North American Bear Nesting Puppets- Goldilocks and the 3 Bears
(North American Bear Co. $40 Score:) Here's a great gift idea! The Mama Bear and Baby Bear all fit inside the big Papa Bear. The big brown Papa has Goldilocks, a finger puppet with yarn pigtails, tucked in the pocket of his red overalls. Mama is in a pink flowered dress and Baby in blue gingham checks. This wonderful set is ideal for encouraging kids to retell a familiar story in their own words. With so many puppets more than one player can take a role and help in the story telling. Just as they like rehearing a tale, they will enjoy retelling it with these props. You can also encourage them to tell the further adventures of these familiar characters. Being able to sequence the story and put it in their own words is an important pre-reading skill that develops language and recall. A good story needs a beginning, middle and end and this one has a strong storyline with room for all that someone's been eating my porridge, sitting in my chair, sleeping in my bed! Kids love the repetition and the drama is sure to get more powerful as they grow into their roles. Also available, a charming set of the 3 Pigs and the Bad Wolf from the same maker. 4 & up.

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

North American Bear Nesting Puppets 3 Little Pigs
(North American Bear Co. $40 Score:)

What great gift idea! The mid-sized pig and littlest pig do nest inside of the biggest pig puppet. All are done up in pink velour. The big guy has 'I love bricks' embroidered on the front of his overalls. The middle one has 'I love sticks' on her overalls and the littlest one has 'I love straw' stitched on his. As for the bad wolf, he's a finger puppet stored in the big pig's pocket. This wonderful set is ideal for encouraging kids to retell a familiar story in their own words. In the recall department the embroidered images will help them retell the events. With so many puppets more than one player can take a role and help in the story telling. Just as they like rehearing a tale, they will enjoy retelling it with these props. Not only that, you can encourage them to tell the further adventures of these familiar characters. Being able to sequence the story and put it in their own words is an important pre-reading skill that develops language and recall. A good story needs a beginning, middle and end and this one has a strong storyline with room for all that huffing and puffing to make telling it good fun! Also available, a charming set with Goldilocks and the 3 Bears from the same maker. 4 & up.

 

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

Kids Preferred Diva Chime Ball
(Kids Preferred $16 Score:)

A marvelous Diva fabric 8" chime ball with a jolly jingle safe inside and plenty of surface textures to explore. There are colorful satin knotties, textured loop to hold, a crinkle velour patch, ribbon tabs and furry no-shed fringe. Each segment of the ball has a different fabric--high contrast black and white, velour with stars and another with hot pink splotches, silvery dots, and corded lavender velour.A perfect toy for first social games. Rolling the ball back and forth or crawling after it.

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

Kids Preferred Cute as a Button Chime Ball
(Kids Preferred $16 Score:)

A marvelous Cute As a Button fabric 8" chime ball with a jolly jingle safe inside and plenty of surface textures to explore. There are colorful satin knotties, textured loop to hold, a crinkle velour patch, ribbon tabs and felt fringe. Each segment of the ball has a different fabric - printed velour with stripes and another with dots, another with cotton knit stripes and others with corded and dotted velour.

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

Smarty Kids F is for Frog Comfort Cuddly Blanky
(Kids Preferred $13 Score:)

Frog is one of three 10-inch Comfort Cuddly toys. His body is green checked cotton with licks of orange calico checks, blue feet and a bold patterned tummy. His features are stitched for safety and his eyes sit high like two bumps on top of his soft as silk velour head. Like the other Cuddly Blankies, this is an unstuffed doll that is easy to clutch. It is not really a blanky in the traditional sense, but it just may become a comfort toy that kids like to hold onto as they rest. It makes no sounds, but there is plenty for eyes to see and textures for little hands to explore. Also see O is for Owl and L is for Lion Cuddly Blanky toys. Infants and up. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

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

Smarty Kids O is for Owl Comfort Cuddly Blanky
(Kids Preferred $13 Score:)

Owl is adorable with its big eyes, ribbon tufted ears, and brightly patterned wings and body. Like the other Cuddly Blankies, this is a 10-inch unstuffed doll that is easy to clutch. It is not really a blanky in the traditional sense, but it just may become a comfort toy that kids like to hold onto as they rest. It makes no sounds, but there is plenty for eyes to see and textures for little hands to explore. Also see L is for Lion and F is for Frog Cuddly Blanky toys. Infants and up.

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

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

Smarty Kids L is for Lion Comfort Cuddly Blanky
(Kids Preferred $13 Score:)

Lion is the most colorful of the three Comfort Cuddly toys. His body is orange with a red mane that is studded with satin strips of ribbons in blue, green and burgundy. He has stitched features for safe keeping and patterned tummy and paws. Like the other Cuddly Blankies, this is a 10-inch unstuffed doll that is easy to clutch. It is not really a blanky in the traditional sense, but it just may become a comfort toy that kids like to hold onto as they rest. It makes no sounds, but there is plenty for eyes to see and textures for little hands to explore. Also see O is for Owl and F is for Frog Cuddly Blanky toys. Infants and up.

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

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

LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Tablet
(LeapFrog $99 Score:)

When we first saw the preview of LeapFrog's LeapPad, we were hopeful that the final version would really be all that they promised: age appropriate, easy-to-use and engaging to a generation of kids that expect great graphics, games, and speed. (Sometimes what we see at preview doesn't always translate into the final product.) We're happy to report that the LeapPad really delivered on all counts.

Let's address the elephant in the room. The LeapPad is not your iPad. In many ways, we think it's better.  Well, better for the young audience for which it was designed. At $99, the white, lightweight tablet delivers satisfying speed and graphics to your older preschooler and early school age child. Unlike your  iPad, everything is meant for your child.  The games pull from LeapFrog's library of 100+ educational games- so you can select those that are most appropriate for your child and her needs. You can use all Leapster Explorer games and apps you already have- also a plus.  Our testers also loved exploring the art program- here's an example of where an adult may want a turn!  The LeapPad also has a built in camera and video camera. All in all- a great use of technology that will entertain and engage your child.

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

Hexbug Nano Glows in the Dark Habitat Set
(Innovation First $39.99 Score:)

Fans of the Hexbugs will want to check out the latest sets that glow in the dark. The Habitat set comes with ten pieces that go together easily. Part of the tracks and the two special "nanos" glow in the dark. The nanos work just like the original--they move quickly but now you can see them in the dark. If you like bugs and toys that glow in the dark, it doesn't get much better than this set. On the other hand, if bugs are not your thing, you probably will be a little freaked out by fast moving glow in the dark plastic bugs. You can buy more bugs separately.  

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

MindFlex Duel
(Mattel $99 Score:) In 2009 we gave a Platinum Award to Mattel's innovative MindFlex. The toy "reads" brain activity and with that energy you move a little blue ball along the adjustable obstacle path. Now, as the name suggests, Mind Flex Duel allows you to battle another player for dominance over the little blue ball. As with the original both players put on the headgear and attach the sensor to your earlobe. Turn the game on--and see which player can concentrate enough to move the ball across the finish line. Really a mental tug of war-except here you are pushing the ball with your thoughts. Seriously! One of the most innovative toys we've seen in years. You can also play many of the same solo obstacle games you played on the original. If you have teens that are jaded and will only play video games--start playing with this toy and see what happens.

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