Travel Toys and Travel Games at Ape 2 Zebra!

The coolest toys reviewed by Darla Porcupine!

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  Travel Toys
Road trips can be so much fun...

Sale Offer Expires Friday, April 1, 2011!

A family trip can be so much fun,
Whether you head to the mountains or seek out the sun.
There’s so much to learn when you go somewhere new
New foods to try, new things to do.

But the thing about travel that’s not always great?
Long flights and car-rides and airport waits.
It sure helps a lot to have something to play,
And the best travel games can be used many ways.

That’s why “Who am I” is perfect to pack,
You’ll love it on trips, and when you get back.
It’s small and creative and you’re sure to smile,
However you use it, the laughs last awhile!

Are you planning a March Break/Spring Break escape with your clan?
Whether you are jetting away for longer jaunt, or heading out for a daytrip to somewhere special, you are going to need some activities to keep the kids content while they are cooped up. Content kids make for content moms and dads, so my Top Pick for this week is a gift for you too!

There are lots of travel games out there, but in my opinion the best ones are small and self contained, without a lot of complicated instructions, or pieces to lose. They should also have more than one use. When space is at a premium and you can only take a few toys with you, those toys have to be versatile. Travel games get extra points in my book when they are educational, can be enjoyed by a variety of age ranges and different numbers of players, and promote family harmony and fun. After all, the whole purpose of a family vacation is to create happy memories with the people you care about most.

After carefully considering all these criteria, I commend to you my call for a colossally good travel game: Haba’s “Who am I?”

“Who am I” comes packaged in terrifically tote-able travel tin that measures approximately 14.5 cm long, by 10 cm wide, and is 3.5 cm thick.
Inside the box you will find game instructions (which are easy to understand, so you can leave them at home if you would like), a soft, adjustable fabric headband with a magnetic strip sewn in, a soft fabric coated magnet, 40 adorably illustrated full colour picture cards, and 10 small green wooden counters. The game is intended to be played by two or more players, but, as I’ll write about later, there are lots of other ways kids can use the cards too, even by themselves.

Like most Haba games, the instructions for “Who am I?” outline more than one way to play. To play the basic game, the cards are shuffled and placed face down. One player (the “cunning fox”) dons the headband, takes the 10 counters, and closes his eyes. The remaining players (the “arbitrators”) then select the top card from the pile and carefully attach it, with the picture facing outward, to the headband. The cunning fox must then ask a series of “yes or no” questions to the arbitrators to determine who he is (i.e. which card he has on his head). The arbitrators must agree on the answer. If the answer is “no” the cunning fox gives one counter to the arbitrators. If the answer is “yes”, he may continue asking questions. The cunning fox can also make a guess as to who he is. If the cunning fox runs out of counters without correctly guessing his identity, he does not get to keep his card and a new cunning fox is selected. After each player has had three chances to be the cunning fox, the player with the most cards wins. You can also end the game when a player collects a certain number of cards. To vary the game, Haba suggests two alternatives: (1) create new identity cards on slips of paper, or (2) change the scoring so that the cunning fox earns points based on the number of counters he has left after a correct guess.

This game is great for so many reasons. Its compact size and lack of a game board make it terrific for travel, but more importantly it is a fast way to have your flock in fits of laughter. Wearing the headband is silly, and things that are silly are often an automatic hit with little ones. It’s also great for developing critical thinking and logic skills, as players try to devise questions and put together clues to determine their identity. It is perfect for a variety of age groups, including non-readers. It’s also great for consensus building, and we have had some really interesting discussions about whether the answer to a certain question should be “yes” or “no”. I am pretty certain you will be surprised at the different ways each player thinks. If you are worried about losing the counters, you can keep a record of the number of guesses on a pad of paper, or just play the game without counting guesses, which is particularly appropriate for younger children. And, although the headband is hilarious, if you are in an environment where it’s difficult to don it (e.g in a car where all players can’t see each other, or in public where parents and preteens might be embarrassed), you can easily play by simply passing the identity card around to the arbitrators.

We have loved playing the game in each of the suggested ways, but it would not be a Darla review if I didn’t devise a whole a bunch of other things that you can do with the components of “Who am I?”

Guess Who I Am: Rather than having the “cunning fox” try and guess who she is, have one player select a card. She can then give glues to help the remaining players guess who she is, or the remaining players can play a version of “20 questions” to try to determine what the card shows.

Go Fish: The 40 cards contain a variety of different of background colours, and types of things (people, animals, foods, modes of transportation etc). You can play an easy game of “Go Fish” by creating pairs based on the background colour, or any of these other characteristics.

Sorting and Classifying: This is a great way to sneak in some early math skill building. Challenge kids to sort and classify the cards in a variety of different ways (the categories above are some options; other ideas could be healthy vs. non healthy treats etc.)

One of These Things is Not Like the Other: This is another great way to sneak in some learning by developing critical thinking skills, and to also gain some interesting insight into the way other family members think. Lay four cards, face up, on the table or floor. Choose three cards that seem to fit intoa certain category, and one that does not. Challenge your child to select the card that is different, but be sure to ask why she thinks so. Even if she does not select the card you had in mind, she might still be “right”, and have just come up with a different way to classify. Alternately, set out a number of random cards, and see if you can come up with characteristics that unify them.

Story prompts: The variety of people and things shown on the cards make them spectacular for story prompts. Shuffle the cards, lay out a certain number, and create a story that includes each of the things.

Card houses: If you are stuck in an airport waiting area, or hoping for something to do in a hotel room, use the cards to try and create card houses.

Fun with magnets: Take advantage of the magnet in the headband to discover what is, and is not magnetic in the objects around you.
Come up with your own ways to play! You could even build a house of cards. I am certain your small ones will come up with all sorts of things I haven’t thought of.

The recommended age range for “Who am I?” is five and older, but it can easily be played with younger children, especially if you modify things like the number of guesses, and of course, many of the alternate ways to play that I’ve outlined can be enjoyed by younger kids as well. Just make sure that you keep the wooden counters away from anyone under three, as they could be a choking hazard.

At a regular price of $22.50, Haba’s “Who am I?” is a steal, at Ape 2 Zebra your everyday low price is only $19.50.
But at this week’s special “Top Pick” price of $17.95 it is simply spectacular!
Terrific for trip, and fantastic for family fun at any time, Haba’s “Who am I?” is a hit!

Be sure to check out Ape 2 Zebra's Travel Toys and Travel Games section for more spectacular finds!

About Haba:
Toy safety is a priority for Haba. Haba toys meet European Toy Safety Guideline 88/378 EWG for the materials used in, and the manufacturing of children’s toys. Twiddle Turtle, as with most Haba toys, is designed and made in Germany.



Have a wonderful break, whenever it is and wherever your travels take you!

Precociously (and prosperously) yours
Darla Porcupine

Sensational for celebrating Family Literacy Day, and perfect for play at any other time!

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  Haba Twiddle Turtle Board Game:
Sensational for celebrating Family Literacy Day, and perfect for play at any other time!

Sale Offer Expires February 3, 2011!

“There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all.”
(Jacqueline Kennedy)

January 27th is Family Literacy Day in Canada.

The purpose of Family Literacy Day is to celebrate adults and kids reading and learning together, and to encourage families to spend 15 minutes a day together enjoying a learning activity (http://abclifeliteracy.ca). Theodore may be the official Ape 2 Zebra book blogger, but we are all bookworms. Have you seen our spectacular selection of Barefoot Books? Since we love reading, learning, and celebrating, we knew the Family Literacy Day festivities were for us!

I was doubly delighted when I discovered that the theme for Family Literacy Day this year was “Play for Literacy!”
The concept is clever: celebrate the day by playing games with your group that encourage literacy and numeracy development. I love wording my writing in my own wonderful way, but the wizards at the Family Literacy Day website were right to write that “Play for Literacy”:

“includes all types of play that encourages literacy and numeracy development as well as comprehension skills. Activities including board games, card games and imaginative self-created games are all a fun way to incorporate learning into your everyday life. Games, and the carefree act of playing, provide a fun outlet in which individuals of all ages can engage in activities that inherently provide new learning opportunities to improve one’s reading, writing, math and comprehension skills.”

To recognize Family Literacy Day, and the importance of play that encourages learning, I knew I wanted my top pick for this week to be a game that you could use to play and learn with your family. My only challenge was choosing! With so many outstanding options, it was difficult to decide. Theodore and I were thinking, and he mentioned that the process of learning to read can be a bit like the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare. Even if it’s a bit slow at the start, if you stay the course the rewards of reading are resounding. Perhaps it was predestined: I suddenly knew precisely what to pick, and it was perfect. What came to mind was a game that is (1) about a story, (2) promotes literacy and numeracy, (3) provides plenty of possibilities for pretend and imaginative play, and (4)also prepares petite porcupines and people to write by promoting the development of their fine motor skills.

Sensational for celebrating Family Literacy Day, and perfect for play at any other time, I am proud to present my Top Pick for this week: Haba’s Twiddle Turtle (Schildi Schildkrote) board game!

Haba’s Twiddle Turtle board game is truly terrific value, with five distinct games to play, and variations on those games. Included in the box are six giant, thick cardboard puzzle pieces that fit together to form a double sided game board measuring approximately 75cm by 45cm. One side of the board depicts a soccer pitch. The second is a racetrack, with lanes for four turtles and entertaining illustrations of the animal spectators. Also included are four rolling 7cm wooden turtles, 13 double sided, thick cardboard game cards, and accessories such as conventional and rod dice, a rubber ball, and goal posts.

The turtles themselves are each comprised of two pieces. The first is a natural wooden base (the turtle’s body), with four coloured ball “feet” attached that allow the turtle to roll smoothly. The second is a freestanding coloured wooden ball that measures 5cm in diameter, and sits atop the turtle body. The turtles can be rolled by pushing; however, many of the games direct players to propel their turtles by placing a palm lightly on the freestanding ball, and moving that hand backward. When this is done, the turtles will, as if by magic, roll forward. The (not always so) simple job of learning to control your turtle using this unique mechanism is great fun, and wonderful for developing fine motor skills and hand eye coordination.

To play the first game, players each select a turtle and lane. The game cards are then shuffled, and one player draws a card. Each player must then attempt to roll his or her turtle to the square shown on the card. The player whose turtle is closest to the square wins the card, the turtles are returned to the starting position, and the game continues until all the cards have been distributed. The player with the most cards at the end is the winner. This game emphasizes skills such as accuracy, hand eye coordination, and taking turns.

The second game is a fresh take on “Memory”. The game cards are placed facedown beside the race track. The first player rolls his or her turtle on the board, and has one chance to turn over the game card that corresponds with the square the turtle has landed on. If the right card is uncovered, that player keeps the card. The game ends when all the cards have been distributed, and the winner is the player with the most cards. This game builds on the skills developed in the first game, and strengthens memory and observation abilities. The third game is perfect for players who have difficulty controlling their turtles using the unique mechanism. It also develops early math and strategic thinking skills. The game cards are placed face down beside the board, and players select lanes for their turtles. A card is revealed, and players take turns rolling the dice, and moving their turtles the corresponding number of squares, with the goal of landing on the square corresponding with the card. After the first round, players may choose to move their turtles either forward or backward. The first player to land on the correct square wins the card, and a new card is uncovered. The first player to collect three cards wins.

Prior to playing the fourth game, players reconstruct the turtles so that each turtle has a ball colour different from its feet. Each player secretly draws a turtle game card to determine his or her competition turtle. The first player throws the rod die can choose to move either the turtle with the corresponding foot or ball colour one square forward. The game continues until one of the turtles reaches the finish line. Players then reveal their secret game cards, and the person that holds the card corresponding to the winning turtle is the winner of the game. This game emphasizes logical thinking and strategy, as well as taking turns.

The final game is played on the soccer pitch, and uses the turtles, the conventional dice, and the included rubber ball. Players position their turtles on the game board, and one player rolls the die. That player then has the corresponding number of chances to “kick” the ball through the opponent’s goal posts by rolling his or her turtle toward the rubber ball. The first player or team to score a set number of goals wins. This game requires accuracy and hand eye coordination, and develops players’ understanding of angles.

Beyond the five suggested ways to play Haba’s Twiddle Turtle board game, there are many other games and ways that you and your child can use the set. Turtle races have taken place across the length of our kitchen floor, as have games of turtle rolling accuracy. The turtles have been used with the ball for a continuous “air hockey” style soccer game on the pitch, and I have been told of the fantastic adventures and escapades that they have been on when they have escaped from their box for free play. Although Twiddle Turtle is recommended for children four and up, with appropriate adult supervision there are many ways it can be used by younger age groups as well. The game board itself is a pleasing puzzle for young preschoolers, and the game cards are great used alone for a simple game of memory. Many toddlers (and shhh, a few babies too), are occupied by just rolling, or watching, the turtles roll. Matching the turtle bodies and shells is also a good colour sorting exercise for tiny tots.

Haba’s Twiddle Turtle board game exemplifies everything that I expect a paramount pick to be. It is beautifully and thoughtfully made (the instructions even include a “back-story” that sets the stage for the game, and some interesting facts about turtles), and encourages physical and mental development, as well as creativity. With so many different ways to play, “Twiddle Turtle” can be adapted and enjoyed by almost any age group, and remains fresh even after many plays. It is totally terrific!

Haba’s Twiddle Turtle board game is a fantastic fit for Family Literacy Day, or for any day, and you can find it for the fabulous price of $56.00. Hurry though, because for this week only it’s on sale for $49.99!

About Haba:
Toy safety is a priority for Haba. Haba toys meet European Toy Safety Guideline 88/378 EWG for the materials used in, and the manufacturing of children’s toys. Twiddle Turtle, as with most Haba toys, is designed and made in Germany.

Precociously yours,
Darla Porcupine

Get Darla Porcupine's Pick of the week for 22 perfect percentage points less!
Haba's Twiddle Turtle Board Game usually retails at $64.00.
Ape 2 Zebra's every day low price is only $56, but you can pick it up this week only for $49.99!

Hurry, this offer is only valid until February 3, 2011!

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