Advent Calendars · Head-to-head

HABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard Animals vs LEGO 42698

LEGO 42698
Best Budget LEGO

LEGO 42698

7.7/10
$25.00 at Amazon
Check price at Amazon

The short answer

HABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard Animals and LEGO 42698 finish almost level in our scoring (7.7 vs 7.7 out of 10), so the right pick depends on what you value most. HABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard Animals is stronger on presentation & daily experience and health, ingredients & sustainability. LEGO 42698 is stronger on freshness, shipping & availability and value. At current verified prices, the LEGO 42698 costs about $9.99 less.

Scores by criterion

CriterionHABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard AnimalsLEGO 42698
Chocolate Taste & Quality 8.2Durable wooden figures for long-term pretend play 8.0Same LEGO part quality, but with fewer and smaller builds
Variety & No Repeats 7.524 distinct animals, no stickers or filler 7.29 figures in total; builds are smaller
Presentation & Daily Experience 7.8Story chapter each day plus a 3D farm backdrop 6.8No playmat or game board listed
Freshness, Shipping & Availability 7.5In stock, but from a third-party seller on Amazon 8.8In stock at Amazon (sold by Amazon) and at Target
Health, Ingredients & Sustainability 8.5Wood rather than plastic (HABA); certifications I couldn't confirm are not counted 7.0Small parts, ages 6+; packaging mostly paper-based
Value 6.8$40 for 24 figures, but they last for years 8.0Lowest in-stock LEGO price this year, though slightly worse per piece than Disney at $30

Specifications

SpecHABA My First Advent Calendar – Farmyard AnimalsLEGO 42698
Countdown Days 24 days 24 days
Total Pieces 24 pieces 211 pieces
Chocolate Types None (toy calendar) None (toy calendar)
Style (solid / filled / mixed confections) Wooden figures + storybook Brick-built mini builds + minidolls
Servings per Day 1 wooden figure + 1 story chapter 1 mini build or figure per door
Reusable / Keepsake Packaging Yes No
Extras 24-chapter storybook; 3D backdrop —
How It's Sold One-time purchase (evergreen design) One-time purchase (annual edition)
Allergens None (non-food) None (non-food); small parts
Ingredient / Sourcing Claims Made in Germany; wooden figures LEGO says ~93-95% of its packaging by weight is paper-based
List Price 39.99 USD 34.99 USD
Minimum Age 2 years 6 years
Figures / Characters Included 24 wooden farm animals 3 minidolls, 6 animal figures
Primary Toy Material Wood Plastic LEGO bricks

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 →

LEGO 42698

Pros

  • Lowest price of the 2026 LEGO calendars
  • Three minidolls and six animal figures
  • In stock at Amazon and Target
  • Recommended by TODAY

Cons

  • Fewest pieces (211) of the 2026 LEGO set
  • No playmat or game board
  • Small parts, so not for under 6

A sensible budget LEGO choice. Pick it when the lowest price is the priority, and look at Disney Princess if you can pay a little more for more pieces.

Full LEGO 42698 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.