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 Hatchette Boardgames USA Inc.

Sky Team…from Hatchette 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.

Below are the criteria upon which the products were evaluated:

· Is it New? ASTRA Play Award nominees must be items introduced and available to the general retail market between September 2022 and September 2024. The committee must have a final product to review in February. No prototypes will be accepted for the review process.

· Is it Unique? ASTRA Play Award candidates should have a novel design, either an original concept or a significant new rendition.

· Is it Available? ASTRA Play Award products should be in good supply and ready to ship by September 2024 to all credit-worthy independent specialty toy retailers.

· Is it Significant? ASTRA Play Award products should be meaningful within the industry whether it is thought-provoking or groundbreaking.

If you have any questions or would like to be on the Play Awards committee, please contact Kathy Trivisonno at ktrivisonno@astratoy.org or (773) 261-8707.

“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 have been announced!

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

Thank you to everyone who voted for and nominated 2023 Play Award Finalists. Please see below for the complete list of nominees!

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