Harry Potter -- Roarin' Snorin' Baby Norbert
Mattel
Ages 5 and Up

What It Is

Mattel's "Roarin' Snorin' Baby Norbert" is the new mechanical, "interactive" toy based on the Hagrid character's startling pet in the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone book and movie. A baby "Norwegian Ridgeback" variety dragon, the Norbert in the story has a voracious appetite, grows extremely fast, snores when he sleeps and emits fire when he sneezes. This toy Norbert fills bill. However, you have to imagine the shooting flames (it’s an integrated glowing red light) because toy safety guidelines tend to frown on real fire erupting from toys. Prompted by your touch on one of either two "ticklish" spots on Norbert's back, he will either giggle, laugh or roar. When he is sleepy, he will yawn, fall asleep and snore. When Norbert sneezes, his mouth opens and turns red, i.e., he "breathes fire." Norbert also produces other charming sounds such as eating, hiccuping and burping noises. Norbert is limited in his movement; his wings will flap and head will turn, but he cannot walk. After putting Norbert to "sleep" by petting his back, you may wake him by touching him there again.

Why It's Fun

Although Norbert's movement is quite limited, he is "interactive" in the sense that, if you touch him in the right spot, he will react. Given enough attention, Norbert will, indeed, behave according to how you interact with him, but that is the extent of the toy's technological capabilities.

Finally, some of the sounds that Norbert makes are truly amusing. This alone will make even the casual observer discover, as Hagrid does, how intriguing little dragons really can be.

Who's Going To Love It

Younger children who have had the Harry Potter books read to them, or are looking forward to seeing the movie, will be ecstatic to have their own pet dragon–Norbert is exotic looking enough to spark hours of make-believe playtime.

What To Be Aware Of

Norbert is slightly heavy, with a hard plastic base. Therefore, he is not a toy that should be tossed back and forth in the presence of young children. Further, Norbert is not very cuddly–hard plastic on his base and head, along with the inside wiring that makes up his "neck" muscles seem stiff. This is not a take-to-bed toy. Rather, it’s ideal for imaginative playtime in the way that Furby is.

Norbert requires four "AA" batteries, which are included.