With the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker, kids get a fun, easy, no-hassle introduction to baking. This educational and creative toy not only teaches the very basics of cooking–such as measuring and mixing–but its cupcake decorating accessories encourage kids to experiment with their own personal touches. If you have a microwave oven and an adult handy to supervise the fun, kids ages 8 and up can get started baking and decorating in no time.

The Girl Gourmet Cupcake Make provides kids with a fun, easy, no-hassle introduction to baking. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Easy-to-use cupcake mixes bake in seconds; easy-to-follow directions make for easy mixing, baking, and decorating; cupcake mixes are gluten free. The Bad: Cupcake froster turns out less-than-perfect results; cupcakes’ taste aren’t quite “mom’s home-made” quality. In a Nutshell: Cupcake baking and decorating kids provides a fun, simple, quickly executed introduction to baking; inspires and encourages creativity. At a Glance Ages: 8 and up Requires: Microwave oven; adult supervision

Getting Started
The Cupcake Maker comes with four special cupcake mixes and frosting that are custom designed for use with this toy. The cake flavors include red velvet, chocolate, yellow, and cinnamon sugar; the frostings are chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cream cheese flavored. These easy-to-use mixes, which contain no wheat ingredients–a definite plus for the gluten-free crowd–and require only water as an added ingredient. (Allergy alert: the mix does contain powdered eggs and powdered milk.)

The toy comes with everything your child needs to mix, bake, and decorate the cupcakes: a tiny mixing bowl, measuring spoon, water dropper, and miniature spatula for mixing the batter and frosting; a microwaveable container for baking the cupcakes; and a cupcake frosting gadget with a shape reminiscent of a KitchenAid standing mixer. And everything your little chef needs to get started is packaged in chic, girl-pleasing, contemporary pastels.

Mix It Up
Simply mix the cake mix with water using the provided measuring spoons and water dropper to reach the desired consistency (we found that a pudding-like consistency gives the best results), pour the batter into the cupcake paper, and put it in the plastic “baking dish,” bake it in the microwave for about 30 seconds, and–voila!–out comes a completely baked cupcake. Because the cupcakes get pretty hot, an adult should handle them until they’re cool enough to handle.

In the meantime, the frosting can be mixed up in the same manner. Again, it took us a few tries to get the proper consistency: it’s especially important for the frosting to be, as suggested, the consistency of firm cookie dough to work properly with the cupcake froster.

Time to Decorate
The cupcake froster comes with a frosting tube with a plunger and decorator-type tip. Scoop the frosting into the tube with the miniature spatula and place it in the machine. (This step can prove almost impossible if the frosting is too runny.) Place the cooled cupcake below and push down the lever. The frosting machine simultaneously spins the cupcake and pushes out the frosting to create a spiral shape. Kids can put the finishing touches on with the included sprinkles or, as the “shortcut” cards suggest, with cut-up fruit or candy (you’ll want to stock up on these beforehand). The finished cupcake is smaller than a regular cupcake and a bit larger than your standard mini cupcake.

The Taste Test
The quick-and-easy baking and frosting mixes make for a fun and simple introduction to baking, especially for kids who haven’t already started growing their “kitchen legs.” Kid-sized cooking utensils makes it fun for kids to use, and are much easier to use than Mom and Dad’s larger and heavier utensils.

The cupcakes themselves cook quickly in the microwave, making for a fast turnaround that won’t try younger kids’ patience; but they also, to be honest, don’t quite have the taste as the home-made cup cakes that mom or grandma makes. But admittedly, this opinion is formed by an adult palate. For the kids that cook the cupcakes, they will be flavored with the sweetness of do-it-yourself pride.

Adults will need to make sure, however, that the kids don’t start out with aspirations to the Martha Stewart-like decorating job pictured on the box: after multiple tests, we found that the cupcake froster simply does not turn out perfectly dainty frosting spirals. This might prove disappointing, so kids should be prepared to expect more realistic, charmingly handmade results. And your kids will be sure to have a lot more fun and confidence with their own creative decorating jobs.

Add water to cake mix with the provided spoons and water dropper.

Pour the batter in the dish, microwave, and–voila!–a cupcake!

Place the cooled cupcake below and start frosting.

Keep it coming … you can never have too much frosting!

Cover the cupcake with sprinkles and its ready to eat!

What’s In the Box
Cupcake Froster, 4 cupcake mixes; 4 frosting mixes; two-sided measuring spoon; spatula; water dropper; mixing bowl; 4 cupcake papers; 4 “shortcut” cards; microwave baker; cupcake cup; sprinkles and sprinkle container.

Product Description

Gourmet girls can create their own trendy cakes with this bakes-in-30-seconds maker. The set comes with everything you’ll need to whip up four batches of cupcakes. Includes: cupcake maker, froster, microwave container with cupcake holder, four mixes, four frostings, four cupcake cups, sprinkles, bowl, measuring spoon, spatula, recipe cards and instruction sheet.

Allergy Warning: Contains milk, egg and soy Ingredients. Mixes are processed in a facility that also processes wheat ingredients.

FurReal Friends’ My Cuddlin Kitty Lulu is not your average toy cat. A great new friend for the little pet lovers in your home, Lulu features life-like qualities and five touch sensors will have your children amazed by how realistic she looks and acts. Designed for children ages four and up, Lulu is a neat toy for introducing your preschooler to pets and their care.

My Cuddlin Kitty Lulu Ages: 4+ Requires: 4 “C” batteries (included) Phillips screwdriver to replace batteries

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: The Good: A fun, realistic toy that teaches kids about being responsible pet owners. The Challenging: Lulu sheds occasionally (though not nearly as much as a real cat.) In a Nutshell: An interactive toy that feels like and mimics a real cat.

Interactive, Life-like Kitty
Lulu is the size of an actual cat, though her mechanical body is much lighter in weight, and she even sheds–thankfully not as much as a real cat, and you don’t ever have to worry about allergies.

Everything about Lulu is amazingly realistic. Her soft white fur and adorable sounds make it hard not to pet her–especially when she rolls over for a tummy rub or cleans her face with her paw. Lulu has five convenient touch sensors located on her head, back and stomach. It seems that Lulu may also be able to detect motion or sound–when you walk by without touching her she will purr and meow “hello” at you. (To keep this from happening you can easily turn her off.)

Adorable and Hard Not to Love
Though Lulu is designed for children, we can see how she would appeal to all age groups including adults–who wouldn’t love having a fuzzy realistic toy kitty to cuddle with? Lulu’s interactivity makes her a great addition to the family or as a first pet for your preschooler to care for. She even includes a brush for grooming and an adoption certificate that proclaims your child as her rightful owner. Once Lulu sits on your lap and purrs, you and your child will not be able to help falling for her.

As a small warning, since Lulu is electronic, she should only be used indoors and away from water or hot temperatures that could damage her mechanics.

What’s in the Box
Cat figure, a plastic comb, an adoption certificate, and four “C” batteries.

Lulu is so soft and life-like, you’ll never want to stop petting her. View larger.

Pet Lulu and hear her loving purrs for yourself! View larger.

Product Description

With various light and rotation settings, the Crayola Color Explosion Glow Dome brings drawings to life with the illusion of animation. A fun, new interactive way to draw, the clear Glow Dome and inside panel become see-through canvases for creating imaginative scene. Using colored glow markers, the dome lights up drawings when turned on. Designed for children ages six and up, this award-winning toy is fun for one, two, or even three friends to play with at a time.

Color Explosion Glow Dome Ages: 6+ Requires: 3 “AA” batteries (not included)

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Exciting new way to draw and experience your creations in glow-in-the-dark. The Challenging: Difficult to trace on globe. In a Nutshell: Glowing dome lights up and rotates your drawings.

Assembling the dome is easy, and you’ll be creating original glow-in-the-dark drawings in no time. View larger.

Illuminate the dome to see your drawings come to life! View larger.

Award-winning Design
Winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (OTP) Gold Seal Award, the Crayola Glow Dome isn’t your ordinary glow-in-the-dark toy. Kids create their own glowing creations, by drawing directly on the Glow Dome and center panel with the neon markers. With six brightly colored markers and two starter scenes to trace from — or just to get the creative juices going — there are endless possibilities for designing the dome. When done and ready, kids can turn out the lights in the room, and control the lights, speed, and rotation of their creations on the base of the dome.

Kids can trace or draw freehand with the neon markers onto both the durable plastic dome and the inside glow panel for a multicolored and multi layered glow-in-the-dark experience.

They can also change their display with different light and speed settings on the side of the dome. With a push of the spin-action button, the built-in motor rotates the dome at three separate speeds: slow, medium, or fast. Move the slider on the light feature to illuminate either the inner panel, the outer dome, both — or have the light flash back and forth between them. Kids will love experimenting with the controls and changing up the amazing effects on their works of art.

Easy as Draw, Glow, Spin!
For a toy with so much exciting possibility, it’s incredible how easy it is to begin playing with the Crayola Glow Dome. Once installing batteries, the glow dome base is ready to go with the addition of the inner panel and outer dome, which slide right into place. The only part that can be difficult is holding a starter scene to the inside of the dome while tracing it on the outside. It’s easier using the tracing sheets on the inside panel, which lays flat, and drawing freehand on the dome. Once the ideas are flowing, kids may no longer even need to trace to bring inspiring scenes to life.

Cleanup is also a cinch. The two drawing surfaces wipe clean with a little water and cloth or paper towel. When they’re all done, kids can tuck the markers away in two compartments on the glow base, making sure they don’t get lost.

What’s in the Box
Glow dome base, center panel, outer dome, 6 neon markers, and 2 starter scene tracing sheets.

Product Description

Product Description

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).

Product Description

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.