At 35 pounds, Kota weighs more than many of the younger kids who will jump on his back Christmas Day. At $299, the price is also hefty, although many retailers and Amazon.com are selling him for $199. Kota is a marvel of Playskool’s tough standards infused with motion and sound technology that brings “Jurassic Park” into your kids’ play area.

The friendly Kota will purr when you scratch its chin and belly, roar when spoken to, and moves its eyes and horns based on sound and touch. Kota also wags a mighty tail, turns its head, “eats” provided cloth leaves and plays several adventure songs. Its back is a sturdy saddle meant for bouncing, and the tough fabric resists wear and tear.

Our test 30-month-old was fascinated but wary of Kota; the manufacture’s suggested age of 3 to 5 years old is on the mark.

In a multiple-child household, Kota’s cost will be defrayed, making it a high-end but well-made and appealing gift.

Playskool’s other holiday offering is its Clipo connect and create line. The soft, pegged pieces, for ages 18 months and up, form multi-colored buildings, vehicles, just about anything Lego blocks will. Clipo buckets offer storage for after playtime. Our test kids loved the feel and ease of connecting the pieces, making the $20 buckets a safe investment.

— Michael S. Miller

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at 11:55 pm and is filed under Arts and Life.
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