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The Source for the Hottest Toys and Gifts for the Holidays
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We are so excited to bring you the sixth annual Toy Insider, your holiday gift guide to the best toys for the kids in your life. The Toy Insider panel of experts has been working hard all year scouring the aisles for the best and hottest toys for the holiday season. We know how busy life can be—we’re parents too! To make your holiday shopping a little easier, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to provide you with the information you need to get a jump-start on your holiday toy shopping. This year’s guide is jam-packed with a brand new selection of toys for children of all ages. Because all kids are unique, we’ve included a handy skill key, located on the Hot 20 page, to offer you even more assistance in finding just the right gifts for the kids on your shopping list. The following pages contain some of our favorite toys for the holidays, but you’ll find many more great toys if you visit our website, www.thetoyinsider.com. On the website, we’ve included an expanded selection of the best toys of the season, with direct links to the manufacturers’ websites. We’ve also added tips, trends, and blog entries from our panel of toy experts! On the back page of this guide, you’ll find a checklist of all the toys featured inside. You can use this checklist to sit down with your children and create their holiday wish list, making your shopping experience much easier! As parents first and toy experts second, we know that toys and gift giving should be fun and bring joy to the children in your life. Enjoy the Toy Insider, THE source for the hottest toys and gifts of the holiday season.
CO-PUBLISHERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CO-EDITOR TOY INSIDER PANEL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jonathan Samet and Laurie Schacht Jackie Breyer Reyne Rice Reyne Rice, Jackie Breyer, Laurie Schacht, Jonathan Samet Anthony K. Guardiola Anthony K. Guardiola
Adventure Publishing Group Inc. 307 7th Avenue Suite 1601 New York, NY 10001 (212) 575-4510 PH (212) 575-4521 FX www.thetoyinsider.com
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ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN ROOM FULL OF TOYS OR A PICK OF YOUR FAVORITE! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. “Room Full of Toys” Sweepstakes. Sponsored by Hearst Communications, Inc. To enter between 12:01 am (ET), November 1, 2011 and 11:59 pm (ET) December 12, 2011 either (i) Download, only once, the Microsoft Tag application onto your smart phone by either visiting http://gettag.mobi using your mobile internet browser or sending a link to your mobile phone from the Microsoft Tag website at www.microsoft.com/tag by taking a picture of the WD Tag on the The Toy Insider page using the Microsoft Tag application on your mobile smart phone. Once you have properly taken a picture of the WD Tag, you will be directly linked to the mobile website to enter the sweepstakes. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL YOU HAVE VISITED THE MOBILE WEBSITE TO ENTER YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. Important Notice: You may be charged for visiting the mobile website in accordance with the terms of your service agreement with your carrier; or (ii) Visit WomansDay.com/TheToyInsider, and complete and submit the entry form pursuant to the on-screen instructions. Odds of winning depend upon the total number of eligible entries received. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, ages 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. For complete rules go www.WomansDay.com/TheToyInsider.
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0-2 YEARS
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Our Toy Insider panel of experts has
ELEFUN BUSY BALL POPPER, 9 MOS+ Drop the five colorful balls into the Elefun character’s ears, and they could pop out of his trunk or roll into his belly. The elephant’s trunk rotates 360 degrees so mom can control the action. Plays 10 songs. PLAYSKOOL, www.playskool.com
LET’S ROCK ELMO, 18 MOS+ Elmo takes the stage singing and making music, and preschoolers can too! Elmo comes with his very own microphone, tambourine, and drum set, and magically recognizes which one you give him. Kids can play along! HASBRO, www.hasbro.com
LITTLE PEOPLE ZOO TALKERS ANIMAL SOUNDS ZOO, 18 MOS+ Interactive play set featuring animal recognition technology brings animals to life! Place any animal on the peg at the hut, and it responds with that animal’s name and corresponding sound. Fun activities on both sides of the play set! FISHER-PRICE, www.fisher-price.com
POCOYO SWIGGLETRAKS, 18 MOS+ Flexible racetrack gives preschoolers a creative way to play by allowing them to create their own course. A moving bridge adds excitement. Includes a motorized vehicle with music and ball accessory. Based on the Pocoyo TV series. BANDAI AMERICA, www.bandai.com/pocoyo
selected these as some of the hottest toys for this holiday season. Your child may have individual needs and passions, so please review each age segment and visit our website, www.thetoyinsider.com, for even more great holiday gifts that will appeal to your child.
3-5 YEARS
CHUGGINGTON INTERACTIVE RAILWAY, 3+ Featuring spiral elevation and 60 pieces, this play set includes a three-foot layout and three interactive train stops, plus Interactive Vee and Wilson! SmartTalk technology allows vehicles and locations to recognize, react, and respond during play. LEARNING CURVE, www.learningcurve.com
LAZER STUNT CHASER, 4+ Project light from the remote control and watch the Lazer Stunt Chaser race after it at super fast speeds! Race the Chaser over the stunt ramp, and it will flip over and keep going. THINKWAY TOYS, www.thinkwaytoys.com
MINI LALALOOPSY TREEHOUSE, 4+ Girls can play and explore with the Mini Lalaloopsy dolls as they climb, swing, and play in their very own tree house. This fun hangout includes lots of activities and accessories. Exclusive characters included. MGA ENTERTAINMENT, www.lalaloopsy.com
LEAPPAD, 4+ With endless ways to play and learn, this new tablet is designed just for kids. Durable device features a built-in camera, video recorder, and child-sized stylus. More than 100 games, books, apps, and videos available. LEAPFROG, www.leapfrog.com
LITE SPRITES, 4+ Use the Lite Wand to capture color and light from any flat surface and share it with the Sprites and play sets of LiteTopia. Kids can color their play world any way they choose. WOWWEE, www.litesprites.com
PLASMABIKE, 3+ The PlasmaBike’s unique shape provides a fun, more stable ride than traditional balance bikes. The wide wheels encourage balance development and help avoid the need for training wheels. PLASMART, www.plasmarttoys.com
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6-8 YEARS
JUSTIN BIEBER ROCKIN’ TOUR BUS AND CONCERT STAGE, 6+ Justin Bieber’s tour bus transforms into a concert stage complete with lights, spinning floor, and an MP3 dock. Backstage lounge converts from dressing table to media room. Doll sold separately. THE BRIDGE DIRECT, www.justinbiebertoys.com
NERF VORTEX PROTON BLASTER, 8+ Nerf Vortex Blasters hurl ultra-distance discs for the ultimate battle experience. This powerful, single-shot blaster is compact enough to hide away when needed, but also quick-loading enough for surprise situations. HASBRO, www.hasbro.com
RADICA FIJIT FRIENDS, 6+ Interactive, robotic toy talks, laughs, dances to your music, and brings a new level of innovation to playtime. Kids can poke and squeeze a Fijit Friend for fun surprises. Understands and responds to more than 30 verbal commands. MATTEL, www.fijitfriends.com
REDAKAI CHAMPIONSHIP TIN, 6+ Redakai takes trading cards to the next level with amazing Blast3D technology. These trading cards contain 3-D and animation effects. Automatically tracks your progress and allows you to see the damaging effects of your attacks. SPIN MASTER, www.redakai.com
SKYLANDERS SPYRO’S ADVENTURE, 6+ Bring your toys to life! Players collect real-world toys and teleport them directly into the game using a mystical Portal Jumper. Available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, mobile devices, Windows PC, and the web. ACTIVISION, www.skylandersgame.com
9+ YEARS
TOY SKILL KEY Infant & Toddler Development: Develop five senses, basic concepts, hand/eye coordination, and early language skills.
Social and Emotional Intelligence: Encourage art, music, language, and social skills. Explore creative imaginative play and role-playing. ALIEN CONQUEST: ALIEN MOTHERSHIP, 9+ The Alien Mothership has appeared in the city skyline right before the eyes of the intrepid reporter! Large UFO has real spinning outer disks. Includes eerie UFO sound brick and comes equipped with abducting claw to lift and carry minifigures. LEGO SYSTEMS, www.shop.lego.com
PAPER JAMZ PRO SERIES MICROPHONE, 9+ The new Paper Jamz Microphone uses cutting-edge technology (Perfect Pitch) to deliver a unique and fun singing experience to your favorite songs. Includes two songs and enhanced features that help you sound like a professional recording artist. WOWWEE, www.paperjamzpro.com
School Readiness: Support math, logic, and spatial skills. Enhance language, reading and writing skills. Discover science, nature, and exploration.
Physical and Active: Develop balance and coordination using large and small motor skills and dexterity. Improve physical awareness.
Smart Tech: Enhance knowledge of computers, music, digital imaging, communication, Internet, geography, and world events. Social Interaction: Parent/Child or Kid/Kid: Encourage and support close relationships through shared learning experiences. SCENE IT? HARRY POTTER: THE COMPLETE CINEMATIC JOURNEY, 13+ From Harry’s first days at Hogwarts through his ultimate showdown with You Know Who, this DVD game lets you relive all eight films via clips, trivia questions, and on-screen puzzles. SCREENLIFE, www.screenlifegames.com
UDRAW GAME TABLET, 9+ Features versatile and easy-to-use tools so users can paint, draw, and color anything from simple doodles to intricate masterpieces. Comes bundled with a featurerich drawing, coloring, and art-based video game, uDraw Studio. THQ, www.worldofudraw.com
Walmart Availability: Products with this icon are available at Walmart stores nationwide, and/or through walmart.com.
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ANGRY BIRDS PLUSH, 6+ These plush birds and pigs are based on those featured in the phenomenally popular app, Angry Birds. COMMONWEALTH TOY & NOVELTY CO., www.commonwealthtoy.com
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0-2 YEARS
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INFANTS & TODDLERS Every day is a new adventure for babies and toddlers, who amaze their parents with their continuous growth and development. For this age range, choose items that stimulate their minds, bodies, and all five senses. Toys for this age group encourage experimentation with colors, shapes, sounds, and textures. By offering opportunities for hand-eye coordination, motor skills, language recognition, and nurturing, parents are providing little ones with the early development skills they need as they grow up.
ALPHABEASTS, 2+ These scary-dorable educational plush characters are designed to help children learn the alphabet and how to spell. Each beast features an uppercase letter on its front and the lowercase version on its back. ALPHATOYS, www.thealphabeasts.com
BUBBLE BOUNCER, 1+ This portable early bouncer encourages motor and balancing skills. Close to the ground and easy for young children to access, the robust handle provides support and confidence to exploring toddlers. TP ACTIVITY, www.tptoys.com
CAT SHAPE SORTER DUMP TRUCK, 1+ Little ones will learn about traditional shapes and colors as they play with iconic Cat machines. Available in two styles: Cat Dump Truck and Cat Cement Mixer. TOY STATE, www.toystate.com
EXPLORE THE SAFARI: TAKE-ALONG PUZZLE PLAY SET, 2+ This portable 2-in-1 wooden puzzle offers children a world of imaginative play and educational fun. Solve the eight-piece puzzle, or remove the pieces and stand them upright to play with as a play set. PBS KIDS, www.shop.pbskids.org
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FUN TRAVEL ACTIVITY NEST, 0+ This multifunctioning item serves as a gym, activity mat, and baby nest, and folds into an easy-to-transport bag. It’s comfortable, practical, and lightweight, and is a great source of entertainment for baby. Features lights, sounds, and soft melodies. CHICCO, www.chiccousa.com
LEGACY GROW-WITH-ME PONY, 9 MOS+ This soft toddler rocker easily converts (no tools required!) into a spring rider as kids grow. The pony talks and sings with a moving mouth and motion-activated galloping sounds. TEK NEK TOYS, www.teknektoys.com
GREEN TOYS FLATBED TRUCK & RACE CAR, 1+ This sturdy blue truck hauls a sleek red hot rod on its back, and has a flatbed that tilts up to allow the car to roll off. These eco-conscious vehicles are made in the U.S. from 100% recycled plastic milk containers. GREEN TOYS, www.greentoys.com
LITTLE BUILDER RATTLE BLOCS, 2+ This 20-piece set of eco-friendly wood blocks includes rattle blocks, steps, and triangular roof pieces that are chunky for little hands. Rattle pieces have a wooden marble tucked inside that makes shaking the blocks lots of fun. CITIBLOCS, www.citiblocs.com
MEGA BLOKS 3-IN-1 BUILD N GO WALKER, 9 MOS+ This foldable walker can be pushed or pulled, and transforms into a wagon when little walkers are ready. Kids can build on the go, and blocks can also be stored inside. MEGA BRANDS, www.megabrands.com
MY BUSY TOWN, 1+ Five sides of discovery and fun! This bright, solid wooden cube contains playful activities, including curvy bead mazes, peek-a-boo doors, spin-and-match animals, turnand-learn ABC tiles, and racing vehicle rollers. ALEX, www.alextoys.com
MIMICKING MONKEY, 2+ Bring tranquility and comfort to little ones! This soft friend features personalized soothing sounds. Record voices over three unique sound options for fun and sleep. A 30-minute sleep timer is built in. CLOUD B, www.cloudb.com
MY OWN STORY TIME PAD, 2+ This educational tablet is designed for young kids but is full of “grown-up” features. Children can follow along to personalized stories, hear customized “emails,” listen to pre-selected songs, and explore the alphabet. LEAPFROG, www.leapfrog.com
MY TAKE ALONG 1-2-3 NOAH’S ARK, 18 MOS+ This play set’s large, rounded pieces are designed for toddlers. The deck of the ark is removable, and there is plenty of space for storage. The ark can float on water, and comes with a handle for portability. PLAYMOBIL, www.playmobilusa.com
ORGANIC WINNIE THE POOH AND FRIENDS, 0+ Pooh goes organic! With muted colors and embroidered details, Pooh and his friends give big, soft hugs. Made from certified organic cotton and colored with non-toxic, low eco-impact dyes. MIYIM, www.miyim.com
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PARENTS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, 1+ This easily portable animal hospital supports the development of caring and nurturing skills. Includes animal hospital carrying case with easyto-grasp handle, soft toy puppy, two bandages, syringe, stethoscope, and x-ray scan. MANHATTAN TOY, www.manhattantoy.com
RAINBOW WHIRLS PEGGING GAME, 2+ Made of Beechwood, this stacking game features colored pegs that can be plugged into any hole on the board, and colored rings that can stack onto any colored peg. HABA, www.habausa.com
PEEK AT ME BUNNY, 9 MOS+ This soft plush bunny has sensors on its body for interactive play, as well as learning keys on its hands and feet. Day and Night modes allow for active or sleepy-time play. Features age-appropriate learning that grows with the child. VTECH, www.vtechkids.com
RONNIE ROCKET, 18 MOS+ Brightly colored and sturdy, this two-piece plastic space rocket comes with a removable spaceman, called Major Tom. A pull of the cord makes Ronnie vibrate as he prepares to “take off.” RAVENSBURGER, www.ravensburger.com
SESAME STREET PLAYSET, 18 MOS+ Visit Sesame Street with this play set featuring Hooper’s Store, 123 Stoop, Big Bird’s nest, Oscar’s can, and more. Comes with chunky Elmo and Cookie Monster figures and a “slidewalk” where characters can “walk” up and down the street. HASBRO, www.hasbro.com
SHAPES & SHARING PICNIC BASKET, 6 MOS+ The Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket helps little learners explore shapes, colors, manners, and more. More than 30 audio responses encourage pretend play, and the 14-piece set helps children build motor skills. LEAPFROG, www.leapfrog.com
SHAPE SORTING ROBOT, 18 MOS+ Rotate the robot’s gears! Line up the shapes, then slide the blocks through. Blocks land with a funny “clunk” sound, then slide out the side to keep the play going. P’KOLINO, www.pkolino.com
TIDOO RASPBERRY, 18 MOS+ Designed for bathtime fun, Tidoo Raspberry is soft, posable, and light enough to float. Filled with polystyrene “beads” that dry quickly, Tidoo is a favorite playmate out of the tub, too. Pacifier and rubber ducky included. COROLLE, www.corolle.com
TOBBLES, 1+ Stack and topple a Tobbles tower, or spin and balance the spheres. Tobbles is a set of six uniquely weighted spheres that nest inside one another and can be balanced in all sorts of clever and colorful combinations. FAT BRAIN TOY CO., www.fatbraintoyco.com
WINNIE THE POOH’S HOUSE, 18 MOS+ There’s a lot of honey to eat and a big slide to play on at Winnie the Pooh’s House. Eeyore, Piglet, and Pooh can take turns sliding down the slide. The bricks, figures, and animals are colorful, safe, and sturdy. LEGO, www.lego.com
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3-5 YEARS
BACKYARD SAFARI EXPEDITION 3-IN-1 COMPASS, 5+ Conveniently attached to a self-winding retractable carabiner clip, this compass is always within reach, then quickly out of your way. A push button releases the spring-loaded compass lid. Includes a flip-out magnifying glass and a high-visibility LED signal light. SUMMIT TOY, www.summittoy.com
PRESCHOOL Preschoolers are ready to take on a new type of play. Encourage imaginative and creative activities with
BARBIE TOUCH SCREEN FASHION TABLET, 4+ Touch, write, and learn on the go! Contains a stylus tucked neatly inside to play its 30 touch-screen learning activities. Activities include writing, drawing, music making, vocabulary building, sequencing, memorizing, and more. OREGON SCIENTIFIC, www.oregonscientific.com
role-playing and pretend play. Provide For more information, go to www.thetoyinsider.com
opportunities for active play, exercising their bodies and their spirit of adventure. Social and emotional skills are emerging, so music, arts and
BARBIE ZIPBIN CLUTCH AND CLOSET, 3+ The Barbie ZipBin Clutch is the perfect finishing touch for any outfit. It features woven designs on the front and unfolds to reveal a dressing room for Barbie on the inside. NEAT-OH!, www.neat-oh.com
crafts, teamwork, and language skills are important to build self-esteem. Toys that teach vocabulary and social skills and that result in a sense of accomplishment are of the utmost importance.
BEN 10 TECH BLASTER, 4+ State-of-the-art battle gear is at kids’ fingertips with this multifunctional piece of alien technology. Case converts into five different toys: Deluxe Blaster, Mini Blaster, Super Decoder, X-Ray Scanner, and Multi Scope. Features lights and sounds. BANDAI AMERICA, www.bandai.com
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BIG ACTION CONSTRUCTION SITE, 3+ Interactive play set full of action-packed construction fun. Easy-to-use R/C controller steers the truck in four directions with colorcoded buttons. EZ Guide Ramps automatically align vehicles so even the youngest kids find success in driving it to the play areas. FISHER-PRICE, www.fisher-price.com BUSYTOWN TOWN HALL, 3+ Recreate Richard Scarry’s Busytown world, just like in the books and on the TV show. Comes with lots of features and accessories, as well as a DVD episode of the Busytown TV show. THE BRIDGE DIRECT, www.thebridgedirect.com
CARS 2 PUZZLE FURNITURE, 3+ Cars 2 Puzzle Furniture is designed to look like a stack of racing tires; however, kids can easily pull the chairs out for sitting—the remaining piece can be used as a table! Easyto-clean surface; no assembly required. KIDS ONLY, www.kidsonlytoys.com
CARS 2 SECRET SPY ATTACK FINN MCMISSILE, 4+ Finn McMissile, the heroic secret agent from Cars 2, sneaks onto the racing scene fully loaded with “top secret” spy weapons, firing missiles, phrases from the movie, sound effects, and thrilling transformations. MATTEL, www.mattel.com
DAGEDAR TWO LANE BATTLE JUMP TRACKSET, 4+ Send two balls hurtling down a near-vertical drop and into a high-speed loop! Launch over the gap and knock away your opponent on the way to the finish gate. CEPIA, LLC, www.dagedar.com
DISCOVERY KIDS COLORME CARDBOARD PLAYHOUSE, 3+ This five-foot-tall, three-footwide play house allows children to color, paint, and personalize their imaginary home. The play house is made of 100% sturdy cardboard paper and is environmentally friendly. MERCHSOURCE, LLC
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DISNEY PRINCESS ULTIMATE DREAM CASTLE, 3+ A fairytale in itself, the castle stands three stories tall, featuring iconic rooms themed to each Disney Princess, and more than 50 different play pieces to bring the fairytales to life. Dolls sold separately. MATTEL, www.mattel.com
FOLKMONSTER PUPPETS, 3+ Folkmanis’ Folkmonster Puppets are furry, friendly, and colorful with big personalities. Two styles are available: Blueper (shown here), and Twickety. FOLKMANIS, www.folkmanis.com
HAPPY NAPPERS, 3+ Super soft play pillows can be converted from a character to its home and back again. Each Happy Napper has a unique sleepy sound and is gently awoken with a press of the doorbell on their Home Sweet Home. JAY AT PLAY, www.happynapper.com HEXBUG NANO HIVE HABITAT SET, 3+ Transportable environment enables Nano architects to customize the design and layout of the habitat. Center ramp allows for multilevel interaction. Add the merry-gorounds and seesaw for even more fun. Includes an extremely rare Hexbug Nano mutation. INNOVATION FIRST LABS, www.hexbug.com HOT WHEELS WALL TRACKS, 4+ Hot Wheels takes its iconic track off the ground and places it on the wall allowing boys to experience track play in an entirely new way! Safe for walls. Layout can be mixed and matched any which way. HOT WHEELS, www.hotwheels.com
I SPY SPECTACULAR, 5+ A one-of-a-kind game with a unique three-tiered spinner mechanism that will send you over the edge looking for picture matches! Capture 10 matches and win. The riddles become a fun activity at the end of the round. BRIARPATCH, www.briarpatch.com
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KINECTIMALS, 3+ For use with the Kinectimals video game (sold separately). Players scan the tag on their plush toy with the Kinect for Xbox 360 sensor and watch their animal appear in the game. Unlock adventures and activities specific to your plush animal. JAKKS PACIFIC, www.jakks.com LITTLEST PET SHOP MAGIC MOTION TREE HOUSE, 4+ Just push a button and see your pet really walk! With three levels and more than eight activities, there’s so much for your walking chipmunk figure to do! Additional walkable figures are also available. HASBRO, www.littlestpetshop.com
MAKE IT SHINE TORI DOLL, 5+ Tori from Nickelodeon’s Victorious sings the hit theme song, “Make It Shine!” Raise Tori’s left arm to hear her sing. Raise her right arm to hear her fans cheer. SPIN MASTER, www.spinmaster.com
MY FIRST DISNEY PRINCESS SINGING AND STORYTELLING BELLE, 3+ Belle sings “Be Our Guest” and “Tale as Old as Time,” can tell more than eight minutes of stories and songs, and says more than 100 phrases. She interacts with Chip, Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, the microphone, and her storybook. TOLLYTOTS, www.tollytots.com MY FIRST STICKY MOSAICS UNICORN JEWLERY BOX, 3+ Made with “Big Pieces for Little Fingers,” children match foam and sparkling jewel tiles to colors and shapes to create a special jewelry box. Lined with pink felt and topped with a mirror, this jewelry box is both fashionable and functional. THE ORB FACTORY LIMITED, www.orbfactory.com POPTROPICA CUSTOMIZABLE FIGURES, 6+ Bring to life the characters from the No. 1 virtual world for kids. Each pack includes a figure with an extra costume, head, and accessories. Included bonus code unlocks new costumes at www.poptropica.com. JAZWARES, www.jazwares.com
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POWER RANGERS SWORD MORPHIN FIGURES, 4+ Watch as these 6.5-inch figures morph at the flick of a button. These superheroes have MegaMode Power and are ready for action in a snap! BANDAI AMERICA, www.bandai.com
SOLID WOOD CASTLE BLOCK SET BY DISCOVERY KIDS, 4+ Build elaborate castles with bridges, turrets, arches, and towers with this classic, solid wood block set. Includes 69 pieces in a variety of sizes and shapes for endless configurations and possibilities. MERCHSOURCE, LLC
THOMAS & FRIENDS—DAY AT THE DIESELWORKS, 3+ On the Island of Sodor, if the diesel engines need repairs, they must go to the Dieselworks. Construct the play set, then fix up and refuel favorite diesels with two working cranes, including Happy Hook himself! MEGA BRANDS, www.megabrands.com
SQUINKIES ADVENTURE MALL SURPRIZE, 4+ An amusement park, water park, and shopping mall all in one! Squinkies can take a spin on the Ferris wheel, ride the roller coaster, take a dip, and more. Includes eight exclusive Squinkies, plus accessories. BLIP TOYS, www.bliptoys.com TRANSFORMERS ULTIMATE OPTIMUS PRIME, 5+ Optimus Prime’s heroic story is the focus of the 3-D Transformers: Dark of the Moon movie. This action figure reflects the storyline with three modes—vehicle, robot, and robot with “mech suit.” Features lights, sounds, projectiles, and more. HASBRO, www.transformers.com
ZOOBLES MAMA & ZOOBLING NURSERY, 4+ Help the Mama Zooble take care of her Zooblings with this nursery play set. There’s a stroller, a diaper changing station, a spinning play pen, a slide, a swing, and more! SPIN MASTER, www.zoobles.com
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6-8 YEARS
3-D CREATE ’N COLOR, 6+ Take coloring to the next level with 3-D Create ’n Color craft kits. From a giant dinosaur and firehouse to a dollhouse and unicorn, kids can build, color, and play in a 3-D world of their own creation! ROSE ART, www.roseart.com
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GRADE SCHOOL Grade-schoolers are expanding their worlds into a broader community of schoolmates and teammates. They are enjoying new experiences as they explore their choices and expand their abilities. Encourage them to seek out and pursue their passions. Toys and games can help develop an appreciation for science, the arts, strategic and mind-stimulating activities, and spending time with family and friends. Kid-safe websites present an approach to playing that also teaches basic computer skills and computer etiquette.
20Q, 6+ Updated version of the best-selling electronic game of 20 Questions. Think of any animal, vegetable, mineral, or other object, and 20Q magically reads your mind by deducing the answer in 20 questions or less! TECHNO SOURCE, www.technosourceusa.com
ANGRY BIRDS KNOCK ON WOOD GAME, 6+ Build, launch, and destroy with this skill-and-action game based on the best-selling phone application. Players draw a card and build the structure shown before their opponent launches an Angry Bird in an attempt to knock it down. MATTEL, www.mattel.com
BAJA BEAST, 8+ This hobby-grade R/C has features off-roaders want. Coilover shocks, long-travel suspension, and a lightweight vacuum-formed body make it handle like a champ. The large pro-style controller features digital proportional steering for control, and the tri-channel transmitter has extra-long range. MAISTO, www.maisto.com
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BARBIE DESIGNABLE HAIR EXTENSIONS AND DOLL, 6+ Create personalized hair extensions printable on any inkjet printer! First design your hair extensions online, then print, wear, and share. Comes with a Barbie doll and includes sheets of printable hair extensions for both Barbie and you. MATTEL, www.barbie.com BIZU STYLE STUDIO, 6+ Magically transform accessories into hot collectibles. Style Studio allows you to inventory your Bizu collection and create new fashionable accessories. Create four stylish bracelets, link three together to make a necklace, or start a backpack and cell phone accessory trend. SPIN MASTER, www.spinmaster.com
FAB BADGE MAKER, 7+ Make 10 fabulous fabric badges with the easy-to-use button maker! Add sparkle with glitter stickers and gems. Includes 10 badges, badge maker, 12 fabric circles, 12 glitter stickers and gems, and easy instructions. ALEX, www.alextoys.com HOT WHEELS VIDEO RACER, 6+ There’s a video camera encased inside this 1:64-scale vehicle. Capture and produce high-quality footage of your Hot Wheels driving experiences. Features real-time playback and delete functionality. Can also attach to skateboards, bikes, helmets, etc. to capture awesome footage! HOT WHEELS, www.hotwheels.com JUNGLE SPEED, 8+ Fast and furious game of quick thinking and lightning fast reflexes. When an opponent’s card matches your own, grab the totem before they do! Easy-to-learn game play for the entire family. ASMODEE, www.asmodee.com
KRE-O OPTIMUS PRIME, 8+ Assemble Optimus Prime in “vehicle” mode as the notable semi-hauler, or in “robot” mode to create the leader of the Autobots. The trailer can also be disassembled and built into a command center play set for the Kreon mini figures. HASBRO, www.hasbro.com
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LABYRINTH 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, 8+ What routes could you take to reach your treasure and foil your opponents in the Labyrinth’s maze? Anniversary edition comes in a tin and includes an added twist of 12 maze cards with encrypted messages on the back. RAVENSBURGER, www.ravensburger.com
LEGO NINJAGO, 8+ Use stealthy ninja combat to battle the skeleton army! Features unique buildable Lego Dice and changeable rules. Team up to battle guards, find golden weapons, and defeat the general—the race is on to stop them! LEGO, www.lego.com
MARIO & LUIGI AT THE STARTING LINE BUILDING SET, 6+ Bring Mario Kart for Wii to life! Race Mario and Luigi from the starting line of the Bowser’s Castle track. Karts are battery powered and race around the track. Mystery Box sound module features start-up sounds from the game. K’NEX BRANDS, www.knex.com
MECHATARS, 6+ Join the Mechaverse and complete missions both in the virtual world at www.mechatars.com, and offline using the R/C robot. Mechatars can sense one another, and can battle against each other both online and offline. ILOVEROBOTS, www.iloverobots.com
MOSHI MONSTERS MOSHLINGS, 6+ Straight from the popular virtual world! Moshi Monsters love collecting Moshlings. When kids log on to the virtual world with the code included with the Moshling, they’ll receive a special item for their Moshi Monster. SPIN MASTER, www.moshimonsters.com
OGOBILD POD, 6+ Take the 12 bouncy rubber balls with 12 sockets each, add 30 interchangeable connector tubes, and build your own fort, tunnel, cube, ball, or sculpture. The pieces stay connected so you can toss, bounce, or roll your giant creations! OGOSPORT, www.ogosport.com
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PERPLEXUS ROOKIE, 6+ Maneuver a small marble around challenging barriers inside a large, transparent sphere. With numerous paths to choose from and more than 70 barriers to overcome, this bendy, trendy maze game offers players plenty of twists and turns for hours of entertainment. PLASMART, www.plasmarttoys.com RATUKI, 8+ Build piles of cards from 1 to 5, but watch out: it’s a cardslamming frenzy! Be the first to slam a 5 on the top of the deck, shout “Ratuki!” and the cards are yours. Get slamming and get winning! HASBRO GAMES, www.hasbrogames.com
RACERS READY GAME, 8+ Get your family to jump up, be active, and compete in hilarious races, time challenges, and crazy contests. Test your coordination and teamwork by using household items in unique ways. FAMILYTIMEFUN, www.ftfgames.com
REAL STEEL DELUXE ROBOTS, 6+ These hero robots are straight from the Real Steel film. Each has a trigger-activated, signature action move. These fighting ’bots are scaled to size and are perfect for collecting and battling against your friends’ robots. JAKKS PACIFIC, www.jakks.com
REVERSE CHARADES, 6+ Hilarious twist on the classic party game! The entire team has 60 seconds to act out as many words as one person can guess. It’s a fast-paced, fiercely fun team competition. RETROPLAY, www.reversecharades.com
SECRET AGENT HEADQUARTERS WITH ALARM SYSTEM, 7+ This control room has an LEDmap and a garage to modify the multifunctional vehicle. Features an LED-weapon and trap into the prison cell. The watercraft floats and can be upgraded with the underwater motor. PLAYMOBIL, www.playmobilusa.com
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SPY GEAR CAPTURE CAM, 8+ Motion-activated digital camera automatically takes pictures when it detects nearby movement. Set the camera to take a single photo or a series of photos in rapid succession, then upload the evidence to your computer and edit the pictures using spy-themed filters and frames. WILD PLANET ENTERTAINMENT, www.spygear.net TETRIS LINK, 6+ Players take turns rolling the die and dropping Tetriminos, the iconic Tetris playing pieces, into the tower. Link Tetriminos of the same color to earn points, while blocking opponents from scoring. TECHNO SOURCE, www.technosourceusa.com
TOP TRUMPS, 6+ Top Trumps brings the classic card game of “War” into the 21st century. Features stats, pictures, and facts that will turn your favorite topics into hours of fun. Choose your stat, beat your opponent’s card, and win the entire deck! TOP TRUMPS USA, www.toptrumps.com
WOBBLE, 6+ Test your sense of balance and concentration! The goal of the game is to get the ball in the right hole by moving or replacing the discs on the edge of the board. IDENTITY GAMES, www.identitygames.com
ZILLIONZ SAVINGS GOAL ATM, 6+ Works with real money! Insert the ATM card and use your secret code to activate the screen and view your savings. Coin slot recognizes the value of each coin, and the bill feeder accepts real currency. SUMMIT TOY, www.summittoy.com
ZIP-IT, 7+ A new, superfast, two-player game. Take 12 cubes and race against your opponent to build a word grid. One hand can be played in as little as 20 seconds. Everything you need is in the bag! BANANAGRAMS, www.bananagrams.com
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9+ YEARS
AIR HOGS HYPERACTIVES, 12+ There’s a lot of power packed into this 2.4 GHZ performance vehicle. Features interchangeable tires for indoor and outdoor driving. Multiband means that up to 10 vehicles can run at once. Reach speeds up to 20 MPH! SPIN MASTER, www.airhogs.com
TWEENS Whether online or in person, socializing is a key activity for kids in this age group. While tweens are
BATTLE MACHINES R/C LASER COMBAT AIR VS. LAND, 9+ Engage in air-to-land combat with a friend, or set the turret on autopilot to practice flying and shooting skills. Turret features 360-degree movement and authentic recoil action with each shot. Up to five vehicles can combat simultaneously. JADA TOYS, www.jadatoys.com
comfortable with technology and the
games, being creative, and being active. Provide opportunities for them
BOP IT XT, 9+ Bop-It! is back and still calling the shots. Bop-It! XT features three all-new commands, now challenging players to “Bop it,” “Pull it,” “Twist it,” “Flick It,” “Spin It,” and “Shake It.” Bop your way to victory! HASBRO GAMES, www.hasbro.com
to try new things both on their own and with their peers. Parents and caregivers are still key role models for this age group, so remain present and involved in their passions.
LIGHT STRIKE, 9+ Bring video game action into the real world! Conquer individual challenges, play one-on-one, or create the ultimate team battle with unlimited players. Interactive light and sound effects put you in the middle of the fight. WOWWEE, www.lightstrike.com
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digital world, they also enjoy playing
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MOGO CHARMBANDS AND CHARMS, 9+ This trendsetting accessory line combines magnetic charms with charmbands that link together to make wristbands, ankle bands, headbands, belts, chokers, and more. With more than 400 different designs, there is a Mogo Charm to match every mood. MOGO DESIGN, www.mogocharm.com
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MEGA BLOKS NEED FOR SPEED PORSCHE GT3 RS, 9+ A model builder and car collector’s dream! Identical to the Porsche featured in the Need for Speed video game, this 570-piece buildable collectorscale car makes for an enjoyable and fun experience in building. MEGA BRANDS, www.megabrands.com ROCKBOARD ORIGINAL SCOOTER, 9+ Versatility of a self-propelled scooter with the practicality of a kick model! Equipped with Rockboard Propulsion Technology, Rockboard scooters feature an advanced steel power-drive chain that tears up the pavement and keeps kids moving with every up-and-down propel. M.Y. PRODUCTS, www.rockboard.com
PHONE FRENZY, 14+ This socially interactive party game uses everyone’s mobile phone as the primary game piece. On every turn, players must complete a challenge with the help of one of their phone contacts by calling, texting, or picture messaging their friends! BUFFALO GAMES, www.buffalogames.com SENSE A BILITY, 10+ Test your senses with challenges that include identifying a hidden letter by touching it, guessing how many balls are in a box by the sound made when shaken, and catching a dropped stick really quick! PRESSMAN TOY, www.pressmantoy.com
SPECTACULAR SCIENCE, 12+ Put on a science show and amaze your audience! Crush a soda can with water and heat, defy gravity with water, move particles with your magic wand, light a candle with water, and much more. THAMES & KOSMOS, www.thamesandkosmos.com
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Shopping Guide for the Holidays ALPHABEASTS
DAGEDAR TWO LANE BATTLE JUMP TRACKSET
LABYRINTH 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
BUBBLE BOUNCER
LEGO NINJAGO
CAT SHAPE SORTER DUMP TRUCK
DISCOVERY KIDS COLOR-ME CARDBOARD PLAYHOUSE DISNEY PRINCESS ULTIMATE DREAM CASTLE
ELEFUN BUSY BALL POPPER
FOLKMONSTER PUPPETS
MARIO & LUIGI AT THE STARTING LINE BUILDING SET MECHATARS
EXPLORE THE SAFARI: TAKE-ALONG PUZZLE PLAY SET FUN TRAVEL ACTIVITY NEST
HAPPY NAPPERS
MOSHI MONSTERS MOSHLINGS
HEXBUG NANO HIVE HABITAT SET
NERF VORTEX PROTON BLASTER
GREEN TOYS FLATBED TRUCK & RACE CAR
HOT WHEELS WALL TRACKS
OGOBILD POD
LEGACY GROW-WITH-ME PONY
I SPY SPECTACULAR
PERPLEXUS ROOKIE
LET'S ROCK ELMO
KINECTIMALS
RACERS READY GAME
LITTLE BUILDER RATTLE BLOCS
LAZER STUNT CHASER
LITTLE PEOPLE ZOO TALKERS ANIMAL SOUNDS ZOO MEGA BLOKS 3-IN-1 BUILD N GO WALKER
LEAPPAD
MIMICKING MONKEY
LITTLEST PET SHOP MAGIC MOTION TREE HOUSE
MY BUSY TOWN
MAKE IT SHINE TORI DOLL
MY OWN STORY TIME PAD
MINI LALALOOPSY TREEHOUSE
MY TAKE ALONG 1-2-3 NOAH'S ARK
PARENTS ANIMAL HOSPITAL
MY FIRST DISNEY PRINCESS SINGING AND STORYTELLING BELLE MY FIRST STICKY MOSAICS UNICORN JEWELRY BOX PLASMABIKE
PEEK AT ME BUNNY
POPTROPICA CUSTOMIZABLE FIGURES
POCOYO SWIGGLETRAKS
POWER RANGERS SWORD MORPHIN FIGURES
RAINBOW WHIRLS PEGGING GAME RONNIE ROCKET
SOLID WOOD CASTLE BLOCK SET BY DISCOVERY KIDS SQUINKIES ADVENTURE MALL SURPRIZE
SESAME STREET PLAYSET
THOMAS & FRIENDS—DAY AT THE DIESELWORKS
SHAPE SORTING ROBOT
TRANSFORMERS ULTIMATE OPTIMUS PRIME
SHAPES & SHARING PICNIC BASKET
ZOOBLES MAMA & ZOOBLING NURSERY
TIDOO RASPBERRY
3-D CREATE 'N COLOR
TOBBLES
20Q
BATTLE MACHINES R/C LASER COMBAT AIR VS. LAND BOP IT XT
WINNIE THE POOH'S HOUSE
ANGRY BIRDS KNOCK ON WOOD GAME
LIGHT STRIKE
BACKYARD SAFARI EXPEDITION 3-IN-1 COMPASS
ANGRY BIRDS PLUSH
MEGA BLOKS NEED FOR SPEED PORSCHE GT3 RS
BARBIE TOUCH SCREEN FASHION TABLET
BAJA BEAST
MOGO CHARMBANDS AND CHARMS
BARBIE ZIPBIN CLUTCH AND CLOSET
BARBIE DESIGNABLE HAIR EXTENSIONS AND DOLL
PAPER JAMZ PRO SERIES MICROPHONE
BEN 10 TECH BLASTER
BIZU STYLE STUDIO
PHONE FRENZY
BIG ACTION CONSTRUCTION SITE
FAB BADGE MAKER
ROCKBOARD ORIGINAL SCOOTER
BUSYTOWN TOWN HALL
HOT WHEELS VIDEO RACER
CARS 2 PUZZLE FURNITURE
JUNGLE SPEED
SCENE IT? HARRY POTTER: THE COMPLETE CINEMATIC JOURNEY SENSE A BILITY
CARS 2 SECRET SPY ATTACK FINN MCMISSILE
JUSTIN BIEBER ROCKIN' TOUR BUS AND CONCERT STAGE KRE-O OPTIMUS PRIME
ORGANIC WINNIE THE POOH AND FRIENDS
LITE SPRITES
RADICA FIJIT FRIENDS RATUKI REAL STEEL DELUXE ROBOTS REDAKAI CHAMPIONSHIP TIN REVERSE CHARADES SECRET AGENT HEADQUARTERS WITH ALARM SYSTEM SKYLANDERS SPYRO'S ADVENTURE SPY GEAR CAPTURE CAM TETRIS LINK TOP TRUMPS
CHUGGINGTON INTERACTIVE RAILWAY
WOBBLE ZILLIONZ SAVINGS GOAL ATM ZIP-IT AIR HOGS HYPERACTIVES ALIEN CONQUEST: ALIEN MOTHERSHIP
SPECTACULAR SCIENCE UDRAW GAME TABLET