Zoom Around Garage
(International Playthings $59.95 Score:)

Our 21⁄2 year old tester loved the levels of this multilevel garage and the elevator - his mom loved that the set comes with four cars (easier to share that way!) The chunky plastic cars can ride up the elevator and roll down the chutes and ramps with sound effects and flashing lights (not too loud). A fun setting for dramatic play. Cars can be played with separately or linked together with magnetic connectors. They say 1 & up - we'd say more like 18 mos. & up. (800) 445-8347.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2007. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Grand Walk In Kitchen
(Step 2 $259.99 Score:) This kitchen is so big it can double as a playhouse for several kids together. There’s a place to cook, wash dishes, sit down for a snack-whatever! It has “granite” countertops, a sink with swivel faucet and push buttons, “stainless steel” appliances, a phone, and a huge accessory set. It has a “hardwood” floor, just like the most up to date luxury kitchens. Throw a sheet over the top and it will be a tent. Editor's Note: Please note that this toy comes with lots of small plastic food. While it may stick out of a choke tube, many of the pieces are still very small. We recommend putting most of the food away if your child is under three or if your child still mouths his toys. 2 & up.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2007.

Laugh and Learn Learning Kitchen
(Fisher-Price $64.99 Score:) Really more of an activity center for toddlers, this plastic kitchen has a small refrigerator on one side (with shape-sorter function) and a sink/stove/oven combo on the other side. They are connected with an arch that has "educational" songs and music. Older babies and young toddlers will enjoy going through the archway, playing with the ball drop, and cooking up something special. While we could do without the lessons about the alphabet and opposites, our testers enjoyed making things happen. Still top rated, Laugh and Learn Learning Home ($70). This "little house" is just the right size for active play and making things happen. It has a door that opens and shuts and is big enough to crawl through, lights that turn off and on, doorbell that rings, ball drop, and shape sorter, among other interesting features. A great first birthday gift to enjoy throughout this year and probably the next. They say 6 months to 3. We’d say one and up would be a better bet. RECALL INFO: This toy was voluntarily recalled in 2007 due to a small parts problem from the faucet or the clock hands can detach and pose a choking hazard. The CPSC reports that "consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Fisher-Price for a free repair kit." Call Fisher Price at (888) 812-7187 or visit www.service.mattel.com.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2008.

Step2 50s Diner
(Step 2 $149.99 Score:)

Kudos to Step2 for coming up with a really fun, gender-free play setting. Our preschool and toddler siblings enjoyed playing diner (the older sister was running the place, of course!). On one side you have all the kitchen equipment of a traditional toy kitchen (sink, frig and oven) with the bonus of a grill top! The other side has a place for two customers to sit at the “booth”, complete with tabletop jukebox that plays a few tunes from the era, and a bell when you need service (our testers thought the bell could be louder). Diner also comes with coffee pot, dishes, silverware, and play food (our testers were big fans of the ice cream cones).

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, Early School Years. Award Year: 2008. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Tonka Li l Gas Pump
(Hasbro $19.99 Score:)

This gas pump just proves how fast things move in Toyland…with a pump that now offers regular gasoline or ethanol! Yes, there are flip down symbols and one has an image of corn as a choice. Despite the green message, it might be interesting to see if any dramatic play reflects the kind of heated reactions parents are having these days at the gas pump. Just what will kids be saying as they pretend to fill up their Tonka trucks? Comes with shape sorting blocks, buttons to push, and some up to date choices as to fuel choices.

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

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2008. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Playskool Wheel Pals Train Station
(Hasbro $24.95 Score:)

Like a ball roll, this uncomplicated purple and blue upright “railway” has a twisting orange track that is similar to the ramp on a toy garage. Put the red and blue train engines on top, push the engine or the red railroad crossing sign blinks its light as down, down, down, the little engines roll with a “toot toot!” There’s a “chugga chugga” sound of a train-on-tracks as it comes through the green gate. Repetitive action will appeal to toddlers. Preschoolers may use this setting with their building blocks. Takes 2 “AA” batteries. 18 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 IDEAS: Although this is labeled for toddlers, there is nothing babyish looking about this toy. It lends itself to lots of cause and effect action as well as repetition. Watching the little vehicles race down the track also involves visual tracking.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Baby Smartronics Speak & Teach Phone
(Fisher-Price $14.99 Score:) The new Baby Smartronics Speak & Teach Phone (Fisher-Price $14.99 ) did not test well. Cord is too short (our tot had to lean all the way over!) and the receiver is too hard to get back into the cradle.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: .

Life Style Kitchen
(Step 2 $180 Score:) New for 2003, Life Style Kitchen ($180). For the toddler who needs the dream kitchen (in plastic, of course), this one comes with wainscoting, crown molding, simulated granite, and gooseneck faucet, and takes 12 AA batteries (that's a lot of lifestyle!). This was not ready for testing.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: .

My Little Puppy Playset
(- Not Selected - $19.95 Score:) If you’re in the back seat with your toddler and you need to go five more exits, this playset makes a great choice! You can make up little adventures for the little puppy that barks when squeezed. You can play a game of peek-a-boo by asking where the doggie went? Is he in his doghouse? Also recommended, My First Firetruck that comes with a fire truck that zips open to reveal a firefighter, Dalmatian, hydrant and water bucket.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2004.

My Pirate Ship
(Mega Bloks $29.99 Score:) This is a play theme preschoolers often enjoy. Here the play pieces are big enough for small hands to enjoy safely. The ship has sound effects, a crew of two pirates, a monkey, a parrot and a mermaid. They say 1 & up- we’d say more like 2 and a half to three. This would have been a gold winner except for the misleading age label. (800) 465-6342

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2005.