Baooab is a children’s toy designed by Sergio Guijarro and Miriam Tochijara. This simple toy is designed to encourage imaginative and creative playtime. According to Guijarro: A child’s power of imaginations has no limits. Baooab is a new game concept which combines construction, creativity and interaction with all the elements of play. Six pieces, infinite possibilities, offering a form of entertainment wich returns to the sensory, emotional, and, above all, to the appreciation of ingenuity. I love how the simple wooden shapes can change and adapt during play. Check out this video to see Baooab in action. Baooab can become an infinite number of creatures: a turtle, giraffe, or sea monster! Or maybe this toy is train, a swirling river, or a patch of flowers. And because it is based on creativity, this toy can be enjoyed by all ages. Anything is possible with Baooab. All you need is your imagination.

This decorative wooden object was created by French design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra. Called L’oiseau (French for The Bird), the piece is a minimalist tribute to the famous Eames House Bird, which is also being produced by Vitra. Inspired by Nordic folk art, L’oiseau is made from solid maple and gently smoothed into a laconic shape. Here is what designers share about the project: It is a simple bird without any other function than trying to propose a caring presence, a pleasant company. We have always been fascinated by animal representations whether they are primitive or more contemporary – from ivory bears made by the Inuit community to the Finnish birds made in blown glass. It could seem outdated to be interested in such subjects however we truly think that it is a necessary fantasy to continue supplementing this symbolic bestiary. I love the joyful simplicity of the piece. It adds a sympathetic note to the interior without being kitschy or banal.

French designer Jean-Sébastien Poncet and ÉSÉ present a series of abstracted wooden animals based on an extremely simple and minimal concept. Pieces of wood, cut in simple geometries, are put together in order to create archetypal animal forms, a doe, cow, bull, rabbit or a stag. The resulting objects recall the impromptu toys of our childhood, when a few pieces of wood and a lot of imagination resulted in endless creative play-time and improvising narratives. The Animali Domesticki series form a beautiful home accessory or children’s toy. Jean-Sébastien Poncet also decided to scale up one of the series elements to transform the original piece into a beautiful sculpture.

German industrial designer Günther Schunn is the creator of this sturdy, elegant and eco-friendly toy, infusing playtime with a valuable lesson in sustainability. The oscillating motion of the Calidu Rocking Horse powers an OLED lamp, instigating children to produce power and light by themselves. The horse is made from oak wood, metal handles and a leather fringe tail that completes the look with a touch of authenticity. Sometimes there is no better way to teach something than through the act of play, and this beautiful toy is a simple, captivating way to do that.

Lausanne based Big-Game studio created a series of cork floating boats for the Portuguese company Materia. The toys, simply titled ‘Bote’ are made of a cork base and a plastic mast or cabin that can be easily changed. A perfect kid’s gift now the summer is approaching fast. The boats will be exhibited during I Saloni 2011, at Via San Marco 38, Milan, April 12–17. Photography by Julien Chavaillaz.

Inspired by his father, a civil engineer who built toys for his children, Seattle based Brad Singley designed Multiblocks. Singley says: I can still remember the frustration of playing with building blocks as a young child. I wanted to build BIG, but it was impossible to make a skyscraper out of triangles, semicircles, cylinders, and small cubes. His fater in the end made him a set of wooden square and rectangular cubes in different lengths. Many years later Singley recreated his favorite toy. He added numbers and increments to encourage mathematical and creative thinking. The blocks, from scraps of basswood leftover from other products, come in recycled cotton storage bag and seem to me the perfect gift for kids.

As the proud father of a one-year-old daughter, I can really appreciate toys that are not only practical and colourful, but also beautiful. And those are hard to find, believe me… So imagine the joy when I found bicycle BIT! BIT is designed by Marc Castelló, who runs design studio Glodos together with his partner Sergi Teixidó. The plywood bike targets kids from 18 months to 3 years of age, and should help them develop their balance, coordination and psychomotor skills. And it helps their parents look cool ;-)

Hey kids! Build a minimalist village with this set of 10 House Blocks, sold via New York’s cutest kid shop Pomme. The blocks are made out of Japanese ash wood, and come in 5 colors and 3 sizes. The blocks can be stored in the accompanying burlap sack.

What started off as one self-made toy for his kid cousin, has flowered into an extensive range of beautifully coloured, archetypical toys: ArcheToys. These seemingly timeless toys are designed by Dutch industrial designer Floris Hovers. Seemingly timeless: they are packed with sentimental feelings of the past, reminding us of the Dinky Toys of the innocent 50′s and 60′s. A memory you would wish every child. Exclusively available through Goods.