Toys that talk

by Eleanor de Bruin
The My 1st Talking JCB range from Golden Bear has been extended with three more loveable characters.

Racing to join in the fun with existing characters Joey JCB, Larry Loadall, Doug Dumptruck, Rex Roller and Roxy Robot is Freddie Fastrac. The chunky tractor is designed to be easily zoomed along by children aged 12 months upwards, and takes two AAA batteries (included) to power his flashing light and sound features.

Friendly Freddy is priced around £9.99 and when you press his buttons he says the kind of energetic things you might expect from the self-proclaimed fastest tractor on earth, such as ‘Ready Freddie Go!’.

Another speedy little chap joins the crew in the form of the sleek JCB Max. The quick little diesel can be pulled back by children aged 12 months upwards to watch him power along at two different speeds as his battery-powered engine and exhaust flash dramatically.

Priced around £16.99, Max is designed for maximum fun, with five different phrases including ‘I don’t do slow old chum’, and an opening engine bay cover.

And finally, Elvis fans will be pleased to know that the King is alive and well. Elvis Excavator, known as ‘the King of the Quarry’, may be a little slower and steadier than the other two new arrivals, but with his chunky plastic pull-lever scoop and four accessories to scoop up, he gets the job done.

Elvis is also suitable for children from 12 months, and is priced around £24.99, which includes the batteries that power his sounds, phrases and lights.