Slide the phone open and you see who is on the phone. It might be Oscar or Ernie or Abby Cadabby. Push a button and the character says one of the three numbers on that line and then rings. This is a pretty big phone, but what with the sliding, button pushing and face changes, it will be interesting for beginning pretend play. A fun prop and just the right size for a stocking stuffer surprise. 18 months and up. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

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

Seems the school bus has shrunk a little, but it's still one of those perennial favorites. This season it has been updated for the Sesame Street gang. But it only comes with two characters, Count Von Count is the driver and Elmo is there with his backpack. If you want more passengers, that will be extra, please. It can hold three figures and since loading and unloading passengers is so much a part of the fun, we suggest you bring them home with the bus. Passengers can get on through the door or the open roof top. To open the door, press the purple button on the hood. No batteries needed for this roll and play vehicle. They say 18 months & up, we think it will be enjoyed more by 2's and up. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

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

A marvelous Diva fabric 8" chime ball with a jolly jingle safe inside and plenty of surface textures to explore. There are colorful satin knotties, textured loop to hold, a crinkle velour patch, ribbon tabs and furry no-shed fringe. Each segment of the ball has a different fabric--high contrast black and white, velour with stars and another with hot pink splotches, silvery dots, and corded lavender velour.A perfect toy for first social games. Rolling the ball back and forth or crawling after it.

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

A 36-piece set makes a good choice for beginning builders or as an add-on to other block sets. Although these are not unit block size, they add interest as decorative elements. Some of the blocks are painted with small shaped that resemble windows. There are arches, cylinders, squares, rectangles, triangles and other odd shapes that kids will find useful for creative building. The set includes a cloth storage bag. All of the pieces are big enough to be safe for toddlers. 1 1/2 & up. There is also a smaller 23 piece set with interesting shapes that is also interesting. PBS Kids Tower Blocks (29.99)

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

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

With her embroidered face and all fabric body, this adorable 13" doll is lightweight enough for toddlers to hug and hold. She wears a red and white print dress, white underwear, striped stocks and hot pink shoes. To keep things simple and age appropriate, the clothes are sewn in place. Her pink and orange hat matches her shoes and socks and both have a velour like feel while the knit arms, legs and face have a soft but different texture. A good first doll with long enough arms and legs for toddlers to grab and carry with ease. They say 0 +,  but this looks more like a toddler doll to us.

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

Hands-on learning is built-in to this classic math for beginners puzzle. There are 16 wooden pieces that fit on the rounded pegs. They have 1-2-3 or 4 holes that fit on the 1-2-3 or 4 pegs. The smooth wooden pieces are colored with aniline dyes and made of eco-friendly rubberwood. Everything fits on the smooth natural finished base. Use these for color sorting as well as matching numbers. This comes with a small activity booklet with good ideas for introducing the toy and math and color concepts. This also develops fine motor skills and eye hand coordination. 2 & up.

SNAP: A good choice for beginning counting skills and developing visual discrimination.

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

Nine chunky wooden shaped fit into the wood frame that is finished in a natural wood finish. Made of eco-friendly rubberwood the pieces are stained with safer aniline dyes. These simple basic shapes are good for knowing and naming and for developing the eye hand and fine motor dexterity for putting them back into the matching spaces on the board. Since the pieces are raised they are easier to lift up and place back into the puzzle board. This comes with a small activity booklet with good ideas for introducing the colors and concepts.

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

Storybook style transportation graphics give this 10-piece wooden puzzle eye appeal. Each of the puzzle pieces has a small peg for lifting and refitting the puzzle pieces in place. Lift the pieces and a two-toned graphic is there to use for matching. This kind of wooden puzzle board is good for developing fine motor skills as well as language. You can also use the puzzle pieces other games.

Riddle Me This Game Put five of the vehicle in a row. Now make up a riddle that describes one of the vehicles. i.e. "I'm thinking of the vehicle that has white and grey paint" (note the boat, ambulance and motorcycle have) Now add another clue... "I'm thinking of the one that police use..it has a PD on it" (two of them have that) Now give the final clue... "I'm thinking of a vehicle that doesn't travel on land, but on water." After your child gets the idea of this, switch roles and let him give you riddles.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP Adaption: Adapting the pegs for kids with physical challenges. Attach a strip of wide doubled masking tape to the peg. Make the strip at least two inces long. This will be easier to grasp than the tiny pegs.

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

Hang this bright yellow duck up for baby to gaze at. For tracking games you can get baby's attention with a push on Ducks belly--that sets off a series of quacks. Though the quacking sounds may be a little startling for very young babies it will amuse older babies and even encourage some to reach out to try. With its stitched features and bright orange beak and feet, Duck has other eye catching features. It's chest is covered with orangey patterned fabric that looks like Eric Carle's art work, as does the little dangly fish, and underside of the duck with multicolored dots. Once baby is into the teething stage there are gum-pleasing wings and a textured ring that will be soothing. Duck also has a small reflective mirror with small satin ribbons to finger. In short, this is a toy for all the senses. Infants and up. Surface washable only. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

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

Like other products in their line, these "Green Start" blocks are made form 98% recycled materials and have a special brown cardboard look. The graphics are colorful and handsome, giving a new look to a classic set of stacking and nesting blocks. Use these for reinforcing color concepts as well as shapes, letters and numbers. Stack them up or fit them into a nest, it's a hands-on way to learn about size order and problem solving.  As with most classic style toys these will be used by over a long time at varying levels of discovery from toddlers to early school years. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements.  We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

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