These are the three sets that I'll be comparing today, and I've already reviewed the Honey Bee Acres set separately: I really enjoyed both halves of this review! I have never been personally interested in this style of toy, but your writing and humour always makes me excited to read and maybe learn some more about lines I'm not so familiar with (and even learn some educational tidbits along the way!). However, if copycat dolls mean copycat playsets, I welcome all competition. I think the upcoming playset comparison will be tougher because plain plastic with no joints is hard to get wrong. Can't wait for that one. This three-story dollhouse features farmhouse-chic styling! Kids will delight in playing in all the large rooms, styling them in their own way. The set comes with two exclusive figures: Grandpa Sam and his granddaughter Ruby, who is visiting him for the summer. Pose Ruby and her Grandpa at the kitchen table for meals, or have them play a board game in the cosy living room. Ruby loves sitting with her Grandpa on the porch swing, talking and waiting for the fireflies to appear at dusk. The first review took a cursory look at the Playground Pals (a set that includes nine different animals) and a more in-depth look at the four members of the Barkster dog family. I concluded that post by summarizing the flaws that I noticed in the Honey Bee Acres line. Today's job will be to see how the Barksters measure up to dog families from both the Calico Critters and the Li'l Woodzeez brands.

And what better way to bring these adorable families to life, than the beautiful playsets and dollhouses, where the residents of Honey Bee Acres live, play and work… I'm glad Lil Woodzeez were able to pass the scratch test ten years later. They seem like a decent cheaper alternative to the Critters. The one thing about them that rubs me the wrong way is their body shape. I'm all for representation and I think overweight dolls can teach important lessons... as long as the dolls are human. Making every species of animal indiscriminately obese has no educational value and in fact could skew the perceptions of little pet owners. Honey Bee Acres will bring 13 products exclusively to Walmart stores in North America. Playsets and accessories include the Around Town Van, Buzz General Store, Sunflower Country Cottage, and Buzzby Farmhouse; plus 37 collectible characters such as the Playground Pals, the Barksters dog family, the McScampers rabbit family, the Purringtons cat family, and the Cuddlesworth bear family. All character figures come dressed in interchangeable clothing. Visit Honey Bee Acres’ charming Sunflower Country Cottage! Cousin Chloe feels purr-fectly at home posed in the chair by the fireplace. Children can help Chloe re-decorate the cottage and move the flower box to the upstairs window. Chloe loves the upstairs bedroom, where she can rest in the snuggly bed for a nap. Sometimes she peeks inside the toy box first to see what’s inside! Children can further access the world of Honey Bee Acres via an animated series premiering on its YouTube channel.Happy fall, everyone! It's so funny, because just as the season officially changed, New Jersey went from 90° and oppressively humid to 72° and breezy, with nighttime temperatures that are downright cold. It's a nice change, but I have whiplash. The colder temperatures reminded me that we're coming up on the one-year anniversary of this blog's re-awakening! That's hard for me to believe. I'll have to think of a fun Sunday Surprise review to honor the date. Not yet discovered this beautiful new world of pretend play? You can find out all about Honey Bee Acres, including what’s available in the toy range HERE. Whether it’s The McScampers Rabbits, The Purringtons Cats, The Cuddlesworths Bears or The Barksters Dogs, there are plenty of families for your child to collect and add to their Honey Bee Acres Collection. Each set comes with mother and father figures, as well as two child characters – all with their own, unique personalities. Children can pose them and enjoy fun, fashion play, as each figure comes dressed in a sweet removeable outfit.

My grandmother used to collect Calico Critters, and so I always associate this style of toy with her, and it was cool getting to know the different qualities of these toys, and the reasons why she must have fallen in love with them. One of our favourites is The Cuddlesworths Bear Family! Children will love celebrating Baby Toby’s birthday, keeping Dad Wally company as he babysits Toby, whilst Mum Cherry and her daughter Sasha secretly visit the General Store to buy Toby’s favourite honey cake and lots of balloons!

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