Cons: made in Korea (but they're looking into getting a warehouse in the US to cut down on the carbon footprint), a little on the pricy side
I haven't gotten a chance to play with all of the Soopsori wooden toys but I wouldn't pass up the chance to. After playing tea party with the play chef set and rolling around the wooden cars (which also double nicely as massage rollers), I can safely say that even though I'm over the age of 5, Soopsori toys just make you want to play.
First, since they're made out of sustainably harvested wood and finished with natural oils (Osmo clear oil is certified in Europe for safe use on kids' toys), they're a great alternative to the plastic junk out there. They're also incredibly durable but also 100% recyclable since they're not made with bolts or paints. They're also made with different kinds of wood which give them different colors and textures - and they're just plain beautiful. Besides...how cool is a wooden carrot that can be split into two pieces as long as you pull a bit harder than the magnet that keeps them together?
While I don't have kids of my own, I did get to field test both the chef set and the cars at a Palo Alto preschool...and they were a huge hit. Boys and girls alike wanted to take turns frying the eggs and pushing around the cars. And parents even asked about where they could find them.
The only drawback is they're a little expensive. But for a special occassion, it's worth it to get such beautifully handcrafted toys. Not to mention...these are really the kind of toys you keep forever. I definitely recommend them and will certainly be getting some to give as birthday presents.


