Important Advisory:

We are now requiring companies to provide us with documentation that their products have been tested by an independent lab for phthalates and lead.
Please click here for submission requirements for new products. However, as we are not a lab, we will not be independently verifying those results. Also, with the exception of the 2008 Platinum Toy Awards, toys submitted for review prior to January 2008 were not tested for lead.

Instructions for submitting product to the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for review.

Contact the Toyportfolio @ (212) 598-0502 or by email at Webmaster@Toyportfolio.com.

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Holidays are often about making children's dreams come true. Chances are you can still remember a very special gift that filled that kind of magic in your childhood. "I think every grandparent wants to be the one who gives one of those memorable gifts," notes Oppenheim Toy Portfolio President (and grandmother of seven), Joanne Oppenheim. "Often these are pricey gifts, but they are seldom novelty items. Think of these as investment toys; gifts that children will invest with their love and attention."

We call these "Grandparent" gifts, but there's nothing to prevent parents, and aunts and uncles from chipping in for a group gift instead of lots of little presents.

Here are some of the very best picks for this holiday season:

( KNEX $$99.99$ ) The wow-wee set of the season, this ball run is over five feet tall when completed (which will require some adult assistance). Comes with more than 1350 pieces, so not for the meek builders! Four D batteries power the fan that propels the plastic balls through a maze of tubing, and traditional Knex pieces! A fun parent–child project for those who love to build. Age: Late School Years, Tweens. Phone: (800) 543-5639. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2005

( Small World Toys $$99.99$ ) Yahoo! Get ready for imagination to set sail with Captain Hook and two of his mates aboard this magnificent wooden ship with working sails, rigging, hatches, anchor, crow’s nest, and even a plank to walk! A stunning gift for years of dramatic play. 34" W x 24" H. Add-on sets with more figures available. Age: Preschool. Phone: 800-421-4153. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2005

( Trikke Tech $$139$ ) Our testers wrote: "A HUGE HIT! The kids love this! It works well, and looks super cool, too. It operates much like the flying turtle." Designed for kids 7–11 with a maximum rider weight of 150 lbs., the three-wheeled scooter will go where the rider leans. The company sells bigger models for teens and grown-ups but we did not test them. 8 & up. Age: Late School Years. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2005

( Progressive Trading Inc. $$49.95$ ) Another generation of magnetic connectors and steel balls have arrived in time for the holiday season. This amazing set has 48 gem-toned transparent web plates in three different sizes and 60 steel balls to create a never-ending variety of constructions. This set includes 3, 4,and 5-armed pieces that can be combined with bars and balls. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but lots of ways to experiment with creating domes, towers and other inventive creations. A smaller set, Webz 54 ($24.95)is fun but not nearly as versatile as the larger set. Both sets are compatible with Magz X and Skrooz- the original rod and magnet sets we have reviewed in the past. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years, Tweens. Phone: (800) 903-6249. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2005