What in the world are Pook-a-Looz? If you are not already familiar with them, and you have a ‘tween at home, you’ll soon know what they are. Pook-a-Looz are destined to be the next “craze”.
Pook-a-Looz are a line of toys featuring famous characters from Disney and Muppet characters that have had their images “tweaked” to give them a more “modern” look that will certainly appeal to children, ‘tweens and even teens. Even as an adult I find some of them really cute, although I’ll stick with the classic looks.
I was sent a few Pook-a-Looz toys to check out.
I received a Cinderella “walker” (for lack of a better description). You turn the dial to her side (complete with Mickey Mouse ears!) and she’ll walk across the table, desk or any flat surface. She certainly has a cute little face despite the fact she doesn’t have a nose, mouth or neck. Ha Ha.
One of my favorites that I received was the Minnie Mouse “weeble”. If you are around my age you’ll probably remember the Weeble Wobbles (Weeble Wobbles won’t/can’t fall down). She’s a rolly polly toy with a rounded bottom that wobbles around. You can spin her and hit her and she’ll just wobble back and forth. She has a cute face. I actually keep her on my desk. I find it a bit calming to bat her around the desk when I’m working.
The next toy took me a bit to figure out who he was. It finally hit me that he’s Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. He does not resemble Buzz at all.
This toy is a top. In the photo he’s sitting on a base that keeps him from rolling around. If you pull on one of his arms (it stretches far out too!) it will make the base spin (when removed from the base cover). Sadly we can’t get him to spin that way. We can only get him to spin when we do it manually. When we use the arm it snaps back too quickly and he does nothing but shoot across the table.
Lastly we received a Mickey Mouse Pook-a-Looz key chain “yapper”. I’m not sure of their correct name but this one makes sounds.
I like that is has a Mickey Mouse shaped key chain part. I don’t like the sound it makes. It drive me NUTS! So much so I had to hide it from the kids. His mouth opens up and he goes “Yap Yip Yip, Yap Yip Yip” in a very annoying voice. I cannot see how this would function as a key chain because the slightest movement makes his mouth open up and he starts “Yap Yip Yip” all over again. If my kids wanted to use this as a key chain on their backpack I would have to tape his mouth closed. Sadly I don’t see an on/off switch.
There are other Pook-a-Looz toys from plush to tote bags and from key chains to these mini-toys like I have.
My kids find them very appealing, more so my teen daughter then my son. She thinks they are adorable and has already requested a few of the plush for Christmas. I can certainly see the appeal for girls. I’m not so sure about boys. My son likes the toys but he hasn’t asked me for any more Pook-a-Looz.
Pook-a-Looz are available at many retail locations including the Disney Store and Toys R Us.
You can learn more about the available characters at http://pookalooz.vinylnation.net.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no other compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.