PAL Award Winners – 2013
Exceptional toys, games and books / media that encourage language, spark fun and invite creative play.
PAL Awards
Established by respected speech and language expert Sherry Artemenko, the PAL Award recognizes exceptional toys, games and books that, through their design, content, quality, and character, promote play that advances language. PAL winners in the hands of kids spark fun and creative play with lots of talk!

TOYS
Grow-With-Me Activity Gym and Ball Pit by Infantino
Keep the Grow-With-Me Activity Gym and Ball Pit in the playroom for your infant to toddler stage as it transforms from a turtle of overhead...
Wonder Whale Kicks and Giggles Activity Gym by Infantino
Wonder Whale brings on the kicks and giggles as infants activate the fun! Moms appreciate Infantino's baby products designed for multiple learning...
Touch and Feel Critter Ball Set by Infantino
Kids at 6 months old can have their very own ball set with cute animal faces of a cat, dog, bunny and bear to chew on or grab, drop and throw. These...
Sensory Pals by Infantino
Infants 3 months and up have a gang of pals ready to play, providing 5 different sensory experiences including a spike hedgehog, rippled fish, and...
Santa’s Workshop Puzzle by Ravensburger
Make sure you have been good so Santa can list you in his brown leather book. Elves are busy loading his sleigh with teddy bears, soccer balls, toy...
NYC Christmas Puzzle by Ravensburger
What could be more fun than gathering around the table at Christmas time with the family and assembling Ravensburger's new 1000 piece "NYC...
Fire Station by Hape
Kids can be entertained for hours with Hape's new tri-level Fire Station, whether their little fire fighter is working out on the treadmill, doing...
Walk-Along-Snail by Hape
This goofy snail with the wiggly, buggy eyes is a happy companion to any toddler as he tags along, rotating his shell of colored blocks. Flexibility...
Mighty Mini Band by Hape
Kids loved getting the beat going with this all-in-one band including a drum, cymbal, xylophone, guiro and clapper. The drumsticks and clapper store...
GAMES
Disney Sofia the First Royal Prep Academy Game by Wonder Forge
Sofia the First is new to Royal Prep Academy where magical princess lessons abound. She’s lost her dance shoes, teapot, school book, magical amulet...
Disney Sofia the First Magical Tea Time Game by Wonder Forge
Don’t we girls just love a tea party with our own place setting, tea cup and Fairy Headmistresses to offer treats? Kids loved blowing on their...
Ooga Booga by Blue Orange Games
Do you have what it takes to be the chief of your clan? Gather up your tribe members for a few rounds of this challenging, prehistoric game and see...
Spot It! Basic English by Blue Orange Games
“Bird! No, kite! No, it’s cake!” cried my toy tester as she finally found the link between two cards while playing Spot It! Three mini-challenges,...
Justice League Axis of Villains Strategy Game by Wonder Forge
As fans of Wonder Forge's two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle strategy games, we were excited to check out their new Justice League Axis of Villains...
Disney Eye Found It! Hidden Picture Game by Wonder Forge
Kids raced to open the box of the Disney Eye Found It! Hidden Picture Game. As they unfolded the six foot game board one friend couldn't contain...
Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Flying Attack Skill and Action Battle Game by Wonder Forge
With a perfect mix of fun, skill, and action, this game scored an "Oh that's awesome!" immediately from my friends. Assemble the 4 layered teetering...
Freeze Up! By Educational Insights
Stay cool while playing this entertaining, rapid category game but be extra careful not to “Freeze Up!” Pass it around as each player races against...
Jumbo Bananagrams
Pack your inner dictionary as you run back and forth to beat your opponents at this exciting, fast-paced anagram game! Jumbo Bananagrams, the...
BOOKS / MEDIA
A Home For Bird by Philip C. Stead
Foraging for treasures, Vernon the frog comes upon Bird, who quickly becomes his companion. Although curiously quiet, Bird becomes Vernon's new...
Being Frank by Donna W. Earnhardt and Andrea Castellani
Often as speech pathologists we are called upon to teach kids the nuances of language. What does someone REALLY mean when they say something? Can we...
Pig Has a Plan by Ethan Long
Pig Has a Plan, actually makes learning to read fun. Having just returned from time with a 4 1/2 and 6 year-old at various stages of learning to...
Red Cat Blue Cat by Jenni Desmond
The front cover art for Red Cat Blue Cat by Jenni Desmond, cleverly depicts where this story begins--the two cats are back to back with grumpy looks...

About The Award
Learn about the application and selection process for the PAL Award.
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203-228-4438
erika@playonwords.com