Tuesday, October 30, 2012

BeginAgain™ Eco-friendly Dinosaur Puzzle

dinosaur wooden puzzle in storage box
As the holidays inch closer, malls get busier and stress levels rise. This year, my holiday gift guide focuses on gifts that do more than just amuse and entertain. The theme for my guide is Introducing Green to Others. In the next couple of weeks, I will be featuring gifts that are fun and engaging for kids, and most importantly, create eco-consciousness for the gift giver and parents alike.


We received the wooden Dinosaur A to Z Puzzle from BeginAgain™ to review. This was perfect because we love wooden toys and Big B loves dinosaurs - what a perfect pairing. Upon opening the box, he wanted to play with it right away and I couldn't blame him. 


dinosaur wooden puzzle pieces


The puzzle dimensions are: 11" x 8" x 1", it's a good size toy. Initially, I was concerned how we would be able to put the pieces together without the picture. After the second go-round, it was pretty clear that there was a certain pattern, the letters go from left to right and bottom up. The smallest pieces are quite small, so caution should definitely be exercised around small children. 


dinosaur a to z puzzle photo guide

wooden puzzle piece contrast against quarter for size

Here are some of my favorite features about this toy:
  • It's eco-friendly, made of natural rubber wood and stained with child safe stains.
  • The bright colorful pieces are incredibly attractive.
  • The wood is smoothly finished so there's no worries about splinters. 
  • Both the upper case and lower case alphabet are printed on it which makes it a great teaching tool for preschoolers.
The price point for this is $30. It's not cheap. However, it is comparable to other wooden puzzles of the same quality, complexity, and size. 

Whether the recipient is a boy or girl, this puzzle will get lots of attention and use. 

A little about BeginAgain™
BeginAgain™ is the brainchild of toymakers David Bowen and Chris Clemmer. Inspired by the philosophy and creations of Benjamin Barlowe, BeginAgain™ products engage children's imagination for invention, adventure, and good old-fashioned fun. Storytelling and eco-consciousness are interwoven in each of the toys the company developed. Products are made from natural rubber, cotton fabrics, sustainably harvested woods, wheat starch plastic, and bamboo. From art kits to puzzles to outdoor toys, BeginAgain™ has a wide variety of toys for children of all ages.

Connect with BeginAgain™ on Facebook.

Disclosure: I was provided free products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions expressed are my own.