Lego Harry Potter: Chamber Of Secrets

This is an extraordinarily detailed LEGO set, with almost 600 pieces that form four related Harry Potter scenes. Though the finished product makes for a fun play world--with intricate castle chambers and a whole host of Potter characters--this is really more like a 3-D puzzle than a toy. For younger kids who don't have the patience to wade through the novella-length instruction booklet, the set may end up in a big, hopeless muddle. For those with the ambition and focus, or for parents who want some together time with their kids, the task is certainly doable thanks to the handy way pieces are divided into numbered bags and clearly keyed to the instruction book. --David Stoesz