A sweet wooden wonderland for your wunderkind

Silent night? Yeah, only if your holiday toy choices don't include batteries, drum sticks, or bells. We've found a beautiful selection of handmade, heirloom quality toys that can help your child create a peaceful, quiet winter wonderland under the tree. Much like the quiet of a snow-blanketed forest, these handmade wooden toys from Etsy shop mielasiela in Lithuania are a breath of fresh air. Each piece is hand-cut and sanded, formed of natural, untreated black alder wood. We love that the designs are original, clearly hand drawn and so delightfully unexpected. Besides the boy in the forest, there's also a little girl with a clowder of cats, a family of penguins, and plenty of adorable animals. They do suggest that these pieces aren't ideal for chewers, so if you're looking for a teething toy, we recommend our long-time favorite, Etsy artisan Little Alouette. But for Waldorf families and children who dream of peaceful romps in the forest with their fuzzy friends, this gift will provide years of beauty and joy. What's that sound? Ahhhh, the sound of silent, non-screechy joy. -Delilah Find handmade wooden toys at mielasiela on Etsy. Order ASAP to make sure they'll arrive from Lithuania in time for the holidays. For more inspired holiday gifts for children don't miss our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide!