Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Story Time Backgammon, By Thinking Cup Learning - REVIEW


Nature/ Type:            Backgammon learning set

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Young kids that enjoy stories + learning a new game  

I never really understood how the game of Backgammon works - having grew up learning the game entirely through words of mouth and “make-up rules”. I’m super grateful to VR Distribution for providing a copy of this “Story Time Backgammon” by Thinking Cup Learning for review. I’m thoroughly impressed and I can’t wait to share more about it with you today! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Learn Classic Backgammon Game Through A Story 

“Story Time Backgammon” adopts the same story-telling approach from its previous successful “Story Time Chess” project - it uses adorable illustrations, cheeky storyline, and wacky characters to introduce a tactical and kind-of sophisticated (grown-ups’) game to kids! We read about the tale of a swashbuckling pirate Peglegra the Bold who couldn’t wait to explore the legendary Diamond of Icelandic, and a Viking Chieftain who (having had enough of frozen potato diet) desperately wanted to explore to legendary Land of Fruitlandia. We read about high sea adventure of pirate ships and Viking boats, ship-bumping to the “sandbar”, a wooden gate that would only open when a whole fleet (15 ships) has arrived, a “Great Vortex” that changes the direction of the ships, and the rule of “bearing off” through the use of magical dice and power of Wind and Wave. Seriously, I never knew that the game of Backgammon can be THAT interesting. 

(2) 27 Mini Games To Practise Your New Moves 

I love the 27 witty mini games that help kids to practise the moves in an interactive and visual way. We started with the simple “reading the dice” game, “getting around the board”, “Rolling with 2 Dice, to the more complicated rules of “Rolling Doubles”, “Rolling Back into the Race” (after being bumped off to the middle sandbar), and “Bearing Off” (after assembling a whole fleet at “home board”). 

(3) Large & Double-Sided Game Board 

The game board is LARGE and double-sided - a colourful “story-side”and a more “serious” classic board on the reverse. I love the clever cutouts that can transform “boring” discs into exciting fleet of ships, the kids love shaking the Custom Dice Cups (that also can serve as storage containers), and everyone loves the sparkly “Wixi” dice (to help kids with the counting when they roll doubles). 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.bigw.com.au/product/story-time-backgammon/p/9900033963 (Australia) 

https://shop.goodgames.com.au/products/story-time-backgammon?variant=43348722581662 (Australia) 

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/story-time-chess/ (Australia) 


Check out also my other review on Story Time Chess (By Thinking Cup Learning)

Enjoy the video! 

LOGICO Piccolo & Language - Picture Stories, By LOGICO - Review


Nature/ Type:            Educational learning kit 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:   6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Parents looking for screen-free educational learning kit 

One frame, many uses. With LOGICO, kids can learn at their own pace and skill level. We can use the same board for a variety of activities - solving tricky mathematics questions, geometrical challenges, logical puzzles, learning about colours, or doing simple counting exercise. Today, I would love to share about another LOGICO Piccolo activity book - “Language - Picture Stories” (thank you LOGICO (Australia) for providing a copy). 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Screen-Free Frame With 10 Moveable Buttons 

LOGICO Piccolo board looks like an iPad with blue frame - but it’s screen-free, non-electronic. It’s a handheld frame with 10 moveable, colourful buttons that can be used together with various LOGICO Piccolo activity booklets. First, insert an activity card into the slot. Read the instructions, identify the problems, recognise the connection, and push the coloured buttons to the correct spots. Concept wise, it’s similar to a “draw a line to connect” activity, but LOGICO makes the exercise more engaging with its cleverly-designed activity frame and tactile experience. The kids enjoy the games and love pushing the buttons around the frame. 

(2) Activity Booklet With 16 Learning Cards & Games 

LOGICO Piccolo is designed for kids from 5 to 9 year-old (for younger kids - check out LOGICO Primo). I love the selection of LOGICO activity booklets that cover a wide array of topics - from basic numbers and counting, colours and shapes, thinking skills, geometry, and more. This “Language - Picture Stories” has 16 learning cards in it - focuses on time sequence (which picture comes first and which next), causal relations (which tool was used that caused the change), and recognises object that is out of place/ does not match a picture story. I love that the activities use settings familiar to the kids, and accompanied with bright and interesting illustrations. 

(3) Self-Checking Feature For Independent Learning 

I think the self-checking feature is the BEST part! Once the puzzles are done, kids can flip the cards over and independently confirm the answers by comparing the colour of the buttons. 

(4) Light-Weight & Compact Travel Kit 

Piccolo board is light-weight, compact, with no loose components. It’s a fantastic on-the-go activity set to bring along for short travel or family vacation! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 


Check out my other reviews on LOGICO products: 


Enjoy the video! 

Monday, March 18, 2024

Itzi, By Carma Games - REVIEW


Nature/ Type:            Board game/ card game 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids + grown-ups that enjoy quick, fast-paced word games 

Our family loves Slapzi, Buildzi, Tenzi, and we are super excited to add Itzi into our “zi-series”game collection, all from the spectacular Carma Games. Thank you Divisible by Zero for providing a copy! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Fast-Paced Word Game - Match Your Itzi Card With Letter Card! 

As per Carma Games usual style, Itzi is easy to play, with no fancy gadgets, fast-paced, and keeps things exciting. The set includes 120 Itzi cards (double-sided, each side contains a theme or feature of an object), and 75 letters cards (double-sided, 4 letters on each side). Each player starts with 5 letter cards. Next, flip over an Itzi card that defines a category to be matched (eg “it’z a board game”, or “it’z noisy”). Be the quickest player to slap your letter card on top of the Itzi card, and shout out an answer that starts with a letter from your letter cards (eg “m” for “monopoly” board game, and “n” for the noisy “monkey”). The first player to use up (and get rid of) all 5 letter cards, wins the game! The game is straightforward, takes (literally) a few seconds to learn, and has no downtime. 

(2) BIG Playability - Wide & Interesting Categories of Themes! 

 The Itzi cards cover a range of categories - from the no-brainer (eg “it’z a number between 3 and 13”), a slightly trickier type (eg “it’z a kitchen appliance”), and those with potential for a great laugh (eg “something you wouldn’t want to hold in your hand”, or “another way to say Hi”). The letter cards are double-sided - which really adds on to the fun! Players have to frantically flip our letters cards around -checking them from front to back, whilst squeezing our brain searching for the right word. 

(3) More Than One Way To Play 

There is more than one way to play Itzi! There is “Colour Itzi” (use only letters that match the Itzi cards), Icon Itzi” (use only letter cards that have the same icon as the one on Itzi card), and more variants! 

(4) Great Design & Detail 

The words on the Itzi cards are printed twice on each card, facing two directions. In other words, you can have multiple players sitting around the table / or opposite of each other, and no one would have a disadvantage because the words are easily readable by all. I LOVE this thoughtful detail! I also love the unique long rectangular game box. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.colourfullearning.com.au/products/itzi (Australia) 

https://www.m-g.com.au/product/itzi/ (Australia) 

https://www.laughandlearn.com.au/product/itzi/ (Australia) 


Check out my other reviews of Carma Games: 


Enjoy the video! 

Clixo Grip and Stick Pack (24 Pieces), By Clixo - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:            Magnetic building toy 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   4 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids and parents that enjoy innovative building/ construction/ creative toys 

“Uhhh mummy, look! This one has a rainbow on it!” The more you play with it, the more intriguing it is- that’s the magic of Clixo! Clixo is innovative, unique, inspiring, simply “wow”. Today, I’m going to share about Clixo Grip and Stick Pack (24 Pieces) from Clixo (thank you Divisible by Zero for providing a copy!). 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) New Exciting Clixo Parts With Suction Cups! 

Clixo is one of the COOLEST toys I have ever seen! It’s a blend between paper origami, magnetic tiles, building blocks, and tactile play. It bends, folds, connects, curves, spins - and NOW, with this “Grip and Stick” pack, it can even attach to windows and other smooth surfaces! This set comes with 24 pieces in 10 unique shapes - 2 Flops, 5 Quad, 1 TwoDot, 4 Longy, 1 Flap, 4 prismatic pieces in 3 styles, 2 spinners, and 4 suction cups. Clixo encourages intuitive and creative play; the pliable pieces can be twisted and folded, the structure can be snapped and secured together using the colour-coded magnetic dots (simply match the blue button to the red one to connect). The suction cups are such a fantastic addition! The kids had a blast adorning our sliding doors with their Clixo whirligig, flora pattern, ball-run tunnels, “hanging” jet, Queen’s necklace, and many other wild creations! We love the spinners that really bring the objects “alive”. 

(2) Enchanting Holographic Pieces 

This set contains pieces in blue and green theme. They are compatible with other Clixo packs (if you are looking for more multi-coloured options to expand your Clixo collections). One of the most exciting thing in this “Grip and Stick” pack is the holographic pieces that can create enchanting, iridescent-like effect that dances under the sunlight with dazzling colours of rainbows! 

(3) Made From Recyclable Synthetic Paper 

Clixo pieces are made from durable, recyclable synthetic paper with good strength. The magnets are impressively strong; the materials are non-toxic and kid-safe, and the products are in compliant with toy safety standards (ASTM, EN71). The packaging is sustainably manufactured using recycled and compostable bamboo pulp. I love that Clixo is light and compact, easily stackable, space-saving, and perfect for on-the-go play. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.coolthings.com.au/clixo-grip-and-stick-pack-24pcs (Australia) 


Check out my other Clixo reviews here: 


Enjoy the video! 

Monday, March 11, 2024

LOGICO Piccolo & Geometry 1, By LOGICO - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:            Learning Activities 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:   6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Parents looking for fun, screen-free activities for school-age kids 


There are so much to love about LOGICO Piccolo. It’s screen-free and non-electronic, although its tablet-like appearance might remind you of an iPad from a quick glance. Both of my kids love LOGICO! Today, I would love to share about LOGICO Piccolo and another activity booklet that we really love - “Geometry 1”. (Thank you LOGICO (Australia) for providing a copy!). 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Colourful & Engaging Activity Board 

LOGICO Piccolo is an activity board targeting kids of the age from 5 to 9 year-old (for younger kids - check out LOGICO Primo). Piccolo consists of a cleverly-designed handheld board with 10 colourful, tactile and chunky buttons that can move around the frame. There is a great selection of activity booklets that go with the Piccolo board. Insert an activity card into the slot, read the instructions, identify the problems, recognise the connection, find the matching colours, and push the buttons to the correct spots. There is an incredible series of “complex” thinking steps involved here, and I’m pretty impressed watching the kids enjoying the experience and “playing” with it like some really cool games! 

(2) Activity Booklets With 16 Learning Cards 

LOGICO activity booklets cover a diverse range of topics from colours, shapes, numbers, mathematics, language readiness,  and more. We tested out the “Geometry 1” booklet recently. I really enjoy the wide array of problems and logical thinking issues featured in the 16 learning cards. There are puzzles on finding the geometrical shapes that composed a figure, recognising objects from different perspectives, matching the position of an object, building patterns, and completing a sequence of patterns etc. The illustrations are colourful, and the activities are thought-provoking and fun! 

(3) Self-Checking Feature For Independent Learning 

We LOVE the self-checking feature! Once the puzzles are done, kids can flip the cards over and confirm the answers independently by looking at the coloured buttons printed on the reverse of each card. 

(4) Light-Weight, Compact & Travel-Friendly 

This is a fantastic educational resources which would stand the test of time. Similar to the Primo frame - Piccolo board is light-weight, compact, with no loose components. It is a marvellous travel companion! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.logicotoys.com.au/collections/logico-piccolo/products/geometry-1 (Australia) 


Enjoy the video!

51-Piece Pagoda Burr Puzzle, By Funyards Australia - REVIEW


Nature/ Type:            Wooden 3D puzzle 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Collectors of wooden puzzles 

I received this 51-Piece Pagoda Burr Puzzle from Funyards Australia a while back, and I must confess: I was REALLY scared to test it out. There was a little voice kept bugging me - “there is absolutely NO WAY I would ever be able to re-build this model once it’s dismantled!”. Guess what? I did it, FINALLY. All I can say is: this puzzle is not for the faint-hearted; but once you have figured out the tricks and the steps, the experience is simply priceless! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) 51-Piece Puzzle With Sophisticated Interlocking System 

This puzzle is ridiculously hard, but strangely satisfying. Shape-wise, it looks like a Pagoda with its multifaceted, four-sided architectural structure; it also resembles a crystalline solid rock with symmetrical cut. It’s a burr puzzle of jumbo size, consisting of 51 individual segments that can be grouped into roughly 11 categories of shapes, sizes and lengths, once disassembled. There is an illustrative solution that came with this puzzle, and thanks to the power of YouTube, I also found a few videos online that provide some handy tips to assemble this painfully challenging puzzle. I am immensely impressed by the ingenuity of the design, the sophisticated interlocking system, the precisely-cut bars that mesh and connect so seamlessly together. Oh that JOY when I slid in and twisted the final piece that successfully “locked-up” the structure securely, turning the multiple pieces into a single solid object. The sense of achievement is indescribable! It’s a captivating mechanism that would intrigue all puzzle-lovers! 

(2) Aesthetically-Pleasing Decorative Item 

This geometrically perfect structure is mesmerising and aesthetically-pleasing. It’s a beautiful decorative item at home, and will sure captivate and keep any of your puzzle-loving guests entertained for an hour or longer! 

(3) Sturdy Quality & Handcrafted by Local Artisans In Thailand 

I love the slight rustic feel of the handmade product. I love the sturdy quality and the contrasting shades of the timber that really accentuates the beauty of natural wood. The puzzle is manufactured in Thailand, and elegantly handcrafted by local artisans.

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Funyards Australia 

Enjoy the videos! 


How To Solve 51-Piece Pagoda Burr Puzzle Video: 


51-Piece Pagoda Burr Puzzle- Review Video: 

Thursday, March 7, 2024

My Parents Might Be Martians, By Exploding Kittens - REVIEW



Nature/ Type:            Board game for young kids 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   4 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Young kids and parents who enjoy silly, hilarious, fast-paced games! 

 “My Parents Might Be Martians” by Exploding Kittens is the cutest guessing game we have ever seen. I love the clever and fast-paced concept, and the hilarious rules. Thank you VR Distribution for another great recommendation! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) 300 Secret Words - A Hilarious Guessing Game Using Just Words With 1 Syllable 

The game includes 150 cards - with a total of 300 secret words for our “human kids” to guess. The grown-ups take on the roles as the “Martians”, who will give out clues using only words with 1 syllable. For example, for the word “Blue”, the “grown-up” aliens can give clues along the line of “sky, sea - not red, not green, not black” (but we can’t use words like “colour” - a word with 2 syllables). Another example is “Pencil” - we can give clues like “We use it to write” (all single-syllable words). I wasn’t aware how “Martian-like” (or “robot-like”) I sounded until the kids started giggling whenever I started talking in my newly-learned “language”. We had such a great laugh with the kids playing this! 

(2) Well-Designed For Young Kids Around 4-Year-Old 

Personally, I think this game is best-suited for 4-year-old or around that age (as recommended on the box). My four-year-old was really “smashing-it” - she got almost all the words correct - quick and accurate, and feeling really confident and proud. She asked to play with this game again and again, numerous times! The 300 secret words are well-chosen- simple enough for kids to guess and easy enough for adults to give out clues. (My 7 year-old thinks the game is not “challenging enough” as the words are too easy). 

(3) Cute Components 

The set also includes other components: You can use the sand-timer to instil some sense of urgency in the game, and also giving out Point Tokens (36 stars) if you are playing in teams. There is also a cardboard megaphone which the kids really love (although not strictly necessary in the gameplay). I love the 2 separate instructions for the grown-ups (a longer version) and for the kids (a shorter version that sets the scene). 

(4) Adorable Extraterrestrial Theme 

I love the adorable extraterrestrial-inspired artwork with one-eyed aliens and clueless human kid on the box. I also love the box inserts that keeps the components organised neatly in different compartments. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.bigw.com.au/product/my-parents-might-be-martians-card-game/p/9900011219 (Australia) 

https://www.gamesmen.com.au/my-parents-might-be-martians-card-game (Australia) 

https://www.kidstuff.com.au/products/my-parents-might-be-martians (Australia) 


Enjoy the video! 

Spelligator, By Junior Learning - REVIEW


Nature/ Type:            Board game for kids 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids and parents, especially those who enjoy word-building games (like Scrabble)

 

If I must name a favourite words-building games for kids, “Spelligator” from Junior Learning is definitely in my TOP three! In fact, Spelligator is apparently the first-ever product of Junior Learning (created in 2009) and remains one of its top-sellers! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Word-Building Game With Colourful Chomping Spelligators! 

Spelligator helps kids to navigate the tricky world of phonics through joyous games involving colourful alligators! We love words-forming exercise - Spelligator throws in some competitive elements and fast-paced thrill in it, making this game simply irresistible! The set contains 4 plastic alligators (or “Spelligators”), 75 letter tiles, a word list, and a game guide. To play, each player takes a “Spelligator”, and spread all the tiles faced down on the table. Now, each player flips over a tile in turn, until a player can create a word by placing 3 tiles on the back of their Spelligator. The play continues until all tiles have been turned over and no more words can be made. The winner is the player with the highest stack of correct words. My 7-year-old and myself are loving the game! 

(2) Colour-Coded Letter Tiles With 3 Unique Shapes To Guide Letter-Positioning

The 75 lower-case, colour-coded letter tiles consists of 23 word beginnings, 27 word endings, and 25 middle tiles. The 3 types of tiles have their own unique shapes to guide the letter-positioning (eg the tiles “ss” and “ng” can only be placed at the end, “br” and “bl” at the beginning, and “ea” and “oi” in the middle). The tiles cover consonants, vowels, digraphs, blends - there are sufficient possibilities to form simple CVC words (like “sit”, “rat”, “bag”), as well as complex words like “church”, “draft”, “speech”, and “stamp”. 

(3) Very Helpful Word List 

I LOVE the handy word list - featuring words that can be built using the tiles, arranged in alphabetical order for easy reference. I did a rough count - there are around / over 700 words in the list! 

(4) Quality Components & Adorable Design 

I love the sturdy plastic tiles that give us a sense of “accomplishment”, watching them stacked up into little mountains of words. The tiles have hollowed-out design to snugly fit into the mould on the alligator’s back. The idea of a chomping alligators as tiles holder is such an adorable idea for kids! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://juniorlearning.com.au/products/jl100-spelligator?_pos=1&_sid=d0c6be619&_ss=r

Enjoy the video! 

Sunday, March 3, 2024

4 To Win, By Families Play Forever - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:            A modern twist to classic "Connect Four" 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Strategy game lovers 

“Connect Four” is that sort of game that never grows old. We love the classic, but we can’t resist a creative variation of a well-loved strategy game. Check out “4 To Win” from Families Play Forever . Thank you Divisible by Zero for providing this amazing game for a review! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) A Creative & Modern Twist To Classic Connect Four 

Now, remember how the classic Connect Four works? Two players, taking turn to drop a ball or a disc into columns of a vertical board, strategically planning and aiming to get 4 in a row to win? “4 To Win” retains the same 4-in-a-row concept, save that now we can play the game with more players (2 to 4). “4 To Win” comes with a box of 85 square tiles (20 x each of blue, red, green, yellow; 5 x white). Each player chooses a colour and gets all 20 squares of that colour plus 1 white square. Place a white square at centre of table as the starter square. Each player now takes turn to lay a tile right next to another square on the table (touching a side of a tile, not just the corner). Players can use their special white tile as a “blocking square” to stop another player from winning. The first player who aligns 4 tiles of their colour in a row (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) wins the game. I’m genuinely surprised how addictive the game is - it’s a little “chaotic”, a bit more “unpredictable”, more strategy required, and harder to “control” without any confined border or frame restricting the placement of the tiles. 

(2) TEN Game Variations Included 

The GREATEST thing that I love about this set: there are SO MANY game variations included (10 to be exact), and it’s impossible to get bored with it! We love the “Modern 3D Rules” where we get to place our tiles on top of another coloured square up to a stack of 4. We also love the “5-in-a-row” rule for a more challenging variant, or “Colourful” rule for a 2 players game (each player plays with 2 colours). There is also a 4-in-a-L, “Rainbow” (4 different colours in a row), “Team Up” (2 v 2) and more! 

(3) Solid, Chunky & Colourful Tiles 

I also love the solid and chunky feel of the tiles; they are thick and colourful, and make a “click-clack” sound when knock against each other. Everything fits in the box neatly. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/4-to-win/ (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Squishmallows Take 4, By What Do You Meme - REVIEW


Nature/ Type:            Board game 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:   8 year-old ++ / or younger kids 

Who would love this: Anyone who loves quick & simple games + squishy Squishmallows! 

FANS of squishy, cuddly, squashy Squishmallows - Look Over Here! 👀 Have you heard of this adorable card game called “Squishmallows Take 4” by What Do You Meme ? It’s an irresistible game for lovers of cute plushies (thank you VR Distribution for providing a copy!). 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Race To Build A Squad Of Squishmallows 

The set includes 1 Squishmallows Benny Plush, 64 Squishmallows cards (16 Squishmallows types x 4 each), and 20 Number Cards. The 16 Squishmallows are divided into 4 “Squads”- Classic, Food, Fantasy, and Sealife (4 characters in each group). The game is easy to learn, fast-paced, and captivatingly fun (my two kids are loving it). On each round, place 4 Squishmallows cards faced-up on the table, each under a Number Card (1,2,3,4). Players simultaneously “bid” for their desired Squishmallows by revealing a Number Card of choice. Keep the Squishmallow card if you’re the only person who has picked the number. If 2 or more persons have chosen the same number, they must rush to be the first person to grab Benny to win the card. The first player who successfully build a full Squishmallows Squad with all 4 members wins the game. We sabotaged each other’s attempt to build their Squad whilst trying to gather sufficient Squishmallows to form a complete Squad. And of course, everyone loves to grab Benny! There is not much complex strategy in this game, which makes this a delightful family game for young kids. 

(2) BENNY! BENNY! BENNY

Everybody loves Benny - he is exclusive, hairy, squishy, with clip-on feature, and looking pretty cool with his iconic black beanie. Benny the Bigfoot was “born” on 11.09.2022, and is apparently, one of the “smartest creatures in the world”. 

(3) Super-Duper CUTE Squishmallows Artwork

The artwork is super-duper cute - each of the Squishmallows characters are adorable and charming. Sheldon the pink seahorse has a big snout and white belly, Leonard the Lion has unique rainbow mane, Malcolm the Mushroom has the loveliest smile, and Carl the cheeseburger is such a delicious classic! 

(4) Organised & Solid Game Box 

I love the colourful Squishmallows graphics on the box. The game box is solid, and I love the thoughtful and organised inserts for the components. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.target.com.au/p/squishmallows-take-4-card-game/69080463 (Australia) 

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/squishmallows-take-4-card-game/ (Australia) 

https://www.gamesmen.com.au/take-4-squishmallows-card-game (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Monday, February 19, 2024

Ship - 3D Interlocking Wooden Puzzle - By Funyards Australia - REVIEW


Nature/ Type:            Interlocking Kumiki wooden puzzle 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Collectors of wooden / Kumiki puzzles 


We are intrigued by the beauty and wisdom behind Kumiki puzzles - the ingenious way they come together using non-identical, seemingly unrelated parts and pieces; all interlocked cleverly to form a recognisable, decorative object. Today, I would love to share about this “Ship - 3D Interlocking Wooden Puzzle” from Funyards Australia

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) 16 Interlocking Puzzle - Easy/ Medium Version

The greatest thing about a Kumiki puzzle - it’s fun to assemble, but it’s also extremely fun to take them apart. We love testing and pushing, searching for any moveable piece(s) that can be pulled out from the model and get the ship model “dismantled”, bit by bit. The ship puzzle is made of 16 interlocking wooden pieces of various shapes and sizes. Compared to some of the similar puzzles that we have previously tested, we find this Ship version of be of a slightly-easier range in term of difficulty level. I think this is a perfect puzzle for a beginner who wants to have a first taste of solving a kumiki puzzle/ or kickstarts their timeless collection of wooden puzzles. Assembling the base of the ship is pretty straightforward; putting together the four “masts” in the middle requires a little “work” and careful arrangement. I love how all the pieces are held together securely, finally, once we insert the last two puzzle pieces that fill-up the remaining gaps. It’s fascinating to watch the pieces joining together flawlessly, in such a seamless and enchanting way! 

(2) Decorative Item & Imaginative Toy 

This puzzle is a decorative item, and also an engaging toy to be incorporated into the kids’ imaginative small world creation. It’s chunky, adorable, with details such as windows, “masts” of varying heights, a steady base and hull. 

(3) Handmade Wooden Product From Thailand

I love the rustic touch of a handmade product. I love the precisely-cut pieces that can interlink and fit perfectly, the fine and sturdy quality, and the contrasting wooden shades that accentuate the beauty of natural timber. The toy is manufactured in Thailand, and elegantly handcrafted by local artisans. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Funyards Australia 


Enjoy the videos: 


How to build the "Ship - 3D Interlocking Wooden Puzzle": 

Video Review: 

Rainbow Phonics Tiles, By Junior Learning - REVIEW


Nature/ Type:            Phonics learning set  

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:   5-8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Teachers/ parents looking for colourful words/ phonics learning resources to keep kids interested & engaged. 


Junior Learning has an interesting range of learning resources to explore the system of words-building and language. Today, I would love to share about “Rainbow Phonics Tiles” - another learning tool that we genuinely enjoy! 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) 90 Tiles To Form & Build Words 

Within the box you will find 90 tiles with lower-case letter(s), including single letter (a short vowel or consonant), A combo of two or more letters such as a “long vowel (“ee”, “oo”, “igh”) and other vowel digraphs (“ow”, “ar”, “ur”). Our two kids (4 and 7 year-old) love using the tiles to explore and form words (sometimes, completely by “chance” 🤣) by combining the vowels and consonants. They built simple CVC and CVVC words like “sun”, “cup”, “sheep”. You can also form words with split digraphs (eg “cake”), adjacent consonants” (eg “tree”), and multi-syllabic (eg “bedtime”). Our kids love the cute sounding words like “buzz”, and “chuck”. This set provides HUGE words-building possibilities with many common letter patterns. 

(2) Colour-Coded Tiles For Visual Clarity 

The letters are “colour-coded” to give “visual clarity” to the  word-formation. Consonant tiles are in sky blue colour, and common patterns like “ear” are in purple. 5 vowels (aeiou) are in red, and there are 5 additional “e” tiles in pink. Consonant digraphs like “ch”and “sh” are in yellow, and long vowel like “ee” is in green, etc. 

(3) Magnetic Tiles To Use With Pop-Up White Board

The tiles are made of cardboard with foam board, which gives them a chunky, tactile 3D feel. Each tile has magnetic sheets at the back, which can be attached easily to the pop up whiteboard comes in the box. The set also includes some white frames of different lengths (2 to 5 empty letter spaces), which we have been using for “guess the word” game. The magnetic feature makes it easy to arrange the letters, join common suffixes (such as “ng), and change a consonant/ vowel to make new word (eg from “bat” to “cat”). We can also use this with different Junior Learning resources for more engaging play, such as the “CVC Objects” set that I have previously reviewed. 

(4) Self-Contained Storage Box 

I love that the tiles are encased in a self-contained storage box, held together securely with elastic band for easy storage. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://juniorlearning.com.au/products/rainbow-phonics-tiles?_pos=3&_sid=34225541d&_ss=r

Enjoy the video! 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Musical Pairs, By Starfish Music - REVIEW


Nature/ Type:            Music-theme card game for kids   

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:   5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Young & little music-learners 

“Musical Pairs” by Starfish Music is THE FIRST and only card game I have ever tested which was created with the aim of helping kids to learn musical notes through play 🎵 . There are so many great things to LOVE about this game. Thank you Starfish Music, for giving me the opportunity to review this. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Match The Musical Letters & Musical Notes 

The set includes 52 cards (26 pairs of matching cards). Half of the cards have one of the 7 musical letters (from A to G) on them, and the other half have a semibreve note together with the stave (5 horizontal lines) and a clef (treble or bass). To play the matching game, shuffle the cards, lay them face down across the table. Players take turns to flip over 2 cards. If the two cards match (ie note matches with the corresponding letter), keep the pair and go again. If the cards don’t match, flip the cards back over. Our two kids have been learning (and struggling with) music notes for a while - it was amazing to watch them having so much (competitive) fun counting the stave lines, identifying the musical note, finding pairs, and testing out their memory! The great thing? There are more than one way to play with these cards. You can do “Slap” (slap the matching card), “Go Chopin!” (similar rules as “Go Fish”), and “Zebra!” (playing notes on instrument). What a creative way to reinforce notes-reading skill with fun! 

(2) Grouped In Different Difficulty Levels 

We can group the cards in different categories and play the games in progressive levels of difficulty. Level 1 cards (in blue) have notes positioned on a line or within a space of the staff. Level 2 cards (in red) have notes outside of the musical staff (which is more challenging for beginners). We can also divide the cards into “treble” and “bass” clefs notes. 

(3) Helpful Answer Card 

The set also includes a helpful “cheat sheet” showing the names of the notes. It really doesn’t matter if the parent/ kid has no prior music knowledge - we can always refer to the handy answer card when we’re stuck. 

(4) Compact Card Game With Adorable Graphic 

I LOVE how compact the game is. The artwork is eye-catching and adorable, and the cards are thick and solid for long-lasting play. This is an excellent product! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://starfishmusic.com.au/product/musical-pairs (Australia) 

Enjoy the video!