droolicious : Brio

Brio Push-Along Hedgehog Ready to Boogie-Boogie

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Darn you, Parry Gripp: I can't look at this Brio Push-Along Hedgehog without your "Boogie Boogie Hedgehog" going through my head. It doesn't help that the little sucker bobs its head as the kids scoot it along the floor.

All joking aside, the hedgehog is just one more example of the sturdy simplicity that drives Brio's Classic Range: solid-wood construction, edged rubber wheels, and that svelte Swedish design touch we've come to love.

Get yours for $21.95 AUD ( around $16 U.S.) at Urban Baby.

Glow-in-the-Dark Train Set: Ready for Thomas' Area 51 Adventure

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:30:00 GMT

My eldest two boys outgrew their wooden train sets by age 5, but had this Glow-in-the-Dark Space Train Station been an option, I'm betting we could've gotten a good three years more out of their train table.

Featuring 100 pieces -- including dozens that glow when the lights are out -- the set is compatible with Brio and Thomas & Friends wooden train sets. Its aliens, rockets and UFO mother ship, however, open up play well beyond either of those franchise's terrestrial borders.

$99.99 from Organize.com.

Brio Stacking Penguin

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Perfect for wintertime, Brio's stacking penguin includes a mommy (or daddy -- we're neutral about this sort of thing) that stacks to seven inches high and a baby that nestles neatly into its belly area in order to complete the puzzle. As with the equally cool stacking owl, all parts are made from heavy, solid and beautifully finished wood, while the grown-up penguin's wings are faux leather.

£14.67 (around $21 U.S.) from Active Toy UK.

Star Baby: How Do Gwen Stefani’s Sons Ride?

SunnyChanel — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:54:00 GMT

Gwen Stefani was out and about with her hubby Gavin Rosedale and sons Kingston and Zuma. How did her boys ride? They hitched a ride in and on their Brio Go Pushchair Stroller with Black Chassis with toddler extention. The stroller itself can be used in a forward or ‘rearward’ facing seat unit, has a simple one-click system and is compact and lightweight. This model is more popular in Europe, so you may have to order one from the good old U.K. You can find out more about Brio here or pick up the model like the one above here.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Plan City Adventure Set From Plan Toys

Chris Ford — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:31:00 GMT

Plan Toys are really awesome. They're all made from recycled rubber wood trees, stained (as opposed to painted) and fun to play with. Every kid I think who was at ABC with their parents probably stopped by the Plan Toys booth at one point and played with their stuff. My favorite is the Plan City Adventure Set.

The Plan City Adventure Set is a play set that you can buy in parts, and the great thing about it is the tracks build out into four different levels. I can really see lots of parents and kids playing with this together. All of the parts are compatible with other Plan Toys products, and they're also compatible with Brio and Thomas the Train toys too. In the Plan City Adventure Set they drive cars and not trains (as you can see from the picture) but it you're a train family you can get trains too.

Plan City, Table $220 and Adventure Set is $190. Check out all of the great stuff at PlanToys.com.

Brave New Baby: BRIO Network

Karen — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:04:00 GMT

BRIO wooden toys have taken the classics and gone high tech, all without using a computer. Deliver messages via "E-Mail Central" (a modified train set), search the Network with Detective Dex and his Search Pod, or my favorite: Attack the network with The Attacker and Viruses! It all sounds more imaginary than the traditional train set, and I do wonder if it will catch on with the kiddos.

The Attacker and Viruses, shown here, is $24.99 on Brio's website, where you can find the whole collection.

Behold the Aqueduct!

Kelly Mills — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:35:00 GMT

Here's a nice summertime alternative to the train set: a Brio Waterway Aqueduct set. For $74.99 you get a pump, water wheel, locks, fish, and more. For some reason I just want to lord over this and use the British accent actors use when they are pretending to be Roman: "Make tribute to Caesar for the aqueduct!"

Modern Brio Sorting Box: For Display Only

crazedparent — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:07:00 GMT

Every toddler has to have a set of sorting blocks, but I'll be damned if I let my kid play with Brio's new spin on a classic.

The Brio Shape Sorting Box is small, shiny and sports clean lines. Combine it with the pink, a chartreuse and hot red blocks, and you've got yourself a nice piece of modern art for a kid's bedroom.

I'm sure the Brio Box would be a big help in teaching them shapes and colors. But I'd never let my sons play with these blocks -- they'd get their fingerprints smudged all over the place. No way. No how.