Color Wonder Magic Light Brush Ages: 5+ Requires: 3 "AA" batteries (not included)

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Fun, easy, and mess-free introduction to painting and color. The Challenging: Coarseness of bristles may disappoint young artists. In a Nutshell: Light-up brush illuminates paint colors and shows up only on special paper.

When used on Color Wonder paper, the magic paint brush lights up the invisible paint, revealing its true color. View larger.

Simple is Good
Durable, compact, and easy to use, the Wonder Magic Light Brush proves that arts-and-crafts time doesn't have to be a headache. The connected paint pots snap firmly into the plastic orange-and-purple Color Wonder base and the light-up brush is attached by a flexible cord and clips snugly in its resting station, so you don't ever have to worry about it getting lost. While it's strong enough to survive plenty of child's play, the plastic has rounded corners to ensure safety.

Other design pluses include a built-in carrying handle on one side for quick portability. At the other end a light-gray tablet clip holds your paper in place while you're painting.

Time-tested Fun
With its light-up brush and colors that reveal only with special paper, this Crayola set brings new life to an activity kids have always loved. Great for beginning artists, the Wonder Magic Light Brush is good at painting broad colorful strokes, and it's exciting to see as the colors appear a second or two after drawn on the page. The brush bristles aren't fine enough for very detailed work, but as a toy, even young masters should enjoy this new way of playing with colors.

What's in the Box
Light-up brush unit, 6 Color Wonder paint colors, and 30-page Color Wonder paper tablet.