Four cardboard puzzles come in this carry-all cardboard case. Each features a racing scene designed with a back background and multi-ethnic drivers drivers. The four puzzles have 6, 9, 12, or 16 pieces, each in its own plastic baggie. They need to be kept separated. Naturally, they get progressively harder, so you may want to put the harder ones away and introduce them gradually. 3-5

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

Four cardboard puzzles come in this carry-all cardboard case. Each features a little veterinarian at work in her office, caring for animals and doing her computer entries. The four puzzles have 6, 9, 12, or 16 pieces, each in its own plastic baggie. They need to be kept separated. Naturally, they get progressively harder, so you may want to put the harder ones away and introduce them gradually. 3-5

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

All the pieces fit in this beautiful case with galactic images. Inside are 36 good sized pieces to fit together into a 24 x 36 inch picture of space with astronauts, planets, stars, and rockets. Heavy cardboard pieces will hold up as kids love doing their puzzles many times. 4-7

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

A giant 24-piece floor puzzle that is two sided! So, you get two puzzles for the price of one. This one features the popular storybook chracter Pinkalicious. On one side she is having a picnic and on the reverse she has made cupcakes. Unlike adult puzzlers, kids like to do their puzzles many times in order to gain mastery over the challenge. You’ll need to introduce the concept that there are two sides and perhaps sit with your child to help turn the puzzle pieces right side up to start. Giving beginners strategies for putting together the outside frame is also helpful to build their confidence as well as their competence. Marked for 3 & up. This may make better sense for your 4 & up.

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

A giant 2 X 3 foot floor puzzle features a cow and calf on one side and a farm scene with tractor and farm critters on the other side. There are 24 big pieces that are ideal for beginners. Unlike adult puzzlers, kids like to do their puzzles many times in order to gain mastery over the challenge. The two sided idea is an added value that will give the purchase extra play value. You'll need to introduce the concept that there are two sides and perhaps sit with your child to help turn the puzzle pieces right side up to start. Giving beginners strategies for putting together the outside frame is also helpful to build their confidence as well as their competence. Marked for 3 & up. This may make better sense for your 4 & up.

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

Turn the nine painted wooden blocks to form an image of the lion, monkey, zebra, elephant alligator or giraffe. These are painted with some overlapping colors, so it is less simple than many other block puzzles. The pieces are smooth and the graphics are more storybookish than realistic. It is marked for 24 months and up. We think young twos will have difficulty putting these parts into a whole. It is a better choice for 3 and 4 year olds who will need help for starters.

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

A colorful map-like cityscape floor puzzle. The 3-D part comes in with three tall buildings that can be assembled and attached to the giant 20 by 30 puzzle. Kids can use their toy cars to travel over the roadways and use this as a mat for dramatic play after they assemble all the pieces. Marked 3 & up. We think 3 year olds are going to need help the first few times they do this.

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

Highly stylized images of multicultural children from around the world fit together, hand in hand, on this big 16-piece floor puzzle. The playing pieces are two-sided, so there are 32 images that can be joined. Each figure is wearing the native costume of his or her country and the name of the country is printed on the side. Marked for 3 & up, but the concepts are well beyond that age group.

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

Lift the gaily-painted wooden letters to uncover a surprise object that begins with the sound of each letter. Under the A is an airplane. Under the B a ball, etc. Favorite Dr. Suess characters are painted on the wooden frame, as well. Best of all, the raised letters are chunky enough for little hands to lift out and hold with ease. 3 & up.
The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This is an open-ended puzzle for kids to explore. The 12 pieces are all the same size but in different colors. They fit back into the board with in any number of color arrangements. Or they can be arranged in a zig-zag line or a full circle outside of the puzzle board. Use them for color matching and naming with the beginner. There is a small booklet with playful ideas for introducing this clever puzzle. Made of rubberwood and stained with eco-friendly dyes, this is marked for 2 & up. We think this will be a tough for 2's but really good and challenging fun for 3-5's.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.