The Toys Store

Realistic Helicopter Fun
The Havoc Heli has twin rotors for stability and four-way control for flying in any direction with accuracy -- up, down, under, over, left, right, forward and backward. Like a real helicopter, the Havoc can hover in one spot. It even manuevers through the toughest of obstacles. Intended for indoor use, the helicopter operates outdoors with zero wind conditions, and can fly up to 100 feet high in the air. The Havoc Heli is also equipped with a flashing blue LED light for night flying.

Friendly competition
Not just for flying solo, the Havoc Heli is designed for fun with your friends. With three selectable frequencies, up to three Air Hogs helicopters can fly in the same room at the same time. Beyond flying for fun, the hook attachment on the bottom of the helicopter picks up objects for top secret racing missions -- with or againsts friends.

Tough, Tiny, And Ready To Fly
Measuring six inches long and weighing only ten grams, the Havoc fits in the palm of a hand. Extraordinarily lightweight, the helicopter is built for crash resistance with a flexible, high-impact EPP foam body. The internal battery offers twice the amount of flight time as other R/C helicopters. The remote control charges the rechargeable LIPO battery in 15 minutes, providing six minutes of flight time. The remote requires 6 "AA" batteries (not included). Available in yellow, blue, and red, the Havoc Heli comes completely assembled and ready to fly.

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.

Watch Children Fall in Love With Books
Young readers may be too busy following the escapades of their new friends to realize they are building phonics skills, expanding their vocabulary, and improving their reading comprehension. The Learning Path can help you keep up with their progress. This parent-centered section of the LeapFrog connect computer application allows you to download education information from the reader to your computer and track your child's progress. Use it to help customize your child's unique learning journey and celebrate educational milestones.

Overall, this innovative touch system makes reading an enjoyable experience, and there's plenty of room for the system to grow with your child's skills. Watching as children learn new skills and thinking up new ways to be involved in the learning process keeps adults on their toes. While the reader seemed quite durable, the imaginative world of stories that it opens up is a gift that will long outlast the reader itself.

Although headphones are not included, the Tag reader is compatible with most headphones, so kids can concentrate on reading without being distracted or disrupting others.

Children can create cute, colorful figures such as a cat. View larger.

The fan helps designs dry and set more quickly. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Fun studio unit stimulates creativity and lets children create art. The Bad: Takes awhile to dry; small balls can be swallowed and lost; fan not very strong. In a Nutshell: Kids can create and display fun, easy-to-make art with the PixOs Super Studio, but watch out for the small pieces. At a Glance Ages: 4 and up Requires: Two AAA Batteries to operate fan (not included)

Easy, Clean Art
The Super Studio requires some assembly, which a parent will most likely have to do. Don't worry: set-up is simple. The PixOs Super Studio works by allowing kids to create art by using small balls called PixOs that will stick to each other if lightly sprayed with water and allowed to dry.

There are different colored PixOs, and children create designs (using templates or with their own imagination) by using the "pen" to place the PixOs on a grid-like tray. An included "eraser" makes it easy to remove a misplaced PixO. After the child is done with a design, he or she lightly sprays it with water using the included spray bottle, and puts it underneath the fan to dry. When dry, the finished piece can be removed from the tray and placed it wherever you'd like.

We made a cute, colorful cat, then gave her a dog for a playmate soon after. Once we understood how it worked, we were able to whip up new designs and art quickly. Just be certain that the designs are fully dry. It took a bit longer than we expected, and we accidentally ruined a cherry because we picked it up off the plate before the PixOs were sufficiently dry and stuck together.

Please note that the PixOs are tiny. Although the recommended age on the box says four and up, we believe that children on the younger end of the scale might require supervision, especially if they are inclined to swallow things. Additionally, the fan requires two AA batteries to operate, but we found that the fan was too weak to really speed up the drying process; instead we placed our finished PixOs designs by an open window to save on batteries.

Different Templates Make Learning Fun
Included are six template designs of varying degrees of difficulty that will help you get accustomed to using the studio. With the templates, kids can make strawberries, cherries, cats, dogs, and more! Some of the designs are three-dimensional, so they can stand on their own. Once these templates have been mastered, kids can create whatever they want and will only be limited by their imaginations.

Ideal for ages 3 to 6 years, this toy lets your child explore and cultivate their creative streak. The digital camera has fat bumper handles perfect for small hands, big buttons for manageability, a dual viewfinder and a 1.8-inch color LCD screen for easy subject alignment, and two interchangeable face plates so kids can make it their own. It’s also made ultra-tough to handle the guaranteed mishaps that come with the territory. But enough about its attractive looks and kid-friendly features.

A dual viewfinder, large LCD screen, and chunky buttons make this ideal for young ones.

The Kidizoom is able to capture up to 120 still photos or up to 5 minutes of video thanks to its 16MB internal memory. If that’s not enough space for your little shutterbug, the camera also provides an SD card slot. Once pictures are snapped (or motion is filmed), you can plug the device into a PC or the family TV with the included cable. From there kids can crop their photos, give images crazy effects, add wacky frames, or watch their video footage.

If you’re on the go and there’s not much picture-taking interest, the Kidizoom may still be your child’s preferred toy. It has three fun built-in games geared toward preschoolers and comes with a set of headphones that plug into its side. Say "Cheese!" (Four AA batteries are required but not included.)

VTech Kidizoom features:

• .3 megapixels with 1.8" color screen
• Double viewer or LCD screen for easy photo taking
• Connector cables for TV or PC hook-up
• Photo editing capabilities
• SD card slot for extra memory
• Three preschool games
• Changeable faceplates
• 16MB internal memory

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.)

About Crayola
Crayola first began developing its world-famous crayons in 1903, with eight original colors. The company is now the world's most popular manufacturer of children's art supplies and it produces more than 120 different crayon colors. Crayola recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and continues to innovate in the field of children's art.

Let the Fun Begin
Illustory Make Your Own Book Kit is not only fun, it also helps your child build self-esteem. You'll never forget the look in your budding writer's eyes as you proudly display his or her first book on your coffee table or bookshelf. This kit even includes an "About the Author" biography page, title, and dedication, just like a real published book. Your child will also enjoy creating the cover and will be able to select from seven cover colors. Families can have fun too as they create their own story together. Extra books with alternate dedication pages can be ordered to make the child's story a gift or keepsake for family, friends, or teachers.

Once your child is finished with the writing, sending the manuscript to publishing is easy, with the included paid postage envelope. Production time is about three to four weeks, plus delivery time. The finished hardcover book measures 7 by 9 inches with 12 pages, and features a permanent hardback binding, a laminated cover drawing, and book title. For techno-savy young authors, the book can be created entirely online by using the Creations By You bookmaking Web site. The entire Illustory kit includes 18 special book pages, 2 cover pages, 10 washable markers, story web planner, instructions, order form, and a prepaid envelope. The correct spelling option allows a choice between leaving spelling errors in or having the words printed correctly.

Award-Winning Features
This kit was a winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, as well as multiple awards from other organizations. It helps builds self-esteem and sparks an interest in reading and writing. Youngsters learn to see a project through to completion, and their final printed story rewards their effort. There are many optional upgrades available (for a charge) to enhance the book. Extra books can be printed and separately dedicated as gifts for family and friends. In addition, the author's photo can appear on the bio page, and rush delivery is also available. The Make Your Own Book kit beautifully captures a child's creativity and turns it into a keepsake that will be treasured for years to come.

What's in the Box
18 book pages, 2 cover pages, 10 washable markers, story web planner, instructions, order form, and prepaid envelope.

Publish your very own book with the Illustory Make Your Own Book Kit.

The Illustory Kit comes complete with markers, special book pages, story planners, and more.

Children can let their imaginations run wild on the blank canvas. View larger.

The jewel tip lets you make starburst patterns. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Fosters creativity in children with unique artistic tools The Bad: Artwork isn't preservable In a Nutshell: Using light to create images, the Crayola Glow Station gives kids an imaginative, fresh artistic outlet At a Glance Ages: 6 and up Requires: Three AAA batteries (not included)

Creating Art with Light
The Glow Station is a flat, smooth surface made from glow-in-the-dark, light-sensitive material. It was easy enough for us to set up: the Glow Station is designed to hang from a nail or hook on the wall. Just make sure that it's in a room that can be completely darkened. Install three AAA batteries in the light wand, and hang the stencils and other accessories from the Glow Station's pegs to keep them in easy reach. We did have to manipulate the Glow Station a bit by rolling it -- you could also place it under a dictionary -- to make it stay flat, as it comes folded in the packaging. If you're traveling, or you don't have a convenient place to hang the Glow Station, it works just as well laid flat on a table or the floor; you just won't be able to store the accessories on it.

The light wand is shaped like a large pen and has a small light bulb at the tip. Use the light wand to "draw" on the Glow Station canvas to create artwork that glows brightly from the light-activated canvas. The darker the room, the more brightly artwork glows against the canvas surface.

We found that drawing "freehand" with the light wand renders pleasing, softer-edged images; for crisper, well-defined images, use the stencils to create shapes and scenes, such as animals safaris or solar systems. The stencils can be used with the "textured sheets," which are printed with opaque designs -- stripes, feathers, spots -- to give cool detail to the images. We had great fun, for example, peppering the canvas with a herd of spotted giraffes, all made with a stencil and textured sheet. The light wand also comes with a "crystal" attachment that causes the light to refract, creating rather beautiful starburst patterns when applied to the Glow Station canvas.

Be Original!
For kids who want to make their own, original designs, the Glow Station comes with a plain, clear acetate sheet and a dry marker. Artists can draw their own pictures and designs on the sheet with the dry marker, then hold the sheet against the canvas and trace over it with the light wand. The acetate sheet is easy to clean with a dry cloth for easy re-use.

Artwork lasts for about 5 minutes, during which it will gradually fade away completely -- leaving room for creating all over again. This also creates the unavoidable drawback of being unable to save the glow-in-the-dark masterpieces. But then again, it's comparable to other works of childhood artistry -- sandcastles and snowmen, for example -- which have perennial appeal despite their temporary quality. And watching the pictures fade away is actually part of the artistic process.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Easy to set up and fun to play The Bad: Occasional occurrence of less-than-challenging brainbuster questions In a Nutshell: A witty, engaging DVD board game that highlights the hilarity and fun of the popular television show At a Glance Ages: Adult Requires: Television and DVD player with remote control

Scene It? Seinfeld Deluxe Edition DVD game is a fun way to challenge your brain while enjoying popular scenes from the hit television show about nothing. View larger.

Game includes a DVD, trivia cards, and dice -- everything you need to gets started.

So You Think You Know Seinfeld...?
The Scene It? Seinfeld Deluxe Edition DVD game is a fun, entertaining way to challenge your brain while enjoying popular scenes from the famous hit television show. Before getting started players will benefit from using either the included quick start guide or the on-screen tutorial for a run-through of how the game is played. To set up the game put the included DVD into your player and choose one player as the DVD Master who will operate the remote control throughout the game.

Next, decide whether you'd like to play a shorter or longer version of the game and fold the included Flextime game board accordingly. Each player then chooses a metal token and places it on the start space. Each turn a player rolls both the numbered die and the eight-sided category die. The numbered die indicates how many spaces forward the player may move upon successfully completing the challenge associated with the category indicated on the category die.

Challenges associated with the various categories range from answering questions following a scene played on the DVD to answering questions indicated on the included trivia Cards. Once a player has made their way to the end of the game path, they have the opportunity to win the game by either successfully beating all players in a final All Play To Win challenge or by successfully completing the Final Cut challenge.

Alternatively, if a board game is not your style or if you'd simply like to entertain party guests throughout the evening, you may choose the Party Play function on the Main Menu of the DVD. In this mode the DVD shuffles among a variety of scenes and challenges automatically so that you and your guests can enjoy one great clip or puzzler after the other all night long.

Yada-Yada-Yada!
The Scene It? Deluxe Seinfeld Edition DVD board game is a witty, entertaining game that is ingeniously designed to engage an entire room full of players. The versatile Flextime game board features brightly colored graphics and allows players to choose between a longer or shorter game. The cleverly designed metal game tokens are modeled after props made famous in some of Seinfeld's most beloved scenes.

The included DVD is full of hilarious clips and brain-busting trivia from all nine seasons of the witty television show. One of the best features of the Seinfeld DVD game is the Party Play option that allows fans and players to watch clips and answer brainteasers one after another on the DVD automatically without having to navigate with a remote control.

Connect the EyeClops to your television and explore things around you in detail. View larger.

The EyeClops lets you choose between 100x, 200x, and 400x magnification.View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Easy to set up and fun for the whole family; great way for kids to explore everyday objects The Bad: Takes a little practice to learn how to focus In a Nutshell: A fun and engaging educational toy with great educational potential At a Glance Ages: 6 and up Requires: 5 AA batteries, TV with video input jack

Magnify Your World
The hand-held EyeClops magnifying "eye" is made of brightly-colored, lightweight, durable plastic and features an ergonomically shaped handle that fits comfortably into small and large hands alike. To operate, simply insert five AA batteries into the "Brain Case," attach the video wire to your TV's video input jack, and turn on the power switch, and you're ready to go!

With the easy-to-hold magnifying lens in one hand, you can focus on any number of everyday objects, such as coins, fabric, your pet's fur and even your own hair and skin. The images will appear on your television, and a zoom dial offers either 100x, 200x or 400x magnification. The EyeClops comes with a focusing lens, a viewing dish and a tube to enable your child to explore a variety of everyday objects safely and easily.

Contagious Fun for the Whole Family
The excitement of seeing objects in your child's everyday world magnified to up to 400 times is contagious and sure to be a hit with whole family. With no software to upload and minimal set-up, the EyeClops can be put to use almost instantly.

The hand-held magnification "eye" is fun to hold and makes it easy for your child to explore their world. Viewing the magnified images on your TV screen in full, vivid color encourages your child to take learning into their own hands and provides numerous opportunities for parents and children to play fun and educational games together. And because the EyeClops is powered by five AA batteries, your child can enjoy several uninterrupted hours of exploration without the need for recharging or replacement.

Although the EyeClops is extremely easy to set up, it does take a little practice to make things come into focus. However, with the aid of the simple focusing gauge on the I.R.I.S. lens that surrounds the magnifying lens, this initial awkwardness is quickly overcome.

On the lowest setting the LEDs occasionally proved to be too bright for viewing lighter-colored objects, and these images could not be seen clearly on the TV screen. On the higher magnification settings, however, this did not seem to be a problem and textures and colors came through flawlessly.