Sophie the Giraffe, full of discoveries and activities to awaken baby's senses. Sight: The dark and contrasting spots all over Sophie the Giraffe's body provide visual stimulation and make her easily recognizable to baby. She soon becomes a familiar and reassuring objet. Hearing: Her squeaker keeps baby amused, stimulates his hearings, and helps him to understand the link between cause and effect. Taste: Sophie the Giraffe is very flexible and has lots of parts for baby to chew like ears, horns, legs. She is perfect for soothing baby's sore gums when teething and is completely safe. Made of 100% natural rubber and food paint. Touch: Sophie the Giraffe is perfect for baby's small hands. She is very light and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip. She is very soft to touch, just like baby's mummy, stimulating soothing physiological and emotional responses. Smell: The singular scent of natural rubber from Have tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys. Phthalates and BPA free.

Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that requires no pencil, paper or board. All you need is a table. One hand can be played in as little as five minutes. It is a great for family fun as well as being educational. Bananagrams portability makes it perfect for travel. Just grab the pouch and go.

One of the most successful games of all time, Settlers of Catan is a trading and building game set in the mythical world of Catan. Players roll dice to determine which resources are generated each round and then must strategically trade those resources with other players to get what they need to build their settlements, cities, and roads. With multiple ways to gain victory points and a board that changes in every play, Settlers of Catan is a game that can be played hundreds of different ways. The base of a hugely successful franchise, with multiple engaging expansions, Settlers is the core game of many collections, and is a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends. For 3 to 4 players.

The Settlers of Catan from Mayfair Games is an award-winning strategy game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements and cities on their way to victory. The board itself is variable, making each game a little different from the next. Each round of The Settlers of Catan is intended to keep three or four players ages 10 and above engaged for up to 90 minutes.

The game map changes every time for an endless variety of play. View larger.

Settlers of Catan engages both children and adults, garnering best-seller status in both Germany and the US. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Engaging strategy game that's different each time you play The Bad: Requires three or four players In a Nutshell: The Settlers of Catan is fun, easy to learn, and keeps advanced players on their toes At a Glance Ages: 10 and up Requires: Three or four players

On the Road to Settlement
The game rules and almanac booklet sets out four pages of guidelines for getting started. Don't worry, the rules are straightforward and the four pages include plenty of illustrations. There's a starting map that shows a well-balanced set-up for beginners to follow and directions that allow more advanced players to lay out the map of the island at random. You'll have to pop the die-cut components of the game out of their cardboard holders before you play your first game.

The almanac portion of the booklet is laid out alphabetically, so while playing you can find answers to specific questions quickly. Useful entries remind you exactly what role pieces like the robber play, how actions like maritime trade work, and how to set up the board or finish the game.

Exploring and Developing Catan
The board consists of 19 terrain hexes surrounded by the ocean. Each type of terrain produces a different type of resource: brick, wool, ore, grain or lumber. There's also a desert hex that produces no resources. As the game progresses, players use resources to build roads along the edges of these hexes and settlements or cities on the intersections where three hexes meet. Each player begins the game with two settlements and two roads.

Each player's roll of the dice causes certain hexes to produce resources, which you collect if you have a settlement on one of them. On your turn, you'll use various combinations of the resources you've acquired to build new roads and settlements, upgrade settlements to cities, or purchase development cards. The ability to trade resources with other players adds a new level of strategy and ensures that the game includes lots of interaction between players. You can also trade without worrying about other players using an unfavorable maritime trade rate. Elements including a robber piece that lets you steal from other players and a variety of development cards add intrigue to the game.

The objective of The Settlers of Catan is to be the first one who collects 10 victory points. Each settlement is worth one victory point and each city is worth two victory points. You can also earn victory points by holding the "Longest Road" card, the "Largest Army" card, or special victory point development cards.

Best-Selling Game of the Year
It's easy to see why The Settlers of Catan has been recognized as a best-selling Game of the Year in both Germany and the U. S. We found this game to be fun and engaging for both children and adults, and the variable nature of the playing field really made us want to play again and again. When we started pausing to contemplate our opponents' strategy and factoring the probability of different dice rolls into our moves, the game sometimes took longer than expected, but we were so engrossed we didn't even notice until it was all over.

Due to the widespread popularity of the original game, several expansion sets (sold separately) are available that allow you to explore new aspects of the game or add more players. The only downside to this game is that you need to have either three or four players to play, so it's great that expansion sets are available that will allow you to add players.

What's in the Box
Six sea frame pieces, 19 terrain hexes, nine harbor pieces, 18 circular number tokens, 126 game cards, 16 cities, 20 settlements, 60 roads, two dice, a robber and a rules and almanac booklet.

Get busy building! This jam-packed tub features an extensive assortment of LEGO bricks and other fun elements. It includes a building plate, mini figure, windows, doors and wheels. New container allows for easy clean-up and efficient storage. The transparent lid lets builders display their models. Includes building instructions for five models and photo inspiration for 25 more. 405 pieces. Tub measures 7.56"H x 15.12"W x 8.98"D.

When your toddler has graduated from the Duplo stage and is ready to take the next step in his, or her, Lego journey, the Lego Ultimate Building Set is the ideal graduation gift. With 405 pieces stored in a durable plastic box with a see-through top, this set is the perfect place to let children continue to explore their imagination and engineering skills. The Lego Ultimate Building Set contains many small pieces and is designed for kids ages four and older.

Large Brick Box Ages: 4+ Pieces: 405

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: The Good: Lego starter kit lets younger children build a house, car, dog, helicopter, and more. The Challenging: Younger children may need help with following the instruction. In a Nutshell: The ideal Lego starter kit for kids too old for Duplos.

The Ideal Lego Starter Kit
The Lego Ultimate Building Set includes everything a child needs to take the first steps to becoming an expert Lego builder. It includes one mini figurine, a building plate, and a wide mix of standard bricks in various colors as well as house and wheel elements.

Following the included instructions and using pieces in the starter kit, kids can build a house, helicopter, dog, and car. The only flaw is that the instructions may be challenging for younger children, and require adult assistance.

As is the case with virtually every Lego set, your child will be limited only by his, or her, imagination and perseverance. Although the kit is designed for younger children graduating from Lego Duplos, you can be confident that your child will never actually grow out of the Ultimate Building Set. All of the pieces can be incorporated into future Lego collections.

What's in the Box
405 standard Lego pieces with house and wheel element, mini figurine, durable plastic storage case, and instructions.

With 405 pieces, this Legos starter kit allows your child to build a variety of different things.

Each Zhu Zhu Hamter has its own unique personality & whimsical sounds. Loving Mode: Pet them, love them, hear them chatter Explore Mode: Let them scoot, scamper, across the floor. Provide them with their Hamster Habitat.

SCRABBLE SLAM is a fast-paced word game where anything could happen! Race against each other to change the existing four-letter word and get rid of your cards. “Game” could become “fame” and “fame” could become “fate”—you never know where it’ll go. Be the first player to get rid of all of your cards to win!

Each Zhu Zhu Hamter has its own unique personality & whimsical sounds. Loving Mode: Pet them, love them, hear them chatter Explore Mode: Let them scoot, scamper, across the floor. Provide them with their Hamster Habitat.

Promote music appreciation by introducing your little one to baby-friendly versions of classical masterpieces by Mozart, Vivaldi, Chopin and Rossini with the Baby Einstein Takealong Tunes! A large, easy-to-press button allows your baby to toggle through 7 high quality and enjoyable classical melodies at home or on-the-go! This baby's version of an ''MP3 player'' has colorful lights that dance across the screen to enhance each entertaining melody. Imported. . 7 baby-friendly classical melodies. Volume control. The colorful and easy to grasp caterpillar handle ensures that baby can ''takealong tunes'' anywhere!Melodies include:. Serenade No. 13 in G, ''Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,'' K525, 1st movement, (Baby Galileo, Mozart). Nocturne No. 6, K239, 1st movement, (Baby Neptune, Mozart). Waltz in GB Op. 70, No.1 (Traveling Melodies, Chopin). The Four Seasons, Spring, 1st movement (Baby Vivaldi). William Tell Overture, ''Lone Ranger'', Rossini (Playtime Music Box). Piano Sonata in A, K331, 3rd movement (Baby Mozart). The Four Seasons, Summer, 1st and 3rd movements (Baby Vivaldi).

From the Manufacturer Mighty Beanz - Play Em! Race Em! Collect Em! Mighty Beanz perform amazing tricks and flips! Race your Mighty Beanz at high speed down any tilted surface! Play lots of Mighty Beanz Games! Swap and trade your Mighty Beanz until you have collected all 60 Mighty Beanz! Styles may vary.

What's different about the moon tonight? It's inside your room! Authentically detailed, Moon In My Room hangs on your wall and shines moonlight just like the real moon. Twelve different phase settings let you match what the real moon looks like outside tonight!

Listen to the included audio CD to learn exciting facts about the moon and its unique relationship with planet Earth.

The Go Go Adventure Ball is the must have accessory for your Go Go Hamster!! Each go go hamster (sold separately) has its own unique personality and whimsical sounds! Loving Mode: Pet them, love them , hear them chatter, Explore Mode: Let them scoot, scamper bump n boogie across the floor or through their Hamster Habitat. Collect the whole Hamster-riffic gang! Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums, Chunk, & Pipsqueak!

Super Smart, Realistic Hamster-rific Fun! I chatter, scatter, scoot n' scutty like a real hamster!

This award winning card game is for one or more players. It is recommended for ages six and above. The object of the game is to identify "sets" of three cards. Each card is unique in its four features; color - red, green or purple, symbol - diamond, squiggle or oval, shading - solid, striped or open, and number - 1, 2 or 3. A "set" consists of three cards on which each feature is either the same on all of the cards, or different on all of the cards. This game contains complete instructions for play, 81 cards, and a durable plastic carrying case.

SET is a card game of quick recognition and deduction. Each card contains one of three symbols (squiggles, diamonds, ovals) in varying numbers (up to three), colors (purple, green, red), and degrees of shading. A dealer arranges 12 cards, face up, and the players--without taking turns--hastily scrutinize the images for logical "sets" of three cards linked by combinations of sameness or difference. It's not as complicated as it sounds: examples include a trio of paired ovals with increasing levels of shading between cards, or disparate symbols in different colors which increase in number on each card (card one has a green squiggle, card two a pair of purple ovals, card three a trio of diamonds). The trick is to keep calm while trying to make the rapid connections. The Darwinian nature of the game (remember: everyone plays simultaneously) is certain to cause some feistiness among more competitive players. --Tom Keogh

I chatter, scatter, scoot n' scurry like a real hamster.

The challenge of Quiddler is to arrange your entire hand into words. Draw and discard in turn. Try to use those high point letters, but don't get caught with them uncombined! Quiddler is fast paced because you can play using everyday words. A bonus is given for the most words in each round (so little words can help you win), as well as for the longest word. Quiddler is a delightful challenge for both rookies and word game lovers. Quiddler is for up to eight players.

The rules are brutal, but the rewards are worth it in this card game that works a bit like Scrabble. Although there is a solitary version of the game for one player, you can play with up to eight. Cards containing letters of the alphabet and special combinations of letters are dealt in increasing number each time the dealer completes a round. Once you've collected your share, you can discard and pick up a new card with each turn. The object is to turn all the letters in your possession into dictionary-proof words while leaving one stray card as a final discard. You want to be the first to accomplish the goal, of course, but there is a scoring system that makes the play competitive for everyone. One nice element is the cards themselves: the letter design is based on beautiful artwork from Celtic manuscripts. This card game is a 1999 Parents' Choice Silver Award winner. --Tom Keogh

Everything your baby needs can be found in this Rainforest Jumperoo. Its newly designed frame allows you to opens it up from the top, and lets the seat rotate 360 degrees so baby can play and interact from any side. A fun seat and toys at five locations on the platform engage baby all the way around, and an electronic toy at the front has motion, music and lights that can be activated by baby spinning a drum. Seat also features a bobbling elephant, a monkey swinging from a vine, a parrot hanging from a bead bar, a clear spinning bead ball, a tiger that plays hide and seek, a spinning lizard that makes rattling sounds, a tethered chew toy and a stack of chips with cute graphics for baby to explore. Two soft leaves extend from the frame to create an overhead 'canopy' with soft toys that dangle down for fun bat-at play. Jumperoo has has three height adjustments for extended use. Frame pivots to a nested position so it can be tucked away when not in use. Includes a motion sensor that encourages kids by rewarding them with lights and sounds when they jump. Weight Capacity is 25 pounds. Requires 3 "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 43.125"H x 32"W x 37"D.

Introduce baby to a place full of exciting sights and sounds and lots of safe jumping fun with the Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo. Designed for use by a child who is able to hold his or her head up unassisted, and who is not yet able to climb out or walk, this baby jumper delights baby with interactive play options and stimulating movement to help encourage healthy development.

The Jumperoo helps encourage healthy development. View larger.

Bright colors and fun music engage visual and auditory senses. View larger.

The Jumperoo is a safe and comfortable place for children to sit and play. View larger.

Promotes Comfort and Security
The Rainforest Jumperoo is a safe and comfortable place for baby to sit and play, whether he stays for just a moment or for several minutes. Two soft leaves extend from the frame to create an overhead canopy with soft toys that dangle down for fun bat-at play. It also features a rotating seat with soft spring covers that keep little fingers safe from pinching, and three-position height adjustment for a custom fit.

Stimulating Interactive Play
Everything your baby needs at play-time can be found in this Rainforest Jumperoo. Its newly designed frame both allows you to open it up from the top, and lets the seat rotate 360 degrees so baby can play and interact from any side. A fun seat and toys at five locations on the platform engage baby all the way around, and an electronic toy at the front has motion, music and lights that can be activated by baby spinning a drum. (Mom or Dad can also activate an option for four minutes of continuous play.)

Little explorers will also enjoy playing with the Jumperoo's many animals and toys, including a bobbling elephant, a monkey swinging from a vine, a parrot hanging from a bead bar, a clear spinning bead ball, a tiger that plays hide and seek, a spinning lizard that makes rattling sounds, a tethered chew toy, and a stack of chips with eye-catching graphics for baby to explore.

Encourages Healthy Development
The Rainforest Jumperoo is designed to help encourage healthy development. Moving, spinning, and jumping in a baby jumper enhances large motor skills. Secondly, the variety of textures integrated into the rainforest toys provide tactile stimulation, while the bright colors and fun music engage your child's visual and auditory senses. This educational system also enhances learning through discovery; baby's actions make things happen, helping him to understand cause and effect. Finally, reaching and grasping onto the baby jumper's toys fosters eye-hand coordination.

Easy to Use, Move, and Store
Parents will appreciate the quick take-down and portability of the Rainforest Jumperoo--the frame pivots to a nested position so it can be tucked away when not in use, and it simply folds so you can carry it from room to room. And no doorway is required to use this toy, making it a breeze to set it up anywhere.

The Rainforest Jumperoo includes a motion sensor that encourages kids by rewarding them with lights and sounds when they jump, has a weight capacity of 25 pounds and maximum height 32 inches, and requires three "AA" batteries (not included). It also measures 32.0 x 43.125 x 37 inches (WxHxD).

Designed for babies and adults, Sleep Sheep is the perfect nighttime companion to help soothe the whole family to sleep in a safe, calming and effortless way. A sound box tucked safely inside of Sleep Sheep lulls you to sleep with soft sounds from nature and the reassuring sound of a mothers heartbeat. Sleep Sheep soothing sounds are an audio pacifier that can calm even the fussiest babies to sleep. When babies sleep better, parents sleep better. Sleep Sheep is also ideal for traveling and in unfamiliar environments. Sleep Sheep features 4 soothing sounds: Mothers Heartbeat, Spring Showers, Ocean Surf, and Whale Songs. Velcro tab to secure Sleep Sheep to the outside of a crib. Removable sound box with adjustable volume and on/off controls. Automatic time-out after 23 minutes. The Sleep Sheep Story. A unique numbered adoption certificate. Batteries included - 2 AA .

Soothe your child into a restful, relaxing nap or night of sleep with the Sleep Sheep from Cloud b. This soft and adorable sleep time pal plays calming sounds that help drown out distracting noises and let baby drift into dreams.

Four Soothing Sounds Winner of several industry awards, including the National Parenting Council's Seal of Approval and the iParenting Media Award, the Sleep Sheep is plush and very cuddly, so it immediately gives a restless child something pleasing and calming to hold on to. It also creates a tranquil environment with four soothing sounds, from Mother's heartbeat (a steady thumping) to the gentle rhythms of nature. You and baby will both relax as you listen to the quiet stream, spring showers, swooshing ocean waves and harmonious whale sounds, making the Sleep Sheep a kind of audio pacifier that helps take some of the stress and crankiness out of rest time. Perfect for Naptime Many babies find it hard to settle in their cribs when noises from both inside and outside the house distract and disrupt them. They crave repetitive, comforting rhythms that don't frighten them. The Sleep Sheep creates a kind of white noise that blocks out the other surrounding sounds, so babies can be lulled into sleep. This parents-little-helper also comes with a Velcro tab so you can secure the Sleep Sheep to the outside of a crib. User-Friendly Operation The Sleep Sheep features user-friendly operation that both big and little hands can handle. Select sounds by simply pressing the push button, and then choose the most comfortable volume. For added convenience and to save battery power, the sounds automatically time out after 23 minutes--enough time for baby to fall into a comfortable and restorative sleep. Compact and lightweight, the Sleep Sheep stands 12 inches tall and takes two "AA" batteries (included). The sound box removes if your child simply wants to use the Sleep Sheep as a stuffed toy, and clean-up is a snap--just wipe the surface with soap and water. About Cloud b Cloud b, the baby sleep specialist, was established by two new mothers with the philosophy that every baby deserves a sound night's sleep for healthy development. That's why all of Cloud b's products are developed in consultation with an advisory board of pediatricians and sleep specialists with a single focus: to achieve a better, safer sleep for baby. What's in the Box One Sleep Sheep and two "AA" batteries.

The Sleep Sheep offers: Cuddly plush toy that provides soothing sounds. Built-in Velcro strap for easy attachment to strollers and car seats. Timer shuts off the sound after either 23 or 45 minutes. Shown here together with smaller, on-the-go Sleep Sheep.

As any parent of babies knows, sleep is a precious, precious commodity. Scores of books and articles have been written on the subject, and one of the first questions any parent will hear, after "How cute! How old? Boy or girl?" is, "Does she sleep through the night?" Babies aren't designed to sleep through the night in their early months, but eventually, they can sleep for longer blocks of time. And this is when parents will do just about anything to lengthen those snooze hours. The Sleep Sheep might just be the most effective sleep aid in a parent's tool belt. It sure is the cutest! Standing (or rather, sitting) just 11 inches tall, this cuddly lamb can be attached with Velcro strips to baby's crib. Tucked in its back is an audio box with four soothing sounds from nature: a heartbeat, a spring rainfall, the ocean, and whale songs. Push a button, adjust the volume, and sneak out of the nursery while the Sleep Sheep does its job, playing a full 23 minutes of snooze-inducing sound. Did you catch that? It's important: twenty-three minutes! So many sound machines only play for five minutes or so. Our woolly friend knows it can take longer than that for some babies to fall asleep. Beyond "White Noise"
Music can be too stimulating. The whirring of a fan can be effective, but, well, breezy. And regular house noise, especially with an older sibling or too, can be distracting or downright disruptive to sleep. What babies need are relaxing, repetitive sounds. And when those sounds are housed in a huggable package, so much the better!

Mother's Heartbeat
What's the first sound baby hears while still in the womb? His mother's heartbeat, of course. This steady underwater thumping is bound to reassure babies, even once they're on "the outside."

Spring Showers
These spring showers may never bring May flowers, but their cozy patter may bring hours of peaceful slumber.

Ocean Waves
The swooshing sounds of a gentle ocean surf have the power to lull just about anybody to sleep.

Whale Songs
Eerie yet harmonious, whale songs are thought to elevate mind and spirit. Even if baby doesn't know that, the lovely distant songs provide a tranquil background to sleep.

The Sleep Sheep's sound box is removable, so even if space is limited, baby's soothing sleep sounds can go where she goes. A unique numbered certificate of adoption is provided for those who want to make a special place in their families for their new, valuable, sure to be beloved friend. Requires 2 AA batteries (included). --Emilie Coulter

Blokus develops logic and spatial perception while kids learn to be tactical. Players take turns placing pieces on their board, each starting from their corner. Each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners. The goal is to get rid of all your pieces. The game ends when all players are blocked from laying down any more of their pieces. Includes one game board with 400 squares, 84 game pieces in four bright translucent colors, and an instruction guide.

Fun for both kids and adults, Blokus is a strategy board game that challenges spatial thinking. Bright colors and simple rules make it ideal for ages five and up, but adults will certainly be engrossed by this unique and challenging game.

Not Your Average Board Game
Blokus encourages creative thinking and has received a Mensa award for promoting healthy brain activity. The goal of this game is for players to fit all of their pieces onto the board. When placing a piece it may not lie adjacent to the player's other pieces, but must be placed touching at least one corner of their pieces already on the board. The player who gets rid of all of their tiles first is the winner and strategic thinking helps as you block moves from your opponent. Blokus sometimes comes to an end because there are no more possible moves.

Four players make this abstract game especially fast and exciting; however, it can be just as fun for two or three players. Blokus has come up with a number of different ways to play the game to make it more thrilling when playing with less than four players. Draft Blokus allows a player to use more than one color and Reverse Blokus reverses the entire game so that the person who places the least amount of tiles on the board is the winner. It can even be played in a solitaire version when one player attempts to place all of their pieces in a single sitting. A game of Blokus typically lasts a 30 minutes. As a practical feature, raised edges on the board help keep the tiles in place and allow convenient clean-up. This game includes 84 pieces in four vibrant colors, an instruction guide, and one gameboard with 400 squares.

Blokus is simple to understand, but the game's complexity is revealed shortly after everyone begins to play. It can be addictive, even for those not normally into abstract games. Blokus is a catalyst for spatial thinking, as players form images in their mind before placing the pieces on the board. Children and adults can play together for hours of competitive family fun. As Europe's 2003 Game of the Year, Blokus is adored by many and even played in professional tournaments.

What's in the Box
84 pieces in four colors, gameboard with 400 squares, and an instruction guide.

Once a piece has been placed on the board it can't be moved, so plan your moves carefully.

Adding to the game's challenges, each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners.

Apples to Apples is the game of hilarious comparisons! It's as easy as "comparing apples to apples"... just open the box, deal the cards, and you're ready to play. Select the card from your hand that you think is best described by a card played by the judge. If the judge picks your card, you win that round. And everyone gets a chance to be the judge. Each round is filled with surprising and outrageous comparisons from a wide range of people, places, things and events. Includes over 1,000 cards.

Apples to Apples is an award-winning party game that will have everyone laughing. We had a blast playing this game and think it is a perfect game for a "board game night" with friends and family. It is quick to set up, easy to learn, challenging, and a whole lot of fun.

The party box includes over a thousand cards for many card combinations. View larger.

Unexpected and funny comparisons make the game fun to come back to again and again. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Quick set up; inspires quick thinking and creativity; fun for whole family The Bad: Not as fun without at least five players; subject matter targeted for mid-teens and older In a Nutshell: Quick-paced board game requires just a minute to set up and will have everyone laughing for hours At a Glance Ages: 12 and up Requires: At least four players

Smart, Award-Winning Fun
Apples to Apples has won numerous awards including "Party Game of the Year" by Games magazine and "Mensa Select" by Mensa International. And for good reason: it involves quick thinking, humor, and strategy. For teens, the game teaches them to think about how different things can be compared to one another and how analogies are formed. One of our criticisms is that although the game states that it is designed for ages 12 and older, many of the subjects are clearly for older teens.

Hilarious Comparisons and Analogies
The name of the game is a play on the phrase "apples to oranges," and the game is about making comparisons between different things. General game play is as follows: players are dealt red cards which have a noun printed on them, and the judge (a different player in each turn) draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she likes best.

The fun is in the variety of unexpected comparisons people make, sometimes apt, funny, creative, or simply absurd. For example: people might match "Awkward" with "Oil Spills," "My First Kiss," "Dandruff," and "Gold Chains. " Or: "Painful" with "High School Reunions" and "Regis Philben. " Strategy comes into play since, because each player takes turns being the judge, you begin to pick up on the preferences of each player and tailor your choices accordingly.

Players can also try variations on the basic game play. For example, instead of choosing the most apt comparison, players might try choosing the red card that is least like the green one. These variations keep the game fresh and interesting every time.

Conversation Kick Starter
Part of the fun is in standing up for your choices. For instance, you might discuss why you think "Regis Philben" is painful, or segue into a discussion of the embarrassing situations you got into on your first day of school, or your first kiss. Apples to Apples excels as an ice breaker and promotes a good amount of social interaction, as many conversations will be kick started thanks to these little cards.

More Players, More Fun
Although the box states that the game is playable with just four players, we found that the game is a lot more fun when there are at least five or six players. This increases both the frequency of funny answers and also requires players to refine their strategy a little more. Once we got going, hours passed, and it was only the lateness of the hour that reminded some of us that we had to go home.

This Party Box set comes with more than 1,000 cards total, and will entertain for a long time. Additional expansion sets are available to further increase the variety of word combinations.

What's in the Box
756 Red Apple Cards, 252 Green Apple Cards, card tray, quick play rules.

Play, rattle and roll! The colorful Baby Einstein Bendy Ball is flexible and includes sections that allow you to mix and match red, blue, yellow and green. . Perfect for little hands to grasp . Includes a rattle inside for baby to shake . 4'' diameter .

Chunk is a laid-back surfer with a big heart! Nurturing mode: hamsters coo and purr

Special ZhuZhu Pets habitat accessory Spiral Slide and Ramp. Hamsters love to climb the ramp and whirl and twirl down the slide. ZhuZhu Pets hamsters sold separately.

ZhuZhu Pets Patches the motorized hamster loves to scoot, scurry and scamper around the Funhouse environment. Includes large kitchen/living room, connecting hallway and large bathroom areas. This playset habitat has lots of openings for additional playset

This handy little suitcase holds hours of fun! Great for parties, rainy days, camp, scouts, and much more. Make friendship bracelets for everyone you know! Kit includes 2 styles, 8 patterns, 22 bracelets! This package contains 22 colors of floss (solids, variegated, and multi-colored), 2 double-sided color-coded foam friendship looms, 2 best double-sided color-coded foam friend band looms, beads in various colors, beading needle, detailed instructions, and it is all packed inside of a convenient 8-1/2" x 9-3/8" x 2" neon bright suitcase with a acetate window, snap closure and a carry handle for taking your bracelet making on the go! All contents conform to ASTM F963. Recommended for children ages 8 and up. WARNING: Choking Hazard-small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

March into battle with the Clone Army! As the Clone Wars rage across the galaxy, the Republic army advances across the battlefields of hundreds of planets. Build up your army with the Clone Walker, a tough 2-man vehicle with poseable legs and flick-firing missiles!Clone Walker Battle Pack includes 2 Clone Troopers, Clone Gunner, Clone Commander and ARC trooper gear. Build your army and add #8015 Assassin Droids Battle Pack for even more fun. This Lego Star Wars set has 72 pieces and measures over 3.5 inches (8cm) tall. Recommended for ages 6-12.The Lego brand is more than simply a familiar logo. It is the expectations that people have of the company - towards its products and services, and the accountability that the Lego Group feels towards the world around it. The brand acts as a guarantee of quality and originality. They achieve their mission by constantly focusing on their strong brand. Lego strives constantly to develop innovative products which promote creativity and fun-packed play.

Now lets catch up to that truck! Woody and Buzz Lightyear use the car with pull-back motor to catch up to Andys moving truck. Woody activates the rocket on Buzzs back and theyre off on a high-speed rescue mission! Includes Woody and Buzz Lightyear minifigures.

Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie SetBake up a batch of fun! This realistic wooden set includes 12 colorful, detailed cookies with 18 toppings, plus wooden knife, kitchen mitt and cookie sheet. With over 30 pieces, this set makes a tasty treat for little bakers.

Young children naturally love to pretend they're doing "grown-up" things -- it's a fun and important part of childhood development. The Melissa & Doug Wooden Slice and Bake Cookie Set lets children ages three and up pretend to bake, decorate, and serve cookies, all while practicing fine motor skills, learning number concepts, and more. The set includes a dozen wooden cookies, a dozen wooden decorating pieces, and toy wooden kitchen utensils.

Slice and Bake Cookie Set Ages: 3+

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Sturdy, high-quality wooden toy is built to last, offers plenty of opportunity for both independent and interactive pretend play The Challenging: It's a toy with a lot of individual pieces, but it includes handy, clever storage solutions In a Nutshell: Wooden cookie set comes with toy kitchen utensils, providing fun tools to foster imaginary play in preschool-age children

Kids love using the wooden spatula to remove their cookie creations from the tray. View larger.

"Slice" cookies from the tube of "dough" with the wooden toy knife. View larger.

Bake Up Something Good
The Slice and Bake Cookie Set features a dozen cookies that are packaged in a cardboard tube that looks just like a tube of cookie dough from the grocery store. Because they're held together with Velcro, the cookies slide out in one piece. Use the wooden toy knife to "slice" the cookies apart -- the Velcro makes a satisfying slicing sound when it separates.

The child can then place the cookies on the cookie sheet and pretend the cookies are baking, making sure to hold the "hot" cookie sheet with the oven mitt once they're done. (Note that the toy kitchen utensils are not meant for use with real food or with real kitchen appliances.)

Once the cookies are done baking, it's decorating time! The 12 "vanilla" and "chocolate" frosting pieces attach to the cookies with Velcro. They are painted with different, yummy looking sprinkles, candy pieces, and icing patterns, so your child can create a variety of different looking cookies. After the decorating is done, your child can serve them up with the included wooden toy spatula.

Perfect for preschool-age children, this toy not only offers plenty of opportunity for imaginary play, it also helps small kids exercise their motor skills. Our preschool-age tester found it challenging, yet fun, to slice the cookies apart. And while our toy tester enjoyed playing with it independently, this toy makes a great parent-and-child activity, too.

Adults can place custom orders for cookies, play counting and matching games, and more. If you're at a loss for ideas, Melissa & Doug includes interactive play ideas on the back of the cookie sheet that help you encourage your child to learn while she plays.

Sturdy, High-Quality Construction
The Slice and Bake Cookie Set definitely has plenty of pieces, so we were glad to find that the cardboard tube is big enough to contain both the cookies and the toppings, making cleanup and organization much easier. We also love the toy's sturdy wooden construction that's built for plenty of rough play. And as with all of their products, Melissa & Doug states that this toy is made with non-toxic coatings and meets or exceeds US toy testing standards.

About Melissa & Doug
Started in the garage at Doug's parents' house in 1988, Melissa & Doug has grown to become one of the most popular toy makers in the world. Their toys have garnered dozens of parenting and "best toy" awards over the years, and have been featured widely in national print media and on television.

One of the company's points of pride is that their toys are thoroughly tested for safety, and meet all US consumer product safety regulations. The toys are tested at the factory of origin during various phases of the production process to ensure that every toy meets the company's stringent safety requirements every step along the way. In particular, the paints and coatings on Melissa & Doug toys are tested frequently to be sure they meet or exceed government recommendations limiting heavy metals and lead in children's items.

Since day one, Melissa & Doug has been in compliance with every US consumer product safety regulation and will continue to stay compliant as the laws continue to evolve, assuring parents that their children can have a safe childhood while playing with Melissa & Doug toys.

What's in the Box
12 wood cookies, 12 decorative toppings, toy cookie dough tube, wooden cookie tray, wooden spatula, wooden toy knife and oven mitt.

This new Lamaze Play & Grow Peacock comes complete with multiple textures and sounds to keep baby entertained. Crinkly fabric, a peek-a-boo mirros, bold colorful patterns and soft fuzzy textures invite little ones to explore and learn. Jacques the Peacock comes complete with a Lamaze link, so you can snap it to a car seat, high chair, or anywhere else.

Designed for use from birth on up, the Lamaze Play and Grow Peacock has bright colors and multiple textures and sounds that are sure to stimulate and delight baby. Developed in conjunction with child development experts from Yale University, this "first friends" toy comes complete with a Lamaze link for easy attachment to strollers, carriers, and diaper bags, so it's a snap to take the Play and Grow Peacock with you on play dates, errands, or trips in the car.

The Lamaze Jacques the Peacock offers: Different textures, mirror, and colorful patterns encourage exploration Soft velour body with several busy wings A Lamaze link clip for easy attachment to strollers, carriers and diaper bags

Multiple textures and sounds to keep baby entertained. View larger.

Stimulates Baby's Vision and Auditory Skills
When babies are first born, they see in black and white. This is why the Play and Grow Peacock strikes a balance between bright, high contrast patterns that help stimulate baby's vision, and bold solid colors that give baby's eyes a place to rest. Sounds like crinkle, squeakers and jingles also help stimulate and develop baby's auditory skills. Finally, large, friendly eyes on the Play and Grow Peacock invite baby to focus and stare at a single object, which helps calm baby while supporting healthy eye development.

Child-Safe Design
Whether they're playing in the crib or preparing for a nap, your little one will enjoy hours of delight with the Play and Grow Peacock. Safe and easy for little hands to manipulate, it features a soft velour body that invites snuggling and playing. And the busy wings have different textures and interactive components--like the mirror, which allows for both independent and parent/baby peek-a-boo play--to keep baby engaged as he grows.

The Play and Grow Peacock comes with a limited 90 day warranty.

Squeaker

Rattle

Mirror

Crinkle

High contrast Black and White

About Learning Curve
The creative force behind hundreds of award-winning toys, Learning Curve created the Lamaze Infant Development System by working in tandem with parents, babies, and childhood experts. Learning Curve understands that what matters most to parents is keeping their children healthy, happy, and safe. The company's goal is to help parents do just that by offering products for every stage of a child's development--from feeding to playing to sleeping. Learning Curve's thoroughly researched developmental toys engage children, and provide parents with peace of mind. And their care, safety, feeding and soothing products give you solutions to day-to-day needs at mealtime, bedtime, at home and on-the-go.

What's in the Box
Peacock toy and Lamaze link clip.

Whether playing in the crib or napping in the car, your baby won't want to go anywhere without Jacques the Peacock. Safe and fun, this plush toy from Learning Curve is a winner with babies and young children of all ages.

Child-Safe Design
Lamaze Jacques the Peacock features a soft velour body and busy wings with a peek-a-boo mirror, multiple textures, squeaker, and crinkles to keep your baby entertained. The link is perfect for hanging from an activity gym and connects easily to any Lamaze toy or play mat. This friendly toy comes with a 90-day limited warranty.

About Learning Curve
Learning Curve offers developmental toys that engage children, and provide parents with peace of mind, knowing their children are being inspired and enlightened by safe and high-quality playthings. Learning Curve created the Lamaze Infant Development System working in tandem with parents, babies, and childhood experts. Lamaze ensures your baby will grow, discover, and learn with the right toy at the right time.