This fun, exciting board game does a fabulous job of helping beginning readers develop letter and sound recognition skills and put together common three letter words. Players take turns spinning the spinner and moving the indicated number of alphabet spaces on the board. The player that moved attempts either to complete a three letter word using one of the 5 Word Ending cards in his or her hand or, in the case of vowels, ...Read more

Kids are in for a special treat with this lovely crafting kit. Rich, varied textures and colors abound among the multitude of fabric pieces contained within the box. These fabrics, so soft to the touch, are ready to be cut and sewn using the pattern shapes included. Needle and thread, step-by-step instructions, eyes, and ample stuffing - everything needed to create a one-of-a-kind, 10-inch stuffed owl - is included. Nothi...Read more

HoPLAY QueenStrike is a unique, highly enjoyable game that combines elements of traditional board game play with digital and hologram technology. The result is a remarkably well-integrated play experience that combines face-to-face social interaction with exciting digital elements. An iPad projects animation from the free HoPLAY QueenStrike app down into a Holographic Display Box, where it is visible to all players. These...Read more

idadi is a highly enjoyable fast-paced card game for 2 to 5 players in which everyone is in on the action from start to finish. There is plenty of action to be had since speed, both at spotting your options and quickly playing your cards, is the key to winning. Each player is dealt 10 cards, each of which bears a number ranging from 1 to 7 in any of 4 colors. A target number between 4 and 10 is then revealed and players r...Read more

The wealth of things lining the interior of the Imaginology Kit is such that children invariably display dazzlement and glee upon lifting its lid. Packed into the fifteen compartments within are items of such diverse shape, texture, color, and functionality that one can almost see the wheels turning as a child instantly begins imagining the possibilities. More so, even, as they begin touching, unfurling, and intermingling...Read more

Inventors Studio does an outstanding job of guiding children through the wonderfully satisfying process of inventing something new. A 14-page Inventor's Guide takes kids through the stages of invention - Think It, Explore It, Sketch It, Create It, Try It, Tweak It, Sell It - while the 120+ materials included provid everything needed to execute those phases many times over. The kit and its contents are as appealing to the ...Read more

Regardless of whether or not this was their first experience with IO Blocks, children and adults alike found this 96 piece building set to be a pure delight. Along with the distinctive shapes found in other IO Blocks sets, the Vehicles Set includes axles with wheels, fins, wings, bumpers, cabins, and an array of other pieces that enable the creation of a multitude of colorful, stunningly original vehicles. Also included a...Read more

The sheer variety of shapes and structures that spontaneously spring up once kids lay hands and eyes on this open-ended building toy is astonishing. The versatility of this quarter-size Mini version of the award-winning IO Blocks stems from the distinctive and highly functional design of the individual construction blocks. The 12 unique shapes (inspired by the digital world's 8-bit pixelated design) that make up this 425 ...Read more

The adage, 'Good things come in small packages' is amply demonstrated by this compact, compelling 50-piece construction set. Those pieces are colorful, 2-dimensional shapes (triangles, squares, pentagons) young builders can use to construct a wide variety of 3-dimensional geometric shapes, including those known as Platonic solids - Tetrahedron, Hexahedron (cube), Octahedron, Dodecahedron, and Icosahedron. And while those ...Read more

OgoSport, a master at coming up with innovative outdoor play products, has another great one in JABBIT. With JABBIT, players use a curved, plastic handheld launcher/thrower to send a ball flying with a flick of the wrist. That 'ball' is a sphere made up of 3 interlocking plastic rings with plenty of space in between them. The recipient of a toss catches it simply by jabbing their own thrower into any of the sphere's openi...Read more

Everything about this delightful early learning musical toy radiates quality and playfulness. Its visual appeal alone exerts such a magnetic pull that toddlers (and parents) gravitate towards it on sight. The xylophone's colorful fawn-shaped wooden base displays a lovingly illustrated face with felt ears and antlers affixed. Along the length of the fawn's body 4 brightly colored metal bars are attached, each of which ri...Read more

Young ones immediately gravitate towards this utterly charming fox-shaped riding toy, which, as it happens, is the perfect way for them to go mobile. Watching a toddler proudly and happily get around on it is a monumentally smile-inducing experience parents never seem to tire of. The fox's four rubber wheels and wood construction provide the kind of support and stability children need to aid them in gaining the necessary ...Read more

Janod Fantastic Castle excels in every way. The carrying case in which this playset comes packaged opens into a two-level castle with multiple rooms and windows, playfully illustrated inside and out with rich artwork that instantly captures the imagination. A 16-piece, two-sided jumbo puzzle, gorgeously illustrated on both sides, extends the castle's interior while forming a moat around it, watery creatures included. The ...Read more

That Janod Gas Station is something special is evident from the unbridled excitement and enthusiasm kids have for it. Wooden play sets of this caliber and quality are rare, and this one stands out both for its craftsmanship and size. Each part seems to have been meticulously designed for maximum play value. Together, they form a sprawling, 3-level gas station garage with interconnecting ramps. Four 4-wheeled vehicles (hig...Read more