FurReal Friends Luv Cub Panda review

With January almost upon us, kids across the DC area are undoubtedly sad about the impending departure of the National Zoo's beloved baby panda, Tai Shan. The Zoo announced earlier this month that the four-year-old giant panda will leave for China in early 2010, in accordance with an agreement between the U.S. and the Chinese government. Millions of visitors from all over the world, many of them children, have visited Tai Shan over the past four years and watched him on the zoo's live webcam. He will be missed!

Though it won't take Tai-Shan's place, a FurReal Friends Luv Cub Panda would make a heartwarming gift, and a good way of continuing the conversation about endangered species and wildlife conservation with your kids. Best for children 4 years and up, this is an interactive, lovable plush electronic toy that magically “comes to life,” providing children with a realistic, nurturing animal experience.

Press the panda's paw and he’ll make realistic bear sounds. He'll yawn, coo, snifff, snore, snort, sigh, and play peek-a-boo, too. Luv Cub Panda will get hungry after all that playing, so he comes with his very own bottle to quench his thirst. If you feed him too much, though, he’ll get hiccups! He also comes with a Care Guide, an adoption certificate, and includes the 3 “C” batteries needed to operate. If the adoption certificate is lost, or if the panda were ever to be passed on to another child, another certificate can be created and downloaded from the Hasbro website.

REVIEW
You can’t hold this adorable panda and refrain from giving him a big hug! Since he comes with batteries, kids can start playing with their new friend right out of the box! Simple to use, Luv Cub Panda has 3 sensors that respond to touch - on his mouth, back, and left foot. To start playing, wake him by petting his back or pressing his left foot. Pressing on his foot will stimulate different behaviors, like giggling and hugging for instance. He'll actually hug back! If he's hungry, he'll sniff around for a bottle. Place it near his mouth, and you can hear him slurp it up. He'll tap on his bottle while he's drinking, and really seems to enjoy himself. Press on his back and he'll go to sleep, snoring for a bit before shutting down. He also turns off after 3 - 5 minutes of inactivity, to conserve battery life. The on/off switch, located in the battery compartment, can be switched to OFF if he won't be played with for a longer period of time. Learning how to activate the different behaviors takes a little bit of trial and error, but it becomes natural after a while.

This is a pet that just about any child can take care of! Use a brush to loosen any dirt in his fur, and wipe clean with a damp cloth. The battery compartment is a little difficult to get to, but this is only a minor issue, probably so that kids won't be able to access this area on their own. A screwdriver is needed for this purpose. The detail in Luv Cub Panda's features is amazing, from his ears down to his paws! His eyes are a warm brown, his nose pink and rough, and his fur is soft and thick. He does shed a bit, but what furry friend doesn't?

WHERE TO BUY
FurReal Friends Luv Cub Panda can be found at toy retailers all around the DC area, including Kmart, Wal-Mart, and Toys "R" Us, for an approximate retail price of $49.99. Availability and pricing may vary by retailer, so please call ahead! If you prefer to shop online, find FurReal Friends on Amazon.com, Kmart.com, Walmart.com, Toysrus.com, and the Hasbro Toy Shop.

For more information about FurReal Friends, visit www.furrealfriends.com.