Entry 7: Happy Easter

       

Since today is Easter Sunday in the Christian world, I have decided to highlight a few games that would be fun to play with your family today. 

HABA… Rabbit Rally

        HABA is a great company to look at for games and activities for the growing child. Not only do they make games but they also have toys for “young and old” (I say that because I want some games and a few toys like a marble run set). The game I want to highlight is one that I plan on getting my daughter for Easter next year as she grows a little bit older; it is called Rabbit Rally. 

        Here is the description from the HABA USA site: 

Rabbit Island is an exciting place. A giant golden carrot shimmers on the horizon and it's time to harvest the carrots. Unfortunately the golden carrot and other delicious carrots are on a different island in the lake and the poor rabbits don't know how to swim. But wait, one clever rabbit has an idea to sink big stones in the water in order to create a bridge between the islands with boards and planks! 

Each rabbit quickly starts to build their own bridge, and tries to be the first to reach the giant golden carrot. Unfortunately there aren't enough boards for all the bridges, so all the rabbits need to use the same bridge pieces. A player who overestimates the length of the planks must stand still and watch the other rabbits hop past on their way to the carrot island. So pay attention and start guessing and building! Encourages spatial thinking! 

        Does this sound like fun or what. Rabbits, carrots, and fun, fun, FUN! I can't wait to play Rabbit Rally.

IELLO… Bunny Kingdom

        The legendary game designer Richard Garfield created a game that is fitting for today. This game is on our want list and will hopefully soon pick it up... Bunny Kingdom.

This is what is on the IELLO webpage: 

Play as Rabbit Lords conquering a new world on behalf of the Bunny King. Take control of vast Territories across the New World, build Cities, and farm Resources to make your Fiefs prosper, and harvest precious Golden Carrots. Don't forget to satisfy the King by accomplishing missions on behalf of his Majesty. Each choice can bring you closer to victory, but only one of you will be named "Big Ears" by the Bunny King... 

        On the box cover it says “Expand Your Fief by Just a Hare.” It also has an expansion that adds another area to the game. I am looking forward to playing this one because of all the BUNNIES!!!!

Stonemaier Games... Wingspan

        

        Game designer Elizabeth Hargrave created a very beautiful and fun game called Wingspan. This games deals with collecting birds and putting them in specific habitats. The games has resources to collect in which you need to use and has a birdhouse dice tower that is simply fun to use. Oh, did I also mention (the reason it is in this article) it has eggs. Lots and lots of colorful miniature eggs. 

        This is what Stonemaier says about the game: 

You are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats (actions). These habitats focus on several key aspects of growth: 

• Gain food tokens via custom dice in a birdfeeder dice tower 

• Lay eggs using egg miniatures in a variety of colors 

• Draw from hundreds of unique bird cards and play them 

        The base game covers bird from North America. Currently there are two expansions that covers the birds from Europe and Oceania with more expansions coming in the future. The plan is to cover all the continents of the globe. We currently own the game and the expansions and love it. Elizabeth Hargrave does have a couple of other games that are beautifully themed (publisher by other companies) that you might want to check out too. 

Speaking of Eggs… 

        Time for me to go and enjoy my daughter’s first Easter Egg Hunt (we didn’t do one last year). It doesn’t matter if you are Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, Judaic, followers of any other religion, or not religious at all. Go out and enjoy the time you have with family and friends. Table a game or two and enjoy the company of being around others. No matter what life gives you, both the good and the bad, try to find joy in doing something. 

        For me, I find joy in my family and in board games. As a person who celebrates Easter and has a strong religious belief, I do want to share with you one scripture to conclude… “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)