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BY JERRY MILANI
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
If you are looking to get an early jump on holiday shopping, Gareb Shamus has the list for you. This week the publisher of FunFare Magazine released its 11th annual Holiday Hot Dozen, a sampling of the hottest toys for the upcoming holiday season.
FunFare selects the annual list after input from children, adults and industry executives on over 600 toys and video games, and then breaks the list down by category to come up with what kids will be looking for come December.
The Hot Dozen looks at toys not just for price range. It factors in durability and the ability for kids to return to play with the items over time, so that the purchase has shelf life.
"Kids will look at a toy or a game and if it is marketed so well, it becomes a must purchase," Shamus said. "That's all well and good, but we factor in what happens to the toy after the first day ... will kids keep playing with it and will it be passed down? Those factors are important in these tough times, and that's why we look at toys and brands for their longevity as much as the initial cost and flash factor."The Bergen County resident and his team at FunFare, a leading consumer magazine for kids and their parents about toys, games and hobbies, have made a science out of the successful prediction of the best toys for over a decade, and see this year's list, which has a mix of traditional toys and some on the high end, as the most comprehensive to date.
"There is something on the Hot Dozen for everyone, and we think both the magazine and the list will surpass everyone's expectations this season," Shamus added. The full breakdown of the list, as well as additional toys that fell just short of the Hot Dozen can be seen at www.FunFareNow.com.
The list for 2009 includes:
7n1 Maxus Drago Bakugan: Bakugan is a mega-hot collectable toy game. Hot=fire. Fire=dragons. We see where Spin Master is coming from with this impressive monster, made up of six Bakugan traps plus a Dragonoid Bakugan. Play them individually or combine them into Maxus ... either way, this is one dragon who'll be flying off shelves this season. Ages 5+, $39.99, Spin Master.
Crayon Town: Crayons pull double duty in this new line, co-developed by Crayola. In Crayon Town, those little waxy wonders color and build the world! Once kids decorate and fold the various buildings, they can add accessories to their crayons, transforming them into animals, trees or even road signs. Available in Neighborhood, Horse-Ranch, Airport, Zoo, and Construction-Site themes. Ages 3+, $9.99+, Wild Planet.
Disney Netpal: This netbook computer packs a powerful PC into a backpack-friendly package designed especially for kids (and parents' peace of mind). Available in either Princess Pink or Disney Magic Blue, the Netpal features an easy-to-use Disney interface, robust parental control options and dozens of Disney widgets and apps. (Translation: it's a small computer after all, but it's got everything you need for a complete Disney experience.) Ages 6+, $349.99, Disney Consumer Products/ASUS.
Girl Gourmet Sweets Candy Jewelry Factory: If you're looking for a toy that can multi-task, this foodie fashion factory takes the cake ... er, candy. Design your own candy? Check. Bake your own candy? Check. Make cool necklaces, bracelets and rings out of candy? Check. Eat the candy? You better believe that's a check. Forget whatever's on the runways this season ... candy is the new black. Ages 8+, $29.99, Jakks Pacific.
Nanovor Nanoscope: Kids love playing collectible card games like Pokémon on the playground, and they love playing computer games with friends online. This handheld device finally bridges the digital divide. Nanovor lets kids collect, trade and battle their collections of monsters online, and two to four Nanoscopes can magnetically attach, letting kids have face-to-face Nanovor battles that use and affect their online stats. Ages 7+, $49.99, Smith & Tinker.
Princess and the Frog "Just One Kiss" Tiana: Step aside, Cinderella -- there's a new princess in town! Tiana, from this winter's highly anticipated, jazz-infused Disney flick The Princess and The Frog, is available as a beautiful talking doll, dressed in a blue ball gown that lights up with fireflies. Raise froggy Prince Naveeen to her face and phrases from the movie will play as she turns her head to avoid his kiss ... until she doesn't. Ages 3+, $24.99, Mattel.
Printies Design Studio: Think only pros can design plush animals? Printies empowers kids with the ability to design their own stuffed toys using a PC, inkjet printer and the specially-designed Printies fabric sheets. Just print, tear along the perforated lines and then stuff them. Kids can even download designs for the Pet, Ocean and Jungle-themed kits from MyPrinties.com, or share their own. Ages 6+, $19.99, Techno Source.
Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition: With sequel New Moon about to hit theaters, Twilight mania has never been hotter (or should that be vampirishly chilly?) Embrace the craze with the latest Scene It? DVD game, which features hundreds of clips, trivia questions and on-screen puzzles from the original Twilight film. Players aren't required to divide up into Team Edward and Team Jacob ... that we're aware of. Ages 13+, $29.99, Screenlife Games.
Star Wars Battle of Endor: Most Lego sets let you build a vehicle or a building ... this one lets you build an entire action sequence! This 890-piece set comes with 12 mini-figures (including Leia, Han, Chewie and Rebels, Imperials and Ewoks), the shield bunker, an AT-ST walker, two speeder bikes and an Ewok glider and catapult ... basically everything you need to reenact the last 40 minutes of Return of the Jedi. Ages 9+, $99.99, Lego.
Star Wars Clone Turbo Tank: What exactly makes this tank Turbo? This massive trooper transport from the hit Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon can hold up to twenty action figures (though it only comes with one), features electronic lights and loads of sounds and audio phrases taken directly from the series, a removable command center and a hidden speeder bike that launches from inside the tank. So, yeah ... that's turbo. Ages 4+, $99.99, Hasbro.
Zhu Zhu Pets: These cuddly robotic hamsters offer all the fun of a furry friend, minus the mess and short lifespan of the real thing. Kids can collect four different pets (with names like Num Nums and Chunk), each with its own vocab of squeaks. Let the robo-hamsters scurry freely through your house, or you can pick up Zhu Zhu habitats, carriers and playsets. Ages 3+, $7.99, Cepia LLC.
Zippity Learning System: If you've ever seen a preschooler watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Little Einsteins, you know they'll dance or sing or do just about anything the characters tell them to. Zippity, a TV-based, educational gaming system, harnesses that Disney star power to get kids running, dancing, jumping and marching – all while learning math and language skills! Ages: 3-5, $79.99, LeapFrog.
