This delightful toy is many things - vertical puzzle, game, stacking toy, and a source of inspiration for a great deal of pretend play. The artwork on the assembled puzzle displays elephant firefighters riding, front and back, on a colorful fire engine bearing hose and ladder. The varying images and shapes of the 9 magnetic wooden pieces imply logical relationships that let kids playfully problem-solve their way to reasse...Read more

When it comes to jigsaw puzzles for young children, it doesn't get any better than this beauty. Twenty gorgeously illustrated pieces come together to form a delightful scene in which seven different types of arctic animals frolic about the ice. Kids love holding each large, colorful piece while they search for its position within the whole. One of each animal contains a textured surface for kids to touch (salmon, polar be...Read more

Janod Zigolos Bear Stacker & Rocker holds especially high appeal for young ones due to the unusual mix of wooden and furry pieces (2 of each) that stack up to form an adorable polar bear. It's an irresistible combination, one result of which is that children have a tendency to name, touch, and interact with the bear as if he were a pet or pal. The inclusion of fur, in particular, seems to bring him to life, and the varyin...Read more

Children aren't the only ones who fall in love with this wooden toy at first sight. It takes only a glance to see that Janod Zigolos Pull Along Drum Elk is something special, and parents are equally susceptible to its charms. With intricately embroidered felt ears and antlers, a face that carries a hint of the comical, a spring neck, and moving arms that terminate in polka-dotted spheres (the better to drum with), this cr...Read more

This extremely well-crafted wooden pull along toy comes bearing a bonanza of colors and shapes. In doing so, it nurtures numerous developing skills in young children: walking, stacking, sorting, counting, color and shape recognition, problem-solving, dexterity and coordination. Curiosity and fun are the driving forces, as children become instantly enamored of the multitude of varying shapes and colors - green trees made u...Read more

This beautifully made sit-on rocking toy must be experienced in person to fully appreciate what a fine product it is. Constructed over a solid wood frame, Kaloo Les Amis Rocking Donkey is as silky soft to the touch as he is a joy to ride on. The seat is purposefully low to the ground (35 cm, just under 14 inches), perfect for young ones just getting into walking. A sturdy built-in saddle and two wooden handholds bring add...Read more

As cute and cuddly as they come, this ultra-soft plush penguin charms little ones and grown-ups alike. The elegant keepsake box in which it comes packaged (so beautifully designed that no one in their right mind would dispose of it) promises something special, and this lovable little fellow does not disappoint. Every detail, from the tiny parted beak, bean-bag flippers and webbed feet to the plump, squeezable bottom that ...Read more

It's fortunate there are so many places for little hands to grab and hold on this cuddly critter because once he and a child have been introduced, the two quickly become inseparable. It's easy to see why. That cute little red nose, those large floppy ears, the plump belly, long skinny tail and incredibly soft, fuzzy fur practically set a new standard for adorableness. And the endearing way in which he sits upright on his ...Read more

Like other Kaloo Rouge animal companions (see Kaloo Rouge Medium Cocoa Mouse review above), this exceptionally adorable bunny rabbit comes bearing the line's signature characteristics: stunningly soft from top to bottom, cute little red nose, bean bag weighted rear end that lets her sit upright, awesomely oversized feet with red stripes on the bottom, and a Rouge Kaloo patch on her arm. There are lots of handholds for sma...Read more

With KEVA Brain Builders, kids convert 2D diagrams into 3D structures, one puzzle card at a time. Each card displays a front, side, and top view of an object. Kids (or adults) then use some or all of the 20 precision-engineered KEVA planks included to construct that object in three dimensions. Because the 2-dimensional views are slices of a whole, it is not uncommon for builders to have no idea what they are making until ...Read more

With this superb bot-customizing, maze-and-obstacle-course-making kit at their disposal, children become veritable masterminds of creativity. The two included bots are self-contained mechanical critters called BristleBots that, when switched on, move forward on toothbrush-like bristles powered by a vibrating motor. Innovation skills bloom as kids mingle some or all of the 38 precision-engineered KEVA planks with dozens of...Read more

Tress Twist 'N' Braid is the name of the enchanting 13-inch tall doll that is the centerpiece of this creative hair-styling kit. And as one would expect from a Lalaloopsy Doll, she has unique properties. Chief among these is her ability to grow hair in a variety of shapes, lengths, and colors. This bit of magic is achieved by removing the Styling Cap on her head, inserting Hair-Dough into the opening and rotating her pony...Read more

For children, building emotional vocabulary and awareness is essential to the development of strong social skills. Language Builder: Emotion Cards is a highly effective way to help kids identify and discuss feelings in a safe, playful context. Each of the 80 photograph cards in the set shows a person conveying one of 5 basic emotions - Happy, Sad, Surprised, Angry, Disgusted. The images feature actors from a wide range of...Read more

Lauri Action Stackers represents an exciting expansion of the already rich play possibilities present in the Lauri line of pegging sets. Action Stackers introduces two products, Little Builder Set ($24.99) and Big Builder Set ($39.99), each of which takes the popular Tall Stackers pegs and incorporates new connectors and wheels that allow kids to build in all directions and add movement to their creations. The ease and fl...Read more