Pretend Play Reviews

Pops is into astronomy. Late at night you can find him in his attic, gazing through his telescope and dreaming of the day he'll discover a star he can name after his wife. Mom, or Meg, as her friends know her, finds astrology much more fulfilling, while Piers's obsession is rockets, and his sister Andromeda (of course) loves to study the constellations. The Calico Critters Petite Bear Family is a quartet of ursine astrophiles with posable limbs and cute little outfits that can be changed in the blink of an eye. Papa Patrick is all of 3 inches tall, with green overalls and a red gingham shirt. Mama wears a beribboned apron over a calico dress, while Andromeda sports a sundress and Piers a spiffy set of gingham shorts. These are bears designed with real kids in mind: they stand, they sit, they hold things, they pose, and they're durable. Their clothing has elastic, Velcro, and ribbon for easy dressing or undressing after a long night of stargazing, and there are plenty of accessories. We recommend them highly for kids who enjoy playing with tiny toys, for bear collectors, and for grandparents who want to have kid stuff on hand without having it take over the house. --Julie Ubben