This week’s roundup of Mom’s Choice Award winners features parenting books, educational toys, juvenile 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 February 19, 2023 to February 25, 2023.

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

Weighted Lap Animal

Our Weighted Lap Elephant helps to improves focus and releases an overall sense of calm and peace.

The Elephant-Shaped Weighted Lap Blanket is 4 lbs. and 25 x 19 inches; around 15% larger than our closest competitor. Our blankets have removable, washable, dual-sided covers made from sensory minky dot on the belly, ears, trunk and tail and plush polyester on the other side. The inner weighted blanket is made with 100% breathable cotton with non-toxic glass beads that provide the weight. The small, 4.8 inch pockets on the inner blanket guarantees an even distribution of weight.

Our blankets are designed to help children (and some adults) stay calm and focused at home, in the classroom, when traveling or during any stressful events.

Personal Use Products (Skin Care, Health Care, etc.):
Children

Purchase here

This May Be Difficult to Read: But You Really Should (for your child’s sake)
Written by Claire N. Rubman; Illustrated by None; Edited by Golden Ration Books Design

Will your child be caught in the failure chain?

Here are the facts:
– 1 in every 5 college students has to take a remedial reading class in their freshman year.
– In the last 15 years, 15 million high school students graduated with reading skills that were below the acceptable grade level.
– 42 million Americans can’t follow the directions on a can of soup. They are functionally illiterate.

It’s time to disrupt an educational paradigm that hasn’t shifted in over 50 years – it’s time to reinvent the way that children learn to read!
We are teaching reading incorrectly!
Our children are failing!

Help is here:

“This May Be Difficult to Read” is a panacea for parents who want the best for their child but inadvertently fail to teach their children to read sufficiently well to sustain them through kindergarten, college and beyond.

Begin with 10 “Facts or Myths” about the reading comprehension process. Then learn about the research behind common errors that children make when they try to read such as “smaller words easier to read?” – fact or myth? You decide…

“This May Be Difficult to Read” uses interactive examples and research exercises to show parents how children experience the printed word with their reduced cognitive capacities. Through 15 hands on reading exercises, parents can think as a child thinks and read as a child reads.

“This May Be Difficult to Read” offers solutions to 5 common reading failures and sets children up to read and understand the printed word.

Parents will learn how to transform their home and daily interactions so that learning becomes a byproduct of fun!

Adult Books:
Parenting – Contemporary Families

Purchase here

The Adventures of Toby and Bonnie Bunny: Homecoming
Written and illustrated by Teresa Nornes

The Adventures of Toby and Bonnie Bunny is a children’s picture book. This book was written for my grandchildren about the bunnies I have at home. I wanted to create a story where they knew the characters and they could read about wonderful adventures they get to go on. Each bunny has their own personality that carries into the story and the illustrations are cartoon prints from actual photos I have taken. I wanted to have the bunnies also teach a lesson with every adventure they go on. Join the bunnies as they start their adventure finding their forever home.

Children’s Picture Books:
Bedtime Stories

Purchase here

Sparkle the Dog

Sparkle the Dog is Bene Bear’s friend–a Bene Buddy!  Sparkle teaches and reinforces the traits of kindness, respect, empathy and giving but with an animal and pet focus.  When a child is kind, shows respect, shows concern, or gives back to animals or pets, they can put a token in Sparkle’s token slot.  All the tokens will collect in Sparkle’s back pouch, ready to be reused again and again!  A portion of the proceeds of each Sparkle the Dog Package that is sold will go to an animal shelter or rescue group.

Each Sparkle the Dog Package comes with Sparkle, 15 Bene Buddies™ Tokens, Sparkle For Pets book, and a unique product activation code that allows you to activate Sparkle and print out your adoption certificate.

Educational Products:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Snowie the Squareman
Written by Michele Savaunah Zirkle; Illustrated by Julie Sneeden; Edited by Demi Stevens

Snowie wants to stand out! Join me and Grandpap as we sculpt a talking snowman and show how fun diversity can be!

This picture book encourages youngsters to dare to be different.

“Snuggle up with your little one and enjoy the antics of Snowie, the Squareman, as he sets out to show us that being square can be cool, especially when you’re made of snow! The exquisite illustrations by Julie Sneeden will captivate your child from beginning to end – a book, not only for the young, but for the young at heart.”

Dreama Denver – International Award-winning Author of Four Bears in a Box and Gilligan’s Dreams.

“A delightful story to celebrate the season of snow and remind even the littlest ones how differences can be good, even in snowmen! The illustrations are bright and enticing and the story told in simple and pleasing, short rhyming verses.”
— Marc Harshman, Poet Laureate of West Virginia

Children’s Picture Books:
Values & Life Lessons

Purchase here

Sleepy Little Goober
Written by Michael William Mayhugh, Cait Fairbanks; Illustrated by Funda Girgin; Edited by Mary Baunoch

Meet Goober – the “Little Yorkie” with a huge heart you’ll learn to love. A picture and rhyming book perfect for preschool and beginning readers. Make Goober part of your young child’s bedtime routine as Goober learns fun ways to count himself to sleep.

Children’s Picture Books:
Bedtime Stories

Purchase here

Party Pets Disco Ball

Eolo’s Party pets Disco Ball is perfect for giving our kids a big surprise, as at first sight they don’t know the character they will be getting. Disco Ball comes closed with a cord, when the kids pull the cord he will discover the bad character that they got and more surprises! There are six different Party Pets baby characters, each of them has its own song that will make everybody dance. Parti Pets characters have their own animated series. Toy recommended for children ages 3 and up.

Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Morgan and the I CAN’T MONSTER: My Mindset Matters
Written by Teresa Porath; Illustrated by Luana Bran

Morgan’s favorite things in the whole world are art, dancing, and making mud pies with her brother. She is proud of these things and believes she can do them well. Everything doesn’t come easily, however.

When challenges arise, she must learn to battle the I CAN’T MONSTER.

Morgan’s growth mindset journey unfolds and teaches young readers that thoughts have power and play a critical role in the way people cope with life’s challenges. Readers watch the I CAN’T MONSTER gain power as Morgan becomes sad and frustrated when attempting new or difficult tasks.

Will Morgan give up and keep her fixed mindset or will she strengthen her growth mindset and conquer the I CAN’T Monster?

In Morgan and the I CAN’T MONSTER: My Mindset Matters, Licensed Child Therapist, Teresa Porath, helps children understand that once they have control over the way they think about their obstacles, they have the power to do great things!

Children’s Picture Books:
Developing Social Skills

Purchase here

Legacy of Laughter: A Grandparent Guide and Playbook.
Written by Mary Kay Morrison; Illustrated by Mary Kay Morrison, her 12 grandchildren and Kyle Edgell; Edited by Deb McKew

The goal is to make a significant difference in the lives of children with strategies to support nurturing grandparents. This book is a perfect for grandparents who strive to provide caring stability for their grandchildren during difficult times. Legacy of Laughter: A Grandparent Guide and Playbook provides guidance for building loving relationships with purposeful, brain-based playtime and strategies to help kids cope with the challenges faced by this pandemic generation. Through shared laughter and joyful fun, grandparents can create a lifetime of memories that support the optimal well-being of their grandchildren.

Adult Books:
Humor

Purchase here

Kurt Discovers the Orchestra
Written by Tom Beal; Illustrated by Elea Paybins

Kurt never thought he could join the orchestra, but with perseverance and overcoming his handicap, he prevails. This inspirational story is for all ages. — Kurt Discovers the Orchestra is a story of a child’s life challenge, the discovery of their passion, and eventually reaching of their goal. My horn teacher in college, Richard “Dick” Mackey, was physically challenged and no one thought of him as limited Thank you for a wonderful book, and a reminder of the important influences in our lives. — William “Bill” Caballero, Principal Horn, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Children’s Picture Books:
Music & Performing Arts

Purchase here

Kidfirming: Affirmations For Our Kids
Written by Shawnee Mitchell; Illustrated by Zoey Coley

Kidfirming provides positive affirmations to children empowering their mental health awareness, and enabling mental tools they need to reassure themselves of how awesome they are through self encouragement.

Children’s Picture Books:
Inspirational / Motivational

Purchase here

Gigi the Giraffe

Eolo’s Jiggly Pets Gigi the giraffe, walks, dances, shakes her arms, and wiggle to the beat of snappy tunes. Get ready to get shaking with your new pet and enjoy hours of fun. Gigi comes with disco dance floor packaging for extra funniness! Full body movement, jungle tunes, and sound effects. Supper stretchy and soft TPR hair. Batteries included. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Toys, Games & Puzzles:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Bene Bear™

Kids of all ages will love Bene Bear™, The Bear With A Purpose! Bene Bear (short for benevolence) teaches kids about being kind, helping others, being respectful, and giving back to others. When a child shows kindness, is respectful, helps others, gives to others, or shows concern for others’ feelings, they will put a token in Bene Bear’s token slot. Every token earned can stay in Bene Bear’s token pouch until they are ready to be used again or traded in for a reward from a parent or grandparent.

Each package includes Bene Bear, 15 tokens, The Story of Bene Bear book, and a unique activation code that can be used to print out an adoption certificate on our website.

Educational Products:
Ages 5 to 8

Purchase here

Bella Santini in the Troll War: The Bella Santini Chronicles
Written by Angela Legh; Illustrated by Whitnee Nixon; Edited by Rusti LeHaye, Ruby Fink, and Dr. Richard Kaye

Bella Santini, marked as the chosen one in ancient prophecy, must defeat the troll army to save the Fae kingdom from her evil Aunt Ginekei. Kidnapped from Yelimoon School, Bella begins a quest to warn the Fae of the danger. A hidden secret threatens to upset Bella’s emotional balance. Will Bella step into her true role? Magic, dragons, and trolls, oh my!
What if teaching your kids emotional intelligence was as easy as reading them a bedtime story, and as a bonus, you learn, too?

When we provide our children with tools and techniques they can implement to smooth out the wrinkles in their daily life, they thrive. Children will not likely read self-help books, but they will read stories. In today’s stressful world, parents don’t have time to learn about emotional intelligence; where will they find time to teach it to their kids? What if, by reading a bedtime story, both parent and child learned emotional intelligence?

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

Purchase here

Bella Santini in the Land of Everlasting Change: The Bella Santini Chronicles series
Written by Angela Legh; Illustrated by Whitnee Nixon; Edited by Rusti LeHaye, Ruby Fink, and Dr. Richard Kaye

An ordinary teen girl stumbles into a fairy ceremony, is arrested, and brought to the fairy kingdom, the Land of Everlasting Change, a land caught in the struggle between good and evil, where Queen Tatiana fights to keep the balance of power from tipping. Queen Tatiana spreads the message of the truth of fairyland, that fairies are emissaries of love. This gripping tale in a magical land crosses time and dimensions, bringing readers on a journey of self-discovery.

This book series seeks to plant seeds of wellness into every child’s heart and mind who reads or has the books read to them. The seeds planted are unconditional love, inner peace, and emotional self-mastery.

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

Purchase here