Top 12 Christmas Gifts For Children 2008 Ideas

Veteran Toy Companies Make the List Along with Several Newcomers 

NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Toy Wishes Magazine, The Ultimate Guide to Family Entertainment, today announced its "Hot Dozen" toy list for 2008 holiday season at the Holiday Preview event in New York City. The "Hot Dozen" -- the 12 toys predicted to be the most in demand this holiday season -- has been the most consistently cited hot toy list since the magazine's debut in 1999.

"Toy Wishes Magazine has accurately selected the hottest toys for the season for the past ten years," said Gareb Shamus, publisher of Toy Wishes Magazine. "This year we saw more innovation than ever before in the toy industry."

"A lot of the toys used technology in ways that upped the play value, but didn't drive the toy, "said Wendy Smolen, editorial director of Toy Wishes Magazine. "We looked for toys that engaged kids and gave them opportunities to play in different ways."

The "hot dozen" are selected from thousands of entries by the Toy Wishes Magazine editorial team based on their appeal to children, educational components and brand popularity. Toy Wishes Magazine also named 86 products "All Stars" which are the brightest, most innovative toys in over twenty different categories. Toy Wishes is available for $3.99 at newsstands everywhere.

The Toy Wishes Magazine 2008 Holiday Hot Dozen (in alphabetical order):

Animal Scramble

(Wild Planet/ Ages 3 & up/ Retail Price: $19.99 - 29.99)

Animal Scramble is a game that gets kids moving, thinking, listening and learning, all while having fun. It uses a modern application of technology without relying on video screens or computers. Animal Scramble is designed for preschoolers and promotes positive social and developmental skills in addition to physical activity. Animal Scramble features an electronic hand-held tagger shaped like a giraffe and four fist-sized friends (a monkey, parrot, tiger and elephant). The giraffe calls out which animals kids should run to and tag and tracks the amount of time taken to complete each course. In team mode, kids are instructed to pass the giraffe to other players as they work cooperatively to achieve their fastest time.

Bakugan

(Spinmaster Ltd./ Ages 5 years & up/ Retail Price: $4.99 and up)

Bakugan has taken the world by storm, with a craze not seen since Pokemon. It combines the strategy and skill of marbles, trading cards and action figures in one hands-on game. With myriad ways to play, and accessories to up the action, Bakugan in all its forms, is a thumbs-up winner for the season. One of the most popular Bakugan accessories this season is the official Bakugan Battle Arena for tournament play, giving kids an enclosed area to face off against 3 opponents in an ultimate "Arena Play" Bakugan showdown.

Bratz Girls Really Rock

(MGA/ Ages 6 & up/ Retail Price: $19.99)

The Bratz(TM) are rockin' like royalty!. Honing in on the tween dream combo of music, fashion and doll play, each of 4 Bratz(TM) dolls -- Punk Jade(TM), Hip Hop Sasha(TM), Pop Star Yasmin(TM), and Rock Star Cloe(TM) -- comes with two rock star outfits, a cool guitar personalized to each girl's style of music, and an awesome keyboard or drumset!

Crayola Glow Station

(Crayola/ Ages 6 years & up/ Retail Price: $29.99)

The Crayola Glow Station takes the basic play pattern of drawing to where you'd least expect to find it--in the dark! By moving the light wand across the glowing canvas, kids can create glow-in-the-dark art with strokes of light. Stencil sheets give them a head start with space scenes complete with space shuttles, asteroids and astronauts, or a day at the zoo with gorillas and snakes. There are also texture sheets for special effects, or, endless opportunities for free-hand creations.

Disney Fairies Clickables

(Techno Source/ Ages 7 years & up/ Retail Price: Charms, $4.99; friendship bracelets, $9.99, Starter Set, $29.99)

Combining online and offline play in an age-appropriate, socially-conscious way, Clickables (such as Disney Clickables Fairy Charms Starter Set) uses new technology to merge Disney's virtual Pixie Hollow (www.PixieHollow.com) with the classic play patterns of tweens. Clickable charms let girls collect, share, and play in the enchanting worlds of real life and fairy playgrounds. Each Clickable charm unlocks new adventures and can be shared with numerous friends.

Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker

(Jakks Pacific/ Ages 8 years & up/ Retail Price: $29.99)

Kids can learn the skills and thrills of baking with the easy to use Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker. First they can whip up their own homemade, gluten-free cupcakes in 30 seconds using water, one of the four scrumptious batter flavors, the sealable cupcake maker, and popping it in the microwave for 30 seconds. When cool, the Cupcake Froster lets them decorate like a pro, creating perfect swirls of frosting. To top it off -- a choice of sprinkles.

Kota the Triceratops

(Playskool/ Ages 3 years & up/ Retail Price: $300)

Playskool goes prehistoric with the introduction of Kota the Triceratops. Featuring sophisticated electronics, animatronics and a playful design, this 'life-size' baby dinosaur 'comes to life' when kids climb on his back, creating a magical jungle ride for preschoolers. Measuring over 40-inches long, Kota the Triceratops reacts to touch and sound with realistic dinosaur noises and movements. He even eats a green leaf.

Mobile Command Center

(Lego/ Ages 8 years & up/ Retail Price: $89.99)

Status: Critical. Update: Dr. Inferno's henchmen attempt to rescue him from Command Center's jail. Your Task: Prevent his escape! Alert: Battle expected to take place all over headquarters. Use all of HQ's resources -- intel center, weapons bay, tool shop, jet boat, plane and two cars.

In true LEGO style, these classic bricks let kids build, play, and imagine -- this time in a spy adventure.

Sit to Stand Alphabet Train

(VTech/ Ages 12 mos & up/ Retail Price: $49.99)

Make tracks with the Sit to Stand Alphabet Train, teaching little ones letters, numbers, colors, songs, stories and more. The Train features 26 double-side letter blocks, a book with six turning pages, five colorful number buttons, one movable elephant character, a motion sensor, a ride-on carriage and a drop-space for sending the blocks from the train to the carriage. The grow-with-me design lets kid use it alone for floor play, push it along as a walker, or attach the two cars together as a ride-on toy.

"This Is Serious!" Ming Ming

(WonderPets/ Ages 18 mos & up/ Retail Price: $34.99)

"This is Serious!" Ming-Ming brings to life great signature phrases, songs, and dance moves from Nickelodeon's Wonder Pets!' wonderfully heroic duck, Ming-Ming. This plush doll features two modes of play, engaging young kids to participate and imagine. When Ming-Ming hears the Can Phone song, she answers the call, strikes a save-the-day pose and then dances her "This is Serious!" dance, all choreographed to the Wonder Pets! theme song. Ming-Ming will also ask kids to join the team to help her on some adventures, and even teach them how to do her dance. Requires 4 AA batteries, included.

U-Dance

(Hasbro/ Ages 8 & up/ Retail Price: $74.99)

U-DANCE Step Into The Game combines the hot trend of dancing with (and like) the stars with motion control technology, with no dance mat required! Dancers simply plug the U-DANCE console into their TV, attach the wireless Motion Tags to their feet and literally STEP INTO THE GAME, using their body as the game controller. With no mat to limit their movements, players can perform actual dance moves and groove to their heart's content!

Ultimate Wall*E

(Thinkway Toys/Ages 6 years & up/ Retail Price: $249.00)

The Ultimate WALL*E is an advanced robot that truly brings this beloved movie character to life. Designed and developed through a close collaboration between Disney Consumer Products, Disney - Pixar animators and Thinkway Toys, the Ultimate WALL*E features 10 motors, giving it a high level of movement, voice and motion sensors, animation and an easy-to-program remote control. Ultimate WALL*E is truly a robot brought to life.

About Toy Wishes Magazine

Toy Wishes is the preeminent guide for toy shopping, children's entertainment, and parenting tips. This one-of-a-kind publication previews and reviews the hottest new toys throughout the year, in their semi-annual issues. The Toy Wishes "Hot Dozen" -- the 12 toys predicted to be the most in demand -- has been the most consistently cited hot toy list since the magazine's debut in 1999. The magazine is published by entertainment guru Gareb Shamus and edited by former Nick Jr. Magazine editor Wendy Smolen.