Overwhelmed by numerous toy choices? "The Little Ones Top 25 Award Winning/Outstanding Toy Picks" is your guide to selecting top-notch, entertaining & interactive toys for children of all ages. Little Ones highlights and briefly reviews 25 of the best toys on the market.  The majority of the toys featured here have won prestigious toy and parenting awards based on quality, creativity, educational value and/or entertainment value. All toys have received outstanding consumer ratings and have been highly recommended.

Each product contains a short description, a suggested age level (when available) and additional suggestions for related toy categories. There are several variations of the  products listed below (for example deluxe vs. starter sets) so please visit www.amazon.com if you are interested in viewing the complete product line. 

Enjoy this fabulous collection of toys and gifts sure to please everyone on your list! You simply can't go wrong with any of these award winners and highly recommended toy & gift ideas. Shopping and shipping is a breeze with these quality products available right at your fingertips.

Denotes award winning toy

1. Bananagrams 2009 Toy of the Year. Multiple-award winning, fast paced, educational word game for ages 7-adult. Addicting scrabble-like game that has requires no board and allows for numerous players. For additional suggestions see toy category: Board Games & Card Games For Older Children (Ages 7-Adult)

 

2. Blokus Classics Game  Winner of over 20+ awards! Exciting brightly colored strategy game perfect for the whole family. Encourages spatial thinking & problem solving skills using simple rules. Ages 5-adult. For additional suggestions see toy category: Board Games & Card Games For Older Children (Ages 7-Adult)

3. ThinkFun Zingo   Award winner! This exciting & educational variation of Bingo features 72 picture tiles which teach simple sight vocabulary and matching skills to pre-readers & readers ages 4-7. An instant favorite! For additional suggestions see toy category: Board Games & Card Games for Young Children (Toddler-Preschool)

4.V.Reader Animated E-Book System Multiple Awards Winner! Bring reading to life with the all new V. Reader. It's a perfect choice for pre-readers and early readers ages 3 to 7 years old. Young children can practice important core reading skills while having fun with this incredible and durable touch screen learning machine. Children see the words and illustrations, hear the story recited, and interact with the story by touching the screen to learn and do more. See Little Ones V. Reader toy review. For additional suggestions see toy category: Electronic Learning Toys

5. LeapFrog Scribble and Write  Little fingers can practice the formation of letters and shapes with this fun learning machine. The child-size stylus along with screen lights make it easy for kids to draw simple pictures, shapes and eventually upper & lower case letters. Amusing learning games reinforce letter formation. A great way to teach writing skills. Ages 3-5. For additional suggestions see toy categories: Toys For Little Fingers (Toddler – Preschool) & Electronic Learning Toys

6. Quadrilla Marble Railway, Twist and Rail  Award winning 97 piece marble run plus 50 marbles and play tips DVD. Endless designs and entertainment for ages 4-10!  For additional suggestions see toy category: Building Sets & Creative Design Toys

7. Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set Multiple Awards Winner! Fun for little bakers! This creative play set lets children bake and decorate 12 wooden, sliceable cookies with 18 toppings. Cookies store in a dough tube. Set includes cookies, toppings, wooden toy knife, spatula, cookie sheet, and oven mitt. Ages 3+. For additional suggestions see toy category: Let’s Pretend Toys For Girls & Boys

8..LEGO Duplo Ultimate Building Set – 71 Pieces  Colorful tub of building blocks for little fingers 18 months-5 years. Award winning toy provides hours of creative fun! LEGO also has a tremendous selection of building sets to delight children of all ages and interests. See Little Ones Special Feature: The Wonderful World of LEGOs. For additional suggestions see toy category: Building Sets & Creative Design Toys

9.Learning Resources Teaching Cash Register  Talking cash register teaches basic math & money skills for ages 5-9. Includes make believe cash and coin reader. An exciting way to "play store." Multiple awards winner! For additional suggestions see toy category: Let’s Pretend Toys For Girls & Boys

 

10.Madame Alexander My First Baby – Powder Blue, 12 InchAdorable, super soft baby doll perfect for tiny hands ages 1-3. Made of washable, baby-safe materials. Award winning first choice for little mommies! One of the few dolls available for children under 3 years of age. For additional suggestions see toy category: Dolls, Dollhouses, Dress Up & More! 
11.Corolle Special Feature Baby Doll Lila – 17" Doll   Multiple awards winner!  Precious interactive baby doll for ages 3+. Gently babbles, giggles, cries and sucks on bottle. Baby accessories included. Sure to become a favorite playmate! For additional suggestions see toy category:Dolls, Dollhouses, Dress Up & More! 

12. .Corolle Les Cheries Doll Chloé Ballerina – 13" Doll  Award winning, absolutely beautiful and durable doll! Moving limbs, eyes and hair that can even be shampooed. Comes dressed in a gorgeous ballet outfit. For additional suggestions see toy category: Dolls, Dollhouses, Dress Up & More!

13Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Folding Princess Castle Award winning, gorgeous solid wood Princess castle. Extra large castle folds for storage and is stunning with its pink and gold screened accents. This enchanting castle has turrets, balconies, buttress, flag and a working drawbridge. A perfect choice to delight all the princesses in your life! Quality & Exceptional Value! Ages 3-9. Also see Melissa & Doug Deluxe Folding Medieval Castle and Melissa & Doug Deluxe Castle Dolls Playset. Worth every penny, providing years and years of enjoyment! For additional suggestions see toy category: Dolls, Dollhouses, Dress Up & More! &Let's Pretend Toys for Girls & Boys

14. Toysmith Battat Ready Set Go Cars  Colorful and durable set of 4 chunky cars great for little hands ages 1+. Pull back action sends cars zooming, with delightful sounds!  Award winner! For additional suggestions see toy category: Cars, Trains and Vehicles That Move!

15. KidKraft Deluxe Garage Set  Award winning interactive wooden garage set. Features winding ramp from top floor to ground, working elevator & garage doors, helicopter & helipad, car wash with moving scrubbers, 6 cars & trucks, gas station, ticket booth and more! Loads of fun for ages 3-6. For additional suggestions see toy category: Cars, Trains and Vehicles That Move!

16.ZOOBMobile Car Designer 76 Make movable creations with this awesome ZOOB building set. Design your own vehicles or follow easy instructions to build 12 different models. Includes 12 wheels which are notched to work like gears. All pieces are compatible with other ZOOB building sets. Endless possibilities and fun! Recently nominated for awards. Ages 6-18. For additional suggestions see toy category: Building Sets & Creative Design Toys

17.LeapFrog® Learn & Groove Musical Table Music, learning & fun rolled into one! Choose from this amazing toy's words or music options. Learn about ABCs, colors, opposites, counting to 10 and primary shapes or play on piano keys, tap the drum, groove to over 40 songs and melodies, and listen to nursery rhymes & instrument sounds. Flip a switch to change from English to Spanish. Best of all, this toy grows with your child. It sits flat on the floor for babies and adjusts to toddler play by adding included table legs. Provides hours upon hours of visual, auditory and fine motor stimulation and skills practice. An educational wonderland sure to delight little ones from 6 months- 2+ years. For additional suggestions see toy categories: Award Winning Baby Toys & Electronic Learning Toys

 

18.Playskool Explore and Grow Busy Ball Popper Loads of sensory fun and gross motor skills practice with this lively interactive toy. Colorful balls spiral down the track and pop up the air powered tube at the press of the big mushroom button. 8 upbeat songs along with sound effects invite your child to dance, giggle, put & take balls and have fun discovering the concept of cause and effect. Surely a favorite for ages 9 months- 3 years.
For additional suggestions see toy category: Award Winning Baby Toys

19. IlluStory: Make Your Own Storybook Multiple Awards Winner! Imagine the sense of pride & accomplishment when your child creates and professionally publishes his/her very own storybook! This amazing set allows children to write and illustrate their own story on the special pages provided (or completely online using the Storymaker instructions.) Drafts are mailed in prepaid envelope (included) and in a few short weeks, your child will receive a color-copied, professionally hard bound storybook! Books can include About the Author, special dedication and title pages.This set includes 18 book pages, 2 cover pages, 10 washable markers, story web planner, instructions and order form. Encourages reading, writing and illustrating skills! Extra copies can be ordered for family members. A truly unique gift that lasts for years to come! Ages 5-9. For additional suggestions see toy category:  Arts & Crafts/Musical Toys

20. Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Kit:  Multiple awards winner! Incredibly awesome, reasonably priced air-powered rocket kit for ages 3-8. Stomp on blast pad to launch glow in the dark, foam rockets up to 100 feet. No batteries required…just "stomp power." Includes four 9"inch yellow foam rockets. Additional foam rockets available for purchase. Kids absolutely love stomping and watching rockets soar! See Ultra Stomp Rocket air-powered rocket kit for ages 8+. For additional suggestions see toy category: Indoor/Outdoor Sports & Games

 

21.Wild Planet Hyper Dash Get kids movin' with this outrageously fun, award winning game of speed and skill.  Electronic tagger calls out the instructions. Race around to tag targets as fast as you can based on colors, numbers, tagging patterns, simple addition/subtraction problems and memory tasks. It's tricky! 4 different game modes allow for solo, pair or team play. Great for coordination.A big hit with kids and adults! Ages 7+ For additional suggestions see toy category: Indoor/Outdoor Sports & Games

22. Pacific Play Tents See Me 6' Tunnel Pacific Play tents & tunnels are the leaders in playtime FUN!! Children absolutely LOVE this 6 foot play tunnel made from the finest quality 70 denier nylon and sturdy steel construction. Padded inner wires protect little knees plus the tunnel collapses flat for storage. This tunnel connects with other Pacific Play Tents/Huts for additional adventures. For additional suggestions see toy category: Indoor/Outdoor Sports & Games

23. Snap Circuits SC-300  Multiple award winning electronics kit makes building simple circuits and devices fun & easy. Over 60 snap on parts can create 300+ exciting projects with lights, sounds, motors and more. Hours of experimentation for ages 8-14. For additional suggestions see toy category: Discovery Toys & Science Kits

24. Qwirkle Award winning wooden tiles game develops logic and strategy skills. This challenging family game has simple instructions that require players to match tile shapes and colors to earn points. Ages 8-adult.  Puzzles, Memory Games & Brain Teasers

25. . Play-Doh: Fun Factory Super Set  Winner of the Creativity Award, this Playdoh set includes over 35 cutters, design tools, an extruder machine, and 5 Playdoh colors. Hours upon hours of imaginative fun! For additional suggestions see toy category:  Toys For Little Fingers (Toddler – Preschool)

 

For more information, please see:

Little Ones "Twelve Weeks Before Christmas"  Holiday Toy Series: This holiday series is designed to help parents and grandparents make smart choices by featuring outstanding/award winning "toys that teach," accompanied by reviews which highlight and explain the educational benefits and specific skills children receive from these types of toys.