Pretend Play Reviews

Create-A-Scene's Magnetic Dinosaurs features all your Jurassic favorites in 13 punch-out pieces. Brontosaur and Tyrannosaurus rex can battle for control of the colorful magnetic board with its volcanoes and cliffs. The built-in handle and plastic slipcase make this toy perfect for the junior paleontologist on the go. Other sets in the Create-A-Scene series include Magnetic Ocean Adventure, Magnetic Railroad, and Magnetic Knights and Dragons. The magnetic board itself is approximately 12 inches by 6 inches. --Marc Calhoun

Here's a fun lacing project with a great payoff--brightly colored felt hand puppets. Winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio's Gold Seal Award, this kit helps children develop better hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity. It also provides nice opportunities for artistic expression and creative play. The kit comes with six 9-inch precut felt shapes, lacing yarn, and six large plastic needles, each ball-tipped for safety. Once children finish lacing, they can use felt remnants (also included) to add faces, clothes, and other decorations to their puppets. They can also use whatever decorating supplies you might have on hand, such as glitter, sequins, pasta pieces, beads, or extra yarn. This is a great project for individuals or groups. You'll need your own white craft glue. And if you're planning a puppet show with the finished products, be sure to allow several hours for the glue to dry. --Joan DeClaire

Puppets nurture the imagination, inspire creativity, develop interactive play and expand language. This reviewer has found them to be excellent tools for teaching foreign languages--children will comfortably experiment when manipulating a puppet, but not when simply talking to a friend. As children mature, they are able to use puppets in a more sophisticated manner that will help them last a good long time.

The interesting fact sheet that Folkmanis always includes with their puppets tells us that this Ladybug puppet (winner of a Parents' Choice Award) is one of 5,000 species of ladybugs worldwide. Ladybug is red, as she should be to warn predators. Her fleecy soft body is filled with firm foam. Manipulate her on her underside with a black velveteen glove (cleverly designed with two thumbs for both left- and right-handed puppeteers) that serves as her legs. This is a simple, well-made puppet worthy of its award. --Sandy Hirsch

Few toys are more majestic than this charcoal-gray plush elephant. Bonus: this gentle giant is also a puppet. He boasts an extendable trunk, protruding horns, wrinkled eyes, and soft, floppy ears. With his velvety body and big belly, he's the perfect pachyderm for puppet shows, naptime, or cozying up with to read a book. This unforgettable elephant stands 17 inches tall from head to hoof. --Melissa Wilson