Faber-Castell Black Paper Sketch Pad
(Creativity for Kids $4.99 Score:)

A pad of 40 sheets of black paper that is thinner than construction paper and designed for metallic pencil and gel sticks. It would probably work well with glittery glue sticks ot colored chalks. A good choice for making Halloween decorations, too.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012.

eeBoo 18 Crayons
(eeBoo $5.99 Score:)

These are bigger than the usual crayons and better suited for small hands. The plaid box has 18 colors inside and some have a neon look as well as pastels and your basic primary colors. A good choice for 5 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012.

Puppet Theatre
(Alex $80 Score:)

Alex's updated big theatre ($80) has a clock for show time and new eye-appealing graphics! This stable floor model is 48" high, with painted trim on one side and a chalk surface for messages. It's big enough to be used for many years to come. Alex's small tabletop model is also available a good choice for smaller spaces.($27).

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2000.

ALEX Funky Brushes
(Alex $8.99 Score:) These extra-large brushes with interesting cloth/rope "brushes" are fun to use and the large bulb handles fit the fist shape grip of young painters. SNAP:These fat handled brushes help kids with fine-motor difficulties to grasp the brush handle and paint. Also, see this company's Sponge Painters that now come with color-changing wands. (800) 666-2539.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: .

Alex Chubby Colored Pencils
(Alex $10 Score:) These pencils have thicker "lead" and an easier-to-grasp hexagonal shape, and are especially wonderful for beginners. SNAP These fat colored pencils are ideal for kids who cannot grasp traditional pencils. ACTIVITY: Rainbow Writing: write a letter in one color, have child trace with another color.Now add a third color and have your child trace in a fourth color. A playful way to give your child a feel for letters.

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

Jumbo GRIP Colour Pencils
(Creativity for Kids $10 Score:) 12 color pencils have built-in finger grips. Color and then apply water with brush for watercolor effects. Comes with its own sharpener. (800) 311-8684. SNAP: These are thinner than the Alex colored pencils and lend themselves to older kids who would still benefit from finger grips built-in to the pencils. These are very special since after they draw they can turn lines into paint with a bit of water on a brush.

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

Crayon Sticks
(Elmer's $2.99 Score:) These oversized crayons are softer than most and will be easier to grasp. These are fine for encouraging big sweeping arm motion and tracing or free-form drawing. (888) 435-6377. SNAP AWARD: ACTIVITY: Use these on big shhets of paper on the floor, a table or easel. For developing eye hand these give juicy results- something like thick colored markers, but greasy. They may smudge some so, a shirt to cover up clothes may save some trouble.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 2004.

Funky Artist
(Alex $19.99 Score:) One step above finger paints, this set of three “funky” brushes is unlike anything you have seen before. One looks like a string mop, one like the soft brushes at the car wash, and one like a flower made of cloth. Each produces a different texture. Kit comes with three bottles of washable paint and flat dishes for paint. Fat handles make this easy for little hands to hold and bold colors will invite big arm movements as they experiment with spreading paints and mixing colors. There are little brushes included, but this is all about big strokes for little folks. 2 & up. (800) 666-2539.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2007.