The wildlife that we came across during our “off the beaten path” travels, from the tip of South America to high in the Himalayas, from the deserts of India to the glaciers of Alaska inspired us to start Real World Wonders.

We are much more than a plush toy company. We offer a product that is fun, educational and earth friendly. Each of our plush toys is based on a real animal that has been enhanced with a human attribute that matches one of its natural characteristics. For example, a crown and scepter on an emperor penguin - the tallest and heaviest penguin in the world, a graduation cap on an Amazon river pink dolphin that has a large brain capacity and is considered to be the smartest of all dolphin species, and bushy eyebrows and a beard on a Galapagos Island giant tortoise that can live up to 200 years. Attached to each toy is an oversized ‘easy to read’ glossy booklet providing facts about the animal (including size, estimated population and favorite foods), a map of its geographic habitat, and a section where the character describes themselves in a lighthearted and humorous way.

Our website is safe and fun. No personal information or “secret code” is required to access our interactive website where kids of all ages can create, color and print their own comics with our fun characters, and view photos of the real animals that the characters are based on.

As parents of three young kids (and someday future grandparents), we hope to never have to hold up a picture and say, “this is what a lion used to look like.” In addition to awareness through education, there is no better way to help ensure that wildlife stays a part of our life than through direct financial support. For every toy sold, Real World Wonders makes a donation to a wildlife conservation program.

We invite you to have fun, learn something new and at the same time, do a little good.

Natalie & David Hayeems — Co-owners of Real World Wonders Inc.