The two winners of ECRM’s Buyers Choice Awards from our recent Toy Virtual Session have developed innovative products that are definitely on trend with what consumers are looking for right now. Games, puzzles, and anything to keep kids stimulated, educated, and occupied at home are very in demand during the pandemic. These products meet that need in a way that buyers found to really stand out.

Blue Marble won the Buyers Choice Award for its Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Robot Builder Set at ECRM’s Toy & Learning Technology Virtual Session held in August. Otunumen Productions was a finalist for its The WORD Game.    

The products were selected from dozens of entries submitted by participating suppliers. Buyers were able to evaluate each entry and cast their votes based on product packaging and innovation via the Buyers Choice Awards section of the ECRM Connect platform. 

Blue Marble’s mission is to create purposeful products that inspire a love of learning in children and to empower parents to raise thoughtful, confident kids. Their family of brands includes National Geographic, Discover with Dr Cool and blockaroo educational STEM toys. For over a decade the team at Blue Marble has been honoring the awesomeness of the earth with inspiring products that provide hands-on experiences with authentic gemstone and fossils from around the world.

Their blockaroo foam builders are the easiest building block system for preschoolers ever created and are the perfect introduction to STEM for early learners. Developed by teachers, the magnetic blocks rotate 360 degrees, float in water, and can be easily sanitized in the dishwasher. All blocks are compatible with each other. They come in a variety of shapes so kids can build anything and play anywhere. The robot set includes everything your child needs to build an exciting robot! And after that, they can use the blocks to invent their own unique creations. 

Otunumen Productions LLC., is a new company that has created Bible-based board games that are manufactured here in the United States. The primary objective of the company is to produce Christian board games that stimulate the study of the Bible, and that everyone will enjoy and love playing. God revealed a concept that the creator of the games developed.

The games are meant to provide opportunity to engage people in studying the Bible, and in memorizing and discussing Bible verses in a relaxed, and playful mood. As part of playing the games, players read Bible verses from play cards, and attempt to recite the verses in a fun manner. Otunumen Productions LLC., produced the WORD Game and LIV†NWORD Game in English. 

The games are currently being translated to other languages including Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian. Whereas WORD Game is based on the King James Standard Bible, LIV†NWORD Game is based on the Douay Catholic Bible. The company is also in the process of creating and releasing children’s versions of the games.

The WORD Game which is based on the New King James Standard Bible is arranged from Genesis to Revelation. The first player to move from Genesis through to Revelation and correctly recite the Bible verses on the cards that are included in the game box wins the game. The WORD Game is an interactive and fun game that can be played by anyone who can read. The game gives players the opportunity to study and discuss the Bible in a playful mood. 

An individual can play the game alone, or it can be played by friends, and family members. The game is great for Sunday School, Bible Study, and game nights. It is also an excellent gift idea. A game box contains a game board, a spinner, the game rule, a pack of 50 cards with Bible verses, and 6 pawns. However, the board game is not restricted to six players, as many as 10-15 players can play the game.