Construct A Clock, By Heebie Jeebies - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Clock-building kit      

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 6 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids who love science, engineering, and building stuffs! 

Ever wonder what’s the magic within an elegantly ornamented grandfather clock that chimes the sweetest tune every hour, whilst ticking away in its mechanical wisdom? Heebie Jeebies sent us this “Construct A Clock” recently; we are impressed with the intricate system of this time-telling device, and we can’t wait to share it with you today! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Creative Clock-Building Kit With Gears, Pendulum & All Components Included 

We had never built a clock before, so we were truly excited to test out this construction kit! Included in the box are all the bits and pieces needed to make a clock, from gears of different shapes and colours, hammer spring and bell, supporting pin and buttons, pendulum and fork. We inserted and assembled the parts, slotted the gear teeth, affixed the clock hands, connected the pendulum components, wound up the spring winder, and watched the time ticks away in harmonious chain of reaction. We watched how the timekeeping and power gears come together, rotating in synch with mesmerising, circular movement. We watched how the swinging pendulum cleverly interacted with the inner mechanical gear that slowly pushes a “tooth” forward at every second. We watched how the spring case (weight drum) and the system of gears work together to drive the minute and hour hand. The process is fascinating, hypnotising, and real fun to watch! 

(2) Easy & Quick Clock Building Process  

I was seriously surprised by how quick the entire building process was! No tool was needed to assemble this boldly colourful timepiece; the colour-coded, illustrated instruction included is clear and easy to comprehend. 

(3) Spring-Driven Clock - No Battery Is Required 

I love that the clock is spring-driven, non-electronic, and no battery is required. It “sounds” like a clock (we love the ticking sound!), equips with a small hammer and bell (that chimes every 15 minutes), and I love the clear plastic case design so we can observe how the inner mechanical parts work once we completed the construction. According to the website, the clock can apparently run for over 8 hours with one winding! 

(4) Construction Kit With Sturdy Components 

I love that the components are sturdy, and they can be constructed and deconstructed over and over again. I love the functionality and educational value of this kit! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://professorplums.com.au/products/construct-a-clock-build-your-own-clock-kit?_pos=1&_sid=768d91540&_ss=r (Australia)

Enjoy the video! 

Wooden Nesting Dolls - Spotted Dog, By Funyards Australia - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden nesting dolls 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Recommended age: 3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Anyone - these nesting toys are timeless! 

There was a set of Matryoshka dolls at my childhood home; I used to spend hours, opening the dolls up, queue them in a row, give each of them a lovely name, mix the pieces up, and place them back into the right sequence. Funyards Australia sent us this “Wooden Nesting Dolls - Spotted Dog” recently for review; it brings back so much beautiful and nostalgic memories. It’s hard not to smile looking at them. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Nesting Dolls - 5 White Dogs In Descending Sizes  

These adorable nesting dolls come in a set of 5 white dogs in descending sizes. They remind me of a family of 5 Dalmatians, with their simple paint of white coat and distinctive mark of black spots. Just like how a set of Matryoshka dolls used to get me enchanted for hours, these nesting dolls are like magic to the kids! It was a whole lots of a fun separating each of the dogs from the top and bottom, revealing a smaller figure within them, one at a time, until you find the final smallest and innermost baby dog hidden in the centre of the dolls. It’s amusing to take them apart; it’s even more addictive to assemble them into a single piece again. 

(2) Versatile & Educational Toys For Kids 

Give a set of nesting dolls to the kids, they will show you 10 (or more) ways to play with them. These are awesome toys to teach kids about sizes, sequencing, and descriptions. The kids learn about differences between biggest, bigger, big, small, smaller, and smallest. They stack the dolls, balance them whilst attempting to find the point of gravity before the pieces tumbling down on each other. They incorporate the toys in their small world creation, story-telling sessions, and roll the dolls around like mini ten pin bowling set. They match the top and bottom pieces, they line them up in ascending sequence. These are incredibly fun educational, versatile toys! 

(3) Toy / Decorative Item Made Of Wooden Material 

I love the solid wooden material, the elegant craftsmanship, and how the pieces were so meticulously crafted and can nest within another perfectly. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://funyards-oz.myshopify.com/products/wooden-russian-nesting-dolls-5-pcs?_pos=4&_sid=128047403&_ss=r (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Detective Charlie, By LOKI - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Mystery-solving games for young kids     

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: All aspiring, future Sherlock Holmes/ kids that love deduction games & mystery-solving 

I’m a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, and all intriguing detective stories that keep me up all night. I LOVE the Escape Room concept, but there are not many games of such genre in the market that target younger kids as audience. I am so happy to receive “Detective Charlie” by LOKI from VR Distribution - we’re loving this refreshing detective experience for kids! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) A Game With 6 Light-Hearted Mysteries To Be Solved By Kids 

Detective Charlie is a mystery-solving game with adorable storyline for the right audience. Included in this game are 6 light-hearted, not-too-serious mysteries occurring in Mysterville, waiting to be investigated by Detective Charlie and his young helpers! Each of the 6 “mystery” packs includes an introduction of the case, 8 witness / evidence cards, 8 suspect cards, and a separately sealed brown envelope containing the identity of the culprit. Kids work together to solve the mystery of the missing chocolate bars, nameless parcel, slippery market, and other strange happenings in town. Kids throw a dice, “interview” witnesses, analyse the clues, eliminate the suspects, and race against the “clock” to identify the culprit. The idea is fresh, original, and allows kids a chance to practice deduction skills to crack a case! 

(2) A Game With Age-Appropriate Clues For The Little Sherlock 

I love that the clues tailor perfectly for the intended audience; you don’t need to put on your adult’s hat to over-analyse them. A witness might provide an alibi for another suspect, or produce an incomplete clue such as a torn piece of card or a photograph. Some of the clues are straightforward, some need to be paired together to form a conclusion. Once you have done solving the 6 cases, you can donate the game away to the next lucky little Sherlock, or revisit the mysteries again after a lapse of time. 

(3) Game With Outstanding Components & Visual Presentation 

I am impressed with the presentation of the game; I love that the box has slots that can hold 8 suspect cards vertically around it; I love the adorable detective notebook, the cute artworks with animal characters, the smart-looking cat detective, the insert that hold the components neatly in place in the box. This game is for all aspiring, future Sherlock Holmes! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this:

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/detective-charlie/ (Australia) 

https://gamesempire.com.au/products/detectivecharlie (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

LaQ Animal World Venom, by LaQ - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          LaQ building kit with 6 models    

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: LaQ fans, especially those who love venomously dangerous animals. 

Confession time: I am afraid of anything wiggly, twisty, crawly, scary, spooky, and yes, you get the picture! LaQ Animal World Venom from LaQ (Australia) is something that I always wanted to review, but my faint little heart was screaming “No”. I’m so glad that I took that BIG leap of courage 🤣 to test out this kit, and the result is venomously, dangerously AWESOME! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) LaQ Building Kit With 6 Models of Deadly Animals 

You probably have heard me said this before: I think LaQ is one of the best construction toys when it comes to creating spectacular life-like creatures - its cursive joints, modular flat pieces, and clever connection techniques set itself apart from other building toys in market. The models are gorgeous and hard to take your eyes off. This Venom set has 330 LaQ pieces in 5 colours, and an instruction booklet to make 6 of the deadly creatures. As usual, LaQ cleverly captures the distinguished features and the venomous characters of these beautiful (and hair-raising) creature. The Red Tail (Death Stalker) Scorpion is the largest model in the set. It’s visually-stunning with its red and orange legs and pincers, and that segmented tail that curved towards its back showcases its formidable power as a fatal stinger. The Redback Spider is quietly menacing and I’m captivated by the dash of blood red spot on its upper abdomen. You can also build a King Cobra, Poison Dart Frog (with striking, “warning” colours), Rearing King Cobra, and a deadly Blue Ringed Octopus. 

(2) Building Toy With Intermediate Difficulty Level For 5 Year-Old ++ 

Venom set is a building kit with intermediate difficulty level. The models don’t take too long to build; The scorpion, cobra and spider are probably slightly more challenging for LaQ beginners, but the rest of the models should be easily manageable by young kids. There is no Hamacron part in this set (no wheels and shafts); there are some minor moveable parts on the models, but nothing too overly complicated. 

(3) Building Kit Compatible With Other LaQ Sets 

We LOVE that LaQ kits are compatible with each other. Most LaQ pieces can be replaced / substituted using pieces from other LaQ sets, so we can always “supplement” the pieces in the set or even spice up the colour combinations of the models! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://smartypantstoys.com.au/products/laq-animal-venom?_pos=1&_sid=511308f9e&_ss=r (Australia)

Check out my reviews on other LaQ medium-size sets: 

• Dinosaur World Tyrannosaurus, By LaQ
• Buildout Robot Alex, By LaQ
• Buildout Robot Lapis, By LaQ
• Mystical Beast Griffin, By LaQ
• Dinosaur World Triceratops & Pteranodon, By LaQ

Enjoy the video! 

Bilibo Game Box, By Moluk - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          A box of open-ended play items with no rules    

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 4 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids that loves free-play and those with BIG imaginations 

I am consistently amazed at how simplicity can unlock BIG imaginations. “Bilibo Game Box” by Moluk falls squarely within this category, and I can’t wait to tell you more about what exciting things we can do with it! Thank you Divisible by Zero for providing this!

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Open-Ended Toy That Inspires Creativity 

Bilibo Game Box has no instructions, no batteries, no blinking light, nor stimulating sound. Instead, you get a sheet of play ideas, 6 mini Bilibos (in red, orange, yellow, pink, green and blue), 36 pixels (6 of each colour), a specially-made dice, and a bag to store the pixels. Now what is a pixel, you asked? They looks like buttons with two holes, but much brighter in colour and chunkier than coins. And if you have never seen a Bilibo before - it’s an iconic shell shaped bowl that is rock-able, spin-able, stack-able, with two “eyes” peeping out. The colours are fun, the design is adorable, the items are uniquely Moluk. 

(2) Versatile Toy With MANY Ways To Play 

The best way to play with Bilibo Game Box is to leave it to the kids and let them do whatever they want to do with them. My four-year-old sorted the pixels according to colours, shake the chips-filled Bilibo to create her rhythm, stack and balance the Bilibos, stir and handle the pixels with spatula and tong, brew some pixels-blended tea, cook up a “feast” and serve them on a tray of Bilibo bowls. Of course, the possibility doesn’t just end here - we can also play tiddlywinks, roll the dice and count your coins, do threading with the pixel chips, create a bracelet, or simply include them in your water and sensory play! Really, there is no right or wrong way to play with them; just let your creativity go wild! 

(3) I Love The Creative Customisable Dice 

I LOVE the big bouncy dice. It’s made of thermoplastic rubber, with clever ridges on each surface for pixels to be inserted. The chips can be easily removed from the dice using another loose pixel. I have never seen a customisable dice before; it’s truly refreshing to see one! 

(4) Toy Made Of Recyclable Material 

Moluk products are BPA-free, phthalate-free, latex-free. They are easy to be cleaned, made of fully recyclable materials, and does not contain any composite material that cannot be recycled. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thetherapystore.com.au/product/bilibo-game-box/

Enjoy the video! 

Jump In - Limited Edition, By SmartGames - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Sequential movement puzzle with rabbits theme    

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: All SmartGames lovers / and anyone who loves brain puzzles with adorable components 

 “Jump In” has always been one of my favourite SmartGames. Imagine my THRILL when Leisure Learning sent me this “Jump In - Limited Edition” from SmartGames . Seriously, this game is incredibly CLEVER! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Sequential Movement Puzzle With FUN Hopping Rabbits

“Jump In” is a sequential movement puzzle about helping some rabbits to escape from crafty foxes, and jump into burrows for safety. SmartGames is an expert in incorporating FUN storyline into their ingenious brain-teasers. First, set up the game board as indicated in the challenge; the object of the game is to hop the rabbit over one or more obstacles (mushrooms, another rabbit, or a moving fox that can slide forward and backward) so that all the rabbits are safe in the brown holes. This Limited Edition shares the same rules, mechanics, and size as the original version; it includes 1 game board, 4 rabbits, 2 foxes, 3 mushrooms, booklet with 100 challenges and solutions. There is a new black rabbit added to this edition (compared to the original 3 rabbits), and the number of challenges increases from 60 to exciting 100! 

(2) Clever Puzzle Game With 100 Challenges  

I love that the game encourages pre-planning and “forward-thinking”. To successfully solve the challenges, we need to avoid focusing on just “short-term” gain of moving the bunnies into the holes whenever opportunity arises. As a bunny can only “hop over” to another space when there is at least one or more objects/animals right next to it, we need to strategise and use the bunnies wisely to help another bunny to move, before allowing them to jump into their ultimate “destined” burrows. The challenges are grouped in progressive difficulty levels, from “Stater” to “Wizard”. The first few challenges are relatively easy to give us a “taste” of the game; but they do get ridiculously difficult towards the Wizard stage (quite a few challenges require at least 80 or more minimum steps to complete!) 

(3) Puzzle With Quality Game Components 

The game pieces are well-made and beautifully-designed. I love how adorable the components look, especially how the rabbits can be “hidden” perfectly within the brown holes, but with two long ears sticking out so we can pull them out with ease. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/jump-in-deluxe

Check out my other reviews of similar SmartGames products: 

• Treasure Island, By SmartGames 
• Walls & Warriors, By SmartGames 
• Grizzly Gears, By SmartGames  
• Horse Academy, By SmartGames 
• Jack and the Beanstalk - Deluxe, by SmartGames 
• Pirates Crossfire, By SmartGames 

Enjoy the video! 

Noodle Knockout!, By Learning Resources - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Ramen-inspired fine motor game   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 4 year-old ++   

Who would love this: ANYONE!!! Adults who love Ramen, Kids who love realistic & fun kitchen play items or games 

Stay calm ALL noodle lovers - there is a Ramen-inspired game called “Noodle Knockout!” from my favourite Learning Resources that would make your heart beats in uncontrollable excitement! Thank you Clover Street for providing a copy - We Are LOVING It! 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Japanese Ramen Toy With Cultural Touch 

I love the authentic cultural touch - the springy yellow wheat flour noodles (in two different lengths), seasoned boiled eggs (Tamago) with large juicy yolks, Narutomaki (cloud-shaped fish cakes with iconic pink/purplish spiral pattern), fresh green Edamame (beans in the pod), sliced red capsicum, one stunning spicy red chilli (for that extra kick), and carrot sticks. The only thing lacking is a bowl of hot broth with unbeatable flavour. My four-year-old was captured instantly by the fun and colourful ingredients once the lid was lifted. She put on her invisible chef hat - stirring, cooking, boiling, adding, arranging, serving - it was a flurry of non-stop noodle bowls preparation at her newly-established, imaginary Japanese Ramen-Ya. 

(2) Awesome Fine Motor Games For Young Kids  

Of course, Noodle Knockout is more than just a pretend kitchen toy; it’s also a fine motor game where players can do it solo or competitively. The set includes also a game spinner, 10 double-sided order cards, 4 sorting bowls in 4 colours, together with 4 chopsticks-style tongs in matching colours. There are multiple ways to play with this: prepare the bowl as per selected order card using the toy “chopsticks”, sort the toppings according to colours, race against each other to create a bowl of “complete” Ramen using the spinner. I love the child-friendly tweezers and the activity guide with interesting play ideas. It wasn’t easy to fit the longer noodles into the bowl (personally, I wish the bowls were a bit bigger), but that added challenge doesn’t seem to bother the two kids too much. 

(3) Great Quality Toy (With Springy Noodles) 

I didn’t expect the noodles to be springy and bendable, so it is a truly delightful surprise! I also really love the big round-ish, sturdy container with lid - which can be used as a game base, large cooking pot, big serving bowl, and game storage box. Love the versatility and functionality of it! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thetherapystore.com.au/noodle-knock-out

Enjoy the video! 

Go Nuts for Donuts, By Gamewright - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Strategy card game with donuts!    

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Anyone who loves donuts/ delicious treats/ strategy games 

 A strategy card game with delicious donuts that brings sunshine to the room - this game is irresistible! “Go Nuts for Donuts” from Gamewright has been around in the market for a while, and it has always been THE game that I really wanted to test out. Thank you Jedko Games for providing a copy. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) A Strategy Game With FUN Moves 

I’m a BIG FAN of strategy games - anything involves crafty planning and calculative moves. In this game, players need to figure out which donut they want while also trying to read your opponents’ minds. Each round, a number of donut cards are set out face-up, each beneath a numbered marker. Players simultaneously reveal which donut they have secretly picked; if two persons selected the same donut then neither players get it. If you were the only one who pick a specific donut, then you get to keep that sweet treat. Each card would either reward you with a certain points, or comes with special actions (eg getting an extra card from deck, or from discard pile etc). The player with the most points when the deck runs out, wins the crown. We love those funny “mind games”, quiet plans to defeat another’s victory scheme, outsmarting each other whilst trying to keep our eyes on the prize (or donut). Should we aim for the larger goal by collecting “Donut Holes” (15 points if you collected 5 in a set), or should we go straight to a single “powdered” donut and claim a decent 3 points? Should we go for “Strawberry Glaze” to discard a player’s card, or should we go “Sprinkled” and throw our worst card at the biggest rival? This game is frustrating, fun, and (thankfully) non-fattening! 

(2) Recommended Family & Party Game 

I love that the game can be played by 2 to 6 players - which make this a great family game and party game. This is a great filler game that is easy to teach, fast to learn, quick to complete. Amazingly, sometimes, the player with the least strategy might turn out to be the ultimate winner (e.g. my 4 year-old who just repeatedly selects the best-looking treats). 

(3) Card Game With SUPER Cute Artworks 

I love the adorable artworks: donuts with cute faces, delightful graphics, lovely bright colours, tantalising pastries. Irresistible - 100%! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/go-nuts-for-donuts/ (Australia) 

https://www.m-g.com.au/product/go-nuts-for-donuts/ (Australia)

https://jedko.com.au/ (Australia - Wholesale & Distributor) 

Enjoy the video! 

Super Slide, By GiiKER - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Sliding game combines with technology   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 6 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Puzzle game lovers 

There are a few awesome things I love: A bowl of spicy broth Ramen topped with Tamago, a carefree afternoon with Studio Ghibli anime, a pint of beer on Friday evening, and (my new favourite in the list) an uninterrupted hour of Giiker Super Slide puzzles! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Puzzle Game With Smart Technology 

Super Slide has been making a splash in social media, and there’s a good reason for that. Super Slide reminded me of a retro handheld console, except that this is WAY better, and fits the “educational” and “less screen time” criteria that I’m actively looking for. This is the first sliding game I’ve ever seen that combines the brain of technology into a physical board. The set includes a puzzle base, 18 tiles (12 yellow squares, 5 blue rectangles, one large red square), and a User Manual. Setting up is easy; insert 2 AAs batteries, press and hold the red power button, arrange your tiles as per the layout shown on the LED display screen, and you’re ready to solve! The goal is to slide the individual tiles around to get the large red square to the central bottom (marked by the graphic on the base). Sounds easy? Maybe, but not quite. When you successfully solved a challenge, the automatic detection feature would award you with a little tune and animation, which I find strangely delightful and super encouraging! 

(2) 500 Challenges of Sliding Puzzle!!! 

NOW THE BEST PART - this Super Slider has over 500 challenges (!), arranged in progressive difficulty. You can get through the puzzle one at a time, save your level, or choose and pick your challenge. 

(3) Classic Game With Cool Advanced Features

Or course, the magic doesn’t stop here! If you would like some hints and clues, there is a “Learn” Mode you can use where you will be given step-by-step solving guide for a challenge. You can also start the countdown timer and elevate your puzzle-solving challenge to another level. There is also a “mute” function if you want some peace and quiet puzzle time. 

(4) Compact & Travel-Friendly Game 

I love the magnetic tiles that snap nicely on the board, the tactile feel, and the audible sliding sound. I also love how light weight, compact and travel-friendly this game is. I love the modern, innovative touch to a classic physical game. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://giiker.com/en-au/products/super-slide (Use Discount Code: 60SREVIEW for 15% off) 

Check out also my review on GiiKER Super Blocks here: https://www.60secondstoyreview.com/2023/08/super-blocks-by-giiker-reviee.html

Enjoy the video! 

Flashbot, By Junior Learning - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Innovative flashcards learning tool   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 4 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Parents AND Kids who love learning with creative methods & games  

Sometimes, all you need is a simple idea to make a learning experience fun, engaging, and superb! Today, I would LOVE to show you this fantastic “Flashbot” from Junior Learning that the kids truly love ! Seriously, who would have guessed that flashcard-learning could be THAT fun! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Innovative, Non-Electronic Flashcard-Flipper 

Flashbot is a robot with a retro look: square face, rectangular body, tracked wheels, two short arms, a funny narrow mouth, and a “no-nonsense” expression with a witty feel. The truth is, Flashbot is probably not your coolest thing in the room. It is NOT battery-operated, NOT an electronic gadget, DOESN’T produce flashing lights or audio sound, and DOESN’T do extraordinary stunt. Flashbot has only ONE job: When you feed a flashcard into its mouth, it swallows it, flips the card around internally, and delivers the “answer” by sliding the card out from its body. In short, it’s a “flashcard flipper”, and the kids are super LOVING it! I have never seen my kids spent that much time with flashcards before! The robot kit goes fantastically well with mathematics and spelling cards; the kids challenged themselves repeatedly, and excitedly checking the answers with their faithful Flashbot. This is a wonderful creation for independent learning, breathing fresh air into the world of flashcards! 

(2) Robot With Storage Tray Feature 

I love that when the flashcards fall out from Flashbot, they land neatly inside a green storage tray. There is also a slanted space at the top of Flashbot’s head where we can place a few flashcards (and use it in other creative ways!). 

(3) Expandable Learning Tool (Includes 20 Flashcards) 

This Flashbot kit includes 20 demonstration flashcards for us to have an immediate taste of this fun learning tool. There are a mixture of mathematics questions (“5+4=“, “5-3=“) and spelling challenges (“_at”, “_heep”), each with answer revealed on the reverse side of the cards. The GREAT thing is, Junior Learning has an amazing range of learning Flashcards (sold separately) that are compatible with Flashbot (Addition Flashcards, Decoding Flashcards, Multiplication Flashcards, Phonics Flashcards, Verb Flashcards, and more). I’m loving the expandable quality of this Flashbot! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://juniorlearning.com.au/products/jl200-flashbot?_pos=1&_sid=c93106106&_ss=r

Enjoy the video! 

Logic Egg Tangram Set, By Funyards Australia - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Egg-shaped Tangram 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Collectors of classic, wooden games 

Sleek, classic, and with a quiet vintage feel - this “Logic Egg Tangram Set” from Funyards Australia is probably one of the most beautiful Tangram puzzles I have ever seen. 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) A Box With 2 Egg-Shaped Tangrams 

Comfortably snuggling within a handcrafted wooden box - you will find two layers of egg-shaped Tangram, each made up of 9 geometrical pieces of different sizes and forms (2 right triangles of equal size, 1 acute triangle, 6 other pieces with a combination of curvy and straight edges). Like other usual Tangram, the elegant models can be “taken apart” and re-arrange into different shapes, patterns, images. What you need is a little constructive imagination, an ability to visualise, and a good sense of matching skill. I love that the dissection puzzle comes in double - we can play with it solitarily, collaboratively, or competitively. It’s a game for all ages and skill levels, a screen-free activity that would keep us engaged for many hours. 

(2) Tangram With 54 Challenge Cards

The Tangram set comes with 54 double-sided cards with pictures that can be replicated using the 9 individual pieces. On one side of the cards are silhouette of the images, filled with a single dark colour. On the reverse side of each card is the same image but with white outline separating the pieces (ie the solutions). The 9 Tangram pieces make fascinating bird images (rooster, stork, pelican, goose, woodpecker?) - some are easier to tell, some are purely abstract (especially in the eyes of someone who is not much of a bird-watcher like myself). The goal? Choose a card from the deck and recreate the silhouette as printed using the 9 individual pieces. The challenges are tantalising, addictive, tough and frustrating, but SO satisfying to watch the pieces finally matching the prescribed forms! 

(3) Most Beautiful Wooden Tangram I Have Ever Seen 

I love the wooden box with compartments for the double eggs and the image cards. I love that everything can be snugly contained within the box, and securely stored with a lid for safe keeping. The components are solid, done with beautiful craftsmanship, and complete with smooth finishes. This is one game that would get any avid Tangram players and collectors excited! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Funyards Australia 

Enjoy the video! 

Picky Eaters, By Le Fou - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Strategy card game  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: FOOD lovers!!! (and anyone who loves strategy games, of course) 

Picky Eaters is EXACTLY the type of game that I have been waiting for for a very long time: a strategy card game ✅, mouth-watering foods ✅, multi-cultural theme ✅. Thank you Tanya and Avi for creating such amazing game and sending a prototype over! Le Fou is launching a Kickstarter campaign for Picky Eaters on 11 July, so please - give it a follow and check out the campaign now! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Strategy Card Game With Delicious Rules

I LOVE the refreshing rules, and the strategy-centric gameplay with a small dash of luck. All actions revolve around the goal of preparing the best feast for 5 picky guests! The game is played over 5 rounds. On each round, players reveal a new guest, snatch a food card from market, get more cards from deck, discard excess cards, consider which recipe to make (with matching ingredients, or discard 3 cards to replace 1 missing ingredient), and consider whether to take any extra move (like sprinkling questionable seasonings to “sabotage” an opponent’s dish, or display “Fancy Silverware” to earn bonus points). There are plenty of strategising, re-planning, decision-making. Each complete recipe earns a player 2 points; each guest’s listed preferences / dietary restrictions would also affect the final score (eg if your recipe turns out to be a guest’s favourite, you earn an extra 4 points; but if it is listed as a “restricted” food, 3 points would be deducted). 

(2) Unique Card Game With Multi-Cultural Touch! 

Now comes the BEST part: the FOODS! The 35 recipe cards cover the “common” foods like pizza, burger, fish & chips; but you will also find culturally-diverse cuisines such as Pad Thai, Maafe, Mousakka, Baby Ganoush, Pierogies, Baingan Bharta! As someone growing up eating foods with unusual and hard-to-pronounce names, these exquisite selections make me EXCITED! 

(3) Card Game With FUN & Lovely Artworks 

The design gives the game a touch of unique personality! I LOVE the interesting guests - Talita (the globetrotter) who is a fan of falafel, Ernesto (the body builder) who avoids grain bowl, Victor (the college student) who loves Veggie Burger but dislikes Kebab. I LOVE the simple and fun artworks by Alex Hoskins - these are some beautiful food arts that get me real hungry! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Check out the Kickstarter Campaign HERE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pickyeaters/picky-eaters

Enjoy the video! 

Duncan Brain Game Set, By Duncan - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Brain Games - 3 in 1 set  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Collectors of fidget toys/ brain games/ travel games 

 “Duncan Brain Game Set” is a box of 3 classic “fidget toys” that would intrigue anyone who is up to a challenge. If you are someone who loves “creating order out of chaos”, then you should check out this fascinating set (thank you VR Distribution for providing a copy).

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Quick Cube: The Smoothest Cube With Great "Corner Cutting"

In this set, you would find 3 games - Quick Cube, Color Shift, & Serpent. Let me first tell you about the Duncan version “Quick Cube”. Also known commonly as “Rubik’s Cube” or “Magic Cube”, this three-dimensional puzzle is no stranger in the universe of toys. I’m not a speed-cuber, but I’m immediately amazed by how easily twistable this Duncan cube is. In fact, this is by far the smoothest cube I have ever played with; the “corner cutting” feature (ie the twist-ability of the cube when the layers are not aligned perfectly) is superior. Like I said, I’m not a professional, but I think a smooth, quiet, friction-less cube is essential to train up a speedy and serious cube-solver! 

(2) Colour Shift: A Child-Friendly Colour Matching Game 

“Colour shift” is a ball with 12 holes, 11 of which are filled with a colored ball. It has the colour-matching concept like Rubik Cube, but is WAY easier to solve. Once the beads are jumbled up, the pliable foam (“inner core”) keeps the beads securely locked at their slots. Players would have to repeatedly search for the 5 “moveable” beads adjacent to an empty hole, with the aim of relocating the beads back to the right positions (ie the slot with corresponding coloured ring). This is a puzzle that both of my kids really love, and I like the audible “click” sound when the bead is shifting from one slot to another. 

(3) Serpent Puzzle: Creative Building Toy For Kids & Adults 

My personal favourite is the Duncan Serpent Snake Puzzle. I have played with other versions that look kind of similar to this (but different in material and “feel”). This Duncan version is probably the best by far. It has a good grip, solid feel, right size, and is easily twistable. It is more than a puzzle; it is also a “building toy” in a chain of triangular prisms. Each of the individual brick can be twisted, and collectively transformed into a dog, ball, snake, rocket, giraffe, and more! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/242732/duncan-brain-game-combo-set (Australia) 

Enjoy the video!