This week’s Roundup of Mom’s Choice Award winners features tons of STEM toys and of course educational children’s books! Be sure to scroll through the entire list so you don’t miss any of our new award-winners! All the items you see below won a Mom’s Choice Award during September 16 2018 to September 22, 2018.
Every week companies, inventors, and publishers from around the world send us their products for evaluation. Only the best earn our designation.
They Told Us Something Wonderful Was Coming
Written and illustrated by Bev Stone
Flowers waving? Bees dancing? The sweet sound of barking? How can that be?
Explore the subtle signs of joyous anticipation as we learn the reason for celebration in “They Told Us Something Wonderful Was Coming.”
Children’s Picture Books:
Inspirational / Motivational
The Loonee Balloonees starring in Sillee Billee Flies Too High: The Further Adventures of the Loonee Balloonees
Written by Burch Fiske; Illustrated by Lisa Bohart
The Loonee Balloonees are a group of colorful balloon characters who have a passion for picnics! They live in harmony with the beasts of the jungle, often relying on their assistance in sticky situations.
Today, the Loonees are flying around after a wonderful picnic of chocolate cake. Sillee Billee ventures up just a little too high in the sky, though, causing quite the concern for everyone.
Oh no, what will they do to save him? In this fun episode, find out how it takes clever teamwork to bring Billee back down!
Children’s Picture Books:
Humor
The Imagination Warriors
Written by Marc Romanelli; Illustrated by Odessa Sawyer, David Romanelli; Edited by Ann Mason, Ellen Kleiner
Nine-year-old Philomena, confident and independent, teams up with her grandmother’s psychic cat to solve a series of mysteries involving strange paintings. Their investigations take them across time and space to worlds powered solely by imagination. Ultimately, the courageous time travelers not only decode the baffling paintings but discover that inspiration can come from unexpected places; that perseverance, love, and creativity are richly rewarded; and that the only tools needed to take flight and soar are imagination and the stroke of an artist’s brush.
Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Fiction – General
smART sketcher projector
smART sketcher allows children and adults to transform photos taken from their smart devices into a sketch. By using the free smART sketcher app, photos are filtered and transferred via Bluetooth to the projector. Instantly users will see their desired image projected onto paper. Users are able to draw anything the eye can see with just a touch of a button. The smART sketcher also comes with pre-loaded micro SD cards that are filled with a variety of activities including step-by-step drawings, learn-to-write letters and numbers, early spelling skills, and more. Additional SD cards can be purchased separately to keep the creative learning going.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8
Lions and Tigers and Terrorists, Oh My!: How to Protect Your Child in a Time of Terror
Written by Carole Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H.; Illustrated by Stephanie Conti; Edited by Ken Levine/Tiffany Towers
Lions and Tigers and Terrorists, Oh My! How to Protect Your Child in a Time of Terror is the first and only book about terrorism for kids (and their parents, teachers and therapists). Internationally acclaimed, it won the 2018 New York, London, Paris and Hollywood Book Festivals (in the Children’s Book category).
The first half of the book helps grownups understand how to talk to kids about terrorism, answer their most frequently asked questions, recognize symptoms of their anxiety and build resilience. The second half is a picture book for kids (5-14 years old) that gives them a gentle introduction to terrorism, helps them express their feelings and empowers them to face challenges in today’s world. Terrorism is the must-have ‘birds and the bees’ talk for the 21st century!
Children’s Picture Books:
Growing Up / Personal Growth
Go-with-Me ABC Backpack™
Embark on a learning adventure with Mr. Pencil and the Go-with-Me ABC Backpack™. This one of a kind toy lets toddlers interact with the alphabet in awesome ways. Using the write and erase board, kids can practice letter writing and drawing with Mr. Pencil. The screen shows how to write each letter step-by-step and then shows how to turn each letter into animals. Inserting the 26 letter pieces into the letter spaces teaches the letter name, letter sound, an animal that begins with that letter and more. Little learners can play seven different activities and when they’re done, the plastic backpack holds all the pieces inside. Clip the backpack closed and wear like a real backpack for learning on the go. Draw, learn and get going!
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Preschoolers
Design & Drill My First Workbench
Little builders get busy with a workbench and tool set designed just for them! Hammer nails and drill bolts directly into the bench to create colorful patterns for hours of unplugged play.
Product Features + Benefits: Develops fine motor skills Practices patterning, a key early learning skill Encourages creativity Supports STEM: introduces tools, promotes interest in engineering Includes workbench with storage drawer, 120 colorful bolts and nails, and guide with 10 patterns Motorized mini-drill and kid friendly hammer Requires 3 AAA batteries (not included)
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Preschoolers
Botley™ the Coding Robot Activity Set
Botley is here to introduce coding in a fun, friendly way and was named “Best of CES” by Reuters and “Best of Toy Fair” by Parents Magazine. Children as young as 5 can learn to code with Botley, but with his advanced features he’ll grow with them for many fun years to come. Botley is ready to use right out of the box, 100% screen free and is the only robot that includes a 77-piece activity set!
For even more fun, explore coding with Botley’s advanced features. Botley can detect objects, be programmed for if/then logic, follow looping commands and take on obstacle courses. He also has a black line follow mode and hidden features to unlock! And, Botley has nearly 150 five-star reviews on Amazon! Visit learningresources.com/botley to see him in action and click here to see a roundup of recent press and accolades.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8
Beaker Creatures
After traveling through space from their tiny distant planets, they’ve landed on Earth in search of science adventures! Beaker Creatures is a new line of science-themed collectibles from Learning Resources that combines the thrill of collecting with hands-on science experiments that build skills and spark curiosity.
Product Features + Benefits: Beaker Creatures is the only collectible line that incorporates hands-on learning through science experiments. There are 35 Beaker Creatures from 5 different families, including limited edition 24-carat creatures for children to discover, classify, and explore. Beaker Creatures is founded in real science, from the fizzing Reactor Pods that reveal the creatures to the classification cards that help children identify the species they have uncovered. The Beaker
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8
2 Comments on “Weekly Roundup: Award-Winning STEM Toys & Educational Children’s Books! 9/16 – 9/22”
Some great options- the abc backpack looks perfect for my toddler who is always on the go with older sisters.
What a fantastic list,my grandson would love the Beaker Creatures