Cate and Levi

What did you wish for this holiday season? Peace on Earth and Happiness for All?

Sounds swell, but I'm guessing that many of the littler folks among us (and I'm not talking about leprechauns) would love to have a new toy for Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or whatever other gift-giving holiday applies.

So what to get the special child in your life? Permit us to suggest a classic and eco-friendly stuffed animal from Cate and Levi ($100).

Every animal - frog, dog, rabbit, girafe, monkey or the ever-popular teddy bear - is handmade in Canada from reclaimed wool (i.e. thoroughly cleaned recycled post-consumer wool - mostly from sweaters). The animals are then stuffed with non-dyed wool on the inside.

As Cate & Levi says, choosing to use reclaimed wool "reduces the demand for new materials that require both water and oil for production. Our goal is that our animals leave the softest possible pawprint on the planet."

And speaking of soft, the animals (or at least the monkey we were privileged to test) are supremely soft and squishable. We didn't see any buttons or other hard pieces that might pose a choking risk.

It's true that the lovably mismatched Cate and Levi creatures aren't picture-perfect, but they are unique and special. We're guessing children will fall in love with them just as easily as a Boy could fall in love with a Velveteen Rabbit.

Where to buy:

Use the store finder on Cate and Levi's website to find a retail outlet in the U.S. or Canada near you. We were unable to find any online retailers at this time, but the company assured us that some online partners will start offering Cate and Levi animals for purchase over the Internet. Contact Cate andLevi directly for more information.

FYI, Cate and Levi says that 10% of the company's profits will be donated to charities. The company is developing an online method by which customers will be able to choose from among three designated charities.

PS - If you care about handmade children's toys, check out this post at Cool Mom Picks. Thanks to our reader Katie for alerting us to this issue.