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When it comes to shopping for toys, I prefer smaller boutique style stores over larger stores. They seem to care more about the products they carry. Not only are they more knowledgeable about the products on their shelves, they were lovingly selected for their store because they met certain criteria. Stores like Brilliant Sky Toys & Books offer well made, educational, high quality toys and books that are perfect for holiday gift giving, birthday presents and Thanksgiving homecoming gifts.
Each year Brilliant Sky selects their favorite books and toys for their Billiance Awards. The Brilliant Sky chain chooses its Brilliance Award Winners upon quality, the value of open-ended play and the simple beauty of a child’s fascination and delight. This year the list covers 12 different brands with prices ranging from $9.99 to $129.99 (most $24.99-$29.99). Congratulations to each of the 2014 Brilliance Award winners, listed below from youngest (6 months+) to oldest (8+) recommended ages. I had the opportunity to check out some of these items in person and those will be noted with a (*).
Tree Top Adventure • Ages 12 months+ • $99.99
Vendor: The Manhattan Toy Company
This brilliant activity toy was featured on ABC-TV’s The View as Best of the Toy Fair 2014.The wooden activity center is packed full of exciting features including 4 quadrants with a variety of activities that multiple children can play — at the same time! Babies will happily discover 6 tracks with animal-themed gliders, 6 bead runs with colorful wooden beads and even a spring flower. Adult assembly required. 
*Squigz Starter Set (24 pieces) • Ages 3+ • $24.99
Vendor: Fat Brain Toys
As seen on NBC-TV’s The Today Show, Squigz are fun little suckers. Apply pressure to two Squigz and watch as air rushes out and the fun rushes in! Connecting to each other and to any solid, non-porous surface – Squigz are a species altheir own. They are flexible fellows and committed joiners. Squigz and fellow Squigz have one chief enterprise – creating things. Willingly, they assemble to become rockets, vehicles, a cushion for the cat, jewelry… they thrill in uniting as a ginormous octopus or squid. Squigz are scientific sorts – always up for playful experimentation and defying gravity – sticking to bathtubs, windows, school lockers, tabletops (and yes, even office desktops).
* My kids love anything they can build with and these are very unique and fun! They stick together really well and make a fun popping noise if you pull them apart just right. We have wood floors which make the perfect building surface!
*Plus-Plus Mini-Basic (480 pieces) • Ages 3+ • $29.99
Vendor: Geared For Imagination
Picture two plus (+) signs joined together and you “get” this simple shape with endless possibilities. Plus-Plus building bricks allow kids as young as 3 to create mosaics or 3-D designs.This new Plus-Plus Mini-Basic set contains 480 bricks as well as instructions to make 3 specific models. A great way to get kids started with the Plus-Plus product line. The toy line is designed and manufactured in Denmark.
*The pieces of this set are pretty small. When my daughter was three she still stuck things in her mouth. I think these are better suited to slightly older kids. That being said, this is another really unique and fun building set. I love all the bright colors and the way the pieces snap together like puzzle pieces.
Sphero 2.0 • Ages 3+ • $129.99
Vendor: Orbotix
The only hi-tech toy to make the Brilliance Award list, Sphero 2.0 rolls at speeds of up to 7 feet per second and pairs to your device via Bluetooth with a range of up to 100 feet. Powered
by induction charging, Sphero 2.0 is three times brighter than the original and is pet proof, waterproof and ready for any adventure. As a bonus, 2 ramps are included in each box and
kids (and parents) can choose from over 30 free apps to launch a whole new world of mobile game play. A quick start guide gets you rolling problem-free plus there are free games and apps
available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, and Windows Store. A power adapter (110V -240V compatible, USA style plug) is included.
*Lottie Dolls • Autumn Leaves • Ages 3+ • $19.99
Vendor: Schylling
Designed in Britain and winner of 12 toy awards, Lottie is a new, innovative fashion doll who stands for positive contemporary values. Her bright, vibrant clothes, silky hair, and creative accessories are tailored to reflect a young girl who is happy, brave, imaginative, and bright – the most positive role model possible. And she stands on her own two feet — figuratively and literally. At 7″,
she’s the easiest size for girls ages 3 – 9 to clasp, and thanks to bendable joints, she can stand and assume different poses.
*You can read my full review on Lottie Dolls here. I think they’re great and I’m especially in love with the new Snow Queen doll just in time for winter. Her blue snowflake dress and fur shall is just dazzling!
Doodle Quest • Ages 6+ • $24.99
Vendor: Blue Orange
Dive below the deep blue sea where there’s fish to gobble, treasure to discover and divers to save! You will complete each quest with the power of your pen, drawing your way through underwater scenes on the
quest cards. But it’s not that easy! Players draw on separate transparent sheets and must trust their eyes in order to meet targets and avoid obstacles. This unique drawing game includes 36 illustrations and two
levels to master. The bait of the challenge hooks kids for hours of fun! Ideal for 1 to 4 players. Expect to play each game for about20 minutes!
Create Your Own Storybook • Ages 6+ • $19.99
Vendor: Creatively Ever After
Imagine holding a real book, written and illustrated by your own child. Kids’ minds are alive with imagination. Their stories are so unique and amusing. They love to draw, create and write. Just think how they’ll respond when you tell them to write a story and it’ll actually become a book — bound and printed. This kit includes everything — it only lacks a child’s fantastic creativity. Blank sheets, with a border frame to draw in and lines to write on, are waiting to be filled. (The finished book will hold 12 pages, but 18 template sheets are given in case an elbow gets bumped or the storyline changes.) Create a separate sheet for every page; draw a picture on the cover sheet. Fill in the info sheet with the child’s name, book title, and dedication. Place all the completed pages into the postage paid envelope and drop in the mail! Creatively Ever After will ship back the final product in 4 to 6 weeks.
Super Stadium Baseball Game • Ages 6+ • $39.99
Vendor: International Playthings
Create a realistic ball park where you get to strike out your opponent with fast balls and curve balls. Throw a variety of breaking balls at different speeds. Your opponent won’t be able to predict the pitch
you will throw! A unique magnetized infield creates ball movement when the pitches are thrown. There is a spring-loaded bat, counter for balls, strikes and outs. Hit singles, doubles, triples, foul balls and
home runs! Choose to bat right or left-handed. Strategically position fielders. The only thing missing are the Cracker Jacks! 
LoopDeLoom • Ages 8+ • $29.99
Vendor: Ann Williams
Weaving just got faster and even more fun! Loopdeloom is the new sister of the popular Loopdedoo. Simply stated, it’s an ingenious new loom design with spinning pegs to make weaving effortless. Say goodbye to traditional looms as LoopDeLoom puts a new spin on weaving. Make purses, cuff bracelets, headbands, cell phone and tablet cases, potholders and more. Move up to making clothing and decorator items like scarves, wraps, pillow covers and throws. Weave items any length, and up to 7”wide using one loom. It’s a great gift for tweens and teens. Kit includes spinning peg loom, 120 yards of yarn and detailed instructions. 
Sew Cute Sets • Ages 8+ • $9.99
Vendor: University Games
Get sewing with the My Studio Girl Sew-Your-Own Sew Cute Kits. Girls will love stitching up tiny, adorable animals and dolls with these easy to do kits. The 8-piece set includes easy-to-follow instructions, pre-cut felt pieces, stuffing, child-safe needle, and thread. The finished project will be approximately 6” – 9” tall.The My Studio Girl collection was developed for the creative side of every girl — inspiring creativity, self-expression and empowerment.
*Illustrated Fairy Tales • Ages 8+ • 19.99
Vendor: Usborne
Open these pages and enter an enchanted realm of proud emperors, pretty princesses, helpful fairies and magical animals. This charming collection contains ten classic fairy tales by the Brothers
Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and others. Stories include: Sleeping Beauty, The Emperor and the Nightingale, Beauty and the Beast, The Dragon Painter, The Frog Prince, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, The Swan Princess and The Emperor’s New Clothes. Also available: Illustrated Adventure Stories.
* This book is the perfect size. Not too big and not too small. The cover is sort of padded which is really nice. The illustrations are really cute and the book features all of our favorite stories! Illustrated Reading is perfect for bedtime reading. It says ages 8+ but my girls are 4 and 5 and while they can’t read it on their own yet, they love listening to the stories and looking at the pictures.
Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls • Ages 8+ • $24.99
Vendor: Mindware
This is one-of-a-kind art that’s both fun and functional! Kids can paint and oven-bake their creations for a glossy, permanent finished product (non food-safe). The Porcelain Bowl Set includes 3 bowls (each 4 ½ inches in diameter), 12 colors of porcelain paint, a paint brush and illustrated instructions.
I think Brilliant Sky Toys put together a very well rounded list of products suited for kids of all different ages and interests. I wish we had a store nearby to shop at! I love locally owned toy shops that offer toys like these. The warmth and true caring about their customers makes it so much more fun to shop! The chain of 17 Brilliant Sky stores stretches from Tennessee and Iowa to Texas and North Carolina. You can find the nearest location here or shop online at www.BrilliantSkyToys.com. If you are lucky enough to have a store near you, I highly recommend you go in and check it out! Founders Brent & Sonia Taylor strive to offer an inviting atmosphere and a fun shopping experience.
We’re looking for your opinion as a parent about how you feel about your kids playing with these types of toys and how you value the small, locally-owned toy shop as a genre.
Feeling lucky? One lucky winner will have their choice of any ONE of the Brillance Award Winning toys. Enter the giveaway by filling out the form below. Be sure to note the toy you want if you win!
A complimentary product/service was provided for this review, however, all opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in any other way. See Mommies With Cents disclosure policy for more details.
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