List Price: $29.99
Official URL: http://www.crayola.com

This Art Station features five paint critters (ball shaped to fit young hands easily) with press-to-release washable paint. The critter rest in an egg-carton like station with a backdrop of a large sun. The station lights up and sings when you press a critter into the center “holder� and identifies the color as well. This toy is for kids 18 months and older. It is especially great for kids that like to draw and paint.

My daughter was immediately charmed, and bopped her head to the song as soon as we turned it on. It only offers two volume settings, one being horribly loud and the other being, well, at least it’s not horribly loud. However, my daughter had difficulty figuring out how to keep playing the music (she’s nearly a year older than the recommended starting age), and was frustrated that she couldn’t play the same song over and over. She loves it, though, and calls it “the show.�

The paint markers, however, presented a challenge. It took a long time to show her how to hold them properly, and she never did figure out the whole press-to-release-the-paint thing unless you count banging it over and over and splashing the paint everywhere. Good news, though: the paint really does wash off. I couldn’t tell if she was just too old for it, or if it was just a bit clumsy. My daughter does fine with traditional paintbrushes.

PACKAGING

It’s very attractively packaged in a partially open box-type thing. There are roughly eight million pieces of tape holding things closed, causing much shrieking from impatiently waiting toddler. Luckily, there were none of those annoying wire things holding it in. Just the tape.You will need to install 3AA batteries once you have everything opened, and installing the batteries requires a screwdriver so make sure you have that handy. Or better yet, just un-box it, install the batteries and wrap it ready to go.

OF-INTEREST

I think the musical element of this art station is actually pretty charming. I know it makes my daughter happy as could be.

BOTTOM LINE

I have to say that this is a reasonably priced, attractive gift that on first blush any parent would happy to receive for their kid. But the difficulty getting the paints to work and the loud music might make you lose friends if you buy it for them. I have to admit; I think it needlessly complicates the act of painting for toddlers. But the music wins kids over and the paints wash out well.