These chunky, pastel farm animals and farmer fit right into their decor–the chicken sitting on the fence, the pig standing in the mud, the tractor rolling in the field, the cow checking out the grass and the sheep overlooking the duck pond. Remove them from the tray and the thick wooden shapes can stand on their own. Now the play has advanced from puzzle play to pretend. Kids loved to remove the animals and move them around, having a chat or getting a bite to eat. The chicken was actually missing for a day until we found it riding in a truck! The three dimensional play this puzzle provides can encourage beginning story-telling that builds language.

Available at Bigjigs Toys. Click here