Best Bang for the Buck Winner! 

$19.99; www.innovativekids.com; for ages 8 and up. Enjoy smart fun in this fast-paced game that tests your memory. Laugh ’til it aches as you make noises, act things out, make up stories, compose lists and play with words. Game comes in a fold-up, easy-to-store format and includes a book loaded with memory tips and tricks.

"There are so many different angles, it’s a fresh game every time you play." - judge comment

Rocketship Run, The Laurie Berkner Band, Two Tomatoes/Razor & Tie, 2008; $15; www.twotomatoes.com; all ages.

Popular children’s performer Laurie Berkner rolls out more of her distinctive musical fun and games in her first studio album in over six years. She quickly makes up for lost time in this 24-song collection of sing-a-long and dance-a-long tunes. We especially liked “Fly Me to the Moon,” a nice take on a beloved classic.
 

$9.99; www.edupressinc.com; for ages 4 and up. This cardboard domino set uses real photographs and printed words to identify rhyming matches, adding the challenge of rhyming to the conventional dominoes game.

For more fun with words, check out:

Word Sweep

Rainbow River Stones; Wee Blossom; $159; www.weeblossom.com or www.munchkinfield.com; ages 3 and up.

 

This brightly colored set of six large plastic molded river stones mimic the shapes of natural ones. Their top surfaces have non-skid patterns to add interest and grip. When children walk barefoot on the stones, they can imagine themselves outdoors, walking on the stones formed by water and earth. Hopping from one stone to the next helps children gain confidence in movement and practice balance and coordination.

 

The stones are lightweight and easy for children to move, carry and stack themselves. The set includes two river stones each of three colors/sizes that can be placed individually to make a path or stacked up to three high for more challenge.  The stones nest together and come in a durable nylon carry bag.

“It’s fun to pretend there are sharks and alligators and yucky seaweed in the river and we have to jump across without falling in and getting eaten. But if you do fall in, you have to eat the seaweed!”
- 6-year-old boy
 

Road To Rock, The Boogers, Spire Records, 2008; $12.97; www.meet-the-boogers.com; ages 1 to 8.

Claiming to be “the Wiggles’ worst nightmare,” the Boogers debut album features 20 classic kid tunes done up in the most unlikely of styles. From old-school punk rock jams to hard rock (and even harder rock), kindie rockers, young and old, will be “mosh-pitting” in their living rooms.
 

$24.99; www.educationalinsights.com; for ages 5 and up. Pictorial challenge puzzles show the starting positions of a knight and princess along with the building blocks needed to solve the puzzle and create the route to reunite the royal pair. Starter, junior, expert and master levels help children advance their logical thinking through skill-building fun.

For more advanced puzzle fun, try:

Lonpos 84T Braintelligent Pyramid Game

RideMakerz.com, RideMakerz, 2009; free; www.ridemakerz.com; ages 6 to 8.

 

Requires: Web browser with flash. Players create an online racing car from various bodies and paint job options. This online extension for the regional stores, modeled after Build-A-Bear, lets kids create their own “ridez” vehicles and then race them against other “racerz.” Leveling up enables kids to unlocks features to customize and enhance their engines, chassis and colors. While the beta version has some control and lag issues, especially in racing mode, this application has strong potential. One of our kid “testerz” thought it was really cool and wanted to play it at home with his younger brother.

 

Ridemakerz, Ridemakerz, $10 and up for cars, $2 and up for accessories; www.ridemakerz.com; ages 8 and up.

 

The popularity of making your own stuffed animal in shops has inspired a spin-off.  Now kids can create cars: choose a body style, pick out wheels, rims, spoilers, running boards and sound chips to trick out your ride. Free wheel or remote control options are available. Each piece clicks into place using a simple tab/slot assembly. The Web site has an easy-to-follow, step-by-step video for assembly assistance.

 

The final product is a solidly-built vehicle ready for active play. The available “ridesoundz” range from electronic music and revving motors, to screaming sirens and racing tires. Children can pick from ready-to-go kits or build a ride with custom choices. Gift cards are available. For a novel birthday party activity, have small guests build and customize their own ride! Party price tiers are available; cars and accessory options are sold separately. For in-store building, check out the locations of Ridemakerz stores across the country at www.ridemakerz.com. 

Robot Dance, Mr. Leebot, Mr. Leebot Music, 2009; $12; www.mrleebot.com; ages 5 to 13.

Weird and strange come to mind when listening to Mr. Leebot – but that’s a good thing. Mr. Leebot sings about dancing robots, twirling, and ants in your pants and spins his genre of electronic, learning-based music gracefully.
 

Rumpus Music, 2008; $14; www.babysingandsign.com; for babies to age 5. A wide variety of gentle musical styles include kid-friendly folk, calypso and blues. Each song supports Miller’s exceptional vocals and songwriting skills in a selection of traditional and original songs about nature’s wonders and more.