Little People Cement Mixer Truck
(Fisher-Price $9.95 Score:) Push on the driver's head and the cement mixer tips as the vehicle beeps (not too loudly) with a back-up sound. We also note that the driver is not just female, but she's blond! What next? They say 1 & up. We found this was most enjoyed by 18 mos. & up.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2003.

Lego Duplo Thomas Load and Carry Train Set
(Lego Systems, Inc. $74.99 Score:)

Easy-to-assemble tracks and environment including train, movable light signal, and cargo tower. 61 pieces. Our older toddler testers "looooved" this set! 2 & up. Still top rated, for Dora fans, Dora the Explorer, a 41-piece Animal Adventure Set ($29.99 ) with play figures, blocks, and a sound effects box with 8 different sounds-not that kids can't make their own sounds. 2 & up.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2006.

Handle Haulers
(Little Tikes $9.99 Score:) Unfortunately most of this line is, in our opinion, mislabeled 12 months & up. For young toddlers, these are not stable enough to keep from flying into the child’s face if he leans on the back or front of the handle for balance. The low rating reflects this age label problem. (The Thomas version is marked 18 mos. and up.) For twos and up, however, these are uncomplicated props for beginning pretend play.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2006.

Little People Lil' Movers School Bus
(Fisher-Price $16.99 Score:) Push down on the school bus driver and the lights flash, horn beeps, and music plays on this big yellow school bus. Kids can be loaded through the side door or the open roof. Bus includes a wheelchair but no ramp for getting it on and off. They say 1 & up. We’d say more like 18 months & up. Still fun, Little People Cement Mixer Truck (800) 432-5437. SNAP: We like the fact that this school bus includes a wheel chair for one of the Little People. This is a terrific toy for dramatic play. Loading the passengers on and off allows you to use location words and position words in a concrete way that makes abstract concepts more meaningful.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2007.

Kid Galaxy My First RC Go Go Train
(Kid Galaxy $22 Score:)

What could be better than a bright red locomotive engine that kids can control with ease? Newest of the My First remote control vehicles with simple controller that are easy enough for young preschoolers to operate. Push the top button and the Red Engine goes forward. Push the bottom button and it goes left. This has a whistle sound and plenty of play that involves locomotion of toy and child! A developmental match for on-the-go tots and their love of transportation toys, active play, and early pretend. 2 ½ & up.

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

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2009.

Little Driver
(Small World Toys $32 Score:) This classic steering wheel with lights and sounds comes with a phone, just right for pretend road trips. 18 mos. & up. Vtech’s updated version is much louder than last year's. Try it before you bring it home.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2005.

Tiny 'n Tuff Fast Tracks
(Mega Bloks $29.99 Score:) A big cleverly designed container that doubles for storage as well as play is chock full of ramps and blocks for making a variety of super roadways that can cascade from the lid with built-in sound effects. Comes with two vehicles and highway signs. You’ll need to build it for 2’s but even 3’s will need help getting the ramp-ways built. Their Tuff ‘n Tiny Garage ($19.99 3.5) would have been a gold winner, too, but it is labeled for 1 & up. This is a toddler/preschool toy well beyond a one year old. The garage has built-in sound effects that won’t drive you to drink. It’s a colorful play setting with a working elevator, gas pumps, car wash, and ramps that attach in multiple ways. Comes with one vehicle but will accommodate many others. This can be a free standing or become part of the more complex roadway of the Tiny ‘n Tuff Fast Tracks set. Two and a half and up. (800) 465-6342

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2005.

Mega Blok Lil' Cement Truck and Lil' Dump Truck
(Mega Bloks $9.99 Score:) These plastic vehicles are just right for 2s and up to enjoy spilling blocks from and refilling. They both come with a truckload of Mega Bloks, just right for pretend construction sites. While we liked the concept of the new Lil’ Copter and the plastic blades are neat, it is much harder to load than the trucks because of the angle of the cutaway lid. (800) 465-6342.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2007.

Little People Lil' Movers Airplane
(Fisher-Price $21.99 Score:) Load the chunky Little People on and off through the top of the jolly looking white plane with licks of blue, red and green. Little People will not fit in the door/ramp, but not to worry; they fit through the open roof. There’s a female pilot and two passengers that bounce up and down as kids push the plane along the floor. Push the pilot down in her seat and the music begins, a short little tune that is not too intrusive. A red handle makes it easier to “fly” the plane in the air. A toddler size prop for pretend. They say 1& up. We’d say more like 18 months & up. (800) 432-5437.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2007.