Build-a-Bear has released its summer collection.
The plushes have beachy themes and come in animals like lobsters, crabs, and sharks.
Some of the items are limited edition and only available while supplies last.
It's almost officially summer. The sky is blue, the days are sunny—and Build-a-Bear just released a summer collection to match the carefree vibes.
SHOP THE BUILD-A-BEAR SUMMER COLLECTION NOW
These plushies are exactly what you think when you picture your favorite summer days: waves, sandcastles, slushy ice drinks, and smiling sea animals.
There are small Mini Beans for those who need just-a-little something, Beary Goods animals that evoke feel-great moments, and my favorite, the "Mashimals" plushes, which combine animals with everyday objects in totally adorable way.
To me, the Mashimals are the clear winners. They combine the best of the cuteness of a stuffed animal and the novelty of a plush object. Seriously, who wouldn't want a beary wave or a turtle pail in their home collection?
But those aren't the only ones available in the summer collection. The line ranges in price from $10 for the smaller animals to $26 for the bigger, more creative plushes—and more if you want to go all-out for the Shark Gift Set or the two-for-one Toucan (which is really cute for those who still need a Father's Day gift).
It just makes you want to run right to the shore, doesn't it?
One thing to note for crustacean fans: the Mini Beans Clawsome Crab Stuffed Animal is limited-edition. That means it'll only be available this summer while supplies last (and, sorry, no coupons). If those claws are reaching out to you, better snap them up while you still can!
As someone who covers toys and gifts for a living, I see these as a perfect end-of-school gift. They're so summery that they're good for celebrating the start of the long break, but they don't have mortarboards or robes so they don't have to be tied to a graduation ceremony (although they would also make great graduation gifts). It's just something you can pick up to say "good job."
Another thing to note: Many of the items in the summer line don't have the option of being delivered unstuffed. If you were going to buy one thinking that heading to the store and stuffing it would be part of the gift experience, double-check that it's possible before you buy. The Octopail Mashimal Plush, for example, is one that can come unstuffed, but the Beary Goods Sandcastle Plush cannot, so it really is a case-by-case basis.
Either way, stuffed or unstuffed, these are a sweet way to kick off some summer adventures.
