An amazing wood case with 64 drawing essentials: 24 colored pencils, 8 water color pencils, 2 graphite pencils, 18 oil pastels, 12 duo-tip markers, pencil sharpeners, 1 paint brush, 25 sheets of art paper, and a booklet. This is a great choice for kids that are a step beyond crayons and ready to explore new media. The gift box will help keep these riches in orderly storage, ready for school projects or artistic explorations. They say 5 -9. We'd say more like 7 & up.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Sure to thrill, this remote control helium filled flying Clown Fish is the big novelty toy of the season. It is one of those big, showy toys that adults are going to want as much as the kids. The fish is 5 feet long and can be controlled in a 50-foot range. It steers in any direction with a button that allows it dive or climb and one that flaps the fish's tail to propel it. Once it is aloft there will be lots of oooohs! and ahhhhhs! But, be forewarned, it does take a lot of time to put together. You not only need to fill it with helium and then you have to run the electrical wiring through from the bottom controller to the tail. After that you need to find just the right amount of ballast (putty that comes with the fish) so that it does not go too high and tip up or down. All of this takes two people and plenty of calm patience. It comes with triple A and 9-volt battery. Unfortunately, it does not come with a patch kit, and you will want to have one on hand so that if your fish gets nicked, you can repair it before the helium escapes. Oh, yes, it does not come with the helium tank--that you have to buy separately. The company recommends that you fly this at 5 ft. and no higher. Okay, sounds like some of the ads for medicines with all those warnings. But despite all the above-- this is still one cool and memorable toy. The company also makes a bright orange Clown Fish version if sharks are just too toothy for you. 8 & up.

Age: Later School Years, Tweens, Teens, Adult. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Sure to thrill, this remote control helium filled flying Great White Shark is the big novelty toy of the season. It is one of those big, showy toys that adults are going to want as much as the kids. The shark is 5 feet long and can be controlled in a 50-foot range. It steers in any direction with a button that allows it to dive or climb and one that flaps the shark's tail to propel it. That music from Jaws just comes to mind as the Air Swimmer moves aloft! But, be forewarned, it does take a lot of time to put together. You not only need to fill it with helium, you then have to run the electrical wiring through from the bottom controller to the tail. After that you need to find just the right amount of ballast (putty that comes with the fish) so that it does not go too high and tip up or down. All of this takes two people and plenty of calm patience. It comes with triple A and 9-volt battery. Unfortunately, it does not come with a patch kit, and you will want to have one on hand so that if your fish gets nicked, you can repair it before the helium escapes. Oh, yes, it does not come with the helium tank--that you have to buy separately. The company recommends that you fly this at 5 ft. and no higher. Okay, sounds like some of the ads for medicines with all those warnings. But despite all the above--this is still one cool and memorable novelty toy. The company also makes a bright orange Clown Fish version if sharks are just too toothy for you. 8 & up.

Age: Later School Years, Tweens, Teens, Adult. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A dream house done up in pink and cream. A cleverly designed dollhouse that opens onto four rooms. There is a hinged roof for easy access. It has sliding patio door, and functional doors and windows. It comes with six little dolls and it's fully furnished with 26 pieces to that mean it's ready for play on the very first day! A memorable gift for 3 & up.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Three floors high, this modern six-room wooden dollhouse has 50's style licks of bright colors and is big enough for several children to enjoy together, with easy access from three sides rather than the usual one. It has clever adjustable stairs and even the roof that can be moved and rearranged. The house comes with four rooms of furniture for the family room, kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom. Or you can buy it without furnishings ($129.99) and add rooms and accessories gradually.  The company also makes a Caucasian or African American family that can be added for ($19.99.)

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Gubs is really a starter game for playing more advanced strategy games like Magic: The Gathering. The set includes 70 cards where characters have certain powers that help you  build the "mightest GUBS colony"- but beware there are hazards along the way.  Unlike more advanced card games, game play takes only about 20 minutes a round. A good way to introduce this type of game play to the 10 & up crowd.

Age: Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

What could be better than bringing home one of your childhood favorite toys and sharing it with your children or grandchildren? That's what you can do with this replica of the original Colorforms Set that has 350 geometric pieces in a spiral book and playboards to put them on. Unlike all the licensed images that followed since 1951, this is a more open ended set that allows kids to create their own themes. There is a small insert with images that can be copied, but best of all, this is an invitation to explore and discover how shapes can be transformed into designs and less literal images from one's own imagination. It's also an art form with no messy residue and no right or wrong rules. Getting the pages started may call for some adult help, but playing with the shapes develops fine motor skills, dexterity, and creative thinking.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A jumbo see-through paint can with four big tubes of finger paints, two interesting textured rollers, two sponge stampers (a star and a circle), 25 sheets of finger paint paper, a mixing dish, a disposable apron and for those who need more--instructions and ideas. Just be sure to cover your work surface and stand back. This is a kit that will give hours of satisfying discoveries.  3 & up.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Attach this fabric-framed toy to the crib rail for soothing music and soft colorful lights. There are no moving figures inside the see through window. All the animals are rather static and have big eyes that look out as the music box plays. The best part is the unusual electronic music. It is not the usual tinny variety. It begins with birds chirping and meadow sounds followed by several piano sound tracks. It comes loaded with four tunes including the Minuet in G and Hush Little Baby. Happily, it is designed with a volume control as well as lights that go fast or slow and turn the light features on and off. As an added value, you can attach you mp3 player to add more music.  Eventually baby can push the ladybug on the frame to activate it. For starters, you will be the one to push the buttons on top that are well out of baby's reach. The photo does not do the product justice.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Ideal for early tracking games with newborns, this bold black and white rattle has a quiet sound and a high contrast face that will grab baby's attention. Research shows that infants are visually attracted to the eyes on faces. This clever little plaything has big eyes and a smiling little face. It has an easy to grasp ring and the whole toy is soft enough for young babies. One side is done in short velour like plush and the back is done in silky satin. A small bunch of short green ribbons are clutched in the panda's hand, that will tickle little cheeks or toes as you use this for early social lap games. For starters you will be moving this from side to side for baby to focus on. Before long, it will be a safe choice for baby to grasp. It is soft enough so that it will not hurt even if baby hits herself in the face with her still unrefined hand movements. This is the kind of soft toy for those early months when baby is still getting control of such seemingly simple eye hand movements. Unfortunately it is a surface wash only, but it's not the kind of toy that baby will be handing independently for a while. Newborn and up.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.