PAL Award Winners – 2020
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
Purrfect Counting Purse by LeapFrog
Who wants to pretend they are a kitty with this cool counting cat purse? This purse says its owner has a big personality with the cute face on the...
Sparkling Friends Mia the Unicorn by VTech
Mia the Unicorn is a perfect friend for pretend play. As any beautiful unicorn she requires some care which kids lovingly give to her as they press...
Blues Clues & You! Really Smart Handy Dandy Notebook by Leap Frog
Blues Clues and You! fans will love to have their very own Handy Dandy Notebook to engage with Blue and her friends, pressing buttons to start...
Speak & Learn Puppy by LeapFrog
When Leap Frog’s Speak and Learn Puppy first arrived at our toy testing laboratory, all of the kids were so intrigued, even the older ones! Bailey,...
Count & Win Sports Center by VTech
VTech's Count & Win Sports Center exercises little ones' minds and bodies as they shoot hoops and kick soccer goals while listening to...
Jiggle & Giggle Fishing Set by VTech
Kids drop their fishing line into the pretend pool of sea creatures and the jiggly, giggly fun begins. Catch a blue marlin, orange lobster, green...
Helping Heroes Fire Station by VTech
The Helping Heroes Fire Station by VTech is a dynamic fire truck that converts into a fire station for two brave firefighters. As my kiddo said,...
Go! Go! Cory Carson Cory’s Stay & Play Home by VTech
To accompany the popular Netflix series Go! Go! Cory Carson, VTech has brought us Cory’s Stay & Play Home. Cory’s house includes 2 levels, 6...
A Year of Kindness Calendar by MindWare
There's a lot of talk right now about kindness. I see little Be Kind messages on signs, Instagram and t-shirts. The "Year of Kindness Calendar"...
GAMES
Great Women Top Trumps
Top Trumps card games have a ton of fascinating facts in a little deck of cards. One of their newest themes, "Great Women" includes cards picturing...
Electricity & Magnetism Top Trumps
Top Trumps card games have a ton of fascinating facts in a little deck of cards. One of their newest themes, "Electricity and Magnetism" includes...
Preschool Flash Cards Learning Bundle by Think Tank Scholar
Think Tank Scholar continues to bring us products that "inspire a lifetime love of creative thinking and learning," and have just introduced...
Candygrams by Candygrams LLC
Candygrams is a fun, colorful crossword game for the whole family, ages 7 and up. My toy tester friend and I got a bit addicted to it as we kept...
Hues and Cues by Usaopoly | The Op
Have you ever played a game using the language of colors? What color do you think of when you say tomato, blue jay or McDonald's arches? The clue...
Telestrations: Upside Drawn by Usaopoly | The Op
Telestrations has been a big hit and now we can play it "Upside Drawn!" Divide into teams, roll the category die to know the kind of word your team...
Otter Confusion by MindWare
Otter Confusion is just that, chaos if you make a wrong guess. Each player draws an Otter Card displaying chef otter holding a pan of chocolate chip...
Smoosh and Seek Treehouse by Peaceable Kingdom/MindWare
Open up the game board to reveal a "Kids Only" tree fort with a pirate's sail, telescope, castle window and tire swing to engage kids with a game of...
Panda’s Picnic in the Park by Peaceable Kingdom/MindWare
Panda has invited you to go on a picnic of learning with your toddler. Grab the picnic basket of treats and tablecloth and take off to your lunch...
BOOKS / MEDIA
Seek-a-boo Flip-and-Find Word Cards by MindWare
In my work with new parents, I've found that often they are looking for ideas on how to play with their baby. MindWare's new "Seek-boo Flip-and...
VersaTiles Introductory Kits by hand2mind
For over 40 years, teachers have relied on Versatiles to provide independent learning, done individually and in small groups in the classroom. Now...
Duolingo ABC by Duolingo
Duolingo has created another FREE app for kids during this critical time when parents have also become teachers. Duolingo ABC aims to teach children...
The Truth About Grandparents by Elina Ellis
This hysterical book starts with the perfunctory realization, "My grandparents are really old," evidenced by "wrinkly faces" and "funny teeth." The...
The Lord is My Shepherd: A Psalm 23 Pop-Up Book by Agostino Traini
Psalm 23 is one of the most comforting and peaceful scriptures in the Bible and author/illustrator Agostino Traini has beautifully rendered its...
“All Around Bustletown: Spring” by Rotraut Susanne Berner
Spring has arrived with the associated exuberance, energy and joy as blossoms bloom, the farmer's market opens and flowers are bursting forth. From...
My Kindness Journal by MindWare
My Kindness Journal gently and creatively guides kids through activities and reflections on kindness, making the world a kinder place. Children are...
About The Award
Learn about the application and selection process for the PAL Award.
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erika@playonwords.com