Pretend Play for Older Toddlers and Preschoolers Little Tikes 2-in-1-Food Truck (Little Tikes $159.99) What a great setting for dramatic play as kids step behind the counter of their big red food truck! It has a complete kitchen back there, with play sink, microwave oven, fridge and soda fountain. There's a cash register, note pads for taking orders, a chalkboard for writing the menus (or flavors) of the day, a flip out counter, order bell, and steering wheel with a working

(Laser Pegs $42.99) There are a dozen ways to build this light-up space ship. You can follow the construction plans or do-it-your-way. Our tester chose the latter. Like other Laser peg construction sets, the special attraction is the the light up feature that give finished projects an extra glow. The bricks are compatible with other plastic construction toys, but testers have found fitting the pieces together harder than standard LEGO blocks. That said, for experienced builde

(Small World Toys $62) Neurosmith Music Blocks won our Platinum Award seal years ago. We're glad to note that it is still available and at this point a Blue Chip winner. It has five colored plastic blocks, each side making a different sound. Match the shapes on the blocks or play them in random order—there’s no right or wrong way. The “composer” allows you to record and play back your composition. Comes with one jazz cartridge; we’d suggest bringing home the classical cartrid

(Anki $169.99 ) Everyone from kids to grownups are going to love the high-speed racing inspired by Fast & Furious. The over-the-top action takes advantage of the latest in artificial intelligence and video games technology. The magnetic pieces can be arranged into many different track layouts, fast! You can race against friends (two cars come with the set) or against characters from the movie. It is magical: the cars learn the course and can get around by themselves. You are

(Anki $149.99) Platinum Award Anki Overdrive is the 21st century answer to slot cars without needing a dedicated room. Set it up quick and easy with the Starter Kit that allows you to build one of eight unique battlefields. Download the Anki Overdrive app on a iOS or android device and you're ready for action! Players can compete with each other or with the virtual Commanders. Like last year’s Anki, you can customize each robotic Supercar and add expansion tracks and superca

(Skullduggery $39.99) This toy just arrived in time for our Platinum Award List! We have been big fans of Max Traxxx cars that light up on the special glow-in- the-dark tracks. But this year, it got better. The company has introduced a flex track system that lights up even more when your car drives on the track. Comes with 200 pieces of track that click together and because they are flexible, it's easier to make interesting configurations. Car is controlled by a remote contr

(Strictly Briks $29.99) What a great way to build an original setting for plastic bricks! Kids can use this set with six 10”square baseplates and 50 stackers to build a tower. It comes in a blue, green and grey combo or in translucent pastels. Either way this set make good sense for dedicated builders. The set is sized for smaller peg blocks and is compatible with Lego and Megablocks for kids 5 – 12. Strictly Bricks also makes some sets with reversible plates that can be used

(Strictly Briks $24.99) Strictly Briks Starter Set with 119 pieces comes with a round baseplate, two half-moons, several large triangles, large rectangles, and dozens of large size briks. It's an open-ended construction toy for preschoolers to use as they are or along with their other plastic construction sets. The basic briks are compatible with other large pre-school sized plastic bricks such as Duplo and Megabloks. Add props such as vehicles or animals and kids can build t

(Anki $179 &up) We've written about Anki Cozmo before -- he's a spunky little robot that has a personality that our testers really liked. Cozmo has facial expressions, words of sorts, and will recognize and try to engage you to play various games. Like a younger sib, Cozmo doesn't tire of asking again and again. He's small, but he has a mind of his own — he knows what he likes. Cozmo is compatible with both iOs and Androids. Like the original, it's controlled with the APP

(Strictly Briks $29.99) We had good fun stacking this the Briks and floors into a five story tower of Briks. Now, the best part begins. Using the lightweight toy hammer players take turns knocking out a stack of Briks without making the whole structure fall. Choosing the stack to tap takes some strategy and players soon discover the best way to stay in the game. A god choice for mixed age players with lots of rounds of play. Rebuilding takes thinking skills as well as coopera