Wooden Toys Review

http://www.woodentoy.com/

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

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Publisher's Circle

gamera23
Chicago, IL

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John Linck handcrafts gorgeous, heirloom-quality toys.

an avid online shopper, willing to pay for quality, a supporter of smaller online stores, consumer of handcrafted goods

Pros

handcrafted, artisan, not plastic!

Cons

expensive

DEC

2007

John Linck looks a little bit like Santa Claus, and in his basement workshop in Wisconsin, he, much like Santa, makes hand crafted toys sturdy enough to delight several generations of children. In a world filled with plastic toys, spun off from movies and built to be disposable, it is refreshing to see this level of craftsmanship and artisan sensibility being poured into children's toys.

Often, it is the most simple of toys that inspires the most meaningful play in children, and Mr. Linck does not disappoint. His wooden wagon is a great way for children to begin taking their first steps, and the weight of the unit blocks within it keeps them on their feet. Made of Black Cherry , Hickory and Red Oak, the wood color on this toy only deepens to a dark red over time, making this a beatiful piece of furniture. And as parents know, nothing encourages imagination like unit blocks.

His wooden train cars are both affordable and fun, and his classic rocking horse is an engineering marvel. Made for children 1-5, it will support up to 300lbs of weight, making it durable enough to pass down through the generations. And if the price tag is too much, he sells the plans and provides a free downloadable book so that you can make your own heirloom rocking horse.

A sustainable craftsman, Mr. Linck estimates that he uses about 15-20 trees each year making his toys, and to give back to the environment, he supports the National Arbor Day Foundation, planting double the number of trees that he uses each year. Sustainable and gorgeous, these toys are an antidote to what we see on big box store shelves every day.