MudPuddles Toys and Books is a family-owned toy and children’s bookstore that “believes in the power of play.” The store has two locations in Oregon: one in Northwest Portland and one in Sherwood.
About MudPuddles Toys and Books
The store describes itself as “an old-school shop stocking new, educational & unique toys, books, dolls & puppets for kids.” They curate toys and activities that are educational and stimulating but still funny and playful. The toy store offers a world of fantasy for your child to explore. MudPuddles Toys and Books emphasizes the importance of playtime in a child’s development and believes that the benefits of expressing your creativity can range from nurturing imagination to enhancing motor skills. They even have a catalog detailing their different toys. This marketing tool has been mostly dropped by retail stores thanks to the internet.
Products
They divide their inventory into categories: Active Play, Arts and Science, Baby, Toddler, and Preschool, Books, Games and Puzzles, Legos and Building, Pretend Play and Music, Sensory Toys, Stuffed Animals, Teens, and a section of gifts for all ages. MudPuddles Toys and Books encourages curiosity and wonders through STEM activities like telescopes and Forensic Science Labs. They want to take both parents and children back to playing before the internet: they offer activities like word fights, freeze tag, trivia, yoyos, DIY kits, memory and matching games, puzzles, markers, and stuffed animals. Additionally, they currently feature a Halloween collection that includes Pumpkin Board Games, Halloween Fidget Keychains, Bat Finger Puppets, and Halloween books. They have many children costumes like superheroes, dinosaurs, unicorns, and fairies. Both locations of MudPuddles are open Monday through Saturday from 10-6 and on Sundays from 11-6.
Birthday Bucket
MudPuddles Toys and Books goes all out for birthdays. They have a program called Birthday Buckets that helps you know what a child wants as a gift to make sure each birthday is one to remember. Birthday Buckets are like a gift registry where you bring your child into the store to “shop” for their wish list. Relatives can shop over the phone, and the store will keep selections in a bucket decorated with your child’s name. Birthday Club members receive a postcard and must redeem it within a month of their birthday.
Specials
MudPuddles Toys and Books are active on Instagram: the store consistently posts new inventory, ongoing sales, and features like their list of under $20 gift ideas. Additionally, they often go live on Facebook for their “Playmobil Sales,” where they offer toys and games at a discounted rate. Both store branches host annual holiday events, like the Indoor Easter Egg Hunt and Juneteenth. MudPuddles will be handing out candy on Halloween at both their Sherwood and Northwest Portland locations. Currently, they have a Back to School section with fall essentials like backpacks, pens, lunch kits, pins, and keychains. Be sure to check out their Instagram for current hours.
MudPuddles Toys and Books
MudPuddles Toys and Books offers a world of wonder for children while stimulating growth and development. Whether shopping for your child, a birthday, or yourself, MudPuddles cannot disappoint.
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