Activities and Learning Reviews

The budding, serious astronomer will love this solar-system mobile that features actual NASA photographs. The planets, made of thick, high-quality card stock, are double-sided, highlighting each orb's individual colors and features. The accompanying 16-page guidebook is a great primer and includes some nice passages like, "Perhaps you will someday rocket from Earth to land on the moons, race the comets, or play tag with Saturn's rings." It's enough to make any mobile watcher and potential astronaut starry-eyed. --Keith Simanton

These two durable puzzles will help your child learn letters and numbers. Made of multilayered cardboard on a wood base, the frames for these two puzzles--in green and red, respectively--will last for some time. The letters and numbers are also made from the same multilayered cardboard and resist bending or other damage. With their bright colors, these puzzles are sure to please. (For ages 2 and older) --Heather Hawkins

As fascinating as any toy might be to an inquisitive baby or toddler, boredom is often just around the corner as the once-perfect item is tossed aside for something new. This entertaining activity center sports six sides to satisfy a young child''s inquisitive nature. Sides include a clock with turning hands and animal sound buttons, a mirror with three bears that pop up when buttons are pushed, a bear in a plane plus a whole to reach into, a mini bead roller coaster that keeps score on a numeric display as the beads are moved across, and three shaped blocks that can be inserted into the middle of the box. A fair warning to parents: this is a very loud item, even by the noisy standards of kids'' toys. Two AA batteries, but no earplugs, are included. --Charlie Williams