PAL Award Winners – 2017
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
GAMES
BOOKS / MEDIA
TOYS
AlphaBriks & MathBriks by Strictly Briks
Kids led the way as I opened the package of Strictly Briks, as 7 and 9 year-old brothers started right in making words and math problems. It was...
The Cube & the Pyramid by Strictly Briks
Kids and parents were intrigued by the triangular and square base pieces that could snap together to make shapes, serving as a base for larger...
Science Academy: Bath Bomb and Bath Scrub: Set of 2 by Mindware
Junior scientists can get into soothing smoothing science with Mindware's new Lab kits. Let’s just start with how Mindware includes a bit of history...
UNBORED: Carnival by Mindware
Step right up to stage your very own carnival, complete with tickets, hand stamp, megaphone, games, and game ideas, squirt guns, banner and ring...
Kinetic Sand Magic Molding Tower by Spin Master
Kids love castles and knights defending their turf. Mix in some moulding sand and you have created an opportunity for open-ended pretend play. Use...
Parker, Your Augmented Reality Bear by Seedling
Before I could show off Parker's backpack full of medical instruments, he was whisked off to bed to be the buddy at nighttime. I had to wait until...
UNBORED: Time Capsule
When kids open up the Time Capsule, they are so excited to put their my message in a box! Kids can make history with their own field guide,...
Alex Discover Play All Day
What a perfect name for this box of learning fun! It happens to be what I tell my grandchildren we are going to do, "Play all day!" With 7...
Alex Discover Ready Set Money
I'm always excited to see what's new with Alex Brands' "Ready, Set..." themed boxes, and kids are too! Money can be a hard concept to learn but Alex...
GAMES
Brik Buster by Strictly Briks
Kids love to build and hammer so it's no surprise that kids designed this fun family game. Plenty of stacker briks and baseplates come in bright...
Invisible Think by Mindware
Get ready to visually concentrate and laugh out loud as you spin the spinner to see who will be handicapped by wearing special red lensed glasses,...
Alex Toys Future Coders Robot Races
Kids can become the robot AND the coder in Alex Brands' new "Robot Races," an active coding game. Start by personalizing your robot headpiece with...
Alex Toys Future Coders Bunny Trails
How do you make coding fun for 4 year-olds? You let a bunny teach them! Teaching coding is hot right now but not every product is this much fun for...
Hatchy Matchy Game by Spin Master
Hatchimals are one of the hottest toys for kids and now they are part of an easy matching game which adds the surprise of "hatching" two mini...
Top Trumps by Top Trumps USA Inc.
Top Trumps' themed decks of cards are loaded with fun facts on different subjects--The United States, Harry Potter, Baby Animals and Peppa Pig to...
Soggy Doggy By Spin Master
Watch out because when this doggy gets one too many showers he is going to start shaking and guess who gets wet? Players move around the board and...
Ideal 4 Way Spelldown
Parents are increasingly looking for great family games so why not add some learning to the fun? "4 Way Spelldown" is a portable, self-contained...
Rainbow Croquet Caddy by Hape
Kids can set up, play, supervise and take along this cute croquet set to wherever there is a patch of grass! I love how they can organize their game...
BOOKS / MEDIA
Be Brave Little One by Marianne Richmond
What a sweet story that explores what it means to be brave, a mother's dream for her child. Sharing the different sides of bravery, "Be brave to...
Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld
We start our day again in the construction site with trucks stretching and rolling out of bed to discover a task too big for the five-truck crew....
Big Words for Little Geniuses by Susan and James Patterson and illustrated by Hsinping Pan
I first learned of this book when it was being promoted on the Today Show. I loved the concept as I am tired of picture books that dumb down...
What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamaka, Illustrated by Mae Besom
This is the story of a child who wakes up one day surprised by his idea, tagging along behind him, not knowing where it came from or what to do with...
Double Take! A New Look at Opposites by Susan Hood and illustrated by Jay Fleck
Double take is exactly what kids AND adults do as they read through Susan Hood's latest picture book, packed with language learning, and clever fun!...
Ally-Saurus & the Very Bossy Monster by Richard Torrey
I was excited to see the return of Ally-Saurus, in Richard Torrey's new book, "Ally-Saurus & the Very Bossy Monster," as she was a...
Bluebee Pal Parker by Kayle Concepts
Want to play and learn with a soft, cuddly monkey who can read along with you? Kids sure love Parker and teachers too! As a speech language...
Q Wunder App by EQtainment
Kids, teachers and parents love Q Wunder, which now brings to life practical learning about emotions through EQtainment’s new app. Beautifully...
LeapFrog Academy by LeapFrog
Join LeapFrog Academy™ for a fun journey through their interactive learning program for 3-6 year olds, with content geared to Preschool, Pre-K,...
About The Award
Learn about the application and selection process for the PAL Award.
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