Pacific Northwest Play
Want to raise a nature-loving child? We hear you. Already have a nature-loving child? Excellent! Toys, books, and activities inspired by the vibrant ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduce the animals and plants of Puget Sound, Willamette River, the Pacific coast, temperate rainforests and alpine meadows to your little one. These curated picks help kids connect with place through play, reading, and exploration.
When my toddler was around 1, he just loved the Priddy Books - First 100 Words/Animals/Cars etc. My First 100 Pacific Northwest Animals is the same concept of clear and engaging photographs, single word descriptions, and sturdy boardbook, for all you lucky Pacific Northwest babies!
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How adorable are these Aw Shucks! Oyster Pajamas! Oysters will become as familiar as ladybugs with these cozy cotton pajamas from Little Hometown. Offered in sized 1T-5T.
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Filled with detailed and accurate illustrations of and facts about 100 creatures that call the PNW home, the Curious Kids Nature Guide, is a no-brainer for the 5+ crowd. Buy from Amazon
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We love schleich's figurines, and this killer whale AKA orca is no exception. These whales, which are actually part of the dolphins family, are a "worldwide" species, but tend to spottable in the Puget Sound from April to October. Bring your binoculars! Buy from Wild Republic
Buy from schleich
Can you believe that a tiny acorn becomes a mighty oak tree? A perfect metaphor the blink-and-you'll-miss-it nature of childhood. Savor your tiny acorns and help them build appreciation for the oak tree with Wee Gallery's Crinkle Acorn Teether.
Cougar figurine from schleich. Incredibly detailed fur pattern. Did you know cougars, panthers, mountain lions, and pumas all refer to the same species? We call them different names depending on where they are location. In the Pacific Northwest, they're usually called cougars or mountain lions. Often found in the forests and mountains, occasionally along the urban edge - eek! Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
"Forest Magic" is a whimsically illustrated and well put together field guide/storybook for little ones that live near the forests in the Pacific Northwest. The guide breaks up what you might find in the forest into categories: leaves, animals, fungus, lichen, and wildflowers. But the MOST important page, in my opinion, is the "Do not touch" list at the end of the book. Critical for young explorers! Good for 5+.
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Realistic, huggable, and ready for adventures, introduce this Chipmunk Plush from the earliest days. We may take them for granted, but in addition to being adorable, they help disperse seeds and support new growth. (They also serve as food for other animals in the food chain, but you can save that fact for when your little one is a bit older!) Buy from Wild Republic
Buy from The National Park Store
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Become a seashell investigator with this wonderfully informative guide to deciphering the characteristics - color, pattern, shape, and more - of seashells to learn more about the shell and its surroundings. Bring this on your next visit to the beach. Good for ages 4+. Buy from Bookshop.org
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Cute schleich otter figurine. These fish-loving, playful mammals can be spotted in coastal areas, rivers, and lakes. Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
The infamous great white shark. These apex predators are drawn to the Pacific Northwest because of the plentiful seal and sea lion populations. This great white shark figurine from schleich - complete with a double row of teeth - is sure to be a ferocious playtime and bathtime pal. Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
Beaver figurine from schleich. Love that it's captured in motion. These shy engineers can be spotted around slow-moving waters - rivers, lakes, wetlands. If you don't see them directly, you might see beaver chew - bite marks on tree stumps or branches - or their engineering feats, the dams themselves. Buy from Amazon
Buy from schleich
We love Sarah's Silks' wonderful open-ended silks. This ocean earth playsilk can be anything, but we love it especially as a setting for your little one's beachwalk finds, figurines, and stuffies. Buy from Sarah's Silks
Another stunner from Sarah's Silks'. This forest earth playsilk will serve as the perfect setting for all sorts of pretend play woodland adventures.Buy from Sarah's Silks
We like this Young Zoologist series. This Humpback Whale "first field guide" is well illustrated and filled with interesting and easy-to-digest facts about humpback whales, written by a marine biologist. We particularly appreciate the migration map. Good for ages 5+.
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