2009's Hot Holiday Toys
What will Santa have in his bag this holiday season? Toys ‘R Us, the largest US toy retailer, has issued its forecast for the hottest toys.
With consumers still watching their spending carefully, one theme that stands out is a focus on value. Toys on the list range from $10 (squeaking Zhu Zhu interactive hamsters) to about $350 (Disney 's Netpals netbook computer).
Click ahead to see which toys made the cut.
By Christina Cheddar BerkPosted 24 Sept 2009
Bakugan Battle Brawlers’ Maxus Helios
Company: Spin Master
Retail Price: $40.00
This line of the popular brand can be separated into seven different Bakugan marbles, or joined together to create one united force. (Ages 5 years and up)
ChixOs Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft
Company: Spin Master
Retail Price: $27
Toys that allow for open-ended play tend to be the most sought after during the holiday season. With the ChixOs loft, kids can design their own perfect space. (Ages 4 years and up)
Color Me a Song
Company: Crayola Beginnings
Retail Price: $25
The perfect toy often depends on the child’s age. This one helps toddlers learn to draw. Music plays to the speed of the child’s scribbles. Built-in storage makes the toy portable. (Ages 24 months and up)
Disney Netpal
Company: Asus
Retail Price: $350
Tweens may like the Disney Netpal from Asus for its fashionable colors, but parents will likely focus on the netbook's safety features. There are more than two dozen parental controls to limit how children can browse the Web. (Ages 6 years and up)
Toy Story Interactive Buddies Talking Action Figures
Company: Thinkway
Retail Price: $100
For preschool fans of Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story, there are these interactive versions of the popular Buzz Lightyear and Woody characters. The action figures can speak more than 100 phrases. (Ages 4 years and up)
Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll
Company: Mattel (MAT)
Retail Price: $26
The buzz is already building for Disney’s newest animated feature film, The Princess and the Frog, which will be released ahead of the holiday season. No doubt there will be girls asking for a Princess Tiana doll from Mattel, available as of October. (Ages 4 years and up.)
Fast Lane JLX Over Drive Radio Control All-Terrain Vehicle
Company: Toys ‘R Us
Retail Price: $120
Toys ‘R Us is expecting remote-controlled vehicles to be very popular - that tends to happen when video game console sales are expected to be weak, which is the case this year. Pictured here is an all-terrain vehicle sold under the retailer’s store brand. It can travel on land, water, or snow. With the aid of a ramp, it can travel though the air up to six feet. (Ages 8 years and up)
Laugh & Learn Learning Farm
Company: Fisher-Price (MAT)
Retail Price: $80
The Laugh & Learn Learning Farm has several modes to keep babies entertained. (Ages 6 to 36 months)
Little Mommy Baby Ah-Choo
Company: Fisher-Price (MAT)
Retail Price: $35
Baby Ah-Choo needs some love and care to make her feel better. To inspire creative play, the doll sneezes and sniffles and asks for a tissue. (Ages 2 years and up.)
Mindflex
Company: Mattel (MAT)
Retail Price: $80
This toy will make you think. The helmet measures brain activity, and allows players to challenge one another to use their minds to move a ball through an obstacle course. (Ages 8 years and up)
Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35
Company: Hasbro (HAS)
Retail Price: $35
The Nerf blaster can hold as many as 35 darts at once. It can fire one dart at a time or unload all of them in “slam” fire mode. (Ages 6 years and up)
Star Wars’ Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser
Company: Lego Systems
Retail Price: $110
This 789-piece Lego construction set is available exclusively at Toys ‘R Us, and allows Star Wars fans to build the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser. (Ages 9 to 14 years)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Constructicon Devastator
Company: Hasbro (HAS)
Retail Price: $100
Transformers are back on the list for yet another year. This year, Hasbro has this action figure that can be built by combing six different construction vehicles known as Constructicons. (Ages 5 years and up)
Wii Sports Resort
Company: Nintendo (NTDOY)
Retail Price: $50
This sequel to Wii Sports includes more than a dozen games. (Rated E for Everyone)
Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster
Company: Cepia
Retail Price: $10
Pick a hamster to suit your personality. These interactive critters can make sounds and even play in hamster tubes and wheels. At $10 each, they will likely make good stocking stuffers. (Ages 4 years and up)
Barbie B-Nails Ditigal Nail Printer
Company: Mattel (MAT)
Retail Price: $180
Mattel’s Barbie is always popular with girls. This year, Toys ‘R Us highlights the Barbie b-nails digital nail printer, which allows young fashionistas to glam it up with a spa-like manicure. (Ages 8 years and up)
Liv
Company: Spin Master
Retail Price: From $20
Spin Master has a new collection of fashion dolls that will allow girls to take the fun online. Each Liv doll comes with a code that can be used at the Liv World website. (Ages 5 years and up)
DSi from Nintendo
Company: Nintendo (NTDOY)
Retail Price: $170
Nintendo’s DSi handheld consoles will again be on many holiday wish lists. The updated system allows kids to take pictures and search the Internet. (Ages 6 years and up)
Reader Pocket Edition
Company: Sony (SNE)
Retail Price: $200
Last year, Oprah made Amazon’s Kindle a hot holiday item. This year, Toys ‘R Us selects Sony’s Reader for its list. These portable electronic books can fit easily into a pocket and store about 350 eBooks. (Ages 12 years and up)
Paperoni Deluxe Studio
Company: Spin Master
Retail Price: $17
Last year, crafts and games were popular gifts. If that trend repeats, the Spin Master’s Paperoni may be a popular item. The Deluxe Studio, which costs about $17, has everything kids need to get going on their own 3D artwork. (Ages 4 years and up)