Dressed in a blue checked dress with three pockets that hold the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow finger puppets, an all fabric Dorothy is ready for acting out the whole classic story. Dorothy has long brown pigtails tied up in two bunches with red ribbons. Her features are stitched on and her dress is sewn on. A good choice for language development and recalling the sequence of the story from beginning to end. Try sharing the story telling to begin with.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Dressed in a pink and calico dress with three pockets that hold the Mama, Papa and Baby Bear finger puppets, an all fabric Goldilocks is ready for acting out the whole classic story. Goldie has long blonde curls tied up in two bunches. Her features are stitched on and her dress is sewn on. A good choice for language development and recalling the sequence of the story from beginning to end. Try sharing the story telling to begin with.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Players have full access to all the rooms of this splendid painted dollhouse. No decorator needed since it comes fully furnished with lovely painted furniture for every room plus a play family, including an oddly old-fashioned white haired granny and gramps. The staircase has a turned landing that took some figuring out and there is a back door that slides, but not too easily. This is one of those memorable play settings that will get long-term use. 3 & up.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A matching game with a twist, or should we say with a log where skunks may hide! Players try to be the first to fill a bingo card. On your turn you spin and take as many playing cards as the spinner says. You put each card into the plastic log, through a narrow slot. As cards are added, cards come out the other end of the log. Player can place the expelled cards on their playing board. If the space with the matching animal is filled, the card can be taken by another player. But watch out! If a skunk card  is pushed out of the log all the other cards go back into the playing pile. This is a matching game for preschoolers although playing each round can take quite a long time. 3 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013.

If you have a reluctant builder, the pink world of Barbie may be appealing.  In a head to head test with Lego’s Friends, the Lego directions got higher grades as being clearer to follow. That said, there were still some who liked the allure of their old pal Barbie. As one mother put it, "I am simply eager to get her working with construction sets that she has otherwise avoided." She really enjoyed building with this smaller set in the collection, although a larger set in the line was less than stabile and frustrating. They say 4 & up, but it will need a lot of help form an adult. Our tester was 8.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Designed for kids 5 & up, this is the newest of the YBike's "lean and steer" three wheel scooters. It has a super wide reinforced deck for extra stability. It has a lightweight adjustable aluminum handlebar that goes from 28 inches to 32.5, to grow with your child. Also has an easy to use rear brake. Available in black/purple or black/red combos.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Our two-year old tester loves having a kitchen of his own and his mom loves the fact that it is big enough for more than one child. He's also a tall two and this play setting "fits" him with ease. Offering his mom coffee from the coffee pot, talking on the phone, using the condiment bottles and opening and closing the window shutters are some of his favorite features. His mom says she has pushed this away from the wall so that he can get behind the windows and use it for taking orders—although she wished the backside was more finished for two-sided play. That said, she is happy with the many ways it is being used and said she would recommend it to others. Designed in bright gender-free colors, this is currently only available at Toys R us.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2013.

A fun novelty Barbie for the bath or pool. She comes with Dolphins that spin around her middle. Esther Williams would be proud. Take a look at the video.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A versatile tabletop easel flips from chalkboard to magnetic dry erase board and holds a paper roll, as well. A good size tray holds chalks, markers or other art supplies, depending on the media they are using. This is basic for creative fun and will be used for years. 3 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A handsome wooden parking garage with working elevator to lift vehicles up to the two level garage with ramps for coming down. Comes with three small vehicles and has a heliport with little helicopter up on top. This is larger than the older garage from Hape. There are miles of pretend play waiting to happen. Great for developing pretend stories

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.