My son (age 5) got this from his grandparents for Christmas and it has been terrific fun for all of us. The first set of ten caterpillars grew visibly day-by-day, then pupated and emerged as butterflies in a few weeks. There is a lot of great information about painted lady and other butterfly species online and having this project got my son very interested in how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly so soon I found myself showing him multi-colored pictures of imaginal discs (the larval structures that produce the butterfly wing, leg etc. during metamorphosis) online at websites I found–a great way to get him interested in developmental biology. The first time we talked about this he decided they were actually “magical discs”, given what these groups of cells can do…the whole process has been very entertaining for the whole family…. It is also really fun to have butterflies flitting around and caterpillars growing in the pavilion in the kitchen when it is gray and wintery outside.

How to raise more than one generation of critters inside:
Since we sent our coupon for larvae out immediately after Christmas, we had butterflies dancing around the pavilion and mating in February when there were no plants outside to collect for the next generation of caterpillars to eat. Anticipating this, I ordered a mallow plant and some additional larval food from Carolina Biological Supply Company at about the time when our caterpillars turned into chrysalises: there is an online store and the stuff to get is the L918 culture medium (144040). This will feed about 80 larvae. (Unfortunately the Insect Lore company, which makes the Pavilion, only sells caterpillar food in small quantities along with additional larvae, which we certainly didn’t need).

How to do it: We set the mallow plant in the pavilion and the butterflies laid their eggs on the leaves where we could watch them darken and emerge as very tiny 1mm long new caterpillars. After 4-5 days of watching the caterpillars eat the mallow plant (making little tracks on the leaves) we prepared them new homes in caterpillar media. To do this, you can use either the original plastic containers that the first generation larvae are shipped in (clean them out and dish wash them) or use another small clear-sided plastic or glass jar with a lid. Clean the containers well (I wiped the inside with a paper towel with isopropyl alcohol on it after dishwashing to kill bacteria, which will contaminate the food and make the larvae sick). The food will come in two plastic containers (nearly full). One of these can be frozen for subsequent generations. Transfer the contents of one container to a covered microwaveable container and heat on medium in the microwave (swirling every 10-30 seconds to mix and avoid overheating) until it is a solution. Pour media into the bottoms of the larvae containers to a depth of about a quarter inch (this will make 4-5 new containers). If there is a lot of condensation on the sides after the media has hardened, you can wipe this away with a paper towel–I did this, but then again alcohol-wiped the inside solid surfaces and lid above the media. Cover the containers loosely (leave the lid slightly ajar) and put them somewhere to dry. I laid a clean paper towel over the collection of covered jars to keep dust/dirt from drifting in given the activity level of the children here. After a couple days of drying, these were ready for larvae. If necessary (ie., if not using the previously shipped containers) make very, very small air holes in the lid. Then use a toothpick or matchstick to collect each 2-4 mm long larva off of the mallow plant leaves and tap to drop them into the new container. Put a clean paper towel over the top of the container (under the lid) and re-cap the jar–now the paper will serve as a scaffold for new chrysalises to hang from and will allow air in while preventing the tiny caterpillars from escaping. Try to be relatively aseptic about this.

It appears that we’re going to get about 20-30 new caterpillars from the first generation, which I should be able to accommodate with the larvae cups made above…hopefully by the time we’ve run out of this food and been through a couple more generations it will be summer and warm enough to release all of the butterflies we have outside. The pavilion is well made and sturdy enough that it should accommodate many other projects involving insects. All in all, we’ve been entirely pleased with this–a great gift that’s had my son on the phone describing his butterflies’ recent development to grandma and grandpa several times!

One more tip: the adult butterflies seem to become upended on the floor of the pavillion at times while they are flapping around and have trouble gaining traction to right themselves on the slick nylon surface. This shortened the lives of several of ours until I saw it happening and put some packing material (like easter straw) in there for them to stand on.

First of all let’s just clear something up about all these negative reviews: as for popping off parts, in the instructions it SAYS that parts are made to pop off during transformation so that if YOU the user was forcing it too much, it will pop off (and can be easily popped back on) instead of snapping and breaking off (like if you were to force an older gen Transformers figure). Its a feature to save kids from breaking their brand new favorite Bumblebee people. Try reading the instructions.

Admitedly, yes, several of the new movie Transformers have some of the most insane Transformations I have ever seen in a Transformer. I think its impressive and wowed me. It was a lot more like the way they move about in the films. Gone are the days of flip the calves/feet down, pop out the arms, rotate torso, flip up head DONE. And there is a very good reason for that: creating a FAR SUPERIOR robot mode. The robot modes are so impressive in these new Transformers its insane and this Bumblebee is TOTALLY my favorite. He’s extremely close to be the spitting image of his on screen self. Amazing head sculpt with perfect detailing, even his chest plate folds down in the center like its supposed to on film (which its not flipped down all the way in package, just FYI). I love this figure to death. Its one of my favorite Transformers ever, and I’ve been messing with these things since Bumblebee was just a little Bug with articulated arms and a flip up head that couldn’t turn and a hologram logo on his chest/roof. This figure is amazing. Period. The kid in me that loves robots and cars is happy in both modes. The adult in me that can respect sculpting, articulation and engineering is even more wowwed. Don’t listen to these haters. If you love Transformers, want the best Bumblebee ever made, and can READ SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS properly, then do not pass up this amazing toy!

I’ve read that a lot of people have had problems with this figure. The only problem that is reaccurring with me are the shoulder pieces during transformation from robot to car mode. They like to pop off frequently, but nothing a little superglue couldn’t fix. This is still the same Bumblebee layout from the first movie’s line, only with added features. The figure, in addition to the new sculpt in car mode, has a new movie acurrate head sculpt as well. Also, this figure comes with an updated arm cannon that when in robot mode, flips out allowing you to insert the fire missle for the shooting gimmic. Other than that, not much new about this one. This figure’s arm cannon can be removed and actually needs to be in order to transform into car mode. The instructions show that when in car mode, the cannon with the missle inserted can be stored into the empty space under the car. Overall a much nicer presentation than the previous movie line, with a few flaws, not enough to take it down any. The transformation is the same as the previous movie Bumblebee. There is also a Shoulder Cannon Bumblebee, with similar car and robot mode, in this new movie’s toy line. I’ve seen the transformation for that one and it is complicated and drastically different compared to the other one. Highly recommend getting this one though.

I bought this easel as part of the classroom I set up for my preschooler. I love the adjustable size, durability and ease of use. My only complaint was the chalkboard. Though I followed the priming instructions diligently, I found that even the good chalk scratched the board and did not write well. Melissa and Doug did reply immediately to my concern and were willing to do whatever necessary to correct the problem. On a whim, I decided to try some chalkboard paint instead. It now writes beautifully, and I love the black chalkboard, rather than the green it came as. It is perfect.

Inspire your young Picasso with the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel. This easel will fuel your child’s imaginative side and gives them the freedom to create with an extra-large chalkboard, dry-erase board, and easy-load paper roller. Your budding artist will be inspired by free-form expression and spend hours drawing, painting, sketching, and doodling. It is also an excellent educational item and children love playing school with the chalkboard side. This work station is ideal for kids ages four through 10 and has an adjustable height to accommodate the little ones as they grow.

A Great Alternative to Professional Easels
Just like a professional easel, this work station is generously sized so that children can complete projects both big and small. Its durable wood construction ensures that it won’t tip and it folds up easily for convenient storage. The easel also has a sturdy paint tray with cup holders for easy use and clean-up, and another tool tray that holds erasers, chalks, and clips. Four large, colorful clips are included with this easel. Paper rolls can be loaded effortlessly into the holder and a paper cutting edge at the top delivers clean cuts and leaves your artist’s work whole. Parents may have to assist removing and loading the paper, as it can be difficult for kids to do on their own. (The paper rolls and paint cups are not included.) A standing easel is essential for any young artist. This large easel has a chalkboard, dry erase board, and paper roller to let the children express themselves with different mediums. It also has an adjustable height that grows with the creator and delivers years of use. The brightly colored tool containers are capacious enough to hold lots of different items and are simple for tiny fingers to utilize. This toy will unleash the little artist inside every child and could spark a lifelong interest in fine art.

What’s in the Box
Easel, paint tray, chalk tray, 4 colorful clips, and paper roller.

This large easel has a chalkboard and dry erase board, letting children express themselves with different mediums.

Product Description
There’s no better way to inspire your artist! Generously sized chalk board and dry erase boards are perfect for projects large and small. Easel folds ups easily for convenient storage and features a colorful paint tray with cup holders. Has an easy loading paper roll holder and an extra large tray for holding erasers, chalk and clips. Paper cutting edge at top of easel means clean paper cuts for your artist’s work! 4 large clips included. Easy load paper and paint cups not included.

My daughter can’t even stand yet and she loves this toy. I usually pull her bumbo seat up to it or hold her sitting or standing while she pounds away. This toy is advised for older babies but she has been using it since 4 mos. She is now 6 mos and still can’t operate all of the gadgets by herself but she sure does love to try.

Provide a world of learning and musical fun for your child with the LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table. Designed for children ages six months to three years, this innovative toy is chock full of learning and musical activities designed to provide visual and auditory stimulation and motor skill development, as well as opportunities to learn about colors, the alphabet, and opposites for older children — and much more.

The toy is full of learning and musical activities designed to provide visual and auditory stimulation.

This plastic-molded table sits flat on the floor for babies to play at while sitting. View larger.

Grows with your Child
The sturdy, plastic-molded, brightly colored table sits flat on the floor for babies to play at while sitting. You can attach the table’s legs to adjust it to accommodate toddlers’ play while standing. And it offers plenty of activities at different levels of learning to keep your child entertained for these early developmental years. Your child will delight in spinning the maraca to hear a fun rendition of the ABC song; playing the colored piano keys to practice motor skills and learn about colors; moving the trombone’s slide to count to 10; and sliding the cello to learn about up and down. Kids can tap on the colorful drum and learn about colors and primary shapes, too. Then, by flipping the pages of the “book” to go from the Learning Mode to the Music Mode, kids can hear more than 40 songs and melodies, including nursery rhymes and fun individual instrument sounds that will have them singing and dancing.

Plenty to Do, Lots to Learn
With all of these activities, your child will exercise his or her memory and problem-solving skills with lots of things to push, pull, turn, open, and close. And with the flip of a switch, the songs and games switch from English to Spanish, offering a great introduction to foreign-language learning. The Learn & Groove Musical Table requires some assembly and needs 3 AA batteries for operation. Batteries are not included.

What’s in the Box
1 LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table.

Product Description
It’s a learning fiesta for your little one. This interactive, bilingual activity table engages and entertains your baby for hours. There are songs, melodies, twinkling lights and real instrument sounds, plus lots of things to spin, roll, slide, open and close. The table plays over 40 songs and melodies so your baby stays entertained while exploring. When babies turn the center page, the activity table switches modes and transforms musical discoveries into learning activities where each instrument plays a learning song. The Learn and Groove Musical Table also helps your child develop the motor skills needed for learning to stand. Contoured grips make “pulling up” a piece of cake. As babies learn to stand, their little hands can stay busy with reaching, grabbing and pulling. Measures 23″ x 5.5″ x 15.5″. Requires 3 “AA” batteries (not included).

CHOKING HAZARD — Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

What a pairing! One of the best transformers of all time in the form of one of the best jets of all time! The top of the jet is amazing!
For those of you with limited shelf space, Jetfire is about 18″ in jet mode (which is my favorite mode). The highest difficulty rating on the box is no joke, it took awhile for me to transform him. I would point out that it wasn’t hard to figure out how to transform him, but the already transformed pieces would keep disconnecting, causing me to go back and repeat steps over again(the five general segments that make up the realistic top of the SR-71 were the main culprits).
I have yet to purchase Leader Optimus Prime, so cannot comment on the combination of the two, but the instructions make it look fairly simple from Jetfire’s vehicle mode. I’m a huge Jetfire fan from the G1 days, and although I’m not fond of the engineering of this figure(the robot parts are too obvious under the jet, and the jet parts are too bulky in robot mode), it is worth owning. And besides, making him perfect would translate to making him more expensive. I definitely recommend him, and also recommend watching a review or two on [...]or something to see how he transforms in real life.

JETFIRE grew tired of war a long time ago. The reckless ambition of the DECEPTICONS, and the senseless violence of their war sickened him, and so he left CYBERTRON to go into hiding. The form he eventually chose on Earth seemed appropriate for one who wished to remain unseen. He slumbered in peace for years. Now, reawakened by the arrival of the war on Earth, he decides once again to enter the fight – this time on the side of the AUTOBOTS, and this time to end it for good, whatever the cost. Prepare for battle with this AUTOBOT warrior by your side! In robot mode, this mighty ally features electronic speech and light-up eyes and chest that are sure to discourage enemy attackers! This good guy is ready to take on DECEPTICON forces once and for all! In SR-71 Blackbird jet mode, get in gear with combat and cool conversion sounds that let you know this hero means business! MECH ALIVE gearing reveals moving armor panels and internal gears that let you recreate some of your favorite movie scenes – or create your own! Team up with this awesome ally and roll out!

We are avid players of Settlers (and love it), but this newest addition has some flaws that make us wish we would have bought the 3rd addition. We have had the game for about 8 months, and the interlocking border (instead of the regular hexagon pieces in the 3rd addition) have never fit right. It takes three people to get everything into place, and even then the border warps and the pieces pop out. They interlock like a puzzle piece, and they are starting to wear out, so we have finally given up on getting everything together correctly. If you were worried about the 3rd addition getting bumped and jumbled, you simply had to set up the game on a tablecloth or piece of fabric. This newer addition is impossible to setup correctly, especially as it ages.

Also note you cannot use your old expansion packs with the newer addition, as the pieces are different. You now have to pay for all the newer versions of the expansion packs, how convenient.

We still love this game and will play it regularly, it just seems the “advancements” were not tested or well planned. It is also bothersome that they made the newer additions incompatible with the old expansions, you can easily spend $150 on this game and the expansions, and you would expect that investment to last… it is a board game after all!

The Settlers of Catan from Mayfair Games is an award-winning strategy game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements and cities on their way to victory. The board itself is variable, making each game a little different from the next. Each round of The Settlers of Catan is intended to keep three or four players ages 10 and above engaged for up to 90 minutes.

The game map changes every time for an endless variety of play. View larger.

Settlers of Catan engages both children and adults, garnering best-seller status in both Germany and the US. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Engaging strategy game that’s different each time you play The Bad: Requires three or four players In a Nutshell: The Settlers of Catan is fun, easy to learn, and keeps advanced players on their toes At a Glance Ages: 10 and up Requires: Three or four players

On the Road to Settlement
The game rules and almanac booklet sets out four pages of guidelines for getting started. Don’t worry, the rules are straightforward and the four pages include plenty of illustrations. There’s a starting map that shows a well-balanced set-up for beginners to follow and directions that allow more advanced players to lay out the map of the island at random. You’ll have to pop the die-cut components of the game out of their cardboard holders before you play your first game.

The almanac portion of the booklet is laid out alphabetically, so while playing you can find answers to specific questions quickly. Useful entries remind you exactly what role pieces like the robber play, how actions like maritime trade work, and how to set up the board or finish the game.

Exploring and Developing Catan
The board consists of 19 terrain hexes surrounded by the ocean. Each type of terrain produces a different type of resource: brick, wool, ore, grain or lumber. There’s also a desert hex that produces no resources. As the game progresses, players use resources to build roads along the edges of these hexes and settlements or cities on the intersections where three hexes meet. Each player begins the game with two settlements and two roads.

Each player’s roll of the dice causes certain hexes to produce resources, which you collect if you have a settlement on one of them. On your turn, you’ll use various combinations of the resources you’ve acquired to build new roads and settlements, upgrade settlements to cities, or purchase development cards. The ability to trade resources with other players adds a new level of strategy and ensures that the game includes lots of interaction between players. You can also trade without worrying about other players using an unfavorable maritime trade rate. Elements including a robber piece that lets you steal from other players and a variety of development cards add intrigue to the game.

The objective of The Settlers of Catan is to be the first one who collects 10 victory points. Each settlement is worth one victory point and each city is worth two victory points. You can also earn victory points by holding the “Longest Road” card, the “Largest Army” card, or special victory point development cards.

Best-Selling Game of the Year
It’s easy to see why The Settlers of Catan has been recognized as a best-selling Game of the Year in both Germany and the U. S. We found this game to be fun and engaging for both children and adults, and the variable nature of the playing field really made us want to play again and again. When we started pausing to contemplate our opponents’ strategy and factoring the probability of different dice rolls into our moves, the game sometimes took longer than expected, but we were so engrossed we didn’t even notice until it was all over.

Due to the widespread popularity of the original game, several expansion sets (sold separately) are available that allow you to explore new aspects of the game or add more players. The only downside to this game is that you need to have either three or four players to play, so it’s great that expansion sets are available that will allow you to add players.

What’s in the Box
Six sea frame pieces, 19 terrain hexes, nine harbor pieces, 18 circular number tokens, 126 game cards, 16 cities, 20 settlements, 60 roads, two dice, a robber and a rules and almanac booklet.

Product Description
One of the most successful games of all time, Settlers of Catan is a trading and building game set in the mythical world of Catan. Players roll dice to determine which resources are generated each round and then must strategically trade those resources with other players to get what they need to build their settlements, cities, and roads. With multiple ways to gain victory points and a board that changes in every play, Settlers of Catan is a game that can be played hundreds of different ways. The base of a hugely successful franchise, with multiple engaging expansions, Settlers is the core game of many collections, and is a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends. For 3 to 4 players.