Sponsored by Build & Imagine
With her designer mother’s eye for art and her engineer father’s love of building, my daughter found the new Build & Imagine magnetic illustrated building sets to be an ideal toy for open-ended play. The combination of colorful, story-rich panels and magnetic construction pieces invites both creative storytelling and hands-on building.
We were excited to open the Build & Imagine Marine Rescue Center and begin constructing a playful scene. My daughter already enjoys magnetic building toys, and this set added an extra layer: illustrated panels that create a setting for characters and accessories, helping her imagine richer stories during playtime.
Build & Imagine intentionally adds an A for Art to the familiar STEM framework, creating STEAM-focused toys that encourage spatial thinking, creativity, and curiosity. The StoryWalls sets introduce children to design and scientific themes through playful scenarios, inviting exploration and role-play.
I appreciate that the sets emphasize art as much as science and engineering. The magnetic, illustrated panels encourage spatial reasoning, while themed sets like the Marine Rescue Center introduce scientific ideas and environmental awareness in a playful context. It’s a gentle way to spark interest in future careers like science or design.
She was especially excited about the sheet of magnetic accessories included with the Marine Rescue Center. Her favorite accessory was the sea turtle, which quickly became the focus of several rescue missions and imaginative scenarios.
Each StoryWalls play set is composed of vividly illustrated magnetic panels that can be arranged in any combination. Children bring scenes to life using included dress-up dolls and more than 40 magnetic costumes and props. The artwork acts as a story starter, encouraging narration and creative role-play. The line has received recognition from toy industry reviewers and parenting organizations.
My daughter liked that the magnetic panels could be mixed and matched to create unexpected elements—she made what she called a “magical trap door” in the floor. Seeing her imagination at work was one of the highlights of the set for me.
The construction is sturdy and the sets are designed to appeal to both girls and boys. Build & Imagine encourages children to take on the roles of architect and storyteller, with adventurous female characters featured prominently in the artwork.
The designs avoid stereotypical gendered themes and offer smart, narrative-driven play. Reviewers have praised the sets for offering compelling, non-traditional options for young children who enjoy building and storytelling.
BUILD IT:
Available sets include three main options:
Build & Imagine Malia’s Beach House • $59.99 • Ages 4+
- Dr. Toy’s 2015 Best Classic Toys
- PAL Top 10 Language Learning Toys
- Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner
- The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval
Build & Imagine Marine Rescue Center • $49.99 • Ages 4+
- Creative Child Building Toy of the Year
- The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval
- Parent’s Choice Gold Award
Build & Imagine Day at the Beach • $39.99 • Ages 4+
- Mr. Dad Seal of Approval
- Parent’s Choice Gold Award
- The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval
BUY IT:
Build & Imagine StoryWalls sets are sold online and in a variety of stores and specialty toy shops. They are also available directly from the manufacturer’s website and through retailers that stock thoughtfully designed educational toys. These sets are convenient to purchase and make strong gifts for children who enjoy building, storytelling, and imaginative play.
ABOUT BUILD & IMAGINE
Laurie Peterson, an award-winning toy designer and mother, founded Build & Imagine to create play experiences that combine building, creativity, and experimentation—elements she felt were underrepresented in typical toy aisles. The company develops magnetic building toys with rich narratives and leading female characters to engage a wide range of children. Build & Imagine began with a successful crowdfunding campaign and continues to expand its themed building sets and creative resources.
Disclosure: I received a sample from Build & Imagine for review purposes. All opinions are my own.