Operation Survival, By Bioviva - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Unique board game with a "survival" theme 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Adventure lovers who want to learn more about surviving in hostile environments! 

We love watching “You v Wild”, an interactive TV programme revolves around helping the character making life-and-death decisions, navigating harsh real-life environments to survive and complete missions. I was excited when I discovered this “Operation Survival” game from Bioviva that teaches kids about survival in hostile territory! Thank you Divisible by Zero for providing a copy for review! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) 360 Thrilling Survival Questions - The game starts with a dangerously thrilling setting - a plane crash has just occurred, and players are thrown into a remote no-man land. Our aim? To survive! The set includes 120 “Survival” question cards (with a total of 360 questions). Player that answers the most questions correct, beats the rest in challenges, and accumulates the most points, wins. The questions include multiple-choice, true-or-false, “guess the footprints” / silhouette of a creature etc. Answers and brief explanations are contained at the reverse side of the cards. We learned useful knowledge and skills such as what to do when a shipwreck occurred far from land (the advice is to stay still in order to avoid energy loss), and what to do when ice cracking beneath us (the answer is to lie down on stomach to redistribute the weight over a large surface). Awesome survival tips! 

(2) Challenges & "Actions" - When more than one player got an answer correct, players need to perform a challenge to break the tie. The challenges include matching silhouette with the strange creatures in reference sheet, taking turn to name animals starting with a selected letter, and running around the table and be the first to return to the seat. Love the “actions” element! 

(3) Strategy - The set also comes with 25 cardboard tiles and 5 adventurer’s pawns. Each of the tile depicts a natural habitat (savannah, mountains, volcano etc) and marked with survival points. Players need to strategise movement in each round to gain the highest score. 

(4) Sustainable Components - The game is made in France. The components are printed on recycled, recyclable paper and cardboard, using non toxic ink. The wooden pawns are made from beech trees harvested in managed French forest.

We LOVE this game! 

# gifted in exchange for review

Where to buy this: 

https://www.entropy.com.au/products/bioviva-operation-survival-game (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Micki Play World - Monsters, By Micki - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden imaginative play-set 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Any kids that enjoy story-telling and imaginative play with themes! 

We love our toy library! From time to time, we discovered unseen-before gems and fantastic brands. Recently, it was this “Micki Play World - Monsters” from Micki that has captured our fascination, and I can’t wait to tell you more! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Adorable Monster Theme - I have not seen many monster theme play-sets that target young kids before, so this is definitely a delightfully rare find for me! Included within are walls, a felt-material play mat with separable part, magnetic front wall, Halloween-inspired magnetic pieces, a cute single-person car with rollable wheels, a stone, a tree, and 2 figurines to create our tale of “scariness”! I love the symbolic feel of the elements - child-like, non-scary, adorable in all ways! The kids love sticking and re-arranging the magnetic pumpkin, flying-bat, cluster of three eyes, spider, and crescent moon. I love the abstract and simplicity of the shapes - the “ghost” is a white crafted stone with two cute-as-button dotted eyes; the adventurer is made of olive green sculpted rocks, the “tree” is a cone-shaped structure that reminds me of a modern Christmas tree, and I really love the soft grey mat with removable spot of green for some “haunted” touch. It’s easy to get into story-telling mood with these whimsical components and versatile pieces, and we love how the play-set encourages creativity in a simple form! 

(2) Buidable Walls For Different Settings -  I absolutely love the 4 separable and buildable walls that can be mix and match in so many different (and crazy) ways! The grey wall with a non-symmetrical cut-out door is magnetic, the lavender wall is a pop of loveliness, the other smaller grey wall has a fancy window with weird angles, and the fourth wall is a basic wooden piece. All the walls can be easily taken apart and interlocked in a few different arrangements to create a variety of settings, which is such an awesome feature! 

(3) Material & Quality - The play-set is designed in Sweden, and made of durable FSC-labelled wood and felt. 

(4) Expandable Collection - I also love that this set is part of a collection of Micki play-world of different themes, meaning, we can expand the set with more accessories and imaginative settings! 

Where to buy this: 

https://mickiofsweden.com/en/toys/figurines-play-worlds/play-worlds/micki-play-world-monsters/

Enjoy the video! 

Equilibrio, By Foxmind - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Balance game - but of a more advanced-level 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Anyone that loves to challenge themselves with building tall structures + balancing + problem-solving - for both adults and older kids 

I LOVE games that incorporate hand-eye coordination with the science of weight distribution, beauty of balance, and mystery of gravity point. If you are looking for a challenging balance game that pushes you to the next level of “impossibility”, you would love “Equilibrio” from Foxmind . Thank you Leisure Learning for providing a copy of review! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Super Cool Balance Games - I enjoy balance games, and have had the honour of testing out a few different versions in the past. Most of these games gear more towards younger kids with the aim of training up dexterity of little hands. “Equilibrio” is probably the most advanced balance game I have ever seen. The set comes with 18 “Geoblocks” in various geometric shapes, and a booklet that contains 60 illustrations of complex geometric structures. The objective? Construct the structures vertically (many of them seem almost impossible to be built at first glance!), whilst maintaining their equilibrium once completed! I love the insanely addictive problem-solving process, transforming a two-dimensional illustrations into 3D whimsical structures! Some puzzles require us to figure out the equal weight distribution by placing 2 blocks simultaneously at perfect timing, some require the precise balancing of a block precariously at the edge of a contact point, some require us to search for the centre of gravity while figuring out the sequence and the correct piece to use. Oh and don’t forget the frustration when a structure crashed down mercilessly when you attempt to place the final block at the tip! 

(2) Different Difficulty Levels - I love that the challenges are colour-coded and arranged in different levels of difficulty, each completes with a “window” showing the type and number of blocks needed to complete the puzzles. For younger kids (like my three-year-old), they can also create structures in free-style using these interesting geometric blocks. 

(3) Sturdy Quality - Material wise, the plastic blocks are light weight and I love the bright, bold orange colour! I also really love the good-size booklet with pages combined with spiral binder, and the very sturdy storage box that keeps everything organised. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/equilibrio (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Go Fish Dinos, By KOSO Games - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Card game with dinosaurs theme  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: A must-have for dinosaur lovers - Anyone who enjoys strategy games + dinos would love it! 

I’m not a “card game” person. Apart from UNO and a few others, there are probably not many card games that are in my “favourites list”. Thank you KOSO Games for challenging my limited perception and introduce us to this wonderful “Go Fish Dinos”! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) 13 Categories Of Dinos - Like the classic “Go Fish” game, players race to collect the most groups of 4 cards, with one major difference: the dino theme! The 52 cards are divided into 13 categories of dinosaurs, including the “deadliest” “largest”, “smallest”, “fastest” etc. Each category comprises 4 pre-historic creatures that capture our imagination! Eg. there are 4 dinosaurs in the “smartest” group - Troodon, Velociraptor, Deinonychus, Allosaurus. I love that each category is colour coded (eg “largest dinos” are labelled in pink, and “horned dinos” in purple). So if you have kids that can’t read yet but can recognise colours, they can easily join-in the game with their older siblings!

(2) Pictures + Names - Each card features the picture and name of a dinosaur. I love that each card includes the long (difficult to  pronounce) name and a cuddly nickname. For example, “pterodactyl” is also known as “The Dart” (probably due to its super sharp teeth), and “Pegomastax” is also called “The Porcupine” (because of the bristles that cover its entire body). Love it! 

(3) Fun Facts - Each of the card also completes with 3 fun facts about a dinosaur (seriously, how cool are they!). Have you heard of “Microraptor”, a feathered dino that “looked like a cross between a chicken and a hawk”? What about “Sharovipteryx” that “had a strange skin-like wings that grew on its back legs”. I’m absolutely loving it! 

(4) 2 Ways To Play - The classic “Go Fish” rules apply - the objective is to gather the most groups of 4 cards by asking another player (player B) for a category of cards, or drawing from the pile when player B does not have the requested cards. Alternatively, we can also play the “Lizard King” variant by accumulating scores (some cards can earn us extra bonus points!). I love that the game incorporates strategy, decision-making, memory skill, and a touch of luck. 

This is a must-have for all dino lovers! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.kosogames.com/

Enjoy the video! 

Mystical Beast Griffin, By LaQ - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          LaQ building kit 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: LaQ fans/ or any parents & kids who want to explore new innovative building toy with unlimited potential! 

The “Mystical Beast Griffin” from LaQ (Australia) has been in my “must-buy” list for a long time. So last year, in a “measured impulse” moment, I decided to pamper myself with a Christmas gift and ordered this fantastic set, finally! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Amazingly-Designed Mystical Beast Models - LaQ makes the most spectacular “live creatures” models due to its unique cursive joints, connection techniques, and innovative design that gives the structures a sense of personality and “liveliness”. This set includes an instruction booklet containing 5 mystical beast models (Dragon, Cockatrice, Griffin, Anzu and Fenrir), and 380 LaQ pieces. We thoroughly enjoyed building and admiring the re-creation of these impressive-looking legendary creatures. Each of the model captures the essence and distinguished features of the majestic beasts; we were immediately drawn to the formidable Griffin and its distinctive eagle-lion combined characteristics; Anzu - its prominent crest and wide-spread wings; Fenrir and its wolf-like features and articulated neck; dragon with its magnificent wings; and the mysterious cockatrice with its dramatic serpent’s body and rooster’s head. 

(2) Rare LaQ Lavender Pieces - I am in love with the rare lavender pieces! I’m so thrilled to add this new colour into our collection to expand the limitless possibilities of LaQ! 

(3) Compatible With Other LaQ Kits - The GREATEST thing is, all LaQ kits are compatible with each other. I love the simplicity of the 7 basic parts (square, triangle, 5 types of connectors), the audible click and snap feature, and the special Hamacron parts! The boy didn’t want to disassembled any of these cool creatures (which were all originally designed to be in bright purple), so we decided to “spice” up the creations by “supplementing” the kit using other LaQ coloured pieces- red, orange, green, blue, pink and more! 

(4) Intermediate Difficulty Level - In term of difficulty level, the construction of these models is manageable, probably a little more challenging than most other 5-year-old LaQ range, but comparatively easier than some of the advanced and complex LaQ kits. The instruction also comes with a few 2D models for quick and easy build. 

Overall, we are really pleased with this set! 

Where to buy this: 

https://smartypantstoys.com.au/collections/creatures-dragons/products/laq-mystical-griffin (Australia) 

Check out my other LaQ reviews: 

• LaQ Basic 2800 
• Dinosaur World Triceratops & Pteranodons 
• Sweet Collection - Sweet Party Set 
• LaQ Basic 101 
• LaQ Basic 511 
• Hamacron Constructor - Fire Station

Enjoy the video! 

Play Sense Dough, By The Kid Cave - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Handmade play-dough 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Young kids that enjoy play-dough activities/ art & craft/ open-ended play! 

Our three-year-old is quite an enigma - she’s a little tempestuous and hard to predict. But there are a few things that would light up her mood almost without fail - Elsa from Frozen, unicorn piñata, and a play-dough activity. We are super honoured to have a chance to test out these gorgeous Play Sense Dough from The Kid Cave recently. Today, I’m going to share about the “Very Cherry” and “Peachy Peach” jars. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Quality Handmade Dough I am a BIG FAN of handmade dough. I grew up playing with factory-made doughs which were always unpleasantly greasy, smelled horrible, and easily turned dry and crunchy after a day or two out from sealed packages. Since the day that I discovered the magical difference of a lovingly-crafted handmade dough, there is no turning back. The Kid Cave’s Play Sense Dough is responsibly handmade in Geelong, Australia. It’s toxic-free, no nasty ingredients, sensory soft, non-sticky, easy to clean-up, lasts much longer (up to 6 months!), and is rehydratable with just a few drops of water. Our kids were instantly drawn to the beautiful silky texture of the dough! 

(2) Beautifully Gorgeous Scent - The doughs are scented with fun and non-toxic oils. Like an alchemist, The Kid Cave matches the luxurious scent of each doughs with their respective themed colour. “Very Cherry” reminds me of a sweet fruity gummy bear. The dough invokes a lovely festive and Christmassy feel, and I absolutely love the stunning “cherry red” crimson. “Peachy Peach”, as per its name, has a fresh and delicate aroma. I love the soft and pastel mixture of light orange and yellow, the unique “peach” colour that is so heart-meltingly “romantic” and calming. 

(3) Open-Ended Play - When it comes to play-dough, there is no rule, no limit. The kids squish, roll, flatten, stamp, cut, sculpt, press, create. The girl made us a tray of “Cherry Brownie Cookies” in variety of cutter shapes, a peachy home for the alligator to store its glittery jewels, a fruit-scented “Christmas tree” in February, a cupcake topped with furry Pom-poms, and a three-tiered “donut cake”. 

(4) Large Storage Jar - The dough comes in a good quality 330g jar, which makes storage so easy and neat! 

Loving it! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thekidcave.com.au/collections/play-sense-by-the-kid-cave

Enjoy the video! 

Children’s Chess Kit, By Creative Educational Aids - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Chess set + instruction booklet 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Beginners looking for an effective way to learn and kickstart their chess journey 

Hands up 🙌🏻 if you are a Queen’s Gambit fan like myself - the obsession, the thrill, the intensity, and of course, the glamorous fashion - what’s not to love? So when my six-year-old started to show interest in chess, I’m overjoyed 🤣. If you are looking for a beginner chess kit for your budding chess strategists, I highly recommend “Children’s Chess Kit” by Creative Educational Aids (kindly gifted to us by Divisible by Zero). 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Learn (Or Relearn) Chess Rules - This kit includes everything one’s needs to kickstart the journey as a chess-player - a chess board, play pieces, and a 20-page “for dummies” style booklet about chess. I learned my chess-playing from obscure word-of-mouth before the internet era, so I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to relearn my skills from this handy guide! We read about the origin and history of chess (do you know that chess was first invented in India more than fourteen hundred years ago?), the right way to position the board (white square is always at the lower right corner), how to arrange the pieces (eg The Queen is always placed on the square of her colour), and how to move the pieces. The book also explains rules such as “Castling”, promotion of pawn, “check” / “check and mate” etc.

(2) Includes Useful Strategies - I love how the book goes beyond the “basic rules” and shares simple tactical moves, using step-by-step explanations accompanied by visually-clear illustrations. For example, given the importance to control the “four centre squares”, moving the Pawn in front of the King or Queen two spaces ahead are “good first move” that can pave the way to an attack strategy. The book also takes time to explain what players can expect in “The Opening”, “The Middle Game” and the “The End Game”. 

(3) Chess Board & Durable Box - The thick foldable chess board contains brief descriptions (on both ends) about how each pieces move. The plastic play pieces are not too bad as a first chess set for young kids, but it’s probably not the most long-lasting type (so get ready to invest in a better quality chess set once the kids get really into it). I also love the durable and large cardboard box that keeps everything in one place. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thetherapystore.com.au/product/childrens-chess/ (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Australian Birds Puzzle, By Buttonworks Australia - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden puzzle 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Young kids that enjoy puzzles and colourful Aussie animals! 

I recently discovered these beautiful wooden puzzles and homewares range from Buttonworks Australia (based in Mornington Peninsula); they are elegantly stunning, heartwarmingly beautiful, and uniquely Australian! I am in love with their timber puzzles, including this Australian Birds Puzzle that showcases the beauty of Aussie wildlife. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Aussie Native Birds Theme - I love the exquisite and inspiring theme of Aussie native birds, incorporated into an educational puzzle set for young kids. The puzzle features six gorgeous Australian birds: the unique sulphur-crested cockatoo with its expressive yellow feathers at the top, a vibrantly colourful rainbow lorikeet, the tiny spotted pardalote with its iconic reddish rump,  galah with a mixture of pale silver and light pink appearance, a fairy wren with its striking blue plumage, and the Aussie famous laughing kookaburra. I love that the birds are lovingly-coloured with such charming and  breathtaking brightness. I love the kids-friendly, thick and black outline of the birds, and I like that the names of the birds are stated underneath each picture for quick reference. 

(2) Beautiful Craftsmanship - With only six puzzle pieces, this is a fantastic starter toy for young kids! My two-year-old loves matching and sorting the puzzle pieces onto the board. I’m particularly impressed with the awesome craftsmanship; each of the bird pieces were perfectly carved out with smooth finishes, and fits nicely into their respective allotted spaces. 

(3) Sustainably Sourced Australian Timber - Each puzzle is made from sustainably sourced Australian timber, where customers can choose from a selection of myrtle, Blackwood, Tasmanian oak, or simply “surprise me” with any type of Aussie timber. I love how Buttonworks acknowledges that each product varies in appearance and colours, just like how each tree is different. According to its website, the timber materials used in the production is harvested in accordance with Australian Forestry standards, and is sourced from regrowth forest and plantation timber. 

(4) Light Weight - I also love how light weight the puzzle is. It’s safe to be handled by young kids, with ease of portability. 

[The review was first published and written in Instagram on 1 December 2021] 

Where to buy this: 

Buttonworks Australia 

Enjoy the video! 

Gordian Couple - String Puzzle, By Funyards Australia - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden disentanglement puzzle 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Wooden/ strings puzzle collectors 

I love admiring the intricacy and cleverness of disentanglement puzzles - the complex mechanic, that ingenious way the strings linked together elegantly, sometimes with an added challenge of an entangled ring fitted in the midst. They are marvellous to look at, but so-unbelievably-difficult to solve! Today, I would love to share about this “Gordian Couple - String Puzzle”, kindly gifted to us by Funyards Australia. 

Why I love ❤️ this puzzle: 

(1) Perplexing & Challenging Puzzle - The puzzle consists of a base with two vertical wooden posts. Each of the post is fitted with two irremovable rings, each attaching to the end of a string securely. The two strings “meet” and inextricably looped in the middle, with a wooden cylindrical ring that obstinately “stuck” in between the loose “knot”. The objective? Simply “scramble” your brain to disentangle the puzzling attachment, and free the wooden ring from the strings (without using force!). One warning: you can easily end up with an even messier and more perplexing tangled nest with just one wrong move! Unfortunately, that was exactly what I got myself into in my first few attempts (I ended up cutting the secured end of the string to re-start the process - frustrating yes, but so satisfying once we got the puzzle figured out!). This is an advanced level puzzle that requires massive perseverance, patience, and brainpower (so to all puzzle masters - this ONE is for you!). 

(2) Solutions Provided - If you are stuck and find the mission to be entirely hopeless - despair not! There is an illustrated solution included, and also YouTube videos available to guide you out of your misery. 

(3) Re-assembling The Puzzle - Once you have successfully separated the ring from the mind-boggling knot, the next challenge is to re-assemble the puzzle and re-attach the ring into the original entangled position. I love that this puzzle allows us to “refresh” the challenge repeatedly! 

(4) Quality Material & Craftmanship - Like many other Funyards Australia brainteasers range, this elegantly-designed puzzle is made of sturdy wood. It is unique, rare to find, timeless. The craftsmanship is beautiful, the puzzle is lightweight, and would make a stylish decorative item for home and office. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://funyards-oz.myshopify.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Blink Owl Clock, By Le Toy Van - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Clock toy for toddlers 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  12 month-old ++   

Who would love this: This is a cute first "clock" for toddlers - I think any kids between 1 to 3 year-old would love it. 

I have seen Le Toy Van and its beautiful range appearing in many social media posts and toy store websites before; their wooden collection always gives me that warm, homely and fuzzy feeling. This adorable Blink Owl Clock is the first Le Toy Van that I have ever held in my hands. Suffice to say, I’m in love. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Moveable Clock Hands + Adorable Owl Design - This sweet powdery blue owl belongs to the “Petilou” range designed specifically for infants and toddlers. I love how aesthetically pleasing this little standing clock is. The owl looks demurely gentle, with a circular numbered clock at its rounded chest. I love the bright stunning colours of each of the protruded numbers; red, pink, bright orange and a lighter yellowish orange. The two clock hands are moveable and can be rotated around and around by little hands. It’s a beautiful toy to learn about numbers and colours differentiation. 

(2) "Spin-able" Eyes - I love the “opening and closing eyes” feature. The two eyes can be turned over to reveal either a pair of curious-looking, highly-alert side-glancing eyes; or closed eyelids in preparation of a dreamy sleep. We can also give the two eyes a quick spin to create some exciting eye-blinking effects. I love the  overall simplicity of the design with added fun and educational feature that teaches kids about day/ night and “bedtime”. 

(3) Wooden Material - Like many other Le Toy Van range, this owl clock is made of durable, sustainable rubberwood, decorated with non-toxic paints. It is a lovingly crafted piece of toy that is safe for young kids and of heirloom quality. 

(4) Colours - I also really love the deliberate gender-neutral colour scheme of the toy. 

Bear in mind however that the Petilou collection is designed for toddlers; so our little people will probably outgrow these toys pretty fast. My two-year-old loves touching and exploring the moveable parts of the owl occasionally, but my five-year-old is not interested in it at all. Also, the rather short and tiny clock hands might not be the easiest thing for adults to manage, although our little people will be able to navigate this toy at ease. 

I’m eager to find out more about Le Toy Van. 

[The review was first written and published in Instagram on 9 November 2021] 

Where to buy this: 

Le Toy Van (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Pass The Pandas, By Ultra PRO Entertainment - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Quick & easy dice game 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids and parents who love quick and fast-paced games 

I’m not a fan of “game of chance” or any similar games where the element of luck plays too substantial a role. BUT, occasionally, there are some delightful exceptions that blow my mind. One of such recent discovery is “Pass The Pandas” from Ultra PRO Entertainment, kindly recommended and gifted by The Kid Cave. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Easy To Learn, Addictive To Play! - The game takes a few minutes to learn: divide the dice between players, and take turn to roll all one’s dice. If “bamboo” is rolled, the next player must match or exceed the number showing the bamboo or they would acquire the “difference”. “Pandas” go to other players, “Water Drop” evaporates and is removed from game. No action is taken if we roll a blank. The first player that gets rid of all dice wins the game. It’s a simple game to learn, super addictive to play. I love the fast and furious nature. This is a game with non-stop frenzy of rolling / discarding/ passing / acquiring dice - a little chaotic and keep you on the toes. (warning: I played the game over 30 consecutive rounds with my boy in one go, none of us could have enough of it!) 

(2) Stay Focus & Train Up Reaction Time - Despite the “luck-based” character, players need to stay 100% focus throughout and maintain great reaction time to excel in this game! For example, we need to keep track of the number of “bamboo” we roll and observe closely what the next player is rolling, and do a “mental math” to decide if we can “pass” some dice away. Each tiny step can easily change the outcome in split second! 

(3) Good Components - Each die contains 6 sides: 3 with images and 3 are blank. I love the raised graphics on the dice that enhances the tactile experience, the touch of personality, and the playfulness of the theme! I also love how compact and easily portable this game is. 

(4) Game Variants - Whilst this is essentially a “luck” game, there is a “decision-making” element when there are 3 players or more (eg. players get to decide to whom they want to pass the Panda or whether to divide the Panda amongst other players for strategy reason). There are also variants of rules for advanced players that give the game some added thrills and “sophistication”. 

Simply awesome! 

# Gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

The Kid Cave (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Save The Dragon, By Blue Orange - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Board game with dragon theme 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Young board-gamers, especially those that love something "action-packed" + fairy tale related theme

Do you have little ones who are eager to participate in tabletop games? Are you scratching your head looking for something action-packed (but minus lengthy rules), preferably one with a fairy-tale theme involving prince and princess, dragon-in-chain, evil sorcerers, rolling boulder, and stunning backdrop? “Save The Dragon” from Blue Orange is exactly the game that would capture young kids with an undeniable “wow” factor. Thank you Leisure Learning for providing a copy for review!

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Visually-Appealing 3D Presentation - The presentation of this game is visually-appealing. Using the box as base, we set up an impressive-looking 3D staircase that leads up to 3 chutes at the top (from which 3 bad sorcerers would push a crashing boulder down occasionally to sabotage our rescue plan). A gentle-looking dragon is being chained above the arched doorways, waiting for our bravest princes and princesses to dodge all obstacles and defeat the baddies. The objective is pretty simple: race against each other and be the first to reach the top and free the dragon! I love the competitive element of the game, captured in a “mission-inspired” storyline. 

(2) FUN Of Rolling Down A Boulder! - At each turn, players roll a “number” die to advance up to 3 moves (left, right, or up). If the player rolls a 1 or 2, they can also roll the action die which allows them to either move the shield or door piece to a different slot, or roll the boulder through either of the 2 open doors. We love the minimal rules and the very appealing components - No one can resist the temptation of rolling a boulder down the steps and watching others being knocked down chaotically 🤣 . But despair not, players who got knocked down to the bottom earn a token that allows them an extra move in future. I love how the game incorporates tactical move in such subtle and entertaining way that makes sense to the targeted age group. 

(3) Quality Components - The staircase, dungeon wall, shied, coins, and base are made of sturdy and thick cardboard. The dice are chunky, and the wooden pawns and boulder are a pleasure to behold. 

(4) Quick Game For Young Kids - I love that this game is quick and manageable, and always gives a good laugh! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Leisure Learning (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

KAPLA Book & Colours Set - Blue + Art Book, by KAPLA - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          KAPLA with a touch of BLUE 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++   

Who would love this: KAPLA fans who want to enhance their collection! 

BLUE - a symbol of freedom, tranquility, calmness, Santorini, and (to my three-year-old girl), the colour of Elsa from Frozen. We love KAPLA and all its fantastic sets, but I’m particular fond of this “KAPLA Book & Colours Set - Blue + Art Book”. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) KAPLA In Dark & Light Blue - KAPLA is a construction set consists of precisely-crafted planks, all in identical size, in the ratio of 15:3:1. With KAPLA, we can dream BIG, visualise the impossible, from the simplest to the most complex structures imaginable! KAPLA is an art, but also a science. It requires patience, perseverance, and an eye for aesthetic detail; it is also an experiment of weight distribution, gravity, and balance. This set comes with 40 coloured planks in dark blue (20) and light blue (20), completes with an art book. I’m in love with the beautiful shades of blue: the softness of the Arctic blue, and the darker cobalt blue. I love to mix them with the natural planks to give the structures a touch of serenity. These coloured planks are perfect to enhance a variety of models, from snowflakes, night owl, Eiffel Tower, to other soothing blue creations. 

(2) Love The Art Book! - The hard-cover art book and the ideas within are fantastic! I enjoy working with the kids to complete the models - each presents a challenge of its own, and all so satisfying to build and accomplish! We love the blue squirrel with enormous gravity-defying “bush” of tail, the peacock-like creature with spectacular blue “feathers”, a wacky-looking guy with “messy” blue hair, gorgeous geometric structures, and an adorable twin-houses that immediately captured my heart! Each models are artistically inspiring, original and captivating with a seamless blend of blue. 

(3) Cardboard Display Box - I LOVE the cleverly-designed cardboard display box with flexible sleeve for the art book and planks. It’s compact, light weight, organised, and provides easy storage. 

(4) Sustainably & Ethically Made - KAPLA planks are made from natural and 100% untreated pinewood, ethically sourced from sustainable and renewable forests in Landes, the south west of France. The coloured planks are dyed using food-safe colouring, top notch in quality and craftsmanship. 

See my other related reviews: 

• KAPLA Book and Colours Set - Red + Orange
• KAPLA 200 Box: 200 Natural Planks 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

KAPLA Australia 

KAPLA 

Enjoy the video!