Congratulations to our 2024 Astra Play Award Finalists!
A huge thank you to all of you who nominated this year. There were over 600 products for the Play Awards Committee to evaluate! As usual, they took their responsibility seriously but definitely had fun with the play process!
Astra is so proud to publish this curated list of play products chosen by Certified Play Experts.
Arts & Crafts
3D Tunnel Book Craft Kit - Outer Space…from Eye Connect Crafts
Spirograph Doodle Pad…from PlayMonster
Tiny Easel Painter Box…from Tiny Easel
Baby/Toddler
RC Baby Plane…from iPlay iLearn
Fisher Price™ Shake and Go Bubble Maraca…from Little Kids Inc
Match & Push Spinning Tops…from Melissa & Doug
Books
The Ultimate Book of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures…from Chronicle Books
Ready to Soar…from Penguin Random House -
Baby's First Book of 44 SOUNDS…from SmartNoggin Toys
Brainteasers
By the Book…from FoxMind
Sudoku 5x5…from Ravensburger
IQ Gears…from Smart Toys and Games
Building
TECTI…from Fun In Motion Toys
Gravitrax Junior Large Set: Jungle…from Ravensburger
Gecko Run: Marble Run Starter Set…from Thames & Kosmos
Eco
Blue Marine Toy Boat Sand Set…from Buzzy Kids - Dantoy
Wave Stacker…from PlanToys
Curious Kingdom Castle Playset…from Playper
Family Games
Oh No Volcano…from Buffalo Games
800 Pound Gorilla…from Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Butts on Things…from Gamewright
Family Strategy Games
Wandering Towers…from Capstone Games
Deduckto…from Gamewright
Alice's Garden…from Goliath Games
Geek Games
Turing Machine…from Hachette Boardgames USA Inc.
Sky Team…from Hachette Boardgames USA Inc.
Inside Job…from Thames & Kosmos
Kidult
Magnetic Masterpieces 12 pcs…from Geomagworld SA
LEGO Hogwarts Castle Grounds…from LEGO
Swing ball Reflex Tennis Pro Trainer by Mookie…from NSG
Outdoor Play
Outdoor Art Easel…from Hape
Fisher Price™ 3 in 1 Portable Sprinkler…from Little Kids Inc
NASA Collection…from Stomp Rocket - D&L Company
Plush
Baby Cuddle Hug Fox…from Douglas
Bumpas Oz…from Good Soul Brands
**Living Puppets - Murray 17"**…from Thin Air Brands
Preschool Games
Little Memo…from DJECO
Rainy Ranch…from Ravensburger
Story Time Backgammon…from Story Time Learning
Pretend Play
Pretendables School Set…from Fat Brain Toy Co.
Jet Pilot Interactive Dashboard…from Melissa & Doug
Baby Doll Girl with Vitiligo 15\"…from Miniland
Puzzles
Wheels & Wonders Puzzle…from Hape
Life-Size King Penguin 50-Piece Puzzle…from Large as Life
Mayhem on the Moon 3D Puzzle…from Ravensburger
Retro
Perler Deluxe Box: Squishmallows…from Anker Play/Perler
Jumpsies…from Klutz
Playskool Weebles My Smart House…from PlayMonster
Big Wheel Big Spin…from Schylling
Science
Air Toobz…from Fat Brain Toy Co.
LEGO Gravity Drop…from Klutz
**Microscope (with Smartphone Adapter)**…from Thames & Kosmos
Sensory
**Sunny "The Sensory Sea Turtle"**…from MEAVIA Toys
**Calming Cards Yoga, Breathing, & More!**…from Open the Joy
Tangle Furry Fidget Friends…from Tangle, Inc.
"Best Toys for Kids" awards are now the "Astra Play Awards"
Why?
As our committee worked on sorting through all the nominees, they were often hindered by two words: Toys and Kids. Defining what exactly a toy is and is not proved challenging. Are the products we sell in our neighborhood toy stores only for kids? And what ages are even considered kids? After great deliberation, the committee brainstormed new names that could encompass what we are all about; fostering good play for all ages. The name ASTRA Play Awards became the obvious choice.
The 2023 Play Award Winners!
ACTIVE PLAY: Anywhere Sports - Trampoline Pong by Thin Air Brands
ARTS & CRAFTS: Inspirational Nature Plant Press by DJECO
BABY / TODDLER: Spill Again by Fat Brain Toy Co
BRAINTEASERS: Safari Park Jr. by Smart Toys and Games, Inc.
BUILDING: Dino World XL by Magna-Tiles®
ECO: Cheese and Charcuterie Board by PlanToys
EDUCATIONAL: 100 Pics, Countries by Asmodee
FAMILY GAMES: Sleeping Queens 2 - The Rescue! by Gamewright
GAMES FOR TWEENS +: Big Potato - Herd Mentality by Gamewright / Big Potato
PLUSH: Vinnie Banana Slug Macaroon by DOUGLAS CO., INC.
PRESCHOOL GAMES: Indoor Scavenger Hunt by eeBoo
PRETEND PLAY: SmartMax - My First Pirates by Smart Toys and Games, Inc.
ROLE PLAY: Great Pretenders - Green Dragon Set by Creative Education of Canada
SCIENCE / STEM: Hydraulic Boxing Bots by Thames & Kosmos
The 2023 Play Award Complete List Of Finalists!
ACTIVE PLAY:
- Mystery Key Treasure Chest by Goliath
- Bubble Blitz by Odyssey Marketing LLC
- Cobra Strike by Starlux Games
- Ghosts in the Graveyard REDUX by Starlux Games
- Trampoline Pong by Thin Air Brands
- Bubble Blade by US Toy
ARTS & CRAFTS:
- Inspirational Nature Plant Press by DJECO
- My Painting Pad, Jungle by Floss & Rock
- Air Dry Clay Set by Kid Made Modern
- Dippin' Designs Enchanted Egg Wraps by Little Kids Inc.
- Magic Friends Hidden Colors Magic Paint Sheets by OOLY
BABY / TODDLER:
- Spill Again by Fat Brain Toy Co
- Puffaboo Elephant by Fat Brain Toy Co
- Baby RC Airplane by IPLAY ILEARN INC
- Dino Garage by JURATOYS US
- Ride-OnDino Portosaurus by JURATOYS US
- Peggy Gears by Quercetti
BRAINTEASERS:
- Logic! CASE Starter Puzzle Set by HABA
- Genius Gems by MUKIKIM
- Free Fall by Ravensburger/ThinkFun
- Safari Park Jr. by Smart Toys and Games, Inc.
- Tower Stacks by Smart Toys and Games, Inc.
BUILDING:
- Zip Linx Triple Tower Blast by Blip Toys
- Scorpio Grip x Sting by C-bionic
- Dino World XL by Magna-Tiles®
- Mini Waffle City - Café by Marioinex
- Gravity Blocks by Popular Playthings
- Knight Bus™ by UGears
ECO:
- Mini Greenhouse Set by Dantoy/BuzzyKids
- Outdoor Kitchen by Hape
- Cheese and Charcuterie Board by PlanToys
- PlayBio Kubo Shape Sorter by Quercetti
- Jumbo Recycling Truck by Viking Toys LLC
EDUCATION:
- 100 Pics, Countries by Asmodee
- Wooden Stacking Blocks by Bimi Boo Kids
- Writing Lab Montessori by Headu
- Amelia Earhart interactive plush doll by Little Rebels
FAMILY GAMES:
- Beat The 8 Ball by Blue Orange Games
- Tetris by Buffalo Games/Gamewright
- Sleeping Queens 2 - The Rescue by Gamewright
- Shout it Out! By MUKIKIM
- Flashback: Zombie Kidz by Scorpion Masque
- High Score by Thames & Kosmos
GAMES FOR TWEENS+:
- Herd Mentality by Gamewright/Big Potato
- Fire Tower by Goliath
- Reign of Dragoness by Grandpa Beck's Games
- Ole Guacamole by Scorpion Masque
- Zero to 100 by Scorpion Masque
PLUSH:
- Weighted Giving Bear by DEMDACO
- Vinnie Banana Slug Macaroon by Douglas Co.
- Phoenix Wristlet Puppet by Folkmanis, Inc.
- Bumpas, Oz by License 2 Play
- Style 4 Ever Airbrush Plush Dino by License 2 Play/Canal Toys
- Snuggle Puppy Hero by Snuggle Puppy
PRESCHOOL GAMES:
- Sliding Toucan by Blue Orange Games
- Indoor Scavenger Hunt by eeBoo
- Silly Science Fine Motor Sorting Set by Learning Resources
- Jump Jump Joey! By MW Wholesale
PRETEND PLAY:
- Tree House Play World by Bababoo and friends
- Green Planet Explorers Panda's Bamboo House by Hape
- Holiday Camper Van by Le Toy Van
- Shadow Theater by Papaton LLC
- My First Pirates by Smart Toys and Games, Inc.
ROLE PLAY:
- Green Dragon Set by Creative Education of Canada
- Super Bricolo by DJECO
- Pretendables Lemonade by Fat Brain Toy Co
- Little Chef Cooking and Steam Playset by Hape
- My First Baking Oven by Hape
SCIENCE / STEM:
- Glow-in-the-Dark Rainbow Volcano Lava Lab by Learning Advantage
- Dig It Up! Bubbling Ice Age Discovery by MW Wholesale
- Hydraulic Boxing Bots by Thames & Kosmos
- Trainbots: 2-in-1 STEAM Maker Kit by Thames & Kosmos
- 2 in 1 Microscope Habitat by Thin Air Brands
Past Winners
2022
Games 5-7: Cowpie Catapults, The Good Game Co
Games 8-10: Forklift Frenzy, Fat Brain Toy Co
Arts & Crafts: Build & Grow Tree House Faber-Castell/Creativity for Kids
Pretend Play: Super Cityscape Transport Bucket Set, Hape
Puzzles: Puzzle By Number® - 800 PC Earth, Plus-Plus
Building: Builder Set, Magna-Tiles
Preschool Games: Pancake Monster, Blue Orange Games
Science: Ultra Bionic Blaster, Thames and Kosmos
Sensory: Sensory Bin Mermaid Lagoon, Faber-Castell/Creativity for Kids
Preschool: Roboflex, Smart Toys & Games
Educational: Dig it Up! Glow in the Dark Dinosaur Eggs, MindWare
Active Play: Dueling Stomp Rockets, Stomp Rocket