The Toy Review

Following up on Boggle, which can help your beginning reader, how about IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit to encourage your burgeoning writer? The cost of the kit includes having the story professionally printed and hard-bound and you can even order extra books for gifts. Do be aware that each book is limited to 12 pages and each page can have 20 words. This isn’t the kit to get to record your life story, but it would be great fun for a young child.

This is an old favorite, isn’t it? I remember playing this back in the day, and I was pretty good at it! I’m betting that at least a couple of my kids would enjoy playing this with their old mama. The game is rated for 8 and above, but I am thinking younger children could play if you changed the rules just a bit, to give them more credit for shorter words. As a bonus, your beginning readers will get more practice without feeling like they are in school. It’s fun and it builds brain power. That means we can call Boggle a win/win/win game.

Is it hot enough for you? I declare, we are cooking here, just as surely as if this were a giant crockpot. And according to Al Gore, it is, LOL! But the Little Tikes Beach Ball Sprinkler looks like a fun way to cool off, doesn’t it? I bet it wouldn’t take long for the whole neighborhood to show up if you had one of these in the front yard! Rated for 18 months and up, this looks like fun for the whole family to me.

Ooooh, this game looks like lots of fun! Ticket to Ride is a cross country train adventure that’s for the whole family, provided that the family members are all eight and above. The players own choices dictate how the game plays out, so the game will be new each time it’s played. Played by 2-5 players, games will last 30-60 minutes, and once you are ready for a new experience, there are other editions to try.

Oh, I told you I loved Melissa and Doug, didn’t I? Yes, I did. I plan to feature several of their products over the next few weeks, because they are just so darn good! I have never been disappointed in one of their products. Seriously. This Learn-To-Play Piano is designed for ages four and up, but I think a three year old could play it just fine. There are 25 keys, and the bright colors make it appealing. At least to me. I like bright and colorful

If you are *coughcough* just a little bit older than me, and you like Monopoly, then this Beatles Monopoly Game will probably appeal to you. Like most -opoly’s, it plays like regular Monopoly, but the tokens and houses and hotels are different. The one has takens based on 6 of the most popular Beatles songs, and the house and hotels are called listening parties and concerts. The properties are the Beatles albums! Pretty nifty, huh?