Hot Toys
Parents get ready. The holiday toy season is on the way. With no mega-toy this year, manufacturers are hoping to win over kids with a variety of choices. Toys expected to be bestsellers this year range from cupcake makers to the latest LEGO sets to a large, moving dinosaur. Take a look at the 12 toys likely to be top sellers this year, according to Toy Wishes Magazine.
Animal Scramble
Company: Wild Planet
Retail Price: $19.99
Animal Scramble has an electronic hand-held tagger shaped like a giraffe that asks kids to find four animals: a monkey, parrot, tiger and elephant. The giraffe calls out which animals kids should tag and tracks the amount of time taken to complete each course. (For ages 3 and up.)
Bakugan
Company: Spinmaster
Retail Price: $4.99 and up
Bakugan is a game and television show. Both were launched in January 2008. The company says it is making 300,000 Bakugan balls every day to keep up with demand. The balls are like little marbles that open up to reveal an action figure. (For ages 5 and up.)
Bratz Girlz Really Rock
Company: MGA Entertainment
Retail Price: $19.99
Combining fashion and music, MGA hopes to attract the tween market. The line has four different dolls that come with two outfits and a different instrument. (For ages 6 and up.)
Crayola Glow Station
Company: Crayola
Retail Price: $29.99
The glow station lets kids color in the dark by moving a light wand across a glowing canvas. You can draw your own images or use the wand with stencils and patterns that come with the package. (For ages 6 and up.)
Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker
Company: Jakks Pacific (JAKK)
Retail Price: $29.99
Kids make their own gluten-free cupcakes in 30 seconds. Afterwards, they can decorate the cupcakes with frosting and sprinkles. (For ages 8 and up.)
U-Dance
Company: Hasbro (HAS)
Retail Price: $74.99
Taking advantage of the music-and-dance trend in toys, Hasbro created U-Dance. The device hooks up to a television and players wrap sensors around their shoes. (For ages 8 and up.)
Disney Fairies Clickables
Company: Techno Source
Retail Price: $4.99-$29.99
Girls will be able to collect charms that can be used to open Disney’s online virtual world called Pixie Hollow. (For ages 7 and up.)
Kota the Triceratops
Company: Playskool (HAS)
Retail Price: $300
Hasbro’s Playskool created Kota, a baby dinosaur that comes to life when kids climb and sit on its back. Kota moves, makes noises and chews on a green leaf that comes with the toy. (For ages 3 and up.)
LEGO Mobile Command Center
Company: LEGO
Retail Price: $89.99
The LEGO command center comes with two cars, a plane and a boat. The center unfolds off of a flat-bed truck. (For ages 8 and up.)
"This Is Serious!" Ming Ming
Company: Fisher Price (MAT)
Retail Price: $34.99
A character from Nickelodeon’s "Wonder Pets" TV program, the doll talks, sings and dances. Nickelodeon licensed the character to Mattel’s Fisher Price unit. (For ages 18 months and up.)
Sit to Stand Alphabet Train
Company: Vtech
Retail Price: $49.99
The train teaches toddlers letters, numbers, colors, songs and stories, but can also be used as a walker or ride-on toy. (For ages 12 months and up.)
Ultimate Wall-E
Company: Thinkway Toys
Retail Price: $249.00
The Ultimate Wall-E robot brings to life the character from the Disney-Pixar movie. The Ultimate Wall-E has voice and motion sensors and comes with a remote control. (For ages 6 and up.)
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