Welcome to Land of Oz Toys & Gifts!! 

I  am so happy you stopped by. My name is Elena, I am a proud owner of this charming Toys Shop, and I'd love to share a little bit of my background with you. When you meet me you may notice there's something different about me ( ahem, my accent... ), so let's start at the beginning. I was born in Russia, my father served in the Russian Army, so the family relocated every couple of years. I've lived in Hungary and the Ukraine, but mostly I lived in Moscow, where I received a MA in Education and International Communication. I came to the U.S. to work with individuals with disabilities during summers  between semesters in college , and I was fortunate to be offered the chance to stay in New York City to teach at a Special Education  Pre-school. I met my husband Michael, who is Welsh, while working at the special needs summer camp. He is now a Director of that same camp, which led us to relocate to the beautiful Hudson Valley from NYC 12 years ago. We have two beautiful and spirited daughters, Nia & Teagan, who are now 16 and 13. When opportunity arose to take over Land of Oz , I knew it would be a perfect fit! It has allowed me to blend my diverse cultural background and interest in how people communicate with my love of children and education, and delight in how they grow, learn and begin to experience the world through play. Having the experience of working with children in a school setting and then having my own at home, I have become very passionate about finding the best quality toys and games for all kids. It is also very important for me to find as many products made in the USA in an effort to support local economy. I focus on quality, and my goal is to find  toys that are not only fun, but can also teach children during play, which can lay the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity, open-mindedness and love of learning . 

Thank you for your support and shopping locally!!

Please feel free to introduce yourselves when you come into the shop, I love to learn more about my big & small customers , and hear your feedback and personal experiences with the toys you find here.

Hope to see you soon!! Elena.