This week’s roundup of Mom’s Choice Award winners features inspirational books, memory games, memoirs + 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 October 17, 2021 to October 23, 2021.
Every week companies, inventors, and publishers from around the world send us their products for evaluation. Only the best earn our designation.
The Day Ted Williams Came To Town
Written by Lisa A. McCombs
Whisked away from life in the city after he and his best friend are arrested for breaking and entering, high school senior Ted Williams plans to lay low until he can graduate and return to his chosen profession. City life is much more exciting than the small-town Ellison, West Virginia. At least he thought so until he met Grace, Nicco, and Pastor Larry. He finds out he might be related to a major league baseball Hall of Famer with his same name and, to his amazement, there is also a ghost haunting his attic bedroom.
Young Adult Books:
Inspirational / Motivational
Princess Naomi Helps a Unicorn: A Dance-It-Out Creative Movement Story for Young Movers
Written by Once Upon a Dance; Illustrated by Ethan Roffler; Edited by various
Unicorns and Horses and Snakes, oh my!
Interactive movement wrapped up in a charming story of sibling angst, anger management, compassion, and triumph. Grown-ups sit; kiddos move and practice dance fundamentals in this fourth Dance-It-Out! story, created by an award-winning dance teacher and her Ballerina daughter.
Fed up with her annoying sister, Naomi storms out of the castle, only to discover a unicorn in need of help. With a sense of purpose, she quickly forgets her anger. Ballerina Konora joins each each page with movement suggestions to help readers connect with movement and storytelling.
Children’s Picture Books:
Music & Performing Arts
Melby
Written by Melinda Chambers
Melby was raised in the early 1950s–a time when doors were not locked, children were free to explore, and friendships were lasting. She had the perfect childhood until her life was turned upside down when her perfect world vanished and she became victim to a life that was far behind where it should have been, in a mental health facility. Filled with drama and surprises, readers will quickly become advocates for Melby as she learns firsthand life isn’t always fair. With the help of her rag doll, Melby manages to overcome hardships and to become the person she was meant to be.
Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Body, Mind & Spirit
Lean & Luscious Kid’s Edition
Written by Millie Snyder
Multi award-winning author and speaker, Millie Snyder, expands her bestselling Lean & Luscious series to include budding young chefs!
Raising children includes every responsibility you can possibly imagine. Among that long list is teaching those young people quality eating habits. In Millie’s situation, she was a dedicated member of Weight Watchers so eating correctly and healthfully happened as a matter of daily living.
She allowed and encouraged her children to experience the kitchen and make a few things they liked, and this was a right step by helping them feel comfortable with early stages of food preparation. After creating 3 “adult” cookbooks, Millie Snyder thought she was missing an important piece and need to create a children’s edition of Lean & Luscious.
Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Cooking & Food
Jambo Books
Jambo Books is a book subscription service for children aged 0 – 13 where all the books feature lead characters who are children of color. The stories in Jambo Books focus on the beauty of childhood, the joys of friendship and family, the thrill of new adventures, the wonderful tapestry that is the life of a child of color.
Educational Products:
Ages 5 to 8
I Affirm Me
Written by Nyasha Williams; Illustrated by Sóf’ya Glushkó; Edited by Allison Cohen
An empowering alphabet book of affirmations to inspire and remind black children of their inner power, strength, and worth.
From A is for Afro, to J is for Justice, to R is for Rally, this alphabet book offers affirmations featuring Black children and role models to help children nurture and embrace their authentic selves and to enjoy the magic of childhood.
Children’s Picture Books:
Inspirational / Motivational
Gilligan’s Dreams: The Other Side of the Island (Second Edition)
Written by Dreama Denver
A poignant, loving, revealing, inside account of the other side of Gilligan’s Island – the private lives of Bob and Dreama Denver. Growing up in southern West Virginia, Dreama never imagined her fantasy of becoming an actress would ultimately become reality and land her in the arms of a man with one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. In the pages of this book, a love letter to the husband she adored, you’ll find love, laughter and tears. It is inspirational, possibly even life-changing, but it is never boring.
“For almost 30 years I was married to the man the rest of the world knew as Gilligan. Almost five decades of reruns have made his television character iconic, but the Bob Denver I knew and loved was legendary to me for his courage, his commitment to his severely autistic son and his love for the wife of his dreams, maybe the reason he called me Dreams.”—Dreama Denver
Adult Books:
Biographies & Memoirs
Eating in Season
Winter, spring, summer, and fall, there is a good time to eat them all! Match each pair of vegetables or fruits while learning about their favorite time of the year. This memory game shows kids that eating fresh food in season is healthier for their bodies – and the planet.
Eating in Season gives parents and caregivers a fun way to teach children ages 2+ about the importance of choosing seasonal produce. The cards feature cute cartoon foods, with backgrounds showing which season is best for eating each one (a grinning broccoli skis in the winter and a cheerful eggplant swims at the beach in the summer). While playing Eating in Season, children learn to associate fruits and veggies with the time of year when they are most available, leading to family discussions about the importance of choosing seasonal produce, and how to eat more sustainably.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Toddlers
