Big Bad Booming Bugs Electronic Observation Station

by Little Kids

Product Features

• Observation Sation includes 3 x magnifying lens.
• A super powerful microphone and sound surface amplifies every sound a bug makes inside the observation station.
• First Observation Station that lets you enter the world of bugs with all your senses!
• Comes in a unique Try Me! Package!
• Ages 6 and up

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 6.2 x 7.5 inches ; 14.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000EUJKNE
• Item model number: 850
• Our recommended age: 6 years and up
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,559 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Big Bad Booming Bugs makes science toys fun again!

Product Description

A super-powerful microphone and sound surface amplifies every movement an insect makes. Now you can hear bugs crawl. Listen as the bug's crunch their food. Hear the sounds of insects combat as ants battle each other. Powerful 3x lens magnifies insects so you can see and hear them. Once you put on the headphones you enter into the world of Big Bad Booming Bugs. Operates on two "AA" batteries, not included.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It actually works!, September 10, 2007

By 

PCG "CrazyX3" (CT Shoreline) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Big Bad Booming Bugs Electronic Observation Station (Toy)

We got this for our four year old, bug-obsessed son. I was skeptical, but it actually works. So far we've been able to listen to a cricket, a cicada, and a click beetle. It's quite bizzarre to hear the insects' wings buzzing as they fly around or their feet pitter-pattering when they walk across the bottom of the dome. The click beetle so far was the coolest--each time he "clicked," the sound was incredible. Two things it's important to know before you invest money in this toy: 1. It requires some patience. We haven't had much luck with smaller bugs, and even larger ones aren't very interesting if they aren't moving a lot or are crawling on the walls instead of the special sensitive floor. Be prepared to sit patiently and wait for the insect to cooperate. 2. Younger kids may be too rough to use this toy alone. We sit with our son and don't let him carry it around with the earphones dragging along while he looks for bugs. All in all, I'm glad we picked this one out. It gives us something new to do with all the specimens our son picks up from day to day!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great idea......, August 3, 2009

By 

A. Elrod (Winchester, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Big Bad Booming Bugs Electronic Observation Station (Toy)

The sounds of the bugs can only be heard if the insect is on the green platform. Unfortunately, it's difficult to get the bug to cooperate, they seem to want to go anywhere but there. You must also keep the observation station completely still to hear anything. And no one else can say anything. Getting five kids to be quiet, keep the thing still, and get our detainee to comply........was a little frustrating for all the excited little people, as you can imagine. Great concept, but could be a lot better executed. The legs broke trying to put it together, and the earphones broke the first day, too. However, the kids loved it; and the potential for study and imagination is fantastic.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars We like it, but it can break easily, August 27, 2008

By 

Tamara Donohue "T. Donohue" (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Big Bad Booming Bugs Electronic Observation Station (Toy)

We love this device, but I wouldn't call it a toy. It really is best used under adult supervision. It is fun to listen to the bugs, but the legs that come with it snap off WAY too easily. This can mean that if you are a five year old carrying this around the house, you can easily lose your grip and the whole thing drops on the floor. Many tears as we try to collect the broken pieces of the toy and the half smashed bug which was killed during the drop.

If you buy this, plan to keep it someplace special and take it down to use with your kids. Also, don't bother attaching the legs. They just come off five minutes later.

That said, I plan to get it as a gift for friends. You can really hear the bugs and the magnification is some of the best I've seen in a kid's product.

I'll just warn our friends about the legs and tell them not to let their kids carry it around too much.