Candy Land

For a lot of us, this was the very first board game. Candy Land sends little players racing their gingerbread pawns along a rainbow path, through Peppermint Forest and past the Lagoon of Lord Licorice, on the way to Princess Frostine's Ice Palace and the sweet finish at the end.

There's no reading and no counting required, so even the youngest players can take their own turns. Match the colors, move your pawn, and hope the next turn doesn't send you sliding backward. It's a gentle way to practice colors, matching, taking turns, and losing gracefully, and it's every bit as charming for grown-ups who played it the first time around.

• 2 to 4 players, ages 3+
• No reading required, perfect as a first game
• Includes a game board and 4 gingerbread pawns
• Builds color recognition, matching, and turn-taking
• Instructions in English and Spanish