On the great Stick-vs-Block crayon debate, we side with team Block for the following reasons:

STOCKMAR Beeswax Block Crayon, in 16 White, from set of 16, $24.72, amazon.com

They are easier to grasp for tiny hands (a Waldorf school of thought that makes sense to us)
They have no paper wrappers that can be peeled off and eaten
They do not roll off tables
They are unbreakable - won't snap in half like sticks do when thrown from a high chair
Can be stacked, a top baby hobby

We chose Stockmar block crayons for our baby, a set of 16 that comes in a nice tin with a scraper. German manufactured with excellent quality, they are non-toxic and made with beeswax that imparts them with a subtly sweet, natural scent. The beeswax also makes them glide smoothly across paper without smudging and gives the colors a nice balance between opacity and translucency.

This characteristic is moot in our case, as our tiny artist has ended up showing more interest in the crayons as sculptural objects rather than drawing tools. The crayons are only sometimes used for scribbling, and are most frequently subject to obsessive packing up in their tin case before being dumped out again (a process that repeats itself until the next distraction occurs). Stacking them into a Jenga-like rainbow tower is another favored use that has nothing to do with drawing.

We too think they are pretty to look at. Stockmar has the most gorgeous assortment of richly pigmented colors. They are sold these in sets of a predetermined palette, but there are also complementary palettes and singles available so that you can assemble your own custom color library. Here, we've put together some of our favorite color combinations, in sculptural form, inspired by the Jacquemus collection La Femme Enfant. a favorite of ours for its pure expression of child-like enthusiasm through shape and color.

From top:  06 Yellow Green, 12 Purple, 05 Lemon Yellow, 09 Blue, 15 Black, 16 White, all from Stockmar — From top: 06 Yellow Green, 12 Purple, 05 Lemon Yellow, 09 Blue, 15 Black, 16 White, all from Stockmar

A look from Jacquemus' "La Femme Enfant" collection, jacquemus.com — A look from Jacquemus' "La Femme Enfant" collection, jacquemus.com

From top:  16 White, 15 Black, 03 Orange, all from Stockmar — From top: 16 White, 15 Black, 03 Orange, all from Stockmar

From top:  03 Orange, 01 Carmine Red, 11 Blue Violet, 05 Lemon Yellow, 10 Ultramarine, 16 White, all from Stockmar — From top: 03 Orange, 01 Carmine Red, 11 Blue Violet, 05 Lemon Yellow, 10 Ultramarine, 16 White, all from Stockmar

WHERE TO BUY: STOCKMAR Set of 16 Beeswax Block Crayons, $24.72 at amazon.com