Felt Tales (review and giveaway)

Here is a great product from Babalu that really encourages imagination, story telling, creativity, and role play. I love the FeltTales story boards that Babalu, Inc. has. FeltTales story boards come with approximately 19 pieces of felt (shapes, animals, people, etc.) that kids can tell a story with. I think these sets are super, and all of my kids enjoy them.
The felt story boards are made from safe, soft and colorful felt. I think the art work on the felt pieces is amazing, and the pieces are very durable (my kids tested them well). My kids got the Busy Day at the Farm FeltTales story board. The animals are so cute, and I love that there is a boy and girl "farmer." There is a pail for milking the cow, and there is a tractor to plow the fields. My kids liked pretending to be on the farm. I thought that the FeltTales were a great resource for home schooling and it prompts great educational/learning time. We talked a lot about how a farm functions and works. I highly recommend the FeltTales!
Each FeltTales story board has a different theme (dinosaurs, ballerina, Pirate, Farm, etc.). On the back of the story boards you will find a story as an example, but kids soon realize it is fun to come up with their own stories (at least mine did).
I have a heart for felt boards because I just think that kids can really let their imaginations go in story telling. I think kids can also share what is going on in their hearts with story telling, too, because they can "act out" how they are feeling.
“This is playtime at its best,” said Babalu founder Blair Everett. “The reason our FeltTales are bestsellers year after year is because children truly love playing with them, and parents love to have their children to play with them.” I agree whole-heartedly!
With money being tight for many families this year, you will be happy to know that most of the company's toys are under $25, and a large number are priced under $20! That is great value for the price! Babalu Inc., offers so many classic toys like building blocks, and felt storyboards. I love this website's selection!
I like that the FeltTales story board can travel with us, too. I only wish that the FeltTales came with a little storage case that attached to the board. We just put our pieces in a plastic bag.

FeltTales are geared toward ages 3 and up, and have a SRP$19.95. Since its introduction in 2006, FeltTales have been praised by award agencies. Honors include two iParenting Media Awards, Canadian Toy Testing Council 3 Stars, Creative Child Seal of Excellence and Preferred Choice Awards, Dr. Toy Best Vacation Toy Award and a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. Also joining the Babalu lineup are classic toys from WJ Fantasy, a company that Babalu recently acquired. WJ Fantasy has been specializing in nesting blocks, building blocks, advent calendars and books for more than 25 years.

ABOUT BABALU, INC
Babalu, Inc. was launched in 2006 to better a classic toy tradition with the introduction of the FeltTales brand. Its founder, Blair Everett, has an exceptional 30-year career in the toy business and he brings that knowledge and commitment to the growing classic toy product with improving play and quality.
In June 2009, Babalu acquired WJ Fantasy, a 25-year-old toy company specializing in a distinctive selection of nesting blocks, toys, advent calendars and children’s books. WJ Fantasy and Babalu will operate under two separate divisions until 2010, when they will be joined.
WJ Fantasy’s products are available at http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.kazootoys.com/. Babalu’s FeltTales can be found at specialty stores nationwide and online at http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.roundtabletoys.com/. For more information visit http://www.babaluinc.com/ or http://www.wjfantasy.com/.

Enter to win! Winner can choose one item from either the FeltTales or the WJ Fantasy line!

This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until December 16th, 2009. To enter, leave a comment about something you found interesting from the Babalu.com, or something you found on the WJ Fantasy site. (mandatory for entry)
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add something else you found on the Babalu or WJ Fantasy websites (you didn't know they sold). Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Babalu.com, which provided me with the free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a product to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.