Melissa and Doug Maggie Leigh Magnetic Dress-Up

Product Features

• Contains over 20 colorful, magnetic-backed pieces
• Comes with a wooden stand
• Develops motor skills, creativity, and matching skills
• For ages 3 and above
• Recommended Age Range 3 Years and up

Special Offers and Product Promotions

• Save $5 when you spend $25 and pay with Bill Me Later®. Offer valid Sept 1, 2008 - Sept 30, 2008. Offer limited to items sold by Amazon.com. Subject to credit approval. One per customer. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.1 x 8.2 x 11.8 inches ; 1.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000F9IV8Y
• Item model number: 3552
• Our Recommended Age: 36 months - 6 years
• Manufacturer Recommended Age: 36 months - 6 years

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
Help Maggie Leigh pick out an attractive outfit with these mix-n'-match magnetic pieces! She stands a big 8 tall and comes with a colorful collection of 27 magnetic-backed wooden pants; shoes; skirts; dresses and more; to wear whatever combination you choose! Includes a brightly painted storage box to neatly store the doll; stand and all the clothing pieces.

Product Description
Help Maggie Leigh pick out a cute outfit with these colorful mix-n-match magnetic pieces. Maggie stands about 8" tall and comes with a colorful collection of 27 magnetic-backed wooden pants, shoes, skirts, dresses and more, to wear in whichever combinations you choose. Includes a brightly painted storage box to neatly store the doll, stand and all the clothing pieces.

Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful: Ideal for young ages, October 30, 2006 By S/E Lenz "edenza" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews If your little one isn't quite ready for paper dolls or fashion dolls, magnetic dolls like this one can be a lot of fun. I have fun playing with my daughter with this doll. She has several mix & match options (shirts, skirts, pants, dresses, shoes). She also comes with a stand. The pieces are easy for my three year old to hold. She also enjoys sorting the pieces, matching the shoes, etc. It is very easy for her to dress the doll (unlike a Barbie, for example) and once dressed, she plays with the doll. The set also stores all of the pieces with a durable clear plastic lid. You can store it on-end, like a book, and not worry about losing the pieces or the set opening. There are other skin tone available for this doll. The clothes are slightly different but the poses are the same so you can interchange the pieces. I think my daughter's getting another of these dolls very soon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Maggie Leigh Magnetic Dress-Up, January 11, 2007

By	J. Riniker (Sellersville, PA United States) - See all my reviews

My 3 year old granddaughter loves this. She has other Mleissa & Doug magnetic dolls which she loves, too. She spends a lot of time playing with them. The quality is great and they are easy to take along to play with. Wish they had these when I was a child instead of the flimsy paper dolls I used to play with

Bananagrams Game

Bananagrams Game

Product Features

• Fun and fast word game
• Requires no pencil, paper or board
• Banana-shaped bag holds all pieces for easy travel
• 144 letter tiles
• For 2 ? 8 players

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 2.5 x 2 inches ; 13.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000OH6JYU
• Item model number: R3-F633-82DP
• Our Recommended Age: 7 - 99 years
• Manufacturer Recommended Age: 7 - 99 years
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13 in Toys & Games

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that requires no pencil, paper or board. All you need is a table. One hand can be played in as little as five minutes. It is a great for family fun as well as being educational. Bananagrams portability makes it perfect for travel. Just grab the pouch and go.

Product Description
Calling all word lovers! Play this award-winning word game anytime, anywhere.

• Fun and fast word game
• Requires no pencil, paper or board
• Banana-shaped bag holds all pieces for easy travel
• 144 letter tiles
• Engaging for all ages
• For 2 – 8 players

Keep this game handy to engage kids while waiting in restaurants, to entertain family and friends after dinner, or anytime you want a quick and quick-witted challenge.

Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful: fast, portable fun for anyone who can spell, September 8, 2007 By CristyW (Texas) - See all my reviews Durability: Fun: Educational: Do you like Scrabble but get hung up trying to use those special point squares, are bummed when someone "steals your spot", or dragged down by Debbie Dictionary ("just let me look up this one word") or Slow Joe (who takes 20 minutes for each turn)? Well you would love Bananagrams, because it solves those problems. There are no special squares (or squares at all), no points on the letters (all are worth the same) and no time to dawdle. You are instead rewarded for speed and flexibility in making your own crossword. You can completely pull apart your crossword and start from scratch if you need to or just swap out a letter here and there, but don't get caught with a bunch of spare letters when an opponent goes out! It is exciting and challenging to play this game with adults, but it can be fun to include the kids. You can easily adapt the rules to suit yourself. We "handicap" the adults by drawing two tiles for every one the kids draw. You can play solitaire or have several players. A similar game that I also love is Learning Resources' "Take Four". If you are the type who would prefer to have a grid to keep those tiles straight, or likes to have a few "jokers" thrown in, you might prefer this. But Banagrams is far more portable and much cheaper. I like both of these games so much (as well as the spelling card games Quiddler, My Word, and Tri-Virsity) that the old Scrabble board is gathering dust.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Perfect stocking stuffer, November 27, 2007

By	Mother Hen - See all my reviews

Durability: Fun: Educational:

I have nothing to add to all the exemplary praises of the other reviews, but did want to say that this game arrives in its zipped banana pouch carrier, with no bulky box or packaging. It's the size of a fat banana, and would fit neatly into a Christmas stocking.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

we play every day, May 27, 2008

By	Toller Girl (Boston, USA) - See all my reviews

Durability: Fun: Educational:

I was shopping for a Christmas gift for my niece last December, and came across all of these rave reviews for Bananagrams. So I bought one for us 50/60-somethings instead (she'll get one this year.) It lives on the kitchen table and we play a few games almost every morning before we go to work. GREAT GAME!!!!! No waiting around for your turn, no angst trying to achieve the triple-word-value square, no getting stuck with hopeless letters turn after turn, no arguments, no dictionary - just pure love of and fun with words. It's complete flexible and you can easily change the rules, for example if you are playing with a novice or child, or just for a change (try playing into and building onto your opponent's pattern.) It definitely gets tossed into my travel bag from now on.

Melissa and Doug Beginner Pattern Blocks

First step to practice your little boys or girls....

Special Offers and Product Promotions

• Save $5 when you spend $25 and pay with Bill Me Later®. Offer valid Sept 1, 2008 - Sept 30, 2008. Offer limited to items sold by Amazon.com. Subject to credit approval. One per customer. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
Features 10 brightly painted wooden patterns of familiar childhood objects and 30 colorful shape pieces to replicate the fun pictures. Great for early development of colors; shapes and matching skills. A tremendous value and a great learning set!

Product Description
This set features 10 brightly-painted wooden patterns and 30 colorful shape pieces to replicate the fun pictures. They're perfect for early development of colors, shapes and matching skills. These puzzles are a tremendous value and a great learning set! Contains one each: fish, dog, butterfly, flowers, bird, and fire engine.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.6 x 10.5 x 10.7 inches ; 4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00005O63Q
• Item model number: 528
• Our Recommended Age: 24 months - 5 years
• Manufacturer Recommended Age: 24 months - 5 years

Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful: Wonderful For 2's, December 12, 2005 By Anonymous (USA) - See all my reviews This is a brightly-colored, sturdy pattern block set. I would give this set to a child between 20 months and 3 years. My 22-month old just loves it. As soon as he saw it (hidden away, intended as a Christmas gift) he kept at me to open it. I finally gave in, and I am so glad that I did. He is at the perfect developmental level for this toy! He tries to match up the shapes and colors, and is even starting to name the shapes on his own. This is such an exciting age! I like how the solid wooden boards are double-sided and VERY sturdy. There are more than enough pieces to go around- even if a few are lost over the years. A few of the pictures arrived with some scratching, but I think this is more annoying for me than it is for my child. Don't forget that these patterning blocks can also be used independantly of the boards. This enables your child to come up with more challenging creations as she or he developes greater skill in this area. 17 of 18 people found the following review helpful: One of our favorites!, January 27, 2006 By Madison and Nathan's Mom (North Carolina) - See all my reviews Our two children (12 months and 23 months) just love this set. The boards and pieces are very sturdy. We like that the boards are two sided. Good variety and amount of shapes. This is a classic toy that will last for years- we see it as one that we will keep even after our children have grown out of it- great to keep around for visiting kids.

Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube

Two-year-olds like to be independent!they are surer of themselves and of what they can do as they grow
A great deal of time is spent exploring, pushing, pulling, filling, dumping, and touching.
easily frustrated, You will need to teach children how to express affection appropriately.
They needs considerable time to change activities.
Provide spaces where toddlers can spend time alone.
An old cardboard box or doug wooden works great.


Mleissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube

Manufacturer Recommended Age: 24 months - 6 years

From the Manufacturer
The ultimate shape sorter! Features 12 chunky, vibrantly colored shapes that make a satisfying `clink¿ as they drop into the natural finished hardwood cube! Then open the lid, take them out, and start all over again!

Product Description
Challenge little minds with the ultimate shape sorter! Bright and cheerful, it features 16 chunky, vibrant shapes that make a satisfying "clink" as they drop into the hardwood cube. Then open the lid, take them out, and start all over again.

Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful: Challenging Shape Sorter, Great Toy, Manage the Frustration!, January 23, 2004 By Colorado reader & parent (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews Durability: Fun: Educational: My 22 month old daughter plays with this toy, but there are 2 major sources of frustration. 1) The lid doesn't stay on well - whenever you try to put a shape into the side with the lid, the lid flips over. An older child could probably figure out that you have to hold the lid (or just drop the shape neatly into the hole without touching the lid) - but a younger toddler just isn't going to get that. It is very frustrating. Other people have pointed it out as well - perhaps the designers will respond in version 2. It's needlessly frustrating. 2) Some of the shapes are very similar /complicated - it is frustrating for a young toddler. BUT!!!! my daughter is slightly younger than the recommended age, and, it is a learning toy - it isn't supposed to be immediately easy. Just know that for younger toddlers, you should play with them and help them select the right hole. A bit of guided play is called for while they are learning and it will increase fun/decrease frustration. My daughter has learned some of the shapes on her own, and is getting 'closer' on some of the others, but I frequently play with her and talk to her about the shapes and help her find where they go. All in all, it is a good toy. We have several Melissa & Doug toys, and have been pleased with them all. They are safe, high quality, and nice looking. And you can never have too many small, brightly colored pieces of wood underfoot. :)

All About Different Children's Wooden Block Types

All About Different Children's Wooden Block Types

by Garrett Politis

There are so many choices when looking for children's wooden blocks. However, when you really begin to look, they really can be divided into three types. These three types are: Kindergarten Blocks, Tabletop Blocks, and ABC Blocks.


Unit Blocks


This is the type of wooden block that people think of when you say “wooden blocks.” These blocks are found in most day-cares and kindergartens and are also known as Kindergarten blocks (or kindergarden blocks for those who are spelling impaired like I am). These block sets are standardized to a certain size. No matter who manufactures the blocks, they should work together. The unit block is always 1 3/8″ x 2 3/4″ x 5 1/2″. As you can see, all of these dimensions are proportional so stacking them will always work as long as you have the proper number of blocks in there. Each of the other block shapes is built off of the unit block. For example the double unit block is 1 3/8″ x 2 3/4″ x 11″. There are about 30 different standard shapes that are available in unit blocks. Most sets do not have all of the shapes.


Table Top Blocks


Table top blocks have no standard sizes or shapes. The only thing that is the same with these blocks is that they are smaller than the unit blocks. Some are exactly 1/2 unit block size. Most aren't. There are no standard shapes, and they generally don't fit with different manufacturer’s sets. However, they can be an awful lot of fun as some of the shapes can be pretty unique!


ABC Wooden Blocks


Like the table top blocks, A-B-C Wooden Blocks are not standard. They come in all sizes, wood types, and styles. A common type are carved and painted in primary colors, others have their pictures silkscreened or painted on. Some of the older or more classic sets are real works of art. Things that all of these sets do have in common is they are ususally cubes, they will have the letters a-z, and often have numbers and pictures on them.


No matter which type of wooden blocks you choose for your child, they are sure to learn and grow while playing and having fun!




Garrett Politis is the co-owner of Heirloom Wooden Toys where you can buy wooden unit blocks and other wooden blocks After years of playing blocks with his four children, and helping guide many of his customer in their block buying decisions, has he has written a blog ABCWoodenBlocks.com to assist people in making more informed decisions when buying their children wooden blocks.

Article Source: http://www.myaddirectory.com

Mleissa and Doug Band in a Box

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
What a value! Whopping 10 piece set is chock-full of favorites guaranteed to bring hours of musical joy; all conveniently packed in a sturdy wooden storage case!

Product Description
Little musicians can form a traveling band with this compact wooden music set. Featuring ten fun musical pieces, this quality kit is the perfect way to introduce youngsters to musical play. Pieces include a colorfully designed pair of maracas, hand cymbals, tambourine, triangle and two other wooden noisemakers. Every piece fits conveniently into a sturdy wooden storage case, making clean up a piece of cake.

92 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

Good Quality Fun, October 3, 2002

By	Melanie Andersen (Daly City, California United States) - See all my reviews

Durability: Fun: Educational:

These instruments are durable and of good quality. I don't worry about my kids banging on them as hard as they want. They make beautiful music. The kids have so much fun playing with them. They are real instruments, not plastic imitations that don't sound quite right. This was a purchase I don't regret.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

For younger children with supervision!, January 20, 2005

By	KSL "emma-and-me" (Seminole, Fl United States) - See all my reviews

My daughter got this for her 1st birthday last year and these musical instruments are well made. I don't let my daughter play unattended with the triangle and it's metal stick in fear she might run with it, but other than that this is a nice set. My brother's son did break the Spanish shaker by hitting too hard . So, if you get this as a gift just watch your child, as you'd do with other toys and you shouldn't have any major problems.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Fun Toy!, August 18, 2007

By	History_of_Art_Geek (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

Durability: Fun: Educational:

It's funny how kids gravitate to one item, and the cymbals always seem to lure visiting children. The cymbals are nice and small, and they easily fit in little hands, but we found the wood handles twisted, and turned a little more then my son likes. I guess the loose feeling gave him a weird sensation when banging them together, so he doesn't play with them much. It's strange to me that the most enjoyable instrument for my son is the wooden clacker, which is the loudest instrument in the box. He's hypersensitive to loud sounds, yet he bangs that instrument for minutes at a time. He also enjoys the maracas, but instead of shaking them like intended, he bangs them together. The banging makes a loud crashing sound, as well as a shaky bean sound. The problem with this is that he's banged them like that for so long, the seams on one of the maracas have split, and I've had to glue it together. The glue holds it well, but I'm afraid it will meet its demise sooner than later.

I'm fond of the tambourine myself, so when William decides to put on a concert he shakes it a few times, and then hands it to me. The tone block and mallet is second in line to the clacker for William. He bangs the two together, and then bangs the mallet and the clacker together, and so on.

Our only concern with this set was the metal striker that accompanies the triangle. My husband snagged it soon after it came into our house because he could see it was an accident waiting to happen. We just didn't feel comfortable having a 3-year old walking around the house with a 6" piece of steel. In addition, the storage box didn't really work for us either. William pinched his finger when closing the lid, which didn't hurt him; it only scared him. We eventually relegated the box to my husband storage shed, and placed his instruments in a bin, which worked much better for us.

Overall, the Band in a Box has been an enjoyable toy. The instruments are very durable, especially for the price, and although we've had some issues with the maracas, I can't hold Melissa & Doug responsible for my son's rough play.

Mleissa and Doug Wooden

Product Features

• Mleissa and Doug wooden birthday cake
• Slices and toppings for every party guest
• Features decorative box kids love and serving spatula
• Strawberries, jellybeans, and gumdrops easily fasten to the top
• 33-piece set, includes 6-slice cake, serving plate, 19 toppings, 7 candles, wooden spatula, and storage box.

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

You are invited to Mleissa and Doug's birthday party! Let the fun begin with this playful birthday cake. It has enough slices and toppings for every party guest the whole family can join in the fun. Now kids ages three to five can throw birthday parties year round.

A Wish Come True
This simple wooden toy fosters creative play and is a wonderful addition to imaginary kitchens everywhere. Use the wooden spatula to serve the cake and the fake candles to make a wish. This toy will make an excellent birthday gift for future bakers.

The cake itself is painted white with blue icing swirls and has seven removable candles that fasten to the top. Three delectable toppings -- strawberries, jellybeans, and gumdrops -- can be added to the top and the cake comes in a decorative box kids love. This delicious dessert is already cut into slices that fasten together with Velcro and easily pull apart. It also has a bright red serving platter and each of the six pieces is about the size of a real piece of cake. Also, as a well-made and durable wooden toy, it withstands child play and the paint won't easily chip off, even if it is accidentally dropped. Storing all the pieces may be a challenge, but a party box is included to contain the candles and decorations.

Features
This birthday cake is a hit for those who like to help out in the kitchen. Children love redecorating and serving it using the wooden spatula. Unlike many of today's modern toys, it encourages creativity, as children get to design their own cake and parties. It amuses future hosts and hostesses for hours and is an exceptional value as a 33-piece set. This cake remains child's favorite for years and includes enough candles to celebrate a lot of birthdays. The cake has a 10-1/2-inch diameter.

What's in the Box
Includes 6-slice cake, serving plate, 19 toppings, 7 candles, wooden spatula and storage box.

Product Description
It's a wish come true! This uniquely playful wooden birthday cake has enough slices and toppings for every "party guest" and enough candles to last for years! Includes wooden spatula and convenient storage box.


Customer Reviews

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

Sweet Confection Falls Just Short Of Perfection, November 4, 2003

By	Melissa Fisanich (Clarksburg, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

Durability: Fun: Educational:

In general I applaud the Melissa & Doug company for its dedication to simple, classic, durable wooden toys that are genuinely educational in that they invite imaginative play rather than recite facts to a passive child at the push of a button. The birthday cake toy is no exception. Since my daughter received this toy for her third birthday, we have baked and decorated dozens of cakes in her play kitchen, and thrown birthday parties for each family member, as well as all the dolls and all the stuffed animals.
However, I can't help feeling that this toy could have been a bit better. Basically it consists of a red wooden serving platter, and a cake comprised of six sections that velcro together to form a circle. Each piece is quite large -- almost as big as a real slice of cake. The set includes a cake server that can be used to cut the slices apart, which provides that satisfying velcro-ripping sound. The cake is painted white with blue icing swirls, and has velcro spots in concentric circles on top for the decorations. The decorations are painted on wooden discs that velcro to the top of the cake. The set comes with seven candles that can be velcroed to the top as well. There are only three different decorations -- strawberries, jellybeans, and gumdrops. I would have included icing flowers, so that the cake could be decorated like a "real" cake that a child might have for his or her birthday. Also, I would have made the candle flames detachable so that the candles could be "lit" and "blown out" by the child. Also, it is very difficult to cut out and serve the first piece of cake, as it tends to refasten itself to the pieces adjacent to it before it can be lifted out and served.
Still, this is a neat toy and a good addition to a child's imaginary kitchen. Two months after our daughter's birthday, she still plays with this toy quite regularly. It's constructed so durably that I'm sure my grandchildren will be playing with it, too!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Great For the Future Baker, June 6, 2006

By	Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

What you get is a large wooden cake, wooden candles, decorations, a cake server and a wooden storage box with a clear sliding top. The cake is already been cut into slices that cold together through the wonder of velcro. The top of the cake also has lots of spots of velcro. The wooden candles can be stuck on this way. There are also cake decorations in the form of jelly beans, strawberries and a central birthday decoration. These are painted wooden disks backed with velcro.

My daughter loves this toy (having first played with the pizza version at a friends house). I can not count how many times she has changed decorations and served me a piece of cake. All of the velcro works well and does not peel off. The candles can sometimes lean a little but I have heard no complaints. Although the pieces have been kicked around my hardwood floors countless times none of the paint has chipped. The only drawback is trying to use the cake cutter to remove the first piece. Velcro loves to grab and it is not always easy to get two spots on opposite sides to release at the same time if using the server. My daughter was not put off by this.

All in all this is a well-made and durable toy. It is sure to be fun for any child who likes to help out in the kitchen. Remember that due to small pieces this is not appropriate for children with a tendency to put things in their mouths.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful: Great quality learning toy that will last generations!, May 4, 2005 By KSL "emma-and-me" (Seminole, Fl United States) - See all my reviews When you find food type items for your child they are either plastic or tiny paper packages that are damaged with mimimal play, not so with Melissa & Dog wooden toys! And it's only through play do our children learn about things they will do when they grow up. The birthday cake is a huge hit in our home with our 28 month old daughter and I assume will only continue as she grows! Whats nice is that your child can create their very own cake creations. The Happy birthay round piece comes off so you can celebrate any reason to bake a cake and they even thought of adding lite birthday candles as well. There are jelly bean, strawberries and gum drops to decorate their cake creation. The cake is divided into pie shaped wedges and would also be perfect for discussing fractions later on down the road. Everything is held together with a nice sturdy velrco. A red plate and also cake cutter are also included and everything fits nicely into the wooden box and has a platic top that easily slides on and off for older children. This is a toy that will last though out the years and is definately worth every penny!