Want to be a brilliant gift giver this holiday season? Try Brilliant Sky Toys & Books!

My aunt buys the best kids presents, ever. Growing up, I never had to give her a list of what I would like if her daughter drew my name in the Christmas exchange, because she always just knew what I would love better than I did. Now, when she buys for my daughter, I am always grateful that she includes the gift receipt – not because I’m going to return the present, but because I am dying to know where she shops.

So, want to know where she shops? Hint: it’s not the big toy stores with aisle after aisle of the “popular toys” that changes every week based on whatever movie or TV show is coll at the time. It’s the small stores run with one goal: to offer kids a diverse and eclectic mix of high quality toys that they will treasure for years.

Stores like Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, an amazing toy store that operates in 15 states {and counting}. The first Brilliant Sky Toys & Books was founded by a husband and wife team in 2002 and their goal was to be the finest upscale specialty toy store in America and offer amazing and personalized service with a smile.

In the past 11 years, Brilliant Sky Toys & Books has grown from a single location to one of the fastest growing toy retailers in the country, which just goes to show you that what they are offering is what people really want.

So, what are they offering? They feature more than 10,000 high-quality specialty products and offer a place where everyone can find their way to play. They describe their approach as “vibrant yet warm, exciting yet comforting and exploratory yet safe.” Their stores are designed with rich colors and woods and low sightlines and custom fixtures, to make the Brilliant Sky sensory experience unlike any other.

They say, “Discover, experience, explore, interact, and enjoy. That's the Brilliant Sky way, and it's the way to play”. Seriously, who wouldn’t love to shop here?

I may not ever be an amazing shopper like my aunt, but I can certainly fake it thanks to the Brilliant Sky annual Brilliance Awards, chosen by the toy store franchise chain. The Brilliance Awards list features a dozen amazing toys and is announced each holiday season to make shopping that much easier for their guests.


The 4th annual Brilliance Awards were just announced and it is a truly amazing collection of playthings. We own many of the toys on the list, and I can tell you with all certainty that they are the toys my kids return to over and over again during playtime. 

Priced from $12.99 to $84.99, the 2013 Brilliance Award winners are an eclectic bunch of toys that run on brain power and imagination and are sure to delight children of all ages. The list includes Legos, educational books, games, a magic set, an easel, darts, a toy treehouse {shown below}, chubby vehicles, a learning circuit board, and a world map puzzle that are part of the wide range of amazing childhood toys they rate as the best of the best.

Brilliant Sky has created numerous product review videos to help you learn about these great Brilliance Award winners and more. Be sure to check them out here so you can see the hottest toys in action for yourself!

One of my favorite items on the Brilliance Award winners list is the Adventure Treehouse by International Playthings. This is pretty much the coolest place a Calico Critter could call home and I was thrilled to welcome it into my home this fall. Calico Critters are near and dear to my heart because I grew up playing with them myself {although they were called Sylvanian Families back then} and they are one of those good, classic toys that every child should be exposed to.

The Adventure Treehouse isn’t just a house; it’s also a Critter hangout, complete with a huge slide, a swing, pulley system, ladders, and lookout. With different floors for entertaining and play opportunities on both sides, the Adventure Treehouse is great for multiple kids. This is great because I have two huge Calico Critters fans at home and they wouldn’t do well watching each other play with something this cool without joining in.

The Adventure Treehouse may have come without accessories, but my children wasted no time moving in just a few of their Calico Critters families and furniture. They quickly set up a Critter party and they were so busy playing that they would have readily skipped dinner just to play a little bit longer.

This is just one example of the great toys waiting for you at Brilliant Sky Toys & Books. With
concierge-style customer service, free gift wrap and a wide range of
amazing toys, games, books, and learning toys, this is one
toy chain that goes well beyond expectations to make your gift-giving
experience amazing.

If you're lucky enough to have one close to you,
it's definitely worth a trip in to see what's in store. Even if you don’t have a store near you {you can check if you do here}, you can still visit their website for all your gift-giving needs. And, be sure to check out their free app to get savings and more right on your smartphone.

A big thank you to Brilliant Sky Toys & Books for sending the Calico Critters Adventure Treehouse sample for review. As always, all opinions are 100% ours.