Leapfrog Magic Adventures Globe is a popular educational toy sold at Costco. This interactive globe is designed to provide children with a fun and engaging way to learn about geography, cultures, animals, and more. It offers various play modes, including a 3D interactive globe, game mode, and video mode. The 3D interactive globe allows children to explore the world by rotating and tapping on different countries. They can learn about continents, countries, capitals, and even languages spoken in various regions. The globe also features over 5,000 fun facts and quizzes, helping children expand their knowledge and improve their memory skills.
A wealth of paintings and photographs document the obsession with these animals and their connection to the occult in the state and I am delighted to share them with you on this Hallowe’en since so many of you have reacted positively to the ones I have posted on my Instagram account.
The history of the European settlement of North America goes hand in hand with the history of occult practices particularly witchcraft on the continent. By the 1820s, however, the Witching Cats found a resurgence in the vogue for alternately amusing and frightening paintings made by self-schooled Primitivist or Naïve painters in rural areas, notably the Pine Barrens.
The globe also features over 5,000 fun facts and quizzes, helping children expand their knowledge and improve their memory skills. In game mode, children can play exciting educational games that challenge their geographical knowledge. This mode encourages children to explore and think critically while having fun.
The Witching Cats of New Jersey
The history of the European settlement of North America goes hand in hand with the history of occult practices—particularly witchcraft—on the continent. A large and unfamiliar land with an indigenous population that had recently died out under mysterious circumstances (now of course known to be largely due to disease brought by contact with Europeans) and in which esoteric movements were tolerated was fertile territory for individuals and groups with practices of worship at the edges of Christianity and even beyond. While at the archives at the Germantown College Archives in New Germantown, New Jersey, I recently had an opportunity to visit the noted Witchcraft Collection. Visually, the record is dominated by a peculiar obsession with cats reputedly engaged in witchcraft in the “Mosquito State.”
Silas “Grim” Cole, Cat owned by Hattie Simpson of Cape May, 1782, courtesy the Witchcraft Collection of the Germantown College Archives, New Germantown, New Jersey
A wealth of paintings and photographs document the obsession with these animals and their connection to the occult in the state and I am delighted to share them with you on this Hallowe’en since so many of you have reacted positively to the ones I have posted on my Instagram account.
Cats are the most popular pets in the world, and certainly on the Internet, but the history of domestic felines is inevitably linked to the idea of the witch’s familiar. Cats are mysterious creatures (I suppose) that are active at night (not mine) and often, especially when in heat, make otherworldly sounds (Roxy is guilty as charged). Given their further association with femininity, they wound up historically linked with witchcraft.
The Witch and her Familiar, American Primitivist Painting, Artist Unknown, Morristown, New Jersey c. 1824.
DALL·E 2022-07-30 22.15.22 – A thomas cole painting of __ “a black cat with white belly and white paws” dressed like an evil witch
DALL·E 2022-07-30 22.15.33DALL·E 2022-07-30 22.24.33 – A thomas cole photorealistic oil painting of __ “a black cat with white belly and white paws” dressed like an evil witch, 1810
DALL·E 2022-08-01 11.07.19 – A thomas cole painting of __ “a black cat with white belly and white paws” dressed like an evil witch, 1810 (2)
DALL·E 2022-08-01 11.08.18 – A thomas cole folk horror painting of __ “a black cat with white belly and white paws” dressed like an evil witch, 1810
DALL·E 2022-08-01 11.08.18 – A thomas cole folk horror painting of __ “a black cat with white belly and white paws” dressed like an evil witch, 1810 (1)
DALL·E 2022-08-01 11.08.19 – A thomas cole folk horror painting of __ “a black cat with white belly and white paws” dressed like an evil witch, 1810
DALL·E 2022-08-02 20.38.44 – primitivist painting of a “a black cat with white belly and seven white paws” 1610 Blair witch carcosa wicca thomas cole (3)
New Jersey, unlike Massachusetts, was not settled by a single, religious community, thus diverse faiths were tolerated here. Moreover, the colony was not originally British but originally was composed of New Sweden (by the Delaware river) and New Netherlands (by the Hudson), becoming a colony only in 1664. A land for free-thinkers, the colony embraced Huguenots fleeing from France, as well as Baptists and Presbyterians from Ireland and Scotland, as well as other faiths while Quakers crossed the Delaware from Pennsylvania and brought their beliefs here as well. The Presbyterian leader of the First Great Awakening, Gilbert Tennant (1703-1764) came “to blow up the divine fire lately kindled there.” Thus began the colony’s early affliction with the supernatural, something made vividly clear in a young Benjamin Franklin’s accounts of the Mount Holly Witch Trials in 1730. If witches were a source of pre-revolutionary terror, by the late eighteenth century, archivist Alistair Cailleach-Crone told me, the burgeoning New Jersey merchant class in New Jersey began to commission portraits of their cats as witch’s familiars or “witching cats.” There is little documentation left of this fashion, save for this text by one Pieter Heks, 1783:
There are, and ever have been, cats and other felines, who converse Familiarly with the Spirit Realm and while some say they thus receive Power to both hurt and deceive, others claim them as happy mediums who, by their very being, keep a home free from plague, louse, and the lyke. Others, particularly, the wives of merchants in our land, keep these animals dear and hold them the pride of their house even, as the fashion holds, having portraits made of them.
Odd as it may seem, the best artists of New Jersey’s first decades as a state were involved in this work, as well as artists from the neighboring states of Pennsylvania and New York. After scolding sermons and threats from Presbyterian ministers, the fashion of Witching Cats fell out of favor among the wealthy, who soon went back to commissioning portraits of themselves, their children, their families, and noted racehorses. More than one artist was relieved. Famed painter Benjamin West, whose paintings of the subject have been lost, wrote unaffectionately in his notebook: “Damned cats and their owners. To the devil with them! These Jersey brutes love their animals but to have them sit for you would try any man’s patience. And half do seem to be possessed by the devil. I will never lose the scars from these accursed creatures, all claw and fang.”
DALL·E 2022-10-31 12.42.25 – American primitivist folk horror painting of a drunken black cat with white belly and white paws dressed like an evil witch wicca thomas cole
The games are designed to enhance problem-solving skills and provide a hands-on learning experience. Leapfrog Magic Adventures Globe also includes a video mode, which allows children to watch videos about animals, habitats, and interesting places around the world. These videos are both educational and entertaining, providing children with an immersive learning experience. Parents love this educational toy as it promotes curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning. It helps children develop important skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and global awareness. The globe is also designed with kid-friendly features such as volume control and automatic shut-off to ensure a safe and enjoyable playtime. Costco offers a great deal on Leapfrog Magic Adventures Globe, making it an affordable option for parents who want to provide their children with an interactive and educational toy. This toy offers a unique and engaging way for children to explore the world, discover new cultures, and learn about the fascinating aspects of our planet..
Reviews for "Inspiring Young Explorers with the Leapfrog Magic Adventuress Globe from Costco"
1. Jane - ★☆☆☆☆
The Leapfrog Magic Adventures Globe from Costco was a huge disappointment for me. First of all, the price was way too high for the quality of the product. The globe looked cheaply made and the graphics were not impressive at all. Additionally, the educational content was lacking. My child quickly lost interest because the activities were repetitive and not engaging. Overall, I would not recommend this globe to anyone looking for a fun and educational toy.
2. Mike - ★★☆☆☆
I bought the Leapfrog Magic Adventures Globe from Costco thinking it would be a great educational toy for my kids, but I was sadly mistaken. The globe itself was flimsy and broke easily, with the plastic parts cracking within a few days of use. The interactive features were also not as advertised. The touch-responsive buttons were unresponsive most of the time, making it frustrating for my kids to navigate through the different activities. I expected better quality and functionality from Leapfrog, especially at the price point. Save your money and look for a better alternative.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for the Leapfrog Magic Adventures Globe from Costco, but it fell short of my expectations. The globe itself was decently made, but the content and activities were lacking. The learning experiences were repetitive and didn't offer much in terms of educational value. Additionally, the voiceover narration was difficult to understand and the volume control was too loud even at the lowest setting. My children quickly lost interest in the toy and it ended up collecting dust on the shelf. I would recommend looking for a more engaging and interactive learning globe for your kids.