All Stars: Plush

More highlights from FunFare’s Holiday 2009 print issue…

Kimochis
Like each of the cuddly Kimochi characters, Cat has a special pocket where kids can store kimochis—soft pillows that express different emotions. Cat, being a cat, comes with Happy, Cranky and Curious kimochis (what, no Aloof or Rubby?). Ages 3+, $25.00, Plushy Feely Corp.

Quiltis
Why can’t plush toys for tweens be just as fashionable as their clothes and accessories? The 12-inch Kiwi Specks Dog and his three friends are each crafted in a crazy cotton print, with nary a plain-Jane tabby or terrier in the bunch. Ages 3+, $16, Douglas

Zambi the Baby Elephant
Ready for an elephant that you’ll never forget? This special-edition Furreal Friend blows kisses and more, and benefits Project Zambi, which raises awareness and funds to care for children in Africa orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. Ages 4+, $49.99, Hasbro

Cockatoo & Spider Monkey Puppets
Looking for a puppet so realistic you’ll want to feed it some Wheat Thins? This lifelike Cockatoo puppet features an innovative plush fabric that simulates real bird feathers, and it’s just one of a range of adorable and realistic Folkmanis puppets. We’re always partial to monkeys. Ages 3+, $26.00+, Folkmanis

WowWee Alive Baby Animals
WowWee has the safer, way-more-legal alternative to owning exotic pets: cute-as-a-button Leopard Cubs Seal Pups, Husky Puppies and Koala Joeys, each with animated facial and vocal expressions that activate at a touch.
Ages 3+, $59, WowWee

All Stars: Dolls

More highlights from FunFare’s Holiday 2009 print issue…

Karito Kids Travel Charmers
The Karito Kids better get their passports up to date—they’re becoming world travelers! Each soft doll wears fashion inspired by the country she visits, and a portion of each purchase supports worldwide humanitarian projects. Ages 3+, $19.99, Kids Give

Liv Dolls
Liv and let style! Girls can swap out these poseable dolls’ accessories and hair, or add wigs and clothing. Each add-on contains a code to unlock virtual closets, webisodes and more at livworld.com. What a world we Liv in! (We’re stopping…) Ages 5+, $19.99, Spin Master

Bébé Trésor
This 14-inch interactive baby doll coos, babbles and giggles when rocked, making her ideal for little mommies’ pretend play. She also features a soft vanilla scent (just like real babies…who’ve been rolling around in cupcake mix)! Ages 2+, $70, Corolle

Moxie Girlz
You’ve got moxie, kid! In this case, that translates into “new doll line focusing on individuality and self-expression.” Choose from Art-itude (personalize the dolls’ clothes), Magic Hair (accessories for both dolls and girls) and Jammaz (all about the music). Ages 3+, $10.99+, MGA Entertainment

70th Anniversary Madeline
Funny, she doesn’t look a day over 68! The much-adored, mischievous little redhead from Ludwig Bemelman’s classic storybook debuts this year in a soft doll version dressed in her finest fashions, including a dress adorned with famous Parisian locales! As the locals would say, “Ooh la la!” Ages 3+, $30, Kids Preferred

The Hot Dozen

FunFare is just beginning to put together its Spring/Summer 2010 print issue, which will be jam packed with dozens of the best new toys; in the meantime, here is our Hot Dozen list in its entirety, the first of several highlights from our Holiday 2009 print issue. Enjoy!

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 Jewel 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 Pokemon 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+, $79.99, LeapFrog

Welcome to Toy Stories!

Welcome to Toy Stories, FunFare magazine’s new blog! As managing editor of this fine publication (the ultimate entertainment guide for parents and kids and the exclusive home of the bi-annual Hot Dozen and All Stars lists of top toys), I’ll be blogging regularly to share with you some sneak previews of the hottest new toys and kids’ products just about to hit store shelves, plus news and links on key happenings in the industry. I’m also hoping to give fans a look at the makings of FunFare behind the scenes.

-Karyn M. Peterson