Animal Figure Gifts for Young Animal Lovers (Ages 3+) | Good Gifts
There is a particular kind of child who lines their animals up along the windowsill in careful order, knows the difference between a leopard and a cheetah, and would rather watch a nature documentary than almost anything else. For that child, a really well made animal figure is a small, affordable gift that lands every single time. The Mojo Fun range is our favourite for exactly this: hand-painted, properly detailed and accurate enough to teach a child something real, but sturdy enough to survive years of serious play. Most cost only a few pounds, which makes them ideal for a stocking, a party bag or a growing collection, and if you are a grandparent or an aunt or uncle a little removed from day to day life, an animal a child doesn't already have is a lovely way to show you have been paying attention to what they love. Here are the ones we would choose first.
Mojo Fun African Elephant
The animal that anchors any collection, wise and enormous.
A beautifully detailed African elephant with large ears, long tusks, deeply textured skin and a dignified, unhurried pose. African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, and this figure conveys their quiet power and intelligence in a way children respond to immediately. It is the one that commands the most respect on any shelf, and it pairs lovely with the smaller African Elephant Calf for a mother-and-calf set. Ages 3+ · hand-painted PVC · tusk and skin detail · part of the Mojo Fun African range.
Mojo Fun Giraffe Male
The tallest animal on Earth, painted with real care.
A tall, elegant giraffe with the distinctive reticulated pattern faithfully painted, the short ossicones on the head and the slightly awkward grace that makes giraffes so appealing to children. Giraffes look almost impossibly designed, and a figure this well finished is a proper tribute to one of nature's most extraordinary creatures. At well under a tenner it is an easy addition to any wildlife collection. Ages 3+ · hand-painted PVC · distinctive pattern detail · part of the Mojo Fun African range.
Mojo Fun Leopard
The most beautiful of the big cats, watchful and alert.
A beautifully painted leopard with the rosette pattern meticulously rendered in amber and black, caught in a confident, alert pose. Leopards are the most elusive of the big cats, and this figure has exactly the quality of watchful self-possession that makes them so compelling. At a few pounds it is one of the most giftable figures in the range for a child who loves the big cats. Ages 3+ · hand-painted PVC · rosette pattern detail · part of the Mojo Fun African range.
Mojo Fun Lion Cub Standing
Universally beloved, and the easiest small gift on the list.
A small, characterful lion cub with a curious expression, oversized paws and the soft, fluffy coat of a young lion before the mane comes in. Lion cubs are universally loved, and this figure captures exactly what makes them so endearing. At around four and a half pounds it is one of the most accessible figures Mojo Fun makes, which makes it a perfect stocking filler or the first piece in a new collection. Ages 3+ · hand-painted PVC · small size · part of the Mojo Fun African range.
Mojo Fun Octopus
Three hearts, blue blood and nine brains, in one detailed figure.
A wonderfully detailed octopus with eight arms spread in a dynamic pose, textured suckers along each one and rich reddish-brown colouring. Octopuses are the creatures that fascinate children most once they learn about them, and this figure rewards exactly that curiosity: it captures their strange, alien grace beautifully. A brilliant pick for a child who has fallen for the ocean's oddest and cleverest animals. Ages 3+ · hand-painted PVC · detailed sucker texture · part of the Mojo Fun Sea Life range.
Mojo Fun Whale Shark
The largest fish on Earth, gentle and spotted.
The whale shark, the largest fish in the ocean, in a beautifully detailed figure with the characteristic spotted pattern, enormous mouth and gentle, slow-moving bearing. It is one of the most fascinating and underappreciated sea creatures, huge and harmless and completely unlike the predatory sharks children usually reach for first. This one teaches a child something real, which is exactly why it makes such a good gift for a budding marine biologist. Ages 4+ · hand-painted PVC · distinctive spot pattern · part of the Mojo Fun Sea Life range.
Mojo Fun African Wildlife Mini Worlds Playset
A whole savannah in a carry case, ready for adventures.
A self-contained African wildlife world: a selection of small savannah animals in a carry case that opens out into a scene to play across. It is one of the most complete small gifts in the range, a whole ecosystem in a box, and the compact case makes it a brilliant travel gift for keeping a wildlife-mad child happy on a long journey. A lovely way to give a starter collection and a place to keep it in one go. Ages 3+ · multiple mini figures · folds into a carry case · part of the Mojo Fun Mini Worlds range.
Shop the African Wildlife Playset →
Mojo Fun Sea Life Mini Worlds Playset
A miniature ocean to carry anywhere.
The ocean version of the Mini Worlds format: a selection of small sea creatures in a carry case that opens into an underwater scene. For a child who wants to create their own ocean adventures, it has exactly the right mix of creatures to spark imaginative play, and it is compact enough to come on holiday or in a bag to a grandparent's house. A brilliant, giftable little world that packs away neatly at the end. Ages 3+ · multiple mini figures · folds into a carry case · part of the Mojo Fun Mini Worlds range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are these animal figures suitable for?
Most of the Mojo Fun range is suitable from three years, with the larger sea life figures from four. They are designed for play rather than as fragile display pieces, so they hold up well to enthusiastic handling, but as with any small figure they aren't suitable for babies and toddlers who still mouth their toys.
Are they good value as a small gift?
Very. Several of the single figures here cost only a few pounds, which makes them ideal stocking fillers, party bag gifts or a small something to add to a growing collection. The playsets sit around thirteen pounds and feel like a proper present, with a handful of figures and a case to keep them in.
How do I choose the right one if I don't know their collection?
Start with what they love. A child who pores over safari books will be thrilled with the elephant, giraffe or lion cub, while an ocean obsessive will want the octopus or whale shark. If you genuinely aren't sure, one of the Mini Worlds playsets is the safest bet, because it gives a small collection in one go and works whatever their favourite habitat.
Found a few they'd love? You can save any of these to a shareable Good Gifts list, so a parent can pass it round the family before a birthday, or a gift-giver can keep it ready for the next occasion. Start a gift list here →