Cozy Cookie: Heart-Warming Gift for Kids of All Ages
Written: Dec 27 '02 (Updated Dec 28 '02)
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Pros: Cuddly, soothing, smells heavenly, benefits children in need
Cons: May be a bit damp when heated, however this disappears with regular use
The Bottom Line: The Cozy Cookie is a perfect way to comfort a child or adult you love AND provide comfort for other children in need. Everyone needs a Cozy Cookie!
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| Dr_Steph's Full Review: Hart Toys Cozy Cookie |
I purposely waited until after Christmas to write about this toy because you don't need a special occasion to give someone a Cozy Cookie. OK, OK - I also haven't had time to write sooner than this either, but that's beside the point. The Cozy Cookie by Hart Toys represents a unique combination of small-town ingenuity and compassion. It was developed by Mollie Edson and Jane Wright, a couple of community-minded women in my small Washington town. It was first designed as a homemade toy for their children, then as an ever-popular toy for the neighborhood children, and finally as gift of comfort for people of all ages everywhere.
What is a Cozy Cookie?
Though it sounds (and smells) like something good to eat, the Cozy Cookie is actually a plush gingerbread cookie-shaped toy, about a foot tall, and made of cuddly soft brown polar fleece. It comes in one of three cheerful gingerbread cookie designs and is filled with rice (non-toxic) that gives off a delicious, sweet aroma of gingerbread when heated briefly in the microwave (about 30 seconds on medium heat). The warmth and aroma of the Cozy Cookie is irresistible! Everyone who handles it ends up hugging it close.
Though the Cozy Cookie is a perfect gift for a young child wanting something comforting to cuddle at bedtime, it also appeals to adults. Since the Cozy Cookie stays warm for about 30 minutes after heating in the microwave, it makes a nice heating pad for sore muscles. The product webpage (http://www.cozycookie.com) shows young children, elderly people, napping adults, people working at computers, and even dogs enjoying the comfort of the Cozy Cookie.
The three designs include a fleece cookie with a plaid red and green vest and spiky yellow hair, a cookie with a pink collar, yellow and pink buttons, and wavy yellow hair, and a cookie with a blue and white striped shirt and a blue cap (my favorite). Each one comes packaged in a colorful gingerbread house carton and comes with a small paperback color booklet, called "The Cozy Cookie Story."
What Makes This Such a Special Toy?
The tangible comfort provided by the Cozy Cookie is enough to attract most people, but this cuddly cookie actually does much more than that. As Edson states, the mission of the Cozy Cookie is "to make life a little more comfortable and warm for everyone. We are committed to using Cozy Cookie's success to provide for children in difficult circumstances. Our goal is to make direct donations of Cozy Cookie to places that serve children who are ill or in crisis such as hospitals, homeless shelters, and foster homes." They have developed a "Baker's Dozen" program where one Cozy Cookie is donated to charity for every 12 cookies sold. Charities benefiting from these donations include Child Sexual Assault Intervention Programs, Court Advocates for Children, and police departments (for use in patrol cars), as well as many others. Edson and Wright also encourage non-profit organizations to use Cozy Cookie for fund-raising purposes.
Dr_Steph's House is A Lot Cozier Now
Though the developers of this unique toy live in my town, my first exposure to the Cozy Cookie was just a few months ago when my daughter received one as a gift for her fifth birthday. Being the worldly young lady that she is, my daughter was already very familiar with this toy and exactly how it works ("You heat it in the microwave, Mommy, but you DON'T eat it!). Apparently a couple of her friends already introduced her to this fleece cookie.
My daughter immediately decided to call her Cozy Cookie "Ginger" (unique, huh?). She carried it around with her all day on her birthday and then insisted on having it heated up for bedtime. Unfortunately, it was a humid, rainy evening and her Cozy Cookie felt rather damp once it was heated. Apparently this is a normal occurrence, especially the first few times it is heated, because the rice absorbs moisture from the air. However, the dampness decreases and then goes away all together after repeated use. Nevertheless, my daughter decided she liked "Ginger" better unheated. The aroma of the unheated toy is much milder, which suits her sensitive little nose just fine. Personally, I love the smell of this toy. It smells slightly of cloves, cinnamon and vanilla.
"Ginger" has continued to be a popular toy in our house, especially on long car trips and at bedtime. The small book that came with this toy was basically put aside and forgotten until quite recently. In preparation for this review, I pulled it out and read it to my kids several times as a bedtime story. She found it mildly entertaining but her younger brother really enjoyed it. The story sort reminds me of guided imagery, but for kids.
Interestingly, a week after my daughter's birthday I went to a birthday party for a single male friend of mine in his 50s and saw that he also received the Cozy Cookie as a gift. This toy is definitely for everyone!
Where to Buy:
http://www.cozycookie.com
Cost:
$14.50 plus shipping
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): gift
Type of Toy: Stuffed Toy
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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