Most of the toys that litter this pretend play category really aren’t child centric at all. The toys that tend to dictate the play, are often single function, reflect gender bias in design, are made of less than durable materials, and tend to re-enforce the domesticity of everyday life are staples in the pretend play arena. However, Maple Landmark Woodcraft’s new thematic building block sets are designed to truly let the child be in charge, to pretend and be creative!

Each of the three sets comes with between 20-25 pieces of locally harvested hardwood maple that has been sanded smooth to the touch. Bright graphics are only printed on one side and each piece measures 1” thick to provide stability when building, stacking and playing. The sets also come in a re-useable box for storage.

Mission 1 Space has an array of pieces that can be manipulated to create different space living scenarios. The set comes with a rocket ship, a space buggy, two astronauts, a collection of living pods – including an observatory and a garden – connecting tubes, a solar array, an earth block, and two out of this world planetary landscape pieces to help set the scene.

The Country Farm Set has a farm family of five – all ready to work on the farm, 4 block animals – pig cow, sheep and dog – a tractor, and an 11-piece barn layout that can be constructed in at least six different ways. The barn is printed in a traditional barn red color with playful animals peering out the windows.

Images of the Noah’s Ark Set are embargoed until after the NY Now introduction, however the set includes 12 pieces printed on one side with the ark design and plenty of animals, to help tell the story of Noah and the Ark as well as more than a half-a-dozen single blocks depicting Noah and his wife, and more animals – two-by-two.

Unlike the typical play sets that are on the market these sets, though thematic, allow for complete open-end play – there is no right or wrong way to set up or play with the sets. These sets are also not gender bias – no pink for girls, blue for boys. The imagery is fun and kid-friendly and also essentially realistic. With all of the pieces being crafted from hardwood maple the sets will last a lifetime. And finally since the sets aren’t pretend kitchens, vacuums, or work benches, the experience the child has with the Maple Landmark Woodcraft sets is more worldly, explorational, educational and fun!