The title of my last post, If you go down to the woods today, was inspired by the fact that last week, July 10th, was National Teddy Bear Picnic Day. [The date may have passed but it’s never too late to pack a picnic, grab your teddy and make for the woods.] Shortly after writing it, I switched on the news to hear the iconic NYC toy store FAO Schwartz was closing its doors on 5th Avenue due to exorbitant rent demands. All those memories, not to mention that giant piano that Tom Hanks made famous in the movie ‘Big’. So this week’s theme is ‘Toys’ and here are a group of some of the most famous toys in literature – the inhabitants of Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh and his friends, now living in Manhattan.

Boys with toys, spotted on my recent visit to Tramore Beach on the south coast of Ireland. Their kids got bored and ran off to play in the ocean, but these two dads just kept right on building their sandcastles.

Nutcrackers and a Christmassy toy village in Leavenworth, the pseudo-alpine town in the heart of Washington state where it’s Christmas every day.

A giant, inflatable Kermit the Frog face down on the streets of Manhattan the night before Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. He looked a little worse for wear.

Look away, kids, Kermie’s had a little too much to drink.

Are you ready to break out your inner kid and celebrate all things toylike? If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:

• Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Toys
• Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
• Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
• Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!

xxx Ailsa

I often think that could we creep behind the actor’s eyes, we would find an attic of forgotten toys and a copy of the Domesday book. – Laurence Olivier

Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end. – Henry David Thoreau