FeltTales® from Babalu (review & giveaway)

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
CONGRATULATIONS ANGELA G. (non-blogger)!!

From the PR Firm: Can you remember a time when toys were powered by imagination and problem solving, instead of batteries and computers? Babalu, Inc. does. That’s why they’re bringing back classic toys that evoke feelings of nostalgia for parents, and provide hours of enjoyment for children.

Babalu’s cornerstone product is FeltTales®, felt story boards made from safe, soft and colorful felt. Story boards, which have been around for generations, inspire open-ended play as children use their imaginations to make up endless stories and situations for the characters on the board.

“This is playtime at its best,” said Babalu founder Blair Everett. “The reason our FeltTales are bestsellers year after year is because children truly love playing with them, and parents love to have their children to play with them.”

Each FeltTales story board has at least 19 moveable felt pieces and a different theme, varying from princesses to dinosaurs. For children who need a little extra help getting started, Babalu includes a story starter on the back of every FeltTales story board, which provides a starting point for the story.

Felt makes a perfect travel activity too, since it is mess-free and quiet. Children can entertain themselves silently, all while honing their creativity and storytelling skills. Plus, FeltTales story boards have a convenient travel handle and storage pouch for storing felt pieces when not in use.

Since its introduction in 2006, FeltTales have been praised by award agencies. Honors include two iParenting Media Awards, Canadian Toy Testing Council 3 Stars, Creative Child Seal of Excellence and Preferred Choice Awards, Dr. Toy Best Vacation Toy Award and a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

FeltTales are great for ages 3+, and each has a MSRP of $19.95. Here’s a look at the latest FeltTales story board, and a selection of Babalu’s best sellers:

*NEW* Pups in the Park
There’s a runway show at the dog park at 3pm, what will your dog wear? Pick out a crazy outfit, and don’t forget to accessorize your pooch!

Dinosaur Days
Take a step back in time to the Jurassic period! Help the Brachiosaurus reach the leaves of a tall tree, or swim in ocean with the Plesiosaurus at sunset.

Pretty Princess
Get ready for an enchanting night at the castle. Dress your princess in her favorite ball gown, and add a cloak as the evening approaches. Gather her handmaidens and travel by horse-drawn carriage.

Busy Day at the Farm
Have you done all of your chores? It’s a busy day at the farm. Watch the pigs roll in the mud. Milk the cow. Feed the bunny some carrots. Gather eggs from the hen. You can even drive the tractor through the corn fields.

Pirates at Shipwreck Cove
Can you find the buried treasure? Use the map to find the location. Don’t forget to bring a shovel! Is anyone following you? Bring your sword just in case, these pirates mean business.

Let’s Go to the Ballet
Perform at your very own dance recital. You can dress your ballerina in a variety of brightly colored tutus and dresses. There is even a felt rose bouquet to present to your prima ballerina for her outstanding performance.

Also joining the Babalu lineup are classic toys from WJ Fantasy, a company that Babalu recently acquired. WJ Fantasy has been specializing in nesting blocks, building blocks, advent calendars and books for more than 25 years. Here are some highlights for Holiday 2009:

Shadow Books • Ages 3+ • $14.95
These books each feature a 8” x 8” inch fold-out backdrop for the story, a 26-page book and flashlight. In each story, the flashlight is used to cast shadows on the die-cut pages with images of ordinary objects, the resulting shadow looks a little scary! Through storytelling and fun examples, the child learns that the shadows need not be feared. Comes in “Camping Out,” “Forest Fairies” and “Time for Bed.”

Do-Re-Mi Musical Building Blocks • Ages 4+ • $24.95
Stacking blocks and a musical instrument all in one...what fun! The top of each of these 8 musical blocks is fitted with a metal bar that, when struck with the mallet provided, plays as a xylophone. Each block top also depicts a graphic of the note positioned on the staff, representing the full "C" scale. And, with the accompanying songbook, children can learn to play simple songs all by themselves! One side of the block teaches children about the instruments that comprise an orchestra, another side shows children practicing their instruments at home, the third side features children playing homemade instruments, and the fourth side teaches counting through rhymes and visuals. A medley of fun for everyone! Largest block is 6.5" x 6 .5" x 9.5"; 8 blocks. Includes a carrying case.

ABC Building Blocks • Ages 3+ • $17.95
These imaginative blocks will help children learn the alphabet with the bright and colorful illustrations of artist Sarah Buell Dowling. Children can identify the letter by the picture, "M" is for "Moon" or "C" is for "Clown." Makes learning fun! Largest block is 6" x 6" x 6"; 10 blocks.

My Busy Day— Touch & Feel Building Blocks • Ages 3+ • $19.95
Each of the 10 blocks in this set highlights a different part of a toddler's very busy day, from their morning routine, to play time, preschool, nap time, dinner, bath time and finally as they are lulled to sleep by a bedtime story. Included on one side of each block is a familiar object to touch and feel. Soft pajamas, a smooth mirror, a fuzzy teddy bear, and more. Largest block is 6" x 6" x 6"; 10 blocks.

My Tool Box with Four Board Books • Ages 3+ • $19.95
Children will love pretending to help out on the job with their very own tool box. They can strap on the denim tool belt/apron with adjustable waist, and carry the plastic hammer, saw, screwdriver and pliers around in the two deep pockets. Or, children can lug the tools around in one of the two compartments of the brightly-colored tool box. The tool box comes with 4 board books, shaped like each of the four included tools; a hammer, saw, screwdriver and pliers. Amusing illustrations and rich text depict each tool as a character, describing what it does and how it works. Box measures 8.5" x 6.5" x 6.5"

WJ Fantasy’s products are available at http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.kazootoys.com/. Babalu’s FeltTales can be found at specialty stores nationwide and online at http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.roundtabletoys.com/. For more information visit http://www.babaluinc.com/ or http://www.wjfantasy.com/.

My take: I'm starting to wonder if my kids are spoiled - after all, they get to try out great toys and movies all year long. So it's really hard to find toys and such that I can get them for Christmas. Especially if I'm looking for more classic ones - you know, no batteries, no tie-ins with popular TV shows, ones that would require them to think and learn. It might be easier to look for the Holy Grail, yes? Well, maybe not. Babalu Inc., is bringing back felt storyboards, building blocks, and other classic toys that children have loved for generations! And as a bonus? Most of the company's toys are under $25, and a large number are priced under $20!

Babalu, Inc. sent us the Let’s Go to the Ballet Felt Board you read about above. I wasn't sure how my daughter would like it - she loves ballet, but would she like a toy that didn't move or make noise? A toy that is not a Barbie, Littlest Pet or Little Pony? You bet she did! Check it out:

She played with this for about an hour and has come back to it again and again. A few things we noticed that could use improvement - the ballerina's come with a what looks like a bikini bathing suit painted on and your child dresses them up with felt dresses or skirts. Unfortunately, there are no tops to go with the skirts and my daughter didn't like just seeing a bikini top on the dolls so she used the skirts below the board as audience members (see top photo). And the little carrying bag for the pieces needs to be bigger - it's a tight squeeze to get everything in there. Other than that, this is an awesome toy for little imaginations - my daughter designed many recital poses and had me take pictures of each one. Awesome toy - I'm looking forward to going back to Babalu and WJ Fantasy to find some Christmas toys this year - I recommend you do too!

About Babalu, Inc.: Babalu was launched in 2006 to better a classic toy tradition with the introduction of the FeltTales brand. Its founder, Blair Everett, has an exceptional 30-year career in the toy business and he brings that knowledge and commitment to the growing classic toy product with improving play and quality. In June 2009, Babalu acquired WJ Fantasy, a 25-year-old toy company specializing in a distinctive selection of nesting blocks, toys, advent calendars and children’s books. WJ Fantasy and Babalu will operate under two separate divisions until 2010, when they will be joined.

This post was written for Babalu and KidStuff PR who provided the item for review and giveaway. The author was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

The giveaway: One lucky winner (US address only please) gets to choose one item from the toys listed above (from either the FeltTales or the WJ Fantasy line)!

To win: Visit Babalu or WJ Fantasy and come back here and leave me a comment telling me the name of which item you would choose if you won! Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Friday, November 6, 2009. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 6 extra entries for a total of 7 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

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This review was sponsored by:

KidStuff Public Relations