This week’s roundup of Mom’s Choice Award winners features award-winning toys, educational games, audio experiences, and of course 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 27, 2020 to October 3, 2020.
Every week companies, inventors, and publishers from around the world send us their products for evaluation. Only the best earn our designation.
Wonderbook
Every Wonderbook is a print book with a ready-to-play audiobook inside. Kids will press play to read along with their favorite books and then switch to Learning Mode for literacy learning and fun.
Research shows that hearing and seeing words at the same time can improve reading success rates. Wonderbook gives kids an edge with vocabulary development, phonics, and comprehension, plus encourages deeper engagement with every book.
Every Wonderbook is equipped with:
- Easy-to-play controllers for kids
- One-touch reset
- Outside-facing speaker for the highest quality audio performance
- Micro-USB charging port, the standard for Android devices
- Read-along and Learning Mode provide two Wonderbook experiences
Wonderbooks are currently available for purchase for by libraries and schools. If you are a parent or educator interested in introducing Wonderbook to your kids – please request them at your local library.
Audio Experiences:
Ages 5 to 8
Walter: Under the Ice
Written by Bob Allen; Illustrated by Scott Alberts
Walter invites the reader and child to get up, get out, and own the cold. He suggests fishing can be fun on a frozen lake. So bundle up and explore a great winter wonderland with an adventure in the snow.
Children’s Picture Books:
Sports & Recreation
The Little Boy Who Wouldn’t Eat Cheesecake
Written by Christina Myers; Illustrated by Katherine Carver; Edited by Hardin Communications
A timely story about a preconceived notion being challenged and overcome before it’s too late. While World War II is changing the world in major ways, a young boy named Roger finds himself in a different kind of fight—a battle within himself—as he tries to muster up the courage to sample a bite of cheesecake. Yes, that’s right, cheesecake. You see, Roger can’t understand how cheese, regularly eaten in his favorite grilled sandwiches, could possibly taste good in cake. He is quite disturbed that others not only find this oddity acceptable but also say it’s delicious.
The Little Boy Who Wouldn’t Eat Cheesecake inspires picky eaters and young readers, ages 4-9, to try new things and encourages conversation with older family members and friends about foods they didn’t like in childhood (or, at least, thought they didn’t like) and what happened when they actually tried the foods for themselves.
Children’s Picture Books:
Growing Up / Personal Growth
Speak & Learn Puppy™
Unleash your puppy love for the plush Speak & Learn Puppy™! Watch your little friend come to life with flapping ears, a head that moves, and real-time responses. As toddlers learn to talk, this interactive dog repeats what they say and asks questions to keep the conversation going. Bailey says what your child says in a fun and interactive way in Babble mode. In Talk mode, the puppy has conversations with children and creates stories from their responses. Explore animal facts, animal sounds, food, feelings, letters and numbers through four paw buttons and a light-up collar. Multiple songs encourage learning, and three learning levels allow the toy to grow with your children as their language skills develop. Talk and learn with Bailey!
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Toddlers
Smart Kidz Radio
A quick overview of the radio station:
- Digital inspirational and educational radio programs (300+) featuring over 2,500 songs and stories
- Plan 1: Free Live Stream limited membership (24/7 streaming)
- Plan 2: On-Demand Membership Upgrade: $4.99/month
- $1 of each membership is donated to an educational scholarship fund
- 30 day free trial On-Demand unlimited membership
- SKR radio programs are “radioized” with educational intros and DJ station IDs
- Free Apps: downloading of IOS and Android Apps
- Wi-Fi (stream anytime, anywhere and on any device)
Online Resources (Websites, eMagazines and Blogs):
Family/Parenting
Shanlia and the Magic Pixie Dust
Written by Joanne Lecuyer; Illustrated by David Girard
An inch berry fairy named Shanlia finds a pouch of magic pixie dust. Her best friend urges her not to open it, but Shanlia’s curiosity gets the better of her. Once the dust is freed, it releases a powerful magic spell that has an unexpected effect on Shanlia. She seeks out the Lord and Lady of the pixies to help break the spell. But, at what cost?
Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Fiction – General
Purrfect Counting Purse™
Meet the Purrfect Counting Purse™ and the clever, silly cat! This soft, multi-textured, fabric cat purse comes with loads of personality, accessories and learning content. Learn, Pretend and Music modes add playful variety to learning. Press the light-up jewels on the interactive tiara to learn about numbers and counting, colors and shapes. Toddlers love to fill things up, unload, and fill again, and this two-handled purse stands upright and wide open to make filling it easy. Fine motor skills get a workout as little fingers pick up and grasp the five included accessories: pretend smartphone ID tag with kid-safe mirror, key set, comb, and non-removable circle coins in a coin purse. All accessories store inside the purse. Enjoy the take-along feline friend who teaches with a wonderful sense of humor!
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Toddlers
Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets: A Botanic Hill Detectives Mystery, Book 1
Written by Sherrill Joseph; Edited by Deborah Halverson, Molly Lewis
Kids, get ready to meet your four new heroes and role models.
Come help them solve their very first case, Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets!
World-famous Egyptologist Dr. Winston Thornsley died suddenly two months ago in disgrace. His widow, Ida Thornsley, remains convinced her husband was falsely accused of stealing an ancient burial urn he discovered in Egypt last summer, but local and federal law enforcement officers are stumped.
Mrs. Thornsley, desperate for answers, calls in her thirteen-year-old neighbors, the Botanic Hill Detectives—twins Lanny and Lexi Wyatt, Moki Kalani, and Rani Kumar. Their exciting mission? To find the urn and its real thief, bring the criminal to justice, and exonerate Dr. Thornsley so his spotless reputation can be restored.
A roomful of venomous snakes, the poisoned Egyptian pond, and Dragon Pit Man are just a few of the tests awaiting the four tech-savvy teenagers. As the detectives begin to unravel the sinister plot, the mystery takes a dangerous turn. Answers are at their fingertips—if they can only convince their parents to let them solve the case.
Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Fiction – General
KidiZoom® Creator Cam
Be a kid creator with the KidiZoom® Creator Cam digital camera! Create awesome videos with this high-definition video camera kit. Use the included green screen and 20+ animated backgrounds to get chased by a T-Rex, go to outer space or make yourself disappear! Set up your shot with the tabletop tripod/selfie stick and built-in microphone, then use the easy on-screen editing and creativity tools to create trick shots and time-lapse video. Intended for ages 5–10 years. Video can only be uploaded via included USB cable at parent’s discretion. Green screen required for some special effects. Camera has a microSD card slot to increase storage up to 32 GB (card not included). Requires 3.7-volt lithium ion battery, included. Recharge battery with included USB cable.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8
Just Add Fruits & Veggies
What do you do with all your old fruits and veggies – no need to throw them out! This cool STEAM kit will deliver hours of exploration, creativity, learning and enjoyment. 20+ science and art activities bring hours of fun and enjoyment while learning chemical reactions, osmosis, germination and study of electricity!
Educational Products:
Ages 9 to 12
Jiggle & Giggle Fishing Set™
Cast your line into a sea of play and learning with the Jiggle & Giggle Fishing Set! Catch a sea creature on the magnetic bobber and watch it wiggle. Seven sea creatures wait on the pretend pond playmat, ready to jump on your line. Will it be a blue marlin, a yellow pufferfish or something else? The smart bobber recognizes each sea creature you catch, triggering the creature to respond with its unique personality in songs and phrases. As kids play, the interactive fishing pole teaches about animals, colors and numbers with three play modes, 10 songs and five melodies. The light-up bobber changes its color to match the color of the sea creature to reinforce color learning. Lining up the bobber with each magnetic sea creature helps kids develop hand/eye coordination. Their reward is a friendly, wiggly creature on the line! Place your catch in the storage bucket, and when playtime is done, tuck the pond playmat inside with all seven sea creatures
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Toddlers
Humans In-Training
Written by Brooke Van Sickle; Illustrated by Elizabeth Savanella
Kobe thought he’d be living in the lap of luxury when he first moved in. There was everything a dog could need:
Fenced in yard.
Food dish insight.
And PLENTY of space to spread out.
But it didn’t take him long to realize his humans were clueless! If Kobe was going to live the dog’s life of his dreams, he needed to train his humans.
Humans In-Training by Brooke Van Sickle and Elizabeth Savanella is a laugh-out-loud, children’s picture book that will soon become a favorite in your household. Kobe, the loveable Labradoodle puppy, had no idea humans needed training. (And neither did they!) We don’t want to spoil it for you, but we can’t say his humans are too pleased with their training either.
If your child’s been asking for a puppy this summer, bring them home a children’s dog book instead! Kobe makes the perfect children’s pet book.
Humans In-Training is a great read for anyone thinking about bringing a new puppy into their lives and for current dog moms and dads to think back to the puppy years. Catch all the fun antics and hilariousness this summer.
Children’s Picture Books:
Domestic Animals & Pets
Bloxels
Bloxels is a hands-on platform for kids to design and build their own video games. Using the physical Bloxels gameboard and blocks, they can build their own characters, art, and game layouts, and then bring them to life in the Bloxels app. When they’re ready, kids can publish your games to the Bloxels Arcade and play games by other Bloxels creators. The Bloxels app is compatible with iOS, Android, Kindle, and Web browsers. A Bloxels account is required to use the app, and is included in the purchase of a physical Bloxels kit.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 9 to 12
A Pocketful of Rainbows
Written by Joanne Lecuyer; Illustrated by Ana Santos
Mattie loves seeing rainbows! They make her smile and laugh. But they only come out after it rains. What if she didn’t have to wait?
Children’s Picture Books:
Bedtime Stories
