Landscape Puzzle Review

from Grimm's Spiel and Holz Design

This is a very ferst time I'm writing about this company, and I'm pretty sure I will again. Their creations are simply stunning, amazing, and enjoyable not just for kids, but adults as well. This particular puzzle really got my attention. The multi-award winning company, Grimm's Spiel and Holz Designis well known of its high-quality wooden toys, especially for its finely-crafted, creative and beautifully-stained wooden puzzles.

All their puzzles are hand painted by child-safe, water-based paints or natural oils. You wont find any heavy metals (such as lead and cadmium) or phtalates in here.



So lets discuss this beautiful puzzle: This beautiful wooden Landscape Puzzle encourages the feeling for colors and forms in play, 3 dimensional thinking and inner flexibility. So as you can imagine this toy is best when your little one is around 3 or 4 years old. 14 colorful pieces form a stunning sunset scene in a square wooden frame. The pieces can also be used out of the frame to stack, create designs, make bridges and tunnels, etc. So it really gets the imagination going, as you can tell.




Pros: awesome puzzle. will encourage you and your kids really develop a vivid imagination
Cons: not on the cheap side, but hey, you're paying for quality
Age: 3yr+

Price: $55.98 at Amazon.com

Supercalofragalistic Colorful Balls Review

from Crocodile Creek

So! I don't even know where to begin with these... So they are simply magnificent, super vibrant, and you little one will not be able to walk (crawl, or be carried) past these! I, of course, could go on for paragraphs on how great they are but I'll just make a short summary for you to realize on your own how great these are.

1. All natural rubber, no PVC, no latex, no vinyl
   
2. Countless balls to choose from, and not one is the same
3. Designed to be educational and fun: there's one that teaches planets, one for animals, one for dinosaurs, one for fish, one for doggies, one for kitty cats, one for numbers, one for animal sounds.... phew... you get the idea.

So you see it's all fairly simple to understand. They come in two different sized, 5" and 7". You can play with them in the sand and in the bathtub.



Please note that due to the printing process, the printed images may be slightly imperfect, or may not line up perfectly along the ball's seam.



Pros: so as you can tell, I love these, and the designs, and the variety, and I just want to have the whole set
Cons: even though it says all ages, I wouldn't bother until your little one can grab on to a ball, any ball :)
Age: all ages

Price: $5.99 - $7.99 at Amazon.com

Under the Nile - Organic Fruit Tote Review

from Under the Nile

So this basket is a real treat for you little one. Literally. Because all these fruits and veggies are a true part of a complete toy collection! Ok, enough cliche's... But seriously, they are really adorable, and very high quality. Each toy has a unique facial expression, which can be used when you're teaching your little one a second language, for example. These also make great first soft toy, or first teething toy. They are fully organic, and they're easy to grab and hold for those tiny hands. A pear, banana, slice of watermelon and cluster of grapes are included in this set and come with an adorable striped tote for travel ease.



Made and stuffed with the finest 100% organic Egyptian cotton. Also, Under the Nile has a clothing line, and if you don't have anything from them, it's a must, you'll be very pleasantly surprised how great their clothes are.

Pros: a perfect way to introduce healthy eating habits to your little one :)
Cons: I think these might be a bit more enjoyable if they had some sort of a bell inside or rattle...
Age: birth+

Price: $24.89 at Amazon.com

HABA - Fantasy Blocks Review

from HABA

So this is the toy to get when your little one isn't so little anymore. They say that it's from 1yr, but I think 18 months is a more proper time. These Fantasy Blocks are truly gorgeous though. Turn them into one big castle or a few smaller buildings. Either way there's so much to do, so many different combination and variations, your little one will have hours upon hours of activities. They're also really colorful, very tastefully made, and are worth every penny.



They are really high quality. Multiple coats of natural, water-based, non-toxic lacquers render the surface especially resistant to humidity and mechanical strain. A quality toy crafted to withstand years or even generations of play. Made of beech wood.

So the set consists of 26 unique pieces of various shapes and colors, and there are so many different one's: a little bell, prism and mirror. The Fantasy Blocks will surely help your little one develop motor skills, shape recognition as well as boost imagination and creativity.

Pros: gorgeous blocks, really thoughtful and lovely for you little one to play with, and plenty of fun for parents as well.
Cons: just put away the smaller blocks (the semi-circles and domes) until your child is old enough to know that they don't taste all that great. I read a story that the dome looks like a nipple to some kids, and they try to bite it off... :)
Age: 1yr - 4yr

Price: $40.49 at Amazon.com

Manhattan Toy - Put and Peek Birdhouse Review

from Manhattan Toy

This is a marvelous toy that's truly a keeper, because you little one will want play with it everywhere. Luckily the handle allows just that - for you to take it everywhere you go. So this birdy house comes with 4 colorful plush birds with different fun textures that will really intrigue curious minds and keep little hands moving. Little birds come with a rattle inside them, they very easy to grab for little hands, and very chewable.



There are a few aspect of this house that make it really interesting for the little one. There are multiple holes, so each birdy can have its own entrance inside. This birdhouse is also great for practicing fine motor skills - pulling the birds out and putting them back in. Opening the door and roof is excellent practice as well! Oh and did I mention that this toy is an award winner?



Pros: awesome toy to practice motor skills, and just a lot of fun. also easy to take places
Cons: there are absolutely no cons that I can think of, but come to think of it cleaning isn't too simple
Age: 6mo - 2 yr

Price: $21.99 at Amazon.com

Chelona - United Kids Nesting Blocks Review

from Chelona

There are certain aspects of upbringing that are never too early to introduce. The values of unity, diversity, and care for other people is one of those. This is where this wonderful toy comes in. These beautifully illustrated laminated building blocks are just amazing. They are made by Chelona,a Greek company that uses only non-toxic, child safe materials.



So this is a set of six wooden cubes. It is overlayed with whimsical illustrations on paper and has at least three possible activity games: stacking, nesting, and combining the sides. It should really engage your little one's imagination and it illustrates a diverse and united world. And of course your little one can mix and match all the different sides.



Nesting and stacking toys help strengthen fine motor skills, which play an important role in preparing kids to be self-sufficient, so if not this particular one you should definitely invest in at least one such toy.

Pros: really many pros to this toy: nesting/stalking toys in general develop the ability to use a spoon, to write legibly, to turn pages in a book, to dress, or to brush teeth, and of course toys that engage reasoning skills develop problem solving
Cons: only one con that comes to mind: don't get it wet
Age: 1yr+

Price: $12.00 at Amazon.com

Kathe Kruse - Sonajero Squeaky Clutching Toy Review

from Kathe Kruse

Sometimes you can't just judge a book by it's cover, and at other times you must. I think that both can be applied to this toy. It's an All-In-One-Wonder of a toy really: the handle squeaks when squeezed, and one heart makes a rattling noise while the other makes a crinkling noise. The rattle also has a smiling flower, a wooden teething ring and a velcro pacifier attachment so it doesn't get too far.


So the color and design of this toy is really great, and it promotes natural development. There are colors to see, sounds to hear and different fabrics to feel. Surface material is made of cotton. Hand washable in cold water.



Pros: many functions, very versatile, and just a great "one of the first" toy
Cons: nothing to say really, great and unusually looking toy
Age: birth+

Price: $24.94 at Amazon.com