Just right for taking along to a play date or Gram's. This backpack opens to a play setting for drag racing your best cars. Shaped like a wheel it transforms to a working side-by-side race track for dramatic play fun. There's a garage area, a winner's circle and built-in parking. On line it says that it comes with two sturdy die cast sports cars, but in fact the toy we tested came with just one vehicle. There are three holders on each side of the drag racing track. Or you can fit as many as 100 loose vehicles in this as a storage bag. Also fun, the HotWheels ZipBin Skull ($20) Shaped like a ramp for race cars to zoom down, this opens into a track and also stores vehicles. It comes with just one car. 3 & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Calista is from an affordable collection of 18" multicultural dolls that budget minded shoppers will appreciate. Calist's photo here does not do her justice. She is full of life and really cute. Calista appeared too late for our list last year, so we will treat her as new, although this year's entries are Yuko, an Asian beauty and Gianna a pretty doll with brunette hair. Calista, is an African American beauty who happens to wear glasses. The Best Friend Club Dolls do not have soft bodies and their joints are a little weird, but mostly covered with jeans and such. They come packaged with extra sports clothing and a book/journal that gives the reader background on the doll as well as space to write about themselves. There are plenty of accessories sold separately and an online site where there are games. 6 & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

What a clever way to combine pretend play with a favorite toddler mode—a fill and dump game. A talking pot that speaks when you put its lid on and off. Sometimes it says "on" or "off" or switches to "closed" or "open." Toss the toy veggies into the pot and use the big grey spoon and it adds stirring and mixing sounds along with little factoids about the foods. Switch on the color and counting mode and the pot sings little songs that count to five and name the colors of the veggies. This is not one of those rigid counting toys. It's more about pretend with some info and action dropped into the mix. Potsy is totally on the mark and appropriate for toddlers. 12 months & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP: Use this put and take toy for reinforcing color concepts as well as developing motor skills. This is a satisfying toy on several levels. It is easy to "make things happen" and predict outcomes as the lid is put on and off. It's also a fun toy for reinforcing color concept, knowing an naming skills and playing games of pretend.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Star Wars fans young and old will really appreciate this spinning electronic lightsaber that you can use as one uber lightsaber-or take apart and have two to use for pretend play. Each saber lights up (one is green and the other is blue); both make that wonderful humming sound when activated.  The gyro-grip takes a little practice but is really satisfying once you get the hang of it.  No matter the age of your Star Wars fan, this will be at the top of the list. 

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens, Teens, Adult. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

There was a great deal of excitement here when the STAR WARS toys arrived.  One of the hits was this new Baba Fett helmet--that is adjustable so that it will fit everyone (much to the delight of our interns). It takes 3 batteries (the first are included- also nice).  The helmet says certain Baba Fett phrases ("You can run, but you can't hide." "Surrender...or face disintegration." "You have not seen the last of me.")  and makes electronic sounds.  The phrases and sounds will change when you move the antenna on the side up and down.  A fun prop for younger fans of the Clone Wars and those older Star Wars fans in your life.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens, Teens, Adult. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Three small glass vases plus stencils, enamel paint, self sticking gem stickers, paintbrush and instructions come in this kit for older kids to decorate. The end products will make nice gifts for an aunt or grandma or her own desk. They are nice vases in distinctive shapes and heavy glass, but since they are glass, caution is needed in handling them. 8 & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: . Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Two 7" square wooden shadow boxes with plexi-glass windows come with paints, colored paper, foam squares and shapes that kids can use to make a three dimensional design. Another way to go, paint the frames and have kids make a 3-D setting with mini-toys that fit in the space. There are really nice shadow boxes that family photos and small souvenirs from a trip or party could be saved in and enjoyed. 

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Based on an ancient game of chance with some strategy involved. It can be played solo or with 2 players. The playing tiles are marked with Celtic patterns as is the board. You put your marker stone on one of the patterns and then you must pull as many tiles as you can that match the pattern you chose. The object is to remove as many tiles as possible on your turn. Each turn is marked by moving the wooden marker down the wooden board. At the end of six rounds the player with the most pieces is the winner. It has a different look and appealing ease of play. 8 & up. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

With its big hand grip, this big eyed blue critter is easy for baby to grasp and it's just right for rolling along the floor. It is colorful, light, has textures on each wheel and three fabric tufts (cotton, satin and corduroy) on top of its head. Best of all the gears on its side twirl as it goes along. Lift the gears out and they can be stacked in a tower and then fitted back into their slots. A fine choice for a baby learning to crawl. Over 9 months.
The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.