It's a rite of passage for every child: Take first steps, get first pull toy. The wobbly figure rolling behind a newly mobile baby can provide an incentive to stay upright and keep those legs moving. And at a stage of life when a kid is usually the one being dragged around, the pull toy can instill a much-needed sense of power and control. Parents seeking one with higher aesthetic value than a plastic bobble-head dog can offer will be pleased to find this big red fish, an honest-to-goodness piece of art. About the size of your average pug, it's a replica of an original 1920s design by kinetic sculptor Alexander Calder. The wooden contraption is an exercise in unexpected mechanical movement: The off-center wheels and hinged tail make it wiggle and bend with a remarkably fishlike swimming motion. Bonus: It's the rare plaything you can happily display on a shelf when your child outgrows it.—Christopher Healy
- Keywords:
- Alexander Calder,
- Fish Pull Toy,
- pull toys for kids
