The first of our new arrivals is online: The marvelous standard marble run by Cuboro of Switzerland. I have loved this marble run since the first time I saw it: the wooden blocks are beautifully cut, and the whole concept is immensely pleasing. You can make elementary runs and then, as you learn the fundamentals, proceed to more challenging projects.

The Cuboro design differs from that of Haba’s marble run in that all of the elements are blocks of uniform size, with the track carved into the blocks in different ways. Haba’s tracks include long straight pieces and many add-ons, and the ball’s course is much more out in the open: Cuboro’s features many more tunnels and labyrinthine passageways, and its more complex workings mean that it is suitable for the older child. Both have attained the “Spiel Gut” designation, and I would happily recommend either (and would happily own both!).

This entry was posted on Monday, April 3rd, 2006 at 9:00 am and is filed under New at TWW, Toys, Games & Activities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.