I ordered a set of three ‘miniature’ cars by Automoblox about one month ago. I’d read so many glowing reviews of the larger ones, but didn’t want to spring for the $30 to $40 for one of those. But I could justify the $30 for a set of the three smaller ones. They are, after all, interchangeable with one another, and so in order to have that added benefit of creative engineering, I’d need to buy at least two of the larger ones. And honestly? If I wasn’t going to spend $30 to $40 for just one, I was certainly not going to spend up $80 for two. And the ‘minis?’ They’re actually not all that small, a pretty good size, really, but not for kids under three, as the pieces that are removable are really tiny.

So, the mini set it was. Good call. Pea loves these things. It’s so much fun to watch her manipulating the little parts of the three different automobiles, making interesting hybrid-looking cars from the parts. And then, she puts them back to their original configurations. And then she starts all over again. And then, she drives them through her dollhouse, hilariously laughing at “a car! In a house!”

In fact, she loves them so much that she asked me if we could send a set of them to her favorite cousin in Texas? Of course, I couldn’t say “no” to that. And he loves them, too. And he’s older than Pea, about 6. And we hear it’s his current favorite toy. And this kid? He has a lot of toys. Plastic, character-themed toys. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot. I did not think these little wood cars would go over well with him, but he’s caught the bug, too.