Hoagie's Toy Reviews

Nintendo Wii

2008-11-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

A friend of the family gave our daughter a Wii for her fourth birthday. It's a good gift, since we already had a GameCube, and the old GameCube games will play in the Wii. The first thing I did was go out and purchase another remote with nunchuk for two players.

Our Wii connects to our wireless router we use for our computers here at home. Many of the Wii games can connect online, and you can play head to head with folk all over the world. I like the WiFi games better than playing against the computer. The computer always kicks my butt, however when I am playing against other humans, I feel that the games are more fun.

Because the Wii is connected on line to the Nintendo Shopping Network, it's easy to download any old game you miss from past systems, NES, Nintendo 64, and so on. I also like the new Wii games that are download only. All done with a credit card number over the Wii. For as little as $5 you can have one of your old favorite games on your Wii. Nifty.

If my kid was older, I'd have other game systems, but for now she is too young for pretty much every game out there except a few, which I'll review separately. I love any game with Mario, Yoshi, or Kirby in it, so for young kids, Nintendo is the way to go.

So far the Wii has been very entertaining. Wii Fit, We Cheer, and Super Mario Galaxy are the big hits here. The Nintendo Wii does a lot more than I expected. The on line feature blows my mind. I downloaded the Internet Channel, and now my kid can surf some of her favorite on line sites, watch flash animation, right on TV via the Wii.

At first I was afraid that the Wii was a gimmick, but it turns out that it's innovation. When you attempt to ski for the first time using the Wii Fit, you too will be amazed. It's an amazing new way to play and game.

Today We Climb A Tree

2007-02-11T16:59:00.000-08:00

The best part of living in the Bay Area is that in between rainy days, we get really nice sunny days. Since my little 2 year old is bouncing off the walls, I thought it would be good to get outside. We have a small plum tree in our back yard that has a perfect place for Chia to sit. She loves to be way up in the tree, and I stand there in case she needs me. Sometimes I have to keep her from climbing too high out of my grasp. She's just so enthusiastic.

When I was her age I too used to spend time in my grandfather's plum tree. My cat Itchy and I would spend many hours just lounging in the comfortable spots that plum trees offer. The only difference is that I never got to do it in the middle of February, as I grew up in Maine, not California. To be out here today, enjoying the sun is very special. The rest of the country is shivering in sub zero weather.

Mom, Chia, and I often talk of moving somewhere else. Back east so that Chia can experience the four seasons, have a white Christmas, things like that. I instantly imagine winding winds of 15 below zero ripping across my face with sleet and snow everywhere, and I go, oh goodness me! I miss life on the east coast, but it's not easy. California is so cushy, warm, and mellow.

The only problem is that every day feels pretty much the same. I really don't feel any holiday spirit out here in CA, compared with holidays back east. The colored leaves in the fall, chilled air of Halloween, and a white Christmas really add to the celebration. Now that I have a kid, it's these kinds of things I want to share with her. Right now, we live 2 blocks from a giant mall.

What kind of memories do I want her to have? Running through grassy fields playing with kids, cats, dogs, swimming, boating and camping, or trips to Walgreen's, Trader Joe's, and Target? I think it's time to pack up all these toys, and move somewhere with more country life around us. A little family adventure, I think.

Then I sit back in the warm California sun and realize how insane it is to sit here enjoying the sun, and think about moving to a cold place. What to do?

Favorite Seuss Book

2007-02-08T21:50:00.000-08:00

This is the first book baby Chia asked for over and over. Mommy is real good about reading to Chia every night before bed. It's a great way to wind down and spend time together. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish was baby Chia's first favorite book, and night after night I could hear Mommy reading it over and over.

We have tons of classic kid's books, as well as all the classic Seuss books, but for some reason this is the book that stood out to Chia. We do not have a fish tank, there are no fish in our lives, but later on Finding Nemo was her favorite movie, so I guess the kid likes fish. I'm fine with fish. In fact, I'm gonna turn her on to The Amazing Mr. Limpit pretty soon. Another great fish tale. You remember, it's the movie where Don Knotts becomes a cartoon fish... yeah, that movie. It's great, but I'm getting off track. I'm talking about my kid's favorite Seuss book.

I think everyone that has kids needs every book ever made by Ted Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss. I know a dude with tattoos of the fish from the cover of this book. I thought they were some of the coolest tattoos I've ever seen. Suess Fish Rule!!! I have no idea why this is the single book little Chia decided to like most, but it's one of my favorite books too, so what the heck. If you don't have it, go out on a Seuss binge and get a whole lot just to cheer up the other books on your shelf.

Godzilla Toys by Bandai

2007-02-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

My whole life I have been a big fan of Godzilla. Anytime you give me a guy in a big rubber monster suit trashing a paper city, I'm THERE. I can't get enough, and there is no explaining it either. Just the way it is.

Later on in life eBay turned me on to all the great Godzilla toys from Japan as well as all the other legendary Toho monsters. Eight to twelve inch vinyl action figures, hand painted, and way cool. Over time I have collected my favorite characters and they protect my science fiction DVDs up on the living room shelf. One day little Chia asked to play with Mothra and the little Peanut Sisters, so I let her.

The toys are great because they are soft hollow vinyl toys. They are tough toys, and she has never pulled one apart. Most of the Godzilla movies are rated G and have main characters that are kids. In Japan young kids are the target audience for Godzilla movies. All the movies with Mothra in them are great for kids. Godzilla vs Megalon has the kid who's robot toy grows big into Jet Jaguar, who helps Godzilla fight Megalon and Gigan. Totally insane monster fun.

I like having collectible toys, that my daughter and I can play with, and they are not the kind of toys that sit high on a shelf untouched out of fear of breaking it. The Bandai Godzilla toys are not cheap. Delivery from Japan is not cheap. They cost more than just about any other toy in the whole place, yet because I find that they are indistructable, and safe for my kid to play with, it's so much fun to play a Godzilla movie, and play with the toys at the same time.

Rocking Moose

2007-02-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

I have a thing for classic toys. This red rocking moose by Ikea has all the elements of a classic toy. First off it's made of wood. There is no midi music going "boing boing wucka wucka wucka" over and over until you are insane. It's not a commercial character, so you don't have to get the breakfast cereal or watch the Saturday morning cartoon. It's a rocking horse in the shape of a moose.

Chia loves to rock back and forth on this thing. She can really give it her all, as the rubber stops seem to keep her from tipping over. The only trouble she's ever gotten into is if she walks up to it with bare feet and rocks it back and forth, she has rocked it onto a toe, but only once. Now she watches her feet around the thing. If there are more than one child present, be sure they don't rock over each other's toes.

The moose is really affordable. You bring it home and put it together easy. It would make a great gift, being that it's so unusual, festive, and... well, it's a big red moose! I mean, beat that. It looks great just sitting there. If you are lucky enough to have an Ikea near you, be sure to check out the kid's department for all the great goodies Ikea has.

Land Of The Lost

2007-02-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas little Chia's grandma, or "La-La" as she's called, gave her a little portable DVD player. The device has a battery, and can hold a charge for three or four hours. I think La-La intended us to use the DVD player in the car during long road trips (to visit her). However, watching cartoons or movies in a dark moving car gives Daddy the biggest case of motion sickness he's ever had, so the DVD player stays at home.

Chia has a little table she likes to keep her DVD player, and she has a few favorite DVDs that seem to spin over and over in this device. Right now her favorite is Land Of The Lost by Sid & Marty Krofft. The complete series in now available in a DVD box set. Baby Chia loves that the little girl, Holly, is the main character, and has to brave so many adventures, like dinosaurs, her fear of heights, and the dreaded Sleestak. We sit together enjoying each adventure, talking about what is going on in each scene.

Land Of The Lost gets rather scary, so it may not be for all kids. Parents, if you are freaked out by a giant T-Rex chasing young people, dark caves filled with evil Sleestak creatures, and bizarre sci-fi plot twists, then this DVD collection may not be for you. When I was a kid, Land Of The Lost was my favorite Saturday morning show, so to sit back and enjoy watching Will, Holly, and Cha-Ka survive their day to day lives is great fun for me. Chia has even learned several Pakuni words, since Cha-Ka speaks the first language ever created for science fiction, throughout the series.

Land Of The Lost hits so many different targets, such as, kids love dinosaurs. They also like to watch other kids. To see these kids triumph again and again over dinosaurs and monsters is such a thrill. The other day our family was at a play space that had a big dark tunnel to crawl through. Chia and I explored the tunnel, and she turned to me and whispered in the dark, "Shhhh! Sleestak Daddy, Sleestak!".

Plasma Car Races

2007-02-02T21:37:00.000-08:00

It's winter, and Chia and I get a little stir crazy. We have a couple little scooters we race around on here in our large living room. Chia rides a Radio Flyer Racer, and I have a Plasma Car. The two of us can chase one another around the table. Chia pushing her little scooter with her feet, and I using the amazing motion of the Plasma Car to cruise around our wood floor.

If you have never seen a Plasma Car you have got to check it out. It goes forward when one moves the steering wheel from side to side in a rhythmic motion. It's a lot like the trucks on a roller skate, the side to side motion propels the Plasma Car forward. You sorta just go from side to side and the Plasma Car goes on it's own. The thing holds like 200 pounds, so any one that would want to ride it can. Clowns use these to come out on stage, so it's not just for kids.

It's so much fun for me to join in when she scoots around the house. Check out the Plasma Car, as it's one of the coolest toys a kid (or parent) can ride. If you have a large indoor wood floor, it's a must have for fun. Chia is 2 and can work the Plasma Car, because she has seen me ride it so often, but I think it's rated 3 and up. The ten year olds enjoy it too, so pretty much everyone that has sat down on our Plasma Car wanted one.

Those Dam Troll Dolls

2007-01-29T17:27:00.000-08:00

Baby Chia loves the little 3" troll dolls made by DAM. I grew up in the 70's with these little critters with long bright colored hair. Everyone had one. There is one overlooking the produce department at the local organic grocery store where we shop. Little Chia calls it 'The Boy with the Orange Hair'. It keeps her occupied while mother shops.

For Christmas I got her a boy with the orange hair for her stocking, and it was her favorite toy of the day. As I found more, I have slowly procured all primary and secondary colored trolls. We now use them as a color and counting tool. We set them up and count the trolls, and I say things like, hand me the boy with the green hair, and Chia has to find the troll doll with green hair.

Back in the 70's I don't remember the small troll dolls having clothing, but they now have a shirt/skirt and a little message bag that matches the color of their hair. Each bag has a good luck saying tucked inside. Great toys if you can find them. I found my 3 inch Messenger Troll dolls at: Walgreens, online toy shops, and eBay. I'm still missing black, white, brown, light pink, light blue (I have turquoise), mustard, and rainbow...

I took the box a printer came in and made a doll house for the trolls. I just cut out windows, and glued in floors. Baby Chia painted and glued things to the outside. We even made a troll doll swing. The cardboard doll house is fun because we can change it, cut it, glue to it, paint it any time we want. It's an on going project. We found magazines and cut out all of our favorite characters. We glued them to cardboard squares and made little pictures to hang inside the troll house. Momma was knitting nearby as we played, and made us a few little blankets so the trolls could cuddle up on cold evenings. These little troll dolls have been a great source for fun.

Greatest Toy Ever by Step2

2007-01-23T00:49:00.000-08:00

I got Baby Chia a really nice art desk made by Step2. We've spent the last two weeks playing, and rolling around inside the giant cardboard box it came in. And it reminded me that giant cardboard boxes were the greatest toy ever. Hands down there is nothing better than a really big cardboard box for creative play.

I remember when I was a kid, if someone's folks got a new refrigerator or other large appliance, the box was so exciting. We used to cut small holes and wedge a flashlight in the top for an inside light. We could play tunnel, fort, submarine... endless possibilities.

It's amusing that no matter how great the new desk is, the box upstages it by about a million to one. I mean, I really love this art desk by Step2. If you don't know about their products, their catalogs of plastic play structures are amazing. I don't know who has room for some of the stuff they sell. They make those plastic houses kids can play in that you see at playgrounds. Most of the stuff they sell is way too big for our house, but it's fun stuff.

One great toy that we got from Step2 is their assortment of plastic food. It's intended to be sold along with their play kitchen set, but on it's own, it's been one of the most played with items. Kids love to pretend to prepare food. We keep a low cupboard in the kitchen full of her Step2 plastic food, and our little chef can play while mom cooks. Most importantly the plastic food keeps Baby Chia out of mom's hair.

So there you go, a great company that makes over the top play surroundings has provided us with a giant box to play in. The box is all rounded off from being rolled around in, back and forth across the living room floor. Over and over we roll, laughing harder than I remember. I wonder, can one purchase a large cardboard box at any toy store? I bet they'd sell.

Brio Train Wood Railroad Set

2007-01-21T23:50:00.000-08:00

Baby Chia and I have been collecting the Brio Trains that are so popular with all the kids. The wood track keeps kids busy, just building and creating tracks over and over. I like to sit on the floor and help her set up a working track. We have several train cars that I got cheap in a lot sale on eBay and I purchased a battery operated engine at the local toy shop.

The Brio Trains can be rather expensive, so it's great to get it on eBay. My gripes with the product is the over branding with Thomas Train. I cannot find a battery operated engine that is NOT a Thomas Train engine with the face on front. I want a classic choo-choo locomotive engine. Black or red would be nice, but all I can find is Thomas or Percy. I just don't like those guys.

Brio Trains get real addictive too. They can be quite dangerous to your pocketbook, because you may enjoy sitting on the floor building and adding cars to the train as it travels around your track. Soon you'll want bridges, tunnels, castles...

Baby Chia loves the little people that ride in the cars. She plays with the little boys, girls, animals, and the Curious George that came with the circus set. She tries to get them into their cars as the train passes by. Great fun.

Wood toys can be rather heavy, so you might want to buy your first set at a local toy shop, then later decide what you want, and get it used for cheap on eBay. Brio products are well built, so often the second hand Brio trains and tracks are in great shape. Make sure and get a big box to keep all the track and train cars in. It adds up fast with birthdays and holidays, so make sure it's a big box with room to spare.