(Mudpuppy $12.99) There is no right or wrong way to put these robots together. There are heads, bodies and legs and with the 24 double-sided piece set, kids can make hundreds of zany creations. They come in a drawstring bag for safe keeping and easy travel. Take them along to the beach or into a restaurant while you’re waiting for the food to come. Marked 2 and up, but we think only older twos will sit for this and it will be a better choice for 3s and 4s. Ages: Preschoolers

(Thames and Kosmos $12.99 and up) Paleontologist-style dig sets have long been popular for kids of a certain age. Maybe it’s the mystery-of-history that excites kids as they discover how scientists have dug up the past in ancient sites. For years, these kinds of dig kits were made with plaster that presented a dust hazard for children’s eyes. We only reviewed kits that came with protective glasses BUT the Thames and Kosmos kits provide a new and clever way around that old dan

(Mudpuppy $16.99) One of a challenging series of 64-piece search and find puzzles. First, players put the big puzzle together and then the trick is to find each of the animals on the frame of the puzzle in the bigger picture. We like this woodland one a lot and we think many kids would love the bright colors of the dinosaur version. Marked 4-7, we think a lot of fours will have trouble with so many pieces. This may be a better choice for 5-8s. Ages: Early School Oppenheim Toy

(Mudpuppy $12.99) Two 20-piece magnetic puzzles in one package are well designed for travel. They come in a book-like holder and players can match the pieces to a magnetized duplicate image or put them together "free-standing" on a table. Obviously, putting them on a matching image is easier and a good way for beginners to deal with jigsaws. A good take-along on a long plane or auto ride. There are other sets of these magnetic puzzles in the line featuring images such as dino

(Mudpuppy $12.99) This is like a knowing-and-naming book on a ring. Instead of binding the single images into a board book, these two-sided cards have easy to identify, familiar objects to talk about. The images are done in bright colors and you can make up stories about each, one at a time; or turn the cards and tell a story as you go. Mudpuppy makes several variations of these First Word Cards. The original set does not have the anthropomorphic faces on the toast, banana, o

(Mindware $99.99) Our testers have given earlier versions of this complex marble run high scores in previous incarnations and now it’s even better with a new exit cube and 18 rails, and tubes that add excitement to the build. Testers loved the tubes to create a twisting roller coaster ride that propels the marbles into to the colorful transparent rails. All the new add-ons lend new dimension to the already fanciful construction set. It truly is the next generation of marble m

(Hape $24.99) Although we like wooden train that run on kid power sans batteries, we know that some prefer the option. This season Hape has added two new battery operated engines to the line. Our 3-year old tester was totally taken with the Whimsical Propeller Engine( $ 24.99 ) in bright red with silver propeller and trim. A train with a propeller? Why not. You can push a switch on the bottom and use this one for free wheeling without batteries. The propeller does not turn wh

(Hape $16.99 each set) For Quadrilla builders there are some new add-ons that will add new dimension (and maybe re-ignite interest) to the original set. The Sonic Playground ($16.99) is a five-piece set with 8 marbles to that run over the Xylophone that can turn the Quadrilla set in to a music making toy. OR consider the 9-piece Skatepark ($16.99) set with eight marbles, with a bright orange slide and cup. Ages: Older Preschoolers, Early School Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Se

(Hape $29.99 & up) We’ve written about other handsome wooden Quadrilla sets in the past. This season they have created a smaller set with wonderful wooden spillways, block tunnels, ramps and coiled roadway for the marbles to run around, down and blocks with cut out tunnels that go in several directions. For starters, consider the Race to the Finish ($29.99) a 28-piece set with 30 marbles and a stout storage bag (shown above). For a more elaborate set and somewhat more complex

(Skilduggery $59.99) Last year’s Platinum winner just got to be even better. There’s more track PLUS ramps to build two bridges that will add to the flexible orange and blue Glow in the Dark track. You get over ten feet of track with this set (250 pieces) and one RC Tracer Racer that leave a light trail of purple light rays as it zooms along. Can be enjoyed by preschoolers as young as 3 but will be most enjoyed by 4s-6s. Ages: Preschool, Early School Oppenheim Toy Portfolio G