Aurora® Playful Wild Life Barney Stuffed Animal - Soft Gray Plush Toy for Kids (9 Inches) - Perfect for Cuddling, Comfort, and Imaginative Play - Ideal Gift for Birthdays, Bedtime Companions & Nursery Decor

Confession: this is meant to be a toy for my nearly two-year-old, and YES, I will give it to her :), but I have not yet had the heart to wrap it. I'm not generally a stuffed animal kind of person, though I do feel that they are important for kids to have, for with them, your children can imagine all kinds of things and get a little comfort, too (especially if they really connect with the toy). My inner-child has connected with this owl. I will update this review once I see how my little one responds to it, and the reaction it elicits from my seven-year-old.But for now...Here's what I have noticed about this beautiful owl. He has those large, bright, penetrating, wise-looking eyes, and they feel tightly secured (I have tugged at them, as I am anticipating that the eyes will get a lot of attention from the little one). His beak is pointed, petite, and spotted with flecks of black. It looks sharp (though it's really not) and is made from a firmer kind of material. His wings have extremely limited flexibility (they cannot be raised to pretend that he's flying). His feet are made from the same material of the beak, which enables him to stand--yes, you can knock him over--but a slight tap won't do it.... stable little guy.What I love: the exquisitely soft feel of his belly: very soothing to the touch. But, that said, he's not one of those stuffed animals whose bodies conform to the needs of your arms. I guess you could say that he's not really a cuddle creature, but one who is meant to be stroked. Still, he is compact, which will make it easier for my little one to tote around.Concerns: The hair (meant to be feathers) around his tiny but well-defined ears is wispy, and MAY be pulled out easily by a child as young as mine. Also, since he is meant to be spot-cleaned and not placed in the washing machine, I will have issues if she drools on him. Still fell in love with him, though, and thought that this might be a subtle introduction to learning that there are, for instance, different kinds of "birds" out there.I actually think that my seven-year-old is going to be drawn to him, and I believe he would be more appropriate for that age group (assuming your child likes owls), especially if your kids are fans of the Guardians of Ga'hoole Boxed Set, Books 1-4, or are Harry Potter fans who do not feel that they MUST have Hedgwig.Again, I will update, but my final words are: he is a gorgeous creature, and I am enchanted by him!