1, 2, 3 and 4 Wooden Animals Puzzle | Designed by Sarah Betz | Sorting & Stacking Toy

Four gentle animals, drawn by illustrator Sarah Betz, each made from a different number of pieces. One animal is a single piece, the next comes in two, then three, then four. Slot them together on the wooden board and a toddler has, without quite realising it, counted to four.

The board is cut to the shape of each animal, with the number printed underneath as a cue, so your child can see where every piece belongs and get there on their own. Pieces come apart and go back together as many times as they like, and the animals double up as little characters for stories in between.

Sorting by colour and by animal, matching shapes and working out which piece goes where all build the hand and eye control toddlers are busy developing at this age. It is designed so that a child can explore it alone, in the Montessori spirit, and just as happily with a parent alongside.

Suitable from 18 months. A lovely first puzzle and a thoughtful gift for a first or second birthday.