Happy Halloween!

This year Spiderman (Miss E) and her nemesis, the evil Dr. Bumble (Little C) will be trick or treating around the neighborhood. Spidey is super excited and is hoping for a "million M&Ms." The evil Dr. Bumble repeats whatever his sister says, so he too wants "MMmMMMmmmms." Last year I was entertained by Sir E of Bellis and her pet dragon. So in honor of brave royals everywhere on this All Hallows Eve, Kobold is celebrating his favorite knight toys:


En garde! Little chevaliers will hail the arrival of these brave knights to their castles and battles! This set is the perfect compliment to the Papo Medieval Castles and provides much entertainment through role playing, sparking the imagination of little knights, as they defend and honor their kingdom!

This molded plastic 2-Headed Dragon Figure from Papo Toys likes to challenge the knights, cause chaos in the castle, or capture a beautiful princess. The Papo 2-Headed Dragon Figure will stand up to the greatest of wars and any magic Merlin can summon, stretching children's imaginations by inventing a medieval wonderland.

Enjoy putting together illustrator Donna Ingemanson's fantasy view of a castle, king, wizard, princess, owl, dragon, and of course, the knight in shining armor on his destrier--that's a horse for jousting, by the way. Heraldry and secret symbols form a border around the scene.The Knights jigsaw puzzle's 100 pieces are stored in an irresistible hinged storage tin. It's sturdy, but we're not sure that it is fiery dragon breath-proof.

Dragonrock castle! This awesome craft-turned-toy has all pieces made from pre-cut and pre-punched sturdy white cardboard, so they can be put together without glue and scissors. It also comes with a set of 12 markers, all packed in a nice box, which makes it a great present or take along toy. The beauty of Calafant toys is that it allows children to create their own toy and give them a sense of accomplishment. They will love to decorate this toy in whichever way they want.

Kobold Toys, Spidey and the evil Bee wish you and your beloved a spooky and FUN Halloween!

P.S. Only 55 days until Christmas!!! Now, that can be scary!

Have a Ball!

This past Saturday it rained and rained and rained. Miss E and Little C created this crazy game with a ball and a child-size broom. I never really understood the gist of the game, but I did love listening to the giggles on such a gloomy day. It also reminded me that sometimes the simplest toy- the ball!- can provide endless laughter and entertainment. Here are some of Kobold Toy's favorite balls- perfect (and affordable!) birthday and holiday gifts:

For the baby/toddler, we love the Allegro stacking ball. This colorful and extra soft plush ball is perfect for grabbing, stacking and rolling. The ball can be separated into 4 pieces. We also love the Lilliputiens Musical Handles Ball. This ball is perfect for little hands. It emits 8 different sounds and is suitable for children from 6 months up. Lilliputiens also offers the pretty in pink Musical Humps Ball.

For the toddler and up interested in kicking, rolling, and creating crazy in-door ball games, Kobold offers the brightly colored balls by Tatiri. These balls are perfect for inside and outside play and come in fun designs. We especially like the cars, rockets and hearts patterns.

Now, I appreciate that not everyone would appreciate an indoor game with a real ball (hello, Mimsi!). For those who prefer a quieter ball experience (stocking alert!!), Kobold recommends the puzzle balls by Ravensburger. These perfectly crafted, curved puzzle pieces allow for an exact fit and are easily assembled together to form a solid, smooth ball - with no glue required! Kobold Toys offers the sports ball in the form of soccer, basketball and baseball. And for the holidays, we are offering the puzzle ball in seven beautiful patterns. The end result of one of these 60-piece puzzles is an unique decorative piece that can be displayed in your child's room or hung in the Christmas tree as an ornament.

Also, just a reminder that there are only a few days left to complete a product review on the site and be eligible for a $50 gift certificate towards your next purchase.

Have a ball! ~ Ashley

Why Not Give Them A Bag Of Books?

Kobold Celebrates Author Clare Beaton

On one of his many adventures around the world, our little Kobold discovered the talents of Clare Beaton. Ms. Beaton is an award-winning artist and author who creates children's books using a colourful range of mostly vintage materials. She is a highly sought-after creator of handcrafted children's picture books. She has had nearly fifty books published, many of which Kobold is happy to offer through Kobold Toys. The illustrations in her books are filled with color and texture, sure to captivate the eyes and mind of any child.

Here are some of Kobold's favorites- sure to be wonderful additions to your child's libary:

There's a cow in the cabbage patch, moo, moo, moo! She should be in the dairy, what shall we do? Tour the farmyard and help all of the animals find their way to their rightful spots in this topsy turvy jaunt. Rhyme and repetition complement the story of a farm full of animals that are each exploring another's home.

Elusive Moose. Search for the elusive moose in the snowy north, and meet lots of other northland animals on the journey. The hardcover edition includes endnotes about all the creatures, a guessing game of animal footprints, and a page of informative facts about the moose.

I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur. Join a young boy on a dreamland adventure to prehistoric times, where he meets dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. The rhyme filled text is followed by fascinating notes about the age of dinosaurs.

Playtime Rhymes for Little People. Act out each of the imaginative selections in this hand-sewn anthology. The forty rhymes and games encourage active play and participation with step-by-step instructions to follow. Book with CD edition includes songs and rhymes performed by Susan Reed.

Welcome a new baby into the world with Baby’s First Book, featuring Clare Beaton’s exquisite hand-sewn collages. Paired with a cuddly White Bunny Rabbit puppet, this gift set makes the perfect present and is presented in an eco-friendly, reusable green shopper tote with a gift tag to personalize it.

We know you'll love these illustrated books as much as Kobold does. Kobold Toys has a wide selection of books available on our site for ages newborn to seven. Happy Reading!

The Advent of Christmas

You can pretend you are still distracted by pumpkins and spiderweb decor, but I know you are starting those holiday lists! (And if you are not, and you still need to catch up on Halloween fun, check out the offerings at Kobold Toys!).

So it is official, Kobold and I are getting ready for Christmas!!! My family has been in search of a fun and reusable advent calendar for the past few years. We have picked the cardboard ones up at the bookstore in the past, and they are fine... but an advent calendar is supposed to be a special calendar that you use to count down the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas.

Our little Kobold has found some adorable advent calendars that meet the needs of beauty, fun, and longevity.

Mudpuppy's At the North Pole Advent Calendar is a fun, creative way to count down the days to Christmas! First choose your favorite 24 stickers (bears, reindeer, snow angels, skiers, stars, snowmen, etc.) and place them on the calendar squares. Each day of Advent, move one sticker from the square onto the calendar board's background picture to build a scene. On Christmas Eve, your beloved adds Santa. The stickers are reusable, so you can vary the scene year by year.

We also offer Mudpuppy's Christmas Tree Advent Calendar to help you enjoy a festive December. First choose your favorite stickers (illustrated by Janell Genovese) and place them on the calendar Squares. Then beginning December 1, move one ornament from the calendar to the tree until it is decorated. On December 24, add the angel to the tree top.


The Playmobil Christmas in the Forest Advent Calendar features 24 different items to open up each day of December. This Advent Calendar also features a fun backdrop that all of the prizes can be played with in. With this advent calendar kids not only count backwards till Christmas but won't stop playing with the addition of each new figurine every day. Playmobil also offers the Unicorn Fairy Advent Calendar for the princess set.

Stifle those Bah Humbugs! Christmas is only 66 days away, so start planning now! Kobold Toys is adding new toys and games every day, as well as holiday decor for the little ones, so please visit the site for the latest must-haves for your beloved.

More Little Wonders from Lilliputiens

Our little Kobold has returned from a magical trip to Belgium to visit our friends, the Lilliputiens, and he can not wait to reveal the newest finds. It is no secret that Kobold loves the beautiful and imaginative toys from this company, and we are bringing you more wonders in time for your fall and holiday shopping.
Kobold has been waiting for the beautiful Noah's Ark to arrive. The set includes Noah’s Ark, 6 pairs of animals and two characters to play with at home or on the go. The animals are all chunky plush bean filled toys and have lovely attention to detail, including embroidered features. This is a wonderful gift for a child nine months and up.

This musical humps ball is adorable for a first ball. It is soft, easy to grab and produces 8 different sounds. Kobold Toys also offers a green ball with handles. So cute for the six months and up crowd.

A must have are the fun and educational farm blocks. Stacking, touching, counting, and discovering six animals, their moods and their favorite food. The cubes were created specially to stimulate your child's dexterity and develop the sense of touch. The set of six cubes are made in true creative Liliputiens style: one side is paper noise and rattle, one side is moods, one shows shapes, another numbers and materials. You can mix them up to create new and funny animals too!

Leo the Photo Album has small pockets to insert 10 photographs. A great toy and album to insert photos of Papa C, Mimsi, Cousin George, Uncle William and of course "bad dog." We always created albums for Miss E of little adventures... her favorite animals from the zoo... holidays with the cousins... even a walk around her neighborhood showcasing her favorite restaurants and people. A great distraction at a restaurant or waiting in the doctor's office!

Kobold loves the Basile the Monkey character and your beloved will love the new Basile Musical Cuddle too! During the day Basile is your cuddly pal, and at night your bed time music box. Easily attaches to the crib for entertainment while your little darling drifts off to dreamland.

Don't forget to visit Kobold Toys to review all of the little wonders from Lilliputiens. And remember, orders above $40 (pre-tax and after coupons) ship for free, and below $40 they ship for a very small flat fee of $3.99.

As our little toy guru Kobold says when in Belgium... "Amusez-vous apprendre!"

Celebrate Discovery!

Columbus Day honors the day Christopher Columbus discovered America. The first Columbus Day celebration was held in New York City in 1792 - the city celebrated the 300th anniversary of the landing. Columbus Day has been celebrated annually since 1920. I am sure many of your children are learning about Christopher Columbus this mon and grateful for the holiday. It is a wonderful time to celebrate discovery with crafts and projects.

Miss E is just starting to ask questions about the world. And a globe is on her growing wish list for Santa Claus. Kobold Toys is happy to share some of our favorite toys to help expand your child's mind about the world in which we live.

Kobold loves the Ravensburger Children's Globe which builds on the 3D puzzle concept. The strong, durable and slightly curved puzzle pieces fit together very well, to ensure a secure ball once complete. It is easy to assemble and has great stability. The puzzle comes with a booklet that includes information about different locations around the world making this puzzle a complete learning experience.

The Global Adventure Book set from Barefoot Books is a perfect gift for your young explorer. The set includes We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey Through Tanzania, We’re Sailing Down the Nile: A Journey through Egypt, and My Granny Went to Market: A Round the World Counting Rhyme. This set is packed in an eco-friendly, reusable green shopper tote with a gift tag to personalize.

Mudpuppy's challenging new 100-piece U.S.A. States & Capitals puzzle comes in an irresistible hinged storage tin. The illustrations by Janell Genovese keep the fun factor!

We also love the Culture Club Tote which introduces your child to to different cultures with five multicultural dolls. The zipper tote features five outside clear pockets, each sporting a soft 5" doll that represents a different culture. Also, included with the tote is a flashcard with how to say "hello" in Spanish, French, Swahili, Hindi, and Mandarin. Everything is soft and surface washable.

And as they say in Spain, Diviértete aprendiendo!

Think Pink!

October is officially National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My husband's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and after a valiant effort passed away in September of 1991. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, "an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will occur among women in the United States during 2009." Since family history is an important risk factor, my family supports breast cancer research, and we promote the importance of early detection and screening. So if you or your sister or your mother have been putting off that mammogram, encourage them to get an appointment on the calendar. Participate in local and regional walks and fundraising and promotional activities this month- every research dollar counts!

In honor of the men and women battling breast cancer, Kobold Toys is asking you to "Think Pink" this month.

For some pink toy inspirations, here are some of Kobold's favorites:

Corolle's Pink Ragdoll is an all-cloth doll with embroidered features that will become your child's best friend! Soft and light it’s easy for little hands to grasp and to hold- perfect for a first doll. This doll is machine washable, just in case it gets a little too much love.

HABA's Pia Jewelry Box is perfectly pink. The Pia jewelry box consists of 2 pieces. The bottom has 4 compartments to hold all kinds of valuables, and the top has a mirror.

Beautiful Baby Rose created by Lilliputiens is soft, cuddly and completely adorable. Baby Rose is a true rag doll, velvety soft and very cuddly and will be a lovely gift for a young child to treasure. She comes in her own zip bag, and is recommended from 9 m+.

The beautifully painted wooden doll house from Le Toy Van comes complete with a starter furniture set. The house is painted in a pleasing pastel pink colour, the windows and doors are decorated with a heart motif and the roof glitters! The windows, shutters and doors all open and the interior of the house is beautifully decorated with intricate detail.

Thank you for "thinking pink" this month!

Feed Their Imagination with Books!

My family loves to read (anyone who knows me, knows that this is an understatement). Miss E goes to bed after two stories with at least four to five books to "read." Her brother at 18 months just started throwing a sofa pillow on the floor and snuggling down to look at books and pretend to read. So exciting! If you read to your child, you know the magic that happens and the value books bring to your child's development. Plus, I enjoy reading classics from my childhood and finding new "classics" from this generation of writers. I just love books (like my mother and brother), and I enjoy passing this love on to my own children.

Kobold Toys is introducing an entire new book section to our website, and WE ARE EXCITED! We are featuring the wonderful titles from Barefoot Books. Barefoot Books began with two mothers who wanted their children to have books that would feed the imagination, while instilling a respect for diversity and a love of the planet. Today, they are a world-wide community of writers, artists, storytellers, musicians, and others who are committed to providing timeless stories and captivating art that can help children become happy, engaged members of a global society.

If you love gifting books (and in our house aunts, uncles, Papas, and even Santa and the Easter Bunny know books are the gift of choice), Kobold Toys is offering "Bag of Books" gift sets in various themes- from baby to pirates! Here are some of our favorites...so far. These collections are wonderful gifts for any occasion.

Singalong Gift Set. Get ready to sing and dance along to these lively tunes! Barefoot best-sellers The Animal Boogie, The Journey Home from Grandpa’s, and The Farmyard Jamboree — all with singalong CDs — are packaged in an eco-friendly, reusable green shopper tote with gift tag to personalize. (Age 2+)

ABC's and 123's Gift Set. Develop counting and alphabet skills with these fun and educational books. Featuring Alligator Alphabet, Counting Cockatoos, One Moose, Twenty Mice and Zoe and her Zebra. Packed in an eco-friendly, reusable green shopper tote with a gift tag to personalize. (Ages 1-4)

Storytime Gift Set. Fuel the imagination and expand your library with classic stories as well as modern tales. Featuring Storytime: First Tales for Sharing with story CD, The Story Tree: Tales to Read Aloud with story CD, The Gigantic Turnip, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Prince’s Bedtime, paired with a charming Prince puppet. Packed in a colorful canvas tote with a gift tag to personalize. LOVE IT! (Ages 3-7)

Kobold Toys hopes you are as excited as we are about this new line of books. By reading aloud to your child, you will be sharing one of life's most valuable gifts and opening all kinds of doors for the future. Plus who doesn't love snuggling down with your little ones for any reason?!

Have fun reading (and maybe learning too)!

P.S. Don't forget to write a review of any of our books or toys. Each review submitted through November 1 will automatically be entered into our sweepstakes for a $50 gift certificate. The more reviews you complete, the more opportunities to win. Perfect to use towards that must-have toy on your holiday list!

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak was the 1964 Caldecott Medal Winner for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year. In 2009, it remains a top five favorite in Miss E's libary. For those of you unfamiliar with this classic tale, Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of Max, a mischievous boy in a wolf suit, whose imagination allows him to escape his home and travel to the land of the "wild things."

On October 16, director Spike Jonze will bring the beloved tale of Max to the big screen. It is rated PG, so Miss E will have to wait a little bit. I am sure the film will inspire birthday themes and gifts in the coming months, and Kobold Toys is delighted to offer four Where the Wild Things Are puzzles from Mudpuppy. Kobold Toys and Miss E are devoted fans of Mudpuppy puzzles because of their quality and the creativity of the artwork. These new themed puzzles do not disappoint! Alone they are fun gifts for the "wild things" fan or paired with the book a lovely gift for a birthday or the holidays.

Where the Wild Things Are Floor Puzzle. The floor puzzle features the image of Max as king of all wild things. The puzzle measures 2 x 3 feet and include 24 jumbo pieces.

Where the Wild Things Are 2-in-1 Puzzle. Learn the opposite concepts of "Asleep" and "Awake" while putting together two of Maurice Sendak's illustrations. Max cavorts with his wild friends in one illustration, and a Wild Thing sleeps as Max sails home to his own bedroom. The puzzle has received the Parent's Choice Award, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products and Creative Child Seal of Excellence.

Where the Wild Things Are Block Puzzle. Turn the blocks to form six different scenes from Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are classic book.

Where the Wild Things Are First Puzzles. Little ones love Max and his Wild Things friends and they will love the four puzzles packed in the usual colorful box with a an easy to tote handle.

If you do have a wild thing lover, while I was searching for information on the movie I came across this incredible cake inspired by the character Moishe. It would be fun to recreate cupcakes for Miss E's class with the wild thing characters on October 16. Of course that would require a the bakery fairy to visit me and bless me with some kitchen talent.... I can dream! For now I will stick to puzzles and books, and hosting our own wild rumpus time at home.

Have fun learning or Max and a wild thing may EAT YOU UP!

Who Said That High End Toys Are Expensive?