2008 Holiday Gift Guide: Toys

By Lesley Kennedy, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 23, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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A talking toolbelt. A completely recycled, nontoxic tea set. Books with text messaging pads and flashlights. When it comes to toys this season, think favorite cartoon characters, old standbys with a twist and gizmos that make learning cool.

Strawberry Shortcake DVDs

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: The three-disc Holiday Dreams collection and the new Rockaberry Roll movie will keep the little ones entertained.

* How much: $26.98 and $14.98, respectively

* Get it: Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, Best Buy

Publications International Electronic Soundbooks

* Age: 18 months to 8 years, depending on the book

* Why it's cool: Hardcover books come with everything from timers (when story ends, bedtime!), flashlights with sound buttons (to shine on pop-ups), mounted interactive speakers and "text messaging" pads.

* How much: $14.99 to $19.99

* Get it: booksfortheholidays.com, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Target

Spi and Hello Kitty MP3 players

* Age: 4 and up

* Why it's cool: Don't come between your kids and their music! The tiny Spi MP3 comes in a rainbow of colors and holds as many as 250 songs. The Hello Kitty player comes with 1 GB of memory, three changing face plates and a microphone. Hint: Fill them up with great songs for an added surprise.

* How much: $19.99 for the Spi; $39.95 for the Hello Kitty

* Get it: Spi - JC Penney; Hello Kitty - Toys R Us

Bob the Builder Deluxe Talking Toolbet Set

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: The talking toolbelt and plastic fold-out ruler, hammer, wrench, screwdriver and pliers will have kids saying, "Can we have it?" Your reply: "Yes, we can!"

* How much: $19.99

* Get it: Target, Amazon.com

Crayola Glow Station

* Age: 6 and up

* Why it's cool: Use a light wand on a glow canvas to draw or stencil cool designs.

* How much: $29.99

* Get it: Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Target

Planet Earth kits

* Age: 4 and up to 10 and up

* Why it's cool: Designed to use eco-friendly materials and be fun and educational. We can't wait to play with - er - help our kids play with the Grow-a-World kit (plant seeds on a globe and watch the continents grow); the Build Your Own Volcano kit (create your own volcanoes!); or the Outdoor Explorer Kit (pack and explore like real explorers with a backpack, small tent, flashlight, compass, magnifying glass and explorer map).

* How much: $19.99 to $29.99

* Get it: Toys R Us

WALL-E Remote Control Mini Robot

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: An infrared radio control works like your TV remote.

* How much: $49.50

* Get it: Disney Store, disneystore.com

Sushi Pack lunchbox and stocking stuffers

* Age: 4 and up

* Why it's cool: Cheap and chic.

* How much: Lunch box ($12.95), coin purse ($4.95), mini plush character ($6.95), key chain ($6.95), notepad ($1.95), sticky pad ($1.95).

* Get it: American Greetings stores, carltoncards.com

Mega Bloks Smart Builders Piano

* Age: 1 and up

* Why it's cool: The electronic keyboard combines music and blocks to let your kid play different songs, instruments, rhythms and languages.

* How much: $34.99

* Get it: Target, Wal-Mart, etoys.com

Circo Frog TentDOWN

* Age: 3 to 6

* Why it's cool: Perfect for sleepovers or playtime.

* How much: $29.99

* Get it: select Target stores

Thomas & Friends TrackMaster Railway System and Lights & Sounds engines

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: New characters like Hank, Flora and Stanley will expand your child's Thomas collection.

* How much: $13.99 and $6.99, respectively

* Get it: Amazon.com

Camp Rock Electric Drum Set

* Age: 6 and up

* Why it's cool: Play along with pre-set rhythms using drum pads that light up when you hit them.

* How much: $39.50

* Get it: Disney Store, disneystore.com

Disney Princess Wardrobe Dolls

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: A princess Barbie with four costume changes? Perfection.

* How much: $29.50

* Get it: Disney Store, disneystore.com

Tinker Bell Styling Head

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: Your little stylist can adorn Tink's hair with wings and hair clips. The fairy's necklace doubles as a child's bracelet.

* How much: $24.50

* Get it: Disney Store, disneystore.com

Handy Manny Tool Set

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: Kids can pretend they have their own workshop with these PVC tools.

* How much: $14.50

* Get it: Disney Store

Little Einsteins Rolling Suitcase

* Age: Preschool

* Why it's cool: The rocket design is roomy enough for your little Einstein's prized possessions.

* How much: $34.50

* Get it: Disney Store, disneystore.com

Angelina Ballerina

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: Young ballerinas will dance with glee at this classic book, celebrating its 25th year.

* How much: $13.99

* Get it: angelina ballerina.com

Groovy Girls RSVP dolls

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: Each fashionable doll (and pet) comes with a password for online play.

* How much: $12 to $20

* Get it: groovygirls.com

Chicco Whales Family

* Age: 6 months and up

* Why it's cool: Bath time is fun time with Mommy whale (wind her up and she swims) and baby whale (fill with water and press its tummy to make water spray out).

* How much: $18.95

* Get it: Amazon.com

Green Toys Tea Set

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: Nontoxic and made in the U.S., this 100 percent recycled set is BPA-free and meets FDA food contact standards.

* How much: $24.99

* Get it: Toys R Us, greentoys.com for locations

Word World Pull-Apart Tiger

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: Pull-apart letters let kids build a word over and over again.

* How much: $14.29

* Get it: wordworld.com

Play-Doh Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe DOWN

* Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: In our day, we rocked the Play-Doh barber shop, but our kids will drool over this version that lets them make pretend cones topped with "candies" and "sprinkles."

* How much: $14.99

* Get it: Wal-Mart, Toys R Us

Wild Planet Hyper Jump DOWN

* Age: 6 and up

* Why it's cool: Get your kids moving with this target-tagging total body game. Just follow the commands. Fastest time wins.

* How much: $24.99

* Get it: Target, Amazon.com

Chicco Sing 'n' Learn Kangaroo

* Age: 9 months and up

* Why it's cool: Kids learn shapes, fruits and colors through the shape-sorting game that plays songs and nursery rhymes, too.

* How much: $29.99

* Get it: Wal-Mart