ABC Blocks in Canvas Bag by Uncle Goose Toys

These blocks have got it all. They are beautiful. I love the fact, as people have said, that they are made with child-safe inks. The quality of this product means that my daughter can pass them on to her children. We are very happy with these.

I've been looking for American made wooden alphabet blocks. I'm glad to find them in a site that has an eco-friendly philosophy. The blocks have been very popular in our household. I have two boys -- a 15-month old and one who is nearly 3 yrs old-- and they like the animals the best. I'm sure they will soon learn the alphabet too. I like that the inks on the wood blocks are completely safe for kids. That's important to me and my wife especially with all the lead scare.

My husband and I bought the Uncle Goose ABC Blocks for our 16 month-old daughter. She can't get enough of them. Immediately when she wakes, she empties the bag and starts playing and returns to them throughout the day. She points to the animals. We tell her what they are and asks, “What sound does a lion make? ROAR!” She then imitates. If we don’t know the sounds (What sound does a skunk make anyway?), we attempt other gestures like pinching our nose and saying, “A skunk stinks.” It’s so much fun to watch her little brain working and then imitating two grown-ups acting silly.

As a parent and a former teacher, I especially like alphabet blocks because children learn a lot while playing with them. Learning and playing become seamless. I also like them because they grow with kids. First they can learn about animals and colors, then letters and numbers. When they reach the later preschool age, letters can be put together to form words. Simple arithmetic can be taught as well.

I particularly like the Uncle Goose variety because they are good sized (1 3/4" square) and are easy for small hands to handle. They are also well-made. I’ve seen alphabet blocks where the paint comes off. I don’t like that. I want the toys to last through years of play. I like that the Uncle Goose blocks are made with child-safe and non-toxic materials. That makes me feel better about our daughter putting them in her mouth.

One last thing: I was surprised how much I appreciated having the generous-sized canvas bag. I was skeptical about paying more for them. But, for those of you who have seen your home taken over by toddlers, you understand how important it is to have someplace to easily put toys away. My husband and I use the canvas bag to store the blocks. We also use it to tote the blocks when we go places with our daughter. It’s really helped simplify what to bring.

Highly recommended.