There’s a new toy in town that will be perfect for the summer. It’s called the Bilibo, and its simplicity is reminiscent of the cardboard box that is more appealing than the gift inside. The design will likely surprise you—it’s a relatively large plastic bowl with a curved edge and a couple of holes on one side. Sounds pretty boring, right? Maybe to us, but to a kid in a roomful of toys it’s a diamond in the rough.
A quintessential imagination toy, the Bilibo is designed with just enough function and form to vaguely resemble a number of things, from a bowl to a spinning seat to a tortoise shell. Put two together and you have a happy little clam shell or a topsy-turvy seat. Made from really sturdy polyethylene that is food safe, weather-proof and recyclable, it comes in six bright colors. It is marketed to kids aged two to seven, and since it can stand up to almost any activity or terrain, it will be an ideal toy for the beach, the water or the backyard. This is a toy that will survive every season and for many years.
The Bilibo’s ability to incite creative play has earned it a lot of acclaim, including the 2010 Toy of the Year award and the 2009 Fat Brain Toy Award Winner. And while the Bilibo’s appeal to children may be mysterious, the $30 price tag will undoubtedly appeal to adults. Look for the Bilibo in specialty toy stores in your area, or browse through online retailers to find a good selection of both the larger and smaller versions of the toy.
