Hey friends! If you're visiting your pals with a new baby, you're good to give these soft cubes as a gift. That's exactly how we got these friends. They're called MakiShi in the wild, but it's a brand name. MakiShi is a toy factory in Novgorod Oblast, Borovichi. Check out their official site - myakishi.ru - for a massive toy selection. Our big cubes, 'Smart Alphabet', are available in the 'Soft Cubes' section (item 206). They're different from the 'Alphabet in Pictures' cubes (item 207) in size. We didn't waste time, so here are the pros we got from this gift: 1) the surprise was huge - the cube was massive; 2) six 15x15 cm cubes were enough for two kids; 3) MakiShi was the first cube for my little ones - they're easy to grab with little hands; 4) they're safe if the kids put them in their mouths - mine did that and gnawed on the edges; 5) the cubes were washed after unpacking - they're well-sewn, so even after machine washing, they didn't fall apart; 6) the big cubes are colorful, with different zones: yellow, blue, and green; 7) the pictures are realistic and easy to recognize, and they don't fade like plastic ones; 8) there are 33 letters and extra A, P, and M on all sides, making it easy to form MA and PA.I've got to say, the highlight of these blocks for me is the 15cm tall tower, which stands at an impressive 90cm high. That's a whopping 6 cubes stacked up! Check out the pics below to see what I mean.

I've got to be honest, my 2.4-year-old still prefers looking at pictures, building, and stacking the blocks over learning to read. Maybe that's just me, but I think it's great that the manufacturer suggests building words with the blocks. It's a fun way to get little ones interested in learning their ABCs.

If you're interested in checking out the price of these blocks, I've compared them across a few online retailers. The best deal I found was on a discounted price of 667 rubles, which is a steal compared to the full price of 1034 rubles. If you're looking for a more affordable option, you can try buying used blocks on sites like Avito or Yula, but be aware that prices can vary between 300-400 rubles.

All in all, I'd highly recommend these blocks to anyone looking for a fun and educational way to help their little ones learn to read.