I’ve been a fan of B. Toys for a while now. I like the construction, edutainment value, and vintage feel of their toys. I knew that B. Toys was one of the brands that I wanted to share with you as part of Tee’s fifth birthday celebration here on the blog, so I was really happy when they were kind enough to send us some toys to test, just in time for her big day.
What goes with birthdays? Music and dancing of course!
Symphony in B.
The Symphony in B. is one of the coolest toys I’ve ever seen. I wanted to play with this just as much as Tee and Kay did! It’s an orchestra pit with 13 instruments and 15 songs. You decide which instruments will play the song. Choose from clarinet, flute, tuba, trumpet, xylophone, drums, cymbals, piano, accordion, koto (a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, in case you were wondering), guitar, violin and sitar.
Choose your instruments and place them in the orchestra pit area to hear them play. Honestly, it was just as much fun for the adults as it was for the kids to swap the instruments in and out and hear how each switch changed the song. Hubs immediately created a polka version of Eensy Weensy Spider with just the tuba, trombone, and accordion.
Each instrument is colour coded, and the bases each come in a different shape. I love this detail – it’s great to help younger kids match up shapes and colour.
You control the tempo (or speed) of the song, and it has auto-off and a VOLUME CONTROL. Hallelujah! Yes, I am that mom always nattering on in my reviews about having a volume control. Thank you, B. Toys!
When kids press the labeled buttons, little lights show them which instruments are woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboards, and strings so they can learn the different parts of the orchestra. Another pair of buttons helps them categorize instruments as melody-making (e.g., piano, guitar, flute) or accompaniment (e.g., drums, cymbals, clarinet).
These are the 15 classic children’s songs on the Symphony in B. song list:
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
- Alouette
- Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
- The Wheels on the Bus
- B-I-N-G-O
- CanCan
- Eensy Weensy Spider
- Baby Bumblebee
- Brahm’s Lullaby
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat
- Pop! Goes the Weasel
- Entry of the Gladiators
- Alphabet Song
- Come Little Leaves
- Für Elise
There’s a little panel in the back that lifts up so you can store all the instruments inside the toy when you’re not playing. The designers at B. Toys have seriously thought of everything. There’s nothing more annoying than having to root through both toy boxes, under the couch, in the couch, and behind the couch, looking for missing pieces before we can play. Every toy with separate pieces should have built-in storage like this!
The Symphony in B. uses 6 AA batteries which come included, so Tee was able to start playing as soon as she opened it up. Of course Kay couldn’t wait to try it out too!
Rockestra
B. Toys also sent us their newest music toy, Rockestra, for us to test out. This version is for the rock star in all of us!
The Rockestra comes with 15 songs and six instruments plus vocals. Again you choose the instruments to put on the stage: lead guitar, bass guitar, rhythm and acoustic guitar, drums, strings, keyboard, and vocals. I wasn’t sure about vocals being one of the instruments, but like the Symphony in B., all the music is professionally recorded so it doesn’t sound cheap or annoying.
Like the Symphony in B., the Rockestra comes with auto-off and volume control. This one also comes with a headphone jack for when you need the kids to be really quiet. Lyrics for all the songs are included so everyone can sing along too. B. Toys has added a replay function that allows you to create your rock anthem masterpiece and play it back again.
I don’t recognize any of the songs, so I assume that they’re original songs recorded for the Rockestra:
- Beluga Whale
- Crunch Some Carrots
- Tag You’re It!
- Cloud Gazing
- B. Colorful
- Gotcha!
- Clap Clap Clap
- One Child
- They’re Puppies
- Playing in the Sanndbox
- I’ve Got a Secret
- I Gotta Jump!
- It’s Fun Taking Turns
- King of the Dinosaurs
- Wiggle Wiggle, Let’s Jiggle
The fun flashing lights make it feel like a miniature rock concert stage, and the music got the kids up and dancing. I do wish there were a few more instruments to play around with on this one, though I’m not really sure what more you could add for a rock and roll band. My only other gripe is the lack of onboard storage for the instruments on this toy. The Rockestra uses 6 AA batteries which come included.
B. Green
Another thing I appreciate about B. Toys is their ongoing commitment to keeping their packaging minimal and recyclable. They only use soy-based inks, water-based varnishes, and recycled cardboard, and all the clear plastic packaging is recyclable (#1).
B. Toys also gives back. For every B. Toy you buy, they donate 10 cents to Free the Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children!
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Symphony in B. and Rockestra are available at Target stores in the US or at Mastermind Toys in Canada.
Win a Symphony in B. or Rockestra Toy!
One lucky winner will win their choice of a Symphony in B. or a Rockestra toy. Whether you’re a classical family or a little bit rock ‘n’ roll, either one is sure to be a hit at your house! Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the US, 18+. All entries will be verified.
Check out my other open giveaways listed in the right sidebar!
Disclosure: I received sample items for review purposes. All opinions are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.
we do have a few b toys and they are great i like the Meowsic key board
The B. Ready Beach Bagâ„¢ caught my eye! I’d give this to my grandson to use on our upcoming beach vacation!
What a wonderful store,we have two grandbabies,and two on the way,so everything would be perfect for any of them.we are definitely a great company that we will be buying from a lot.thanks for sharing.
We have the pop-arty! bead-ish things and my daughters make things with them all the time! I’d love to have a Youniversity activity center. We can only go to the doctors so often to play with theirs!
I would also love the Mat-A-Matics for my grandson
I would like the Bee-TeePee for my grandson!
The Mat-A-Matics looks like a great way to play music and dance all at the same time
would love the Bee-TeePee
They have the best toys! I also love their B. TeePee, what a perfect place to read a story. My niece and nephew (4 & 2) would love the symphony in B toy.
Oh my goodness, these toys are great! My little man loves to be a “doctor” so I would love to have the Wee MD to give to him on his birthday.
I like the Teepee, kids love this sort of thing and it would be for one of my grandchildren, which one of the 7 I’m not sure yet, I’ll decide that if I’m lucky enough to win 🙂
Wow, I gotta say that site is so colorful it makes everything so appealing! I love the Owl About Waterfalls, the easel, the teepee, the baa baa barn. the ab3 abacus. :Lots of things that are adorable and awesome.
I love the Baa-Baa Barn and I would give it to my youngest son 🙂
I would love the Wee B. Splashy for my son’s bath time. Thanks!
I want the light up teepee for my granddaughters. They are 5 yrs and 1 month old.
The matamatics mat looks really cool.
My friends’ kids would like the Coastal Cruiser.
I would love to get the B. Teepee for my daughter. It’s such a fun item for imaginary play.
I think the b-puzzled set is super cute!
Thank you!
My son would love the Coastal Cruiser!
My grandson would love the Teepee
I would definately get the Mat-A-Matics so that all my great nieces and nephews could use it together (6) of them
My daughter would love the Critter Clinic!
I would like the Spin, Rattle & Rollâ„¢ for my little step granddaughter! Sheis at a perfect age for it!
I like the Coastal Cruiser…would be great at the beach!
The B puzzled toy is really cool! ^ different puzzles, would love to give to my daughter
I’d like the Magnetic Alphabetic for my granddaughter
I would love to try the Wheeee-mote controlâ„¢ Newbies
My niece has one that is very pink that my son envies so I would love for him to share in the fun in a more neutral color!
I also like the B Ready Beach Bag
Mat-A-Matics for my son.
I also like Let’s Dish and I would give it to my niece!
My little guys would love the Critter Clinic.
I would also like the AB3’s Abacus. I would give it to my youngest granddaughter!
My great niece and great nephew would love the Wee B. Splashy™ set. They both love baths and water so I know they would love playing with the stacking and squirting toys in this set 🙂
I would love the Critter Clinic and give it to my great niece or nephew.
I love B.Toys the HiPhone is awesome!
Would love to have the Mat-A-Matics for my granddaughter, Nellie.
I’d love the Jungle Jingles for my kids!
Take It Easel looks great.
All the toys are awesome but I love the Dr. Doctor set, I Know my Son would have so much fun pretending to be a doctor!
I love the Owl about waterfalls. My dd loves to play with water.
For the age my son is now I would love the Hugs Links. When he gets a bit older the Zany Zoo looks amazing!
We gave the Bristle Block Spinaroos to our daughters for Christmas last year and they love playing with it. So much fun!
My grandson would love the LucKeys he always wants to play with my keys 🙂
I just love these toys! I love the BallyHoo because it would be age appropriate for my 2 little grand daughter’s, and also because it is a wonderful learning toy! 🙂 ty
My kids would love Sands Ahoy set.
the Mat-A-Maticsâ„¢ would be popular
I also really like the B. Teepee, I’d love to get that for my daughter. We have the Zany Zoo activity cube and it is so well made!
The mat-a-mtics would be really neat! http://www.mybtoys.com/toys/lively/mat-a-matics/
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
I like the Mat-A-Matics