Once the pizza is "ready," the child can use the pizza cutter to cut the pizza. It actually has a rolling blade, just like an authentic utensil, and since the pizza slices are held together with Velcro, it makes a fun crunching sound when it's cut. Your little pizza chef can then dish out pizza to her customers with the included server. (Note that the toy kitchen utensils are not meant for use with real food or with real kitchen appliances.)

Play and Learn
Pretend play is a very important part of childhood development, and the Pizza Party toy gives children fun, straightforward tools to inspire their imaginations. We also love that this toy is perfect for both independent and interactive playtime, giving parents the opportunity to help kids learn while playing, too. For example, children can learn counting concepts while preparing pizza: ask them to count the number of mushrooms on the pizza, or to put 10 peppers on her pizza.

Sturdy Wood Construction
The Pizza Party comes with 54 disk-shaped pizza toppings -- three of each kind -- which is enough to create an all-pepperoni, all-peppers, or all-mushroom pizza, as well as make up whatever combination your child chooses. We like that there are an abundance of toppings pieces, so that the inevitable loss of a couple of pieces won't ruin the whole toy. That said, we do wish that the cute, painted wood storage container came with a cover to help keep the pieces in place a bit better.

With its sturdy wood construction and high-quality materials, this toy is made to last. And as with all of their products, Melissa&Doug states that this toy is made with non-toxic coatings and meets or exceeds US toy testing standards.

About Melissa&Doug
Started in the garage at Doug's parents' house in 1988, Melissa&Doug has grown to become one of the most popular toy makers in the world. Their toys have garnered dozens of parenting and "best toy" awards over the years, and have been featured widely in national print media and on television.

One of the company's points of pride is that their toys are thoroughly tested for safety, and meet all US consumer product safety regulations. The toys are tested at the factory of origin during various phases of the production process to ensure that every toy meets the company's stringent safety requirements every step along the way. In particular, the paints and coatings on Melissa&Doug toys are tested frequently to be sure they meet or exceed government recommendations limiting heavy metals and lead in children's items.

Since day one, Melissa&Doug has been in compliance with every US consumer product safety regulation and will continue to stay compliant as the laws continue to evolve, assuring parents that their children can have a safe childhood while playing with Melissa&Doug toys.

What's in the boxToy pizza, 54 "pizza topping" pieces, wood pizza server and pizza cutter.

At a Glance Ages:8+ Requires: 5 "C" (included) 2 "AAA" batteries (not included) Screwdriver for battery installation

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Biomorphic robotics enable D-Rex to interact with you like a real pet. The Challenging: Realistic features may frighten youngsters. In a Nutshell: This ultimate pet is trainable, wards off enemies, and comes when you call him.

At 14 inches in height, D-Rex features over 100 realistic movements and sounds. View larger.

Take command of the prehistoric predator using the bone-shaped remote. View larger.

Fearsome Predator or Lovable Pet?
Though he wears a collar and stands only 14 inches tall, this D-Rex is still a "fearsome" predator. Kids will be enthralled by his realistic skin, and lifelike movements, which are possible thanks to biomorphic robotics. His fiery orange eyes scan the room, and his neck and tail "muscles" ripple with movement. D-Rex has a personality all his own with over 100 sounds and movements, as well as sensors that respond to light, sound, and touch.

Become His Master
Using the bone-shaped remote control, kids can program D-Rex to perform a number of actions from up to 25 feet away. Pressing "attack" mode makes D-Rex stand alert, and pressing it a second time sends him on a roaring rampage. In "guard" mode, D-Rex stiffens and scans the room, moving his head from side to side. At the first sound of an intruder, D-Rex will roar to alert you.

While D-Rex is an effective guardian, like any pet he has needs of his own. If D-Rex's tail stops wagging, he may want attention. Pet his head and quickly get his tail wagging. Also, to keep his hunger at bay, kids can feed him. His jaws will move up and down, stopping only after he has had his fill.

Lifelike Interaction
As kids learn to tame D-Rex and keep him happy, they can relate to him much like a real-live pet. In "seek" mode, D-Rex comes when you whistle, and in "prank" mode, he repeats funny sounds. Best of all, an advanced training feature allows kids to teach him a specific sequence of actions that he will then repeat on command.

As a power-saving feature, D-Rex takes a "Dino-nap" when not being used. Parents will want to assist with removing the toy's packaging and installing two "AAA" batteries (not included) in the bone remote control.

What's in the Box
D-Rex Interactive Dinosaur, five "C" batteries, and bone control. (Two "AAA" batteries for the remote control not included.)