Chomp and Stomp Grimlock

December 1, 2014 by 2 Comments

Disclosure- We have received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and honest. For more info, see “I Disclose”.
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Transformers have been around for a while, actually they celebrated their 30th birthday in 2014. Originally, they were  released in 1984 as a toy line. In this time period, the “robots in disguise” have changed quite a bit.   Starting out as vehicles, mostly cars, then expanding into dinosaurs and animals that transform. The newest generation includes a simple transforming set of figures which go from robot to dinosaur/vehicle in one step. The biggest, literately, of these is Transformers: Age of Extinction Chomp and Stomp Grimlock who with a simple push or pull is able to swap forms. Grimlock also sports lights, sounds, and weapons that pop out. Grimlock is actually big enough where a Power Battler figure can ride on Grimlock and unlock a different set of lights and sounds, depending on weather the figure is one of the evil Decepticons or an Autobot. Included with Grimlock is an Optimus Prime figure- although he doesn’t transform, he is still fun to ride around on Grimlock with.
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Cricket Magazine – Ask (Just for Kids!)

November 28, 2014 by 4 Comments

Disclosure- I am a Cricket Media Ambassador, and received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest.  For more information, see “I Disclose”.

ask magazine

My son with this month’s magazine

Over the next few months, we will be featuring a line of Cricket Media magazines. For our second feature we will be featuring Cricket’s science and arts magazine Ask. This month’s feature is Ask, geared toward 7-10 year olds.

The key feature of Ask revolves around arts and science to keep curious minds interested. With either answering good questions about the environment and creatures around them of explaining some difficult concepts in terms kids can understand Ask tackles some fun topics like what do to if you see a bear and even has some experiments such as making a field journal and comic strips too.

easy reader magazineSome of Ask’s recurring sections include Marvin and Friends, which follow a case of characters who comment on the articles in the margins, Contests and Letters which is a section with contributions by readers, Scoops, Ask Jimmy and the Bug and many more.
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VTech Innotab Pixar Play and I-Spy

November 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment

gift guideWe’ve talked quite a bit about big-kid gaming recently- what about the little ones?  With the holidays coming up, we can’t leave anyone out.  Check out these new titles fro VTech, makers of innovative, fun, and educational games for children.

pixar playPixar Play

Pixar Play is one of the newest games for Vtech Innotab tablets for kids. The game has activites and game for kids aged 4 to 7 years old. The game features some of your favorite characters from Toy Story, to Finding Nemo, the Monsters of Monsters University and The Incredibles. All these and more in one game. Not only is this game of fun but also of learning. Kids will learn spelling while fighting Zurg, Learn new words with Nemo and read an e-book of The Incredibles. These are just a few of the many games and activities included in Pixar Play. The best part is with each game you collect coins and with each coin you can play the Spaceship Crane Game with which you collect toys to fill a shelf. If you collect all the toys a special mini game is unlocked.
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Toys From Burlington and a Giveaway

November 27, 2014 by 54 Comments

gift guideIt’s about that time of year- you know.  Shopping time. “The Holiday Season”.  Time to make the lists, check it twice, and make sure you deliver your child’s wish list in time for the big day.  One good place to check out is Burlington.  While you might think it’s just the best place to go to for coats and jackets for the whole family, they actually offer a lot more.

pic1Burlington offers style for everyone at up to 65% off department store prices every day. With three times as many gifts in store than in years past, there are plenty of great toys at the right price this holiday season for the children in your life, ranging from Frozen-themed toys to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures and more.
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Pokemon Art Academy

November 27, 2014 by 2 Comments

Pokemon is an ever evolving universe of characters. The most recent addition has the player take on the role of an artist going to the Pokemon Art Academy. As such the player learns how to use various methods and tools to make beautiful poke-art.

pic2

As a young artist enrolled in Pokemon Art Academy, players learn from Professor Andy to draw some of their favorite Pokemon. In lessons which get harder and harder progressing from simple shape design and coloring to shading and blending users go from basic drawing to full color shaded Pokemon in all their glory. The Pokemon come from all the known regions so your favorite is probably involved, Little Man loves drawing Pikachu and the little critter is there. There are also various tolls at your disposal as an artist from pencils to paint brushes the possibilities for the artwork is only held back by your child’s imagination. The lessons involved show step by step how to create wonderful works of art which can then be practiced in free mode which lets players draw anything they wish. The drawings themselves can be posted to the Miiverse.
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Belfry’s Christmas Gift – Children’s Book

November 26, 2014 by 2 Comments

If you are looking for a sweet book to add to your Christmas collection this year, Let me suggest “Belfry‘s Christmas Gift“, the second book in the ‘Tales of Little Overhill’ series. Written by Mike Joens, this adorable tale revolves around Belfry, a cute woodland animal who is trying to think of the perfect gift to give to Theo for Christmas.  Along the way, he comes across the village curmudgeon, who he tries to befriend.

According to my son (7 years old), he says that in the book, “it shows just because you look mean on the outside, doesn’t mean that you are really a bad guy.  And God loves you how you are, no matter what.”

Belfry’s Christmas Gift is a really great book for kids of all ages, to tell the true meaning of Christmas.  The book is also fun for them to hear, and the animals are always a good touch for children (what child doesn’t love animals?).  The book is beautifully illustrated by Len Simon, with the images and expressions just right for kids.  The animals are cute and cuddly (well, most of them!) and the scenery is pretty- we all know that we are visual creatures, and that the illustrations for kids especially are nearly as important as the story to keep them interested.  They will love both the pictures and the story here, and it’s available now in time for the holidays for just under $15.
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Mario Kart 7

November 24, 2014 by 2 Comments

And now, for a timely Mario Kart 7 review. Sure this review is taking place after Mario Kart 8, but something to keep in mind is that this is the 3DS’s Mario Kart, not the Wii U. So instead of huge races with tons of characters red shelling each other, you have tight turns and blood thirsty Princesses on your morning train ride.

20140919_171459Nintendo have made a new Mario Kart for every console and one of their most recent is Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS. This game sports more tracks, easy multiplayer over the internet, and a bunch of characters to zip around tracks with. As an avid Mario Kart fan, but not a very good racer, I thoroughly enjoy Mario Kart with every iteration. The fun, light hearted racing can go from item using fun at break neck speeds to nail biting close finishes in a matter of moments. Never in any series of games have I cursed so many times at so many cute characters.
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LeapTV – Learning With Video Games

November 23, 2014 by 8 Comments

Disclosure- I revived the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and honest.

LeapTV is the newest gaming console by LeapFrog. This console differs greatly from its bigger counter parts, Playstation 4 and Xbox One, in quite a few areas but most of all the LeapTv is geared toward little ones and learning. With fun characters and fun new ways to interact with them, learning is much less of a chore and much more a fun game time.

kids gaming systemLeapFrog have been making educational based games for years now and their most recent gaming console the LeapTV brings them a step further into the future. The console features three forms of input body motion, so that the kids can see themselves on TV moving around.  This is best for sports games where the user can block the soccer ball or kick a ball for examples. The second is turn, move, and twist the controller- this is much like other motion controllers, but it also includes twist capabilities which is perfect for puzzle solving or moving a character on the screen. The last way to input with the system is a classic controller, perfect for those who enjoy old school input, great for platforming games which have been classically played with a d0pad and buttons. An interesting fact about the controller is that the motion sensing and classic controller are the same controller, just in a different configuration.  Once your child is accustomed to using on controller they are used to both of them.
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