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Holiday 2009 Toy Guide

We all know that the true meaning of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa is to celebrate faith, culture, tradition, and family, but just try telling that to your kids. Your little tykes have been good all year and they know that come holiday time, it's a free-for-all for presents and Stocking Stuffers. While it's perfectly all right to go the traditional board game and educational toy route, chances are, the kids have something else in mind.

Every year, certain toys are hyped as the must-have holiday items.  You don't want to be surprised when you see your child's wish list--especially when hundreds of other moms and dads are all at the toy store trying to buy the same thing as you--so know what to expect beforehand. For help with your holiday shopping, check out our suggestions below on the hot toys for 2009, or use the table of contents at right to navigate to a particular section.

Quick Picks

Electronic toys are all the rage this holiday season, but there are a number of hot items at a lower price tag.  Boys and girls alike are sure to love these toys! 

Elmo Live Encore 

You can celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street  with the newest rendition of Elmo Live  The Encore model comes with all new jokes, songs, stories, and more!

Zhu Zhu Pets 

There are four of these cute little hamsters  out there to collect, and each one has its own personality and sounds.  Love them, pet them, and watch them go!

Crayola Beginnings: Color Me a Song 

Music will change based on speed of coloring the faster you scribble, the faster the song.  Combining Picasso and Miles Davis, tots can strike up a band and create their own tunes while exploring their first artistic expressions.

Disney NetPal 

Disney has teamed up with ASUS  to make a portable netbook  just for kids.  With a spill-proof keyboard, parental controls, and an easy-to-navigate interface, it makes the ideal gift for any growing child.

Fisher Price Smart Fit 

You can turn any living room into a playground with this plug-and-play activity pad.  Not only will a child get more exercise, but it is tons of fun and features 8 different modes of learning activities.

Baby's First Christmas

3-in-1 Smart Trike 

This tricycle  grows with your child from babies to beginning riders, so even the tiniest of tots can enjoy taking a spin. It features a full metal frame and adjustable push handle with a shade canopy--parents can push their little ones while strolling the neighborhood!

Laugh & Learn Learning Farm 

The magic starts when baby opens the gate and crawls through, triggering sing-along songs, dancing lights, music, sounds, and fun phrases. There are veggie shapes to sort, chicken eggs to count, plus lots of put-and-take, flipping, spinning, pressing, sliding and turning discoveries to make.

Little Superstar Jammin' Band Musical Microphone 

Baby can have lots of fun with this musical activity center full of instrument play, sing-along songs and busy activities. The real working microphone amplifies baby's voice, lights up, and even responds with encouraging phrases. Features 6 sing-along songs and 4 karaoke tunes, plus a "build a song" mode.

Song 'n Smiles SillyTown 

Music! Lights! Motion! And lots and lots of pop-up surprises, peek-a-boo action, stacking play, and tumble-down fun--all around the town! Baby will love making blocks  come to life with peek and pop delights!

Laugh & Learn Puppy 

Play games, sing songs, and enjoy lots of learning fun with this huggable friend. He responds to baby's touch with music, sweet sayings, and 10 sing-along songs, while introducing baby to the alphabet, numbers, counting, parts of the body, colors and more.

Toys for 2-4 Year Olds

Interactive Buddies: Buzz and Woody 

 Buzz Lightyear  and Woody  are back from Andy's toy box, and just like in the movies they banter and bicker--just like real pals! Kids can choose between three different interactive modes to hear these buddies speak individually or with each other, using their actual voices from the movies!

Disney Princess: Just One Kiss Doll 

Elegant Princess Tiana comes accompanied by the Frog Prince who desperately yearns for a kiss to transform him back into a man. When the frog is brought to Tiana for a kiss, she will turn her head away and say one of the phrases from the movie. The fourth time the frog is brought up to her, Tiana finally agrees to kiss the prince while her dress lights up and makes magical sounds.

Paperoni Deluxe Studio 

With a dash of imagination and this creative toy, young artisans can create 3D artwork  using tiny, colorful paper rolls. This mess-free set lets kids devise and craft animals, friendly faces, and more using a child-friendly cutter.

LeapFrog Text and Learn 

 This toy is designed to let little learners play in a grown-up way! Children can exchange text messages with their puppy pal, Scout! Other learning modes offer practice with letter matching shape identification and QWERTY keyboard navigation through silly animations and sound effects!

Scatterpillar Scramble 

It's the musical, dancin', race-to-the-top game Grab the tongs and carefully place the marbles one at a time into SCATTERPILLAR's hands. But watch out--as he squiggles and squirms to the music, some of the marbles will fall and set you back! Who will make it to the top first?

Toys for 5-7 Year Olds

Barbie Fashionista Doll Collection 

Decked out with the best outfits and accessories, this collection of fashion-forward Barbie dolls  each feature their own distinct fashion personality, including Glam, Cutie, Girly, Wild, Sassy, and Artsy. With 12 points of articulation, these Barbie dolls can pose over 100 different ways.

Bakugan Battle Brawlers 

This ultimate fighter is formed by connecting seven different Bakugan marbles: Helios, Scraper, Klawgor, Foxbat, Fencer, Leefram and Spindle. Maxus Helios can battle as one united force, or individually, to give kids a variety of combat options to help them excel in Bakugan which combines trading card game play with collectible marbles.

Playmobil Egyptian Playset 

Kids can bring home one of the seven wonders of the world with the Egyptian Pyramid  set. Featuring a 14-inch high pyramid which kids can construct, young architects will be able to assemble tricks and ambushes with removable plastic walls, a collapsible staircase, chute, scorpion trap, secret treasure chamber and trapdoor with slide. Now, children have everything they need to help the Pharaoh safeguard his jewels against treasure hunters!

ChixOs Design a Luxury Loft 

This offers the perfect space for an amazing party, but the fun can't begin before the kids get to decorate their stylin' pad. To prepare for the festivities, kids can dress and style three ChixOs dolls  from 243 possible choices of mix and match body parts, then give them a dusting of glitter for the finishing touch. They can also build 3D furniture and accessories!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Construction Devastator 

Construction Devastator is the biggest robot ever--towering above Autobots  and Deceptions alike. As his Vortex Grinder snaps open and glows with power, all before him quake in fear! Combine all six detailed vehicles to create the mighty Construction Devastator figure

Toys for 8-11 Year Olds

Fast Lane JLX Over Drive Radio Control ATV 

Drivers can take the wheel of the ultimate R/C  experience with this miniature ATV.  It reaches speeds of 225 MPH, performs awesome stunts with self-propelled flipping action tires, and has the ability to drive on almost any terrain--including land, water or snow!  Kids can even take to the air with a ramp-assisted jump that can propel the JLX more than 6 1/2 feet.

MindFlex 

A lightweight headset containing sensors for the forehead and earlobes measures its user's brainwave activity. When concentration is focused, a small foam ball will rise on a gentle stream of air; relax the thoughts and the ball will descend. By using a combination of physical and mental coordination, the ball can be navigated through a customizable obstacle course.

Barbie Digital Nail Printer 

Get the ultimate custom manicure  with this new product!  You can create, customize, and print professional nail designs right at home!  It connects to your computer  and is easy and fun to use. Printing takes only a few seconds, and the designs last for days!  

EyeClops Mini Projector 

Children can create their own big screen entertainment with this pint-sized projector! It can display an image up to 60-inches when connected to a DVD player multimedia player, video game console or other video device.

Barbie Twilight Doll 

Based on the best-selling series, Twilight Mattel brings you Bella  and Edward  These dolls are created to look exactly like the characters, making them perfect for fanatics and collectors!

Hot Toys for Big Kids

Nintendo DSi 

This is a high-powered handheld video game  system in a sleek, folding design--loaded with features like touch screen control for a unique gaming experience. Snap photos with the built-in camera, edit and send them to friends, play back music, or browse the Internet! From playing games to just playing around, the Nintendo DSi does it all.

Sony Reader Pocket Edition 

With the capacity to store approximately 350 standard eBooks  in a device that can easily fit into a pocket, this Sony E-Book Reader lets anyone flip open their favorite books in the car, on a plane, at a restaurant, or even in a library. With its elegant, lightweight design and 5 inch display, it is very easy to use and can be taken anywhere!

DJ Hero Bundle 

The makers of Guitar Hero  introduce an entirely fresh and innovative way to experience music and rhythm gameplay. DJ Hero features an amazing variety of music across genres. Using an authentic turntable controller you will spin and scratch more than 100 songs into unique mixes and become the life of the party.

Wii Sports Resort 

Wii Sports Resort takes place on a tropical island with a wide range of activities that will keep players coming back for one more round.  Make use of the Wii MotionPlus  accessory, which plugs into the base of the Wii controller and provides an experience that gives players an even greater sense of immersion.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Board Game 

Choose sides--vampire or werewolf? Travel the playing board collecting Scene cards and trying to reunite Bella and Edward. Answer trivia questions and complete challenges along the way. The more you know about Twilight Saga: New Moon the better the chance of winning!

Related Guides

Age Specific Toys

Video Games

Stocking Stuffers

Outdoor Toys

Creative Toys

External Links

  • BestToysGuide.com:  Read reviews about this year's hottest toys for kids. 
  • HotToys2009.com:  Take a look at the master list of hot toys for this holiday season.
  • TheToyInsider.com:  This site is full of top lists and helpful tips to help you buy the perfect toy.

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