This week’s roundup of Mom’s Choice Award winners features creative toys, educational products, motivational 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 June 19, 2022 to July 02, 2022.
Every week companies, inventors, and publishers from around the world send us their products for evaluation. Only the best earn our designation.
Wind
Written by Ellen Dee Davidson; Illustrated by Carolan Raleigh-Halsing (cover only)
In this page-flipping visionary eco-fantasy, Katie’s adventures when, already troubled by problems at home and school, an earthquake tumbles her into another world. Thrust into a dangerous initiation quest, Katie’s only chance to get home is to learn to accept and forgive herself for behavior she regrets as well as cooperate with an arrogant alien boy. On the journey, the two of them encounter all sorts of extraordinary characters including a shape-shifting tree spirit, story-loving water god, baby dragon unsure what to eat, nature devas luring her into the world of dreams, and the dreaded Poison One. Will Katie be able to clear the poison in her own heart enough to escape being sucked in by the Poison One? And will she grow into her talent of listening to plants and animals enough to find the elusive Winged Ones–the only beings capable of taking them home?
Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Fantasy, Myths & Legends
Why Am I Here? A Child’s Book About Purpose
Written by Naomi Dunsen-White; Illustrated by Megan Rizzo; Edited by LuAnne E. Gilchrist
“Why Am I Here? A Child’s Book About Purpose,” is a beautiful and inspiring picture book featuring stunning, full-spread illustrations. Written by a former educator and foster care specialist, and illustrated by a former art therapist, this book delivers a memorable reading experience.
Stressing diversity, unity and inclusion as strengths to overcome obstacles in their way, “Why Am I Here? A Child’s Book About Purpose” reminds all children that regardless of their background, their surroundings, the ability or their bodies or the color of their skin, they EACH have a purpose that is BEAUTIFUL and a future that is BRIGHT!
Children’s Picture Books:
Inspirational / Motivational
Trekking the National Parks Trivia
The Family Trivia Game
You can win even if you don’t know trivia
Over 600 questions
An educational and inspirational experience
Appeals to a wide range of people
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Adults
Trekking the National Parks
Trekking The National Parks: The Award-Winning Family Board Game (Second Edition)
The Family National Parks Board Game
Created by National Parks lovers
Great for families
Appeals to a wide range of people
Simple, elegant rules
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Adults
Techno Tiles – Super Set
It’s never too early to start developing kids’ creativity and the Techno Tiles Super Set is a great place to start. Basic shapes can turn into grand masterpieces. Simply connect the shaped tiles with the snap-on two-way and four-way connectors and watch your structures come to life. From rockets to castles, vehicles and abstract structures, Techno Tiles puts no limit on your imagination. The set includes over 400 pieces including squares, small triangles, large triangles, two-way connectors, and four-way connectors. Techno Tiles are a great tool to learn about basic geometry, construction, engineering, and architecture. This product aligns with and supports STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math standards). Ages 4-8 years.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8
Sprout Ware® Sip & Straw Pocket
Keep your little one sipping safely at any age with Green Sprouts’ Sprout Ware® Sip & Straw Pocket, made from silicone and plants. The Sprout Ware® plant-plastic collar & travel cap are made from an innovative bio-based material that replaces petroleum plastics, and is tested for harmful chemicals such as PVC and hormone-disrupting BPA, BPS, BPF, BFDGE, NOGE or BADGE additives. The Sip & Straw Pocket pouch is made from 100% LFGB-certified food-grade silicone that is soft, lightweight, and easy to squeeze. These pouches stand upright to easily add drinks or smoothies and are safe for the freezer and microwave.
Made with love for little ones 6 months and up, the Sip & Straw Pocket holds 8 ounces (236 ml) of liquid. Our Sip & Straw Pocket has interchangeable parts with other green sprouts® bottles and cups and is compatible with most wide-neck breast pumps and bottle brands.
Gear & Accessories:
Feeding
Puzzle Doubles – Glow In The Dark – Monsters
Working in the lab late one night, the monsters took over! Kids will have fun piecing together this fun, 100-piece, monstrous science lab. When the puzzle is complete, turn off the lights, and see a surprise as it glows in the dark. This fun and bright illustration encourages parent-child conversation about the chaos that these monsters have created! This Glow in the Dark puzzle has 100 puzzle pieces and measures at 3’ x 2’ (91.44cm x 60.96cm)! Ages 3-6 years.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Preschoolers
Mindful Moments with Maude
Written by Pamela G Cappetta, EdD, LPC, LMFT; Illustrated by David Gnass; Edited by Peggy J Shaw
Mindful Moments with Maude, by Dr. Pamela Cappetta, is a gentle story that weaves together the concept of mindfulness, a love of animals, and a close bond between a young girl and her grandmother. The title character, Maude, is a dog inspired by the author’s beloved Australian Shepherd. Cappetta also introduces the concept of Mindfulness Day—a day without electronics and busyness.
Bonus material is included at the end of the story. Ten questions for parents, teachers, and caregivers are intended to encourage discussion with children on the material in the book and to further develop interactional moments for readers.
Children’s Picture Books:
Body, Mind & Spirit
Match the Farm Animals Puzzles
Match the Farm Animals is the newest title in our bestselling collection launched in 2018 with multiple award winner Match the Baby. It covers a new topic – farm animals – and has the potential to become as popular as Match the Buddies and Match the Baby.
The puzzle comes with a guide for parents that includes 26 game suggestions created by a child speech-language pathologist. It equips parents to support the educational exploits of their little learners.
The puzzles are both designed and produced in Europe. Extra-large puzzle pieces are made of high-quality, thick cardboard, perfect for little hands. The handy box with a practical, sturdy handle makes it a great gift.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Toddlers
Little Palm: An Earth day Celebration
Written by Lindsay Ann Fink
Do you like books? Do you like art? Do you like fun? Little Palm is an uplifting story about celebrating Earth Day with some creative flair. Tavi and Tylee are two super star fashionistas who want to get their friend Little Palm ready for her special day, her Earth Day birthday celebration. Can they do it in time for the big day? With some twists and turns and ups and downs, will these two find the winning look for Little Palm?
Children’s Picture Books:
Green Earth
Jazzminton Sport
Jazzminton® Sport is the all new, first ever, competitive paddle ball game that will have you playing for hours. Similar to Tennis, Badminton, Pickle Ball and Table Tennis but with a whole new spin on it, literally! The birdies slow as they spin making every hit within reach, allowing for long rallies that will have you sweating and getting those competitive juices flowing. If you are highly skilled in a racquet or paddle game, you will love it. Due to the birdie technology, the birdie adjusts to the player’s skill.
– EASY TO LEARN FOR INSTANT FUN
– INNOVATIVE FEATURES
– PLAY ANYWHERE
– LONG RALLIES FOR ALL AGES
We purposely constructed Jazzminton® Sport to be played WITHOUT boundaries. You can spike the birdie as hard as you want, we’ve created it so it can’t fly too far where it’s out of reach. Even the hardest hits are playable. Think professional badminton where the rallies can be crazy!
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Young Adults
Hugo Kringle Picture Book Pack
Written by Michael Anderson; Illustrated by Steven Varble
Santa was a kid once? Yes! And he had a brother who tells about growing up with his soon-to-be famous brother. Hugo Kringle has bundled his three books about growing up with the boy who would be Santa.
The Magic Bag tells how Kris Kringle got the bag that holds way too many toys. The Flying Bunnies tells how Santa flies random animals, including reindeer and brothers.
Santa’s Secret Gift is just that: secret.
“Ya gotta read the book!”
All three books won a Santa’s Choice award and come with 5 exclusive Hugo stickers and special Hugo Kringle holiday pencil.
Children’s Picture Books:
Bedtime Stories
HOFISH Electric Portable Breast Pump Hands-Free Double Breast Pumps with 3 Modes & 9 Levels Wearable Breast Pump with 28 MM Flange, 8009D
WORKING HOURS:HOFISH porable double breast pump comes with 1800mAh lithium battery allowing it to run for up to 60 minutes without needing to be recharged. It can be charged using power banks, computers, or a car adapter. NOTE: AC adapter is NOT included
Portable & WEARABLE:HOFISH portable double breast pump offers a hands free pumping experience.It can be wear inside a puming bra and breast pump unit is compact & light which can easily fits into your pump ,bag It is possible to pump at home, at work or on-the-go.
MODES & LEVELS: HOFISH electric breast pump comes with 3 modes & 9 levels. Massage mode is the default setting to get your breasts ready for the first let down.The suction mode or expression mode sets for a stronger and lower suction.It is suggested to use this mode after your letdown.The milk collection mode combines massage mode and suction mode.It is suggested to switch to this mode if you wish to stimulate second or third letdowns in a quick manner.
Gear & Accessories:
Feeding
From Panama to New York: Jacquelina’s Story
Written by Jacqueline Atkins; Illustrated by Laura Duffy Design; Edited by Page Publishing
Jacquelina is a ten-year-old girl who lives in the beautiful Central American country of Panama with her beloved Abuelita and her younger sister, Nana. Her Papa works hard and is often away for work, while her Mama moved to the United States of America many years earlier in search of a better life.
Panama gives Jacquelina all she needs: clean air to breathe, fresh fruit to eat, and genuine happiness. She has a supportive community, friends, and the loving family she is blessed with.
When her Abuelita unexpectedly passes away, Jacquelina is faced with a difficult decision: Move to New York with Mama or stay in Panama with Papa.
Jacquelina’s story invites readers to experience how an immigrant child finds her identity, voice and purpose.
Juvenile Books (Level 2 – Ages 9 to 12):
Fiction – General
Empower Empathy
Empower Empathy™ is the first in line of Emotional Intelligence products created by TinySprouts© developed over a period of three years and powered by decades of teaching expertise.
The focus of this game is to teach children age 5+ how to identify and express their own emotions, empathize with others, resolve social conflicts, and build socialization competence.
An evil, but sort of cute, Super Villain named Goobi sets out to create emotional chaos all over the city of Empathropolis™. Players cooperatively work together as a team of Superheroes to hopefully repair the city faster than Goobi can destroy it.
Age: 5+
Players: 2-6
Time: 30-60 minutes
Teaching Goals
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8
Dear Daughter: From Mother To Daughter Picture Book To Build Self Esteem
Written by Jamie Chin; Illustrated by Alena Karabach
For mothers, the arrival of their daughter is an event filled with meaning, awe, and more than anything, a love that wishes everything positive for their beloved child. This heartwarming, rhyming keepsake gift book from mother to daughter is filled with all of these sentiments and more. What little girl doesn’t want to hear about how much she is love and cherished? Meaningful to both parent and child, this inspirational picture book will empower your daughter, helping her to grow in knowledge that she is deeply loved by a mother who knows her worth and whose only desire is that she see for herself just how amazing she is and has always been.
Dear Daughter makes a great baby shower gift for girls or a lovely mother-to-daughter book designed to encourage and uplift her spirit. It’s also a great way to end the day by reading a sweet message of love to your little one!
Children’s Picture Books:
Family Life
CoPiPa Toddler Pillow & Pillowcase
BEDTIME BLISS: Step up your little angel’s sleeping game and give her something that will make your child want to go to bed every night…and stay there! No more struggling to get your youngster to go to sleep, with a CoPiPa️ pillow she will be excited for bedtime. Plus, with its soft, fluffy, pillow filling, their sleepy heads can get a good night’s sleep so you will be happy, too.
PREMIUM MATERIALS: We have high standards for our products. Using only superior fabric and filling, everything is CPSC-certified to be childsafe. Our bed pillows provide ideal neck alignment to ensure your little one’s healthy growth. The high-quality, removable cover is embroidered and has serge-stitched seams, so you can give one as a gift and know it will last for years to come.
Gear & Accessories:
Bedding & Room Decor
CodeMonkey.com
CodeMonkey is a leading coding for kids program. Through its award-winning courses, millions of students learn how to code in real programming languages. CodeMonkey offers an engaging and enjoyable curriculum for schools, after-school clubs and camps as well as self-paced online courses to learn coding at home.
Students using CodeMonkey become accustomed to handling syntax and formal languages from the get-go. Each coding task is broken down to clear and short steps that are easy to follow. The platform provides automatic feedback with personalized hints on how to fix or improve student solutions.
In addition, CodeMonkey offers ample support to help teachers meet their learning objectives. CodeMonkey Lessons, teachers have an in-app tool that organizes and aids their teaching in real-time. Through CodeMonkey, students become equipped with the tools and confidence they need to then go on to learn more programming languages, build websites, games, apps, and more.
Educational Products:
Ages 9 to 12
Coconuts
The Award-Winning Game of Monkeys, Cups, and Laughter
EASY TO LEARN: Start playing in less than 1-minute. Games last 10-20 minutes.
PERFECT FOR FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Sick of the same old toys and games? Make family time fun again with this entertaining new classic.
GENIUS GIFT IDEA: Great gift for both boys and girls. Everybody loves Coconuts.
AWARD-WINNING FAMILY FUN: Golden Geek Best Children’s Board Game Nominee / Guldbrikken Best Children’s Game Nominee / Spiel der Spiele Hit fur Kinder Recommended
BEST KIDS GAME 6 AND UP: It’s fun for all ages, 6 to 96! Don’t go easy, anybody can win.
Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Young Adults
Clumsy Clarabelle Goes to the Playground: A funny interactive lesson about lies and consequences
Written by Stacey Tait Chehardy; Illustrated by Lana Lee
Poor Clarabelle is so clumsy and ends up in mess after funny mess. Join her on this interactive journey as she learns that lying is never ok, but neither is telling the honest truth all of the time. There is a fine line to tread between not hurting someone’s feelings by being brutally honest and lying to spare them. 1st in a series of Clumsy Clarabelle books.
Juvenile Books (Level 1 – Ages 5 to 8):
Humor
Clumsy Clarabelle Goes Skating: A funny, interactive lesson about stealing
Written by Stacey Tait Chehardy; Illustrated by Lana Lee
Join Clarabelle on her funny, interactive journey, bumbling and fumbling, as she discovers that stealing isn’t always cut and dry. She learns that stealing can be intangible items as well.
Juvenile Books (Level 1 – Ages 5 to 8):
Humor
Brown Bear & Oofie Present: The Loss of an Loved One
Written and illustrated by Masami S.C.
Death is inevitable. No one likes to talk about it because it is such a depressing and emotional topic. Brown Bear & Oofie are best friends and have life learning experiences together. In “The Loss of a Loved One”, Brown Bear’s Grandma (Mimi), has died. Oofie helps Brown Bear with emotional support and they discuss the topic of death together. This book will help parents and kids ease into this very difficult fact of life. The detailed facial expressions of the two characters will help children connect with their own emotions and grief that they are experiencing from their personal loss of a loved one. This book is not geared towards any one particular religion. Instead, it provides comfort and inspires the reader to keep an open mind about the possibilities of what happens to us once we depart.
Children’s Picture Books:
Values & Life Lessons
ARpedia: Into the Curiosity Q
Written by Youngju Kim, Hyeongja Kim, Munsang Kim, Haecheol Park, Boyeon Hwang, Jinhui Park, Jongdeok Im, Bohyeon Seo, Jihyeon Kim, Hyeonjeong Shin; Illustrated by Yongho Shin, Hyojin Kim, Uhui Park, HyeonKyoung Heo, Gwangik Lee, Juncheol Cho, Hyeongyun Oh, Suji Park, Seungmu Han; Edited by Woongjin Thinkbig Co., Ltd.
Paper books that interact with digital contents and AR technology for a completely new reading experience.
Various technologies such as AR, animations, 2D & 3D effects will maximize the vivid images of the paper book
and it definitely helps children to engage more on what they are reading.
Digital contents are integrated in the paper book and children can use paper markers to participate in the story.
By the interaction between paper markers and tablet, children can also acquire hands-on knowledge by participating
in activities with the characters that made by themselves.
Read the Real World, ARpedia!
Juvenile Books (Level 1 – Ages 5 to 8):
Interactive Online Books (IOBs)
Allie the Albino Squirrel
Written by E.K. McCoy; Illustrated by Ghazal Qadri
For any child who has ever felt unsure about the kind of squirrel they truly are.
Allie is the only albino squirrel in all of Waverly Woods. Being the only one with white fur makes her feel different and unsure of herself. With the help of Momma Squirrel and a new friend, Bree, Allie is reminded that the color of her fur isn’t the only thing that defines her. Really, what defines her is all the wonderful qualities that live inside of her heart.
In Allie the Albino Squirrel, author E.K. McCoy uses her years of experience working with children to remind us that there isn’t just one thing that defines who we are. All the qualities we possess are used to better the world, and where Allie sees herself as “strange,” Bree sees her as beautiful and kind. With fun illustrations by Ghazal Qadri, this wonderful book of self-acceptance will be a joy to all children!
Children’s Picture Books:
Values & Life Lessons
Abby the Crabby Tabby: Discovers Gratitude
Written by Andrea Lane; Illustrated by Heather Bousquet; Edited by Margaret J. Shaw
Abby the Crabby Tabby Discovers Gratitude, written by Andrea Lane, is a funny and fun-to-read, beautifully illustrated, rhyming picture book about the value of gratitude as seen through the eyes of a cat that wants everything, but appreciates nothing.
Children will identify with Abby’s list of complaints and will enjoy her bumpy journey to uncover the secret to happiness. Through Lane’s gentle humor and Heather Bousquet’s delightful illustrations, Abby the Crabby Tabby Discovers Gratitude demonstrates how a grateful heart can take everyday frustrations and turn them into opportunities to experience and share joy.
For several years, Andrea Lane, a practicing vegan, worked as an advocate for animal protection in public policy, and she continues to support organizations that advocate for the humane treatment and protection of all animals, from cats to cows. A percentage of the proceeds from Abby the Crabby Tabby sales will benefit a different animal nonprofit each month.
Children’s Picture Books:
Domestic Animals & Pets
Other Posts You Might Like
Weekly Roundup: Children’s Picture Books, Parenting Books, Young Adult Games, + More!! 10/27 – 11/2
Weekly Roundup: Children’s Picture Books, Parenting Books, Young Adult Games, + More!! 10/20 – 10/26
Weekly Roundup: Children’s Picture Books, Juvenile Books, Educational Products + More!! 09/29 – 10/05
Weekly Roundup: Young Adult Fantasy Books, Kids’ Games, Children’s Picture Books + More!! 09/15 – 09/28