EyeClops Bionic Eye
Point this handheld microscope at an object–be it a penny, a flower, or even your skin--and it will magnify the image up to 200 times on your TV screen. Shaped like an oversized eye, the battery-operated device comes with a focusing disc, an observation dish, a viewing tube, and a booklet of imaginative activities for junior scientists.
Scrabble: Major League Baseball
In a sporting twist on the classic word game, players use baseball-shaped letter tiles to create baseball words on a diamond-shaped field. Choose from a general baseball edition or one that focuses on the World Series champion Red Sox or the legendary New York Yankees. Two TV-themed titles, "High School Musical Scrabble" and "Simpsons Scrabble," also are available.
Jam Pack JAM
Quick. Can you pack the suitcase, tire, skateboard, and kitchen sink in the car trunk before time runs out? If you can't, the buzzer sounds and everything pops out of the car. This lively family game comes with a plastic car, game cards, 14 "packable" objects, a score pad, a pencil, and three AA batteries.
High School Musical Dance Mat
Based on the popular TV movies about teen performers, this interactive dance mat makes sure everyone has "Got the Moves." Players follow colored lights as they perform dance routines to "Bop to the Top," "Get'cha Head in the Game," "Breaking Free," and "We're All in This Together." Novice dancers can stick with a "Beginner" routine while more seasoned performers can perform "Star" and "SuperStar" dances.
MP3 Player (iPod Nano & Disney Mix-Max)
At the top of many a 'tween wish list is the newest version of the iPod Nano. This envy-producing gadget delivers great-sounding music and vivid video on a bright 2-inch color screen. Best of all, it's one "toy" your child won't outgrow. Younger kids who haven't yet caught the iPod bug will enjoy the Disney Mix-Max, a multimedia player with a 2.2-inch screen and 512 MB of memory.
Best for Ages: 9 years and up for iPod Nano, 6 to 8 years for Disney Mix-Max
Suggested Retail Price: $150 for 4 GB iPod Nano; $100 for Disney Mix-Max, $15 for media cards
Agent Action Briefcase
Loaded with essential spy gear--plus some sneaky surprises--this sturdy child-sized briefcase is ready for action. Press its side button to turn on a spy light and its top button to launch foam darts. Unlock the case to uncover extra darts, a removable vision scope, a motion alarm, a secret storage compartment and a slot for a favorite CD.
iCoaster
Perfect for a sleepover party or a family project, this building set encourages brainstorming. As kids piece together the towers, tracks, sensors, and a magnetic elevator, they can experiment to see which configurations produce the best stunts and the fastest movement. When the coaster is finished, magnetic balls bounce off pads, set off lights, and zoom along the tracks. The coaster can play its own music through a built-in speaker or deliver music from a connected MP3 player.
Barbie Girls
Sleek and chic, the Barbie Girls MP3 player plugs into a computer's USB port and delivers access to a restricted Barbie site where young girls can explore fashion, adopt pets, play games, and chat safely with other Barbie fans. Each MP3 player looks like a fashion doll and comes with enough clip-on "fashions" to create two complete outfits. It 512 MB of built-in memory plus a slot for a memory card.
Best for Ages: 6 to 10 years
Suggested Retail Price: $60 for unit, $10 for fashion packs
Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle
It's double the fun with a sturdy pair of micro-sized lightweight remote-control helicopters. One's blue; the other's red, so there will be no fussing about ownership. Using two separate controllers, children fly the easy-to-navigate helicopters in the backyard or family room and can even try to shoot each other's copters down via infrared targets.
Julie Mini Doll
Girls (and their nostalgic parents) can step back in time with Julie, an American Girl doll based on the not-too-distant '70s. Smaller and less expensive than the standard 18-inch American Girl doll, this 6 1/2-inch mini version sports long hair parted down the middle and wears bell-bottomed jeans, a peasant blouse, and a braided belt with colorful beads. The doll includes an abridged version of "Meet Julie," a book that describes the life of a 9-year-old girl in San Francisco in the 1970s.
Listed prices were quoted as of November 14, 2007, and may, depending on vendor, be subject to change. If an item is temporarily out of stock from a vendor we recommend through a Buy link, you can wait for the vendor to restock or you can do an online search for other vendors to find that particular item.
