Convenience

Also known as ‘take and play’, these types of Bob the Builder toy are greatly convenient. Their size and the manner in which they are packaged make it easy to take them with you when you are travelling. Similarly, they are convenient if you have limited space in which to store toys.

Variety

There are a number of different types of Bob the Builder take along vehicles that are available on the market. You are likely to be able to find a toy in your child’s favorite character and there will be enough to stop a child becoming bored. Further, there tends to be new models released on a regular basis so that a collection can be built. Many of the vehicle characters will be available to enable your child to create story lines in which they interact with each other.

More information and prices for US visitors      More information and prices for UK visitors

Design

Most take along toys are diecast models, which tend to be more durable than other materials so you can be assured that they will last a long time. It will be possible to obtain a carry case that is suitable for small hands so that the child can be responsible for keeping their collection safe. They tend to be easy to manipulate and make use of magnets so that they can be played with on the move.

Availability

There are a wide range of suppliers from which Bob the Builder take along toys can be obtained. You are likely to find that any retailer that supplies other Bob the Builder toys will also stock the take along variety.

Basic staples that make up part of your child’s wardrobe, such as t-shirts and sweaters, can be found with a link to Bob the Builder. T-shirts that comprise an embroidered or vinyl patch that display an image of one or several of the Bob the Builder characters can make for a basic outfit; these can be a large patch on the front or back of the top or a smaller version at breast pocket level. The same can be gained from clothes that use a regular pattern of the image over the entire item of clothing.

Outerwear, such as coats, shoes and bags, can be decorated in the style of Bob the Builder so that the them of the cartoon can be continued.

Pajamas that are decorated with Bob the Builder characters are a great way to create an outfit for a child. This can also serve as encouragement for the child to get ready to go to sleep if they are usually not keen on bedtimes.

Bob the Builder underwear and pull-up pants can be used to create an outfit, which can help in the process of potty training.

On the other hand if it is a full costume you are after, a Bob the Builder outfit could be obtained from a party shop. However, if you intend to create the basics of the outfit yourself, accessories can be added to this. Items such as a toy tool belt or hard hat is an ideal way to set off an outfit and creates options for a child’s play.

What to Look For

Most styles of Bob the Builder costume come with the same type of accessories. The yellow hat and blue overalls are the main features of the costume. However, some will also come with tools that complete the outfit. You also have the choice to purchase costume sets or individual items.

Perhaps you have decided to create your own costume but you just need a few accessories to finish it off? Searching online will help you to find the best Bob the Builder costume accessories available.

If you are searching for adult costumes then you will notice that most come with a Bob the Builder head. These are great for children’s parties as you can dress up in the costume and surprise the kids. They will love their own personal visit from Bob the Builder!

It may be a good idea to search on auction websites. Often people buy costumes and they are only worn once. By purchasing a second hand costume you could potentially save a lot of money. Therefore even if you are on a budget you should be able to find a costume to suit it.

Overall there are many different types of Bob the Builder fancy dress costumes to choose from. Make sure that you shop around to find the best one. The Internet is typically the best place to shop. Remember, the more that you shop around, the more likely you are to find the most affordable costume for your needs.

To get you started, you can find a Bob the Builder cake pan, and to help with the decorating, you can find a Bob the Builder cake topper. But if you are still stuck with how to proceed with your Bob the Builder cake decorating for an upcoming birthday party, here are some designs to get you inspired.

By ‘Elite Cake Designs’

By ‘Elite Cake Designs’

By ‘Just Jennifer’

By ‘Angela S.’

By ‘Karim N.’

By ‘Natalie’

By ‘Coolest Birthday Cakes’

By ‘Karli W.’

If you still need a hand with your Bob the Builder cake decorations try these Bob the Builder cake pans and toppers to get you started:

If you have made a stunning Bob the Builder Birthday Cake and would like to showcase your work here please leave me a link in the comments section and I will update the post.

The TV show is hugely successful with children and as such there are a wide variety of Bob the Builder toys available to buy.  Your little ones can have no end of fun acting out their favourite TV show moments as well as practising their yet to be learned DIY skills! Amazon are currently offering over 400 items so you can see the popularity and diversity of the toy range.

For what age group are they suitable?

From 3 years old.

What toys and merchandise does the range include?

The favourite toys in this huge range are undoubtedly the action figures and vehicles. There are toy replicas of Bob, Wendy and numerous other characters from the show and each piece of construction machinery has its own toy version.

To widen your collection you can then choose from die cast models, playsets, role play toys, games, puzzles, soft toys, outdoor toys, interactive toys, drawing and craft items, furniture and furnishings, tableware and school items.

Some of the outdoor toys are pretty impressive. You can get a Bob The Builder ride on car, well two actually, in the form of a Scoop Ride On Loader and a Ride On Scrambler. They’ll set you back over a hundred dollars though.

Why not get a Bob The Builder workbench for your little boy and one of the many toy kitchens for your little girl and they can have some great role play fun together. He can fix something in the kitchen while she makes him a cup of tea!

How much do these toys cost?

A single plastic figure starts at around £2.50 although they seem to be quite hard to find.  A set of five plastic figures sells for approx. £12 with beanie versions costing £6 each.

There are two types of larger vehicles to choose from – the Bob The Builder friction toys cost about £8 and the talking versions of these machinery characters cost around £11. Their smaller die cast counterparts (the Bob The Builder take along toys) cost from £4.

Which are the best selling toys?

By far the best selling toys are the friction powered construction machinery characters, specifically Scoop, Muck, Roley and Lofty.

Which are the worst rated toys?

As I find with many TV or movie toys, the playsets are never well received.  For Bob The Builder, his Snap Trax Garage playset and Sunflower Valley Drive & Build playset and not considered good value for money.  For the price of a playset you can get a nice collection of the core vehicles and figures so that your little ones can have more fun making up their own games.

What do real people think?

The following comments are taken from real reviews on Amazon.co.uk

“This toy is worth the money.”

“They have been played with a LOT and they really do last well.”

So if you have a Bob The Builder toy fan, they won’t be disappointed to receive an item from this toy range.

Part of this boys’ toys range are Bob The Builder games and puzzles and here is a short summary of the top 10 choices available:

Jigsaw Puzzles (RRP from £5) – there are so many Bob The Builder puzzles to choose from, the choice is overwhelming. There are some in tins, some in boxes, there are some with two or more in a box, some are wooden, some are for the floor – see what I mean! They range from 12 to 42 pieces and cost upwards of £5.

8 Piece Wooden Playtray (RRP £8) –this is a simple introduction to puzzles for younger children (from aged 2). Each of the 8 wooden pieces featuring a popular character from the TV show, has to be fitted back in the right place on the playtray.

Giant 4 Game Picture Card Deck (RRP £4) – four traditional card games can be played with the 32 extra large and easy to hold cards measuring 13 x 8.3cm. The games are Matching Pairs, Snap, Old Maid and Happy Families.

Memory Game (RRP £7) – this is just a matching pairs game but nice thick cards, great artwork and easy rules, make it ideal for younger players. All of the favourite Bob The Builder characters are included on the 24 picture cards.

Shapes & Colours Game (RRP £8) – this is a game that will help encourage shape and colour recognition. Each player’s card has four shaped holes cut out of it which all must be filled correctly to win. Players throw the dice and collect pieces as shown to use to fill their board.

Brick By Brick Game (RRP £8) – a simple game where you have to help Bob build a tower, brick by brick, according to what you throw on the dice.

Character Blasters (RRP £5) – choose the Bob The Builder character you want to build, set the game’s timer and press start. You then have until the time runs out to fit the 3D puzzle pieces together. If you don’t succeed the puzzle board pops and all the pieces fly across the room.

Pressmatic (RRP £9) – this game takes me back – I didn’t know they even made these anymore. Anyway this is a normal board game where you have to take your character round the board to collect some items they have muddled up, but the dice are in a handy popping bubble in the centre of the board. They never get lost – perfect!

Uno (RRP £10) – this is the Bob The Builder version of this well known card game. The extra large cards feature all the main characters. Players have to match the colours and numbers on the cards to get rid of them and win.

Tricky Tool Box (£9) – this looks like a fun little game as you get to flick tools into Bob’s tool box as it rotates. The ‘tricky’ part is keeping them in there once you get them in as the tool box throws them out again.

If you are looking to buy a Bob The Builder vehicle, here is a quick rundown of the top 5 characters in order of popularity:

1. Scoop

Scoop is the unofficial leader of Bob’s machine gang. He is a yellow JCB and his catchphrase is “No prob, Bob!”.

If your child has to have a Scoop toy, here are your choices:

• Friction powered vehicle
• Talking vehicle
• Take along (die cast) vehicle
• Various Lego Duplo playsets
• Inflatable chair
• Scoop carry case
• Torch
• Inflatable ball pool
• VTech story & activity book
• Interchangeable flip top watch & Bob The Builder Scoop toy set
• Paint your own Scoop pottery set

2. Muck

Muck is a red bulldozer with a catchphrase of “Muck to the rescue!”. He is often in trouble for doing things without thinking.

For all the Muck fans out there, you can choose from the following toys:

• Friction powered vehicle
• Talking vehicle
• Take along (die cast) vehicle
• Lego Duplo playset
• Mega sized Muck (measuring in at 45 cm long)
• Talk ‘n’ learn Muck (teaches numbers 1 – 10, 10 colours & 10 of Bob’s tools)
• Muck & Lofty stilts

3. Roley

Roley is a green steamroller with a catchphrase of “Rock and roll!”.

If you need some steamrollering fun, try this collection of Roley toys:

• Friction powered vehicle
• Talking vehicle
• Take along (die cast) vehicle

4. Lofty

Lofty is a shy, blue crane with a catchphrase of “Uh … yeah, I think so!”.

To start or extend your collection of Lofty toys, check out this little selection:

• Friction powered vehicle
• Talking vehicle
• Take along (die cast) vehicle
• Lego Duplo playset
• Muck & Lofty stilts

5. Dizzy

Dizzy is a young, orange concrete mixer. She is very excitable and has a catchphrase of “Brilliant!”.

To complete your Bob The Builder character toys collection, don’t miss these Dizzy heights:

• Pull back vehicle
• Talking vehicle
• Take along (die cast) vehicle
• Lego Duplo playset
• VTech Dizzy’s Picture Mixer (a press & guess game)

With plenty of fairly cheap toys to choose from you should not be stuck for ideas to complete your little one’s Bob The Builder toy collection.