Holiday Gift Guide: Imaginative Play and The Costume Trunk [Review]

The costume box was THE best purchase of all time. More so than the Step2 Kitchen or the Lego sets or the Thomas the Tank Engine trains or the Fisher Price Loving Family Dollhouse. Don’t get me wrong all of those toys were beloved my kids. No question about that. Played with constantly, but in time even these treasured toys would be pushed out of the way when a new toy arrived. Except for the perennial favorite with my girls and my boy and visiting friends — the costume trunk.

The costume box is STILL a favorite with not only my kids but with kids that visit. I can’t tell you the number of times I have looked at a kid and wondered to myself “Will that kid actually fit in to the Pink Unicorn costume? Much less want to wear it.” And the grin on the kid’s face as she squeezes herself in to the Pink Unicorn suit is all I need to know that costumes and dressing up make kids very happy indeed.

Our current costume box contains a pink unicorn suit, a horse costume, various super hero suites, a couple of fire fighter jackets, and many leis and tiaras. What does your costume trunk contain? What is your child’s favorite costume?

A few weeks ago I was sent a book about a very cool costume trunk. The book — The Costume Trunk — is written and illustrated by Bob Fuller. It’s from a line of books from Paddywhack Lane.

The Costume Trunk is all about Courtney and her big day…her birthday, of course. Courtney greets her little pals warmly before chasing after a balloon. Where has Courtney gone? Courtney is the pied piper leading her friends to the tree house. What’s in the treehouse?

A costume trunk of course! The kids dress up in magical costumes. When you are wearing a sparkly costume can adventure be far behind? I think not! From dancing to pirates to castles, these little ones have a fun time for Courtney’s birthday.

The book does what many kids’ books cannot do. It is both well written AND beautifully illustrated. I can’t tell you how many books I have read to the children for one sitting only. If the book is poorly written and has so-so illustrations…well, life it too short to read it a second time.

Another unique feature of this book and others in the Paddywhack Lane series are the ties ins. If your kids love The Costume Trunk chances are good that the Costume Club Treehouse will be a hit. The Costume Trunk Playset has over 17 pieces including a Courtney doll. So cute. Great idea for a birthday present.

Want to learn more about The Costume Trunk?

  • Visit Paddywhack Lane to find out more.
  • Books, playsets, and more are available.
  • Wondering what to get the little kid in your life? You can buy a gift certificate so that the child can choose what she wants!
  • Like Paddywhack Lane on Facebook.
  • Follow @PaddywhackLane on Twitter.

I was given a copy of The Costume Trunk to facilitate my review as part of the From Left to Write Book Club. The views expressed in the post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

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