The names of the box contents alone were enough to sell me on Shadow Magic ($24.99) — who wouldn't want a Light Blaster and Glow Screen? The basic premise: put kids in a dark room. Have them jump or pose in front of the Glow Screen while you click the Light Blaster (or just put it on auto flash). Marvel at the "captured" shadows. Amuse yourself by adding details and captions with the built-in light pen. When I put it to the test, though, my young subjects and I were not quite as thrilled as anticipated. You must use it in a totally dark room, the image captured lacks sharpness, and there's no easy way to "clear" the screen except to wait a few minutes for the image to fade. The built-in light pen works best when it is used to "draw" (with light) directly on the Glow Screen. Still, it's a cool novelty toy, well-suited to August days when it's too hot to play outside. — Katie Bayless
