April - 2019

The Independent Guide to Children's Media

Creativity for Kids Cuddly Kitten

Creativity for Kids Cuddly Kitten

(Faber-Castell $19.99) A craft kit for younger designers with an end-product for pretend play and to wear. The small pink kitten fits in a little velour bag with soft golden handles. Children must peel the backing on the golden stickers to decorate the bag and add wings, a golden hat, and jingle bell collar to the kitten. Can they do this all alone? No way. This is a fun and pretty quick adult and child project that involves some fine motor skills and choices. Once complete,

Mattel Barbie’s Ken with Laundry

Mattel Barbie’s Ken with Laundry

(Mattel $19.99) Yes, he can! Ken can wash his own clothes and maybe Barbie’s, too. That washing machine has a spin action and even a switch to set the wash cycle. Ken is wearing a fashion forward tye-dye shirt, denim-type shorts and flip flops, of course. His laundromat is a turquoise side loader designed with shelves for soaps, laundry basket, and folded towels. Ages: Older Preschoolers, Early School Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2019 Click here to purchase the pro

Mattel Barbie Travel Nikki Doll

Mattel Barbie Travel Nikki Doll

(Mattel $14.99) Featured on Netflix, Nikki is just one of a collection of Barbies that includes many characters from the Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures show. Of all them, this African American beauty stands out. She’s wearing a bright green sheath with flowers on the hem line and bright orange sneakers. Her hair is worn in two bunches, natural style. An all-around artistic type, she comes with a camera, paint box, paint brush, sippy cup and bag to carry everything. Also specia

Mattel Harry Potter Dolls

Mattel Harry Potter Dolls

(Mattel $19.99 each) Choose Harry in his Hogwarts uniform and a Gryffindor robe plus a personalized wand for casting spells and charms. Or, choose Harry in his very special Quidditch outfit, complete with red robe, striped sweater, Nimbus broomstick and Golden Snitch! These are Barbie size dolls and collectibles. Ages: Older Early School, Tweens Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2019 Click here to purchase the Harry Potter Quidditch doll from Amazon.com Click here to p

Mattel Harry Potter & Ginny Weasley Dolls

Mattel Harry Potter & Ginny Weasley Dolls

(Mattel $15 and up) Collectibles for readers and fans of the Harry Potter books. Ginny Weasley and Hermoine Granger are barbie size dolls dressed in their black pleated skirts with grey sweaters. They’ve got their magic wands and black wizard’s robes. Ages: Early School and Tweens Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2019 Click here to purchase the Ginny Weasley doll from Amazon.com Click here to purchase Hermoine Granger doll from Amazon.com

Barbie 60th Anniversary Doll

Barbie 60th Anniversary Doll

(Mattel $60.00) Imagine…she’s 60 and not a wrinkle! Maybe she’s doing Botox and not telling. In her strapless white ball gown that twinkles with silver glitter, she’s a collectible beauty that might be more for adult collectors than girls who want to have fun putting Barbie through her paces. We thought you’d like to know about her! She's available in both African American version and the original blonde Barbie, which she wouldn't have been 60 years ago. Ages: All Oppenheim T

Edushape Tub Sub

Edushape Tub Sub

(Edushape $9.99) Sink or float? This little tub toy can do both. Push the top of the rubbery blue sub down into the orange boat and it floats like a boat should. Pull the blue sub up and abra-ca-da-bra the sub takes on water and sinks down, down, down. It’s a cause and effect toy with early STEM learning, that’s way beyond the age group that will play with this, but it’s a place to start. Hands-on experiences like this are the underpinnings for such learning. Bring it home fo

Ditty Bird Nursery Learning Songs

Ditty Bird Nursery Learning Songs

(MeMa $16.99) One of a collection of board books. These have the added interest of having sounds on each page that can be activated with a little finger. The illustrations are bright and bold…not especially beautiful, but clear enough for knowing and naming or talking about. Ditty Bird Learning Songs features a number of familiar songs for young children. We think you and your child will like singing along as you turn the pages. The book includes: This Old Man; The Ants Go Ma

Ditty Bird Farm Animal Sound Book

Ditty Bird Farm Animal Sound Book

(MeMa Enterprises $16.99) One of a collection of board books with sounds from Down Under. These have the added interest of having sounds on each page that can be activated with a little finger. The illustrations are bright and bold…not especially beautiful, but clear enough for knowing and naming or talking about. This features familiar farm animals and a few words about the one that moos, baas or quacks on each page. Also fun, Ditty Bird Nursery Rhymes with six familiar rhym

Mattel Hot Wheels Mini Monster Trucks with Key

Mattel Hot Wheels Mini Monster Trucks with Key

(Mattel $2.97) Testers had fun with the first of the Mini Monster Truck collectibles. These would make great party favors or stocking stuffers. Each comes with a key that you insert and then squeeze to launch. Without batteries or any other tricks, the little trucks scoot across the floor. The mini poster in the box shows ten variations for the well-known condition — the “buy me, buy me syndrome.” Unlike some of the mystery collectible, where you can’t be sure if you already

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