We're always looking for add-on props to enliven train play. Action figures can climb up the side of this Adventure Tunnel with a lift up walking bridge on top. Figures can slide down one side or use the stone steps on the other side. Meanwhile, the train can go right under them. However, there are no figures in the package. 3 & up.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2013.

Newest of the innovative augmented reality puzzles, Times Square comes to life with a 360 degree animated scene or for geographers, check out the new amazing World Map Puzzle with a quiz game built into the fun. Like the original 2012 Platinum winners, once again, technology meets the jigsaw puzzle and wow! Put these1,000 piece puzzles together and then use an iPhone or iPad to see your puzzle come to life! You get a free app download to activate the amazing video that asks you to find the image on your puzzle of the active animal or object moving on your screen. Of course, doing a 1,000 piece puzzle makes a great cooperative project for the whole family to do. Activity idea: Put the pieces on a table in a room the family uses and display the box cover as an invitation for 'getting it together' when anyone in the family has some free time. Once these big puzzles are done the whole family can enjoy this new dimension by clicking on an iPhone or iPad. A fun novelty for older kids and their parents. Still great, the original four puzzles: Underwater, Animals in Africa, Paris, and Norway. 

Age: Tweens, Teens, Adult. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A 30-piece building set of rods and balls shapes that looks like an earlier construction set from Guidecraft, but turns out to be even better than the original award winner. The round pieces are updated in steel and give a stronger connection, allowing kids to make more complex structures. Colorful and chunky, the pieces are right for small hands and safe enough to allow young layers to investigate the power of magnets. It comes with a 24-page guide for parents that will help you expand the possibilities as you introduce kids to the magical science of magnets. The new set also includes a storage bin- a welcome addition for clean-up time. 2 & up

SNAP: With magnets safely out of reach, this is ideal for open-ended connections. You can also use it for building counting skill, color concepts or making simple patterns.

Age: . Award Year: 2013.

One of a series of science kits for younger children. This explores making all sorts of bubbles by making wands and using them to make prints, sculptures, colored bubbles, gliding boats, jumping pepper and more. It comes with a supply of pipecleaners, wandsm bubble solution, funnel and best of all, an excellent step-by-step experiment book that will walk you through all these together activities. In the past, most of these experiments were more typically done with kindegarten,1st and 2nd graders. That said, there is nothing in this kit that preschoolers will not enjoy trying. Clearly, this is not a solo toy, but rather a chance to explore together. They have also done a Kitchen Science Kit and Rainbow Science. These are available at PBS Kids site and the Scholastic site. As of this writing they were not elsewhere. Marked for 3+, we think they make more sense with 5+.

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

A sweet little six-inch bunny with fat legs that make it easy to clutch and light but soft to the touch. The under-stuffed body is filled like a beanbag at the bottom, so the doll can stand or be handled or tossed with ease. The bunny's head is in contrasting white velour with stitched features. A good choice for first lap games and one baby can grasp once she starts to reach out and take hold of things.  Newborns and up.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Babies love the satin lining of this pink and white 11" buddy blanket. She's a plush floppy-eared bunny attached to a snuggly small pink velour blanket, lined and edged in white silky satin. A good take-along travel toy, she has a strap at the back to attach to stroller so she doesn't get lost along the way. Washes beautifully, machine wash and tumble dry. Available in many other colors. Newborns & up.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Choose from four distinctive little racers or collect them all in their jolly two tone colors and sleek styles. With pull-back action these little vehicles scoot across the floor. They are made of smooth plastic with chubby wheels and patterned hubcaps. Nothing complicated here. Easy enough for toddlers to use with delight. 1 and up.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2013.

With its orange fabric basket and bright blue and sturdy wooden sides, this is a gender free push-about prop for pretend play. It will get miles of play for pretend shopping trips and also serve as a stroller for teddy bears and dolls that need a nap. Low and stable this cart has treads on its wheels so t will not fly away. It is pricey, but will go the distance and still have reserve so it can be passed along to younger sibs or cousins. 3 & up.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2013.

A two-sided seven-piece puzzle for beginners. It's all about matching colors and learning to fit the big sturdy pieces together. A central gear-shaped piece has opening with a bright color space to fit the pie shaped color pieces in. Flip it over and there are construction vehicles each on a single colored background. Again, the player matches colors while learning the names of these vehicles. This is part of a series of circular puzzles in the same format. There are also zoo, dinosaur, and farm versions that will interest your toddler and be useful for knowing and naming games that develop language as well as dexterity. Marked for 2's and up, you’ll want to use this for parent and child time together. 2 & up.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Designed to appeal to boys, Paracord Wristbands involve macramé-type weaving with thick parachute cord. It comes with eight colors, buckles, stickers, scissors, glue, and clear instructions. There are enough supplies to make eight wristbands. Marked for 7 & up, but we think most boys of seven will not have the dexterity to do this. We'd say it's a better choice for 8-9's.

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