Several generations of Schleich toys have passed through the Madhouse doors over the years - most recently Smurfs, dinosaurs and braided horses - but none of them have produced such a loud gasp of delight as this last one - the Ice Elves Sleigh - that we were sent to review.
It comes in quite a large box which also has a removable fairy woodland background scene that you can keep to make it look pretty on your child's bedroom shelf or for playing on. If you're looking for inspiration for your imaginative play, the story given by the manufacturers is : "When the enchantress of the ice elves likes to set out for a long-time joyride, she asks her ice cat to pull her in the sledge through the sunlit snow fields of her home. The faithful draught animal gladly agrees, and as swift as the wind, the enchantress flies by covered in warm quilts. Everywhere, elves and beasts wave to her, because everybody is pleased to see her."
Ah so it's a cat. The Madhouse Mini-testers couldn't decide if it was a specific animal or a strange hybrid of horse, lynx and husky !
Here's the Ice Elves Enchantress - or the Ice Queen as we keep calling her. She reminds me of Cate Blanchett in Lord of the Rings, for some strange reason !
When I unpacked the toy, I discovered two plastic pieces - the curly top parts of the carriage - in the bottom of the box that looked like they had snapped off. I was just getting ready to glue them back on when Sophie discovered that they snap back on, so don't worry if this happens to you, it's not broken !
Sophie thought it looked really pretty as an ornament to put on a shelf in her bedroom.
Whereas Juliette wanted to play with it.
Sophie also discovered that you can open up and flip back the top of the carriage to create an extra sledge on the back of the main sleigh. To me, it looks really Christmassy and could make the centrepiece of a lovely wintry scene under the Christmas tree or on the mantlepiece.
I was impressed to see that Schleich toys are hand-painted too, as well as showing great attention to detail.
The Ice Elves Sleigh is part of the new Balaya collection for September 2013, which also includes mystical creatures such as an ice dragon, snow unicorns and various ice elves. I'm sure the girls would love to add to the collection so that they can make up even better stories in the fairytale wonderland of the ice elves.
star rating : 4.5/5
RRP : £25.99
for more information : http://www.schleich-s.com/en/GB/New-Products/
Disclosure : We received the product in order to write an honest review.
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