This week’s Roundup of Mom’s Choice Award winners features tons of activities to do while stuck at home! We’ve got books for all ages, toys, games & puzzles, apps + 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 March 15, 2020 to March 28, 2020.

Every week companies, inventors, and publishers from around the world send us their products for evaluation. Only the best earn our designation.

What Kind of Dog Am I?
Written by Kathleen DiMario and Kelly DiMario; Illustrated by Emily Foster

Posha knows she is a rescued dog. She knows she is very happy, loves her dog-mommy, and has funny paws that turn out like a ballet dancer’s feet. But everyone she meets still wants to know what kind of dog she is. By following Posha’s journey of self-discovery, children will learn the valuable life lessons of how they can find their own true identity and build self-esteem.

Children’s Picture Books:
Values & Life Lessons

Purchase here

WaterGame

Learn the value of clean water in this cooperative game.
Players roll dice, float down the river, and draw “Savings” or “Wasting” cards. Unlucky players must rely on the community water jug, which requires donations from players who have saved more water. If the jug is empty when someone needs it, everyone loses – so let the negotiations begin! Components: game board, 18 water-saving cards, 18 water-wasting cards, 30 question cards, 4 movement tokens, 5 water markers, 1 die, and illustrated rules. Ideal for 3 to 4 players. Play can be completed in about 30 minutes.

Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Vooks

Vooks is a kid-safe, ad-free streaming library of read-aloud animated storybooks. Enjoyed by millions of children every week, trusted by parents, and loved by teachers around the globe. Vooks incorporates important characteristics of an effective reading aloud storytime by providing a model of fluent, expressive narration, with purposeful pacing helping to maintain attention in a positive way that promotes a love of reading and a lifelong impact.

Apps & Software:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Tidy Books Kids Book Box

Make story time fun with the award winning Tidy Books Kids Book Storage Box.

This portable wooden book case keeps your child’s picture books handy for story time in the living room, playroom or bedroom, and builds your child’s love of books and reading.

This best selling book box has won many awards worldwide for its stylish, eco- and child-friendly design. The original design of the Tidy Books Box displays books front facing and entices kids to read anywhere in your home, encouraging independent reading.

The Tidy Books Book Box is ideal for storing differently sized picture books. It is double-sided, so kids can access books from both sides, and holds up to 40 books. It’s the perfect way to start your child’s home library, as many customers tell us.

The Tidy Books Box will get your child reading and makes a timeless gift.

Gear & Accessories:
Bedding & Room Decor

Purchase here

Recycle Rally

Drive recycling trucks around town and maximize your score by collecting higher-value materials. But sort carefully! If too many recyclables are left behind, useful stuff is incinerated and the whole town is in trouble. The rules also feature an advanced game mode, recommended for ages 10 and up. Components: game board, 15 playing cards, 5 recycling trucks, 1 marker disk, 3 dice, 45 objects to recycle, 10 specialized truck tokens, 1 scorecard, a sheet of color-coded recycling stickers and illustrated rules. Recycle Rally is perfect for 3 to 5 players. Game time is about 45 minutes.

Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 9 to 12

Purchase here

PowerHaus

Learn the value of clean water in this cooperative game. Players roll dice, float down the river, and draw “Savings” or “Wasting” cards. Unlucky players must rely on the community water jug, which requires donations from players who have saved more water. If the jug is empty when someone needs it, everyone loses – so let the negotiations begin! Components: game board, 18 water-saving cards, 18 water-wasting cards, 30 question cards, 4 movement tokens, 5 water markers, 1 die, and illustrated rules. Ideal for 3 to 4 players. Play can be completed in about 30 minutes.

Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Positive Me!: A Kids’ Guide to Self-compassion
Written by Madelyn Hornstein; Illustrated by Phillipa Clark

Would you like to give the ultimate gift to a child? Can you think of a child that is incapable of speaking kindly to themselves? Positive Me! helps establish positive self-talk through repeating simple and effective sentences on colorful, inclusive and engaging illustrated pages.

Positive Me! can immediately redirect kids’ negative thinking by completing for them, in positive terms, sentences that begin with “I am.” When combined with positive, self-affirming words, “I am” can be two of the most powerful words in a child’s vocabulary, words that can have a major developmental impact on a child’s life. Positive Me! is original, simple, and effective.

Establishes a core belief of self-worth and can be a preventative measure as kids grow in our fast paced and sometimes unforgiving world.

This book allows parents, family members, friends and educators to become cognizant of the type of verbal environment they are creating for their children. It reminds us to become mindful of our language.

Positive Me! gives children tools to speak kindly to themselves in moments of challenge or emotional demands.

Juvenile Books (Level 1 – Ages 5 to 8):
Inspirational / Motivational

Purchase here

Kokowanda Bay by Ruth and Emilia

Ruth and Emilia are back launching their second album release, chock full of catchy, award-winning tunes for the entire family! In their latest adventure planet Goopda sends URR the alien back to earth to help Emilia and her friends save beautiful Kokowanda Bay. Soon the two are rocking their way through the three R’s (recycling, reducing and reusing). Sing and dance along as the duo learns how to heal the world by working together.

The mother/daughter duo Ruth and Emilia have garnered many prestigious awards including the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the Creative Child Magazine’s CD of the Year Award, the NAPPA Award and Grand Prize in the Hollywood Music in Media Awards.

Audio Experiences:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Horace Henway Brushes It Off
Written and illustrated by Kathleen Arthur

When young Horace Henway does a favor for his elderly neighbor, Mr. Hunt, he winds up learning a valuable lesson in an unexpected way. This amusing story is set in rhyme, and follows the basic recommendations of the American Dental Association with respect to brushing and flossing. It features 24 pages of full-color art.

Children’s Picture Books:
Health & Safety

Purchase here

Hold My Hand, Mama
Written by Gabrielle Martin; Illustrated by Claudia Gadotti

This touching story walks you through the circle of life from a daughter’s first steps to her mother’s last, depicting all of the moments when a daughter might say, “Hold My Hand, Mama.” The journey is sure to capture your heart!

Children’s Picture Books:
Growing Up / Personal Growth

Purchase here

Handy Burp’ems

Handy Burp’ems® is the Ultimate Mom-Invented Burp Cloth. Burp cloths are a dime a dozen, but Handy Burp’ems solves problems that a typical burp cloth doesn’t. Handy Burp’ems is the world’s most convenient burp cloth that you don’t have to grip, grab or hold onto. It slides over your hand allowing you to safely hold your baby while burping and feeding! It protects your baby, your hand and everyone’s clothing from wearing spit-up. It has a pouch at the bottom that catches the mess instead of you and your baby having to be covered in it.

Handy Burpems is perfect for all new parents, caregivers, hospitals and nurseries everywhere! Whether you are dealing with occasional spit up or acid reflux, Handy Burp’ems will keep you and your baby dry.

Miscellaneous:
Other

Purchase here

Global Warning

Players work together to clean up the earth and slow climate change while the temperature rises with each turn. Can you and your friends slow it down before “Game Over” happens for you AND Planet Earth? Teamwork and up to 90 minutes of play is needed to win! Ideal for 4 to 7 players. Makes a terrific multi-generational game night. Components: game board, 87 solution cards, 57 problem cards, banknotes, 3 dice, 1 temperature indicator disk, plus illustrated rules.

Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Captain Fingerman & the Boring Galaxy
Written by Matteo Moro; Illustrated by Mauro Moro; Edited by Misha Monteiro-Bensen

For most kids, there are many boring things out there…homework, nap-time, queuing and much more depending on you!

Follow Captain Fingerman as he boldly goes where no one wants to go…a ‘boring’ galaxy! The fearless Captain will find that in space, boring, does not mean the same thing as on Earth….he will find adventure, old rivals, new dangers and so much more! Join Captain Fingerman as he pushes the final frontier in his trek through a far, unknown galaxy, full of surprises, adventure, fun and laughs!

The adventures of Fingerman try to reveal beauty and fun even in the most mundane, we just have to find what it is for each of us. Explore everything with Fingerman and broaden your horizons.

Young Contributors:
Young Author / Poet

Purchase here

Brilliant Star 2019 (Volume 50 No. 1-Volume 50 No. 4)
Written by Amethel Parel-Sewell, C. Aaron Kreader, Amy Renshaw, Heidi Parsons, Katie Bishop, Darcy Greenwood, Foad Ghorbani, Lisa Blecker, Donna Price, Dr. Stephen Scotti; Illustrated by C. Aaron Kreader, Foad Ghorbani, Lisa Blecker

Brilliant Star empowers kids aged 8–12 of all faiths to see themselves as world citizens and to use their character strengths and talents to uplift their communities and the world. Through stories, puzzles, crafts, comics, games, and activities that engage diverse learning styles, each issue addresses a timely theme that impacts our audience and meets their developmental needs.

Brilliant Star’s 2019 series of issues covers topics vital to kids’ lives, including happiness, handling difficulties, community building, friendship, racial prejudice, harmony among religions, and family unity.

Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Body, Mind & Spirit

Purchase here

Animal Stories
Written by Lynn Maslen Kertell; Illustrated by Katie Kath

Bob Books Animal Stories includes twelve easy-to-read and humorous books, all featuring silly animal characters! From a pig who is a picky eater to a rabbit who loves playing chess, these charming and relatable stories will engage young readers while they practice their reading skills. One-syllable words using consistent short vowels build confidence while longer animal names and sight words sprinkled throughout add just the right amount of challenge. Perfect for kids in kindergarten and first grade!

Children’s Picture Books:
Basic Concepts

Purchase here

Adventures In Boogieland
Written by A.R. Bey; Illustrated by James Patterson (Cover Art & Illustrations); Edited by A.R. Bey

Arcadia, Wisconsin seemed to be an ordinary town for Simon X, who wanted to be the best trumpeter ever. After he and his classmates: Lulu DeBarge, the harpist, Krupa Patel, the violinist, and Max Winehouse, the saxophonist, audition for the prestigious Bartholomew Performing Arts Academy, a random twist of fate leads them on an incredible adventure aboard the Night Train.

By morning, the children are magically transported to a parallel reality arriving at their ultimate destination. A wild fall brings them to a time-warped Trolley Car Diner with an Everlasting Jukebox. There the children meet Madame Charisma Divine, a sophisticated yet eccentric lady, who guides them along their journey. Many wonders and magical allies await, including the King of Pop, a kindhearted inventor, who welcomes them to his whimsical soda pop factory, bedazzling his guests with amusement attractions, carbonated concoctions, androids and more.

Beleaguered by the Shadows, the nefarious authority figures, the children soon discover many haunting secrets about Boogieland. Yet each encounter leads them closer to their destined meeting with His Purple Majesty, a master musician, who teaches the children an invaluable music lesson, which prepares them for their grand recital. Can Simon, Lulu, Krupa and Max overcome the Shadows and their greatest fears to unleash the genius melody within?

Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Fantasy, Myths & Legends

Purchase here