Not surprisingly, based on the feedback thus far, the Bug Net Launcher and Venus Fly Trap from the Discovery Channel Store have been phenomenal hits with our bloggers’ kids.

In part, these toys are cool simply because they’re from the Discovery Channel Store: “I adore the Discovery Store folks. I mean, they have the coolest stuff for kids, so whenever Parent Bloggers Network sends out one of their emails with something new to try out, I jump at the chance. Who doesn’t love a good toy that also helps you learn?”

But they’re also big winners for appealing to some of kids’ (and - let’s admit it - adults’) baser natures. As one mother put it: “One might think that having two little girls bugs might not be a popular topic at my house. How wrong you would be, my girls dig bugs. Most everything else makes them whine or shriek, but not bugs, worms or caterpillars.” Another added: “We are unreasonably excited about seeing what else we’ll catch when there are more flying bugs about. Bigger, meatier ones.”

The Bug Net Launcher is a “galactic-looking device [that] resembles a tricked-out water pistol, except instead of shooting streams of water at a target, it launches four blunt-tipped safety darts attached to a large (18″ x 18″) square net into the air.” This same blogger went on to describe it as a “reincarnation of the good old-fashioned butterfly net.”

One family is practicing on easy targets for now: “We are unfortunately being overrun by tent caterpillars this year - they move very slooooooowwwwwwwly and make good targets” but another mother noted: “The launcher shoots the darts/net so fast, the critter won’t have time to react.” A third agreed, commenting: “If I were a Monarch butterfly or a Daddy Long Legs and I saw this dart-net bomb heading my way, I might just die of a heart attack right there on the spot. [Note to insects everywhere: An encounter with a Bug Net Launcher may well be the equivalent of donating your body to science.]”

This blogger cautioned: “If you’re hosting a playdate of more than one child, beware. Three boys + one bug launcher = drama. (Hey, quit hogging the gun! Its MY turn!)” and both she and another mother advised that “the key part here is just keeping the aforementioned boys from shooting siblings or animals.” But hey, “let’s admit it, how cool is it to shoot some big old bugs?”

The Venus Fly Trap doesn’t incite the same level of rambunctiousness as the Bug Net Launcher, but it still piqued the interest of the kids and the adults. As one blogger explained: “I always thought it would be very cool to have a carnivorous plant…It’s a plant, it’s entertainment, it keeps down the insect population in your home. Triple winnah. But apparently, the Venus fly trap requires more care than your average houseplant.” She went on to add, “That’s why the pretend Venus Fly Trap from Discovery Channel Store is a good idea. It looks and acts like the real thing, but it’s battery-operated and made of durable plastic.” Another mother agreed: “The Venus Fly Trap comes already assembled (thank you, Discovery Store) and all you have to do is feed it a couple of batteries and then bait the trap.”

What did the kids catch in the Venus Fly Trap?

“It caught a bug…it caught a bug and…EWWWW…it was a big ugg-wee one, too!”

I carefully lifted the trap and, with one eye closed, peered into the chamber and saw that…nope…there was no bug.

“Where did it go?”

[shrugs]

“I didn’t wook-wike it could buh-weave, so I wet it go.”

Apparently it’s not easy to catch the Venus Fly Trap in the act: “Despite careful observation, it didn’t perform on command for us, which was a bummer.” Even so, “it was still a thrill to return to our pet and see its leaves snapped shut and something flitting about its chamber.”

Perhaps most impressive of all was the poem inspired by the Venus Fly Trap:

“Oh, thing of nature, natural now no more!
The Carolinian bog you disavow;
the tannic waters gone, the smell of salt
now only beads of sweat upon my brow
as I struggle to release you
from this g*d-damned
clamshell packaging.

Oh travesty! Oh horticulture’s sin!
Your synthetic sprayed-red claws cannot aspire
to real-life crimson lobes like velvet lips,
twin labium carnivorous with desire
for bug flesh

and perhaps
that’s a good thing;
there’s only so much Georgia O’Keefe
I can explain in one afternoon.”

(Read the rest here.)

Wow. I never expected a review campaign to inspire poetry!

Check back for the rest of the reviews, as well as the final Round-Up Review!

Today! - Chaos Theory
Thurs 5/22 - The Not Quite Crunchy Parent
Fri 5/23 - Laura Williams’ Musings
Mon 5/26 - Sarah’s Dandelions
Tues 5/27 - Lather Rinse Repeat
Wed 5/28 - Karianna
Thurs 5/29 - Lipstick to Crayons
Mon 6/2 - Round-Up Review on PBN