You do need to think quickly to win Rapid Response. One of your teammates poses a question "things with wheels" "famous women" "soups" "musical groups". For each correct answer you get to toss another marble into the top of the timer to buy you more time. When the marbles run out--your time is up. Fun and unlike many other games in this vein, the questions are family-friendly.  Great fun--our testers loved the novelty of the marbles and the bell! SAFETY NOTE: Because of the metal marbles we do not recommend this game in a house where there are small children. 

Age: Later School Years, Tweens, Teens, Adult. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

The goal here is to be the first player to get five of their own discs in a row. Much like the classic game of Othello, this mission is complicated by the fact that your opponent can flip your discs on their own move. This is the type of game where you "get" the game play, but you become much more sophisticated about your game play as you go along. They say 6 & up, but we'd say will still be challenging (and fun) to 9s & up.

Age: Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Think Connect Four, but now imagine a beautifully crafted wooden board and you have Eternas. The game is designed for two-players. The dark wooden circular board allows you to place either your white or green wooden play pieces on one of the spokes.  You win if you get four of your pieces in a row--either vertically, horizontially or on the diagonal.  Learning how to play will be quick--but don't be fooled, this is a challenging game.  We love that it forces players to look at things differently in terms of strategy, offensive and defensive blocking moves.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens, Teens. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A lovely combination of knit and plush that is totally on the mark for toddlers who like a big but light enough huggable to drag about. These huggables are 18-inches long. The photo of this soft cuddly doll with long legs and arms and floppy ears does not really convey just how cute this doll is. The legs are not rigid or wired, but soft and easy for little ones to grasp. The features are stitched and baby safe. There is a grey elephant version as well as a pink mouse. We happen to love the bunny best. Available in blue and white or pink and white. Also adorable, Baby Long Legs Squeakers, Bunnies, Elephants and Pink Mouse ($12.99 each) in this line that are 8-inch miniatures of the bigger dolls.   Baby safe and machine washable. All ages.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Three feet tall, Charles is truly a giant in Toyland. Knitted of cotton yarn he is soft and huggable and will make a decorative centerpiece of any child's room. But more than that, he is apt to play a big role in a child’s pretend play. With his orange whiskers, happy grin, long green tail with orange tufts, and brown shaggy yarn mane, Charles is a friendly sort of lion with big blue eyes and striped trousers. This is the kind of memorable plaything that listens well and says only what a child imagines it can say. The smaller doll pictured does not come with Charles. Blabla makes many smaller and less pricey dolls that are equally charming. Handmade in Peru, these dolls capture the affection and imagination at first glance. All ages.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2012.

A determined little chick pops out of its shell and wants to fly. Though all the animals try to tell him that he cannot do that, Peepsqueak keeps on trying. A small story for beginners with a repetitive line that preschoolers will love to chime in on. 2-5

Age: Toddlers, Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Nina's story of life in a family of divorce is, as the jacket suggests, an "uncomplicated" account of what it is like to have two homes. It is a sad tale and reads more like bibliotherapy. Yet, we think it worth noting, since it can be a conversation opener for families dealing with similar situations. Sometimes a book can open the floodgates or at least help children know that they are not unique and that others have lived through such events.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Langston Hughes powerful poem speaks to both the despair and hopes of African Americans and the pain of being treated as less than others. Written in 1925, the poem still resonates as Bryan Collier’s illustrations travel through history from the train porters of yesterday to today’s youth, who are still looking for their place in America. While it is true the book reflects how far we have come, it also reminds us of how much further we need to go. Three-time Caldecott winner, Collier's illustrations capture a range of emotions that speak as powerfully as the words. A meaningful blend of art and poetry! 

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

As a kid, going to the park to feed the ducks was a weekly treat. All the stale bread of the week was saved in a special bag that we took to the Bronx Zoo on Sunday morning. This little book might have added much to those trips. Most kids don't have the language that describes all the doings of the ducks. Here, in the middle of the city, on a duck pond, we get up close for a good look at how the ducks eat, preen, dabble, and attract mates. The narrative is augmented with clear factoids that better define the typical actions of Mallards. A nice young science book that will extend what kids can see if feeding the ducks is on your agenda. 4-7

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

John Jensen not only feels different, he looks a lot different from the folks on the train, office, on the street or in the emergency room. It's the big doctor with enormous ears that helps John understand that we do not all look the same. After all, Doc is an elephant and John is a crocodile. This droll tale will tickle kids and leave them with some ideas to think about, too.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.