Winners of the third annual Kids at Play Interactive (KAPi) awards were unveiled yesterday and will be recognized on January 12 at CES in Las Vegas.

The awards recognize digital innovation in children’s technology during the past year and cover apps, eBooks, video games, internet sites and smart toys that target kids up to age 15.   This year, 13 judges reviewed 635 children’s technology products.

The 2012 winners are:

Best App for Younger Children: DoodleCast for Kids by zinc Roe

Best App for Older Children: Bobo Explores Light by GameCollage

Best Children’s eBook: Cinderella Nosy Crow Animated Picture Book by Nosy Crow

Best Video Game: Once Upon a Monster by Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment

Best Hardware: iPad 2 by Apple

Best Technology Toy: Disney AppMates by Disney Consumer Products

Best Education: Noodle Words by Noodleworks

Best Virtual World: MineCraft by Mojang

Best Emerging Pioneer: Ge Wang, co-founder and CCO, Smule

Best Pioneer: Mark Schlichting, creator of the Broderbund Living Books

KAPi awards finalists were selected by a group of publishers and critics at the Dust or Magic Institute and the winners were determined by Kids@Play Summit attendee popular vote. See here for more details about the selection and screening process.