Sometimes we get overwhelmed with the product submissions
here at Babble, but we like to give attention to everything that crosses our
desks. So what’s a busy editor to do? Take home a big bag of the most interesting
looking stuff and put the kids to work. Here are five that stood out during
toddler testing:
1. Oink Le Rouge and Memo Wee from Strangeco
The first things pulled from the bag were these over-sized
plushies by Strangeco, co-produced with the Museum
of Modern Art. My kid loved Oink Le
Rouge, while her little buddy couldn’t stop squeezing Memo Wee. These terry
cloth cuties are two of the characters in the Somewhere City series.
All ages.
Buy it from Amazon for $29.99
2. Horses My First Puzzles
A spontaneous “Ooooooh,” occurred when one tester opened
up Horses My First Puzzles sold at Little Jet Set. This travel pack looks like a kiddie lunch box and comes with five toddler-sized puzzles in separate baggies (which
all got mixed up fairly quickly). The beauty of this set is that if you’ve got
a puzzle lover like we do at our house, there are five different ways to
entertain them on a long plane, train or car ride. And they can carry this toy all
by themselves! As if.
Ages 2 and up.
Buy it from Little Jet
Set for $19.95.
3. ABC in NYC by Robin Segal
Everyone’s favorite book in
the bunch was ABC in NYC (Murray Hill, 2008) I was blown away by what my daughter recognized only being a resident
of this fine city for two years, most of those blissfully unaware. When she
id’d the taxi and the subway station I knew we didn’t have a car culture kid.
But my personal favorites were the less obvious NYC scenes. For letter “H”
there were knockoff Guess handbags being sold on the street and “S” offered up
a “Slice of Sicilian.”
The All 'Bout Cities series also has ABC in
Washington D.C.; both of these books are ideal companions on your
family vacations. While in the nation’s capital your kids can look out for “Pennsylvania
Avenue” and all of the swarming “news crews.”
All ages.
Buy ABC in NYC and for $12.95 at Little Jet Set, ABC in Washington D.C.
at Little Jet Set for $6.48.
4.
¿El Canguro Tiene Mamá¿ by Eric Carle
Still in books, we loved Eric Carle’s Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? in
Spanish, ¿El Canguro Tiene Mamá¿ (HarperCollins, 2008) Although
it was extremely embarrassing to learn my two-year-old knew more words en Español
than I.
All ages.
Buy it from Amazon for $6.99
5. Wow Wee Indoor/Outdoor Flyer - Butterfly
This flying robot (which is also for older kids than our testers)
was not able to reach its full potential since we were inside a small apartment. Instead, after
revving it up for a few seconds, the butterfly buzzed around the room and
scared the crap out of our cocker spaniel while making dad laugh hysterically. The
little ones were alternately fascinated and frightened. So, big hit with dad,
not so much with the kids (or dog).
Ages 6 and up.
Buy it from Amazon
for $19.99
Didn’t Make the Cut:
Bob the Builder: The Three Musketrucks
“We watch this later,” was the definitive word when
presented with Bob the Builder: The Three Musketrucks DVD.
We haven’t yet, and I am still wondering what exactly a Musketruck is. – April
Peveteaux
