[1]In the true spirit of the holidays, toy experts have united to come up with the much-anticipated Top 10 Toy List, showcasing the most interesting and imaginative toys that are sure to top children’s wish lists this holiday season. Zellers [1] consulted with some of the finest toy makers, including Hasbro and Mattel, as well as the most discerning of critics – shoppers – to find the toys that will surely fill Santa’s sack this Christmas.
“Toys have come a long way since I was a kid. There have been incredible innovations in the toy industry, and this year’s top 10 showcase that innovation. These toys are fun, they capture the magic of make-believe, and they deliver an experience that will surely captivate kids for hours,” says Mark Foote, President and CEO, Zellers. From an animatronic puppy to an actual magic wand, the list features classic favourites to the newest play innovations and has every child, from toddler to teen, covered.
Zellers toy experts’ top 10 toys:
* All prices in Canadian dollars, taxes not included.
- I Am T-Pain Microphone ($49.99)
Transform your voice and sound like a pro with the press of a button! Freestyle over exclusive beats or upload your own tracks. Record, save and share online with friends. With nine features, including three original beats, play back, MP3 input and USB, the I Am T-Pain Microphone does it all!
- Figit Friends™ ($59.99)
Meet these interactive, dancing and talking robot toys! Figit Friends™ are the only robotic friends who perform lifelike dance moves when you play music. They even perform different moves depending on the type of song, recognize your voice and tell funny jokes. They are full of surprises and totally unpredictable!
- Sesame Street® Playskool®* Let’s Rock!* Elmo ($79.99)
Every preschooler’s favourite Sesame Street® character sings and can play his own instruments! Let’s Rock!* Elmo, dressed in a concert-style tee, comes with his very own microphone, tambourine and drum set, and interacts with other LET’S ROCK instruments (each sold separately). You can even play Elmo’s LET’S ROCK guitar, keyboard or microphone and he’ll play along with you.
- Cookie My Playful Pup ($69.99)
Just like a real puppy, Cookie My Playful Pup wags her tail when you pet her, moves toward your hand when you touch her cheek, and barks when you speak to her.
- Lite Sprites ($7.99 – $49.99)
Lite Sprites, Prisma, Astra, Meadow and Brooke live in the magical world of Lite-Topia, where the tree of light is the centre of their world. A Lite Wand that magically collects colours from your environment, such as your t-shirt, and with a swoosh, shares them with the Sprites to change their colour.
- MXS Fast Wheels ($24.99)
Turn your hot wheels (or any 1/64″ model car) into a motorized machine with MXS Fast Wheels. Simply place the car into the two-wheel base and suddenly the car can do stunts, tricks, wheelies, and 360s. Your car will be transformed right before your eyes!
- Redakai ($6.99 – $19.99)
The next generation in playing cards, Redakai is a game like no other. Battle your opponent on a game field using clear, plastic, holographic, and even three-dimensional, cards. Redakai is the only game to use Blast3D™ technology to capture unstoppable monsters in every card. Every monster card is captured in eye-popping 3D, and every attack blasts to life with never-before-seen animation. Stack to attack, and when all three bars are read, victory is yours.
- Tonka® XT Ricochet Tricksters ($24.99)
This two-sided remote controlled vehicle will show off some mad driving and trick-performing skills. What puts the Tonka® XT Ricochet Tricksters in a class of its own is the ability of each vehicle to be driven on either side, and it performs its own built-in stunt when you activate the trick feature.
- Transformers Construction ($9.99 – $69.99)
Build your favourite Transformers hero, BUMBLEBEE, in sports car or robot mode with this two-in-one set of 335 KRE-O construction pieces! In robot mode, convert the wings on BUMBLEBEE into a glider for KREON figures to ride on, and in vehicle mode, up to two KREON figures can ride inside BUMBLEBEE. Set includes 335 KRE-O pieces and three KREON figures: BUMBLEBEE™, RED ALERT™ and Driver.
- Doctor Dreadful Zombie Lab ($7.99 – $29.99)
The ultimate in disturbingly delicious experiments, kids can brew up some terribly tasty treats, including bubbly brains and zombie skins in Doctor Dreadful’s Zombie Lab. Collect all four to assemble the complete lab or purchase them individually, and enjoy creating deliciously disgusting concoctions and eating everything you make.