There are so many concentration style matching games and many of them have beautiful art work. This game is one of the winning choices. Bob Barber, an illustrator did this handsome set with pen, ink, watercolors, cut and torn paper and his computer. The result is a charming collection and each card is labeled with the names of the 36 animals. Though the animals are not realistically drawn they are easy to identify and good for developing language as well as matching skills.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011.

Thanks to the lively circus illustrations by famed illustrator, Saxton Freymann, the old game of concentration is given a fresh new look. Players turn over two of the colorful cards trying to find a matching pair. The winner is the one with the most matches. But these are no ordinary cards. Use them for encouraging players to talk about what is happening in the pictures. Doing that will build language skills, as well as encouraging beginners to "read" the small details in each picture. Alternative play: Have kids take turns drawing a card and adding a piece of a story about a pretend visit to the circus as seen in their cards. For more complicated challenges have them use a color word, a number word, and an action word in their descriptions. 5 & up.   The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

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

There are several variations to this colorful set of cards with multiple images on each card. The fact is, there will always be at least one matching image on two cards, although the image may not be the same size. In game one, each player flips a card and first to spot the matching image on his and the other player's card gets to keep the cards. Game 2 is played with three stacks. One for the table, one for each player. Player who is the 1st to see a match between his card and the one on the table, puts his card on top and play continues. The object is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. There are two more game variations. A good take-along game. Calls for visual discrimination and skimming quickly to spot the match. 6 & up.

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

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Deal the cards and place on card in the Barnyard flipper. First player hits the flipper and that reveals half an animal. Players look at their cards. One player will have the other half of the animal and place it on the barn. Now, that player flips the card and reveals the next animal half. Play continues until one player uses up all of his cards. This can be played by 2-6 players. The name of the animal is printed on both halves for another form of matching. But this is a game that can be played by pre-readers and helps them see part whole relationships as well as learning to take turns. It's fast enough so that players get lots of chances to win a round. Testers liked the action of the card flipper, although sometimes the cards need a little straightening. 4 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Age: Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 2002.

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

Each playing board is a different store. Dealer draws a picture tile and names object; player who has the store for that item calls out name of store. Winner is first to match and fill card pictures. Also new, Life on Earth Matching Game ($14.99 ), a concentration-style matching game with pleasing images of birds, snakes, kangaroos, and other earthly creatures. Also top rated, Candy Matching ($12.95 ) with yummy-looking candies to match. All 5 & up. (212) 222-0823.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2006. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2007.

Each player gets playing pieces that are the colors of the rainbow. A card is drawn that shows the colors in different order. Players race to stack their colors to match the rainbow card. This is a game that calls for visual memory, sequencing and speed, not to mention dexterity. They say 3 & up, we think this would be challenging but fun for older 4’s-7.
        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: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2005.