Ever since I was little, I've loved stopping at the toy vending machines
that tend to be positioned in the entryways of stores like K-Mart and
Tops. Up until recently, I could count on my quarters buying me
something completely random and probably pretty junky. But the past five
years or so has seen a great improvement in these vending machine toys.
Now, most machines contain only one type of toy, so you're guaranteed
to get a bouncy ball or a Peek-a-Pooh or a Lord of the Rings
mini-bust... or a Care Bear. At the mall where I have spent several
seasons as a kiosk attendant, there used to be an enormously tall
machine filled with plastic Care Bears for fifty cents each. I often
stopped by after work to buy one, and I was sad when I returned one year
to find the machine gone.
The machine invited Care Bears
enthusiasts to collect all 32 bears, which I never managed to do.
However, it's really just eight different bears in four poses each. I
did manage to get one of each bear, so that was good enough for me,
though I've since given away most of my duplicate bears and wish I had
easy access to another supply, as they make great little just-because
presents. To paraphrase A. A. Milne, no one can be un-cheered by a Care
Bear. Just to be on the safe side, however, the makers of this
collection omitted Grumpy Bear, a standout among his perpetually smiling
pals because of the stormcloud on his tummy and the scowl on his face.
Like Eeyore, he grumbles a lot, but he's lovable nonetheless, and I wish
he had been included. Indeed, it would be great if there really were 32
different bears, not to mention the Care Bear Cousins. Maybe they'll
consider another line in the future; Peek-a-Pooh is still going strong
after about 20 sets.
The eight bears available in this set are
Friend Bear, Wish Bear, Cheer Bear, Share Bear, Love-a-Lot Bear, Good
Luck Bear, Bedtime Bear and Funshine Bear. Each of the bears is a
different color, though their snouts and stomachs are white. Their noses
and the pads of their paws are heart-shaped and a darker shade of their
fur color. Each also has a red heart located near his or her tail. My
favorite is Good Luck Bear, who is green and has a four-leaf clover on
his tummy. This is the one I was most excited to get, and though my Dad
and brother aren't exactly the Care Bear enthusiasts I am, each of them
gladly accepted one of these as token of luck and Irish heritage.
Wish
Bear is halfway between green and blue, a pastel sort of sea green. She
has a shooting star on her tummy. Bedtime Bear is all blue with a dark
blue crescent moon on his tummy. Share Bear is pinky-purple, with
interlocking heart-stamped lollipops on her tummy, while Love-a-Lot Bear
is dark pink with two hearts on her tummy. Pale pink Cheer Bear has a
rainbow on her tummy. Orange Friend Bear has interlocking flowers on her
tummy, and yellow Funshine Bear sports a smiling sun on his. Each one
wears a happy expression, with differing degrees of the smiling mouth
exposed.
All of the bears are in seated positions, and there is
no articulation to them. The biggest variation among the poses involves
the arms. Two of the poses have both arms stretched out, though in one,
the bear looks straight ahead, while in the other, his or her head is
turned to the left. In the other two poses, the left arm is
outstretched, but in one, the right paw rests on the knee, while in the
other it rests near the mouth in a pensive position. I don't know that I
can say I prefer one pose over the others; all are equally cute. These
figures stand on their own with no trouble. I keep them in a cluster on
my piano, though I will occasionally move them elsewhere in order to
entertain myself with them. I especially had fun last week when we had a
downpour that lasted all morning. I brought out several props from my
Pooh's Friendly Places play sets, as the tiny figures of Pooh, Piglet
and pals that came with those sets are fairly comparable in size to
these one and a half inch-tall bears. I especially had fun placing pairs
of bears in Piglet's ornate bathtub and sending them to float along in
our neighbor's front-yard lake.
Because of their diminutive size
I can't really recommend these toys for anyone under the age of four or
so, but older children ought to have fun with them, as they are sturdy,
colorful and just plain fun. They make terrific add-ons to birthday
presents - just tape one to the package - or random pick-me-uppers to be
send through the mail or given in person. You could also place them on
top of a cake if you wanted to, or stick them in Easter eggs and make a
hunt extra fun. Or hand them over to an aspiring juggler and see how he
manages with them. There are all sorts of possibilities with these
little bears, and if you don't happen to have a vending machine in your
area that sells them, they're pretty easy to find online. A set
containing one of each is available on Amazon for four dollars; another
containing a random assortment of 50 goes for $25. If I ever find myself
stuck for a fun giveaway item for a party or event, I may spring for
that. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the ten bears I have and contemplate
who could do with a little extra cheer in her day. One of my remaining
duplicates is Friend Bear, the other Love-a-Lot. Both are poised to be a
little plastic stand-in for an in-person hug, because spreading
goodwill is what Care Bears do best.
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