This week’s Roundup of Mom’s Choice Award winners features tons of learning resources for teachers: games, playkits, books + more! 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 August 25, 2019 to August 31, 2019.
Every week companies, inventors, and publishers from around the world send us their products for evaluation. Only the best earn our designation.
The Play Kits for Toddlers, by Lovevery
The Play Kits for Toddlers, by Lovevery, are a subscription system of beautiful, science-backed play products and must-know guidance for parents, designed to help advance a child’s cognitive development. Previously available for infants, The Toddler Play Kits are expertly-designed to foster brain development during the second year of a child’s life, months 13-24. Each Play Kit delivers the essential toys and activities children need, at precisely the right time, based on research from world-renowned scholars in childhood development.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Toddlers
Tex the Explorer: Journey Around the Earth
Written by Ellie Smith; Illustrated by Eyen Johnson
Tex is a young T-Rex. He loves to explore. For his birthday his parents gave him an airplane. Tex is off to explore the seven continents of the Earth.
Children’s Picture Books:
Peoples, Places & Cultures
smART Pixelator
The smART pixelator empowers kids to design and build 2D and 3D projects using Bluetooth connectivity, easy-to-follow lights, and smART Pixel Beads, Sequins or Pegs. Right out of the box, kids have a choice creating 50 step-by-step designs using Pixel Beads. A smART Pixelator App and any mobile device also let them engineer their own projects, encouraging customization and experimentation. Additional beads, sequins, pegs, and projects are available to keep the fun flowing. Ideal for kids 7 to 107 years old.
Arts, Crafts & Hobbies:
Playmates for Puppies
Written by Roz Silva and Sue Ann Erickson
Enjoy a walk with Little Tank, the curious basset puppy, and his dachshund buddy Topo. Dog lovers of all ages will recognize their own canine pals in these two lively pups. The story is told in rhyme, with bright watercolor illustrations, including a map of the neighborhood, where you can retrace the dogs’ travels. And don’t miss the Bonus at the back of the book: a veterinarian- and dog-trainer-approved guide to “Dog Park Etiquette” — a page of tips to help dogs and their people safely enjoy their visits to off-leash dog parks.
You’ll find more stories about Tank and his pals — feisty Fluffy and guard dogs Rocky and Ready — in “Three Tales, Four Dogs,” also by Roz Silva and Sue Ann Erickson.
Children’s Picture Books:
Domestic Animals & Pets
Pete Cluckington and the Others
Written by Melody Monroe; Illustrated by Ginger Triplett; Edited by Melody Monroe
Pete Cluckington is a young chicken who is just starting the third grade at a brand new school on a brand new farm. He was born and raised on a chicken farm but is now living on a farm with a diverse animal population. Adjusting to his new surroundings is difficult because of his parents’ negative views of all the other kinds of animals. Deep in his heart, Pete wants to make friends with the other animals, but is torn between his own desire and honoring his parents’ feelings. Will Pete ever find the courage to try to make friends with the other animals? What will his parents think
Juvenile Books (Level 1 – Ages 5 to 8):
Fiction – General
Nuts About Reading-Online Reading Assessment and Reading Tutoring
Parents, do you know your child’s reading ability level? Nuts About Reading is a free, downloadable, reading screen in English for parents and their children for grades 1 through 3. Instructions are provided for administering each section of the assessment. Sections are research backed for measuring reading success, to include phonemic awareness, phonics/decoding, sight words, word recognition in a reading passage, and comprehension.
Online Resources (Websites, eMagazines and Blogs):
Family/Parenting
LIFE NUTRITION Prenatal Mini
Formulated with essential nutrients that cover you and your baby’s need before, during and after pregnancy, Prenatal Mini is a comprehensive, organic food-based multivitamin mini tablet that support mom and baby’s development throughout pregnancy. It contains crucial minerals and vitamins, like folate to avoid birth defect, iron to reduce risk of anemia and choline for fetus’s brain and neuronal development. Added Bacillus Subtilis, a probiotic strain that is commonly found in human amniotic fluid and breastmilk, helps with alleviating constipation and support immunity. The formula also includes Organic Nourishing & Comfort Blend to reduce morning sickness and boost nutrient absorption.
Personal Use Products (Skin Care, Health Care, etc.):
Women
I Hope It’s A Puppy!
Written by Lindsay Achtman; Illustrated by Andra Morosan; Edited by Erika Westrich
Mommy’s having a baby, and says it’s quite a blessing! I hear it’s a surprise, but I’m super great at guessing! This unique story invites you to take a look at pregnancy through the eyes of a child. With each turn of the page, you are sure to be filled with wondrous imagination and endless laughter! Recommended for children ages 2-8.
Children’s Picture Books:
Growing Up / Personal Growth
FamilyAlbum
Loved by over 5 million users, FamilyAlbum is the #1 app to share, save, and remember the special moments in your child’s life. By making sharing your child’s photos and videos simple, FamilyAlbum brings families together as the perfect partner for busy moms and dads. In addition, the app keeps your memories organized and creates photo and video collages to make look backs even more special. Visit your favorite app store to download free now!
Apps & Software:
Adults
Emotional Super Powers Family & Class Guide
Written by Rachelle Castor & Pam Robinson
An interactive guide to accompany the Emotional Super Powers book. Includes a four week challenge and resources to help you navigate the Emotional Super Powers content.
This 5 pack provides an easy and affordable way to teach a class, is a great resource for learners, and something for them to take home.
Adult Books:
Resources
Coding Critters™
The Coding Critters are interactive pets that introduce preschoolers to critical thinking, problem-solving, and other STEM skills with the help of fun playsets, storybook coding adventures, and two interactive modes! Each of the three sets, Ranger the Dog, Scamper the Cat, and Rumble the Dino includes a full-color 20-page storybook with multiple fun coding challenges and a friend! The pets are 100% screen-free and can be switched to Play Mode, where you can feed, pet, and take care of your pet and even have a dance party!
Educational Products:
Preschoolers
BizyBeez MagStix Wheel Set – 41 Piece
This fabulous magnetic building and construction toy provides youngsters with an endless variety of fun and educational play experiences. The set’s 41 colorful pieces have strong visual and tactile appeal coupled with a high level of versatility that inspires kids to perpetually experiment and explore.
MagStix is equally well-suited to solo play or interactive group fun and helps promote logical thinking, problem solving, creativity, improved focus, motor skills development and much more! But what REALLY makes this unique magnetic building set stand out from others is the variety of textures on the straight and curved stix. It’s the perfect sensory development toy, quite therapeutic for children with special needs. And the company creators have such a great love for the special needs community that they have committed to donate 20% of their profit non profit organizations that benefit children with special needs.
Educational Products:
Preschoolers
Amazeko Electric Pencil Sharpeners
MY FIRST PENCIL SHAPRENER by Amazeko isn’t just any ordinary electric pencil sharpener—it lights up and plays music. Amazeko carries fire-truck pencil sharpeners, ice cream trucks (vanilla and strawberry), and police SWAT trucks. Your child will no longer dread the thought of doing homework—in fact, Amazeko battery-operated pencil sharpeners will make your kids eagerly anticipate it! These pencil sharpeners are ideal whether you’re buying one for home or as an office gift for adults.
Amazeko sets the standard for novelty pencil sharpeners which also include ON/OFF sound switches and a safety shutoff feature that gets activated when shavings are emptied. See and hear the difference Amazeko’s electric pencil sharpeners make!
AMAZE – “TO OVERWHELM WITH SURPRISE OR SUDDEN WONDER.”
Gear & Accessories:
Media, Electronics & Accessories
LIFE NUTRITION Algae DHA
One softgel daily provides the recommended 200mg daily DHA amount for pregnant and lactating women. DHA supports maternal health, promotes a normal gestation period and fetal brain and eye development. We use Life’sDHA, a recognized and sustainable vegetarian source of DHA produced from algae, without fishy smell or aftertaste to worry about. You can trust our products to provide a pure and safe solution when it comes to nutrition, as the DHA has been grown and fermented in a closed and controlled environment. Algae DHA is suitable for vegetarian and do not contain any preservative, artificial flavor and color.
Personal Use Products (Skin Care, Health Care, etc.):
Adults
