Pretend Play Reviews

That marvelous mademoiselle with the magnetic personality--the star of books and her own movie--is presented here in a playset with 19 flat magnetic pieces and a folding, reversible diorama. Madeline is 5 inches tall and dressed in her undies (with that famous appendix scar just peeking out). She comes with an assortment of magnetic clothing (dresses, hats, a coat, and pajamas) and accessories, such as schoolbooks and an umbrella. Her dog, Genevieve, is included to accompany Madeline on adventures around Paris (or maybe just across the refrigerator door, as the magnets work on that surface, too). One side of the diorama shows Madeline's room in the hospital; the other shows the old house in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. All pieces store neatly in a sturdy see-through carrying case that's trimmed in mint-green striped fabric and tied with a pink bow. --Marcie Bovetz

You may have a little trouble leaping tall buildings like the real DC Comics superhero, but you can capture the style and look of the bullet-repelling crime fighter on Halloween with this full-body Superman costume. It includes a royal-blue-and-red jump suit with attached red boot tops, a shiny yellow belt, and a long red cape. Others will get the impression that the young superhero has been working out, as the costume's chest has faux muscle definition molded into it and the upper sleeve areas are filled with extra padding to accentuate biceps. The well-known Superman logo, in red and yellow, is centered above the pectorals. For children 5 to 7 years of age. --Pam Lauer