violet lights under the drawing surface. When lit, these lights cause the ink to take on a vivid, striking glow. The board's surface is reusable -- ink erases in an instant -- making it good for hours of fun at a time. Children can easily display their artwork by using the easel back to prop the board in place. And the board's two separate drawing layers give kids even more room to doodle. Using the glow board's controls, kids can choose to display one layer, or flash between both for an exciting billboard-like effect.

Drawing with the Glow Board
The glow board's markers come in six dazzling neon colors -- red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and pink. With these colors at their command, kids will be able to create a multitude of different drawings. Perhaps they will envision a galaxy with stars and planets, or render an undersea adventure. The markers have medium tips, which can draw thickly but also offer the ability to draw finer images. A tracing sheet comes with the board to help kids get ideas for their artwork. This toy is recommended for children ages six and up, and requires three AAA batteries (not included.)

More : Top Christmas Toys Department

Bananagrams - Top Christmas Popular Toys 2008

Bananagrams
From Bananagrams

Bananagrams - Top Christmas Popular Toys 2008

Customer Reviews

lots of fun
my granddaughter has lots of fun playing with the tiles and you can see the look of understanding as we use the letters to spell words.

So Fun!
My daughter got this for her birthday and my husband and I play it after the kids go to bed. It's so fun. The kids love it too!!

Bananagrams
This is a fun game that has a new twist on the old familiar Scrabble game. Fun for even just two players.

Product Description

Calling all word lovers! Play this award-winning word game anytime, anywhere.

• Fun and fast word game
• Requires no pencil, paper or board
• Banana-shaped bag holds all pieces for easy travel
• 144 letter tiles
• Engaging for all ages
• For 2 – 8 players

Keep this game handy to engage kids while waiting in restaurants, to entertain family and friends after dinner, or anytime you want a quick and quick-witted challenge.

Features

• It hides a word game with huge appeal
• Features 144 letter tiles that are face down in the middle, from which players choose their tiles
• For 2 or more players
• Great for travel
• Recommended for 7 years and up

More : Top Christmas Popular Toys 2008 for 8 to 11 Years

LeapFrog® Tag Reading System - Top Christmas Toys 2008

LeapFrog® Tag Reading System
From LeapFrog

LeapFrog® Tag Reading System - Top Christmas Toys 2008

Customer Reviews

Favorite toy till broke
My two year old learned so much using this tag system. IT would keep him busy for hours. THen out of no where the pen doesnt "read" any of the pages. I tried uininstalling and reinstalling and still nothing. It will play the stories but the interaction with the book is shot. We have only had this three months and for the price it really should have lasted longer. Anyone else have this problem?

I also wish they had more basic learning books, like learning the alphabet and numbers.

We Love the Leap Frog Tag!
This product is awesome! I love it and so does my 4-year-old son. I really can't say enough good things about it.

My son enjoys using his "Magic Pen" every night to "read" his two books - Ozzie and Mack and Cars Tractor Tipping." Many nights, after I put him to bed, I will hear the pen talking to him and the characters of the book come alive. He reads these so much that he will tell me as soon as he turns the page "Oh, it's Frank!" ... or make the sound effects that the characters make before even placing the pen on the pictures. He also enjoys turning the pen on and just listening to the story without the book.

I really like having the ability to see his progress by going online and checking out his learning path. I can see which questions he answers correctly and how many he gets right. I can even see how long he uses the Tag books.

My son got this system for his birthday in July and the books and pen are still holding up wonderfully - with one exception of one ripped page.

We love this product so much I'm asking for more Tag books and the activity cards for Christmas! I'm super excited for him to get the "I Spy" book.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
A unique touch and talk device that brings stories to life, the Tag Reading System works with a library of books and games from LeapFrog. Funny voice-overs and cool sound effects add to the fun of discovery, helping ensure that children four to eight love the way this interactive, educational system boosts their confidence and their reading level.

The tag reader is designed to fit comfortably in small hands. View larger.

LeapFrog books include fun, educational activities. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Educational tool brings stories to life The Bad: Supply of compatible books and games is not endless In a Nutshell: The Tag reader is a fun way to keep kids interested in learning At a Glance Ages: 4 to 8 Requires: 2 AAA batteries; setup uses a computer and the Internet

Let's Play Tag!
With a wide grip that's perfect for little hands, the Tag reader adds a unique element to story time. The included book, Ozzie and Mack, features the rhyming adventures of Ozzie Otter and his playful animal friends. Text for this book is preloaded onto the Tag reader, so as soon as you load two AAA batteries (not included) into the reader, the story can begin.

A little camera in the tip of the reader identifies words and symbols on the specially printed pages, giving kids lots of options. They can pick between starting a story at the beginning and having it read all the way through, playing a page at a time, or reading themselves and using the Tag reader to hear single, tricky words spoken aloud. This last option inspires kids to try reading books they might otherwise avoid, since the Tag reader is always there to help them out.

Young readers are sure to enjoy the way character voices add drama to their favorite stories, the way touching certain pictures inspires quirky sound effects, and the leveled activities included in LeapFrog books.

Explore the World of Reading
LeapFrog presents a library of books that are compatible with the Tag reader. Classics like The Little Engine That Could come to life, and kids' favorite characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Kung Fu Panda, help them connect with new stories. LeapFrog has even teamed with National Geographic Kids to present activity cards featuring different animals that the Tag reader brings to life.

To use additional books and games, you'll need to install the LeapFrog connect application on your computer. Once this is done, it becomes easy to download audio for the books you have and put them on your Tag reader. Use the included USB cable to connect the reader to your computer, and drag-and-drop up to five stories onto it.

More : Top Christmas Toys for 8 to 11 Years

LEGO Star Wars Imperial Dropship - Top Christmas Toys 2008

LEGO Star Wars Imperial Dropship
From LEGO

LEGO Star Wars Imperial Dropship - Top Christmas Toys 2008

Product Description

Send in the Imperial Dropship with its stormtrooper squad! Equipped with laser cannons and a detachable troop platform, this speedy space transport is ready to battle the Rebellion on any planet in the Empire. Includes three stormtroopers and a shadow stormtrooper pilot. Lift back up to drop the clone troop platform into battle. Imperial Dropship is 4" long. 81 pieces.

Customer Reviews

gift for grandson
my grandson loves legos, esp., Star Wars and Indiana Jones. They have great educational value.

Loved By Lego Fan
We purchased this for our 4 1/2 year old son who loves to build with Legos and is just starting to show an interest in Star Wars. With a little help, he was able to build the ship which made him very proud. He really likes the mini-Storm Troopers and has "introduced" them to our "regular" Lego people. He spends hours with Legos each week, constructing different scenes, building his own ships, and just letting his imagination go free. I would recommend this set for anyone who has a Lego fan in their house.

worth the money
Good product, worth the money, very fun to lift the hatch and drop the troopers. Should come with 1 more stormtrooper to fill in the empty spot though.

More : Xmas Toys for 5 to 7 Years

Bakugan Starter Pack - Top Christmas Toys 2008

Bakugan Starter Pack (styles and colors vary)
From Spinmaster

Bakugan Starter Pack - Top Christmas Toys 2008

Customer Reviews

Bakugan junk
Expensive cheap plastic toys. Expensive because the kids want them and as usual they play upon the love of a parent and/or grandparent for the children. Very cold way to do business. Nothing against Amazon.com, if not for you I wouldn't have been able to get them for my grandson.
Thanks

Very Entertaining Game for Boys
I haven't given these to my Grandson yet, but he has others. These are for Christmas. He Loves playing with them, and so far, they have held up very well.
He loves trading them, and plays with them every day. He is eight years old. He goes on-line to see all of the different kinds available, and likes to show all of his to everybody!

My kid loves it!!
My son loves these toys! They are easily broken, so I wouldn't recommend them for under 7 or 8 years old.

Product Description

Bakugan battle brawlers are here! Answer the call to brawl and decide the fate of the galaxy! Magnetic marbles POP open into power Bakugan warrior action figures when they roll onto the real metal Gate Cards! Use strategy to place your metal Gate Cards as each card affects the battle differently. Master your shooting skills to roll your Bakugan into battle. Styles are selected at random when shipped.

Features

• Magnetic marbles pop open when on metal card
• Use strategy to place you cards and set up for battle
• Master you battle skills by shooting your Bakugan and landing on card to score
• Colors and styles may vary
• Styles selected at random when shipped

More : Xmas Toys for 5 to 7 Years