Unfold this long green soccer field for playing games with the Boysterous sport dolls ($17 each) Flip the mat over and shape it into the slope for skateboard riders to go over. Finally, flip it over again and fill it with the dolls and their sports equipment for safe keeping. So, this is a carrying case and a fun play setting all in one.

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

Newest in a wonderful series of story cards and writing pads designed to spark storytelling skills. It's a form of pretending that is totally made up by the story tellers. Use the cards to inspire an original story that you can spin together. Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, the pictures feature a cast of forest animals who are really "children in fur" doing things that children would do - such as having a party, dancing, riding a bike. For kids who like to dictate stories or write their own, the Write Me a Story Pad ($8) includes a set of stickers featuring the same cast of buy characters. Stick them on the page and let the story begin. Younger children learn a lot by watching you print the words they say. Slightly older kids love being "authors" and writing their own words--with a little help from older sibs or parents.

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

We love that this combines kitchen/grilling pretend play with a real place for kids to sit down and have a snack. Preschoolers can make all kinds of meals on the cooking side of this unit while their friends take turns being the guests or customers. There is an adjustable umbrella to cover all...a nice toy to bring outside while the grown ups are grilling or to entertain the troops indoors on a rainy day.  Comes with lots of accessories and food-- if you're using this toy with a toddler, we'd recommend putting most of the utensils and food away.  A pot, a dish, and a cup are about all you need when you're 2 1/2.  We're also not big on plastic food--most kids do very well making up their own imaginary "dishes"! The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements.  We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP:This kind of housekeeping toy has great appeal to spark pretend play and language. Using scaled down utensils in make believe games will help develop eye hand skills, social skills, and dramatic play.

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

A miniature play setting on wheels, this camper attaches to an old fashioned Convertible Coupe ($49.99) with plastic "wooden" sides. The latter is sold separately as are the Calico Critters. What comes I the reather oversized box is a yellow camper that opens to reveal a bathroom with toilet, shower and sink, a convertible sitting area that turns into a bed and kitchen for chowing down. There are lots of little pieces including a tea kettle, paper rug, cooking tools, sleeping blankets and pillows, lots of other household items plus the hitch for connecting the camper and coupe. If you do not mind lots of miniature plastic pieces, this it the kind of toy that will delight kids who like making up stories and pretending. It will take up less space than a dollhouse and cost less, too. This season's new Calico Critters are a family of four Friesian Cows, all black and white and dressed for the farm or a family of Yellow Labrador dogs. Marked 3 & up, the small pieces here may be a challenge for very young 3's and need to be stored out of the reach of younger sibs. 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.

If you have a LEGO STAR WARS fan in your family, this storage kit will be a hit. The unit zips open with a battle bridge motif. It will hold 500 LEGO bricks and because it really closes up, this is a good way to storage and transport your child's collection. There is a handle on the top for easy carrying. There is also a slightly smaller TIE FIGHTER storage case that also unfolds for dramatic play.  Both may help "clean up" go a little smoother! May the force be with you!

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

A fun toddler toy that is just right for early pretend play as well as making things happen with multiple kinds of manipulatives. There is a faucet and a little pretend sink--push the button and you hear the water running. There's a burner where the egg in the pan sizzle when put on the stove. Turn the big red button on the stove for a ratchet sound. There are doors that open on the refrigerator, and microwave oven, and shutters that open the window. The refrigerator door is also a shape sorter of sorts. The openings on the fridge door are color coded, but some of the shapes have two colors, which might be confusing. Not exactly a clear match. But put any of the pieces including the orange, tomato, and cheese wedge in and they drop out of the fake icemaker chute on the door front. It's putting the food in and having it drop out that is the fun part of this toddler toy. It is all about making things happen and doing it again and again. That is where the action is with kids at this stage. All in all it's a very satisfying mini-kitchen for beginning chefs. It will not take the place of the child size play kitchen, but it is the right size for now. They say 12 months and up, we would say the pretend part is more like 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, Preschool. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A gender free red, white, and blue shopping cart. Scaled perfectly for toddlers and preschoolers. This is a favorite piece of equipment for pretend play. It can hold a doll, bear or other soft toy in the usual up front place. It has an open basket that is easy to load as well as a lower shelf for big items. The top basket has no openings for small items to fall through. This will be used for deliveries, shopping, and hauling treasures. It's low enough for toddlers to use and rolls smoothly. However it is not weighted, so this is for kids who are steady on their feet. It's not intended as a prop for wobbly beginning walkers. The company also makes this in green and blue, if you do not want the flag colors, though either are gender neutral. Best of all it comes out of the box completely ready to roll! 2 & 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: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A small eco friendly rubberwood wooden dollhouse powered by a windmill and solar panel. Comes with three family figures, that have yarn hair and as one tester put it, "They look like they were at Woodstock." It also has recycling containers, a water barrel, furniture and a two wheeled vehicle (we can't say what it runs on.) This is a much younger and less detailed setting than the Eco House from Plan toys. Two storey wooden playhouse comes with kitchen set, bedroom set, three wooden dolls and bathroom set
It's not just gender free it's one that boys as well as girls will like.

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

SNAP: This is easier to get into than many doll houses because if is so open. It is also uncomplicated, though it has all the features a house should have. This is one of those rare gender free houses that can be used for dramatic play. It not only builds imagination, it can be useful in developing language skills.

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

A fun push toy with lots of pretend possibilities!  This mower is designed for true walkers.  It is not weighted for toddlers that are looking for something to hold onto.  In fact, if they push down on the handle it will go down (fast)!  That said, this is a fun prop that makes a pleasing sound when it's pushed.  The top of the mower comes off and doubles as a leaf blower. It has a crank and a see-thru window so that you can see the parts move. Not difficult to put together.

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

One of new series of articulated wooden animals that are perfect for block settings or pretend play. The four animals featured in the Australia set are a kangaroo with baby in her pouch, a koala, wombat and emu. The set comes with cardboard habitat that they can be displayed on. The back of the display has factoids about the habitat and each of the creatures. These are handsome little figures that are smooth to the touch and articulated so that they can stand, sit, or lie down. Even their heads can be moved to look down or upward. The emu with it's long neck is wonderfully articulated, though not always steady on its feet. A nice blend of pretend and science. 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: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.