Advent Calendars · Head-to-head

HABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard Animals vs Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41)

Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41)
Best for Car Lovers

Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41)

7.3/10
$26.99 at Amazon
Check price at Amazon

The short answer

HABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard Animals comes out ahead overall with 7.7/10 against 7.3/10 for the Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41). HABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard Animals is stronger on chocolate taste & quality, variety & no repeats, presentation & daily experience and health, ingredients & sustainability. Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41) is stronger on freshness, shipping & availability and value. At current verified prices, the Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41) costs about $8.00 less.

Scores by criterion

CriterionHABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard AnimalsHot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41)
Chocolate Taste & Quality 8.2Durable wooden figures for long-term pretend play 7.5Standard Hot Wheels die-cast quality
Variety & No Repeats 7.524 distinct animals, no stickers or filler 6.510 cars out of 34 items; the clips are filler
Presentation & Daily Experience 7.8Story chapter each day plus a 3D farm backdrop 6.5Ornament clips hang cars on the tree; no track or play scene
Freshness, Shipping & Availability 7.5In stock, but from a third-party seller on Amazon 8.5In stock and sold by Amazon.com
Health, Ingredients & Sustainability 8.5Wood rather than plastic (HABA); certifications I couldn't confirm are not counted 7.0Mattel's small-parts choking warning (not for under 3)
Value 6.8$40 for 24 figures, but they last for years 7.510 cars plus an exclusive for about $27

Specifications

SpecHABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard AnimalsHot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41)
Countdown Days 24 days 24 days
Total Pieces 24 pieces 34 pieces
Chocolate Types None (toy calendar) None (toy calendar)
Style (solid / filled / mixed confections) Wooden figures + storybook Die-cast cars + accessories
Servings per Day 1 wooden figure + 1 story chapter 34 items over 24 days (some days hold multiple items)
Reusable / Keepsake Packaging Yes —
Extras 24-chapter storybook; 3D backdrop 10 ornament clips; 1 exclusive vehicle
How It's Sold One-time purchase (evergreen design) —
Allergens None (non-food) None (non-food); small parts
Ingredient / Sourcing Claims Made in Germany; wooden figures —
List Price 39.99 USD —
Minimum Age 2 years 3 years
Figures / Characters Included 24 wooden farm animals 10 vehicles
Primary Toy Material Wood Die-cast metal/plastic vehicles

HABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard Animals

Pros

  • Rated for ages 2 and up
  • 24 wooden animals, one per day
  • 24-chapter storybook and 3D backdrop
  • Reusable packaging
  • Named best for toddlers by Good Housekeeping

Cons

  • Same design since 2021
  • Simple contents suit ages 2 to 4 best
  • Third-party seller on Amazon

The right calendar for toddlers and for parents who want wood over plastic. Older kids should look elsewhere.

Full HABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard Animals review →

Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41)

Pros

  • Ten 1:64 die-cast vehicles
  • Exclusive snow-globe car
  • Low price, sold by Amazon
  • Recommended by TODAY, Hello! and Mommy Poppins

Cons

  • Only ten of 34 items are cars
  • Accessories and clips are less durable play value
  • Small parts, not for under 3

A good budget calendar for kids who already love Hot Wheels. Expect cars on some days and accessories on others.

Full Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar (JLG41) review →

Both products are part of our guide The Best Toy & LEGO Advent Calendars for Kids of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.