A dispenser is provided which includes a generally upright body having an external helical groove journalled for rotation in a preferably transparent outer sleeve. Resilient fingers in the groove or on the inside of the sleeve project into the groove space. An outlet is provided near the top of the dispenser. As the body is rotated, preferably manually, relative to the sleeve in one angular sense, small, firm round objects located in the groove are urged along the groove and serially expelled from the dispenser at the outlet. The dispenser regionally of the outlet may be shaped to resemble a cartoon character or the like. In a preferred embodiment the outlet does not rotate relative to the grooved body so there is no danger that a child can hurt its finger by sticking it into the outlet while the dispenser is being operated. The device is useful in teaching a small child the art of twisting one object relative to another, pepper grinder-fashion.