An Ode to Wooden Toys

Ahoy, Holiday Toy Hunters!

Why Pinocchio ever wanted to be a real boy is beyond us here at Ape 2 Zebra. In all my toy treasure hunting travels, I have never met toys more durable, child friendly and beneficial for all walks of life than those made of natural wood.

During the holiday season, the animals in our toy shop simply cannot keep enough wooden toys in stock on our shelves. If you’re looking for a lasting gift for that special tot, let my animal friends, the toy enthusiasts from the Ape 2 Zebra toy shop, share with you five reasons why wooden wonders are the wise way to go, all while whittling wastefulness.

Environmentally Friendly:

“Unlike toys that have been mass-produced and made from plastic, wooden toys are crafted with quality to last longer. This means fewer toys in our landfills. And even when a wooden toy is at the end of its life cycle, it will not leach harmful toxins into our soils like plastic toys do when they are discarded.


Wooden toys are also often made from renewable resources, like the timber from tree farms that strive to provide FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) wood. Look to see if the wooden toys you’re purchasing are made from FSC certified wood to ensure responsible production and consumption of forests.” – Orson Ape, Quality Control

Orson's top pick?
Grimm's wooden YoYos of course!

Yo-Yos are classic wooden toys that have entertained children for centuries! The earliest surviving yo-yo dates to 500 BC.

Ape 2 Zebra has some great wooden YoYos for this Christmas Season. Holiday shoppers can choose between wooden Yo-Yos finished with water-based dyes by Grimm's or highly lacquers wooden YoYos by Vilac.

Tactile Learning:

“Toys made from timber are terrific for tactile learning. Playing with these toys involves touch, movement and imaginative play; all a healthy part of a child’s growth. Wooden toys are great for social play, too.

I love the wooden food and kitchen toys!

On my breaks from talking to my twitter friends, I like to play pizza party!”
– Cornelius Tiger, Head of Social Media


Cornelius' Top Food Pick for our 2010 Best Toy Selection is Melissa and Doug's Pizza Party!

Pizza Party is a wooden pizza in a box, complete with 50 toppings, a pizza cutter and lifter.
The pizza pieces attach with velcro to each other making pretend play that more real!

Pizza Party is perfect for tactile learning, great for pretend play and also allow for sorting, and requesting exercises and games. Definitely a tree worthy treat this Christmas!

Tried and True:

“Historically, toys have been derived from fruits of our woodlands for thousands of years. Wooden toys have been keeping childhood boredom at bay since the time of ancient civilizations. In my humbly-bumbly opinion, wooden toys are better because they’re like a great piece of literature that stands the test of time.” – Theodore Bear, Resident Blogger


Theodore decided that the Classic Waldorf Rainbow by Grimm's will be his Top Toy for 2010.

For centauries educators believed in simple toys that allow children to explore, imagine and play with freedom. I share these views and can't think of a better toy that suits this description than the beautiful Rainbow Rings by Grimm's.
Commonly found in Waldorf households, these wooden rings are the pinnacle of simplicity and that is the key to make this the ultimate toy.

The rings are finished only with a water-based dye, allowing the grain and roughness of the wooden pieces of the toy to be exposed to the senses while being handled

Safety and Slobber Approved!

“I’ve always had a snout for safe toys. And although this may sound crazy coming from a pig, I especially prefer wooden toys because they have natural antibacterial properties. They are also easy to clean; just wipe with a damp cloth and let dry. Wooden toys from Ape 2 Zebra are also finished with safe and natural dyes and sealants (like vegetable dyes and beeswax).” – Truffle Pig, Search Expert


Sniffling out my Top Toy for 2010 turned out to be one of my biggest challenges yet. With so many beautiful wooden toys I just couldn't decide. After truffling and snuffling I finally decide, my top pick will be one I had the pleasure to enjoy as a child. Haba's Baby Discovery Blocks are made from solid wood, and is Safety and Slobber Approved!

The Reusable Toy!

The level of quality and craftsmanship that goes into wooden toys allows us all to have a turn to play. Some of our favourite wooden toys have been passed from penguin to penguin, remaining in good condition while staying bright and vivid for years. Just keep your wooden toys at room temperature and they’ll be perfectly prepared for play anytime.” – Peter, Paul, Perry and Alfred Penguin, Packaging Department


Peter, Paul, Perry and Alfred Penguin Top Toy Pick for 2010 is Plan Toys' new Table Top Soccer Game.

Perfect for Persnickety Penguins when packing is done, the Plan Toys Soccer Game is just the toy for fun! Two Penguins a side, kick, pull and roll! He scores and parades even though it is all just for fun!


Orange you glad that Ape 2 Zebra is staffed by the most indubitably intelligent toy enthusiast animals around? Now we all know that the
wooden toys at our online toy store are environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially beneficial. The toy enthusiasts at Ape 2 Zebra are always here to help make your toy shopping experience oodles of fun, with not even a smidgeon of holiday stress.

If you have any questions, ask the Carrier Pigeons to fly over your email.

Want more toy suggestions? Just see the Top Toys selections picked by no other than Darla and Cornel themselves!

Let us know if you would also like your perfectly pillowed parcel gift wrapped!

Cornel Heydenrych
Toy Connoisseur

Hickory Dickory Dock, The Plan Toys Activity Clock!

Darla's Paramount Pick of the week!
Hickory Dickory Dock, The Plan Toys Activity Clock!
Sale Offer Expires Tuesday, November 9, 2010!

Hickory Dickory Dock, The Plan Toys Activity Clock!
By Darla Porcupine

Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down!
Hickory Dickory Dock.


Hickory Dickory Dock,
The Porcupine tested the clock.
She had fun and learned.
So a “top pick” it earned!
Hickory Dickory Dock.


In most parts of Canada, including my neck of the woods, Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, November 8, at just before 2:00 am. This means we “fall back”, or turn our clocks back an hour, and hopefully wake up feeling like we have had an extra hour of sleep.

Porcupines appreciate their beauty rest too.


With time on my mind, I realised that I had yet to share with you a product that I love, the Plan Toys Activity Clock.
Why do I like this toy so much?
It is fun, environmentally friendly, ethically made, and a great teaching tool.
With all of these benefits and more, it would be perfectly preposterous for the Plan Toys Activity Clock to not be one of my Paramount Picks!




The Plan Toys Activity Clock is not a clock that tells time in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a clock that is designed for children to get “hands on” and physically interactive with. It has no “clock gears”, and runs purely on the power of your child’s imagination and fingers, so you will need to have another clock in the room if you want to find out what the time actually is. Having the ability to manipulate the hands of the Activity Clock helps children (and especially those who are primarily kinaesthetic learners, or learn best by “doing”) to understand important concepts such as number recognition, the direction that the hands of a clock move in, and the function of the “short hand” versus the “long hand” on the clock. Moving the hands of the clock is also a great activity for helping younger children to develop fine motor skills.

The Plan Toys Activity Clock comes with twelve activity cards made of sturdy cardboard. Nine of the cards are pre-printed with charming pictures depicting the sort of activities that might typically be a part of a child’s daily routine, such as bed time, tooth brushing, bathing, playing, and eating. Three of the cards have been left blank, allowing parents and children to customize the Activity Clock and include other activities they wish to highlight. There is a small slot at the top of the Activity Clock to display one activity card at a time, and a larger slot at the back of the Activity Clock to hold cards that are not in use.

There are many ways to use the Activity Clock and the cards together for play and learning, and many of these activities would not be possible to do with a clock that operates in the traditional sense.
Parents of younger children may want to change the display card in the Activity Clock and move the hands of the clock as the day progresses. This introduces the idea that certain activities happen in sequence at different times of the day. You might for example, set out the meal card at dinner, with the clock hands showing six o’clock, and then later move the hands to bedtime, and display the bedtime card. When working with an older child, a parent could place the bath card in the holder, and ask the child to move the hands on the clock to the time he has a bath at. Vary the game by setting the time on the clock, and having the child select the card representing the activity she normally does at that hour. Take turns moving the clock hands and choosing the time or activity card. The clock and cards can also be used together to help children anticipate an upcoming activity, and understand when it will happen. Place the “play” card in the clock’s display, and set the hands of the clock to the time of your play date. Then explain to your child that it will be time for his play date when the hands on the standard clock in the room match the hands displayed on the Activity Clock.


You can use the Activity Clock without the activity cards too. Turn the hands to a specific time, and ask your child to tell you what time is displayed, or ask your child to move the hands to a certain time.
Children still learning to recognize numbers will enjoy being asked to “move the yellow hand so that it points to the number two”, and to match things like the wooden numbers from a puzzle to the numbers on the face of the Activity Clock.
Did you know that “Hickory Dickory Dock” actually has 12 verses in total, one to represent each of the 12 hours of the day? Why not read the entire poem out loud, and have your child move the hands of the Activity Clock as you progress through the verses?

Of course, I can’t forget to mention that the Plan Toys Activity Clock is sure fun for free play too. I am amazed by the complex stories and games children are able to develop when they are provided with “real world” toys to use as props.


The Plan Toys Activity Clock is made from rubber wood trees that are no longer able to produce latex, and so would otherwise be burned. The paint used on the Activity Clock is water based and non-toxic, and the activity cards are printed using soy and water based inks. The Activity Clock is recommended for use by children ages four to eight, and is not intended for use by children under the age of three. It retails for $36.50.
Because it is positively packed with possibilities for play and learning, and available at a price that is pleasing, it would be paradoxical if I didn’t select the Plan Toys Activity Clock as one of my Paramount Picks!

PS: Be sure to check out Theodore’s Blog! He will share with you some ideas from the Ape 2 Zebra Kitchen for a “Hickory Dickory Dock, Plan Toys Activity Clock” themed Yubo lunch to pack. You can enjoy the food fun at home too, maybe for breakfast this Sunday as you turn your clocks back?


More about Plan Toys:

Plan Toys’ products are manufactured in Thailand.
Plan Toys has received E0 Standard (or “E-Zero standard”) certification, meaning that its products meet the highest safety standard of exposure to formaldehyde in wooden products and toys. Plan Toys has also acquired SA8000 Standard (“Social Accountability standard”) certification. To meet this Standard, Plan Toys provides its employees with a wholesome and safe working environment, emphasizing guaranteed fair wages, protection from discrimination, no use of child labour, and the right to self-sustainable development.


Precociously (and punctually) yours,
Darla Porcupine

Get Darla Porcupine's Pick of the week for 15 perfect percentage points less!
Usually the Plan Toys Activity Clock retails at $39.99.
Ape to Zebra's daily low price is $36.50.


Until November 9, 2010, you can purchase Plan Toys Activity Clock at only $33.99!

Hurry, this offer is only valid until November 9, 2010!

Melissa and Doug Toy Safety

Hi everyone

We are on the verge of a long weekend here in Canada and for our children, the first camping trip. You can imagine the excitement!

I had a very good discussion with Melissa and Doug yesterday with regards to the finishes on their wooden toy. We have had a complaint about the toys smelling "gassy" when the customer opened the package. We have sold a lot of Melissa and Doug toys over the years and have never heard this complaint before but we decided that we absolutely do need to follow up. We contacted Melissa and Doug and they were very helpful. Lisa explained that in very rare circumstances it may happen that the toys got shrink wrapped before they are a 100% dry and this could cause a "gassy" smell when the products are opened. Also keep in mind that the Melissa and Doug toys are painted, not dyed.

I also found the following message from Melissa and Doug on their website:
MELISSA & DOUG SAFETY STATEMENT
From day one, we’ve signed our names, Melissa & Doug, to every product we make. We take that signature seriously --- it’s our commitment to you that you can trust the products you bring into your home. As parents, every time we make a product for you, it also has to pass the test of coming home with us, where we enjoy playing with these same toys with all six of our children.
No matter how carefully we design our products, we believe there’s no substitute for TESTING, TESTING, and MORE TESTING. The key to assuring the safety of our products is not simply insisting our factories follow our instructions, but to go one step further and AUDIT, INSPECT, AND TEST, not only once, but at various phases of the production process. This is something we’ve always done.
Additionally, we specifically test our paints and coatings very frequently, to be sure our toys meet or exceed government recommendations limiting heavy metals and lead in children’s items. We have cabinets full of thousands of passing test reports, and these passing results have been verified by 3rd party independently accredited testing laboratories, considered by many to be the best scientific laboratories in the world.
Please continue to enjoy our toys with confidence, knowing that each and every time we design and craft a toy, we’re not only making them for you, but for our own kids too.

Lisa at Melissa and Doug customer service also extended an invitation to any Melissa and Doug customer to contact her personally should you have any concerns or questions. Melissa and Doug can be reached tollfree at (800) 718-5365

Vilac Toys - Made in France now at Ape to Zebra!

Vilac Toys and Petitcollin Dolls - Made in France
Now Available at Ape to Zebra Toys!

Deep in the Jura region of France, surrounded by mountains, lakes and forests, Vilac has been producing high-quality wooden toys and gifts for the past 80 years. Vilac was founded by Narcisse Villet in 1911 as a wood turning workshop, which later came to specialize exclusively in the finely acquered wooden toys for which Vilac is so well known. Appropriately, Vilac is in fact an amalgamation of the name of the founder, Villet, and the word lacquer. In 1985, Vilac was purchased by Hervé Hagland, who continues the Old World wood working traditions to this day.

Vilac toys are known for their classic look and feel, from their smoothly rounded, high gloss lacquered wooden vehicles, to their expansive, finely detailed puzzles. Vilac toys are timeless, with a bold durability that isn't subject to the fickle whims and ever changing fads of the day. A Vilac toy is meant to last, to be a part of your child's toy box for years to come. Vilac today divides their production between France and China, with all lacquered toy manufacturing still taking place in local Jura workshops in France. All Vilac toys are subject to the highest levels of product scrutiny, according to regulations of the European Union, to ensure that your child's toys are as safe as they are entertaining.