Woolly Mammoth (“Winston” by Jellycat)

Jellycat is a highly successful maker of delightfully soft and cuddly plush animals that are especially appealing to babies and toddlers. Most of these critters consist of the usual cuties: puppies, kittens, bunnies, monkeys, etc, but there are also a number of prehistoric characters. These include Maximus Mammoth, who looks fairly realistic as far as plush prehistoric probiscideans go, and Winston Woolly Mammoth, who boasts a decidedly more unique appearance.

Winston measures around 25 cm tall when sitting up, which is really the only pose he can achieve. His limbs are soft and floppy and his head and trunk are fixed in place, so there’s no way to get him to stand on all fours. But his rump is nice and flat, and weighted down with plastic pellets, so he sits up tall and straight. And even if he does start to lean forward, the tip of his trusty trunk will prevent him from falling on his face. The soles of his hind limbs are also filled with pellets, the feel of which should please most little ones.

Winston is entirely rust red in colour save for his yellowish white tusks and his tiny black beaded eyes. He features long, thick fur on his back, shorter fur on his head and limbs, and a ribbed texture on his underside. Scientific accuracy really doesn’t apply to a plush toy like this, but it goes without saying that Winston is unmistakable as a mammoth.

Much more importantly, Winston is durable, pleasing to the touch, and fun to play with. My son, who is four months old as of the posting of this review, adores him. Specifically, he enjoys running his little fingers through Winston’s fur, chewing on his limbs, and being stroked across the face with the tip of his trunk. I therefore highly recommend Winston Woolly Mammoth to anyone looking for a nice stuffed toy to give to a little one.