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! 

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! 

Goldilocks Puzzle, By Doron Layeled - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden puzzle with characters from "Goldilocks"

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Vintage wooden puzzle collectors / this is a nice beginner puzzle for young kids 

I love wooden puzzles, especially the artistically-designed types that evoke a sense of nostalgia! Doron Layeled has a wide selection of beautifully-made wooden puzzles that look absolutely impressive, and it’s hard not to fall in love with them. Today, I’m going to talk about this large-sized “Goldilocks” puzzle that my three-year-old really loves! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Based on the Story of Goldilocks - This puzzle is based on a well-loved story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The fairy-tale is instantly recognisable: mischievous little Goldilocks in a cute red dress, a family of bears marching home after a stroll in the woods, furniture of three different sizes, bowls of porridge on table, adorable cottage with chimney. The characters, chairs and beds are removable from the board as puzzle pieces, and I love the very thoughtful “channel” at the bottom of the board where the puzzle pieces can be displayed vertically. I love that the puzzle is based on a familiar fairy tale that all kids can easily recognise! 

(2) Big Round Knobs - I love puzzle pieces with big round knobs. Young kids can train up their pincer grasp skills. The knobbed puzzles are kids-friendly and easy to be handled by small little hands. I love that the puzzle only has 9 removable pieces, making this an easy puzzle challenge perfect for beginners! 

(3) Wooden Material - I love the wooden material and the very durable base of the puzzle. This puzzle is gigantic, perhaps a little inconvenient in size, heavy in weight, yet so durable and possesses such beautiful heirloom quality. This is a really fantastic puzzle, probably more suitable for daycares or schools due to the extra large size, but definitely something that can last for great many years or generations. 

(4) Vintage & Heirloom Quality - The puzzle looks vintage, bright,  colourful, and so aesthetically pleasing. I really love how adorable the characters are, and the thick black outline accentuates the simplicity and child-like feel of the puzzle! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.doronlayeled.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Jack and the Beanstalk - Deluxe, By SmartGames

Nature/ Type:          Brainteaser with a fairy-tale PLUS tumble-down-the-ladder twist!  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  4 - 7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Any kids (and adults) who love a creative brainteaser challenge 

Everyone in this family has our favourite SmartGames , but for the kids, their favourites are hands down the fairytales and fables inspired games (e.g. Three Little Piggies, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty). My heart skips excitedly when I saw this “Jack and the Beanstalk - Deluxe” game, kindly provided by Leisure Learning. This game is unbeatable AWESOME! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Tumble-Down-The-Ladder FUN - Remember the classic “tumble down the ladder” toys? This set ingeniously incorporates the vintage game into a brainteaser. I have never seen a game such as this before! Included are 10 double-sided puzzle pieces, ladders frame, challenge booklet and picture book. The object of the game is to arrange the puzzle pieces to reflect the illustrated challenge, BUT, in a vertical upright way using the “tumble-down” concept. When you drop a puzzle piece from the top, it would flip and rotate each time when it falls on a step. What you need is to plan ahead, count the steps, decide the initial orientation, and release the pieces one by one. It’s so enchanting to watch the pieces tilt and traverse down in such whimsical fun! 

(2) 60 Challenges With Different Levels - The 60 challenges have different levels of difficulty: half of them show white outlines (indicating the position of each puzzle pieces), and half without the outline (which means the kids need to mentally-visualise the division). There are Starter, Junior, Expert and Master levels. Some pieces have identical (but mirrored) image on both sides, some have special figures on one side (e.g. Giant or Jack), and some have beanstalk images that twist and bend to different directions. The challenges are not too easy, but completely achievable by young kids once they figure out the process. 

(3) Fairy Tale - How can one resist a good old fairy tale? I love the “building upwards” construction, the familiar elements in the artworks (golden harp, golden egg), and the 3D castle in the cloud - which is such an iconic touch! The components are of great quality, and the design is visually striking! 

(4) Picture Book - Our girl loves the wordless picture book that comes with the game. It's nicely illustrated, with little touch of humour and a modern twist. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/jack-the-beanstalk (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Sleeping Beauty, by SmartGames

Nature/ Type:           Brainteaser in a maze-form 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Recommended age:  3 - 7 year-old  

Who would love this: Puzzle & maze lovers 

Sleeping Beauty by SmartGames ticks ✅ ticks ✅ ticks ✅ all the right boxes to make this one of the most engaging games of all times. It’s about fairy tale, castle, dragon, princess, knight, and a 3D maze! What’s more can we ask? 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Unique maze puzzle- this is the perfect game for all kids that love mazes and labyrinth challenges! Our 4 year-old is a true maze fan. He loves tracing with pens and finger along 2D mazes in activity books and printed papers. A physical 3D maze like this one elevates the entire maze-solving experience to a whole new level. It helps us to visualise the boundaries and walls, and the knight figure is one great tool to ignite a kids’s interest to solve the multiple puzzles in a clear and visible way! 

(2) Different Levels/ Types of Challenges- the set has 60 challenges. 30 of them involve moving the knight from the entrance of maze to the castle door to rescue the sleeping beauty. For the other 30 challenges, we need to place the dragon at a spot that would “block” the way to prevent the knight from reaching the castle. I love how the game incorporates a familiar fairy tale into a puzzle to add that extra excitement in it. 

(3) Great Components- I love the vibrant, bright and nicely-made pieces: the stunning red dragon, green mazes, and beautiful crafted blue and white castle. The entire design is simply, top-notched! 

Where to buy this: 

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

Enjoy the video! 

SnowWhite, by SmartGames

 

Nature/ Type:           Brain Teaser for young kids 

Rating:                      ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 4- 7 year-old 

Who would love this: Young kids that love brain teasers and challenges + fairy tale lovers  

SnowWhite by SmartGames- my four-year-old is a super Disney fan, so naturally, you can imagine his excitement when he saw a game featuring one of this well-loved fairy tales. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Fairy Tales + Brain Teaser: As usual, Smart Games is pretty clever when it comes to combining kids stories with brain teaser, encouraging kids to solve puzzle using objects or characters that they are familiar with. 

(2) Easy but Nice Challenges: to play this game, we need to place the seven dwarves, the evil queen and / or Snow White in the house at the position as indicated in the challenge booklet.  Next, deduce and find out where the remaining  figurines should be placed at the empty positions. There are 48 challenges with different difficulties, 24 of of them to be played using the front-facing house, and the remaining 24 to be be played by turning the house facing backwards. The harder challenges would have additional “conditions” set out, for examples, the orange dwarf must be placed in front of the green window, and the purple and green dwarves must be placed next to each other and so on. The red dwarves and blue dwarves are “twins” that would always stick together, adding on to the fun of logic and deductive challenge. 

(3) Doors + Windoes: I love the closing and opening of windows and door to conceal and reveal the figurines. My four-year-old loves opening the door and windows to discover if he has got the solution correct. 

However, my feeling is the kids would outgrow the game really fast. My four-year-old found the challenge to be “easy”, although be doesn’t mind having imaginative play with the figurines using the 3D house as the scene. Also, the figurines can’t seem to fit well onto the slots, something I wish it could have been designed a bit better. 

Overall, we love it, but this is probably not my most favourite or top-listed Smart Games. 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/

Enjoy the video! 

Three Little Piggies, by SmartGames

Nature/ Type:       Brain Teaser

Rating:                  ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age: 3 year-old ++

Who would love this: Fairy Tales (especially the "Three Little Piggies") + brain teaser fans 

If I have to vote for my favourite SmartGames, this Three Little Piggies is definitely at the top of my list.

Why I love ❤️ this game 

(1) Three Little Piggies Story & Clever Challenges: The game incorporates the storyline of the three little piggies fable within. There are a total of 48 challenges. To kickstart the game, first, place the pigs at the correct position on the game board, as shown in the challenge booklet. Next, place the three pieces with houses at the correct positions to solve the challenge. If the wolf is around, the pigs stay outside the house. If the wolf appears, the pigs stay inside each of their houses. My 4-year-old loves the concept and doesn’t mind thinking real hard just to make sure that the pigs are safe from the wolf. 

(2) Quality: As usual, all the little characters produced by smart game is well-designed, cute to look at, and lovely to touch. 

(3) Storybook: There is also a wordless three-little-piggies story book to go with the game. 

(4) Great Replay Value: This game is well worth the investment. It has great replay value for both adults and kids! 

Where to buy this: 

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

Little Red Riding Hood Deluxe Board Game, by SmartGames

Nature/ Type:       Brain Teaser 

Rating:                 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommended age: 4 year-old ++

Who would love this: Fairy tale lovers who love puzzle and challenges! 

It is no secret that I am a BIG FAN of SmartGames. I like how it always combines brain teaser with stories and beautiful high quality 3D pieces. “Little Red Riding Hood Deluxe Board Game” is another really impressive Smart Games creation loved by both kids and adults! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Incorporation of Story into Game: Combining fairy tale and smart game is a really clever concept. Kids can relate to it and get interested to piece the puzzles together. 

(2) Simple Instructions; place grandma’s house, the wolf, trees and little red riding hood according to the challenge booklet. Next, move the puzzle pieces around to form two separate paths to bring little red riding hood and the wolf to the house. 

(3) Portable Size: Small size and can be easily brought around; 

(4) Picture Book: The set also comes with a wordless picture story book for young kids. 

I really love this game, but if I were allowed to change just one thing, I would get the kids to form a path bringing little red riding hood to the house, and another to lead the wolf back to the forest, away from where grandma is.