Howdy friends of Mastermind,

So we have a video channel on YouTube and we have a lot of fun here at the office making all kinds of toy videos. We use a lot of these videos on our website store to help explain the great products that we carry, and since we started the program we've also been putting the videos on our own Mastermind Toys YouTube channel as well. The Youtube channel is awesome... it's like a video search engine and all sorts of different people find our videos and comment on them. Most of the comments are really nice, as many of our viewers are very generous with their praise of our videos (we definitely aren't professionals, but like I said, we have a lot of fun.)

Some of the comments we get, however, are pretty funny when you think about them.
Our Thomas the Train video has been one of our most popular videos of all time, since there's a lot of Thomas the Tank Engine fans out there. And the video has gotten quite a few comments too, like:

"I would love to go to that store:)"... a very nice comment. Or...

"I WANT ALL OF THAT STUFF"... also a nice comment... if not a bit more forceful. Does all-caps mean you're yelling? Or...

"isn't he a bit old for playing with Thomas LOL"... referring to our video host Steve, who is DEFINITELY not too old to play with Thomas. Fact: Thomas the Train is great for ages 2 - 102 (forget it 103 year olds, you are out of luck.)

Now, these people were pretty nice. The Internet is also home to people with all sorts of opinions, however, some of which are a bit weirder. Take these Thomas the Tank comments:

"OMG Neville!"...was Neville the train in the video? Did he startle you?

Or this comment, definitely up for the 'weirdest on our YouTube Channel' award...

"lol this guy has fails" ... Toy Buyin' Ryan likes to think he is on top of the lingo, but 'having fails' is still new to him. Well, you can't please everyone all the time.

Anyways be sure to check out this video it's still one of our favourites, and you'll see all of these comments and more (I promise I didn't make them up, I don't have fails like that.) And check out our YouTube Channel too to see all of our videos!

-- Toy Buyin' Ryan

Ryan said it best in his post on the Gift Guide -- it's hard to pick just 25 toys, it's like choosing between your own children -- But in this case, it had to be done. We've made our list, and so, without further ado, here it is, in descending order by price:

1. Thomas Track Rider ($399.95) Ages 1½+
All Aboard for the only battery-operated Thomas Ride on Track Train! This awesome, easy drive train features push buttons, start-up train sounds, music and real working light. The train comes with a full circle of 8-feet track, and as an added bonus with every purchase, Mastermind will include 4 complimentary pieces of straight track.




2. Giant Submarine/Giant Rocketship Playscape ($149.95), Ages 3+
Exclusive to Mastermind, these fabulous wooden sets are three or more levels high, open on all sides and packed with figures and gear to play with. They have at least eight different rooms and a working elevator (it’s even better than a dollhouse)! Two styles are available: Giant Submarine or Rocketship.






3. Take ‘N Go Driving School RC Car Set ($99.95), Ages 3+
Open the case, snap together the puzzle-piece race track, grab your controller, and race away! This set comes with two wireless controllers and cars that really change lanes!






4. City Lights Day/Night Globe ($99.95), Ages 8+
By day this is a mild-mannered 12.5” geopolitical globe with the latest, up-to-date configurations, but turn off the lights and this globe uses an optical sensor to detect the light and illuminate the city lights of the world to make it seem like you’re viewing the Earth from space!



5. Space Symphony Motion Gym ($79.95), Ages Birth +
This combination mat and gym offers music and motion to sooth your baby. The arches are covered with interesting space-themed toys, and they gently rotate to keep your little one alert and interested.

6. Sit to Stand Train ($79.95), Ages 12 months +
An educational activity toy/ride-on toy! The Sit to Stand Train is a covered in letter and number activities with fun sounds and songs. It’s also a ride on toy for little ones, complete with a caboose for holding the activity pieces!





7. Snap Circuits Green: Alternative Energy Kit ($69.95), Ages 8+
This new Snap Circuits kit has 130 easy-to-build electronic projects that demonstrate the latest innovations in alternative energy. Sources of energy explored in the kit include hydro, wind, solar chemical and mechanical - a great and safe way to plant the green seed in young minds.

8. Zero Gravity Laser Car ($49.95) Ages 8+
The coolest RC toy you’ve ever seen! This zero gravity vacuum car runs on the floor… and up the wall! What’s more, you control it by pointing a laser to the wall, so that the car follows the dot!



9. My Singing Birthday Cake ($39.95), Ages 1+
It’s Birthday fun 365 days a year! This cool and colourful cake has candles that light up when touched by the magic wand. Hear the birthday song play, make your wish, and blow out the candles! Cut the cake with the child-safe knife and share the squeezable slices with your family and friends. It’s likely the only cake you have ever had that is machine washable!


10. Sort and Spin Blender (39.95), Ages 1+
Here is a new spin on shape-sorting toys that is packed with early learning fun. Sort the five brightly coloured shapes into the blender, press the button to watch them spin round and round, fast or slow while you sing along to the fun melodies and songs.

11. Standup Sing Along Microphone ($39.95), Ages 3+
American Idol wannabees can get ready to rock with this cool pink microphone! It comes with an adjustable stand, disco lights, volume control and cool sound effects.

12. Wahoo Puppy Bouncer ($29.95), Ages 5+
This big bouncy puppy is perfect for ride-on, play-on, huggable fun. Wahoo is a durable, inflatable dog-shaped toy that kids can sit on, bounce on, toss around and enjoy. A great toy that promotes balance and coordination.

13. Sun Jar ($39.95), Ages 6+
Jam jars store jam and Sun Jars store sunshine. This simple light may glow yellow but it is actually very “green”! The mason jar contains a solar cell that collects and stores sunshine and charges during the day. When darkness falls, the powerful LED light gives off a warm glow; providing you with your own solar-powered nightlight! Available in three colours.

14. Project Runway Design Projector Kit ($35.95), Ages 8+
Mini Project Runway wannabees, and Heidi Klum fans, can now be on their way to becoming a fashion designer! Use the projector to project different styles onto the page that you can trace; mix and match your designs to invent your own fashion sensations!





15. Kreecher Pillow ($29.95), Ages 3+
New from Manhattan Toy! Kreecher pillows are weird, wacky and uniquely-designed pillows that add pizzazz to any playroom. These funky pillows come in three styles.


16. Text and Learn Messenger ($29.95), Ages 3+
A great idea for the CEO-in-training. Little ones love to imitate their parents, and now they can have their very own PDA toy! The Text and Learn messenger is an electronic learning game from Leap Frog that looks just like a Blackberry; little ones can play games and manage their busy calendar!

17. Make Your Own Cupcake Soap ($29.95), Ages 5+
Your bathtub never smelled so sweet! This yummy cupcake craft kit has everything that you need to make your own cute-as-a-button cupcake-themed soaps.


18. Pop Up Scrap Book ($29.95), Ages 7+
Why make a regular scrapbook? Add a new dimension with this kit and make your own
scrapbook come alive with pop up memories

19. 39 Clues Board Game ($29.95), Ages 8+
Race around the world gathering keys by solving clues, decoding messages and tripping up the competition! Based on the new smash-hit series of books!

20. WobBally Game, ($24.95) Ages 5+
This topsy-turvy game is fun for the whole family. Use the special stacking toy to build your tower of marbles and platforms… and then roll the die to see which colour ball you have to pop out of the tower! But be careful… this tower shakes, rattles and rolls!

21. Gobblet Gobblers ($24.95), Ages 5+
Gobble up some fun with a new twist on Tic-Tac-Toe for little ones! Place your gobblers on the board to try and make three in a row… but remember that the larger gobblers can gobble the little ones! A cute, colouful and challenging game.


22. Straws and Connectors 400pc Deluxe Set ($24.95), Ages 5+
A Mastermind Exclusive Set! This Jumbo kit comes with tons of straws and connectors pieces which can be used to make anything you can imagine! The simple pieces go together quickly to make huge models!




23. Spiffy Spa Set, ($24.95), Ages 8+
Treat your feet with the Spiffy Spa Set. It comes with everything you need for a soothing pedicure… including decorate-your-own slippers!

24. Shrinky Dinks Holiday Set ($19.95) Ages 7+
This kit comes with everything you need to make 30 different holiday-themed, shrinky-dinks ornaments, and your very own mini silver Christmas tree!




25. Rubik’s 360 Brain Puzzle ($17.95), Ages 8+
The Rubik’s Cube has a new spin with the latest and greatest iteration from the master of puzzles! The object is to move the coloured balls to their correct pods on the outside of the toy, but the challenge is maneuvering them through the weighted spheres! A Brainiac favorite!

--Cathy the Toy Mom

What is it about the Thomas the Tank Engine collection that we find so appealing? Young or old, Thomas is one of those rare toys that can hold a child's (or adult's) attention for hours. When my boys were young (3-5 years old), Thomas was the toy of choice -- on or off the tracks. I would design new track models for the boys and they would run their trains around the tracks tooting their train whistles and imitating Gordon or Henry's voices. It would keep them occupied in a fairly quiet way for hours, and I could get dinner made uninterrupted.

A bit of history: Thomas and his friends, accessories and rail sets were the savvy result of one company noticing the popularity of a set of children's stories written by Reverend Awdry. The Reverend Awdry wrote the first three stories to entertain his three year old son who was recovering from the measles. (If I had a nickel for every author who wrote a bestseller just to entertain an ill child....!) His wife convinced him to send them off to a publisher, and after several rejections, one publisher asked him to write a fourth story to get Henry out of the bricked up tunnel. The stories were published, and the rest, as they say, is history. If you're interested in learning more about Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends, there are several fan sites to go through, the most popular of which seems to be Sodor Island -- A Fan Site.

The popularity of the Thomas stories led to radio and TV shows, which my kids watched faithfully for years. The show got my attention when I recognized the narrator's voice one time -- it was the unmistakable Liverpuddlian lilt that gave it away. "Is that Ringo Starr's voice?" I asked to my 3 and 4 year olds. "No, it's Sir Topham Hatt -- don't you know anything mom?" my oldest replied. Well, I think I know a Beatle's voice when I hear it, thank you very much. But then, at the time the boys were only exposure to music were Raffi and Sharon, Lois and Bram, so who could blame them?

The TV series has been narrated by many famous actors over the years. In addition to Ringo Starr's voice, I recognized George Carlin and Alec Baldwin's voices. The latest actor of note to narrate is none other than Pierce Brosnan (sigh). Yes, oo7 has a softer side to him. I might have to get the kids to start watching Thomas again....for nostalgia's sake...no, really.

Not only did my boys watch the TV episodes, we also have the "Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection" -- which contains all the stories written by Rev. Awdry from the first four published in 1945 right up to his last collection of stories published in 1972. There are 26 books in all, containing 105 stories.

The books and TV shows are a great tie-in for the actual train sets. Each train engine, car, and other moving vehicles, has its own distinct personality. Henry is quite vain, James and Gordon are a bit full of themselves, Thomas is a do-gooder, Edward has an easy-going disposition and the Troublesome Trucks are, you guessed it, troublesome. Their distinct character traits provide lots of possibilities for your kids to become their own budding storytellers.

Add strong characters to being able to construct different train track configurations, throw in some great buildings (including a water tower with a water level that lowers when you put the pipe down), and you've got endless hours of entertainment. And, fortunately, Thomas is durable. Made from solid hardwood, these toys last. They can be thrown on a tile floor by your cranky three year old whose nap is overdue and will not have a scratch on them (hopefully your floor will survive).

To find out more about how to start a Thomas collection, watch our video on Youtube.



(note: all facts in this post were taken from http://sodor-island.net)

There is a sale on Thomas The Tank Engine and Accessories, 20% off, Wednesday October 21-28, 2009.

-- Cathy the Toy Mom