9. Melissa & Doug See & Spell
Ages 4 to 7
How did Melissa & Doug toys get so popular? Partly through their ability to cram multiple kinds of fun into simple, attractive wood products. This relatively cheap puzzle lets kids work on their spelling (three- and four-letter words), their hand-eye coordination, and even their writing by using the letters as stencils.
The bottom line: An attractive wood toy that helps children spell.


