HERE’S WHAT WE’RE
LOVING FOR
KIDS THIS MONTH
BY ELENA EPSTEIN,
DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL
PARENTING PRODUCT AWARDS
For more product reviews, visit nappaawards.com
Cry Babies Goodnight
Starry Sky
This Cry Babies toy makes realistic baby
sounds and cries LED tears when you
remove its pacifier. Press her belly; she’ll
turn any room into a magical starry night
sky by projecting a moon and stars design.

Kids can also fall asleep to the sounds of five
different lullabies that play more than 10
minutes of soothing music. $19.99, ages 18
months+, imctoys.com
Design & Drill Bolt Buddies First Responders
Use the kid-friendly power drill to snap the pieces together,
then race into endless pretend-
play fun with a fire truck, police
motorcycle or rescue helicopter. The
sustainable packaging transforms
into a reusable play set, which
becomes part of
the playtime
experience and features
color-in graphics
that spark
kids’ creativity.

$21.99-$39.99, ages
3+, educationalinsights.com
Super Mario Aquabeads
Creation Cube Set
Place the beads on the provided
templates, spray with water and
watch as the beads magically fuse
together to create Super Mario art.

Using the included design pegs,
your child can attach the bead
design to the base to act out scenes.

The creation kit includes more than
2,500 solid, jewel and star beads in
30 vibrant colors. $39.99, ages 4+,
epocheverlastingplay.com 10 Washington FAMILY AUGUST 2021
TETIANA GARKUSHA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
EDITOR’S PICKS



“Spanish for Kids: La Música”
Pack your bags for a musical adventure around the world.

Join María and a playful group of peers as they embark on
a fun-filled journey from Spain to Latin America. Dance to
lively Spanish melodies, explore vibrant places and meet a
colorful cast of characters. $12.99, ages 1-10,
whistlefritz.com “A Smart Girl’s Guide: Race & Inclusion”
Discovery: Rocks
and Gems
Learn how various rocks and
gems are formed as well as their
uses. Use the six rock and gem
samples to get your collection
started. This fun learning
kit features a slide-out tray
printed with rock names and
a poster for young collectors
to categorize their finds. From
sparkling gemstones to molten
lava, this introduction to the
world of rocks and gems is a
must-have item for any future
geologist. $17.99, ages 6-8,
silverdolphinbooks.com Give kids the tools and techniques to gain racial
fluency, normalize the conversation around race,
question biases and take positive action individually and
collectively. Tips, quizzes, questions and challenges
provide practical ways for readers to learn and implement
the concepts right away. $12.99, ages 10+,
americangirl.com The Imagine Neighborhood Podcast
Each episode tells an original, fantastical and
hilarious story, but it also tackles the big feelings
that come with growing up. Through the use of
metaphor, the series explores topics such as fear,
frustration and responsibility, as well as real-life
serious issues including race and diversity, dealing
with the COVID-19 pandemic and cyberbullying.

Free, ages 5-8, imagineneighborhood.org
Math Sprint: The Mental
Math Game
This educational board game for
kids boosts addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division skills.

$29.97, ages 7+, byronsgames.com
Magna-Tiles: Animal Series
These distinctive animals are ready for your child’s next adventure in creativity and
learning. Match animals to their footprints and build new and exciting environments.

The figures are compatible with all Magna-Tiles sets and feature fun new characters,
colors and patterns. $39.99, ages 3+, magnatiles.com
WashingtonFAMILY.com 11