Dragomino, By Blue Orange- REVIEW

Nature / Type:            Board game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:    5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Young kids who enjoy matching / dominoes-type games + cute dragons

Dragomino by Blue Orange is a cute, kid-friendly twist on the award-winning Kingdomino. It keeps all the fun of the original, with rules simplified just right for little gamers. We first tried it four years ago—and we love it even more now! Thank you VR Distribution for providing a copy. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Match Landscapes + "Crack Open" A Dragon Egg

Dragomino is easy to learn—even preschoolers can pick it up in minutes! Each turn, you pick a tile to grow your island and try to match the landscapes. Match them right, and you get to crack open a dragon egg! Will it be an adorable baby dragon or just an empty shell? The player who finds the most baby dragons wins! And if you find a shell, you get the Mommy Dragon token, which lets you go first next round—and scores you a bonus point at the end! No tricky math here—just count your dragons (plus one if you’ve got Mommy Dragon) to see who wins!

(2) Sneaky Strategy & Maths Lessons - Hiding In The Fun

There’s sneaky strategy hiding in all the fun! Kids quickly start noticing patterns—like how some landscapes seem to hatch more baby dragons than others. Every terrain has exactly 7 baby dragons, but the number of egg tokens (which include both dragons and empty shells) changes based on how common that terrain is on the dominoes. So terrains like forests have more egg tokens overall, but your chances of finding a dragon is lower. Rarer terrains, like the red volcanoes, have fewer total eggs, so the odds of scoring a dragon are higher! It’s a perfect little lesson in probability, cleverly disguised as dragon hunting. Kids soon started making strategic decisions, and even tracking which dragons have already been found to help decide what to pick next.

(3) Delightful Artwork & Sturdy Quality Tiles

The artwork and quality are delightful! The tiles are made of sturdy, thick cardboard, and oh those baby dragons! - each have their own unique poses, expressions, and little personalities. It’s the kind of whimsical detail that sparks imagination and keeps everyone giggling.

(4) Great Packaging With Custom Slots For Each Components

The packaging is top-notch! Everything has its own perfect place—tiles, eggs, tokens—all neatly stored in custom slots designed for each piece. Even the different types of egg tokens have their own special compartments, which makes packing up just so satisfying! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.bigw.com.au/product/blue-orange-games-dragomino-kids-children-interactive-fun-play-tile-game-5y-/p/9900557297 (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Fantasy Series - Mermaid, By Let’s Play Games - REVIEW

 Nature / Type:             Wooden puzzle 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:     14 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Puzzle lovers - especially those who love Mermaid-themed with unique shapes 

Get ready for an enchanting adventure under the sea with the stunning Mermaid puzzle from the all-new Fantasy Series from Let's Play Games ! This isn’t just any puzzle—it’s a breathtaking, brain-bending challenge for the brave-hearted. So, if you’re a fan of all things magical and mysterious, you’ll absolutely want to check this one out! 

Why I love ❤️ this puzzle: 

(1) 200 Pieces Mermaid Puzzle

This Mermaid puzzle comes with 200 pieces, and it’s no walk in the park! Unlike your typical puzzle with a nice, neat border, this one embraces the wild, swirling beauty of the sea. We started off by sorting the pieces based on their beautiful color palette: the mermaid’s fiery red hair, the soft purples and blues of her scales, and the vibrant coral reefs and bright green kelps. But the real magic happens in the ocean—the deep, mysterious blues that seem to go on forever. It’s like trying to solve the ocean’s secret, one piece at a time. And trust me, when you finally find where that perfect piece fits... it’s pure enchantment. 

(2) Uniquely-Shaped Pieces With Surprises Await!

These aren’t your ordinary puzzle pieces! Each one is uniquely shaped, twisting and turning like little treasures from the deep. Forget the boring standard shapes—you’ll need all your spatial skills and a pinch of intuition to make it work. And as you put it all together, surprise after surprise awaits: a starfish, a jellyfish, a playful seahorse, a cheeky dolphin, a mysterious anglerfish, a scallop shell, an unmistakable pufferfish, wavy kelp, a worm snail shell, and even a treasure chest hidden within the design! Each little discovery makes the experience feel like an underwater treasure hunt, filled with delightful details that make every moment of assembly a joy.

(3) High-Quality, Laser-Cut Wood

Crafted from high-quality, laser-cut wood, this puzzle feels as premium as it looks. The colors pop, the pieces slide together smoothly, and the artwork is absolutely mesmerizing. It all comes neatly packaged in a charming wooden box—convenient for storage and a lovely keepsake. This is a puzzle made to last and to enchant. If you’re ready for a challenge that will transport you into a world of mystery, this puzzle is the one to try! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where can I buy this: 

Find your local game stores here: https://www.localgamestores.com.au/

https://www.gameology.com.au/products/lpg-puzzles-wooden-fantasy-puzzle-mermaid

Check out other puzzles from Let's Play Games here: 

• Oceanic Animals Series 1 - Kangaroo, By Let's Play Games 
• Oceanic Animals Series 1 - Kookaburra, By Let's Play Games

Enjoy the video! 

The Sleeping Beauty Musical Puzzle (The Story Orchestra), By Kaddo - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Musical puzzle 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:     4 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Kids that enjoy puzzles + music + beautiful fairy tales  

I’m smitten with Kaddo, a line from the publisher of the beloved Little People, BIG DREAMS series (Quarto). Their games and puzzles are beautifully crafted, with a unique elegance that’s truly heartwarming. Today, let’s talk about “The Sleeping Beauty Musical Puzzle (The Story Orchestra)”! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Puzzle With Tchaikovsky's Music Clips

Like the Nutcracker and Swan Lake puzzles, The Sleeping Beauty from The Story Orchestra is a magical experience. Hidden within the puzzle are four music buttons, each playing a 10-second clip from Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet. From the eerie curse of the evil fairy to the famous waltz (Once Upon a Dream), and the perilous moment Aurora pricks her finger, the music is both dramatic and beautiful. As you complete the puzzle, the enchanting illustration of the prince awakening Princess Aurora comes to life, accompanied by the vivid sound of Tchaikovsky’s full orchestral score.

(2) 48 Puzzle Pieces Including Uniquely-Shaped Cutouts

This set includes 48 puzzle pieces: 4 uniquely shaped pieces with circle cutouts for the musical buttons, and 44 standard ribbon-cut pieces. The illustrations by Jessica Courtney-Tickle beautifully capture the essence of Sleeping Beauty. The puzzle frame offers a concise retelling of the story—from Princess Aurora’s birth and curse by the evil fairy Carabosse, to her fateful prick on her sixteenth birthday, and the lilac fairy’s role in breaking the curse.

(3) Poster - Learn About The Composer & The Music

The set includes a double-sided poster: one side features the full puzzle image, while the other offers details about the composer, a brief summary of Sleeping Beauty, and descriptions of the music clips. Flip it over to discover more about the story’s happy ending, along with a biography of Tchaikovsky and how his music brings the tale to life.

(4) Great Packaging & Components

I love the sturdy packaging - the box cover is stunning, featuring glittery details and golden holographic lettering that instantly catches the eye. Inside, there’s a thick blue cardboard insert, which helps keep the puzzle pieces neatly contained within the lid. Once the puzzle is assembled, the pieces fit securely onto the board, ensuring they stay in place during play or storage. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Dymocks (Australia)

Booktopia (Australia)

Check out more reviews of Kaddo's products here: 

• Dream Big Bingo!
• Match The Mermaids
• The Poetry Play Kit
• Little People, Big Dreams - Amazing Women: A Memory Game 
• Little People, Big Dreams: Who Am I
• Swan Lake Musical Puzzle 
• Find The Fairies 
• Cat Family Christmas - Lift The Flap Puzzle 
• The Nutcracker Musical Puzzle (The Story Orchestra)

Enjoy the video! 

Match The Mermaids, By Kaddo - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Memory game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️    

Recommended age:     4 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Kids who love Mermaids / memory & matching games 

“Match The Mermaids” by Kaddo (an imprint of Quarto ) is a refreshing take on mermaid-themed games that stands out from the typical Western fairy-tale narratives. Instead of the usual enchanting princesses, this game features mystical, sometimes dangerous mermaids who are masters of camouflage. I’m loving the unique perspective it brings!

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) 40 Cards Featuring 20 Pairs Of Mermaids From Around The World

The set includes 40 cards featuring 20 pairs of mermaids. The gameplay follows the classic memory game format: arrange the cards face down and flip over two at a time. If you find a matching pair, you keep them; if not, return them face down, but remember their locations for your next turn. A unique aspect of these cards is that the images in each pair aren’t identical. For instance, the “Yemoja” pair shows a female mermaid adorned with beautiful cowrie shell accessories swimming alongside bottlenose dolphins, while the second card features a Yemoja merboy. The cards showcase a global representation of mermaids, including the Spiny Sea Dragon from the tropical Atlantic, Nehwas from the cold-water kelp forests of North America, and Jiaoren from the China Sea. 

(2) Illustrated Booklet With Fascinating Facts- Habitats / Regions / Features / Habits

I love the illustrated booklet - featuring mermaids that differ significantly from typical Disney versions. This handy guide offers fascinating facts about each species, covering their habitats, regions, features, and habits. We learned about Fiji Mer - whose greenish mottled skin helps it blend in with the underwater roots of mangroves, and the Malabar Mer - an Indian Ocean merfolk with dark backs and pale bellies. There are also the Reef Angels with stinging tentacles for protection against predators, and Mami Wata that play with deathly forest cobras. The pictures are breathtaking, and the mermaid facts are utterly intriguing!

(3) Beautiful Packaging With Tips To Engage With Nature

I love the “Spotting the Clues” section in the booklet which encourages kids to engage with nature. It offers tips like searching for pebbles washed ashore that have merfolk runes inscribed on them and listening for the mournful sound of a mermaid “singing”. The packaging box is beautifully designed, featuring stunning artwork and sturdy construction. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://playdreamers.com.au/products/match-the-mermaids-memory-game (Australia) 

https://littlegeneralkids.com.au/products/match-the-mermaids-a-memory-game?_pos=1&_sid=eb4863f10&_ss=r (Australia) 

Check out more reviews of Kaddo's products here: 

• The Poetry Play Kit
• Little People, Big Dreams - Amazing Women: A Memory Game 
• Little People, Big Dreams: Who Am I
• Swan Lake Musical Puzzle 
• Find The Fairies 
• Cat Family Christmas - Lift The Flap Puzzle 
• The Nutcracker Musical Puzzle (The Story Orchestra)

Enjoy the video! 

Cauldron Quest, By Peaceable Kingdom - REVIEW

 

Nature / Type:             Board game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️    

Recommended age:    6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Kids that love cooperative games, especially one with cool magic theme! 

Cauldron Quest from Peaceable Kingdom is a remarkable cooperative game. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of thwarting an evil plot with spell-breaking potion, and saving a kingdom as a team? Thank you VR Distribution for the fabulous recommendation! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Cooperative Game With Great Mix Of Skill & Chance 

I love a game with a great mix of skill and chance! In Cauldron Quest, players work together to discover hidden ingredients and move them to the cauldron at the center of the board, before all your 6 paths are obstructed. To set up, pick 3 “must-have” ingredient tokens and place them on the cauldron, and randomly arrange the 6 potion bottles at the starting spaces with the ingredient image face-down. On each turn, players roll the Action Dice to determine the next action - moving potion bottles closer to the cauldron, move evil Wizard Hat along its track (which may have the adverse effect of blocking your path or sending your potion back to the start), place path blocker on a path, or roll the Magic Dice. The Magic Dice give you special advantages which are pivotal to complete the mission. 

(2) Magic Dice - Apply Your Mathematics Skills To Gain Advantage

Our favourite’s part of the game is Magic Dice rolling (3 rolling chances each time) - this is where we make the most meaningful decisions, whilst applying our mathematics skills. Players must decide which “spell” would confer the greatest advantage at that point. If you want to reveal the hidden ingredient of a bottle, you need even numbers on 3 dice. 3 odd numbers give us the power to swap locations of 2 potion bottles, and you get to move a bottle 6 spaces with a dice combination adding up to 12. We love the interesting choices! Players also get to decide collectively when to use a spell breaker to remove one path blocker during the game. 

(3) Refreshing & Magical Artwork With COOL Theme! 

We love the COOL theme of evil Wizard and potion-brewing. The artwork is very fun with a touch of mysterious and magical feel. The board is in a unique circular shape, and the ingredient selections are the “wizard’s classics” (rotten egg, eye of newt, poison mushroom - anyone?). The components are solid, the board is foldable, and everything looks well-constructed and wonderfully done. We LOVE it! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.gamesworldsa.com.au/products/cauldron-quest (Australia) 

https://www.gamesmen.com.au/cauldron-quest-board-game (Australia) 

Check out more Peaceable Kingdom games here: 

• Acorn Soup - The Tasty Counting Game, By Peaceable Kingdom
• Stone Soup, By Peaceable Kingdom
• Jump Jump Joey, By Peaceable Kingdom
• The Happy Marshmallow Game, By Peaceable Kingdom

Enjoy the video: 

Find The Fairies, By Kaddo - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:           Fairy-theme memory game 

Rating:                      ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   4 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: A must-have for fairy lovers! 

Our kids love the tales of fairies - their secretive habitats, clever camouflage, beauty of magic. “Find The Fairies” by Kaddo (an imprint of Quarto) is one of the most captivating Memory Games I have ever seen, and I can’t wait to share about it with you! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) 20 Pairs Of Fairies From Around The World! 

The set includes 40 cards - featuring 20 pairs of fairies from around the world. The rule is similar to the classic memory game; Arrange the cards face down, flip two card over - if you find a pair, keep the cards. If you don’t, turn them face down again, but do remember the location of the fairy cards so that you can make a match on your next turn. One unique feature of the cards: the images of the pair are not exactly the same; For example, for the “Nereid” (ocean fairy) pair - the first card features a female Nereid riding a dolphin on an adventurous journey, and the second card features a male Nereid sitting on a sea stack, enjoying the tranquility of sea. I love the intricate details of the illustrations - the distinctive costume, patterns of the wings, the diverse natural habitats, the distinguished facial features. I love the careful thoughts given to the design and the geographical coverage of the fairies - from Alpine meadows, Sahara Desert, High Himalayan slopes, to the shallow African lakes. This is a must-have for all fairy fans around the globe! 

(2) "Find The Fairies" Booklet With Interesting Fun Facts 

I love the “Find the Fairies” illustrated booklet included in the set. This handy guide gives us fascinating fun facts about the fairies - habitat, home, features, habits. For example, do you know the Blue Mountain Fairy from Australia wears lefty clothing to blend in among cliffside’s vegetation? Have you heard about the Cherry Blossom Fairy from Japan whose wings change colour throughout the year (pink and white in Spring, red and orange in autumn).

(3) "Fairy Finding Tips" - Be Close To Nature! 

My personal favourite is the “Fairy Finding Tips” in the booklet. The tips encourage our kids to pay attention to the nature - e.g. listen for birdsong (which may actually be the chattering of fairies) and beating of fairy wings. 

(4) Beautiful Packaging 

The packaging box is amazingly done with beautiful artwork and sturdy quality. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.booktopia.com.au/find-the-fairies-memory-game--emily-hawkins/book/9780711287877.html (Australia) 

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/find-the-fairies-by-emily-hawkins-and-jessica-roux-9780711287877 (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

The Nutcracker Musical Puzzle (The Story Orchestra), By Kaddo - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:           Puzzle with musical buttons with sound clips! 

Rating:                      ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:   4 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Anyone - This is one of the most unique puzzles I have ever seen, and I can't wait to explore more of Kaddo's magical uniqueness! 

The publisher of the well-known “Little People, BIG DREAMS” book series Quarto has just launched their gift imprint Kaddo, and I can’t wait to tell you more about its fantastic new products! Let me share with you: “The Nutcracker Musical Puzzle (The Story Orchestra)”! 

Why I love ❤️ this puzzle: 

(1) A Puzzle With Musical Buttons! 

This is probably the most enchanting, extraordinary, and unique puzzle I have ever seen! This Musical Puzzle has 4 “hidden” buttons on the board, each with a 10-second sound clip that plays beautiful melody composed by Tchaikovsky, incorporated seamlessly into the theatrical and sensational Nutcracker puzzle scene. Press the musical buttons, and listen to the vivid and vibrant sound from the original score of the world-famous ballet performance. I love the distinct and myriad moods conveyed by the music selections: from the playful notes of “Grandfather’s Dance”, energetic “Russian Dance”, fearful “Clara’s Dream” (my kids describe it as “a spooky Halloween song”), to everyone’s favourite magical tune “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”. We love exploring the changing tempo, dynamics, and instruments (sparkly celesta, bass clarinet, timpani, and more). This is such an innovative and enticing way for our aspiring musicians and ballerinas to learn about music. 

(2) A Whimsical Scene Of Nutcracker With 48 Puzzle Pieces 

This set comes with 48 puzzle pieces - 4 in unique shapes with circle cutouts that give access to the musical buttons on the puzzle frame, and 44 in mainly standard ribbon cut form. The puzzle was illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle, a talented artist who wrote and illustrated a series of children’s books. We were enchanted by the whimsical adventure: Christmas tree and lollipops, nutcracker and the colourful gifts, flute players and the joy of violins. 

(3) Double-Sided Poster With Full Puzzle Image + Information 

The set comes with a double-sided poster with the full puzzle image on one side, and information (about the composer, music, and the gist of the Nutcracker story) on the other side. (4) I love the packaging - the box cover is glittery with golden holographic words and tiny images. There is a thick cardboard insert with ribbon attached to keep puzzle pieces nicely contained within the lid.

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.quarto.com/books/9780711287082/the-story-orchestra-the-nutcracker-musical-puzzle (Website) 

https://www.booktopia.com.au/nutcracker-musical-puzzle-the-story-orchestra--jessica-courtney-tickle/book/9780711287082.html (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Race to the Treasure, By Peaceable Kingdom - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:           Cooperative board game for young kids 

Rating:                      ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids around 5 year-old - this is a great first game for young kids to train up cooperation /teamwork 

There is something satisfying about creating paths and watching multiple roads extending longer and branching out to different directions. Peaceable Kingdom has a fun little game called “Race to the Treasure” that combines the magic of path-building with the theme of ogre and treasure. Thank you Leisure Learning for providing this for a review. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Cute Game For Kids With Adorable Themes (Treasure & Ogres)

This is a simple game with easy rules. First, throw the dice and determine the position of the 4 keys and Ogre Snack. Next, players take turn to flip a tile over from the draw pile. The tile would either reveal an ogre, or a section of road (which may comes in the form of a straight road, L-turn or T-intersection). The aim is to form a continuous path (each tile connecting to a road of another tile) to collect 3 keys, and then rush to the treasure before the ogre does (ie before 8 or 9 ogre tiles are being flipped over)! An Ogre Snack gives us the power to remove an ogre tile from the red ogre track (and reduces the speed of the ogre to reach its destination). 

(2) Cooperative Game - Win Or Lose Together 

This is a cooperative game - everyone win or lose together. Players work collaboratively to come up with the best plan to defeat the ogre. This is a great game to learn cooperation - an awesome skill for young kids (as well as for the grown-ups!). 

(3) Set Up The Board Using Grid System 

I also like that the game board uses grid system to mark the locations of the tiles. To set up the game, we throw the two dice (one with letters A-F and one with numbers 1-6) to decide the starting “squares” that the keys and snack would be placed. I get to show the kids how to identify the intersected spots by looking at the horizontal and vertical axes. It was a great way to teach and talk about map-reading using grid. 

(4) Environmental-Friendly Components - A 100% GREEN Game 

This game is also 100% green, made using soy-based inks and FSC paper. I also love the cute artwork, relatively sturdy components, and good quality wooden dice. The durable paper envelope (as opposed to the usual plastic packaging) for storing of components is a nice eco-friendly touch.

This is an awesome game to introduce to young kids, but probably not so much for older kids or seasoned gamers. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/race-to-the-treasure (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Kraken Attack, by LOKI - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Family board game  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids who love board games - especially one with COOL pirate theme & strategy elements

Oh the JOY whenever we discovered a fabulous board game that makes us want to do a celebratory dance! Kraken Attack by LOKI checks ✅ all the boxes of what our family loves! Thank you VR Distribution - another amazing recommendation!

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Board Game With A BIG Mission - Defend Your Ship Against Kraken Attack! 

I love a game with “important” mission that makes us feel like we’re part of a BIG adventure. Our crew of little buccaneers work together to defend their ship against the tentacles and Kraken monster! First, position the pirates at 4 quadrants of the ship, each guarded by two ship’s rails. Throughout the game, players roll the dice and watch the 8 tentacle figures moved closer to the ship, ready to tear away the wall and slam a hole to the ship. But fear NOT, our pirates are all gear-up for a battle; On each turn, players choose one of two face-up cards that allows them to launch a mixture of attacks (saber, pistol, cannon, wild) or repair a hole. “Funny face” on a card angers the Kraken and causes the aggressive creature to move closer towards the ship, until it eventually unleashes its full wrath and makes its way to the ship board. This will bring the dice total to six! The game ends when the ship suffers damage of 4 holes, or when players manage to place 3 attack tokens on the Kraken figurine. 

(2) Cooperative Game With A Mix Of Skills & Chance 

I love that this is a cooperative game that excites both kids and adults. There is a good mixture of luck (eg if you roll a dice with “eye” icon, every tentacles of matching colour move forward) AND strategy (players to decide which mode of attack to use and in what sequence). We love the “special abilities” of each pirate - for example, Samuel can ignore the unlucky “Eye” icon on the dice, Billy can fire a Cannon and push back all tentacles in Cannon zone on the same side of board etc. We also love elevating the challenge with “Whirlpool” tokens that can send the Tentacles and Kraken quicker to the ship. 

(3) Awesome Components, COOL Artwork, & Amazing Storage Box 

The components and the storage box are awesome! The tentacles are whimsical, the Kraken is pure glorious, the ship’s rails are sturdy and fun, the wooden pirate tokens are adorable. I love the quality and the engaging artworks! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.kidstuff.com.au/products/loki-kraken-attack

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/kraken-attack/

Check out more reviews on LOKI games here: 

• Detective Charlie, By LOKI 
• Carla Caramel, By LOKI 

Enjoy the video! 

LaQ Mystical Beast Wyvern, By LaQ - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          LaQ building kit 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Any LaQ fans/ or any kids who enjoy building toys 

If I have to vote for an all-time favourite, highly-recommended, must-try building toy, it’s gonna be LaQ . LaQ is innovative, made-in-Japan, and elegantly-designed - it’s a building toy with just 7 basic parts that can make gorgeous structures of all-types! Today, I’m going to share about LaQ Mystical Beast Wyvern set, kindly gifted by LaQ (Australia) for review. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) LaQ Kit With Instructions To Build 5 Mystical Creatures  

I have tested out quite a few LaQ sets, and my favourite has always been their “live creature” kits; from exciting dinosaurs, venomously dangerous animals, to legendary mystical beasts that captured the imagination of generations - LaQ is fantastic component to create amazing models! I love how spectacular the models look using LaQ unique cursive joints, modular flat pieces, clever connection techniques, and special Hamacron parts (wheels and shafts). The Mystical Beast Wyvern set includes 260 pieces, 4 special Hamacron parts, and an instruction booklet to build 5 impressive-looking and interchangeable magical creatures - Wyvern, Chinese Dragon, Hippogriff, little Wyvern and a Salamander Dragon. 

As usual, LaQ captures the distinguished features and essence of these beautiful creatures: two-legged Wyvern with its majestic wings and sharp black claws, Hippogriff with its half-eagle and half-horse appearance, and my personal favourite the powerful Chinese Dragon with its long wavy body in lucky red. They are impressive-looking, formidable in their own distinctive way! 

(2) LaQ Kit- Intermediate Difficulty Level, Suitable for 5 Year-Old ++ 

My 7 year-old (a LaQ lover who has avidly constructed many models in the past) loves that this set is not too difficult to build and the models are relatively fast to complete. In term of difficulty level, the models are probably in the range of easy to intermediate, with not too many challenging techniques. This set is just right for the recommended age of 5 year-old ++. 

(3) Compatible with Other LaQ Kits - Potential To Expand! 

As usual, all LaQ kits are compatible with each other. We can supplement the set using LaQ pieces from other LaQ kits (like what we’re doing here!). We love the expandable potential, and how we can always “spice up” the models using other attractive LaQ colours if we like!

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

LaQ (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
• Animal World Venom, By LaQ 

Enjoy the video! 

Creagami - Dragon Origami Kit, By CreativaMente - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Origami kit   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: origami lovers / anyone who loves to challenge their paper-folding & crafting skills 

I’m in love with paper engineering: I love the wisdom behind the folding mechanism and the dynamic structures. Creagami by CeativaMente has always been one of my favourite craft sets. Today, I would love to share about “Creagami - Dragon Origami Kit”, kindly gifted by Divisible by Zero. 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Revealing The Mystery Behind Modular Origami 

This set includes craft paper sheets (black and red) with perforated lines which can be separated into numerous tiny pieces. To build this incredible dragon, you need to first fold-up 463 modular paper units. Sounds daunting? Fear not! Each unit required only a few quick (3 seconds or less) folds to assemble. The papers have pre-scored lines that make the actual folding a breeze. The included illustrated guide shows us the simple steps of this basic unit folding, and there is also a YouTube video with step-by-step guide on this. 

(2) Step-By-Step Video To Build & Construct A Dragon  

Once the individual units are done, the REAL FUN begins! First, scan the QR Code which will lead you to the step-by-step video for the dragon-construction process. I had great fun learning the different slotting / inserting techniques from the video and the instruction guide (normal, inverted, insert, empty pocket, double tip etc). It was a humbled and therapeutic process to watch the dragon comes to life, bit by bit - starting from the body, the powerful tail, the interesting scales, the legs, a majestic pair of wings, the neck, and finally, the head. Whilst my crafting-skill sure has plenty of room to improve, I think the dragon is a stunning beauty. It took me 2 half-days to complete the construction, and believe me, the efforts really paid off! The set also comes with two googly eyes that give the dragon a little “comical” and loving expression. I think modular origami is a mastery of art sprinkled with fairy magic. It’s a repetitive, sophisticated, incredible 3D masterpiece. 

(3) Cool Interlocking Techniques & Premium Material 

The interlocking technique gives tension and sturdiness to the model. The product is made in Italy, nicely packaged in a cardboard box. The craft paper has a velvety touch of premium “silkiness” in it, and I love the classy paper appearance of the finished model. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thetherapystore.com.au/product/creagami-medium/

Check out my other reviews on Creagami: 

• Creagami - Ladybug Origami Kit 
• Creagami - Penguin Origami Kit 
• Creagami - Butterfly Origami Kit 

Enjoy the video! 

My Fairy Game, By Peaceable Kingdom - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Board game for young kids 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Young kids who enjoy cooperative games, especially one with a cute fairy theme! 

Beautiful fairies, golden unicorn, glittery jewels - I knew without a doubt that “My Fairy Game” would appeal to my four-year-old girl. But what I didn’t expect is even my six-year-old boy has the greatest FUN playing with it too! Thank you Leisure Learning for providing this amazing game from Peaceable Kingdom for a review. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Adorable Theme With Fun Rules - I LOVE the adorable Fairy theme, and the age-appropriate, easy-to-follow rules that make this game a breeze to learn. Yes, there are quite a few different tokens and special powers that would require a few reads from the adults before we can explain the rules properly to the kids; but once the kids started playing, the process is a natural. The object of the game is to accumulate sufficient “fairy powers” to install 4 hexagonal gems onto the wand to defeat the freezing effects caused by Mr Winter (a snowflakes-blowing, “villainous” cloud with a cute beard). Players shuffle the cards, takes one card at a time (which could be a “good” or “bad” card), match the colours, and takes an action to slow down the “chill”. Players work as a team to compete against Mr Winter to collect all 4 gems before a flower is frozen by 4 snowflakes of corresponding colour. 

(2) Luck + Strategy + Teamwork - There is a huge element of luck in this game (largely depends on the types and order of the cards being drawn), but there is also cooperative element that requires our young players to make “small decisions” collectively. For example, the “unicorn” card allows the players to hand over a card to another player to quicken the collection of jewel. I love that this is a game of team effort - everyone wins or loses together. There were plenty of “oh no!”, “yay”, “we did it”, “we won!”, and “high-five!” during the game, which was really amazing to see! 

(3) "Green" Components - This is a Peaceable Kingdom “green game” - all the paper and boards (jewel and snowflake tokens, playing cards, foldable board) are made with FSC papers and printed with soy-based inks. I would love if this set could include a cotton tote bag so we can keep the components organised, but overall, I love the environmental-friendly concept of the game! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/the-fairy-game

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!