NAPPA Awards: Holiday Gift Guide- TOYS and GAMES
Play & Create
Batman All-Terrain RC Batmobile
Water, snow, mud, rocks and grass are no match for this Batmobile built with performance tires for unstoppable fun. $49.99, ages 4+, amazon.com
American Girl’s World by Us Dolls & Books
Meet Makena, Evette, and Maritza whose diverse stories reflect social issues of racial equality, environmentalism, and immigration. Each doll includes a book. $110.00, ages 8+, americangirl.com
Marshall’s Transforming City Fire Truck™
An all-new toy from the PAW Patrol Movie, with two different modes and exciting sounds for added fun. $54.99, age 3+, amazon.com
Rainbocorns Fairycorn Surprise
Collect seven new characters, all featuring 10 magical surprises. $24.99, ages 3+, target.com
Disney Junior Roller-Skating Party Minnie Mouse
These friends feature matching glittery helmets and can skate side-by-side, spin together, or skate in a conga line. They can even spice up their routine with 360-degree turns. $39.99, ages 3+, justplayproducts.com
Big Horse Show
Features 100+ accessories for hours of play with Sarah and Tori and their Tennessee walking mare and Lusitano stallion. $99.99, ages 5+, amazon.com
PLAYMOBIL Dino Rise T-Rex: Battle of the Giants
Featuring a robot machine on a destructive path. A dino-human team is needed to stop them before it’s too late. $69.99, ages 5-12, playmobil.us
Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron
Mix the potion to create real mist, revealing a surprise creature that will respond to touch, light up, grant wishes and cast endless spells. Kids can continue to create potions using household items. $69.99, ages 5+, moosetoys.com
My Fairy Garden® Light Unicorn Paradise
A charming toadstool house sits beside a sparkly rocky cave for magical fairy fun. Includes a shiny light-up rainbow and a glittery unicorn friend. $29.99, ages 4+, playmonster.com
Animal Planet Deep Sea Shark Rescue Submarine
Experience the ultimate underwater sea adventure. But beware of the killer whale and the great white shark, both with jaw-chomping action. Features lights and glow-in-the-dark sea animals. $39.99, ages 3+, target.com
Paint & Create Easel Case
A portable, dual-sided, painting studio allowing little artists to create their own masterpieces anywhere. Includes a portable travel art case. $24.99, ages 4+, shop.crayola.com
Adora Amazing Girls 18-inch Doll Cassidy
Enjoy hours of imaginative play with this free-spirited doll who calls Arizona home and likes to stomp with the rhythm of her favorite country songs. $45.36, ages 6+, amazon.com
Magna Tiles Builder 32 Piece Set
Engage in real engineering and construction. Includes light printing of roads, bricks and caution signs to enhance imagination. $49.99, ages 3+, magnatiles.com
Geostix® Letter & Construction Set
Link engineering, art and mathematics for unlimited imaginative play. Straight and curved flexible sticks snap together for endless creations. $34.99, ages 3+, amazon.com
Purse Pets
Fabulous interactive pets packed with purse-onality. Respond to touch, really blink and have fun sounds and reactions $24.99, ages 4+, amazon.com
Pets Alive Pet Shop Surprise
With Speak & Repeat animal sounds and over 10 surprises inside, these are the perfect new bestie. Six pets to collect. $14.99, ages 3+, target.com
Ryan’s World Chef Ryan’s Fridge Surprise
Mini figs, oozes and compounds, a working ice cube dispenser and more. $49.99, ages 3+, justplayproducts.com
Spirit Untamed: Swing & Saddle Barn Playset
Inspired by the film “Spirit Untamed,” this set brings the friendships, bravery and adventure home. $39.99, ages 3+, shop.mattel.com
Carry Around Robot Town
A super-cute robot-shaped carrying case on the outside, an adventure-filled factory of robot pals on the inside. $19.99, ages 3-8, lakeshorelearning.com
KidKraft Blue’s Clues & You! Cooking-Up-Clues Play Kitchen
Four-sided play with a sink, fridge, snack table, stove and oven. Sized just right for a playful preschooler. $79, ages 3+, walmart.com
Coding Critters™ MagiCoders
Enchanting creatures teach STEM skills through screen-free storybook coding adventures. The playset and spell book take kids on a journey to decode the magic inside. $54.99, ages 4+, learningresources.com
Gabby’s Purrfect Dollhouse
Packed with exciting features and characters, including a dollhouse delivery tower, working Cat-A-Vator, Gabby Girl collectible figure, Pandy Paws figure and furniture for each room. $55.99, ages 3+, target.com
On-the-Go Story Pal
Take story time wherever you go and spark imagination through books, poems, songs and lullabies. $27.99, ages 3-8, shop.leapfrog.com
Marble Rush Ultimate Set
Roll through thrilling stunts and exciting challenges with this 145-piece color-coded building set, which includes a spinning Ferris wheel, thrilling ramps, fast tracks and extreme launchers. $44.99, ages 4+, vtechkids.com
Blue’s Clues & You! Check-Up Time Blue
Encourage kids to care for others with imaginative play. Press Blue’s paw to start her visit, while helping the doctor to guide the examination. $34.99, ages 3+, justplayproducts.com
Akedo Ultimate Battle Arena
An arcade electronic arena where any warrior can come for next level battle action. When not battling, train and practice the perfect split-strike. $29.99, ages 5-9, moosetoys.com
Ice Ribbon Twirler
Sparkly dance accessory perfect for indoor and outdoor play. Use the light up feature to add some magic to your nighttime dance activities. $9.99, ages 6+, kess-co.com
Got2Glow Fairy Finder
Catch them in your bedroom, in the kitchen, outside, in the dark and even upside down. There’s always a fairy around. $39.99, ages 5+, wowwee.com
Smashers Lava Light Up Dino Mega Surprise
Discover different dinos to build, which then light up and are ready for battle – complete with dino sounds! Over 25 different surprises in each egg. $24.99, ages 4+, zuru.com
Make-A-Fort Build Kit
Never hear “I’m bored” again. With this kit, what happens next is totally up to imagination. A maze? A mansion? An igloo? $77, ages 4+, makeafort.fun
Junior Foldable Fantasy Scooter
Great ride for toddlers with patented steering lock button, push-button fold, wider deck and a range of fun colors. $79.99, ages 2-5, globber.com
Super Mario Aquabeads Creation Cube Set
Create your favorite characters including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser and more. Place beads in templates, spray with water and watch as the beads magically fuse together. Over 2,500 solid, jewel and star beads in 30 vibrant colors. $39.99, ages 4+, target.com
Design & Drill Bolt Buddies First Responders
Use 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. Sustainable packaging transforms into a reusable playset. $21.99 - $39.99, ages 3+, educationalinsights.com
Cubles
A unique mashup between origami, puzzle, toy and craft. Promotes STEM learning through clever constructions that become playable characters. $6.99, ages 5+, cubles.com
Smart Teddy
An innovative toy controlled by parents through a mobile app that can lead your little ones through educational games and activities designed to promote literacy, math and social-emotional learning. $149.95, ages 3-6, smartteddy.store
Just Add Soap
Make science and art at home easy with supplies you already have. Loaded with at-home experiments and new discoveries. $24.95, ages 8+, griddlygames.com
Discovery #MINDBLOWN Career Play Doctor Kit
Features a wide variety of games, activities and medical-style tools, for real world medical, pretend play fun. $32.50, ages 6+, discoverymindblown.com
5 Surprise Toy Mini Brands Mini Toy Store
Build, store and display with the ultimate toy store. Includes shelves, accessories and magical extras to build out an extraordinary shopping world. $29.99, ages 4+, zuru.com
Count Along Basket & Scanner
Let’s shop with play food, shopping lists and scanners. Carry the basket or expand into a rolling cart while learning about new food groups, colors, shapes and numbers. $34.99, ages 2+, store.leapfrog.com
Bakugan GeoForge Dragonoid
Features six exclusive Geogan to build the ultimate Dragonoid. Watch as it pops open from its unique shape into a fierce creature. $39.99, ages 6+, amazon.com
Itty Bitty Pretty Angel High
Seven fabulous pint-size dolls with stylish and swappable fashion accessories. Packing transforms into a display. $9.99, ages 3+, target.com
Treasures Await! Adventure Ship
Climb aboard from the fold-down stairs, spin the ship’s steering wheel, keep watch from the crow’s nests and more. Includes a detachable rowboat and a treasure chest. $59.99, ages 3-8,lakeshorelearning.com
Animal Planet Electronic Battling Dino
Bring the animal kingdom to life. Let your instincts take over and your imagination go wild, but beware of the hungry, real-life T-rex lurking around the corner. $39.99, ages 3+, target.com
Sort & Recycle Ride-On Truck™
Do your part to help the earth with this recycling truck made from 90 percent reclaimed plastic. Beginner recyclers will love hopping on this lean, green recycling machine. $29.84, ages 2-5, walmart.com
Snapsies Mix and Match Surprise
Offers a whole world of animal characters each with its own distinct personalities, looks and accessories that you can customize in a snap. $9.99, ages 3+, amazon.com
Superhero Rescue
A hands-on adventure to learn about muscles while developing healthy exercise habits. Kit includes a top-secret mission pack and STEAM projects to save the forest. $29.95, ages 5-8, amazon.com
Mosaic Photo Frame Craft Kit
Beautiful shimmery colorful mosaic pieces made from mother of pearl shells. Everything kids need to create a unique frame. $15.99, ages 6+, plbfun.com
Scribble Scrubbie Ocean Pets Lagoon Playset
Use the washable markers to customize the crew: shark, octopus, whale and clownfish pets. $29.99, ages 3+, michaels.com
Sketch Pals Doodle Board
Clipable board characters, perfect for backpacks, lunchboxes or carry-on luggage. With the push of a button, the doodle board instantly clears itself for a new creation. $19.99, ages 4+, myboogieboard.com
Choppin’ Fun Learning Pot
Prepare for a recipe of learning. Chop the food, set the temperature dial and start cooking. $21.99, ages 1-4, shop.leapfrog.com
Spirograph® Animator
Experience the vibrant way for aspiring artists to create millions of designs. This toy allows you to watch creations come alive with an amazing 3D effect. $26.95, ages 8+, walmart.com
Chalk of the Town Raspberry Heart T-Shirt Kit
Celebrate the holidays with this DIY T-Shirt kit. Features a unique chalkboard heart surface on the front to draw and create new designs. $29.95, ages 4+, amazon.com
Gift Box Ornament Decorator
A DIY craft to embrace the holiday season, allowing kids to make hand-decorated ornaments for the tree. $27.99, ages 4+, eggmazing.com
STEAM Paper Butterflies Science Kit
Create beautiful paper butterflies that explode with color while learning about capillary action. Use colorful inks to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces. $22.99, ages 7+, amazon.com
PIXTER
Unleash your inner artist. Select an image and the electronic drawing coach will show you how to draw step-by-step, one line at a time. $19.99, ages 6+, pixtertoy.com
Mindful Animals Calming Activity Cards
Pause and destress with 50 animal-themed mindfulness and relaxation techniques for kids. Help calm and soothe after a busy day or even in the middle of one. $12, ages 4+, petitcollage.com
Squishmallow Food Squad
Are you a foodie? This toy features everything from appetizers to cheeseburgers to desserts. A squad member of carry out food for everyone. $19.99, all ages, squishmallows.com
Spill Proof Washable Paint
Keep craft time simple and easy with this newest less mess innovation. Helps little ones express their creativity without spills or drips. $11.49, ages 3+, shop.crayola.com
Colorforms® 70th Anniversary Edition
This classic vinyl playset provides safe, creative and imaginative play. Includes shapes of squares, triangles and circles to foster creative and geometric fun. $24.99, ages 3+, playmonster.com
KidiZoom® PrintCam™
Click and print instantly. Take beautiful panoramas or flip up the lens for selfies. The included paper roll prints up to 80 images. $71, ages 4-11, walmart.com
Rainbow Pebbles
Bring home STEAM learning through colorful, sensory play. Includes activity cards to boost exploration and imagination. Starting at $19.99 for mini jars, ages 3+, amazon.com
Shimmercorns Sparkle Makeover
These DIY unicorns come with wings, stencils, markers and a brush to express your creative side. $12.99, ages 3+, justplayproducts.com
Game On!
Asymbol
Explore imagination and creativity as you build 3D forms from the 47 wooden shapes. Assemble“things,” “beings,” “places,” “events” or “activities” and challenge others to guess your vision. $36, ages 8+, simplyfun.com
OuiSi (“we-see”) Games
A set of 210 visually-connecting photo cards, with games and activities that foster creativity and ignite curiosity. $35.00, ages 4+, ouisi.co
Pokémon Labyrinth
Explore with Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander or Bulbasaur. Be the first to catch all the Pokémon. $34.99, ages 7+, ravensburger.com
Taco Bell Party Pack Card Game
Gather crunchy tacos, freezes and other menu items in a card game. Satisfy your crew’s specific cravings to collect crave chips and win the most points. $16.99, ages 8+, tacobelltacoshop.com
Corner Crush
Game of memory and strategy – with a twist. Drop your tokens into the rotating tower and play around the corners to score four in a row. $19.99, ages 7+, biggcreative.com
MasterChef Family Cooking Game
Family fun and learning come together as you cook your way through a series of challenges such as Mystery Ingredients, Game Changers and Mad Skills. Discover new dishes with 22 family-tested recipes. $19.99, ages 8+, wildertoys.com
Disney Ring It On
Race to find matches for your favorite characters. When you complete a four-of-a-kind, ring that bell. $14.99, ages 6+, playmonster.com
Zombie Chase
Imagine being trapped inside an amusement park with the janitor-turned-zombie. This strategy game is all about finding an escape before becoming zombified. $19.99, ages 7+, playmonster.com
Storyteller’s Card Game
Boost kids' vocabulary and creative storytelling with this hilarious card game. Developed with childhood literacy experts and Hollywood artists. Includes 300-word cards and 200 story prompts. $29, ages 7+, mrswordsworth.com
Disney 5 Second Rule
Seems like it would be easy to name three Disney characters, but can you do it under the pressure of 5 seconds? Be quick, while having fun. $24.99, ages 6+, entertainmentearth.com
nut nut Squirrel!
The pesky squirrel is going after your hard-earned stash of nuts. Outsmart your opponents to win this game of squirrelly snacks, suspense and surprises. $11.99, ages 4+, pbnjgames.com
Candy Collections!
A beginners board game with a sweet theme. Roll the dice and start collecting. Extra bonus – the youngest goes first. $24.99, ages 5+, cybelesgames.com
Bold Made
Flip the script with this game featuring bold women who made huge impacts on our world. $19.99, ages 3+, boldmade.com
Marvel Eye Found It! ™Card Game
Explore the Marvel Universe as you take turns searching for specific hidden objects. $7.99, ages 3+, barnesandnoble.com
Blah Blah Blah Phonics Card Game
Decode words using phonics with three decks of increasing difficulty, race to get rid of cards by matching sounds and letters and play wild cards to trip up your opponents. $27, ages 4+, mrswordsmith.com
Cluckle
A dice-popping, word-making, chicken-grabbing game. Squeeze the chicken to pop out the die and flip egg tiles to see your letters to practice spelling while having fun. $9.99, ages 7+, biggcreative.com
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NAPPA Awards: Holiday Gift Guide 2021