Little Tikes 2 in 1 Garden Cart and Wheelbarrow
(Little Tikes $39.99 Score:)

Just right for your little gardener who will love having his own tools and easy to push wheelbarrow to assist with the family gardening! The wheelbarrow was slightly challenging for our builders to put together. It would have been easier if they had had a power drill or power screwdriver for the task. We've found that many of the plastic toys for the past few seasons require more assembly than before. That said,
this wheelbarrow offers lots of pretend power once it's put together. Comes with two pretend potted plants. Our testers especially loved that it had a working water sprayer (easy to fill up). There is a
removable striped canopy for shade protection.   Great fun for outdoor play. 2 & up.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Pushing Car and Doll Pram
(Haba $159 Score:) Our test family with three under the age of 4 got right into active pretend play with both of these beautifully styled push-about toys. The Push Car ($159 ) is low to the ground and balanced enough so that a little sister or a big teddy bear could ride about as a larger child pushed. Furnished with seat cushions and pocket for treasures; made of varnished beech wood with rubber wheels, it maneuvers well, even in tight spaces. Equally well designed, a red and blue Doll Pram ($130 ) comes with a cushion seat and accommodates several dolls. You can adjust the push bar as children grow, so this will grow into the preschool years. (800) 468-6873.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2006.

Walker to Wagon
(Fisher-Price $24.99 Score:) A step past the cruising stage, toddlers often like to hold on to some thing as they become independent walkers. This is not a weighted wagon, so it is not for tots who are still unsteady on their feet. It has some spinning beads, a clicking dial, and other activity toys to manipulate, including a shape sorter, for sit-down fun. This colorful get-about toy converts to a pull wagon, but will probably have the most use as a pusher. They say 9 months, we'd say more like 12-16 months & up.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2007.

Lil' Snoopy
(Fisher-Price $8.99 Score:) Too bad they added so much sound to good old Snoopy. This little black and white pup now barks and sort of sings the melody of B-I-N-G-O with incessant barking as his “leash” is pulled. This is an example of how less was more. Too bad, Snoopy! 1 & up. (800) 432-5437. We suggest instead Ambi’s Max Pull Along Dog (Brio $17.50 ), an adorable yellow, black, and red pooch. 11/2 & up. (888) 274-6869.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: .