Zooligans Review and Giveaway

I love Top 10 lists, so when I come across one, I have to read it. I am happy that one of my favorite mommy magazines has a Top 10 favorites article every month. I have checked out most of these fun items, purchased some, asked for some, and even gotten to review some for MBP. I am one lucky lady and my kids love benefiting from that.

In a June 2012 Top 10 favorites, I came across some pretty adorable kids footwear. In my head I was thinking "oh my gosh, these are so stinking cute, I need them," or really S needs them. I knew that our readers would love to know about them too, especially because they are brand new to the scene and so playful and unique.

Zooligans was founded in 2011 and launched their first Spring/Summer line in 2012. Based in Massachusetts, Zooligans was created by a husband and wife team, Joel and Cheryl. Joel (a footwear designer and former toy designer) and Cheryl ( the marketer and brand builder) joined with Klas Shoe company to market their own footwear collection. To learn more about Zooligans, click here for their story.

I contacted Cheryl and asked if Zooligans would be interested in working with MBP. She was more than happy to share the Zooligans products with us, both as a review and a giveaway. Cheryl provided me with tons of information about the company and was very helpful in both style and sizing of shoes. Cheryl let us have our choice of Zooligans for S to review and we couldn't wait to see them!

Our Zooligans package arrived in less than a week.

Zooligans shoes are animal themed and designed for children ages 1-5, and available in sizes 4-12. Boys and girls can choose from eight character options including Joey the Koala, Fuzz the Kitty, Bonnie the Bunny, Amanda the Panda, Bobo the Monkey (available in both pink and brown), Sparky the Puppy (available in both light blue and dark blue), Jacques the Alligator, and Ringo the Raccoon. Boys Zooligans are a sturdy sport sandal while girls Zooligans are either sport sandal or Mary Jane depending on character.

For S we chose Joey the Koala

Each pair of Zooligans has a tag with the animal's name and a bit about them. It is both fun and educational for kids and adults.

"Joey the Koala"

"When Joey the Koala was born in Australia, she was only the size of a jellybean, and lived in a special pouch on her mom's belly until she was 8 months old. Joey is a very picky eater and will only eat leaves from a eucalyptus tree, which keeps her breath minty fresh. Joey tends to be kind of lazy, spending 18 hours a day napping and eating. Joey loves to climb trees, so much so that she spends her whole life in trees, only coming down on the ground to switch to another tree. What adventure will you and Joey take together today?"

Cheryl told me that as far as sizing goes, Zooligans are pretty true to size. Zooligans currently only come in full sizes. S is currently in a 6, because no half sizes were available, I chose a 7 so that we can get more use out of the shoes. They are a bit big, but worn with a heavier sock would be perfect. S doesn't like socks so at this point she is wearing them barefoot and a bit big, cute nonetheless.

The bottom of the Zooligans box explains all the great features and benefits of the shoe.

Easy On/Off and Secure Fit

Wide openings with rear pull tab for easy on and off. An adjustable strap keeps shoes on the feet and ensures a proper fit.
(Easy enough for a 3 year old to do all by herself-very important these days)

Paw-Flex Four Way Flexible Sole

Unique Paw-Flex sole design not only looks like a paw, it flexes like one too. It provides extreme flexibility in all directions, similar to an animal paw. The design provides a perfect natural feel, yet offers maximum foot protection for small feet.
(Easy to run and play in)

Super Flexible Shoe Construction

Engineered to be flexible just like the best athletic shoes, utilizing modern construction methods and materials.
(Not heavy or bulky, just right for little feet)

Roomy Toe Box

A wide and roomy toe box gives little toes a place to grow, grip and flex, a key feature for healthy foot development.
(Wider feet, like S's, have plenty of room to be comfy)

Breathable Ultra-Soft Leather Uppers

Soft leather uppers for natural breathability, comfort and flexibility.

Comfortable and Breathable Linings

Our padded linings provide comfort, cushioning and breathability for children's feet.

(Soft enough to not rub and leave blisters)

Fun Paw Print Bottom

Zooligans' bottom leaves a trail of little paw prints behind.
(Hello--who wouldn't think this was fun?!?!)

We picked Joey the Koala because she was very neutral. Her light grey color with pink accent is easy to match with just about anything. Her pink ears are fluffy and soft. S loves her big grey nose and is constantly pressing it. Joey's happy smile and friendly eyes make her super cute. S can easily use the pink adjustable Velcro straps to take the shoes on and off herself.

As with all kids shoes, they can get dirty quickly. We easily cleaned S's Koala shoes with a damp cloth and they look great again. S loves showing off her funny feet and of course loves all the attention they bring.

As if Zooligans shoes weren't fun enough, the packaging is completely reusable and recyclable.

The box can magically transform into a pet carrier, for your Zooligans or any other stuffed animals. Directions are located on the bottom of the box to transform the package into a pet carrier in just a few simple steps.

Zooligans are a ton of fun all around. From the design choices to the colors to the packaging, your child will have fun wearing and playing with thier newest shoes.

Want It? Buy It!

Ready to own a pair of Zooligans, your kiddo's feet will have never looked cuter. Get shopping online here or here. You can also locate a retailer near you by visiting here. Zooligans retail for around $45. Contact Zooligans here with any questions, comments, or suggestions. You can "LIKE" Zooligans on Facebook, find photos, info, and more or follow Zooligans on Twitter for quick tweets and announcements. You can also find Zooligans on Pinterest for their favorite things.

**Side note**

Zooligans on Facebook currently has a sneak peek at what is to come and they sure look awesome. A wide variety of new additions and I even heard dinosaurs will be around in Fall of 2013.

Want It? Win It!

Enter to win your choice of Zooligans, visit here to see all the adorable options! Open to US residents only. Just use the Rafflecopter entry form below to enter to win. Remember- if the entry field appears in BOLD, it's mandatory.

Thank you to Cheryl and Zooligans for sharing some cute footwear with us and our readers!

Thanks and Good Luck!

~Steph~

Disclosure: Other than the above mentioned products, which I received directly from this sponsor for review purposes, I was not compensated for facilitating this review. All opinions expressed are my own. Your experience may differ. Mommy's Block Party and its team members are not responsible for prize fulfillment or shipment- this is the understood responsibility of the giveaway sponsor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway