Produced by a husband-and-wife team, Zany Trains creates collectible wooden railway toys designed to spark children’s imagination. Its playful train characters, destinations, tracks, and accessories are made to work with existing wooden railway systems and to last for years.
Cat's Meow VillageFrom a single wooden house cut on her grandfather’s saw in a Wooster hog barn, Faline grew Cat’s Meow Village into a maker of handcrafted wooden replicas that preserve the character of landmarks and personal places. Founded in 1982, the company still produces its signature little wooden buildings in its Wooster workshop, with the black cat mascot Casper tucked into each design. Its long design files also let collectors recreate retired local pieces and reorder custom home keepsakes.WOOSTER, OH
Melissa & DougMelissa & Doug makes hands-on children’s toys designed for open-ended pretend play, early learning, and creative discovery. Its best-known playthings include wooden building blocks and imaginative play-food sets, with products such as its 100-Piece Wood Blocks Set carrying Forest Stewardship Council certification for new inventory. The brand also invites customers to submit ideas for new hands-on play products and now operates as part of the Spin Master brand.New York, NY
Posh PoFounded by Jacob, an uncle to 15 nieces and nephews, Posh Po grew from a family-driven wish for better alternatives to disposable children’s goods. Based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the company works with local artisans to handcraft wooden toys and kids’ furniture designed for imaginative play and long use.WEST CHESTER, PA
Theo Klein GmbHFrom its base on the Südliche Weinstraße, the family-run Theo Klein GmbH has been making imaginative, educational toys for more than 75 years. The company employs over 200 people across sites in Germany, England, France and Spain, and combines its broad licensed and original play worlds with a continuing production presence in Germany. Its toys are developed with input from educators, parents and kindergarten teachers, with quality and child development central to the process.MILLERSBURG, PA