You know you're going to find something useful, funny or cool (haha) when the sales clerk is…read morewearing a smock that reads "Toyologist." Love it! Friendly staff and lots of, well, toys - this would be my dream home (literally - they have the coolest wooden doll house!). I almost bought myself a kitchen mixer (like the kind grown ups get as wedding presents) but doll size...but I digress. They didn't have exactly what I was looking for - but hey, it's not like I was seeking out a run of the mill item either.

I love this shop and so do my kids, they can't wait to go in when they visit NewPort Village.read more

What a wonderful toy store for kids! They have lovely toys for kids from newborns ( such adorable…read morestuffed animals, including a large selection of Jelly Cats), lots of wooden animals and dolls. They've also got a selection of toys by a French manufacturer, along with a good selection of books and games for toddlers up to tweens. They've also store is beautifully set up, and I love the fact that I'm supporting a local business! Staff are really helpful and the store is designed to make it easy to find just the right item at the right price!

Wow! This store was…read morerecommended to me by a Vancouver friend. Growing up in New York I had many toys/toy brands from Europe and in raising my son I've been looking for a lot of the toys I remember from my childhood. I found my beloved Moulin Roty toys here to give to my son. The selection here is an awesome combine of whimsical aesthetic while simultaneously avoiding much of the plastic that has come to be a part of childhood. They also shipped easily back to the Bay Area.

Like another reviewer, I remember coming in here as a child, even when it was located across the…read morestreet in a tiny shop. I would crane my neck to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous toy-filled window as the bus fly by on the way to school. The window is still crammed full of amazingly fun-looking toys, but now it's about five sizes bigger and on the opposite side of the street (which was the coming-home side of my daily bus ride). If you need to buy a present for a kid, or a kid at heart, you will find something perfect here. Guaranteed. The prices are not dirt-cheap, but when the goal is a beaming smile on a child's face, who's to argue? Yes, if you have the time you can order things online and probably find them for cheaper, but if you're not in the kid loop full-time, how will you even know what you want to get? Try Kaboodles - the friendly, helpful staff will be happy to make some recommendations based on age, gender and interests to get you started in your browsing, and they definitely have options you simply cannot find at a discount store. October Challenge 29/31

Not as if Toys R Us could ever find space in this posh neighbourhood, so it's a great option…read more Was in the area waiting for my meeting nearby so decided to kick some tires and see what type of present to get for my nieces and nephew, and glad I've got one down. They got these really cool tin lunch kits, and while looking for Sponge Bob Square or whatever you call it, i did find the Spam, totally hilarious. Tasty stuff, btw ;) Annoyingly, they've got a small Hello Kitty section in the back ;( And surprised they still carry some of the old Jellyhead stuffed animals. amex, yay!

As the name of this colourful retail shop in Vancouver's glorious Granville Island suggests, this…read moreis your destination for all things kites and puppets. Though it's not every day one needs to buy a kite or a puppet (though both items make fantastic, fun, creative, imaginative, playful, whimsical gifts for kids of all ages -- better than a video game, I say), if you ever wake up on a sunny and slightly windy Sunday morning and decide you absolutely need to go fly a kite, Kites and Puppets is the place you ought to head to immediately. Because the store specializes in these two items, the selection is broad (broader than I could ever imagine a selection of kites to be), and runs the gamut from your basic diamond-shaped, one-string kite to truly complicated works of art that require skill and patience to fly expertly. And once you get your kite, head down the sea wall and over to Vanier Park (site of the annual Children's Festival and Bard on the Beach) to fly it with fellow enthusiasts -- beginner and advanced alike.

This place is fun. The people who work here are very nice, and seem to encourage goofing around…read morewith the puppets. I visited Granville Island many times before realizing what I was missing here. The kits are my absolute favorite. As a kid, I never had much luck with kites, and part of me is still wanting to get it right. So, this spring I'm gonna do it- learn to successfully fly a kite. This is the place where's I'm going to buy the perfect kite.

With Christmas coming and a few nieces and nephews to buy for, the husband and I decided to stop in…read morehere! We are very happy we did. I am a firm believer in educational, crafty and creative toys and this place is the best. They carry such an array of toys. Some are eco-friendly and all are age appropriate. It is definitely geared to the younger child but there are some creative items for the child approaching teens. The prices are very decent as well which is also a bonus for parents. We will definitely be back and telling our families with the babes as well.

If I were to hate you, I would buy your kid those battery-operated plastic toys (lead paint…read moreoptional) that make annoying sounds if you even breathe near them. Moohahahaha. But for the amazing, creative, active little ankle-biters in my extended menagerie, I shop for their gifts at Pedagogy, purveyors of cool toys, books, puzzles and game for the kidlets - including a cool wooden puzzle for one car-n-truck-n-bus obsessed little guy and beautiful wooden musical instruments for one future headbanger. For older kids, they've got board games, craft supplies and science kits. They also carry a small selection of super-sweet baby gear - much of it made of organic and/or fair trade materials, and emphasizing local companies. It's a small independent business, and the proprietor gives great service, including helping me pick out gifts (I'm afraid of kids, what should I get, what should I get?) and, my favourite part, offering gift wrapping. I LOVE stores that will gift wrap for you. It's like 10 million extra points you just earned there. And she does a lovely job with that bumblebee paper and ribbon, too.

My recent customer service experiences with this company and with its owner Joanna Rindall Palmer…read morehave all been negative. I have found them to be petty, dishonest and completely self-centered. I would not advise doing business with Creative Packaging. As an example of their dishonesty, check out how many reviews their business has from people who share the owner's last name on Google and on Facebook. This is just one small example of how they operate.

Be "Creative"! Have you ever wondered how some people's…read moregifts can look so great? If you are into making an impact with your gift or packaging go to Creative Packaging. I buy in bulk so I can develop a "signature" look for the year. It's a great deal when you break it down per piece but it is a commitment. (I'll post a picture of some of my gifts that I did for Christmas.) I used Clear Boxes with Silver Sheer Organza or Silver Satin Ribbon in a Frosted Bag. They also have bulk rolls of wrapping paper that I buy in neutral colours (they have some that are 2 sided) so it can be used throughout the year.

Granville Island Toy Company is a fun toy store. One thing I've noticed and love about Vancouver,…read morethere is a toy store in every neighbourhood. Actually, I notice there tends to be individual services (florist, fruit/veg stand/ butcher/ baker) for most things in each area...very different from the US...and I think it's much nicer. Granville Island Toy Co. has been around for quite awhile. The emphasis is on quality play things, but they do have some of the latest trend items also (like Frozen dolls). The shop is nicely laid out. The displays are inviting. It is easy to find things. On my last visit, I noticed a bunch of siege engines and Da Vinci machine models on display. They were very well made and would be so fun to mess with. This store has a great selection of popular, high end toys: Playmobil, Calico Critters (I lovvvve Calico Critters), Legos, Schleich. More trendy stuff by Funko. An excellent selection of games of all types for all ages & lots of puzzles. Excellent place for stocking stuffers. They also have Corolle dolls - these are lovely for any child that wants a baby doll - they smell like vanilla, so well made & sweet looking. The staff here is friendly and knowledgeable. They aren't pushy. Granville Island Toy Co. offers gift wrap, gift cards and has a nice customer loyalty program. You get $5 for every $100 you spend and an invite to their annual 25% off sale. A fun stop for any toy lover visiting Main Street!

Great selection of Lego, PlayMobil, and Technic toys. I want to give this a better rating but had…read moreto run out of the store because some guy kept farting around the whole place so I couldn't breathe anymore. I'll try to go back in the future to give this a more in depth review.

On the second floor of Lonsdale Quay is this tiny gem of a toy store. it's packed full of games for…read moreall ages; puzzles; board games and toys for younger kids. It is really amazing how much there is in this small space.we were worried at first that we wouldn't find anything suitable for amusing our small crew of adults sidelined by torrential downpours, but we were quickly directed to the correct corner of the store and found a few old standbys and some curious new challenges. It's amazing how many corners one small shop can have really. Our rainy days were saved!

Games People, of course, carries games, but not just board games. They also got strategy and role…read moreplaying games. In addition, you'll find models and toys, but the thing that really caught my attention was all the board games. They've got a huge supply from children's puzzles to 500 piece, 1000 piece and even 5000 piece puzzles. Fun!