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
LeapBuilders ABC Smart House by LeapFrog
LeapFrog continues to provide us with learning fun and has now introduced their new LeapBuilders system where kids learn while building. Kids got...
Myla the Magical Unicorn by VTech
Myla was so popular with kids in a four-year old preschool that kids were standing in line to play with her--boys and girls! Myla is truly magical...
Treasure Seekers Pirate Ship by VTech
Are you ready for a learning journey with our pirate and captain? "Ahoy there matey," says Captain Monty as kids place him on the front deck's...
Adventure Treehouse by Schleich
Schleich's new play sets continue to impress teachers, parents, grandparents and of course kids! Their beautiful hand painted people and props...
King George’s Castle by Bigjigs Toys
Parents immediately recognized the high quality of design and construction of King George's Castle. The pieces interlock precisely and the design is...
Mix & Match-a-Saurus by VTech
As a speech pathologist I love VTech's new Mix & Match-a-Saurus who kids can customize by characters, emotions and music style. The three light...
Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Safari Oasis
Kids loved decorating Crayola's Scribble Scrubbie animals, the lion, elephant, monkey and giraffe, to prepare them for the safari. I'm not sure what...
Hape Double Fun Fishing Set
Kids love to fish and can't get enough of bath play so get ready for some sea loving fun. These adorable chunky water creatures have cute...
Hape Cook ‘n Serve Kitchen
My little preschooler was immediately drawn to Hape's Cook 'n Serve Kitchen and got right to work mixing and baking cupcakes for Mom, Grandma and...
GAMES
Miniland Emoti Blocks
Kids were fascinated with the six facial expressions on the blocks, reflecting diversity--astonished, bored, sad, happy, frightened and angry--as...
Gotta Word by Cortex Toys
Have you gotta word for "A fifth grader's super power," "An advanced weightlifting move," or "The compulsion to pop bubble wrap?" "Gotta Word" has...
Wake Up Stars by SimplyFun
It's nighttime and the stars are waking up, some happier than others. Place all the foam stars face down in the middle of the play area and spin to...
Lily Pond by SimplyFun
Hop to it! It's time to grab your froggy and sit on the rock in the middle of the lily pond filled with letters to explore. Give each player three...
Stick Figure it Out by Cortex Toys
Are you ready for a quick draw, and guess game? Each team races to draw a random figure from the categories of History/Politics, Athlete, Pop...
Topper Takes a Trip by Peaceable Kingdom- a MindWare Brand
Everybody loves to take a trip whether to Grandma's house, sledding or the beach, so don't leave your toddler out of the fun! Topper the pup is...
SMARTGAMES Brain Train
Smart Toys and Games has been delighting children and parents with toys that have a learning edge, as they have given us fun logic puzzles with an...
Astro Trash by USAopoly
The galaxy had enjoyed a peaceful coexistence, until a sanitation craft lost control of its messy cargo and let loose free-floating debris, Astro...
Guess It, Get It, Gumballs by Peaceable Kingdom – A MindWare Brand
Warm up those face muscles because you are going to be stretching into Scared, Silly, Mad, Excited, Sad and Happy, with feeling. EQ or Emotional...
BOOKS / MEDIA
Ditty Bird Musical Books by MEMA Enterprise PTY LTD
Singing children’s songs is a beautiful way for kids to take in language full of repetition and rhymes. A “singing book” takes it up a notch as kids...
Hoo Hoo Who? by Mary Maier with Lauren Horton
As a speech pathologist, I love great picture books that bring kids into the story to interact with repetition, questions and clues. What a...
New York Day & Night by Aurelie Pollet and Vincent Bergier
"New York Day & Night" delights children and their adult readers, filled with contrasts, surprises and visual transformations as they are taken...

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