(Smart Games $9.99) With 120 different challenges this solo game should keep young players busy on long flights or rainy days stay at home days. There are sets of connected stars. Each challenge shows you how to place some of the sets of stars and then it’s the player’s turn to find a way to fit the other stars into place. It’s a game that takes visual skills as well as dexterity and patience. Unlike most of these kinds of games that are marked 8 and up and really are for 10

(Hape $14.98) It's easy to carry the three nested pails and two scoops since they all fit together as one under the handle. Each of the pails has a different function: the smallest has a sprinkler bottom, the mid-sized one will mold a castle turret shape. The largest will be handy for filling and dumping sand, water and whatever. With the two scoops, this is a nice set for siblings or kids on a play date to share. 18 months and up. Ages: Toddlers Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold

(Mindware $12.95) A classic set of nesting blocks with handsome graphics will have long term play value as children go from knocking down the tower you build to figuring out how they can stack them in size order and nest them into the biggest block. The upward build comes before the nesting and in between time these are fun for hiding things under, for “reading” the pictures, extending vocabulary of knowing and naming the animals, numerals, colors, and eventually even countin

(Peaceable Kingdom $17.95) A true beginners game with choo-choo trains and cargo as playing pieces. The rules are simple and so is the game play. Everyone wins as you play this cooperatively. Players take turns turning over the box cars and matching them to the four colored engines. Cars are attached like puzzle pieces and then the player gets to choose the cargo they want in their car. The game ends when all the box cars are attached and the cabooses are added. Marked for tw

(Mindware $34.99) Our testers went to town with this set of 100 planks that can be built into tall towers or colorful structures and designs. The planks are all the same size and come in natural tones or in colorful hues. The newest sets come in Shades of Purple or Shades of Teal and vary from next to natural to deep dark purple. There is a color guidebook with tips and amazing structures that can be copied or used as inspiration. Some kids will take off with their own ideas

(Mindware $39.95) Cooking with kids is more than fun, it’s about math as in measuring, reading as in following a recipe, science as in how things change from solid to liquid with heat or cold, it’s about tasting and sharing something they created with the family. From the time they are preschoolers, kids like to pretend with toy kitchens and accessories but this is the next level up. The Mindware Cooking Kit comes with measuring cups, spoons, whisk, spatula, basting brush, wo

(Peaceable Kingdom $17.95) Sub-titled the Strategic Game of Cat and Mouse. A lively game with mouse, which keeps changing directions toward a colored fence (as dictated by the color die) and the cats moving to surround the tiny rodent. If the mouse makes it to a fence, the mouse wins the game. If the cats (that’s all the players together) manage to surround the mouse with their moves…the players all win. Nice! It's a game that calls for teamwork. Players take turns tossing t

(Peaceable Kingdom $15.99) It’s Lemonade season—perfect timing for this fun cooperative game that can be enjoyed by mixed aged groups ( and a pitcher of lemonade). It’s basically a game of chance with dice to roll and match to the recipes for lemon, strawberry, or limeade. You’re not playing against each other, everyone works together to fill the jar with quarters before you get hit with four sour lemons. Players take turns rolling the dice with fruit pictures on them. You ge

(Hape $15.99) Just in time for capturing summer blooms and learning the craft of pressing them to enjoy later. This sturdy wooden press comes with an added treat—a collection of pages that can be painted and used as the base for the pressed flowers. Kit includes paints, book cover and pages, and flower press. Ages: Early School Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2018 Click here to purchase the product from Amazon.com

(Hape $24.99) Kids are going to love making their own toast and spreading it with butter and honey, too. Hape’s wooden toaster has a dial for light or dark toast and a lever to lift the toast when it’s ready. Made of wood, this is a toy that adds a touch of familiar reality to their pretend play.The toaster has two slots for the two pieces of toast, a Velcro lidded butter box, a small honey holder, a knife and plate for serving toast. We like the fact that Hape puts both girl