Bilibo Play Shell Review

Have you seen the Bilibo Play Shell?  It's a cool little toy that doesn't do anything. This award winning toy is designed to inspire creativity and active play.

It's supposed to the the toy that gets played with instead of the box.

I think my kids fall into the category of 'playing with the box more than the toy' so I was excited to see what they thought of the Play Shell.

We took it to the park, the fountains, and the pool. . .



. . .  and they found lots of uses for it around the house.

They have used it to:
  • sit in
  • balance
  • rock and spin
  • fill and pour
  • carry treasures
  • and more
Malachi uses it as a part of the army bases that he builds for his army guys.  Eliana can use it as a cradle for her baby.  I can imagine the use it will get when it snows!

It is designed for ages 2-7, but my 9 year old loved it to spin in. It is made of durable high-density polyethylene, is shock resistant, non-toxic, is 100% recyclable and comes in 6 colors. It is designed to be used on soft surfaces (Elli easily tipped over in it).

I love that it encourages hand-eye coordination and balance. But, mostly I love it because my children have to decide how to play with it.

But, that is not why I wanted it originally. I thought it would be a great tool to help little ones sit through a chapter book. I was worried they wouldn't want to sit through a longer book (I have one child that has to be moving to pay attention!) and I am just beginning to read longer books to my 3 and 5 year old together.  I envisioned them quietly rocking, balancing or spinning while I read. But, it wasn't necessary - they wanted to sit on my lap instead.  =)

You might recall that CSN has 200+ stores. You can buy the Bilibo Play Shell from their Toys and Games Online store for $25.99 with free shipping. I looked around and that is the best price I could find (not considering the free shipping!).

So, that is what I bought for this review. What would you buy if you had a chance to spend $30 at CSN Stores? Leave me a comment letting me know for a chance to win a $30 gift certificate from CSN!  This is the only required entry.

~ This giveaway is now closed ~  Congrats to Onefrugalgirl!


For additional entries:
  • Do you have a favorite CSN Store? Tell me what it is for an extra entry. I think mine must be Toys and Games Online, but I'd like to check out their other stores as I will be needing some baby furniture soon (since I gave all mine away after Elli).
  • Tell me how many kids beds are available to browse at CSN's bedroom furniture store
  • If you subscribe to or follow my blog give yourself an extra entry. 
  • Tweet about this giveaway for 2 extra entries. Leave me a link to your status! 
  • Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post for 4 extra entries.  Leave me a link to your post!
  • Enter my Tropical Traditions Powdered Laundry Detergent giveaway for another entry, or let me know you already did. 
Your comment is your entry, so please leave me a comment for each entry. This giveaway is open for U.S. shipping only and will be open until 8:00 pm MST on July 15, 2010. I will contact the winner by email, so be sure to leave your email address. You will then have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be chosen.

Thanks to CSN Stores for sponsoring this review and giveaway!


Disclosure: I was given a one time use $30 gift certificate to use for this review and I offer my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any other way. 

78 comments

  1. I would get the Learning Resources Rainbow Peg Play Activity Set. I think that Juliettte would love it!

    kme0310@yahoo.com

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  2. Toys and games is my favorite store too. I always love getting new things for the girls to play with :0)

    kme0310@yahoo.com

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  3. I am a follower of your blog :0)

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  4. I tweeted this giveaway
    https://twitter.com/kme0310/status/17836033507

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  5. I tweeted this giveaway
    https://twitter.com/kme0310/status/17836033507

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  6. There are 295 kids beds to browse...that is a lot of beds :0)

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  7. I would use it towards a step 2 easel...or I would buy some art supplies for my daughter

    ykatrina at hotmail dot com

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  8. I would buy the Wegits starter set: http://www.csndaycarefurniture.com/Wedgits-300015-Starter-Set-WDG1004.html

    My kids would love something more to build with.

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  9. My favorite CSN store is the School Furniture and Supply store : http://www.csnschool.com/

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  10. 295 kids beds! We could use a bunk bed that is for 3.

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  11. I'd get a guidecraft kitchen helper. Thanks for the chance.

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  12. My favorite store is the babies and kids store.

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  13. I would get the little tikes island adventure water table!
    onecheaplady@yahoo.com

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  14. My favorite CSN store is cookware.com!
    onecheaplady@yahoo.com

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  15. There are several things I would like to get and all of them are for the kids:)

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  16. I am a follower of your blog.

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  17. I entered your detergent giveaway.

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  18. I am commenting on the smiles....wonderful~!

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  19. I would love to add to my Le Creuset in onyx collection.

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  20. I subscribe to your blog. onefrugalgirl@gmail.com

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  21. I like the modern store. onefrugalgirl@gmail.com

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  22. I'd love to buy some new kitchen stools.

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  23. http://www.csnstores.com/Basics-Curved-Black-Night-Stand-WN1173.html I'd get this!

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  24. http://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/17916724627 2

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  25. http://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/17916724627 1

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  26. I would put it toward a Le Creuset skinny grill.

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  27. I'm so so so glad to hear your opinion about the Play Shell! I would love to get one for my two year old son! mrs.lyashenko@yahoo.com

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  28. Am a follower of your amazing blog!

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  29. Entered the Tropical Traditions Detergent giveaway :)

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  30. There are 226 kids beds available! Oh boy, I can only dream!

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  31. Loni@Hearts-In-TrainingJuly 7, 2010 at 7:26 AM

    So many great products. I like the magnetic art:
    http://www.csndaycarefurniture.com/Educational-Insights-1779-EDI1082.html

    love you!

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  32. Loni@Hearts-In-TrainingJuly 7, 2010 at 7:26 AM

    I follow already :D

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  33. I would get the Bilibo! I've seen these around, but I didn't realize they were so affordable.

    Love your blog. I just found it from Confessions of a Homeschooler. :)

    ldslaurie@gmail.com

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  34. You just introduced me to CSN, so I didn't have a favorite before. :) But I'm loving their diaper bag store! They're really cute!

    ldslaurie@gmail.com

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  35. There are 295 kids' beds available. Wow!

    ldslaurie@gmail.com

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  36. I just subscribed to your blog via Google Reader!

    ldslaurie@gmail.com

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  37. I like the Thames and Kosmos Physics Discovery Kit.

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  38. I like both the Toys and Games store and the Furniture store.

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  39. There are 1525 beds.

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  40. I follow your blog.

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  41. I entered the TT Powdered detergent giveaway.

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  42. i want the Hamilton Beach Wave Power 12 Speed Blender in White

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  43. Cookware.com. is my fav store

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  44. i entered your TT detergent giveaway too

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  45. i sub to you

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  46. i follow u

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  47. tweeted http://twitter.com/godlyhomemaker/status/18008250621 1

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  48. tweeted http://twitter.com/godlyhomemaker/status/18008250621 2

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  49. I would get these snazzy dry erase markers: http://www.whiteboardsandmore.com/AARCO-MFL-6-Neon-Markers-AAO1082.html but at the rate my crew goes through them, they would be dead before Halloween. But they would love them!

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  50. I would get the Melissa and Doug cookies set or some grilling utensils for hubby.

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  51. my husband is a HVAC Mech and his clothes are a little Dirty!Also he has alot of electricity!LOLI would Love to try this deterant and see what it does for his clothes!
    I try samples sometimes to see how they work.This derterant sounds Great!I'm egaer to see if I WIN!I will write in and tell if I will Order more,Thanks!

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  52. I would use the gift code for a set of the Rachael Ray Bubble and Brown ramekins in the blue. Thanks so much for the opportunity to enter my name into the giveaway.

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  53. My favorite CSN store without a doubt (and my favorite online store period) is Cookware.com. I could live on that site.

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  54. 293 kids beds are available to browse on CSN's bedroom furniture store.

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  55. I follow via Google Friends Connect.

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  56. Tweet

    http://twitter.com/HeartnSoulmom/status/18314561908

    entry #1

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  57. Tweet

    http://twitter.com/HeartnSoulmom/status/18314561908

    entry #2

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  58. I entered your Tropical Traditions detergent giveaway

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  59. I would like to buy a bilibo! I've seen these around and now that my kids are old enough, it would be a great toy to try out.

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  60. I would love to buy the JFit 10 pound Kettlebells. I have had my eye on them for quite some time.
    Thanks for the amazing giveaway :)

    mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com

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  61. There are 292 kids beds to browse :)

    mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com

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  62. My favorite store is Cookware. I really love Le Creuset :)

    mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com

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  63. I also entered your Tropical Traditions giveaway :)

    mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com

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  64. I love all the puzzles and block sets. I will remeber this site for upcoming birthdays, and Christmas

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  65. I would totally buy the Bilibo Play Shell!!! I recently discovered these at a trial Kindermusik class I took my daughter too and thought they were the funniest things. I had no idea where to purchase them and was THRILLED to come across your website and not only find out where to buy them but to see a review and so many uses for them. Thanks for sharing! I would have to get 2 as I know my 4 year old son would love one as well, especially with it's sensory purpose. michellerella@earthlink.net

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  66. I love the toys and games online store... so many great items you don't see just around town

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  67. I subscribe to your blog through rss

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  68. I have not heard of CSN before visiting your site so at this point I would have to say that Toys and Games or the Learning Resource are my favorites especially since we are just now starting the homeschool journey.

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  69. I would love to blog about your post, but I only have a private/family blog as we adopted our 2 children and need to keep those entries private since they focus so much on our kids and family life. I did however email your website to over 150 moms as I coordinate a local MOMS group out of a large church and am also involved with a couple homeschool co-ops. Not sure if that qualifies me for extra entries or not :)

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  70. I just subscribed! I love your BFIAR section as I am just starting that with my kids this year. I can't wait to have a bear picnic and am looking forward to seeing more of your posts related to these wonderful books. michellerella@earthlink.net

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  71. I love all the puzzles and toy blocks on the site. I didn't have enough time to do as good of a search as I would have like too. I will definitly keep this site in my list of great online sites, for birthdays and Christmas

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  72. There are 292 kids beds to browse through at CSN's Bedroom Furniture Store! michellerella@earthlink.net

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  73. I like the toys and games CSN store Too!

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  74. Nuts . . . it is past 8pm. Forget my comments on both giveaways. Sorry!

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  75. I am really wanting to get one of these for my kiddo, I think she'd have so much fun with it! I wish more toys were like this--simplistic and forced kids to use their imaginations and creativity more!

    http://madeformommies.blogspot.com/2011/02/kid-o-bilibo-toy-simple-toy-endless.html

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