Our testers raved about this theater that they used both as a puppet stage or as a backdrop for their own plays.   They made an evening out of it by working on their performance, selling tickets and entertaining their parents! You need a certain amount of space for this structure that's 29" x 57" x 60".   It's made of fabric (polyester) that is connected with fiberglass rods.  Our testers noted that they thought the white board marquee, show time clock and place for placing photos of the performers was really fun. The company points out though that when you roll it up--it becomes a much smaller 23" x 14" x 5". If you have kids who love performing, costumes, and pretending with their whole bodies--this is a great investment. 

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Baking with kids is fun and also a solid way to introduce so many math and science concepts. Zebra Mix, the company has created some baking mix packages that make it feel more like a gift. Their Organic Flour Power Cookie Baking Activity Set ($22.99) comes with a small rolling pin, two cookie cutters (a dragonfly and a flower), cookie mix, icing mix, and a big colorful direction sheet. You will need to add your own butter, flour, and vegetable coloring. The company also makes a Zebra Cupcake Kit ($14.95) that comes in a black and white zebra striped metal lunchbox. Our testers sent us rave reviews of the latter, although it comes with none of the utensils needed for making cupcakes except the mix. You'll need to provide many extra ingredients as well as muffin tins, liners, mixer, timer, measuring cup. Spoons and bowls. You could also just buy a cake mix and go at it. We have to say the packaging does have a gifty appeal along with the colorful directions "map." We note that the mixes do come with less packaging for a lower price, though they are packed in sets of six.  While you are using these kits or baking your own from scratch, be sure to talk about how things change as liquid is added to dry ingredients and what happens to liquid batter when heat is added.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Our testers really loved playing with this red and yellow dump truck that's made of 100% recycled milk jugs.  Parents also gave high marks to the all green recycled packaging as well. It's a good choice for indoor play or the sandbox. They also have a sturdy Recycling Truck that our testers also enjoyed.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Despite his big teeth and ferocious roar, this fabric-covered dino made a huge hit with our preschool testers. Monty works by patting one of his touch points that will activate walking, roaring, chomping, etc. He not only roars, he sniffs and sneezes as he moves his head from side to side. He's one of those toys that may thrill or terrify...so you'll have to decide if this type of safe scare is right on target for your child--or whether this toy will end up at the back of some closet. Marked 3 & up, we think older kids will be more apt to enjoy this.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Push the button to grind the coffee beans, turn the brewing handle, and top it off with frothing sounds. This play station is full of action for young sophisticates who frequent coffee bars. It's also rather contradictory. On the one hand, it is a very literal kind of play prop, imitating the real thing. On the other hand, the cups have holes in them so you cannot use any fluids in them.  Old fashioned tea sets used to be solid enough so that you could pour water ( or even milk!) from the tea pot into the play cups.  In this new world, toy teapots and cups have holes for safety, so that they will not fit over mouth and nose. We applaud the designers' concern for safety-but it does seem too bad that they didn't make the cups larger or smaller so that they could function. Marked 2 & up. We think this is a better choice for preschoolers. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

        The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Designed for little hands, these two colorful maracas have pretty good sound values for keeping the beat. Each of them has a distinctive sound. These are another element in the new Basic Rhythms line that Step 2 created for toddlers, that will also be enjoyed by preschoolers.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP IDEAS: Put on some music and let the shaking begin. Whether they can dance or keep the beat while sitting on the floor, being able to make "music" is empowering to young children.  These have chubby handles that may be easier to grasp than other musical rhythm instruments.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2009.

So you think Barbie is just a pretty gal? Look again. An answer to action figures, these four beauties, Barbie and the Three Musketeers arrive in skirts that turn into capes and tierras that turns into masks. According to the package’s backstory ‘together they go from maids working in a castle to brave heroines who save the prince from grave danger.’ In the words of Viveca, “Who says functional can’t be pretty?” We don’t know. We guess you need the video to find out.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

As novelty dolls that walk and talk are not usually on our list, let's start by saying, this doll is an exception. Unlike so many automated dolls, this one is less bossy than most. She's more of a show off, trying her best to walk without falling down and instead of telling you what she wants, she responds to what the little players do. She can sit down, lie down, stand up, play peek-a-boo, giggle and wiggle and most of all walk...like a wobbly toddler. Unlike so many animated dolls she has a sweet little face and pretty blonde hair or consider the African American version. All that said, she will not replace a soft cuddly non-talking doll that does what a child imagines, but she is likely to make a hit in the novelty department.

SAFETY NOTE: This doll is labeled 3 & up and that is what it means! We had a two-year old toy tester in the office who wanted to play with the doll and her puppy that comes with a leash. Her mom said her daughter would never put the dog's leash around her neck. "Never"  lasted about five minutes. Of all the things that came with the doll, the long string of the leash was the one item she picked up and put on her neck! Please, observe the age labels!  

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

While we're usually not big fans of such gender-specific toys, if this product will get your daughter interested in building --go for it!  Playing with construction toys improves spatial relations and related math skills--so if we want more female engineers--we need to start when they're small with opportunities that introduce them to these concepts. While this set suggests you can build a house and does come with a pony, it also is open-ended (just stop looking at the box color)...with 216 pieces. Earlier color-coded building sets for girls,that were  introduced a while back tended to provide gender specific themes such as beauty shops, mall, kitchens (really!) At least this Pink Brick Box is more open ended. The models shown are a vehicle, people, pets, and a house. We can live with that. As always we're big fans of these sets that come in sturdy buckets for easy storage. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

We love these handsome story pads that use the same artists as their games and story cards to make stick-on seals that can be put on the top of the lined paper. Parents can take dictation of a child's story or older kids can use the stickers and blank pages to write their own tales. Getting kids to tell a story is the first step in getting them to read a story. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. 

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.