Play set:Mattel Pre-School Hub-Bubs Rooty Toot Train

In the 1970s, Mattel, Inc. introduced its Hub Bubs play sets to compete with Puzzletown toys inspired by the widely popular children's books authored by Richard Scarry. The Hub Bubs, like the Puzzletown sets, had small animal figures that fit into little houses, schools, stores, cars, and trains for little hands to manipulate and play with. The Hub Bubs did the Puzzletown figures one better, though. Each building and vehicle had a special setting for the Hub Bub figure and a crank that when turned caused the figure to raise its arms or otherwise move. The action not only made the play sets more engaging, they also taught cause and effect in a way immediately satisfying to youngsters.