PAL Award Winners – 2019
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
Crayola Color Chemistry Arctic Lab
As STEAM products rise in popularity, chemistry sets are more prevalent but not necessarily well designed and paced for kids' learning. Crayola is...
Juno My Baby Elephant by Spin Master
Juno endeared herself to parents, grandparents, and kids with her interactive play, gestures and sweet sounds. I took Juno to the classroom a kids...
Kinetic Sand Sandisfying Set by Spin Master
Whoa, was this a popular activity in the classroom where I brought the kinetic sand. Kids were making a volcano, ice cubes, ice cream, lakes and...
Candylocks Doll by Spin Master
My little girlfriends couldn't wait to rip open the packaging and see what was under that swirl of hair that was atop a cone to look like some...
PAW Patrol Mighty Jet Command Center by Spin Master
Kids love a fast ride so call your Pups and hop on this Mighty Jet to take on your next adventure. After landing, lift the handle and switch your...
Latches & Doors Busy Board by VTech
This Busy Board certainly kept my 2 year-old friend busy as she played with it over and over again, adding more and more language as she repeated...
RockIt Twist by LeapFrog
Want to get your gammers to learn while playing? Hand them RockIt Twist and watch them play their way through a variety of preloaded games that...
Learn & Groove Shakin’ Colors Maracas by LeapFrog
My little 2 year-old would not let go of her maracas! As she shook the traditional style maraca, I noticed her body started to move to the rhythm...
Smart Sizzlin’ BBQ Grill by LeapFrog
Open the grill top and a friendly face greets kids, inviting them to add their favorite food to the rotisserie. Kids quickly learned how to snap on...
GAMES
Recycle Rally by Adventerra Games
You know this game's a winner when the teacher (me) learns too! I opened the beautifully illustrated game board of a town and started reading the...
WaterGames by Adventerra Games
Want to pick up your conservation IQ while swimming down a beautiful river? Join in this fun family game of gaining and losing water filled with...
SPARK Jr. Sequencing Cards by Spark Innovations
Every child's day is filled with fun activities with a beginning and end and several events in between. Kids learn by remembering and describing...
Twisted Tales by SCS Direct
Want a story-telling game with a twist? Each player contributes "Twisted Tales" story cards for the storyteller to weave his tale. The cards range...
Eagle Chase by SimplyFun
Just assemble the thick, beautifully illustrated gameboard of the United States and you know that SimplyFun has given us a gift of fun learning and...
Match-O-Rama by The Op | Usaopoly
Get ready for a fantastically fun, easy to learn party game for the whole family, 8 years and up! Flip a card to read your category, secretly write...
Baa Baa Bubbles by Spin Master
We laughed hysterically with Soggy Doggy last year and now we have Baa Baa Bubbles to carry on the surprise fun. Bubbles, our sneezy sheep is hungry...
Friends of a Feather by Ravensburger
The eggs have hatched in the nest but the birdies are missing their colorful tail feathers. Each turn add feathers to your bird by drawing from the...
Mickey’s Snuggletime by Wonder Forge
Snuggle time has never been more fun with your own cuddly blanket game board that kids can unfold over their covers and maybe even invent their own...
BOOKS / MEDIA
Hum and Swish by Matt Myers
I love a story about a child discovering the wonder of the beach. It begins "Jamie and the sea are friends. Jamie hums. The waves swish." She...
How to Light Your Dragon by Didier Levy and Fred Benaglia
"Has your pet dragon's fire gone out?" This dragon's persistent and ingenious owner is up for trying everything to relight his friend who can't...
Language Together Set 2
The picture on the front of the "Spanish for Kids," Set 2 box shows kids excitedly opening a present. That is how I felt opening the box of 10 story...
Bluebee Pals Techie Rangers Book & Activity Guide by Kayle Concepts
The Bluebee Pals are on a new adventure as Techie Rangers, who come to the rescue when little Andy gets lost in the forest while taking a nature...
“From Birth to First Words” by Lynn Carson, Talking Together
Every expectant new parent should be given this book! Lynn Carson, a speech pathologist has done a remarkable job of organizing baby's first year,...
That’s MY Cake! by Wonderbly
What child doesn't want to star in his or her own book? "That's MY Cake!" is a perfect story to feature siblings, cousins or friends, starring as...
LeapStart Go by LeapFrog
LeapFrog has extended the learning from its popular system, LeapStart. Now kids 4-8 years can go beyond the basics and add video content to the...
Portable North Pole by UGroupMedia
Treat your family to a magical Christmas with Portable North Pole's 2019 toys and gifts collection of plush reindeer, owlet, activity book, Do-Good...
Summer Big Fun Workbooks by Highlights
Parents often ask what they can do to keep kids' skills sharp over the summer. Highlights' "Summer Big Fun Workbooks" are chocked full of activities...
About The Award
Learn about the application and selection process for the PAL Award.
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erika@playonwords.com