Kids Preferred Review: Toys from The World of Eric Carle and Amazing Baby

Is there a children's book or author that your child loves so much that they dream of the characters being plucked from the pages and brought into their life?

If so, chances are likely that it's Eric Carle. With 88 million books sold worldwide, he is one of the most celebrated children's authors of all time and one that has made a definite impact on both my and my daughters' childhoods.

I have clear memories of flipping through the pages of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Mixed-Up Chameleon and I couldn't count the number of times that I have read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and The Grouchy Ladybug to Big Sister E over the years.

Therefore, when a Color Me Caterpillar, Very Hungry Caterpillar Apple Playset and ABC/123 Bath Set from Kids Preferred arrived at our house, it made it a really, really great day. Bringing Eric Carle's beloved characters out of the books and right into our living room, Kids Preferred found the perfect way to transition my girls' love of books into toys that entertain them time and time again.

Although meant for the bath tub, of course, the Eric Carle ABC/123 Bath Set has provided amusement for my daughters all over the house. The colorful letters and numbers are made out of sturdy foam and are great for counting, spelling or, in Little Sister B's case, examining and stacking. Whether being carried around, washed in the tub, spread out on the floor or wet and stuck to the front of the dishwasher (try it!), this set is cute, bright and fun for any age.

From the first day, both of my girls were clamoring for the Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar Apple Playset to be fully out of the packaging so that their imaginations could run wild with it. The ultra-soft apple has Velcro on the top for easy access to the five cute fruits and, the star of the show, the hungry caterpillar, that are stored right inside.

This toy is made for newborns and up and really is something that can grow with your child. Little ones can be entertained with the bright colors, plush textures and variations of crinkling, squeaking and jingling that the fruits make. All the while, children who are a little bit older can have a great time getting the caterpillar positioned to peek in and out of the apple and, as Big Sister E liked to do, name the colors and count the fruits as she tossed them into the apple. This set inspires creativity and originality and I know we will get use out of it for a long time to come.

An everlasting favorite activity of Big Sister E's has always been coloring. From the time that she could hold a crayon, she has loved creating masterpieces of all kinds and, thankfully, has always done an excellent job of coloring only on the paper and not on things like the walls or her clothing. So, the first time she saw the Color Me Caterpillar and realized I was giving her markers (the four washable ones provided) to color on it, she was a little shocked but quickly recovered.

It didn't surprise me to find out that the Color Me Caterpillar was the recipient of the Dr. Toy's 2009 Best Vacation Children's Product award, as this soft character was a big hit on the recent trip that Big Sister E and I took together. By simply tucking the markers and the caterpillar into our carry-on bag, it provided creative entertainment right at her fingertips. And don't forget the best part - when your child has finished coloring, simply toss this toy in the washing machine and dryer and start clean again next time!

Kids Preferred also has a wonderful line of toys based on the popular amazing baby series of books. Created using accepted research of how babies develop during the first two years of their life, ab™ developmental toys are all brightly-colored and stimulating, while helping babies practice their fine motor skills.

For instance, the Pop-Up Activity Ball contains a little bit of absolutely everything that entertains a child from as early as being a newborn. The ribbon tags, chime, peek-a-book pull-out bear, flaps, rings, tuck-away fish and safe mirror are all featured among the array of vivid colors and patterned fabrics. Who wouldn't be kept amused by all of the things that can be discovered with this ball?

In her excitement, Little Sister B has truly put this ball to the test by grabbing and pulling on it from every direction. She was continually delighted by the cute bear in the top and her little fingers always had a place to hold with all of the tags and rings that were provided. Big Sister E has even had fun shaking this ball to hear the chime and putting the endearing fish in and out of its "home."


Kids Preferred's mission is to create superior quality, innovative soft toys and gifts for children of all ages using unique, playful designs that help instill a love of learning and create everlasting childhood memories. I was impressed with the high quality and unique flair of each of the items that we received. When it comes to products that spark imagination and foster a sense of wonder, Kids Preferred really knows what they're doing.

Thanks, Kid Preferred, for being dedicated to providing such distinct and exceptional toys to children around the world. And how else would those toys arrive to bring joy without someone to bring them there? Thanks, Mail Carrier.

(Other than the Kids Preferred information and toys that I was sent, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this company and their entertaining products).