Choose Your Own Adventure

Authors, Edward Packard & R.A Montgomery 

The “Choose Your Own Adventure” books written by R. A. Montgomery and Edward Packard is one of the most unique series of books I have ever read, especially with the plot of the story being completely in the reader’s hands. These quality books are written in an easily understandable way that makes it ideal for third and fourth grade reading levels. The books all have a different plot written in a second-person point of view in which the reader becomes the main character. With challenges and choices facing them around every corner, the reader interacts with the plot and determines the main character’s actions shaping the final outcome of the plot. A good selection of these unique, need-to-read books can be discovered and explored at JAKE’s Toy Box.

Review by Brie D.

Toys from the 50s 60s and 70s

History Colorado Center, now though Oct 4th.

Toys from the 50s 60s and 70s

I rather regret waiting so long to visit this really fun exhibit at the History Colorado Center.  Why? Because there is limited amount of time left for you, should you feel so inclined, to visit.  Please click on the image above or HERE to be taken to the Flickr photo album of my journey.  

I've heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words so this blog is going to be short.  Many of the photos have captions and many do not.  How many bring back fond memories for you?  You'll probably notice my enjoyment of the exhibition layout almost as much as the toys themselves.  Hope you enjoy and please share if ya do.

Pink and Dolls - A misplaced gender bias?

Circa 1800, Men's Suit

"We think of pink as such a girlish color, but it's really a post-World War II phenomenon." Michelle Finamore, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, interviewed by Susan Samberg, NPR about an exhibition from 2014 entitled Think Pink. 

4256 FREE w/Purchase, Ltd. <-CLICK

Near closing time one night a couple years ago, a family came to visit us after having dinner next door.  I specifically remember what seemed the grandfather almost taunting his grandson by repeatedly presenting him with what many people would identify as a toy meant for a girl.  I did my best to re-direct, but the old man seemed almost to enjoy the game.  The young boy was at not all amused and visibly became more upset with each successive toy the grandfather brought to him. The family was in from out of town and after purchasing a couple toys, they headed back to wherever.

Our founder loved the color pink.  One of his favorite things to do upon entering a Toys - R- Us was to make a beeline for the back of the store where they kept the motorized cars.  His personal favorite, the Barbie Pink Escalade of course.  The word PINK was one of his earliest sight words too. 

Ryans Room - Out of Production.

Another misunderstood gender bias is in dolls/play figures.  Both boys and girls gain valuable social skills from role-playing their home lives and more.  Some of the most humbling and positive feedback to our work as parents was in overhearing Jake play independently with his little fire department and more specifically the characters within it. Using that limitless toddler imagination, one became mommy, daddy, and, of course, Jake.  The 4th pictured is our good friend Gerald.  I recall also him saying kiss, kiss, hug, goodnight, good-morning, I love you, and more while he played independently with the figures.  

In this article from KQED entitled "Why it's Imperative to Teach Empathy to Boys" you'll find a thought provoking read how playing with dolls can be of tremendous importance later in life.  Both from observations as a parent and even some at our store, I have found that children seem to role play what they are around the most.  You should not be too surprised to hear exact copies of your most frequently used expressions or words.

Again, our son of four absolutely loved the color pink and he literally never once seemed to notice differences in skin color.  Everyone was "friend".  Jake reinforced in my mind that holding a bias about colors or dolls is a completely adult construct.  It also goes both ways in the branding we see associated with some toys and dolls/action figures "for boys".  

   

"Thanks to marketing, Disney princesses and profits, the color pink has spread like measles."  Susan Stamberg NPR.

As a child of the 70'/80's, it would go without saying that David Bowie's "Pretty In Pink" comes to mind as bumper music for this blog however, please take a listen to this 1955 Hit, Perez Prado  Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.  Try it with a pink lemonade before summer's end too.  

So what has changed since that grandfather's visit? When a father's son picked out the Beanie Boo pictured right and he mentioned his perplexity in that, out of everything in the store his son of four chose something pink, purple, white...  I was able to share with him that pink has some interesting history behind it and it is after all only a color.  

If you enjoyed the read, please feel free to comment on my grammar and thanks for the feedback on the Links.  

Haiku Poetry, in a toy store?

Poetry?  "I did not enjoy that unit in school."

That was my judgement on poetry.  I can recall one of my high school English teachers talking of Iambic Pentameter and cadence and..... Que audio - Chalres M Schultz - Charlie Brown's Teacher. 

It was a whole poetry unit and sadly what I remember most was our teacher telling us that we had better not use lyrics from various songs in our writings, because "he would know."  In my foolish youthful rebelliousness I thought, yea right this guy is really listing to SAGA Worlds Apart - Wind him up. (For that matter it's questionable if I should have been either)

Although my teacher did not recognize the song, I wound up receiving a B-.  After plagiarizing various parts from the work of others, combined with my misguided rebelliousness in refusing to listen to direction, I forgot to add the refrain if you will.  The song has one but way too long.... My teacher solved it with two words under each plagiarized section, "Spinning Spinning".

Anyway, this is the background for my introduction into Haiku, another individually unique poetry style.  A game called Haiku You in particular.  This is where I told myself to drop my aversion to poetry and learn about the game.  The simple fact that one of our employees is related to the games creator had nothing to do with my new-found willingness either, wink.  That said, I am glad that yet again by dropping my preconceived misconceptions, it has allowed me to share on this GREAT BRAIN FOOD!

Haiku You is a local Colorado company and you'll find this game, for a short while longer anyway, in only a select group of locations of which JAKE's is currently one of them.  This is a first class game for learning about syl-la-bles', improving vocabulary, creative problem solving, art, team building, sometimes even spontaneous laughter, and so much more. Rather than try to detail out how to play I have the unique pleasure of presenting a series of Haiku's as completed by our staff.

The instructions were to write one Haiku about "I love Jake's Toy Box" and one about Summer.  For your enjoyment.

I love Jake's Toy Box                             A summer breeze flits
Seeing A Child Smile                              Through the green leaves of trees
Is the best feeling.    Grace D.                 Quiet and peaceful.    Grace D.

Unique toys fill the shelves                     I love Jake's toy box
and children play with fun toys               Jakes is where I find peace.
smiles are made here.  Rhyse F.              live, love, Jake's toy box.   Zlata T.

It's about darn time                                The sun shines so bright
This heat has got me all like                    Children play for hours on end
It's about darn time     Zlata T.               Three months of great fun.    Mary B.

So joyous our time                                Come to Jake's Toy Box
Among the toys & delight,                     Where the laughter always rings
Where fun never ends    Kylie                and the children smile.     Hunter C.

Know this game is just one of the many games available for checkout in our Game Library Program. What is that?  Please ask while joining us for Family Game Night or anytime your in for a visit.

All ages all abilities always welcome!