best books for kids Archives

July 12, 2024 by NAPPA Awards Team

Tricky Topic Books

Support children and parents alike as they navigate common challenges and transitions; like getting rid of pacifiers, starting preschool, or moving away from screens. Each of the five books provides an easy-to-follow approach that helps a child learn hildren in real situations with real emotions. Each book also features a QR code that provides additional expert-backed, on-topic resources. $15/book, ages 1-5 years, lovevery.com

SmartMax My First Stacking Rings

Stack and balance these sweet-looking rings. A classic toy with a magnetic twist. An open-ended magnetic discovery kit to create funny-looking figures that balance, wiggle, and wobble. $24.99, ages 18 months – 5 years, smarttoysandgames.com

Sense & Grow Rock & Play Shape Sorter

Kids will learn to differentiate shapes, recognize colors, and work on fine-motor skills with this toy. Create your own openings to get the shapes into the sorter. Teaches kids that sometimes its ok not to fit into a pre-established mold. $24.99, ages 5 months +, amazon.com

TT TUMMYTIMEZ Multi-Stage Tummy Time Water Mat

A great tummy time motivator. Every detail, from the size of the inflated rim to the vibrant high contrast graphics, was carefully designed to create the right supportive environment. A positive, interesting and less stressful experience will pave the way for tummy time success. $39.99, ages 3-24 months, amazon.com

February 3, 2022 by

NAPPA Award winning books and music.

Meet our latest NAPPA Award Winners announced in January 2022:

Kindie Rock Stars Podcast

Showcases the amazing talents of children’s musicians and family entertainers. Each episode features an artist story, song story and a song. Free, patrickadamsbooks.com

Shadow Play Books

Unfold the book, turn down the lights and switch on a flashlight to be transported into a world of imagination. These magic books will inspire parents and kids to share nightly stories. $39.90, ages birth+, shadowplay.store

Sharon, Lois & Bram Best of the Best Live

Features live tracks taken from tours in Canada and the U.S. during the band’s touring heyday in the 1990s. Compiled by super fans, this release is the ultimate throwback experience from one of the top enduring children’s music artists. $14.99, sharonloisandbram.com

Star Forest

An album filled with imagination, adventure and play. Musicians Hawk, Fawn, Sluuth and Rocktapus VII (and a whole bunch of star slugs) take you on a musical journey where anything is possible if you dream big. A mix of rich bodied melodies, dreamy ballads, toe tappers and pirate rapper. $11.99, ages 5-8, starforest.rocks

The Lively Forest by Ginalina and illustrated by Kelley Wills

What do you see, what do you see? The Lively Forest – wild and free! This book by award-winning children’s writer, Ginalina, presents a story on second nature rooted in the diversity of the west coast forest biome and the joy of outdoor community. $15, ages birth-8, beautifulworldbooks.com

You Are Magic

Through the 15 songs on debut album, You Are Magic, July Mees and her dad Jared explore the silly and sensitive sides of childhood. Dig deeper into emotions and issues for modern kids. $10, ages 3-9, tenderlovingempire.com

December 16, 2020 by

One of our favorite childhood memories is looking through toy catalogs and circling the ones we loved and hoped would arrive wrapped with a big bow. Flipping through the pages and dreaming about each item was a big part of the whole holiday experience – the anticipation of something wonderful. We want to give you that feeling again with our Jingle Holiday Gift Guide. We have been busy all year testing and evaluating to bring you this wonderful collection featuring more than 250 award-winning toys, games, books, family music and other unique finds. NAPPA Awards has been celebrating the best in family products for 30 years. This year’s selection includes products with positive messages of kindness, inclusion and community – products that celebrate diversity and uniqueness. This year, watching those smiles on our kids’ faces when they rip open their holiday gifts will be even more special. Happy Gifting!

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

Gifts with a Positive Message
Unique finds, including items perfect for those who love cozy and warm
Toys to spark imagination
Products that are all about creativity
Outdoor Fun
Book, music and games

November 5, 2019 by Elena Epstein

As you begin your holiday shopping, don’t forget that books make a great gift. Here are some of our recent NAPPA Award winners.

Ditty Bird Musical Board Books

The perfect instrument for playful learning through music and sounds, featuring gentle touch contact points for inquisitive little fingers to activate your favorite “ditties” on each page. $16.49, 6 months-3 years, www.dittybird.com

Wild Bios Board Book Series

Meet history’s greatest figures in this adorable board book series with an animal twist. Includes famous Meowxican painter Frida Catlo, Baa-rd of Avon William Sheepspeare’s, brave pilot Amelia Harehart and astronaut Neil Armswan. $7.99, Birth-2, www.silverdolphinbooks.com

The Story of Rap & Rock Series

An adorable 2-part board book series that introduces iconic musicians who have transformed generations, including David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Grandmaster Flash and Kendrick Lamar. $8.99, Birth-2, www.silverdolphinebooks.com

Grandma’s Christmas Wish

Features a bedtime-friendly singsong rhythm and adorable holiday illustrations. $8.99, Birth+, www.sleepingbearpress.com

Santa’s Christmas Train

Journey “up, up, up, and down, down, down” on this merry train ride to the North Pole. $7.99, Birth+, www.hachettebookgroup.com

Baby Sees Board Book Series

Mesmerizing collection of high-contrast books with bold shapes and colors. $9.99, Birth+, www.gakkenbooks.com

When The Cousins Came

A sensitive story about insecurity, hosting and friendship inspired by the author’s own large, diverse family. $17.99, 4-8, www.holidayhouse.com

Rowdy Randy

Meet the toughest cowgirl around. Never mind that this broncobuster is a horsefly. She acts taller than any tall tale. $18.95, 5-9, www.caseyrislovbooks.com

What Should Danny Do? Book Series

This clever picture book series empowers kids with the understanding that their choices will shape their days. $17.99 each, 4-9, www.whatshoulddannydo.com

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

In spare, lyrical verse and vibrant images for which she has become legendary, Morales has created a picture book memoir and a testament to the journey that she and her son took together from Mexico to the San Francisco Bay Area. $18.99, 4- 8, www.holidayhouse.com

Buckets, Dippers, and Lids: Secrets to Your Happiness

Grow in understanding, kindness, self-control, resilience, empathy and forgiveness. $10.95, 7+, www.bucketfillers101.com

The Princess and the Pickup Truck

an Appalachian retelling of The Princess and the Pea, perfect for your rough and tumble royalty. $15.95, 5-10, www.leppstorytelling.com

Claire Lost Her Bear at the World’s Fair and Benny Bear Book and Stuffed Toy Bundle

Vibrant and heartwarming story that also introduces interesting facts about the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. $34.95, 5+,www.GoldenBellDirect.com

Sesame Street: The Monster at the End of This Book

An interactive refresh of the classic Sesame Street story where Grover tries everything to keep the reader from turning the pages. $14.99, 3-5, www.indiebound.org

For more gift ideas, visit nappaawards.com