Here's a device that we thought had been wrongly delivered when it arrived, beautifully boxed, for analysis in the lab here at gadgetshop HQ. Geoff and Simon, my colleagues, were not amused. Finger puppets are not, they argued, man's work. They were, they continued, the straightforward evolution of the Playschool sock puppet. Primary Two stuff. And probably for girls.

How wrong there were, and not for the first time. For Pachuppa is the principle exemplar of a new breed of high-technology finger puppets, carefully designed and lovingly crafted by people who know about puppets, and know about children. So that puts them two up on us for a start.

Here's how Pachuppa works: she's a very tiny and very cheerful animal-styled toy designed in bright, eye-catching colours. Active her inner electronics by pressing the button on her head, and she'll announce she's awake. Sway her from side to side and she'll jabber away in her own cutesy language. Then press her to your check and she'll give you a tiny kiss, followed by a little blush. Endearing.

Pachuppa - and her cohort of collectible chums - come with adjustable finger straps to accommodate tiny as well as adult fingers, so children can get in on the act, too.

All in all, Pachuppa helps promotes the development of sight, colour identification and, later, hand-eye coordination as babies develop. Very cute. And very, very clever.